Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday, July 11, 2012 by Peoples Media Limited

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 8 No. 77

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Shaaban 20, 1433 AH

N150

Hajj 2012: Pilgrims to pay N504,895 By Maryam Garba Hassan

he National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), yesterday in Abuja announced the 2012 fares

to the Holy land with an 18 percent increase over the 2011 rate. Speaking with newsmen, NAHCON’s Chairman Mohammed Bello said that

pilgrims from the Northern zone would pay N504, 895 while those from the Southern zone would pay N512, 218. Bello said the minimum BTA was pegged at N108, 750 while

the medium figure was put at N145, 000 and maximum is N222, 875. Bello explained that the fares were approved at an exchange rate of N145 to the U.S. dollar.

He added that each pilgrim, would by the present rates, enjoy a subsidy of N47, 045. He identified factors responsible for the increase in Contd on Page 2

How Senator Dantong died, by Rep, soldiers From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna, & Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Simon Mwadkom, who slumped along with late Senator Gyang Dantong when gunmen attacked them during a burial ceremony on Sunday, said that the 53-year-old senator might have died of “exhaustion”. Also killed by likely exhaustion at the Maresh burial ground in Bachit District of Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau, was the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, 54-year-old Gyang Fulani. The two died while Mwadkom, who represents Barkin-Ladi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was revived at the Barkin Ladi General Hospital. Mwadkom spoke in Jos yesterday when Governor Jonah Jang visited him in his residence and asked him to tell the world “exactly what happened.” The lawmaker stated: “We were at the burial ground preparing to bury the victims of a massive attack on the villages when the gunmen started shooting, forcing everyone to abandon the corpses and scurry to safety. “Everyone was racing away, Contd on Page 2

Mpape women protest planned demolition >> PAGE 2

12 killed in reprisals Govt reviews curfew in 4 LGAs Plateau is under siege, says Jang

Women protesting plan by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to demolish Mpape village, yesterday at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Law on budget implementation underway >> PAGE 3

Panic in Akwanga as blast rips MOPOL base >> PAGE 5

No Ramadan ram bonuses for Kano workers >> PAGE 5

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

Op.Ed

Letters

Opinion

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

S/Report

Issues

Newsxtra

Agriculture

Lift emergency rule, curfew in Borno, Mandara tells Jonathan, Page 4

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

How Senator Dantong died, by Rep, soldiers Contd from Page 1 but the senator slumped first and there was a rush to take him,” he said. He described the persistent killings as “very outrageous and embarrassing” in an area under a state of emergency imposed by the Federal Government. Also, Commander, Special (military) Task Force (STF) in the state, Maj.-Gen. Henry Ayoola, corroborated Mwadkom’s version of the tragic event. Ayoola made the claim at a midnight briefing in Jos amid tight security at the task force’s headquarters. The STF commander said: “At about 2.00pm during the burial of the deceased persons of Maresh Village, there was sporadic shooting from the range of the hills surrounding the area, which led to a stampede, in the course of which three honourable legislators slumped and were rushed to the hospital. “Unfortunately, Senator Gyang Dantong (Plateau North Senatorial District) and Hon. James Gyang Fulani of the Plateau state House of Assembly died, while Hon. Simon Mwapkom of the Federal House of Representatives survived and has been discharged”, the commander said. Meanwhile, at least 12 people were confirmed dead in the reprisals against some Muslim passersby, after the death of Senator Dantong and others, on Sunday. A mob allegedly made up of Berom youths which took to the streets in anger mounted road blocks on the major road along Heipang, Mararaban Jama’a, Riyom, Tri Centre and Grand Cereals and Oil Mills, smashing vehicles of travellers and also killing unsuspecting Muslims caught unawares. According to Alhaji Sabo Shuiabu, leader of the First Aid Group of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the duo of Auwalu Isyaku and Gidado Isyaku, whose dead bodies were recovered at Sabon Barki off Bukuru road, by their family members with the aid of

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threatening our national security. In the attacks, dozens of innocent unarmed civilians including security personnel were killed. Houses were also set ablaze. As a result, many were rendered homeless.” In its reaction to the incidents, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described latest rounds of attacks in Plateau state as “shocking”, just as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the North said it has lost confidence in the ability of the STF to protect lives and property of the state. A statement yesterday in Kaduna by the Public Relations Officer of CAN, Sunday Oibe, stated that it has ample evidence to show that the security personnel failed to respond to distress calls from residents of Barkin Ladi when their attackers struck. The statement urged Christians in the North to proceed on three days of fasting and prayers and affirmed that the Plateau killings “have further brought to the fore, the need for a Sovereign National Conference to determine whether Nigeria should continue to exist as presently constituted”. “We Christians in northern Nigeria are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to demonstrate enough political will to bring an end to the activities of terrorist groups in the north. “If government wants peace to reign in this country, then it must go beyond the usual condemnation and rhetoric by exposing the sponsors of these socalled Fulani herdsmen who have continued to cause havoc to Christians in Plateau, Benue, Taraba and the southern part of Kaduna states,” it said. In a statement by the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, the group said: “The news of the killing of innocent people in some villages in Barki Ladi of Plateau state, Nigeria, has come to Arewa Consultative Forum with great shock.

By Josephine Ella

undreds of female residents of Mpape District of Abuja yesterday staged a rally at the Federal Secretariat Complex in the capital city to register their protest against the planned demolition of their houses by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). The protesting women, who were carrying leaves and chanting songs called on the President to halt forthwith the planned demolition of their places of abode. They ultimately proceeded to the Public Complaints Commission (CPC), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the FCDA where they submitted their petitions. “We are protesting because the FCDA has decided to throw the women into confusion and sudden death by trying to mark our houses for demolition. They didn’t give us notice. It was announced on radio and TV that they will demolish 19 villages in Mpape and the following Friday they came for marking. They have not demolished, but it has been marked,” cried out one of the protesters. The spokesperson of the protesting women said further that: “We are not standing against the government; because even we are the government. We want the government to give us a place. We need a place...We don’t say they should not demolish, because even my village is owned by the government; but they should relocate us”. In the petition submitted to the government agencies, the women alleged that the demolition will inflict psychological and emotional hardship on the people. “As a people, we reject this in its entirety because we consider it as an unwarranted terror, worse than what we are experiencing from the so called and so dreaded Boko Haram”, the letter reads in part. At the NHRC, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Porfessor Bem Angwe assured the protesters that the agency will undertake an on-the-spotassessment in Mpape before making a categorical statement.

Hajj 2012: Pilgrims to pay N504,895 Contd from Page 1

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the aid group, were killed while escorting their sisters on the road. Shuaibu also confirmed the death of a tanker driver and his conductor at the Grand Cereals area. He added that the group had seen five burnt corpses at the Jos Inland Port roundabout as well as one Mahmud Muhammad who was also killed in his Golf car at Angle D area. A senior customs officer by name Abubakar Ibrahim Kankiya, was also confirmed killed. His younger brother, Malam Rufai FBK, said the incident occurred at the JosHeipang Airport Junction. Another driver, Dayyabu Tanko, whose dead body was seen being taken to the grave yard by his family, was reportedly killed at Heipang, on Sunday by the Berom youths. His car, an Opel (Vectra) was burned down. Also, a lady by name Khadija Muhammad was injured by a stray bullet that hit her in the abdomen, while one Abdullahi Isa also suffered a similar injury allegedly from STF personnel who tried to prevent some Muslim youths from waging another reprisal attack on some Christian passersby along Duala International Hotel Junction, near Nassarawa Gwom. Meanwhile, investigations revealed that there was total compliance with the curfew imposed on the state beginning from 6pm and lasting to 12 00noon yesterday, as all markets were closed and streets deserted. In a related development, Governor Jang has described Sunday’s attack on the mourners at the mass burial as a declaration of war on the state by “well trained militiamen”. Jang, in a state-wide broadcast yesterday, said the militiamen who perpetrated the act were not willing to leave the state, as they have established a terrorist base on the high grounds and hills of the Plateau. According to him, “today, several weeks and months before now, Northern Nigeria and indeed Plateau state have witnessed deadly challenge to the people’s way of life,

Mpape women protest planned demolition

the fare to high cost of accommodation in Makkah, as well as tent and feeding in Minna and Arafat. Bello also announced that the flight to the holy land would commence on September 18 and is expected to be completed on October 17. He said the return flight would commence from Nov.1 and the last batch of pilgrims are expected to return on November 30. Other reasons for the increment, he said, is the cost

of Tent C and feeding in Minna and Arafat which also increased by SR600 to the basic package, a consensus he said the commission arrived at with the state Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards on the need to upgrade the services provided to Nigerian pilgrims. He said basic cost services without the Pilgrim’s Personal Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), for the Northern departure zones is 504, 895 while that of the Southern departure zones is 512, 218. According to Bello, the

increment would have been much higher than the 18% if not for the approval granted by President Jonathan for a concessionary exchange rate of N145 to $1. Fielding questions from the media, the Commissioner (Operations) at the Commission, Malam Abdullahi Muktar, said some of the factors that will make this year’s hajj unique are that 40 percent of Nigeria’s flights to this year’s hajj will fly directly to Madina to reduce the number of hours pilgrims spend travelling to the

holy land. He added that the commission has put in place strategies to ensure that the quality of services airlines render to pilgrims is of international standard and that pilgrims will for the first time be given mattresses, pillows, blankets, snacks and drinks at Muna and Arafat tents. On the issue of racketeering of Hajj seats, the chairman said the commission was doing everything possible to checkmate the ugly trend.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 3

Law on budget implementation underway, says Tambuwal By Lawrence Olaoye

L-R: Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, and Kebbi state Governor, Alhaji Saidu Dakingari, during the launch of Growth Enhancement Support Scheme, yesterday in Kalgo local government area of Kebbi state. Photo: NAN

peaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday hinted that a law aimed at compelling the executive to fully implement the nation’s budget as passed by the National Assembly is underway. Tambuwal, who made the disclosure at a two-day Stakeholders Forum organized in Abuja by the House Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep John Enoh, lamented that the major cause of friction between the legislature and the executive arm of government was the issue of budget implementation, insisted that the lawmakers would continue to show interest in the budgeting process even though certain people would rather wish otherwise. The Speaker said one of the National Assembly’s major constitutional responsibilities was to appropriate funds to the executive and ensure that funds so appropriated are channeled to the projects approved by the parliament through oversight functions on the activities of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the country. He called for synergy between the Executive and the Legislature

to enhance budget implementation in the country. "Over the years, the degrees at which budgets are implemented have fallen to very low levels. It is time we change from the so-called cash based budgeting system to performance based budgeting. The speaker said that the National Assembly has a duty to consider and approve the budget, as well as the formulation and implementation lied with the executive. According to him, the annual budget was critical to the survival of the people than any other component of governance. According to him, the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee estimated that more than 11,886 projects valued at N7.7 trillion were abandoned after government had spent N2.2 trillion on them. He added that N9 trillion was needed to complete them now and the figure was rising. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, said that executive proposal and budgets passed by the National Assembly would ensure effective implementation of the budget.

Insecurity: Jonathan, security chiefs meet Edo students protest killing NSA, Petinrin, others shun reporters By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

ollowing weekend's mass killings in Plateau state, President Goodluck Jonathan held an emergency closed-door session with the nation’s security chiefs at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. This is against the tradition of holding weekly security meetings on Tuesdays. At the end of such meetings, the National Security Adviser (NSA) usually brief State House correspondents or delegate that function to either the Chief of Defence Staff or any of the security chiefs. But yesterday, none of the

participants agreed to speak to newsmen. They all stormed out of the President's office and headed straight for their vehicles with newsmen in hot pursuit. In the ensuing confusion, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika directed reporters to the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, who in turn referred journalists to the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). Dasuki who emerged 10 minutes after the departure of the security chiefs also referred journalists back to Petinrin for comments.

Pressed further to talk by newsmen who reminded him that it would be his first time of doing so, Dasuki said, “Is that what the CDS said (that I am the one to talk?) Ok. I am now saying ‘go back to the CDS." “When told that the CDS had left the State House, Dasuki kept mum and forced his way into his waiting car with the aid of his security detail. While making his way into the car, another journalist asked for the latest on the killing of the lawmakers to which the NSA responded, “Is that what happened? No, that was not what happened!” as his driver zoomed off.

FIDA happy with Justice Alooma’s nomination as CJN

he International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), yesterday in Kano, lauded the nomination of Justice Maria Alooma Mukhtar as the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN). In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Kano State Chairperson of

FIDA, Chief Magistrate Maryam Ahmed described the nomination as “unprecedented positive development for the judiciary and womenfolk in the country”. Ahmed expressed optimism that Alooma would “perform wonders” as the nation’s CJN,

considering her track record in the judiciary. She said that FIDA was proud of her meritorious achievements, pointing out that as a practitioner who had risen through the ranks, Alooma was fully aware of the problems and the need for reform in the judiciary. (NAN)

of colleague

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

embers of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, have protested the killing of their colleague, Osazuwa Ewemade, a National Diploma II student of Edo state-owned Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Ovia North East local government area of the state. Ewemade was reportedly shot and died few days later by yet to be identified security operative attached to incumbent Governor, Adams Oshiomhole’s convoy. The youths clad in black shortsleeve shirts who sang dirges along major streets in Benin, gave seven days ultimatum to the state government to explain the circumstances surrounding the death of Ewemade and immortalise the late student. NANS Vice-President, Comrade Ephraim Morino, told journalists that the ultimatum became necessary as the government has so far failed to acknowledge the death of the student who was the head of the

Red Cross in the institution. “We demand that the governor pay the family of the student a condolence visit, sponsor his burial rites, give him a state burial and erect a statue at the main gate of the institute to immortalise the late student being the first to die in the school since its establishment”. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Students Affairs, Comrade Musa Aleshunu while reacting to the protest, alleged that the students were sponsored ‘professional jobbers’. “Everybody has the right of procession, then if you want to do it under the disguise of studentship, it must be the students themselves that will lead it”. Three weeks ago, Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s convoy reportedly rammed into a barricade by students of the IMT. The Edo Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Anthony Airhuoyo said the students went violent as the governor failed to keep faith with his pledge to visit their institution while on a campaign tour of the locality.

Oil well: S/Court set to deliver judgement today By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

he Supreme Court will today deliver judgement in the suit brought before it by the Cross River state government over the 14 oil wells ceded to Akwa Ibom state by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. When the matter came up on the last adjourned date, counsel to

the appellant, Malam Yusuf Ali asked the court to compel both the Federal Government and Akwa Ibom state government to respect the sharing formula put in place by the former President Obasanjo on the 90 oil wells which had been a subject of dispute between Cross River and the Akwa Ibom state government. Cross River state had dragged

the Federal Government and the Akwa Ibom state to court on the ground that some of the oil wells had been ceded to it by the agreement reached at a meeting called by the former president in 2006. Malam Ali, in his argument submitted that though, the oil well in dispute is in Cross River, the former president, through a letter

dated October 31, 2006 shared the oil well between the two states given 76 to Akwa Ibom and 14 to Cross River. Ali asked the court to allow the Appeal and grant all the reliefs sought for by the applicant. In his own submission, counsel to the Akwa Ibom state government, Chief Bayo Ojo, submitted that the issue before the

court was whether Cross River state is a litoral state or not as at present. He further argued that the handing over of the western Bakassi to Cameroun in August 14, 2008 made Cross River not to be a litoral state and hence, cannot benefit from the oil well and urged the court to dismiss the appeal.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 4

Alleged N2bn fraud: Kalu takes case to Supreme Court By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

ormer governor of Abia state, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu has rushed to the Supreme Court with an appeal challenging the decision of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal which held that he has a case to answer in the charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Kalu is asking the apex court for an order setting aside the charge filed against him by the anti-graft agency. The Court of Appeal had in April 2012, ruled that the former governor has a case to answer before the Federal High Court sittting in Abuja. Kalu and two others have been standing trial before the court since 2008 over allegedly money laundering the sum of He was alleged over N2billion belonging to Abia state government during his tenure as the governor.

Zebra crossing: Fashola orders arrest of offenders From Ojebola Matthew, Lagos

he Lagos state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has ordered officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), to begin the arrest of any road user who refuse to stop at a zebra crossings for pedestrians. The governor gave this order yesterday at the finals of the 2012 Be Road Friendly (BRF) competition, which was organised by the state Ministry of Transportation at the Government Secretariat, Lagos. Expressing his disappointment, the governor said he was amazed that motorists violated the zebra crossing law with impunity without waiting for the pedestrians who have the right of at zebra crossings. The governor reiterated that the attitude of the people to traffic congestion must change because traffic congestion must not be treated as a disease or virus but as a function of the way the people chose to live. He said: “You will not see traffic congestion in Somalia, but in London, New York, Paris and even in Manhattan where even the feet is faster than vehicular movement. There it is bumper to bumper. “The truth is that there is a period called rush hour in every major city of the world and Lagos will not be an exception…” he added.

Panic in Akwanga as explosion rips MOPOL base From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

esidents of Akwanga, headquarters of Akwanga local government area of Nasarawa state, were as early as 6.25 am yesterday, gripped by fears of perceived attacks following an explosion which occurred at the armoury of the Squadron 38 of the Mobile Police base, located along Lafia road. Police authorities however confirmed that a fire that broke

out in the armoury and lasted two hours, destroyed sleeping quarters of the commander and sections of the base but with no casualty recorded. Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Abibo Deinma, who is the commander of MOPOL 38, confirmed the explosion in the armoury of the base, when he spoke to newsmen there, shortly after the fire was put out. He confirmed that the ammunition and teargas kept

in the armoury were destroyed by the fire but failed to give the exact figure and category of the munitions. Deinma blamed the fire on “electrical fault”, although he still insisted that it was not possible at press time to ascertain the cause. Residents who witnessed the incident said they heard some explosion coming from the direction of the MOPOL base. “There were some explosions. We ran out in different direction,

afraid that it was bomb blast”, said an eyewitness who added that “after sometime, we saw fire. We drew near and learnt that there was no attack.” Command police spokesman, Cornelius Ocholi confirmed that “there was fire outbreak at the base”, and said he had no more than that comment to pass because according to him “I don’t want to jump into making statements while the command is still investigating to ascertain the cause.”

L-R: Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Umar, and Acting InspectorGeneral of Police Mohammed Abubakar, after security meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye.

Again, FG pledges to prosecute subsidy offenders By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

fter several months of expectations and suspense, the Federal Government yesterday confirmed that those indicted in the mismanagement and stealing of fuel subsidy funds will begin to face prosecution from next week. Rising from a crucial meeting held at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan in the State House, Abuja, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Bello Adoke told State House correspondents that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had finalised its work on the fuel subsidy probe report and

was now ready to drag offenders before courts of competent jurisdiction. According to the AGF: “The issue of the report was not discussed as an issue but assurances were given that as soon as the EFCC finishes its assignment which is very soon, you will begin to see prosecution. Probably in the next one week, we will begin to prosecute because the EFCC has gone very far. So, Nigerians should rest assured that this is not an issue that will be swept under the carpet. We have gone this far because we want a proper and painstaking investigation done so that when we charge people to court, there will be no lapses or loopholes for

lawyers to explore.” On the outcome of the meeting and plans to reinvigorate the antigraft battle, Adoke said: “Yes, we are coming out with a national strategy on the fight against corruption. And that strategy will involve the three arms of government.” Also speaking, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba said: “The President’s initiative is unprecedented, getting the three arms of government to sit in one meeting and the subject matter of discussion was the issue of corruption and how the three arms could work together to stem the worrying incidents of corruption in our polity. The meeting also had in

attendance Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim; Head of Service, IB Sali; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Chairman, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde and his ICPC counterpart, Barr Ekpo Nta. Senate President, David Mark, the Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal were at the meeting with a couple of principal officers from both chambers while Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdaspher led the acting President of the Court of Appeal, the Judges of the FCT, Lagos, Kaduna and Anambra states to the meeting.

Lift emergency rule, curfew in Borno, Mandara tells Jonathan From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

lder statesman in Borno state, Alhaji Bukar Mandara, yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to as a matter of urgency lift the state of emergency and curfew imposed on five local government areas of the state.

Alhaji Mandara, who holds the traditional title of Zanna Dujima of Borno , and who has been silent for sometimes now due to illness, made the call in a statement issued to newsmen. According to him, since the six months state of emergency period have elapsed the President should through the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state lift the curfew to enable

people perform their Ibadat (worship) without fear in the Muslim holy month. “Because the people of Borno both men and women, young and old have been suffering from the curfew for the last six months. Kano that suffered worst attacks than Borno, their curfew has been lifted from 6:00am -6:00pm-10:00pm and now 12am to 6:00am.

Why it is that the people of Borno are still suffering from the curfew? It is high time in my own opinion for the curfew to be lifted entirely”, the statement queried. The Zanna Dujima also appealed to the members of the Boko Haram sect to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue offered them by the Federal Government.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 5

Dakingari sets up c’ttee on LG staff audit From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi

ebbi state Governor, Alhaji Saidu Usman Dakingari has approved the constitution of a 12-member committee to carry out a proper staff audit of the 21 local government education authorities in the state. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Alhaji Abubakar Mu’azu Dakingari said that the committee would establish nominal rolls and check the appointments, grade level and steps of each staff. The committee was given one month to submit its report. The Head of Service, Alhaji Buhari Halidu Jega, said the report would facilitate the smooth implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage at the local government level. He then enjoined all staff of the local government education authorities including the Nigerian Union of Teachers and the Association of Primary School Headmasters to co-operate with the committee in producing an authentic staff list of the local government education authorities.

Assault: Jigawa lawmaker absent in court From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

he absence of a Jigawa state lawmaker, Nasiru Muhammad Sparrow, has stalled a High Court proceeding on a case filed before it on alleged criminal intimidation and insult meted on a married woman, Hajiya Zainab Umar. Addressing the magistrate court sitting in Dutse, the state capital, counsel to the accused person, Barrister Danladi Musa pleaded with the court to adjourn hearing of the case due to his client's absence. He told the presiding judge, Justice Sa'ad Datti that, his client travelled to South Africa for an official assignment for the Jigawa state House of Assembly. Barrister Dalladi explained that his client wrote a letter about two weeks ago and attached same to the registrar seeking for the leave of absence. Counsel to the accused then prayed the court to adjourn the case to August, a request accepted by counsel to the defendant, Barrister Aisha Umar. The presiding Judge then fixed July 16 for the next hearing on the case. From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

he Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido has declared that despite the trying times, Nigeria will not succumb to those agitating for its break up. Lamido stated this yesterday when his counterpart from Kaduna state, Mr. Patrick Yakowa visited the Emir of Dutse in his palace.

L-R: Senate President David Mark, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, during the meeting of Heads of Arms of Government with President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

No Ramadan ram bonuses for Kano workers From Bala Nasir and Edwin Olofu, Kano

eoples Democratic Party (PDP), legislators of the Kano state House of Assembly who are in majority have reversed the amendment they effected on the Ramadan and ram bonus law yesterday following intense pressure allegedly mounted on them by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The law which was initiated and signed by the immediate past governor of the state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, provided for Ramadan and ram bonuses to all the civil servants of the state. However, when the incumbent governor assumed

office, he was said not to have been uncomfortable with the law and as such, initiated an amendment bill to make the bonuses optional. But the lawmakers presented the law to its Public Service Committee to take the necessary action on it. When the committee presented its report to the plenary sitting of the House, they adopted the report of the committee. It was however, reported that no sooner the law was passed than Governor Kwankwaso vowed to make the lawmakers reverse their decision. When the House resumed sitting yesterday, the amendment as demanded by the governor was read to the House which led the

minority members of the House to stage a walkout, giving the majority free room to effect the amendment. As soon as they carried out the governor’s bidding, they adjourned for Ramadan and Sallah holiday to reconvene on the September 9 this year and fled the House premises switching off all their phones. Meanwhile, 12 minority lawmakers who staged a walkout told newsmen in a press conference after other members fled the House that they staged a walkout on their colleagues because they could not stop them. Speaking on behalf of the minority group, Alhaji Abdulwahab Garba who

incidentally is the chairman of the Public Service Committee of the House, said the latest action by members of the House was a nullity because they had broken all the known procedures of lawmaking. He said they were also informing the people of Kano state that they were not part of the action taken by some of their colleagues against the popular demand of workers which has all the required legal backing. “It is not that there is no money to pay these allowances to certain category of workers in the state as the law provides; but some vested interests in the state just don’t want the workers to benefit”, he added. Alhaji Abdulwahab also stated that the action showed how the separation of power was eroded by the executive by dabbling into matters purely legislative.

Auto crash claims vice principal, 2 others in Taraba From Yusha’u Alhassan, Jalingo

t was a gory scene on the major highway passing through Kwajji-Didelleng, Pupule A ward in Yorro local government area of Taraba state when a dark-blue Vectra saloon car, with registration number XB271 BBJ, veered off its lane and rammed into a heavy-duty truck parked by the road side, leaving

three people dead, while three passengers escaped unhurt. An eyewitness, Kabiru Adamu, said the accident occurred on Sunday around 9: 00 am as the overspeeding car heading towards Zing from Jalingo with six passengers, ran into the truck. He explained that the car severally sommersaulted with its rear badly damaged while the

corpse of those who instantly died were taken to Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo. Another eyewitness, Audu Haruna, expressed shock that even with the warning sign placed on the road, the driver refused to slow down and attributed the accident to reckless driving. He called on commercial vehicle drivers to desist from driving at breakneck speed, and

always abide by the highway rules in order to minimize the rate of accidents. Investigation by our reporter confirmed that one of the occupants of the car who died was the Vice Principal, Government Day Secondary School Zing, while the remaining two passengers who also died,were from Kurmi local government area of Taraba state.

Nigeria’ll never break up, says Lamido The governor said the visit of the Kaduna state governor who is a Christian to the Jigawa state governor, a Muslim, symbolised the unity of purpose for which the North must hang on. Lamido said the situation in the country today has transcended that of national security but utter

fear within the people. He said when fear has become the order of the day, then even the thinking of the people either in governance or outside it, is affected negatively. He said until freedom from fear was restored amongst the Christians and their Muslim

brothers, the country may never progress in its quest for development. He said the Hausa man plying his trade in watermelon in the southern part of the country may be maimed and killed just as the Igbo man operating a patent medicine store would also be

endangered with the slightest provocation in the name of religion. On his part, Governor Yakowa said his visit emanates from the Northern states governors meetings that tasked governors to visit their counterparts from all parts of the country.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Kebbi urges FG to promote agric produce From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi

overnor Usman Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi state has made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to promote onion and rice production in the state. Making the appeal yesterday at the flag-off ceremony of the 2012 Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (e-Wallet Voucher System] in Kebbi state at Kalgo local government area the governor said Kebbi state

is blessed in the agriculture sector and thus the federal government should assist the state in promoting onion and rice production. "We have the comparative advantage in terms of rice and onion which is going to boost the economy and increase revenue generation for the state'', he said adding that the flag-off of the fertiliser and seeds sale and distribution under the GES scheme in the new Agriculture Transformation Agenda had given premium to the small

scale farmers who produce the bulk of food in the country. “I have been made to understand that only 76,579 farmers in my state have been captured in your registration exercise'' he told the Minister of state for Agriculture Dr. BukharTijjani at the occasion. In his speech the minister commended the effort the Kebbi state government in promoting agriculture and pledged the Federal Government's assistance to the state in promoting farmers’ data base.

contractor would handle the Zuru axis while South African and Russian contractors would take the Yauri area. He explained that with this new development, Kebbi will be rated high among the solid mineral producing states in the country. Dakingari said that his administration would promote

agriculture and reduce the suffering of the farmers while assuring the people of the state that revenue from removed fuel subsidies, would be invested in agriculture. "This programme has the capacity of transforming the small scale farmers from subsistence to commercial level'', he said.

...to commence gold mining soon

overnor Usman Saidu Dakingari has announced plans in Kebbi state to start gold mining in Zuru and Yauri local government areas of the state. He gave this assurance while flagging-off this year’s Growth Enhancement Support Scheme held at Kalgo local government of the state adding that a Chinese

L-R: Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, Corps Marshal/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka, National President, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Chief Abubakar Sadiq, and Chairman, House Committee on Road Safety, Hon. Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura, during the official launch of FRSC Toll-Free Emergency Number 122, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Good procurement practices will curb corruption, says DG From Iliya Garba, Minna

he Director General of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Engr. Emeka Ezeh, has said corruption will only be stamped out from the system through the good use of procurement practices. He made this known yesterday at the forth sensitisation workshop on Public Procurement Act to stakeholders in the North - Central Zone held at Hydro Hotels Ltd, Minna, Niger state.

NDLEA lauds Supreme Court judgement on drug baron’s conviction From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

he Supreme Court of Nigeria yesterday got commendation from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), for convicting a drug baron – John Timothy, who took his appeal to the apex court having been dissatisfied with the judgment of a lower court. Timothy had taken his appeal to the Supreme Court having failed to upturn his four-year sentence by the Federal High Court in 2005 at the Court of Appeal. In the same vein, the anti-drug agency told journalists it has also won 743 drug related cases between January and May this year while others are at various stages of prosecution. The agency disclosed that it has many cases are at various stages of prosecution in the country. NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said “the Supreme Court judgment is laudable. Let me warn that the Federal Government will enforce the laws of the land against drug culprits. No infringement shall go unpunished.” According to the agency, Kano and Kebbi states have the highest number of convicts within the period with 79 each while states where it won a larger percentage of the cases include Adamawa with 59 convictions, Plateau 56, with Osun and the Federal Capital Territory recording 46 and 39 respectively. Others include Lagos with 34, Niger 29, Cross River and Jigawa both recorded 27 convictions with Gombe, Oyo, Kaduna and Akwa lbom recording over 70 convictions.

Be honest or leave, new Zamfara chairman warns staff From Salisu Zakari Maradun, Gusau

olitical office holders in Bakura local government area of Zamfara state have been sternly warned by the new chairman of the council, to distance themselves from dishonesty and insincerity. He also urged them to work relentlessly for the benefit of the people who elected them into various

offices so that the confidence reposed on them could be justified. The newly sworn-in chairman of the local government, Alhaji Bello Dan Gamji gave the warning, shortly after the swearing-in of his councilors in the area. Dan Gamji explained that the era of deception and embezzlement of public funds has gone, adding that anyone who tried to test the will of the

local government, would be taught an unforgettable lesson. According to the chairman, local government councils we re no longer places for embezzling public funds and "therefore we must make sure that we serve our people better". Dan Gamji also disclosed that political officeholders anywhere, should not forget that they were elected by the people who rely on them and therefore, should not be betrayed.

He stated that his administration will not tolerate unnecessary spending, but however, explained that only genuine and legitimate cases would be treated. Said he, "my coming to the secretariat of the local government as the chief security officer is nothing other than to make sure that I and the rest of the stakeholders of the council join hands to collectively move it forward developmentally.”

He said the essence of the gathering was to explain to contractors, public servants, consultants, politicians, civil society, non-governmental organisations, professional associations and the general public, the provision of the Act. "It provides an opportunity for interaction with the stakeholders from this zone on how they can take maximum advantage of the law to compete effectively in national procurements". Engr. Ezeh said that the process of implementing the Public Procurement Act requires the dutiful commitment of all stakeholders who are key entities in the procurement chain and pivotal roles on individual basis. "The BPP hopes to take Nigeria to a level where best practices in Public Procurement are implemented in the overall interest of national development. National Development would come if corruption, which mainly takes place through shoddy procurement practices, is eliminated".

Kwankwaso urges parents to invest in education From Edwin Olofu, Kano

overnor Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state has called on parents to invest in the education of their children in building a good foundation for them. Kwankwaso made the call during the opening ceremony of the second Quranic recitation competition organised by Senator Basheer Garba Lado representing Kano Central senatorial zone. The governor who was represented by state chairman of PDP Elders committee, Alhaji Datti Wudilawa, noted that education is one of the lasting legacies parents could leave for their children. He commended the legislator for organising the competition and called on other wealthy Muslims to emulate him. He also charged parents to ensure good moral upbringing of their children, so as to curb societal menace and bring development to the society. In his remarks, chairman of the Quaranic recitation committee, Alhaji Salati Indabawa said a total of 145 students from various Islamiyya schools across the 16 local government areas in the senatorial zone were screened for the exercise. He cautioned the participants to exhibit good moral conduct during and after the programme. Meanwhile, Senator Lado commended the Kano Emirate Council for the support and cooperation it has been given to the organisers of the competition.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

SAN canvasses appeal courts in six geo-political zones By Sunday EjikeBenjamin

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Samson Sani Ameh, has recommended the establishment of a Court of Appeal in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country to reduce the workload at the Supreme Court. Ameh, who was the guest lecturer at a special reception and lecture to mark the inauguration of the Gwagwalada branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said the Court of Appeal at the zones should be given the powers to handle all cases except land, chieftaincy and constitutional matters, which should be allowed to proceed on appeal to the Supreme Court. The former Attorney General of Kogi State and Commissioner for Justice said: “Unless this is done, we may not be able to assuage the present public anger and the undue delay for cases to be decided. Remember that justice delayed is justice denied.” Ameh, who is the chairman of National Committee against Torture, also stressed the need for a holistic approach in the fight against corruption.

Corruption bane of Nigeria's development From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

he Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Mr. Ekpo Nta, has described corruption as a major impediment to Nigeria's development. The chairman, who stated this at a sensitisation workshop for members of Katsina state House of Assembly, noted that corruption breeds unemployment and poverty. Nta who was represented by Alhaji Abdullahi Ado Bayero, reiterated the commitment of the commission to use legitimate means such as mobilisation, persuasion and law enforcement in the fight against corruption. He said the workshop was intended to broaden the lawmakers knowledge on effective oversight function, ensure openness, accountability and transparency in budget implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The chairman urged the judiciary and the state assemblies to partner the commission in the fight against corruption. Speaking at the workshop, the Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji Ya'u Umar Gwajo-Gwajo stressed that all religions kick against corruption.

PAGE 7

Plateau crises: Suswam, Speaker condemn lawmakers’ ‘murder’ From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

overnor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state has condemned Sunday’s ‘murder’ Senator Gyang Dalyop Datong (Plateau North) and Hon James Gyang Fulani, the Majority Leader of the Plateau state House of Assembly by gunmen in Barkin-Ladi, Plateau state. Suswam in a condolence message to Governor Jonah

Jang and the people of Plateau state, condemned “the dastardly act by the agents of darkness, noting that “it is clear evidence that the anarchy and precarious security situation in the country is far from being resolved.” The governor expressed concern that “incessant killings and wanton destruction of lives and property by evil-minded persons is causing so much damage to economic activities

in the northern part of the country,” warning that if nothing was done about it, the violence would cause the total economic and social paralysis in the country. Suswam said resolving the security challenges in the country would “require concerted efforts by men and women of good conscience, particularly from the northern part of the country.” He prayed that the soul of

the deceased legislators “find rest in the bosom of the Lord.” On his part, Speaker, Benue state House of Assembly, David Iorhemba regretted that the Federal Government had failed to address the perennial killings in Plateau for more than six years. He urged the government to take decisive measures in addressing the security problems in the state and other parts of the country.

L-R: Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees (NCFR), Hayiya Hadiza Kangiwa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties, Mr. George Ossi, and Director, Relief and Rehabilitation, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Edward Maigida, during a conference on promoting the rights of internally displaced persons in Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Kaduna seeks $30.6m Chinese loan for media outfit From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

he Kaduna state government yesterday said it would obtain a $30.6 million loan from China Export- Import Bank (EXIM) for the digitisation of the Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC). Commissioner for Finance, John Ayuba, disclosed this in

Kaduna while briefing newsmen after a special meeting of the State Executive Council. He said the loan would enable the state to key into the digitisation programme of the Federal Government, adding that the facility would be made available to the state within the next two weeks. “The terms of this loan are

concessionary. The repayment period is eight years and we have two and a half years’ grace period before we start repaying the loan”, he said. Commissioner for Information, Saidu Adamu, said the fund would also be used to strengthen the capacity of the state television station to extend its coverage to the entire state. Adamu said that two sub-

stations in Kafanchan and Zaria and three booster stations in Birnin-Gwari, Sanga and Lere local government areas would also be established with the loan. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has directed that all broadcast outfits in the country should migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting before June 2015.

Benue Speaker, group differ over court verdict on constituency From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

group, the Concerned Benue State Indigenes, has called on the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, David Iorhemba, to resign his position following the judicial restoration of the hitherto suppressed constituencies of Agasha and Daudu by the Federal High Court in Makurdi. However, Iorhemba described those calling for his resignation as lacking legal jurisprudence even as he accused them of trying to polarise the state’s political system. The group, which also goes by the appellation, G10, in a

statement by its leader Mr. Philip Agbese, noted that the judiciary has helped to strengthen democracy by clearly stating that Agasha and Daudu constituencies existed. Agbese stressed that the continued stay of Iorhemba in the House as the Guma state constituency representative amounted to usurpation and violation of the country’s constitution since, according to him, “Guma constituency is not known by law.” He therefore advised the Speaker to resign from office and make himself available to his party for nomination and proper scrutiny by INEC for fresh

elections in the constituencies. The G10 leader also called on INEC to immediately kick-start the formal processes for election into Agasha and Daudu constituencies so that the people might be legally represented in the House and prevent crisis that might arise as a result of the continuous stay of Iorhemba in office as Speaker. The group vowed “to seek legal action as taxpayers to ensure that our sacred constitution is obeyed by every citizen irrespective of their status in the society.” However, Iorhemba maintained that he is not affected by the High Court decision,

stating that he still has his constituency’s mandate to be in the House. Although he lauded the restoration of the Agasha Constituency, which was proscribed in 1979, the Speaker insisted that there was no clause in the Constitution ordering any representative to step down at the restoration of a constituency. The Speaker urged civil societies in the state to pay attention to serious development issues rather than engage in partisan and parochial issues. He added: “They should challenge INEC to conduct credible election into the new constituency”.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Stranded commuters at Oworonshoki in Lagos as Third Mainland Bridge is partially closed for repairs, yesterday.

L-R: Director-General, National Population Commission (NPC), Mr. Jamin Zubema, representative of the Chairman of NPC, Malam Sani Sulaiman, and UNFPA Country Representative, Mr. Euzebe Hounsokou, during a press conference on the commemoration of 2012 World Population Day, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imoowo

Photo: NAN

Senior Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Mrs. Sarah Jibril (left) with children, during inaugural press briefing on the Soultire Musical Revolution for School Children, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

L-R: Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, UN-HABITAT Ambassador and Country Co-ordinator, UN-HABITAT Youth Programme, Mr. Ifeanyi Uzoh, Nollywood Actress, Ini Edo, during a visit by World Urban Youth Assembly, Naples, Italy to NOA DG, recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

HIV/AIDS infection rate drops in Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

auchi state Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDs Tuberculosis/Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) has declared that HIV prevalence rate has drop from 3.1% to 2.0% in the state. Executive Chairman,

BACATMA, Dr. Mohammed S. Liman made the pronouncement at the formal lunch of the HIV/ AIDS Programmed Development Project 11 held in Zaranda Hotel Bauchi at the weekend. Liman said the current record showed that Bauchi stae has the least prevalence rate in the North-

East sub- region and 33rd among the 36 states and FCT. He added that the Partnership to implement the HIV/AIDS Programme Development Project II would bring additional funding and technical support to fight against the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the state.

His words: “HPDP II will directly addresse key emerging sector issues that have been identified by government in partnership with a range of stakeholders, through epidemiology and behavioural surveys and the Bauchi state strategic framework”

In his remark the Health Commissioner, Dr. Mohammed Sani Malami, pointed that Governor Isa Yuguda’s administration had done a lot and would continue to do more in the area of health delivery as part of efforts to fulfil its campaign promises.

Atiku tasks Nigerians on hard work From Illiya Garba, Minna

Caretaker committee chairman, Musawa local government area of Katsina state, Alhaji Tanimu Kira (left), collecting pamphlets from the state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Gide Batagarawa (right), during a dialogue on peace among ethnic groups, yesterday in Musawa. With them is the Special Assistant to the governor on Diplomacy and Societal Relations, Alhaji Sada Ruma (middle). Photo: NAN

Okonjo-Iweala, Sanusi to speak at African women’s summit By Etuka Sunday, with agency report

frican Women Economic Summit (AWES), in partnership with the African Development Bank (AFDB), New Faces New Voices (NFNV) is hosting its second African Women Economic Summit in Lagos, where African government, regulators, research and academic institutions, nongovernmental organisations, big

business and civil society are expected to discuss topics focusing on the development of women in finance. The summit’s the theme is “African Women Financing the Future.” Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is expected to deliver the key note address at the event. Other Speakers at the conference are Dr. Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank; Mrs. Gra?a

Machel, Founder of New Faces New Voices, Ms Evelyn Oputu, Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Nigeria, Ms Nomsa Daniels, Executive Director, New Faces New Voices, Dr Nambura Koigi, Managing Director, Post Office Savings Bank, Kenya; Ms Audrey Mothupi, Director: Inclusive Banking, Standard Bank South Africa, Ms Ginette Yoman, Manager: Gender Division, African Development Bank and Ms Toyin Adeniji, Head: Women in

Business Programme. The summit would also have a team of panellists that would focus on understanding what regulators and business in Africa are doing to promote women. The confirmed panellist are Dr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Charles Konan Banny, former Governor, Central Bank of West African States; and Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, Governor, Central Bank of Kenya.

FG, firm provide subsidised N15bn expended on sesame seeds in Bauchi fertilisers to farmers From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

he West African Cotton Company (WACOT), has distributed assorted fertilisers to 4,593 farmers at half the market price under the Federal Government seeds multiplication programme. Launching the programme at the WACOT office in Mairuwa, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina state, a director with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Salisu Usman, disclosed that the programme would capture 25 million farmers within the next five years. He commended WACOT for its fertiliser distribution initiative and

the farmers for their orderly conduct during the exercise. The director urged stakeholders of the programme to educate farmers on benefits drivable from it, even as he called on youth to embrace farming in order to beat unemployment and boost food security. Speaking at the event, WACOT programme officer, Dr. Laxman Sigh, disclosed that 14,470 hectres of land had been earmarked for the programme in 2012. Sigh added that 20 metric tons of improved seeds had been distributed to farmers under the programme that covers Tsafe in Zamfara state, Funtua and Faskari in Katsina state and part of Gombe state.

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

bout 100,000 metric tonnes of sesame valued at N15 billion was used by farmers in the last cropping season in Bauchi state. The Program Manager with the State Agricultural Development Programme (BASDP), Dr. Ilyasu Aliyu Gital, revealed this while briefing newsmen in Bauchi yesterday , saying that four kg each of sesame seeds were distributed to 1,000 farmers during the season. Gital also disclosed that N9 million loan was given to farmers at Azare, Miya and Ningi which were fully repaid, as 100 farmers were trained on both pre and postharvest technology and on group

dynamics. He explained that the impact of group dynamics had started gaining recognition as an association has collected annual dues amounting to N300,000 and already produced seeds, fertilisers and chemicals for its members. Dr. Gital, who stated that sesame villages were established in Gololo and Miya, revealed Bauchi sesame is rated the best in the world, a feat that made other states in the federation to borrow from the state in terms of the crop production. The programme manager said on livestock production, his organisation rendered technological and advisory services on 4,560 cattle; 9,640 sheep; 11,000 goats, and 900 rabbits.

s the citizenry reels under economic challenges, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that “there is no good luck” in the country, hence Nigerians “must work hard” at their callings in order to succeed. Abubakar stated this at the weekend in a speech he delivered at the 13th graduation ceremony of El-Amin International School, Minna Niger state and launch of the school’s year book. He stressed that Nigerians “must remain focused on your goals and objectives in life until you have achieve the success that you desire.” He said that El-Amin international school is a bequest of investment value and the generations of Nigerians that would have been educated here in the years to come will be grateful for the opportunity given to them to achieve their desired aspirations. The former vice president donated N10m to launch the school’s year book and urged the students to be serious “for there is nothing you can do perfectly well without education. My greatest passion in life is education. I can do anything for education.”

Turkey pledges to partner Nigeria in steel sector By Mohammed Kandi

he Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ali Rifat Koksal, has said his country would take Nigeria as a big partner and explore areas of collaboration with Nigeria’s ministry of Mines and Steel Development in order to develop the steel sector. Koksal, who led a delegation of the Turkish Steel Exporters Association to the ministry in Abuja, said the partnership was necessary to enhance the bilateral ties between both countries. Chairman of the Turkish Board of Steel Exporters Association, Namik Ekinci said they were at the ministry to strengthen relationship with Nigeria and seek ways of promoting trade with Nigerian business communities. Namik lauded President Goodluck Jonathan’s determination to place Nigeria among the first twenty biggest economies in the world by the year 2020, saying that the government of Turkey was ready to be part of the vision.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 11

Absence of EFCC counsel stalls Daniel’s trial

he trial of former governor of Ogun, Chief Gbenga Daniel was yesterday stalled by the absence of Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, the lead prosecution counsel. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Daniel is currently standing trial before Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje of an Ogun State High Court on a 38count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Mabekoje had on June 29 at the last sitting, adjourned the case

Minister lauds FRSC’s emergency toll-free line By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

he Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has commended the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), for the initiative of the National Emergency Toll-Free 3 Digits Line 122, saying it aligns with the transformation agenda of the administration. Chukwu gave this commendation yesterday at the FRSC’s headquarters in Abuja, while commissioning the emergency line. He said that the new line will go a long way in saving road users who often die due to lack of contact to the appropriate authorities to evacuate them from accident scenes. “Road traffic crashes have claimed several lives in this country and caused untold hardship to several people. It is worrisome that several victims of this carnages die as a result of absence or slow emergency response. “This is even more pronounced due to lack of National Emergency Toll-Free Line. It is therefore gratifying that this new initiative represents a significant boost in closing the gap”, Chukwu said. Earlier, the Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, said that the new initiative was necessitated by the need to save the lives of road users during accidents.

to Monday for continuation of trial following the inability of the prosecution to bring up two of its witnesses. Rotimi had apologised to the court for the absence of the two witnesses, who according to him, left the court in anger on June 5, complaining that “their time was being wasted”. At the resumed trial yesterday, Mr. Tayo Olukotun, one of the prosecution counsels informed the court that Jacobs was unavoidably absent. He, however, told the court that the defence had a prior knowledge of the development. Olukotun, therefore, prayed the court to adjourn the case till Thursday. Mrs. Titilola Akinlawon, a defence counsel, confirmed fore knowledge of Rotimi's absence, explaining that it was on personal and professional ground. Akinlawon, who did not oppose the adjournment, however, said that the prosecution ought to have informed the court before Monday in line with the best practices. Mabekoje adjourned the case till Thursday for continuation of trial. (NAN)

Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (left) administering polio vaccine on a child, during the launch of National Immunisation Plus Day (NIPD), on Sunday in Maiduguri. Photo: NAN

Jega faces contempt charge over Edo guber polls By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

or planning to deploy the procured collapsible transparent ballot boxes for the conduct of the July 14, 2012 governorship elections in Edo State, a Federal High Court in Abuja has commenced contempt proceedings against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega. Already, a notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Court Order (“Form 48’’) has been issued against INEC, Jega and the Registrar of Patent, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industries. Justice Adamu, in the notice made available to newsmen over the weekend, said the respondents would be guilty of contempt and

liable to imprisonment if they failed to comply with his order barring the deployment of the procured transparent ballot boxes for the poll without first seeking the consent of the patent owner to the boxes. “Take notice that unless you obey the directives contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison,’’ the judge held. It will be recalled that the court had in its judgment of June 5, 2012 declared illegal the use of the collapsible transparent ballot boxes used for the 2011 general elections by INEC without the consent of the owner of the patent right to the boxes. The plaintiff had approached the court contending that it has subsisting exclusive and bona fide

Insecurity: Benue Links boss laments low patronage From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

he General Manager of Benue Links, the Benue state-owned transport outfit, Mr. John Baka, has decried the high insecurity in the northern part of the country, complaining that has had a big toll on the operations of the company. Mr. Baka who made the lamentation in a chat with journalists in his office at the weekend, said the company experiences low patronage as a result of the security challenges compelling them to cut operations to states like Borno, Sokoto and

Kaduna. He also regretted the inability of the Federal Government to provide mass transit buses as part of the palliative measures of the fuel subsidy as promised by President Goodluck Jonathan. The GM said that the company had gone ahead to acquire over 16 new Marcopolo buses worth over N108 million from a loan secured from Unity Bank, adding too that they have made request from the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment for 20 Marcopolo buses, 10 city buses and 10 Toyota coaster buses.

patent right to the collapsible transparent boxes used by INEC for the conduct of the 2011 polls. Bedding Holdings which specializes in general fabrication and manufacture of steel metal products said the collapsible transparent ballot box was among many of its innovations duly registered with exclusive patent right issued to it by the Registrar of Patents in the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Certificate of Registration of the Patent Right Number RP 12994 and Registration of Industrial Designs Rights Number RD 5946 on the boxes which was issued by the ministry to the plaintiff on January 12, 1998 for five year period, was renewed and extended January 12,2003 and further extended January 12,

2008 respectively to expire in 2013. It alleged that INEC violated its rights by its failure to seek its approval and consent before awarding the contract for the procurement of the boxes used for the 2011 general elections. The plaintiff’s counsel, Mr. John Okoriko had urged the court to hold that the contract as well as the use of the boxes in utter disregard to the plaintiff’s patent rights was contrary to the clear provisions of Section 6(1), 19 and 25 of the Patent and Design Act, Cap P2LFN, 2004. Justice Bello upheld the claims by the plaintiff and also declared illegal a parallel patent right issued to EMCHAI over Envopak ballot boxes purportedly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, sometimes in 2006. The judge held that the patent right of the plaintiff over the ballot boxes took priority over the subsequent registration issued to EMCHAI.

Truck damages PHCN transmission Meanwhile, “a team of TCN engineers line in Lagos have already been mobilised to the site to By Muhammad Sada

truck crashed into the equipment of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Lagos region, during the weekend at the junction of new Oko-Oba Road, Abule-Egba, cutting off power supply to Ikeja Industrial Estate and Agege. This is contained in a statement issued by Mrs. Celestina Oshin, the Public Affairs Manager of the TCN. The statement said the incident which resulted in the cutting off of the Ota-Ogba 132KVA transmission line, ruptured the cross arm of Transmission Tower No. 19 located at Abule-Taylor.

commence repair work, which will last four weeks and cost some millions of naira and the damaged cross arm on the tower will be repaired and five spans of aluminum conductor (line) will be replaced from Transmission Tower 16 to Transmission Tower 19”, it said. The statement said that customers in the affected areas would be connected to another source and urged motorists to drive carefully to reduce such incidents, saying that the money that would be spent to repair the damaged equipment could have been used to improve electricity supply to the areas.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

Edo guber election as INEC and Jonathan's biggest litmus test yet

ven before then President Obasanjo made his infamous ‘do-or-die affair’ remark in 2007 about that year's general elections, elections since the advent of the current democratic dispensation had been anything but peaceful affairs. But never more so as is presently the case. That unfortunate unpresidential gaffe would seem to have assumed a life of its own since then with elections increasingly becoming literally a matter of life and death in many cases. The forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo state is a case in point. Expectedly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and President Goodluck Jonathan have been assuring the nation that Saturday's gubernatorial election in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)-controlled state will be free and fair. The President is more eloquent on the matter. Speaking about the election during his visit to the state last week, he had this to say: "It was here in this state that I said that we must change the way we do elections in this country; this time around, there will be no thuggery, it is going to be one man one vote. I came here to promise the people of Edo state that they should keep faith with that promise. "This morning before I came, I asked the Inspector-General of Police, 'Are you ready for Edo State?' He said yes. I asked the Chief of Defence Staff, 'Are you ready for Edo

state?' He said yes. "I guarantee 100 percent security for your election and there will be no manipulation, election results will be entered at the various units and nobody will change figures". However, the build up to the election has so far been anything but hope inspiring. From May to date, there were two fatal incidents with political undertone recorded, in

“

the Edo gubernatorial election is about ego contest between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the self-styled godfather of Edo politics and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Tony Anenih addition to an attempted assassination in the state. The yet to be unraveled brutal murder of Mr Oyerinde Olaitan, the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Friday, May 4, 2012, came just six days after the governor's convoy was involved in a fatal accident that claimed the lives of three journalists. Oyerinde was shot dead by four gunmen who invaded his house at

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1am. And a day after the fatal convoy accident, the home of the Edo state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Louis Odion, was invaded by four gunmen at about 2.45 am. Luckily, he was not in the house at the time. Added to these unfortunate incidents are the inflammatory battle cries coming from the chieftains of the ruling ACN and, especially, the opposition PDP. The President, VicePresident Namadi Sambo and the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, have made their share of powerful rhetoric. But as many observers note, More than anything else, the Edo gubernatorial election is about ego contest between Governor Oshiomhole and the self-styled godfather of Edo politics and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Tony Anenih, a.k.a. Mr. fix it. It is therefore expected that none of the two would give away an inch to the other in the contest for the soul of the state come July 14. However, in our view, the biggest threat to the conduct of a free and fair election comes not from the rhetoric of party stalwarts or political thugs, but from compromised electoral and security officials. No amount of official assurances will guarantee free and fair elections where the two most critical elements in making that to happen are compromised. Sadly, that has defined the conduct of our elections most of the time from 1999 to date.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

By Chris Badejo

r. Femi Otedola’s latest outing in his confrontation with Farouk Lawan in their bitter war of word, over the bribery issue is to cause to be aired on television, a telephone conversation purportedly between two of them. Some people based on the purported telephone conversion have opined that Mr. Farouk Lawan, former Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee that investigated the seemingly officially sanctioned abuse in the subsidy regime of the oil sector, is guilty of soliciting and taking bribes. Those who claimed that the voice they heard in the purported telephone conversation was obviously Farouk’s, forget so quickly that a certain voice impostor and impersonator was hired to speak in a purported interview, the late President Umar Yar’Adua supposedly granted from his sick bed in Saudi Arabia, that he was almost fully recuperated and would return shortly to assume duty. The former President who purportedly assured the country that he was returning in due course to assume duty, later was flown to the country in an air ambulance with the airport thrown into total darkness to ostensibly conceal his then worsening health condition. The point being made here is that a voice, many may have purported to be Farouk’s, might after all be a fluke, in a well-orchestrated campaign of calumny to discredit, Mr. Farouk Lawan and his committee report, by powerful forces inside government, using Mr. Femi Otedola as a front. In the past eight years, or so, Mr. Femi Otedola has been a member of the well-known notorious clique that bankrolls and installs regimes that first work for them and protect their interest before the country. The honey pot of this notorious cabal or clique is the Oil and Gas

PAGE 13

Otedola / Farouk face-off: Matters arising to know how bribe money are moved and taken, and certainly not in installments. The Obasanjo men who bribed for the third term can explain how bribe money are actually moved. And why would Farouk bargain with Femi Otedola when he certainly knows his principals in the government hierarchy. Why did former President Obasanjo labeled the

sector, the country’s most viable revenue earner. Taking on the corruption and massive theft in the sector is like driving a dagger to the heart of the clique and the government that basically exist for them. From the beginning, the diminutive Farouk Lawan was up against an impossible task, even though he and his committee thought otherwise. With Femi Otedola and gargantuan armada of state machine, set against him, Farouk and his committee report could only be destined to the smithereens. Watching Mr. Femi Otedola radiate and exude confidence in admitting to doling money to Farouk with a ludicrous claim that it was “a sting operation” set up by him and his cohorts in the state security apparatus, one wonders what kind of “sting operations” would let the ‘bribe taker’ walk away with his loot and spent it before he was caught. The essence of a ‘sting operation’ as it universally known is to nail the bribe taker with the marked money which the taker is usually unaware of. Mr. Femi Otedola, who walks with a swagger of an all conqueror, along with his tribe of stateminted billionaires does not have any difficulty in announcing to the whole world that he gave money for bribes. While he has not qualms in defining the money as bribe as if it is virtue to do so, Mr. Farouk Lawan has admitted that he received money but not a bribe. Apart from taking on Mr. Farouk Lawan and his erstwhile committee, the state-backed

privileges, mandated to pry into the bribery saga to dare him in public. There are key issues to resolve in the alleged bribe for clearance saga involving Mr. Femi Otedola and Farouk Lawan. If Otedola is to be believed as he claimed that his company has no business, been investigated in the first instance, whose interest does he actually represent when he set out his “sting operation” to nail Mr. Farouk Lawan? Could it be said that the subsidy scandal reached the hierarchy of the regime that its friends in the socalled private sector were called in, to shoot down a committee that was unwilling to play ball. Farouk Lawan has been in the National Assembly long enough

National Assembly members, “rogues and armed robbers”, after which the alarm was raised that a thief among them was been caught. Since Obasanjo didn’t get his desire for the National Assembly leadership, there is no doubt that a strategy of selective and incremental blackmail that will hobble the current leadership is under way that would eventually pave the way for the vindictive kleptocrat to have his way. The bribe saga been systematically oiled and greased and even gradually widened to engulf the institution of the parliament is a State – backed orchestrated ploy to institute a malleable leadership in the

Affairs, Lagos but before then, I had read and heard so much about him. My next meeting with the late politician was at No 8, Oba Akinjobi Street in GRA, Ikeja. The occasion was the naming ceremony of Maryam, daughter of Captain Usman Muktar, of the Accident Investigation Bureau of the Aviation Ministry and Son – inlaw of Abubakar Rimi. Maryam therefore, is grand daughter of late Abubakar Rimi, former governor of Kano state. It was a quiet event with just a handful of people but MKO Abiola came and was in the same car with Rimi just when he had won the ticket as candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and he brought along, a Mercedes car gift for the little celebrant. Generosity was like MKO’s ‘middle’ name. The third most important encounter I witnessed of the late politician was on May 5, 1993 at the National Theatre, Igamu, Lagos and the occasion was the Town Hall Forum MKO and his party, the SDP had with artisans, market women academicians, students, various associations, just name it!

Professor Wole Soyinka was there. One should therefore expect that grammar on the side of the professor will meet proverbs on the part of the politician. Proverbs were always the landmarks and style Abiola used either before or shortly after the June 12 Presidential election, the freest election the country ever had for now. Many examples are available to illustrate these proverbs. I will present some of these proverbs not in a sequential order and will give that of the duo- the professor and the politician last. At the birthday of little Maryam, when MKO as he was popularly called, wanted to tell the little crowd that was at the event how his friendship with Abubakar Rimi helped in winning the SDP primaries. He said it would have been impossible for him to win, were there no people like Rimi. He put it in a proverb as “no matter how intelligent one is, he cannot clap with one hand”. At the forum in the National theatre, he was asked what he intended to do, to improve the standard of education in Nigeria, if he became president. He replied that “education is the most

important single possession anybody can have”. Putting it in a proverb, MKO went on “a person without education is like a man without eyes and cannot see”. When the June 12 election presidential election was annulled by the General Ibrahim Babangida government which said the election was inconclusive as organised by the electoral commission then. Naturally, MKO protested and his first reaction was “you can’t kill a bouncing new born baby because the midwife is bad”. He further shook his head in disapproval by using another proverb - “you can’t throw away a baby with the bathing water”. Soon after this annulment of the election, surprisingly, many politicians supported the military action in the annulment saga. And talking to the press about such attitude of those politicians whom he thought would have rallied round him to protect his mandate, he singled out one of them from eastern part of the country and said, “ah, that one, he is a thirsty man who wants to drink water from a well but will first choose to urinate into the well before fetching the water to drink”.

offensive of Mr. Otedola is threatening to soak in, the parliament, the most representative of the three arms of government. Mr. Femi Otedola and his ilk who thrives and prospers under dark clouds and secrecy has suddenly turned a gadfly of openness, taunting the House Committee on ethics and

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The bitter truth is that, if Nigeria quasi democracy is endangered, it is its greatest beneficiaries that threaten it

house of representative in the way the former President of the Appeal Court was hounded out to make way for the preferred judgment of the appeal court in the last Presidential election. Incidentally the desperate clique that orchestrated this calumny against the branch of the state does not appreciate that it chips away the credibility of the entire regime and leave the back door wide open for the re-entry of antidemocratic forces. The bitter truth is that, if Nigeria quasi democracy is endangered, it is its greatest beneficiaries that threaten it. The Otedola / Farouk face-off look every inch a set-up to achieve a larger and more heinous objective but in the mortal words of MKO Abiola, when a wild fire rages, it consumes its own very instigator. Mr. Feme Otedola is increasing in looking like a lazy businessman who prefers to front for dark political forces than attend to his business except even his main business all these times have been political hatchet job, with his supposed business as a decoy. No real business man will relish Otedola recent lime light secretly recording private meetings and engagement for later blackmail in the public, if Mr. Otedola is genuine business man, he should be worried if any one would ever deal with him in confidence and confidence is the most valued capital in business. Chris Badejo is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja.

Abiola, Soyinka, June 12 and proverbs W By Ben Adam Shemang

hen Professor Wole Soyinka and Chief MKO Abiola meet what else do you expect – grammar and proverbs from the two icons respectively. Well, Nigerians have marked another anniversary of the annulment of the June 12 Presidential election in Nigeria. The prime character has always been Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, popularly called MKO Abiola. He was born on August 24, 1937 but died on July 7, 1998. The Pillar of Sports in Africa, business mogul and politician is not with us alive but memories of him live with us. And meeting the chief was any reporter’s delight. He was always speaking using the rich Yoruba proverbs to illustrate his point. I first made Chief MKO Abiola face to face at a book launch entitled: Challenges of External Broadcasting edited by the first Director General of Voice of Nigerian, Mallam Yaya Abubakar and Dr Justin Labinjoh at the Nigerian Institute of International

MKO flew out of the country at a point to gather support of the international community to support his victory and to mount pressure on the military to hand over power to him as the rightful and lawful winner of the election. That was shortly after General Sani Abacha seized power from Chief Ernest Shonekan, the Head of the Interim National Government. In one of telephone interviews by an international radio station, MKO was asked why he would not remain in Nigeria and fight for his mandate by taking on Abacha head on. His reply was, “only a mad man moves towards a moving train”. And now let’s see the encounter between Professor Soyinka and MKO Abiola where the politician effectively used proverbs to illustrate very key issues. I have chosen to present it verbatim because I was there and still have most of the recording during the event. The background was that, Professor Soyinka was definitely not happy that military President, General Ibrahim Babangida used military fiat and might to create two political parties Contd. on page 14

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By Muhammad Kabir Aliyu

t is a pity that the so-called ethno-religious conflicts that have bedeviled the northern states, especially the central zone, for nearly two decades today and on which the affected states and the Federal Government have so far refused to take decisive punitive actions, are now threatening to engulf the entire country. Whether by design or accident, the “Boko Haram” insurgency which is increasingly proving to be championed by both Muslim and Christian elements, as many of the arrests have proven, is now used as the launching pad for catapulting Nigeria into the orbit of fullblown pseudo-religious conflict. We say ‘pseudo’ because all these years religion has only been used in this country as a camouflage or façade for what are actually personal political and economic pursuit driven by the overriding greed and ambitions of some politicians and their surrogates. Beginning from the early 1980s such pseudo-religious movements with Islamic coloration started with the Maitatsine saga in Kano which quickly spread like wild fire to Kaduna, Borno and then Gongola states, devouring large number of mainstream Muslims who were dismissed as unbelievers by Muhammadu Marwa (Maitatsine), the founder of the movement. Since then the country has witnessed the

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Rise of ethno-religious settlements and national security emergence of various sects Governors of Kaduna state from vacated by Christians and they virtually become claiming Islamic orthodoxy, the Makarfi to Yakowa, who have been have current Boko Haram reigning facing serious sectarian exclusively Muslim enclaves. This supreme. disturbances have not realized or led to the emergence of Sabon However, it is pertinent to are slow to appreciate the long term Tasha, Abuja Junction and Gonin as principally and recall that but for the quick consequences of the development Gora intervention about two years ago of what are becoming exclusively exclusively Christian enclaves. Apparently, the Kaduna State by the Governor of Niger state, Dr. religious settlements right under Babangida Aliyu, in the their noses. This process started way Government refused to intervene to make sure that development of the warring a veritable factions were religious reconciled and settlement r e f u g e e s somewhere Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text returned to their near Mokwa in messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written homes. Now this Niger state, this contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 situation has country might instilled what is have witnessed words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and now clearly a something a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed permanent worse than to: enmity between Boko Haram. It the Christian was his forceful The Editor, elements of not dispersal of that Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, only Kaduna settlement with 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. metropolis and 3000 sectarian Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com their Muslim inhabitants SMS: 07037756364 compatriots but that saved similar divide is Niger state and also presently even the Federal Capital Territory next door back in 2002 as a result of the so- defining the relationship between of the possibility of being the called ethno-religious conflict in the all Muslims and all Christians in epicenter of faith-based armed state. Many Christian inhabitants, Kaduna State and even beyond. insurgency which, unlike Boko especially from the southern part So much so that whenever any Haram, would have been anchored of the state, moved to Kaduna socio-political crisis erupts under to a territorial stronghold. South. Particularly settlements the guise of religion, whether in Unfortunately, however, the like Rigasa and Tudun Wada were the state or elsewhere, the new

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Abiola, Soyinka, June 12 and proverbs Continued from page 13

to contest in the June 12 presidential election. The Parties were, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, whose candidate was Chief MKO Abiola and the National Republican Convention, NRC whose candidate was Bashir Tofa. This was how it went: Soyinka: Thank you very much. I want to quickly introduce myself. I want to say that I am not here as Wole Soyinka but as a representative of the African democratic League (applause from audience) I have a brief statement and a question. The reason why we are here is to throw our weight and support behind the efforts of the elected representatives of the people Senate and House of Assembly who met today, I thinks finally to tell the military regime that the date, August 27th, must not be breached for any reason whatever (applause) and that does not mean of course that we have endorsed the whole System which has brought you Bashorun to this point today or Tofa for that matter. We have had to make do with a system which will probably go down in the Guinness book of record as one of the most exorbitant, extravagant monstrosities of democratic systems (applause) ever inflicted on any electorate. We said it on the word go as each choice was made, we warned about the difficulties, about the penalties of pursuing goal. However, we are compelled to go along with these because we felt that any prize is worth paying for getting rid of the military finally from our political life (applause) what this means is, and the message which I’m giving to you and your rival,

Tofa, is that we will not accept any excuse which arise from the so called admitted imperfections of a system imposed by the military government that we will not accept that as an excuse to further postpone the stay of the military regime. In other words, critical as we have been, profoundly critical as we have been, we are willing to live with the consequences of those imperfections. We will not do anything we will not accept any reason for prolonging the agony which this country has been going through in this incredibly expensive and prolonged democratic agenda. Now that is the statement. The question-and it is related to the statement. The question then is this we all agree that the system that brought us here today is a monstrosity and one which we believe should be terminated as quickly as possible. When you come to power, if you come to power, do you undertake, of course, this is not just my thinking alone but the thinking of my organization; there was a letter in today’s Sketch which actually echoes the very question I’m about to read. People often call the two political parties government parastatals for good reasons but we say, any chance we just say, let these people go. Now when finally this transitional democratic government comes to power, will you as the head of it, would you agree that this legacy left to us, this unnatural legacy left to us by the military regime be dismantled quickly? In other words, that the two parastatals be dissolved and over the period of your presidency that a totally new and genuinely democratic system of elections be put in place in this country because this system is hopelessly flawed. Hopelessly, the

structure is fragmented in so many pieces. And this is one of the reasons. We cannot accept that the fractures in the system are used as an excuse for quote and unquote, for disqualifying any candidate now that you are here. It is about time that the electorate get their own disqualification. The electorate will disqualify you or Tofa (applause); it is now, the time for election but having gone that far, if you agree that the system is really hopeless an imposed one, do you undertake to review it, to dissolve the new parties, you know use your machinery whatever it takes dissolve and actually set up a genuinely democratic system of government? That is my question. Thank you very much and goodluck” (applause). Abiola: Ah I understand what ehm, our respected Nobel Lauret was driving at (clears his throat). The Question may be you may better put it this way. Here is a political programme we are implementing if I get elected President under it will I dissolve the parties and then allow new ones to come up? That is the question. Ok. Ehm I, I, I think from the reading of the constitution I don’t think the president who ever he may be has the power under the constitution, to dissolve the parties (applause). You see, ehm the best he can do is to submit a bill to the House which if it is passed and he assents to it, it become law. I don’t intend to be a military dictator. People will then say I dissolved this thing. There is a limit to how far any child can call his father a bastard (laughter and applause) he gave birth to you so you don’t get up and say baba you are a basterd oo! (laughter) This is a position which can be taken by people

like himself who have not taken part in this process. Definitely, there could be imperfections in any system and this one we’re going through is not an exception. But there is no way you can get a baby live or dead without seeing some amount of blood whether by natural birth or by Caesarean operation, there must be blood. But when the baby is born and it is bouncing and crying the agony of labour is forgotten. Am I right? (yes!) That is the way I see this will go. The constitution given to us by the colonial power was the constitution approved by the House of Common in England. It is like waking up one day, finching some lines on your palm. You don’t know who drew it. You don’t know the meaning. You can’t change it you carry it along. I don’t know of anybody who because he didn’t like the type of lines in his palm, will cut his hand (laughter/applause). So that is the way it is and ehm, if the National Assembly of course passes the law that the instrument that they used to become members of the Assembly was so bad that that instrument should be recalled then what happens to them, Yoruba say: epa n para e o loun n pa aja, nigba aja ba ku nko? I mean the parasite on the dog does not know that if the dog dies the parasite too cannot exist. It is a very philosophical issue it is not a very practical issue but I will leave it to the members of the National Assembly whose duty it is to look at laws, their banishment, amendment or repeal. Thank you (applause). Ben Adam Shemang works at Voice of Nigeria, Abuja and is reachable on shemangb@yahoo.com

settlements established by the Muslim and Christian elements at places like Rigasa, Gonin Gora, Marraban Rido, Sabon Tasha, Abuja Junction and all other settlement dominated by a particular religion, automatically become killing fields for any innocent Muslim or Christian who happen to be in that vicinity as a traveller passing through, businessman in the area or lives there as a minority. The case of Gonin Gora is particularly catastrophic both for the inhabitants of Kaduna state and other people in Nigeria whether citizens or foreigners. This is because the settlement and its satellite villages along the Kaduna-Abuja dual carriage highway have become not only a centre of armed robberies but also a killing field for the robbers and murderers disguising as Christian militia who block the highway even on the slightest disturbance in the Northern states. Their common tactics are to rob travellers, kill them and burn their vehicles or throw their dead bodies into wells to destroy evidence. This is unacceptable to any true religion. This trend was noticed since the time of the Abacha administration and the then Federal Government directed the Makarfi administration to dismantle the settlements and the inhabitants dispersed to guarantee the safety of life and property on this very important highway linking most of the Northern states and the FCT, but little or nothing was done. Recently after the unfortunate attack on churches in Zaria and Kaduna, the criminals, disguising as Christian militia have again killed several people and burnt vehicles leading to other senseless attacks on Christians by hooligans and criminals disguising as Muslim militia in Kawo and other areas of Kaduna. This trend is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue in Kaduna State and even in other states in the north like in Jos Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe, just to mention a few. To achieve true reconciliation and security, the governments at all levels must not allow its citizens to live according to their ethnic groups or religion. We must continue to live with one another in peace as admonished by the faiths that we claim to follow. People must be allowed to live anywhere they wish to live as citizens and as human beings. It is only the Government that can ensure that either such settlements are dismantled or made to accommodate all in other to balance the situation to foster reconciliation, brotherhood and security. We cannot build a united and peaceful country in a situation where ethno-religious nationalism are encouraged by government even in the manner our settlements are patterned. Dr. Muhammad Kabir Aliyu is the ASUU Chairman, ABU Zaria.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 15

Electricity outages: Symptom of Nigeria’s economic underdevelopment By Bsahir Sa’ad Ibrahim

lectricity is the prerequisite for National Economic Growth which led to National Development. Nigerian leaders especially the past ones have tried to extricate the country from the malaise of underdevelopment through generating electricity for domestic and industrial use. This was the idea behind establishing Electric Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) in 1950 by the then Colonial Government to generate and transmit power nationwide. This Corporation worked seriously especially with the set up of Niger Dam Authority (NDA) in 1962. The NDA constructed Kainji Dam that is associated with hydroelectric plant. National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) came on board in 1972 all with the view of improving electricity in Nigeria. Notwithstanding, NEPA was

renamed to Power Holding Company (PHCN). The rhetoric here is that Nigerian began to look at it as an ‘old wine in a new bottle’. Thus, NEPA was tagged Never Expect Power Always while PHCN was tagged Problem Has Come to Nigeria. Whatever trade mark given to it, the hope is to have adequate power supply in Nigeria for National development and employment upholding for those working in industries solely depended on Electricity for generating power In 1980s Electricity situation was seriously improved because two units of 120 Megawatts were added in Kainji hydroelectric station. Another 120 megawatts was built at Shiroro. Yet, there was no proper maintenance and no replacement of spare parts in these power stations Hence, electricity generating capacity is perennially declining. Unfortunately, PHCN is now generating only 3,200 megawatts while Nigerians need 8, 000 megawatts. Why is this

happening? To my opinion, the Nigerians are not ready to improve and change the situation. For instance, Governments offices, Government Houses, Government institutions and even PHCN offices are using generators to get electricity and some people are suppliers of petroleum or diesel to these offices and institutions. Others have

Association of Nigeria in Lagos recently, Obasanjo practically scoffed at the 7.5% growth rate claimed by the Jonathan administration. He told his audience that with the poverty level rising to a “worrisome” 69% in 2012 as against 38% in 2007 when his tenure ended, this government needed to explain the growing GDP figure it’s bandying about. Emphasising that “something is wrong somewhere,” Obasanjo said the persistent rise in poverty rate puts a definitive lie to the official growth rate. It’s the kind of criticism he would not take kindly to while he was in office. Were he the one at the receiving end this moment, he was bound to promptly deploy his gang of irascible spokespersons to counter such a telling confutation with all the combative feistiness they could muster. But Nigerians need not worry themselves about how the ex-president feels about the economy. That is for him and the man he foisted on them to settle. In any case it’s a family affair, to borrow the language the ruling PDP often use to bamboozle and shut out the people in any contentious matter involving its members. In the past thirteen years, the party has built and sustained governance on the podium of impunity and deception which Obasanjo himself constructed, nurtured and protected. So if the Jonathan administration now churns out questionable figures with regard to the status of the economy, be sure he’s simply being true to type. It’s impossible for Mr. Jonathan to rise above the character of his party.

Retailing falsehood is in the DNA of PDP. The art of falsehood was sufficiently displayed during the doomed debate on petroleum subsidy. Agents of government and PDP swore that subsidy existed and that if not withdrawn outright the economy would collapse in no time. It has since turned out from investigation that there was no subsidy at all on the product, and

better opportunity to import generators from developed countries (who use electricity in their industries to produce generators). With these non challenged attitude, our electricity problem will hardly be solved and Industries cannot operate. Now engineers are swapping from Motor cycles repairers to Generators repairers. Simply because it pays

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To my opinion, the Nigerians are not ready to improve and change the situation. For instance, Governments offices, Government Houses, Government institutions and even PHCN offices are using generators to get electricity and some people are suppliers of petroleum or diesel to these offices and institutions

much and the majority get electricity from these generators. To this end, Federal Government needs to pass executive bill to our Legislative arm of Government for enacting law that will prohibit Government and public offices as well residences from using Generators. There should also be agency to enforce the said law. This, will ultimately propel general public to agitate and seek for everlasting solutions to electric problem. It is generally known that, our industries are closed down, teaming youth are becoming unemployment, crime rate is increasing, environment is polluted and contributing to global warming, cost of production is doubling because of epileptic power supply and the consequences are trickling down to the Nigerian masses. Bashir Sa’ad Ibrahim is in the Deepartment of Research & Consultancy, Kano Chamber of Commerce.

Drama of a nation in rebirth By Godwin Onyeacholem

or most Nigerians, the unfolding drama of a nation engulfed in the throes of rebirth has become the standard fare. In this absorbing entertainment of unequalled capacity the scenes rapidly roll down with the furious intensity of Gurara falls. All of it tragic and heartbreaking, rather than amusing. Mixed with anger, gloom pervades the nation-space in ways the citizenry has never experienced. It’s grim, toxic and disabling – a shattering taxonomy of dread whose prognosis is wrapped in forbidding omen. Under the current contaminated atmosphere of degeneration, those who categorise Nigeria as an irrefutable “basket case” are certain to earn a decisive approbation of disinterested observers, whether here or yonder. With a President that has sounded a note of warning to his people that he doesn’t “give a damn” at the helm of affairs, it bears no repeating that the range of decay is already on the track of relentless expansion. And there is a slew of evidence to this effect. Make no mistake, even President Goodluck Jonathan’s greatest benefactor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose incredibly egotistic and deluded administration went a long way to feed the lack of vision seen in the two administrations that succeeded him, now sees misery all around him, instead of the much touted hope he foresaw during his time in office. At the 40 th Annual General Meeting of Manufacturers

corruption battle is yet to take off in the real sense, President Jonathan recently insisted through a statement by his Special Adviser on media, Dr. Reuben Abati, that he remained tough on corruption. However, his body language, as most Nigerians read it, points to the contrary. And he has affirmed this by stating bluntly that he would not for any reason make his assets known to the public.

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Majority of the Northern Elders who went to see President Goodluck Jonathan cannot wash their hands clean of the current carnage unleashed by Boko Haram. Why are they shifting the blame to somebody else? that what they call subsidy was a massive, well-orchestrated swindle involving trillions of naira being paid to friends of those in government and supporters of the party. And even after this fact came to light there was no remorse of any kind, whether in terms of apology to the Nigerian people or in terms of any concrete effort to first stop the organised stealing going on in the oil sector, and then round up the perpetrators and bring them to justice. In response to constant straightforward criticisms from the public that the anti-

This only helps to indicate to the public where he and his administration stand on the issue of corruption. Though he made an ineffectual show of sacking the management and board of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the eve of the official retirement of some of them, it ends there. Yet a man who is out to fight corruption ought to follow up with a process for securing punishment for those involved in wrongdoing. Without this, how do you deter future transgressors? And what about

omitting from the sack Diezani Allison- Madueke, the chairman of the citadel of sleaze who also doubles as the minister of petroleum resources? New appointments have since been made in NNPC but they fall far short of public expectations. For those fascinated by clichés, they are likely to recall that in successive PDP administrations since 1999 the more things change the more they remain the same. In this sense, the oil subsidy report submitted by a committee of the House of Representatives effectively becomes hostage to the destructive politics of the ruling party. Swamped by allegations of bribery by billionaire businessman and PDP funder, Femi Otedola, against chairman of the committee, Farouk Lawan, PDP backers whom the report mostly identified as the guilty parties in the subsidy rip-off are beginning to work hard to render the report not implementable. One by one, they are heading for the courts, and in a country where the judiciary is already neutered by elite corruption, the futility of the report should not be in doubt. To all intents and purposes, the oil subsidy report is heading nowhere but the dustbin, no thanks to the promoters of the theory of “family affair.” Now the masses are beginning to get the hint. In no time, bottled-up frustrations are starting to morph into unplanned anger, which must now be co-ordinated for a direct confrontation with the wilful band of predatory forces of greed and plunder. Godwin Onyeacholem is journalist based in Abuja.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

FCTA hands over 144 patrol vehicles to security agencies By Josephine Ella

n a bid to complement the effort of the Federal Government (FG) towards addressing the prevailing security challenges in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) the FCT administration yesterday, handed over 114 new vehicles to various security agencies. While handing over the

vehicles to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed said the assorted vehicles are equipped with security and communication gadgets to assist in confronting security challenges. Apart from the new vehicles which cost N900 million, according to the minister, the FCTA also handover 11 police posts and 3 police stations located in Karshi, Wuse, Utako,

Jabi, Durumi and Daki Biyu districts to the IGP. He hinted that a Security Trust Fund would soon be established for security agencies in partnership with the organised private sector, the diplomatic community and development partners. On his part, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, who received the vehicles on behalf of other

security agencies thanked the administration for the gesture and promised that the vehicles will be put to judicious use. The IGP warned that government will not tolerate recklessness by security operatives who would eventually man the vehicles. This was as he threaten that anyone found wanting would be sanctioned accordingly.

Undergraduate convicted for inflicting injury on roommate

n Abuja Magistrate’s Court yesterday, sentenced a 22-year-old undergraduate, Precious Uzoma, to 30 days imprisonment for injuring her roommate during a fight. She was, however, given an option of N1, 000 fine. The Police Prosecutor, Sergeant. Philip Appollos, had told the court that on July 3, 2012, at about 8.15 p.m., one Amina Mohammed reported a case of assault against her roommate at the Life Camp Police Station. Appollos said that the accused hit Mohammed on the head with a bottle during a quarrel, causing her injury. He said the complainant spent N2,500 for her medical bill as a result of the injury. He said the offence contravenes Section 247 of the Penal Code. The accused pleaded guilty but said: “Amina picked a knife first and cut my hand and I had to defend myself, so I picked a bottle which was closest to me and hit her head with it’’. The Magistrate, Hajiya Sadiya Mayana, asked Uzoma to pay the complainant N2,500 to defray the cost of treatment. (NAN)

Youths engaging in vocational training on alumininum fabrication in Kubwa, yesterday.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Council pledges to complete trailer park project soon By Adeola Tukuru

wagwalada Area Council has assured of urgent completion of its trailer park project to address the incessant blockage of AbujaLokoja road by trailer drivers in the council. The council secretary, Alhaji Usman Yahaya gave the assurance yesterday in Gwagwalada when he led a

delegation of the council to address trailer drivers over unlawful barricading of the road. He said the urgent completion of the trailer park would no doubt reduce regular clashes among drivers that had often resulted to barricading of Abuja-Lokoja road. He added that the completion of the project will also enhance the regulation of the activities of the drivers since they will be

made to operate under a union. The council secretary, who condemned wrong parking and use of wrong lanes by motorists, added that plans have been concluded to partner with law enforce agencies to ensure strict compliance with traffic rules and regulations. “In as much as construction is going on the road, there should be sanity and people should know that we have driving policy in Nigeria,” he emphasised.

Man, 30, docked for allegedly selling plot with forged papers

Karu Upper Area Court, A b u j a , yesterday, arraigned a 30-year-old man, Mohammed Abbasi, of Kaduna Road by Chichiah in Kaduna State, for alleged criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, forgery and cheating. Police prosecutor Mohammed Garuba told the court that Mr Godwin Ndunagu of No. 16 Nupe Street, Gbazango

in Kubwa, Abuja, petitioned the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, on the matter. Garuba said that in the petition, Ndunagu told the commissioner that the accused conspired with Lawal Kola, Abdullahi Ahmed and Moshood Musa, all now at-large, to deceive the complainant to buy a piece of land. He said the accused sold the plot of land with forged papers

to the complainant with address No. 443, Arab Road, Kubwa, for N2 million. Garuba added that when the complainant conducted a research on the said plot of land he discovered that the papers were fake. The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 97, 312, 364 and 320 of the Penal Code. The accused, however,

pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the Presiding Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted him bail in the sum of N2.5 million with one surety in like sum. Kagarko said the surety must be reasonable and reliable, and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court. He adjourned the case to August 13, 2012 for hearing. (NAN)

FCTA partners World Bank on HIV/AIDS prevention By Josephine Ella

he Federal Capital T e r r i t o r y Administration (FCTA) has signed an agreement with the World Bank for implementation of the HIV Program Development Project II (HPDP II) as part of efforts to reduce the HIV scourge in the territory. The Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Demola Onakomaiya, who flagged off a workshop in Abuja to mark the launch of the project, said that the HPDPII would further strengthen human and institutional capacity. He added that the HPDPII would also reinforce strong civil society platform, as well as an effective and efficient health sector HIV response in the FCT. Onakomaiya stressed that it was in demonstration of its commitment to the reduction of the scourge, that the Senator Bala Mohammed led FCT administration was collaborating with the World Bank. He explained that the administration had signed the subsidiary credit agreement and payment of counterpart funds which had resulted to the launch of the HPDP II. The secretary said that the HIV prevalence in the FCT had dropped 9.9 per cent in 20 08 to 8.6 per cent in 2010. He however said there was the need to ensure that the prevalence drop is sustained and added that HPDP II was designed to help in achieving a level of no new HIV infection in the territory. Speaking at the workshop, the Project Manager, FCT Agency for the Control of AIDS (FACA), Dr. Uche Okoro reiterated that the HPDP II was aimed at reducing the risk of HIV infections by scaling up HIV prevention interventions and to increase access to and utilisation of HIV counselling, testing, care and support services. “It supports the design and implementation of a revised HIV/AIDS guideline in order to expand and scaleup the non-public sector response to HIV/AIDS and provide direct funding to civil society networks operating in the different thematic areas of interventions in the FCT,” he added.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Examining the FCT health sector under Senator Mohammed FEATURE

he responsibility of making quality health care services available to the teeming Abuja populace is one out of the many challenges that has stared the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in the face since Abuja became the seat of power of the Nigerian government. Upon the transfer of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to Abuja, it did not take so long for Nigerians to be begin to relocate to the nation’s capital city, especially in search for greener pasture. This has since then been the case as the city daily witness an unprecedented influx of people from all parts of the country and this is more so in the last few years, due to the security challenges bedevilling states especially in the northern parts f the country. The consequences of this uncontrollable influx has been population explosion and the attendant effect of overcrowding in some parts of the territory, over-stretching of transport facilities, schools, water and hospital facilities among others. Successive administrations of the FCT had in the past made efforts to breach the gap in these respective areas while the influx still continues unabated. In the area of health care services, this has now become a challenge that the administration must of necessity brace trait to keep on tackling continuous as the demand of the ever increasing population continue to increase. Although, past administrations of the FCT made some efforts towards addressing these issues, the demand had steadily been on the rise. When the incumbent Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed took over the mantle of leadership of the Federal Capital Territory, like his predecessors, he listed the provision of quality and affordable health care services for residents as one of his priorities. This, he has been pursuing in a bid to create access to health care in line with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. The issue of abandoned hospital projects were one of the inherited projects that the administration had to tackle head long. For instance, the Karu, Utako hospitals had long been on ground without the necessary budgetary provisions for their eventual completion and functioning, however, with

The challenges that had been confronting the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) health sector had been absence of modern hospital equipment, inadequate medical personnel, lack of drugs and inadequate hospital space, which results to overcrowding in many hospitals run by the FCT administration. Our correspondent Josephine Ella takes a look at the efforts so far made by the present FCT administration under Senator Bala Mohammed, towards breaching these gaps. budgetary allocations, these projects are now on course The General Hospital Rubochi which was also abandoned, has recently been renovated, reconstructed, equipped and commissioned, which has now afforded residents the opportunity of having health services at their door step. On the other hand, the administration embarked on new and in some cases strived to complete on-going hospital infrastructures and aggressively scouted for qualified personnel as well as capacity building drive. For instance, in 2011, 80 beds capacity secondary care facilities were provided in FCT including the Zuba Cottage Hospital 40 Beds, Nyanya Hospital 20 beds, Gwarinpa Hospital 10 Beds and Kubwa 10 beds. Similarly, another 48 beds were provided under the Primary health Care at various locations of the FCT including the 12 beds each in Shere, Wasa, Apo Resettlement sites and Kubwa owner occupier site respectively, same year. In a bid to address the issue of shortage of manpower, the administration employed 900 Health workers cutting across all the health and medical professions in 2011. The administration has also established the FCT Primary Healthcare Development Board to oversee the primary healthcare in territory; aside the up-scaling of the FCT Mobile Outreach Programme (The Mailafiya). One other area that has witnessed an improvement is the equipment base of the hospitals as the administration has embarked on installation and commissioning of certain sensitive modern medical

Senator Bala Mohammed equipment under radiology which include 64-Slice Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner and Digital Fluoroscope X-Ray machine at the Asokoro District Hospital. It is worthy of note that there are only two of the later in West Africa and the only one in any known government hospital in Nigeria. Another stride is the procurement and installation of Digital X-Ray machine in Asokoro and Maitama District Hospitals by Senator Mohammed which happens to be the first in the entire Northern region of Nigeria; in addition to the Mammography Machine for detecting breast cancer in the Maitama District Hospital. The Asokoro District Hospital now has Ultra-Sound and Echo Cardiograph machine (HD 11 machine)

“

It is on record that the FCT Administration has been implementing its policy of freeantenatal and Under five programmes respectively which may not be divorced with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan ultimately identified to reduce child’s and maternal mortality rate

which is the only one in the country; while four new Static X-Ray machines have been installed in Gwarimpa, Wuse, Maitama District and Kubwa General Hospitals respectively. In the same vein, the administration has been able to procure four new Mobile X-Ray Units which have been deployed to Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse and Gwarimpa District Hospitals. This is in addition to the four new HD3 Ultra-Sound Machines (Philips) for Maitama, Gwarimpa, Wuse District and Nyanya General Hospitals, to help check pregnant women and patients with liver or abdominal medical cases. Also, the Senator Mohammed’s led administration has been able to establish Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Maitama, Aokoro and Wuse District hospitals respectively which services were hitherto provided only in the National Hospital in the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the FCT. With the installation and commissioning recently of an oxygen refill plant, the FCT Administration can now generate its medical oxygen in the Asokoro District Hospital. Under medical laboratory sub-section, the FCT Administration has procured and installed automated haematology analyser (18-

Parameter) as well as Semi automated chemistry analyser respectively and has been deployed to all the 12 FCT City Hospitals, thus making FCT the only government institution with full automation of the laboratory services of its 20 health facilities. This is in addition to Siemens analyser to handle reproductive cases in eight of the FCT City Hospitals and Bilinubinometer Urine analyser in all the 12 FCT City Hospitals. Again, under the same laboratory sub-section, the administration has been able to procure and install Adaltis Machine which is for Tumour Makers, P24 Antigen, Hormone Assay’s infectious diseases in six Hospitals comprising Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, Gwarinpa District as well as Kubwa and Nyanya General Hospitals respectively. Assessing the 2012 statutory budget of the Federal Capital Territory, provision had been made for the procurement and installation of 1.5 Tesla MRI Machine in Asokoro and 64-Slice CT Scanner in Maitama District Hospitals. Meanwhile, approval has already been obtained for the procurement and installation of Operative Laposcope in general surgery, gynecology and Urology, as well as endoscope to upper and lower gastrointestinal track. The FCT Secretary of Health and Human, Dr. Demola Onakomaiya last Wednesday disclosed that his secretariat has also obtained an approval for a World-Class Dialysis Unit in the Federal Capital Territory to combat the alarming cases of kidney diseases in the territory. It is on record that the FCT Administration has been implementing its policy of freeantenatal and Under five programmes respectively which may not be divorced with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan ultimately identified to reduce child’s and maternal mortality rate. From the fore-going, one can say that the administration has done so much in a short while towards the overall achievement of the dream of making Abuja the hub of medical services in the West African sub-sahara, but more is expected.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 17

Young men taking fura da nono with relish on road side, yesterday in Area 8, Abuja.

A vulcanizer doing what he knows best while his customer watches with keen interest, yesterday in Jabi, Abuja.

Vehicles wading through a deplorable road, yesterday along Aso Road in Mararaba.

Physically challenged people out for alms on a pedestrian bridge, yesterday in Mararaba

Women buying maize loaded in a bus, yesterday at Garki market, in Abuja. Photos: Justin Imo-owo

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

NNPC seeks support of PENGASSAN, NUPENG

Mob: 08033644990

Aig-Imoukhuede, chair of presidential panel on subsidy verification, is oil cabal member too?

hairman of the special committee appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to verify and reconcile the records of payments on fuel subsidy, Aigboje AigImoukhuede, owns a company that received millions of Naira in subsidy payments for products it allegedly failed to deliver. Detailed company searches by an Abuja-based nongovernmental organisation (NGO), Youth Alliance Against Fuel Subsidy Removal, revealed that Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, who is the Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, also owns Ice

Energy Petroleum Trading Limited, which allegedly received $2,131,166.32 in hard currency (about N345.3 million) in 2011. It is not clear whether the company delivered the product for which it was paid but the House committee believe it did not. The defunct Farouk Lawan-led House of Representative Committee had, in its report, queried the company for receiving payment when no petroleum products were imported and supplied. Ice Energy was one of the 45 companies invited to appear

before the probe committee, but which failed to either honour the invitation or submit documents concerning their involvement in the monumental fraud that attended the subsidy scheme. Findings by Youth Alliance at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and made available to Premium Times, show that Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede heads the threeman board of Ice Energy, which has Iroche Chuks, as managing director, and Aikhionbare Sam, as member. Following the shocking revelation in the report of the House of Representatives

GMD/CEO Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede

Management Tip of the Day

EXCHANGE RATES

CBN CFA • £ RIYAL $

6th July, 2012 BUYING 0.2779 191.7662 240.6991 41.3034 154.9

SELLING 0.2979 193.0042 242.253 41.57 155.9

PARALLEL RATES • £ RIYAL $

BUYING 207 258 40 165

SELLING 209 260 42 169

Committee that fuel subsidy payment, for which about N245billion was appropriated in the 2011 budget, had suddenly spiralled to over N2.6 trillion (over 2,200 per cent) as at December last year, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, constituted a Technical Committee on review of Fuel Subsidy Payments, and appointed Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede as its head. It is not clear if the ministry was aware of Mr. AigImoukhuede’s involvement with Ice Energy before appointing him to the committee, which was mandated to verify, ascertain and reconcile discrepancies related to all subsidy arrears payments to petroleum products marketers. Following the completion of the assignment, President Jonathan, apparently glossing over the indictment and complicity of Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede’s company in the fuel subsidy scandal, last Thursday re-appointed him to head another 15-man committee to further verify and reconcile all claims made in the report of the Technical Committee he led. The president requested the new committee “to properly identify all cases of overpayments and/or irregular payments; to accurately identify all likely fraudulent cases for criminal investigations, and to review any other pertinent issues that may arise from its work and make appropriate recommendations.” Mr. Jonathan’s decision to appoint the Access Bank’s MD to lead such an important committee, observers say, underlines the administration’s reluctance to act appropriately on the report of the House committee, which uncovered monumental fraud in the fuel subsidy regime. When Premium Times sought to know from the president’s spokesperson, Reuben Abati, whether the president was aware that Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede also benefited from the fuel subsidy payments he was asked to verify, his response was a question: "Are you sure?" When our reporter answered in the affirmative, he continued, "If that is the case, the question to ask is: Is his company guilty of any wrongdoing?" When he was asked whether that did not amount to asking the

Take care of your most reliable people

ost people have someone they can count on when they need something done — and done right. But when you value someone’s reliability, it’s easy to overlook other strengths. Here are three ways to further develop your most dependable people: Keep track of

assignments. Make sure that you’re not loading them up with extra tasks just because you know that they’ll do them. Reward them. Give them time to work on projects they value personally. The autonomy and appreciation strengthens their bond to the company and increases

the chances they’ll stick around. Watch them closely. You know you can take the hands-off approach with conscientious employees, but closely observing their work will give them a chance to display their strengths. Source: Harvard Business Review

Access Bank’s managing director to probe himself over the scam, "Mr Abati said "No" pointing out that “it would only amount to asking an insider to do an inside investigation." Mr. Abati, who promised to get more information, and revert to our reporter, never did by the time this report was published Monday morning. Youth Alliance Against Fuel Subsidy Removal said it conducted the search on the indicted companies to “put a face to the indicted companies, to let Nigerians know exactly who took their money and then formed a cabal stronger than the government.” Before announcing the removal of subsidy on petroleum products in January this year, one of the reasons President Jonathan gave was that a few Nigerians, who had since constituted themselves into a “cabal”, were enjoying the fuel subsidy largesse. Up till last April, when the House of Representatives Committee released its probe report, the companies and individuals that benefited from the subsidy regime were largely unknown. But extensive searches by the youth group at the CAC appear to have exposed some of the individuals behind the crook companies as well as the makeup of the faceless ‘cabal’. “Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede is not the only government apologist who belong to this ‘cabal”, a spokesperson for the group said in a statement at the weekend. Other beneficiaries of the subsidy scheme revealed by the searches include former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, who owns Maizube Petroleum, which was listed in the House of Representatives report as one of the 45 companies fingered by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for benefitting from the subsidy payment but failing to pay tax. Maizube Petroleum, which was invited to appear before the probe committee, never showed up to answer questions, though it sent documents. Another member of the cabal is the running mate to Nuhu Ribadu in the 2011 presidential election under the Action Congress of Nigeria platform, Fola Adeola, who is also the cofounder of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Mr. Adeola, according to CAC records, sits on the board of Eterna Oil Plc, listed in the subsidy report as one of the companies indicted for tax evasion. Out of the 74 companies indicted in the report, only 48 were properly registered with the CAC. (Source: Premium Times)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESIDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS UAC wants fiscal consistency to boost economy

crapping of capital gains tax and the enthronement of an economic management strategy that seeks consistency in fiscal policies has been described as the much needed panacea to boost genuine industrial development which would in return translate into growth for the economy.

Etisalat to rev up stake in telecoms market

tisalat is looking to leapfrog two of its key competitors in Nigeria within four years. The UAE mobile-phone firm aims to increase its share of Africa’s biggest telecommunications market with over 101 million active mobile subscribers at the end of the first quarter of 2012.

SME conference to focus on expanding market frontiers

nterprise Development Centre (EDC), a Centre of the Pan-African University, focusing on the business development and provision of support services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, has announced plans for its 6th annual small and medium enterprise conference in Lagos.

Lucky Fibres introduces carpets built for high traffic into market

ucky Fibres Plc, makers of premium Nobel carpets and rugs, has introduced a new range of high quality high traffic carpets specifically designed for places with constant human traffic like offices, lobbies and receptions, into the market.

Flour Mills appoints new Chief Commercial Officer

he management of Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC has announced the appointment of Pete Low as its new Chief Commercial Officer.

Brent rises to $99 on Norway strike, China data

rent crude oil rose to 99 dollars a barrel yesterday as failed labour talks stoked worries of a full shutdown of Norwegian oil production. Negotiations between Norway’s oil workers and employers over pay and pensions, failed for a third time on Sunday. The strike has already cut Norway’s oil production by about 13 per cent and hit crude shipments. The Oslo government could force an end to the strike but a labour ministry spokesman said on Sunday there were no immediate plans to intervene in the dispute.

The dispute could hit around 1.2 million barrels of oil (equivalent) per day. Brent rose 99 cents to a high of 99.18 dollars a barrel before easing back to trade around 98.50 dollars. U.S. crude was equally up 34 cents at 84.79 dollars. “The price-supporting effect of the oil strike in Norway will probably be only temporary in nature,” said Carsten Fritsch, analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. “We expect the Norwegian government to step in to stop this strike, so that support for prices might end soon,” Fritsch said. “The more the strike escalates,

the sooner it is likely to end.” Chinese data showed consumer inflation cooling in June, leaving room for Beijing to ease policy without stoking prices and helping commodities recover from recent losses. Investors remained cautious ahead of Chinese GDP data later this week, which is likely to show the weakest expansion in three years. Premier Wen Jiabao said on Sunday China, the second biggest oil consumer, needed to adjust policy to support its economy. The euro hovered near a twoyear low and European shares fell yesterday. Iran continues to search for

ways to circumvent sanctions on its crude exports imposed by the United States and Europe to pressure Tehran to halt its disputed nuclear program. The second largest OPEC producer has reached agreements with European refiners to sell some of its oil through a private consortium, an official told the local news agency on Saturday. Bad weather stopped crude exports from Iraq’s southern Basra terminals, although the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk resumed normal operations after a flood forced a suspension of loadings. (Reuters/ NAN)

NNPC seeks support of PENGASSAN, NUPENG By Muhammad Nasir

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has solicited the support of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). In a statement by the Group Managing Director, NNPC Mr. Andrew Yakubu, during a meeting with the leadership of the in-house PENGASSAN and NUPENG, noted that there is need for the new management of NNPC to work closely with the unions to transform operations in the sector. “I want to solicit your support in this journey to transform the NNPC and to assure you that some of the concerns that the unions have raised are already being addressed by top management. The ultimate objective is for us to succeed in this national assignment; it is a collective journey that we must all undertake,” Yakubu said. “Though the task before us is daunting, I believe that with

NNPC GMD, Andrew Yakubu your cooperation it is not insurmountable.’’ He pledged that the new management would operate an open-door policy and be open to dialogue with the unions. Earlier, the Chairman, Group Executive Council of

PENGASSAN, NNPC, Mr. Francis Johnson, congratulated the GMD and the new executive team on their appointments. Johnson, who spoke on behalf of the unions, pledged to work with the management to move the corporation forward.

He stressed the need for the new management to operate an open-door policy and better staff welfare. Mr. Richard Otoweiwuere, Chairman, Group Executive Council, NUPENG, NNPC, also pledged the unions’ support.

Equity reconstruction earns Indorama host communities 7.5% stake

he equity reconstruction process in Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited (EPCL), now majorly owned by Indorama Corporation has been completed, with the host community acquiring 7.5 per cent shares as envisaged by the privatisation laws in Nigeria. “The present ownership structure reflects Indorama Corporation 65 per cent, Federal Government (BPE) 5 per cent, NNPC 10 per cent, host communities 7.5 per cent and employees of EPCL 2.5 per cent”. The successful acquisition has caused great excitement in the area, creating an opportunity where stakeholders now have high prospects of earning over N1.5bn every year going forward. According to a statement credited to the company, DEPCL has steadily made profit and promptly remitted dividends since its acquisition by Indorama,

making it possible for those with 10 per cent share in the company to receive between N9 billion and N12 billion in the first four years, as testified by both the Rivers State government and the managing director of EPCL in November 2011. It would be recalled that in

November 2011, at the Rivers Investment Summit, the managing director and chief executive of Indorama EPCL, Manish Mundra, revealed figures so far given to share holders and taxes to government thus: N33.9billion to the federal and Rivers state governments (N8.71billion to RVSG; N25.2 billion to BPE and NNPC); about

N400m to workers; and N15.61Bn in taxes to the federal and state governments including VAT, Customs duty, Withholding taxes and pay as you earn (PAYE). The share of 7.5 per cent to communities was yet be paid up to warrant dividend, prompting the leaders to intensify efforts to pay up and activate their share ownership.

Indecision costing Nigeria oil, gas market share

here is palpable fear that Nigeria will continue to lose market share in the global oil and gas industry over its failure to anticipate and proactively respond to the possible impacts of developments in the sector in other countries. Countries such as Ghana and Kenya with new oil discoveries, Angola with its growing petrodollar infrastructure, Tanzania and Mozambique forging new alliances with the big investors from Europe and America, have

experts here in Nigeria worried about the in-ward investment prospect for the sector in the medium to long term. There are already projections in some quarters that demand for Nigeria’s oil and gas and its market share will shrink drastically as attention shifts elsewhere and towards the emerging Africa oil countries. Already, the United States of America, a major importer of Nigeria’s crude oil, is turning to Canada for the supply of crude

oil through a pipeline already in place. They are also anxious that the Federal Government doesn’t seem to have taken any feasible measures that suggest there are some safety valves in place against falling oil prices. They are however of the opinion that in the event that the price of crude slumps to $75 per barrel, it should be an opportunity for government to deregulate the sector. (Source: BusinessWeek)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 21

Nigeria’s global export shrinks on oil prices decline By Muhammad Nasir

he sharp fall in crude oil prices last month affected Nigeria’s share of world export, as it fell to 0.58 per cent from 0.63 per cent. The disclosure was made by

Truck damages PHCN transmission line in Lagos By Muhammad Sada

truck crashed into the equipment of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Lagos region at the weekend, at the junction of new Oko-Oba Road, AbuleEgba, cutting off power supply to Ikeja Industrial Estate and Agege. This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Affairs Manager of the TCN, Mrs. Celestina Oshin. TCN said that the incident, which resulted in the cutting off of the Ota-Ogba 132KVA Transmission Line, ruptured the cross arm of Transmission Tower No. 19 located at AbuleTaylor. Meanwhile, “a team of TCN engineers have already been mobilised to the site to commence repair works, which will last four weeks and cost some millions of Naira and the damaged cross arm on the tower will be repaired and five spans of aluminium conductor (line) will be replaced from Transmission Tower 16 to Transmission Tower 19”, it said. The statement said that customers in the affected areas would be connected to another source and urged motorists to drive carefully to reduce such incidence, saying that the money that would be spent to repair the damaged equipment could have been used to improve electricity supply to the areas

ExxonMobil begins production from Angola oil block

.S. oil group ExxonMobil said its Esso Angola unit had started oil production from the Kizomba Satellites project located offshore Angola. The initial phase of the project was expected to produce 100,000 barrels of oil per day, and recover a total of about 250 million barrels from the Mavacola and Clochas fields, 150 kilometres off the coast of Angola. Besides Esso Angola, other co-venturers in the oil block include BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd and Eni Exploration Angola. (Reuters)

the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivative Company Limited (FDC), Bismarck Rewane, who made the presentation at the Lagos Business School’s executive breakfast meeting. According to the economist, the fall in oil price last month, widened the budget deficit above three per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He also revealed that whereas China controlled 17.5 percent of Nigeria’s import in the month under review, United States had a share of 9.1 per cent and importation from India was 4.7 per cent. World Bank’s Country Manager for Uganda, Mr.

Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, had said with Nigeria and other African economies heavily dependent on oil and other commodities, price volatilities would continue to affect their revenue projections and growth. Rewane also noted that the appreciation of the U.S Dollar is forcing a gradual slide in Nigeria’s terms of trade. The correlation between oil price and forex revenue remains positive, holding production constant. The economy is highly vulnerable to oil price shocks as $1 decline in oil price has 0.8 per cent impact on revenue. “If oil price averaged $90 per

barrel in July, total revenue will be $2.47 billion from $3.24 billion in April when prices were $118 per barrel. If oil price falls to $90 per barrel, external reserves should decline to $29.98 billion from current level of $36.572 (as at July 5)”, he affirmed. The FDC boss added that oil price declined by five percent in June, pointing out that as at last month, the year-to-date drop in the value of the Bonny Light was 29 per cent or $35 from its peak of $130 per barrel. He maintained that the country’s fiscal balance was being threatened by potential decline in revenue and an inelastic expenditure profile,

adding that N2.1trillion had so far been spent on fuel subsidy. The amount represented 47 per cent of 2012 budget. Rewane restated that the subsidy payment was “clearly an unsustainable item” in the budget. “The impact on revenue for Nigeria is magnified. In April oil revenue declined 7.1 per cent to $4.72 billon. Net inflow of forex also dropped sharply to $1.49 billion. With naira under speculative attack, forex sales for June were up to $2.75 billion. The United States dollar has gained over 5.97 per cent against the basket of world currencies in the last quarter,” he added.

L-R: Director, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ms Funlola Akiode, with NCC Executive Secretary, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi, during the 68th Telecom Consumer Parliament, recently in Enugu. Photo: NAN

Bakassi returnees allege neglect, flay oil wells pursuit By Muhammad Nasir

akassi returnees in Cross River state and Akwa Ibom state, under the aegis of Amalgamated Bakassi Returnees Association (ABRA), have condemned the subjugation of their interest under the inordinate pursuit of 76 oil wells. The returnees, led by Mr. Asuquo Ating, described the situation as sacrificing their welfare at the altar of economic concerns and said government should be more concerned about their welfare, resettlement and rehabilitation. They maintained that before 2005, the 76 oil wells were not in Cross River state but in Akwa Ibom state. “This was the position even when Bakassi was part of Nigeria, and yet, Cross River state still survived without those oil wells,” Ating noted, arguing that in the frantic fight for the oil

wells, the returnees from the two states of Cross River and Akwa Ibom had been completely forgotten and neglected. “This fight for the 76 oil wells in the media, on a matter which is before the Supreme Court is diversionary and cheap politics,” Ating lamented. In a related development, the Forum of Elected Local Governments Chairmen in Akwa Ibom state have debunked the insinuations by local government chairmen in Cross River state that Nigeria would lose territories to neighbouring countries if the impending judgment on the 76 oil wells did not favour Cross River State. Briefing reporters in Uyo, Mr. NSE Ntuen, who said he was dumbfounded by his Cross River State counterparts’ claim added that they based their strange and misinformed conclusions on “rumours in the streets, small

talks at joints, corners and sit-outs point to the fact that the Supreme Court is bent on overruling itself.” He said that the Cross River council chairmen, by this report admitted that they were rumour-mongers and reduced the issue of justice to “talks at joint and sit-outs” instead of courts of law. It was his contention that the position of the Cross River state local government chairmen on Nigeria losing territories was totally false, misleading and baseless. Ntuen noted that until 2005, Cross River never claimed or owned any of the 76 oil wells in question until a letter dated January 24, 2005 arbitrarily transferred the said 76 oil wells of Akwa Ibom State to Cross River State on the assumption that Western Bakassi would remain in Cross River State.

”In the end, this assumption did not come to be and the purported transfer of these 76 oil wells from Akwa Ibom State to Cross River State could no longer be sustained,” Ntuen said. He maintained that the Supreme Court had earlier declared this action sub judice having been done during the pendency of the court case instituted by the Cross River State as the plaintiff. He noted that in a suit number SC.124/199 between Cross River State as plaintiff and Attorney General of the Federation and that of Akwa Ibom State, the Supreme ruled that Cross River State does not have a direct access to the sea and, therefore, lost its littoral status as a result of the International Court of Justice ruling of October 10, 2002 in the maritime boundary matter between Nigeria and Cameroun.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Niger to promote microfinance banks in assisting SMEs, says Gov. Aliyu From Illiya Garba, Minna

iger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said that his administration will promote microfinance banks (Mfbs) in the state to assist small and medium scale industries (SMEs). He made this known at the weekend during the closing ceremony of 10th Niger National Trade Fair at the Trade Fair Complex, Minna, saying “we are fully aware of the exclusive role of private sectors in the critical development of the state and we doing everything possible to strengthened the synergy between the state government and organised private sectors in Niger state in order to fast track the development agenda of becoming one of the three top economy in Nigeria”.

As part of its activities to ensure that Niger state is made an investment heaven where investors can freely come and invest, Governor Aliyu has promised those wishing to establish a university, 100 hectares of land free of charge. He said that through trade and investment jobs can be provided for the teeming youths, reduce poverty and street begging ,increase internally generated revenue, reduce violence and other social vices. “It should also be stated that investment can not thrive in an environment where there is violence, hostility, bombing, arson amongst many others as being witnessed in most parts of the North” The governor said, for the state to achieve economic greatness and transformation in

all ramifications we must all rise and work harmoniously towards ensuring that a peaceful and conducive environment is created for investment to thrive. He however admonished all interested investors, both local and foreign, to take advantage of the investment opportunities in the state and invest as the state government is doing everything possible to make Niger state a global investment destination. The President of Niger Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NCCIMA), Alhaji Salihu Madalla Ahmed expressed satisfaction with level of participation in the years trade fair in spite security challenge facing some parts of the country, stating that the next year trade fair will be rewarding.

Nigeria leads Africa in FDI in 2012 By Abdulwahab Isa

n 2011, the Nigerian government attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows of $ 8.9 billion, or N 1.2 trillion, according to the Minister of Trade and Investments, Olusegun Aganga. Compared to the $ 5.8 FDI inflows into South Africa over the same period, Nigeria’s figure represents a growth of 53% over South Africa’s performance. Part of the reason Nigeria is leading in FDI inflows in Africa is because even South African companies are investing in Nigerian banks. Last Thursday, South African food company, Tiger Brands announced a 63% acquisition of Dangote Flour. Standard Bank has also invested in the Nigerian banking sector. All in all, Nigeria represents one of the most prized investment destinations in Africa as it has one

CBN to protect customers from unnecessary bank charges By Aminu Imam

Cassava tubers being fed into a mobile processing unit, yesterday at Bntaje, Taraba state. Photo: NAN

he Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) is revising bank charges in to keep it in par with current economic realities. A circular released by the bank at the weekend stated that, “The CBN is currently reviewing the extant guide to bank charges, which has been in use since January 2004.The review is intended to align the tariff regime in the banking industry with present economic realities and offer a platform for standard application of charges on different types of banking products and services.” The circular stated that banks were required to disclose to all charges to customers, before any transaction. CBN said that it will get the comments of stakeholders on the draft guide, before it is released to the public.

M-money: Stanbic IBTC connects 750,000 StarTime’s subscribers By Abdulwahab Isa

tanbic IBTC has opened its mobile money platform to over 750,000 StarTimes subscribers in the country. According to the Head, eBusiness, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Thabo Mako, this is part of the efforts aimed at increasing payment options available to the subscribers spread across eight cities in Nigeria. Mako said StarTimes subscribers now had more options to consider when making payments for their monthly subscriptions. Speaking during the inauguration of the partnership between Stanbic IBTC and StarTimes in Lagos, on Friday,

Mako said mobile money service would be a safe, fast, easy and convenient way for StarTimes subscribers in different cities to make payments for their subscriptions via their mobile phones. He said the *909# MobileMoney” service was one of the e-Payment solutions currently available to Nigerians, adding that it enabled users pay for goods and services with their mobile phones. The Chief Executive Officer, NTA-StarTimes TV Network, Mr. Joshua Wang, said, as an innovative and caring brand, StarTimes considered it necessary to always update its subscribers and business partners on the latest technology and

development in key sectors, especially as recently found in the financial sector. Wang said, “Also, in line with our philosophy to provide worldclass services to our subscribers, we believe the mobile money service would ensure that subscribers stay connected to the services that we provide, without having to experience interruption in programmes due to late payments of their monthly subscription. StarTimes subscribers can therefore now make payments anytime from their mobile phones.” Speaking in the same vein, the Director, StarTimes, Mr. Maxwell Loko, lauded the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless economic drive as

imperative to transforming the country’s economy. He said, “We consider the efforts of the Nigeria government to promote ePayments as noble and a welcome development in the financial sector. The recent development is in line with the government’s agenda to reduce the flow of cash during business transactions.” Loko also disclosed that the company now had over 750,000 subscribers in eight cities in the country but added that it would extend its coverage to about 26 cities before the end of 2012. StarTimes, a pioneer in DTT operations in Nigeria, is currently operating in eight cities, providing digital TV series to millions of Nigerians.

of the biggest and fastest growing populations in the world and biggest in Africa. Investors are fond of noting that the size of the Lagos market is equal to the size of the whole of Ghana and several other African countries. There are also many areas of strategic investment including the Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Power, Telecommunications and Financial Services sectors.

Experts advise CBN to check scope, nature of microfinance banking

ome operators of microfinance banks yesterday called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to check the scope and nature of microfinance banking in Nigeria. They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos that some parameters laid down by CBN were based on commercial banking formats. According to them, these operational formats have undermined the uniqueness of microfinance banking in Nigeria. The Chairman of Molusi Microfinance Bank, Ijebu Igbo in Ogun, Mr Badejo Adeboye said that the CBN should reduce the organogram of the microfinance banks. According to Adeboye, the organogram stipulated by the CBN for microfinance banking in Nigeria is expensive. “We have the chairman, managing director, executive director, risk manager, ICT experts, among others. It costs huge money to retain these officers. “We want CBN to device measures that will make the business less expensive and more effective,” Adeboye said. Mr Tope Oloniniyi, the Executive Director of Infinity Microfinance Bank, Lagos said that there was the need for CBN to limit the operational cost of microfinance banks. Oloniniyi told NAN that some of the parameters stipulated by the apex bank in terms of provisioning and recapitalisation were cumbersome. “For instance, the deadline for the recapitalisation of microfinance banks is Dec. 31 and that is too short a period. “We urge CBN to extend this capitalisation deadline to Dec. 31, 2013. According to Oloniniyi, operators need to bring more investors into the sub-sector or they reinvest their profit because their initial capital may have been eroded. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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PAGE 25

Nigeria can meet all its building needs through commitment to research, says DG, NBRRI Prof. Danladi Slim Matawal is the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Building and Roads Research Institute (NIBRRI), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, who assumed office on March 1, 2011. In this interview with our Business Editor, Aminu Imam and Joy Baba, he explains the progress of the Institute’s research targeted at improving the quality of projects to bring about rapid development.

hat have been y o u r achievements since you became the Chief Executive of the institute and what have been the challenges? When I took office resumed on March 1, 2011, I noticed a number of problems or challenges in the institute. The first thought that came to me was a stakeholders’ forum at which people in government, industry, professional bodies would tell us their expectations of a research institute, particularly ours. And this year, in May, we held a very successful conference on building collapse, and this will be an annual affair. We are already planning a major workshop for 2013 on the collapse of roads in Nigeria. We have also taken major profile-building measures; we have trained and retrained some of our staff, even administrative staff; we send them on administrative courses and we have been able to send somebody to India, besides those that go on regular administrative courses at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) in Badagry and other institutes in the country. We have also supported people on conferences and workshops as part of profile-building measures and one major event that has taken place is our relocation to a new office; we take this to be a transition because our objective is for us to have our own site where we will design our structures to suit our goals in research and development. Also in our laboratory complex in Otta, we have done some building profiling; we are attending to some of our road. We have also retrained some of our laboratory personnel, we brought in resource persons from the universities; we spent some time with our laboratory technologists and retrained them and had discussions and compared notes and when they were leaving they left reports for us. And we have had major interventions in research

staffing shortages which have been a matter of concern; we have so far 60 to 70 new people in research and some other administrative staff that have come, or are about to come, to strengthen the institute. Equipment is arriving for our laboratories; even in Abuja, where what is done is mainly administrative we are now in a position to conduct tests on roads on building, etc. Our budget has shot up tremendously, especially the capital budget; I came in and inherited the budget and in one year time, my budget has shot up by close to 1,000 percent. Definitely, there have been challenges. There are attitudinal problems. I think saving this country is a matter of life and death and we can save this country through research. I am not satisfied about the commitment, not just of the NIBRRI staff, but that of Nigerians to the cause of this great country of ours. I praise the staff because they have been very supportive but I think we need to do more. One problem area that I have seen is the area of fabrication of machines; you know, now we like to import. But I think for buildings and roads, we can do it ourselves; we don’t have to bring any machines to produce blocks for us and particularly so that we are becoming self-sufficient in cement. I think we should sponsor enterprises; we should sponsor manufacturing outfits in this country that will meet all our manufacturing needs in this country. I have not seen that commitment from the financial sector of this country. We at NIBRI have

Prof. Danladi Slim Matawal some innovations and we think instead of going out to bring substitutes, we should improve on these. I am sure if you set up an industry to produce an interlocking blockmaking machine, whatever the defects are, in one year, we can make it superior to the imported ones. Talking about the

“

I think for buildings and roads, we can do it ourselves; we don’t have to bring any machines to produce blocks for us and particularly so that we are becoming self-sufficient in cement

conference which you said you have concluded on building collapse that has become a recurring menace in Nigeria, what has been the impact so far? We just had a meeting, an implementation committee. The aim of a workshop is not just to talk and a communiqué comes out at the end. One aspect of the of the communiqué talks about long term interventions in order to build skills; we need to build a curriculum, a training curriculum, for our artisans and our craftsmen; this is one thing we are working on. The second thing we are working at, which you probably have seen, is that there should be more supervision. This supervision can be on individual projects, which I will say sincerely that we have

not yet attended to. You must have noticed that the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), for example, has been visiting estate development sites in Abuja, and asking: where are your drawings, where are the professionals supervising these buildings, etc? They have sometimes run into stiff opposition at project sites. I witnessed one where a man said his company was registered to do this kind of work and nobody could stop him from doing it. As part of the strategy to arrest the issue of building collapse in Nigeria, is your institute developing a building code? For us in the field, there is much more we can say about building codes, in the sense that codes are highly

specialised. You have some countries that have over one thousand codes, but Nigeria is just talking about one code. So have a long way to go. It is very important that in due course this should be addressed. But one of the fallouts of the building collapse conference is that the National Assembly should accelerate the passage of a bill to protect the building code and that process has already begun. The Federal House of Representatives held a public hearing and NIBRI took its own observations which need to be addressed, but very importantly, they agreed that the process will be accelerated. There isn’t much public awareness about NIBRI, what is the organisation doing to ameliorate this? Creating public awareness of our activities is part of the

profile building we have done. When I called a stakeholders’ forum last year, the turnout was not too impressive. In the last one year, we’ve worked hard to project the image of the institute. We have just held a conference on that issue. The Vice-President sent the Minister of Works to represent him, the Minister of Works sent her own representative, the Minister of Science and Technology, the Minister of FCT sent a high profile representation. The Minister of Works was interested throughout; there was a high level of participation, and people were very enthusiastic about our work. We’ve been in the media on this issue; we have been in the forefront on building collapse. We have even received an award for special contribution reducing building collapse in Nigeria. That is just the timing aspect of our mandate; there are many other things we can do and basically we have been building profiles, encouraging our staff to go into new research; those that are deficient have applied for postgraduate studies. We are bound to support that kind of initiative to go for postgraduate studies .We have brought in a lot of new initiatives and we are working with foreign partners in many regards. Nigerian experts on transportation in the Diaspora and highway traffic experts from the United States have visited this institute; they said they have seen our visibility on the web and they came here and said that we should collaborate with the University of Maryland. We have just received a request from a Nigerian in a university in Malaysia; he said he would be coming to the country and we want NIBRI to prepare a lecture for him in mid July, around July 17 or so. These are the new initiatives we have taken and, of course, the environment we have before us is very depressing, our relocation has been very important for us, to project

our image. We have had very aggressive collaboration visits here and there, we have retrained some Nigerians, artisans in the art of interlocking and we have given them various certificates. So, we have been doing a lot to project the image of NIBRI. It is a very visible institute now. Are you satisfied with the research findings you met on the ground? It’s important to consolidate on what you have; they have made significant input especially in walling materials, semi-sheets for roofs and interlocking paving stones. They have also done studies on soft grade soils in the country which I have adopted as quite important research interventions. I’m going round the country to make sure there is a digitized soil map for every state. We have empowered the appropriate research department in Otta with a special standby power for them

DG NIBRRI, Danladi Slim

to conduct tests; we have given them more staff in order to conduct laboratory tests. There are new researches that we have done, some having a foundation in the old initiatives that I found in place. Many states and local governments are building new roads, housing estates. Are you in collaboration with them or they are on their own? There are few states that we have reached out to, and some of them have reached out to us. I will like to commend the governor of Borno state, who came with all his cabinet and said he wanted to develop Borno state and wanted NIBRI’s input. But for the security challenges we are having, we would have been in the state doing something for him. He offered a workshop which we are to transform to begin to fabricate our machines in Borno state. We have had

immense collaboration with government of Ondo state; it has bought our machines and used them in one of their wealth-creation centres. We have gone there train their personnel and they have given us maximum cooperation. The government of Kano has also contacted us and we are very sure we have the capacity to reach everywhere. What support have you been receiving from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology? I just want to say that I have no communication problem with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. The minister has been in my office several times, on some occasions in my absence. We call the ministry officials even at weekends to chair our committees and subcommittees, and they do oblige us. I have told you we have seen tremendous improvements in terms of our revenue and

budget. I must say this improvement in our budget has been at the instance of the ministry. Our relationship with the ministry has been good. The only thing I thing that is trying to come between us is, of course, the Oronsaye committee’s report which has proposed the scrapping of 12 out of 17 agencies in the ministry and pass their functions to us in the Federal Ministry of Works. I know even the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing have agreed that the Research Institute should be stripped of its critical functions because they are implementing agencies and when you go out there, you are weighed down by the implementation rather than the success and failure of research. So, this has been the only thing, but it has not been our making, we did our presentations well, we have a unique mandate.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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Managing Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population for sustainable development By Buki Ponle

rom all indications, Nigeria can no longer afford to play the ostrich with the consequences of its population growth. Observers, nonetheless, note that the country's leadership is apparently becoming more aware of the need to initiate decisive measures to control the country's population which has been growing without a boost in resources for sustainable development. Nigeria's current population projection as at July this year is about 171 million and the population is growing at an alarming rate of 3.2 per cent, according to figures obtained from the National Population Commission (NPC). Signalling the thrust of the new Federal Government's policy shift, President Goodluck Jonathan urged Nigerians should brace up for an imminent legislation on birth control so as to check a looming population `explosion'. The President recently made the call at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Chairman and 23 commissioners of the NPC. "Although the issue of population regulation is sensitive, government cannot fold its arms and watch the population explodes to an uncontrollable level. "Government will carry out enough sensitisation before legislating on laws controlling birth and population,'' Jonathan, however, gave an assurance. Population experts say that the President's declaration represents a marked departure from the situation in the past where the government was somewhat silent on issues relating to population growth. They even recall that a controversial jingle captioned ``One man, four children'' was broadcast in the 1980s and early 1990s, giving a tacit approval to four children per one woman. To some mischievous analysts, the jingle, in essence, meant that a man with four wives could have 16 children. The experts, nonetheless, note that Nigeria has never supported birth control officially, either through a policy or a law, owing to its controversial nature, not only in Nigeria but also in many countries of the world. This is because in Nigeria, for instance, children are considered to be an inestimable asset: a pride to the family and the community. The desire to have a large progeny is largely considered to be ideal in virtually all the traditional societies of Nigeria, as children are assessed to be a veritable insurance for parents they are old and helpless. All the same, it appears that the situation is fast changing; thanks to factors such as economic recession, unemployment, poverty, corruption and undue

Overcrowded Lagos Island market, in Lagos state. pressure on social amenities due to increasing urbanisation. The emerging situation has somewhat compelled development planners to start canvassing for a manageable population which takes cognizance of available resources. "A large population can only be an asset to a country if it is qualitative, resourceful and manageable,'' Andrew Olaitan, a demographer, said, adding that with a manageable growth pattern, resources would become more sustainable. "Unbridled population breeds unbridled poverty,'' he quipped. Sharing similar sentiments, the President said that it was now pragmatic for people to start having families they could manage. "Sometimes, you get to somebody's house living in a wellfurnished duplex. The husband and wife there may have two, three, four children. The `maiguard' (security guard) of the house may have nine children. That is the kind of scenario we often see. "That means there is a segment of the population that is aware of the need to have a family of a manageable size, while the other segment of the population is not conscious of this fact. "If you are used to the military barracks, you see that the officers - the Generals, the MajorGenerals, the Brigadier-Generals and the Colonels - usually have three to five children but those with no ranks normally have eight to 12 children. "This is the scenario. The people up there, probably because of

their level of education, know that the population must be controlled, whereas the people down, because of their level of exposure and education, are still not aware of the need to control our population,'' he said. Jonathan directed the new management team of the NPC team to initiate a public enlightenment campaign on birth control, pledging government's support and funding for the proposed initiative. However, such advocacy has been in place over the years, with the active support of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and development partners. The advocacy entails mobilisation of people and funds, networking, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) interventions and media partnership. It also includes purchase and distribution of contraceptives. Analysts, nonetheless, insist that population issues are all about people, and not just numbers, stressing that population is central to all other development issues such as health, environment, politics and economy. Sharing similar viewpoints, Jonathan said: ``For us to plan properly, we must manage our population but population control is extremely a sensitive issue, owing to religious factors. "Christians, Muslims, traditionalists and adherents of other religions believe that children are God's gifts to man. So, it is difficult for one to tell any Nigerian to limit the number their

children because they feel that it is wrong to reject God's gifts (children). "Population control is a very sensitive issue but we must begin to think about it. We must begin to think about how to manage our population. "The key thing is for the NPC to come up with plans and programmes on pragmatic ways of encouraging Nigerians to have the number of children they can manage before government comes up with clear policies and guidelines on the issue. "So first and foremost, before government comes up with regulations, guidelines or laws, Nigerians must be made to know that we cannot continue to procreate and procreate, even though we know children are God's gifts,'' he said. Jonathan, nonetheless, noted that Nigeria would not be the first country to make laws on population control, adding that religious beliefs should not be allowed to frustrate good policies and intentions. "There cannot be genuine sustained development if it is not anchored on accurate and reliable data, hence the need to begin the process for the 2016 national census. "No meaningful planning is possible without dependable data and statistics,'' he reiterated, warning against the use of population and other demographic issues to garner cheap political advantage and engender political discord. From all indications, the population control movement is obviously gaining ground in the

country. For instance, Mohammed Isiaka, an Abuja-based civil engineer, said that he could not afford to have more than two children, owing to the quality life he wanted for his family. "Gone are the days when it was fashionable to have many children; what matters most nowadays is the family's quality of life and sustainable development,'' he said. Dr Elias Pede, the Director (Primary Health Care and Disease Control) in Plateau's Ministry of Health, underscored the wisdom in having an expanded access to potent family planning practices so as to regulate the size of families and enable parents to cater for their children effectively. "When a woman spaces her children, it enables her body to recuperate properly and it reduces the cases of `at-risk pregnancies'. "Apart from the health benefits, it enables the woman to be economically vibrant. "Sometimes ago, it was difficult for a woman to take steps towards family planning without the consent of her husband; however, that requirement has been relaxed. "Now, families can have only children they are prepared to cater for; no one should be forced to have a child by mistake,'' Pede said. "A woman can now walk into any hospital, seek counsel and actually begin the process of birth control without the consent of her spouse,'' he added. Dr Linus Amobi, a mass communication teacher, however, stressed that the media were very crucial to the success of the current advocacy on population growth for sustainable development. He, nonetheless, stressed that journalists ought to be sufficiently educated on population issues to enable them to inform and educate the populace responsibly. "They should able to counter any adverse publicity or information put out by mischief makers. In a nutshell, the media should not be viewed as a tool for propaganda; rather, they should serve as a vehicle and forum for education, dialogue, debate and discussion. "Rural communities should not be left behind in the campaign; the use of traditional and folk media is considered imperative. There is also the need to get the message right, based on sociocultural sensibilities of the people,'' Amobi said. "Above all, government at all levels must redouble efforts to efficiently manage the available resources in the best interest of the people. "Government should be sincere and transparent, while making tangible efforts to reduce unemployment and provide the necessary amenities,'' he added. Source: NAN

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World’s loneliest cowboy, 81, lives in Chilean mountains for 46 years S

urrounded by the stunning snow-topped mountains and sparkling lakes of Chilean Patagonia, his only interruptions are bleating sheep and the crackle of the radio. This is the solitary life of Faustino Barrientos, a cowboy who has spent more than 46 years in isolation by Lake O’Higgins - one of the most remote corners of the world. Since 1965, Barrientos has worked as a gaucho - a horse-riding rancher and shepherd living in the southern swath of Chile and Argentina. In December, he was visited by journalists from Vice, an independent media company in Brooklyn, New York. It took the reporters four days to travel to his home, made from a salvaged fishing boat. ‘I don’t need money,’ he told them after welcoming them to his home. ‘I have enough to eat. Life seems to be better when you’re alone. ‘They want to kick me out of here but they can’t. I’m staying here until the very end.’

Barrientos grew up on the shores of Lake O’Higgins but after his 11 siblings moved away and Pinochet started rising up the ranks of power, he moved to Argentina. While travelling around the country and working at construction jobs, he picked up the skills to sustain himself when he returned to the craggy, mountainous Patagonia of Chile. Lake O’Higgins is one of the most remote areas of Patagonia and is the least populated region in Chile. It is also one of the world’s most sparsely populated places outside Antarctica. Barrientos’s land has two buildings - a small hut where he sleeps, eats, listens to the radio and pours over stacks of newspapers when they are delivered to him twice a year. The other building stores boxes of food - tins of soups and desserts, bags of sugar and flour, tubs of lard which are delivered by a boat that has started passing his quiet corner every ten days. He also survives on cows and sheep reared on his land, and he

Humble life: Faustino Barrientos, 81, has lived alone in Chilean Patagonia for more than 46 years.

Simple: He has built two sheds; he lives in one and stores food in the other, made from a fishing boat.

Long journey: He works as a gaucho - a horse-riding rancher and shepherd - and travels to the nearest town every two years to sell cattle to sustain himself

keeps track of time with a calendar that he marks off everyday. Every two years he rides with his cattle for two days to Villa O’Higgins, a small community of several hundred people, 25 miles away. He leads the herd along ravines and through rivers to the town. There, he sells the cattle, raising enough money for his humble lifestyle.

He enjoys a few modern amenities, keeping up on politics and sports scores over a radio in his home. He has watched television just once in his life. ‘It’s good to know what’s going on out there,’ he said. ‘[The radio is] how I learn about politics in different countries. That’s also how I taught myself politics.’ Two years ago, when the government discovered he had guns on his property, they paid a visit and made a deal: they would take the guns but leave him solar panels in exchange. He took them up on their offer, but says he rarely uses the solar

panels. And, he added, he’s got new guns anyway. ‘I’ve got more but I won’t hand them over,’ he said. But his life is becoming increasingly burdened with modernday life. About 10 years ago, a government ship began cruising the lake weekly. Now, there is also a tourist ship that brings sightseers to the O’Higgins Glacier every ten days. He also has lodgers on his land, a man and his wife who have brought their animals and help Barrientos with his. The lodgers describe Barrientos as a surprisingly sociable man. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

“

‘I don’t need money,’ he told them after welcoming them to his home. ‘I have enough to eat. Life seems to be better when you’re alone. ‘They want to kick me out of here but they can’t. I’m staying here until the very end.’ Quiet: He spends his days caring for his animals, listening to the radio and reading old newspapers.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Couple tries to smuggle five-monthold baby in baggage into UAE A

couple were busted trying to smuggle their baby into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - when airport security staff spotted the five-month-old hidden in their luggage on a bag scanner. The Egyptian husband and wife reportedly arrived at Sharjah International Airport on Friday night but were denied entry as they did not have a visa for the newborn. Airport authorities allowed them to stay until the relevant office re-opened on the Sunday but, getting impatient, they decided to chance their luck when the shift staff changed. They stashed the baby into a bag and bundled him through the scanner. But their plan became unstuck when security staff noticed the outline of the body on the screen. A Sharjah Police spokesman said:’ They were risking the life of the baby. ‘They said in an interrogation they’d resorted to sneaking him through inside a bag because he

did not have a passport or visa and they wanted to have him with them in the UAE.’ And another police official told Gulf News: ‘When customs officials saw the baby inside the bag at the X-ray scanner, they were stunned. ‘This machine is very dangerous for anyone, let alone a baby in a bag to pass through. ‘A case will now be raised against the mother and father, they both have visas to come to the UAE, but they have put the life of their child at risk.’ The couple were arrested and charged with endangering the baby’s life, who could have been exposed to the dangers of radiation. The pair, who The National reported had previously been staying in the UAE illegally, left because the mother was pregnant and wanted to give birth at home in Egypt. It is unclear how the child was initially placed onto the aircraft without a passport. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Busted: The baby, hidden in a bag, was discovered when he was pushed through a scanning machine

Suspects: This couple were arrested for trying to smuggle their baby through a scanning machine.

Impatient: Airport authorities allowed them to stay until the relevant office re-opened on the Sunday but they decided to chance their luck when the shift staff changed

Couple: They stashed the baby into a bag and bundled him through the scanner. But their plan became unstuck when security staff noticed the outline of the body on the screen.

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Borno govt approves 70% subsidy on fertiliser

he Borno Government has said that it had approved a 70 per cent subsidy on fertilisers being sold to farmers for year 2012 cropping season. Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State made the pronouncement at the launch of the sale of the commodity to farmers in Damboa, headquarters of Damboa Local Government. Shettima explained that a bag of NPK and Urea fertilisers would be sold at N2,000 and N1,950 respectively, adding that the objective was to make fertilisers affordable to farmers, especially those at the grassroots level. “Government is providing 70 percent on each bag of fertiliser to farmers for this year’s farming season. The object is to make the commodity affordable to all farmers

Female farmers advocate for special agric loan scheme

emale farmers in Kano State, under the aegis of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), have called for the introduction of a special agricultural loan scheme for female farmers in the country. Leader of the AFAN, Hajiya Fatima Kiru, said the call became necessary to enable more women farmers access agricultural loans to improve food production in the country. “This will also encourage more women, especially those in the rural areas, to embrace farming in the country,” she said. Kiru also appealed to the Kano State Government to give female farmers in the state special consideration in the allocation of fertiliser. She also wants the state government to give special attention to women in the allocation of improved seeds to save them from the usual rigours of getting the commodity. According to her, many women farmers in the state have yet to get the government’s subsidised fertiliser due to what she described as the non recognition of women farmers. Kiru, however, commended the state government for the special consideration it gave to women in the various empowerment programmes it initiated in the last one year. She further advised the Federal Government to reduce interest rate on agricultural loans in order to boost food production in the country. She said that AFAN in conjunction with USAID had planned to train women farmers in the state on modern farming techniques. “Already we have over 1,000 registered women under AFAN in the state and we intend to train them on new farming methods very soon,” Kiru said. (NAN)

and boost food production in the state,’’ Shettima said. He warned middlemen that government would not condone diversion of the commodity to the black market. “Let me warn that government will take drastic action against individuals found diverting the commodity to the black market,” Shettima said, and advised officials in charge of the distribution to be fair and just. “We must ensure fair and equitable distribution of the fertilisers among the people because we have signed a covenant to serve the people.” He urged the people of the state to pray for peace to reign, stating that “I will to call on everybody to pray for peace to return to Borno because without peace we cannot make progress.” He also appealed to the people to pray for bumper harvest for the state to record mass food production.(NAN)

L-R: International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ambassador for Africa, Former President Olusegun Obasanjos, former Nasarawa state governor, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, and a plant pathologist, Dr. Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, during the visit of IITA ambassador to the Institute, recently in Ibadan. Photo: NAN

Women and youth as drivers of Agric Transformation By Salisu Na’inna Dambatta

here is no doubt that any country that wants to achieve its important national goals must take into account the roles of women and youths as it formulates those policies and programmes for the actualization of those goals. This is more so in Nigeria where the demographics in the 2006 National Population and Housing Census indicate that there are slightly more women than men in the country. It also shows that women and youths constitute around 60 per cent of the population. In order for the country to benefit from the energy and drive of Nigerian women and youths, the Federal Government is relying heavily on them as the fulcrum of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). It is well-known that agriculture is one of the key pillars of the transformation agenda of the Jonathan-Sambo administration. Since the idea of transforming the agricultural sector is to turn it into business that can create jobs and wealth for its operators, it is certain that women and youths should embrace the sector and reap from the opportunities it offers as producers, processors, marketers or dealers along the value chains of the various crops grown in all the ecozones of the country. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijani and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi, who went on a nationwide tour to ensure the timely delivery of fertilizers, seeds and other vital inputs to Nigerian farmers, have repeatedly urged women and youth to get into agriculture and seize the

many opportunities it offers. The trio unceasingly pointed at our vast arable but mostly fallow land, access to credit on favourable terms, a huge sellers’ market for food and many other incentives for the picking for women and youths willing to be entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector. They point at the value chains of various crops and livestock sub-sector which create jobs and wealth for those smart enough to seize the real opportunities inherent in those value chains. Indeed, many hitherto hardpressed women and youths have seen their fortune changed after starting agribusinesses such as micro poultry, goat and sheep keeping, bull fattening and even something as simple as grinding chili or hot pepper into powder and packaging it for sale in supermarkets. Many of them have invested their capital, energy and zeal for achieving financial independence as primary producers of grains, horticultural crops, small-scale food processors and marketers. The outcome of their efforts is that many have become micro tycoons who have achieved the muchdesired leap out of poverty. This is one of the key objectives of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda in a country where the poverty level is alarming, especially among women and youths. It is certain that many young men and women in various parts of the country have willingly taken to farming as a business. Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Bukar Tijani particularly commended the youths in Jigawa State for their participation and investments in the massive production of sesame. He said he was aware that many of them have

bid farewell to poverty and idleness by engaging in the production of the commodity. The Minister said while flagging off the Growth Enhancement Support scheme in Kiyawa, Jigawa State recently that the massive engagement of youths in sesame production in the state has truly turned it into one of the largest sesame producing states in the country. Sesame is one of several agricultural products exported from Nigeria in large quantity thereby contributing to the country’s earnings in hard currency and boosting our national profile as an exporter of items other than crude oil. It is also crushed by domestic oil mills for its rich oil, which experts confirmed as healthy because it is free of harmful cholesterol. It is also a hot cake as many households resort to it for its quality. Other opportunities for women and youths in agriculture are obvious in the area of opening restaurants, the processing of soybeans into several products such as soya milk, soya cake and crushing it for its excellent oil, which experts in nutrition say is a health booster. Little wonder it is now more expensive than rice, maize or even sorghum per equivalent measure as its value is known by more people. The demand for soya beans is growing in Nigeria and any farsighted youth who invests in its farming will end up praising the wisdom in that decision as he grows rich. In addition to all the opportunities listed in the preceding paragraphs, the enterprising woman and youth may consider investing in irrigation farming during the dry season in any of the numerous irrigation facilities of the River Basin

Development Authorities spread in all parts of the country. Fish and rabbit farming are areas that are as lucrative and money spinning as growing sugarcane or using high-quality cassava flour for baking confectionaries. Indeed, many women and youths have taken to these aspects of agribusinesses and are laughing to the banks. It is significant that many state governments all over the country have introduced various programmes to train women and youths in various agribusiness skills. They often give the new entrants into the agricultural sector seed capital and equipment and the impact such women and youths have in contributing to national food self-sufficiency is great. Over time, such contributions will become even more obvious. Indeed, Nigeria is bound to witness a major paradigm shift in the agricultural sector as more women and youths take it as a means of livelihood beyond subsistence. They will certainly play a key role in seeing to it that we stop importing rice, we stop importing wheat and other semi-luxury food items which can easily be grown in abundance locally. They will also by taking to farming be the key segment of the population that will ensure that Nigeria increases its food production locally by 20 million metric tons. When this is achieved, the equivalent of the US$10 billion authorities say Nigeria spends yearly to import food products that we can grow at home will be put in their pockets. That will mean they will be out of poverty. Salisu Na’inna Dambatta is Director Information in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

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FG will rehabilitate Anambra rice mill –– Ochekpe

inister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, has pledged Federal Government’s commitment to rehabilitate the abandoned rice mill at Omor in Anambra. Ochekpe gave the commitment during a one-day tour of abandoned projects billed for rehabilitation in the state. She said that the revamping of the mill was to support the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the present administration. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the project, abandoned for over 18 years under the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP), had the capacity of

milling 3.3 tons of rice per hour. NAN also observed that the mill comprised the receiving and drying section of a capacity of 130 ton per day and a parboiling and milling section of 3.3 ton per day and storage silos of 3,000 tons capacity. “The Federal Government would put heads together with the State Government and support whole heartedly to make sure that the rice mill starts working,” she said. She urged the people of Omor not to relent in their farming activities in spite of the challenges

they faced due to lack of irrigation facilities. Ochekpe said work had started on the site in terms of repairing the feeder roads and irrigation channels, adding that a new scheme would be constructed to bring water into the irrigation project. According to her, the 3,850 hectares of land for production of rice in the area would be cultivated both in rainy and dry season on completion of the projects. The minister explained that reviving the mill and irrigation channels would create job

opportunities for the youth, yield income and improve the livelihood of the people. “I believe with the completion of the irrigation scheme and revitalising of the rice mill many jobs will be created and standard of living of the people will be improved. It will also contribute to the economic growth of the entire country,” she explained. Ochekpe called on the people of the community to live in peace with one another and to cooperate with the government to ensure sustainable development in the

Agriculture: Union decries food importation

Ekiti, Wema Bank partner on agricultural initiative

o boost the agriculture sector, the Ekiti State Government said it had initiated discussions with Wema Bank officials on reviving farmers’ cooperative societies. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State said this in an interactive session with the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Segun Oloketuyi, who paid him a courtesy visit in Ado-Ekiti. Under the proposed initiative, he said the bank would provide credit facilities to farmers in order to boost food production. Fayemi said government was passionate about exploiting the potentials in the agricultural sector to boost the state’s revenue. The governor said the state’s industrialisation drive was hinged on agricultural development, adding that partnership with the bank would boost this initiative. He solicited financial support for the on-going resuscitation of some moribund industries in the state such as the Ire Burnt Brick Industry at Ire-Ekiti. The governor commended the bank for buying into the bond raised by the state government, saying the proceeds were already being committed to infrastructural development. “I must commend you for supporting our bond initiative that was responsible for many of the things we are doing in town,” he said. The governor, however, advised the bank’s management to open branches in rural areas of the state to enable workers using microfinance banks to access their salaries through the e-payment system. Earlier, Oloketuyi had expressed the readiness of the bank to embark on agricultural funding initiatives that would help farmers expand their businesses. He added that the bank would provide tractors for the use of farmers. Oloketuyi also said the bank was planning to support the state in the construction of the proposed Ado-Ekiti modern market and a computer skills acquisition training centre. (NAN)

area. Mr Onyinye Eluwa, the Managing Director, Anambra/Imo River Basin Development Authority, thanked the Minister for her visit and assured her of their cooperation. (NAN)

Farmers planting after rainfall, last Friday at Kaugama, in Jigawa state. Photo: NAN

he Nasarawa State branch Chairman of the Agriculture and Allied Employees Union of Nigeria, Mr Alokoson JuwaIsaiah, has said that Nigeria has no reason to import food saying the country had rich land and water resources to produce all the food it needed. “The country is endowed with abundant land which should be adequately exploited for the production of food and cash crops both for domestic consumption and export purposes. “Farming is also a lucrative business that we should take seriously and time has now come for us to utilise it to ensure food security in Nigeria,” he said. Juwa-Isaiah, therefore, appealed to the Federal, state and local governments to provide farmers with adequate implements and other inputs to ensure abundant food supply for the citizenry. He also urged members of the union to rededicate themselves toward boosting the agricultural sector for the nation’s socioeconomic development. The chairman tasked the celebrants to take full advantage of their new status to make meaningful contributions to the growth of the union. (NAN)

Farmers to get N1bn agricultural credit scheme in Abia T By Oyeleye Olukayode

he Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has promised the farmers in Abia State that 121,000 farmers will benefit from the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) of the federal government this year. He made this known recently in Umuahia, the Abia State capital during the flag-off of the GESS and the official proclamation of N1 billion loans that Abia government was giving to the farmers in the state. According to Adesina, every single farmer that wants to do rice or maize,"Mr. President has announced that seeds be given to them for free in 50 kg bags of certified rice seeds and 40 kg bag of certified maize seed." In the programme aimed at benefitting poor farmers, he said five million farmers are targeted for GES over five years. Commending Abia for being

consistent in paying up its state’s counterpart support for fadama and Agricultural Transformation Agenda, the minister recognised the challenge of creating incomes and increasing “benefits for all our farmers.” The amount of incentives for farmers in the states, he said, are such that “each farmer will pay 50 per cent of N88,000 for each package of inputs.” Recognising that Abia State produces the best cocoa farmer, the minister announced the release of eight new varieties of cocoa hybrids which will be yielding 2 tonnes per hectare as opposed to the 0.04 tonnes per hectare, a difference he said was more than fivefold. “We are distributing 25,000 pods of these hybrids for farmers in Abia State for free,” he promised. Adesina disclosed that $136 billion would be earned this year from cassava chips’ export. One of those poised to be involved, he

indicated, was Eze Philip Ajomiwe. The conversion of residential houses to commercial or the earnings and wages, he reasoned, are inadequate in meeting our agricultural expectations. Chukwu Wachukwu, a consultant on the loan and chairman of the occasion, wants prospective beneficiaries to “identify agricultural opportunities in every local government area,” using the input supply system in applying the funds and the offtakers’ system to administer the funds. Wachukwu said Abia State aims at over 62,000 tons of cassava tubers processing as well as 1,750 tons of rice and 2,250 crates of eggs daily. The state’s commissioner, Ike Onyenweaku, was expecting agribusiness breakthroughs, stressing that “our extension services will be re-integrated to offer useful services to our farmers.” Onyenweaku noted that a huge investment is coming into

agriculture in Abia and this is just about to begin as the state would become of those to reckon with in agricultural productivity. Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State unveiled the reasons for signing an MoU with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, saying the “MoU will guarantee the collaboration of the federal government and Abia State that will ensure the implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda in Abia.” He stressed self-sufficiency in food production as “a panacea for sustainable democracy and economic growth.” In Abia, Orji said, “we are interested in technologies, research and everything that will improve agriculture, employment generation and food security.” Addressing the farmers at the rally, the governor said the state government has given a “surety” the loan beneficiaries. He encouraged them to pay back the loans.

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Facts and fallacies of race for African Union Commission Chairperson (II) ANALYSIS By Alexander Ojo

hird, South Africa stands the notion of African unity and solidarity on its head. In South Africa's case, draped in the innocuous garb of SADC, to seek the position of chairperson, it is stated that "The founders of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union, envisaged an African continent that is independent, united, peaceful and prosperous. This is our historic visionâ&#x20AC;Ś At almost fifty, the African Union stands ready for renewal and rejuvenation in order to move the continent forward. This task demands a visionary leadership with a Pan-African outlook". Why does South Africa continue to pile pressure on Dr. Ping and his country Gabon to withdraw from the race? Fourth, absent in all SADC nay South Africa's campaign documents and pronouncements on the elections, are the keywords "compromise", "consensus", "restraint" and "sacrifice" in the supreme interest of Africa. Instead, there is soffit of convoluted arguments supporting rotation and why SADC must unseat Dr. Ping. South Africa is the lone voice standing against the resolution of the AU leadership election imbroglio. At the two meetings held in Cotonou, Benin Republic on March 17 and May 14, 2012 respectively, of the Ad Hoc Committee of Heads of State established last January to look into the electoral deadlock, none other than President Zuma stood vehemently against compromise and consensus. Gabon, it was reported, was willing to withdraw Ping on condition South Africa withdrew Zuma. So adamant was President Zuma that the Committee was unable to agree on the outcome of its second meeting. The Committee is scheduled to reconvene in Addis Ababa to adopt the report it shall present to the Assembly prior to the elections on July15, 2012. Africa is capable and willing to speak with one voice, it is South Africa, using SADC that stands in the way. Fifth, analysts in Africa and elsewhere, attribute South Africa's determined quest to head the AU Commission as part of its grand strategy to upstage Nigeria in the bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. To these analysts, an AU Commission under Dr. Zuma would be an adjunct or external division of South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, ready to do the country's bidding at all times and in all manner. Reliable sources indicate that even at this late moment, with less than ten (10) days to the elections, South Africa is still trying to harangue Ping and Gabon to withdraw from the race. Information also has it that arrangements were concluded for Ping to meet President Zuma in the evening of Friday, July 6, 2012 in Pretoria reportedly at the latter's request. Since no reason was given

Dr. Jean Ping for the impromptu and inopportune request, tongues are wagging on its real intent. Analysts believe that the motif may be anything but altruistic, open to conjecture considering South Africa's antics of disinformation and fabrications. Who knows, as has happened on other occasions, if South Africa will put a spin to the outcome of the hurriedly arranged meeting with Ping? The rumor mill is rife with claims of South Africa boasting to be willing to spend any amount it will take to buy support for Dr. Zuma even if doing so corrupts the electoral process at the African Union. Sources within SADC suggest that South Africa assured the group that it has the requisite votes to win a Ping Zuma rematch on July 15, 2012. Word had it also that a 13-member South African delegation comprising ANC cadres, senior Government officials and others was on its way to Libreville between July 6 and 7, 2012 for a final campaign onslaught on President Bongo. Little needs to be said of the fact that Dr. Ping is an employee of the African Union. He takes his instructions from the Member States of the AU and cannot be held accountable for the political prevarications on the Libyan crisis, including South Africa's positive vote at the UN Security Council in April 2011 in favor of Resolution 1973 that legitimized the NATO invasion of Libya. Dr. Ping did not move any frigate to West African waters in the

height of the Cote d'Ivoire crisis neither did he supply arms and ammunition to Laurent Gbagbo. Two sovereign countries from SADC did both. How can Dr. Ping be held accountable for the action of these independent countries? A far-fetched argument, but one that calls for response, is the twist given to the circumstances that brought Ambassador Peter Onu of Nigeria to office as acting Secretary General of the OAU. Nkoanna Mashabane claims that Nigeria which is one of the five big countries funding the Commission, headed the Commission in 1983. This she said, to challenge the "unwritten gentleman's agreement" that subsisted among the "Big Five", namely, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa, not to contest or field candidates for the position of the Chairperson of the Commission. Ambassador Peter Onu, by right of succession as the most senior official of the OAU, assumed leadership in an acting capacity. Mr Adekunle Daniel, former staff of the OAU, remarked that when Peter Onu assumed office as acting Secretary General, the Nigerian Government warned him not to seek to be the substantive Secretary General of the OAU based on the gentleman's agreement. Indeed, he respected that position and acted in accordance with the rules of the OAU. The decision by Algeria, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and South

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Africa among others not to contest for the AU top job was based on the understanding and principle of solidarity and unity which South Africa is now bent on breaking by all means. Nowadays however, South Africa rejects the agreement and repeatedly asks to be presented with the written evidence of its content and existence. Orchestrating the need for rotation in the position of the chairperson of the AU Commission even though no decision has ever been taken by the highest body of the AU, its Assembly, South Africa, seemingly insists that not only must the rotation start immediately, but it must do so from its region with a South African as first candidate for the rotation. This is a push that will rob Africa of its enviable 49 years history of electing the administrative heads of its highest political organization based on merit, and also diminish the continent's recent democratic gains. Well- endowed countries in economic and political terms in Africa have a lot going for them. They must give a sense of belonging and inclusiveness to the smaller ones in furtherance and demonstration of the true spirit of "Historic Vision - New Strategies for Unity, Peace and Prosperity", the campaign mantra of Dr. Zuma. Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria have a big challenge to rescue the continent from the strangulating hold of South Africa. At the elections on July 15th,

Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria have a big challenge to rescue the continent from the strangulating hold of South Africa.

other key regional players, more especially Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Uganda and Rwanda must join efforts to prevent a deadlock in the elections. A deadlock in July will do incalculable harm to Africa's external image, its relations with its development partners as well as deepen the division in the continent. Mention too must be made of the harm already done to the morale of the functionaries of the AU Commission. Benin as chair of the Union, must display uncommon dexterity in reading the pulse of the elections and respond in a manner that serves Africa's wider interest. Africa is larger than the sum total of one country's insatiable ambition and interests. Although Nigeria is not fielding a candidate for chairperson, the country is perceived to be pitched in a leadership contest against South Africa, a measure of which, the result of the election will demonstrate. Nigeria is a strong supporter of Dr. Ping and is opposed to Dr. Zuma as a matter of principle. For South Africa, heading the AU Commission is a door-die affair, anchored on the fact of its being Africa's only member of G20 and BRICS. Nigeria cannot and must not fold her arms in this race. In its quest for leadership, the issue of much needed solidarity and unity amongst Member States counts nothing to South Africa. By being adamant and refusing to heed the repeated well-meaning advice of countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Algeria, and Kenya among many others, South Africa, has told the world that Africa's unity is secondary to her individual interest. Dr. Zuma's infamous dance last January on the corridor of the AU headquarters with a small band of her supporters following the announcement of Dr. Ping's inability to secure a crucial two third majority in the fourth ballot, spoke volumes on the character and temperament of South Africa's diplomacy. Beggar thy neighbour; celebrate misfortune, the dance said! What a quality in an aspiring leader with a "historic vision". Yet, as Africa heads into another electoral round for the chairperson of the AU Commission, the onus is on South Africa to subordinate her ambition to the wider interests of the continent. What Africa needs most at this crucial juncture are solidarity, unity, coherence, and a big push to overcome the challenges of the recent past, more notably, the security challenges in Mali, Guinea Bissau, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan. As distinct from SADC, South Africa must demonstrate to the world that she does not need Dlanimi-Zuma as head of the AU Commission to exercise leadership and influence. South Africa, a behemoth in Africa, got it wrong in the Zuma candidature. It is not too late to get it right. South Africa - withdraw Dr. Zuma from the race. South Africa join the mighty sea of unity and solidarity in Africa. South Africa give Dr. Ping the right of refusal to a second term in office! Concluded Ojo, a political analyst, is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

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Unity stressed as Libya poll results emerge South Sudan marks challenging first year

outh Sudan marks its first year of independence yesterday, but the celebrations are marked by continued conflict with Sudan and domestic interethnic tensions. One year into independence, South Sudan has made steps forward in terms of nation-building and building a legal framework, yet remains one of the world's poorest countries. Tensions with Sudan, which the split was meant to end, have not yet been fully resolved. Landlocked South Sudan, which relies on the infrastructure of the North to export its oil, decided to stop pumping crude barely six months after becoming a state despite it being almost its only source of revenue. But Juba and Khartoum are talking again, and South Sudan has a set of conditions it wants met before the oil starts flowing again. Speaking to Al Jazeera, South Sudan's Minister of Information Barnaba Benhamin said, "Once they give us a good price, guarantee they will not again confiscate our oil, make sure that they will export oil through the Port Sudan terminal... we will open with them the next day." Despite the challenges ahead, anniversary congratulations have been sent from around the world. US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, "Your work to provide security, accountability and systemic respect for human rights is admirable." But "conflict and unresolved issues with Sudan and domestic inter-ethnic tensions have led to increased fighting and economic hardship, which threatens to compromise the very foundation on which South Sudan's future will be built." More congratulations were received from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu who appealed for peace. Tutu was speaking to political, military and religious leaders when he stated "God wants to make South Sudan prosperous and peaceful". The anniversary festivities got under way 0500 GMT at the mausoleum of John Garang, the rebel leader who died in a mysterious helicopter crash shortly after he signed the 2005 peace deal that paved way for South Sudan's independence. Among the high-profile guests were UN chief Ban Ki-moon, Africa Union head Jean Ping and political leaders from Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.

s Electoral authorities were finalising the vote count from Libya's first free polls in decades an architect of the revolt that toppled Muammar Gaddafi called for national unity talks. Mahmud Jibril of the National Forces Alliances (NFA), which is said to be trending well based on preliminary unofficial figures from the weekend election for a national assembly, called yesterday for all parties to come together. "We extend an honest call for a national dialogue to come all together in one coalition, under one banner... to reach a compromise, a consensus on which the constitution can be drafted and the new government can be composed," said the NFA leader. "There was no loser and winner at all. Whoever is going to win, Libya is the real winner of those elections," he added. The remarks came hours after the leader of the rival Justice and Construction Party admitted the NFA had an early lead in the vote count for the capital and Libya's secondlargest city of Benghazi. "The National Forces Alliance achieved good results in some large cities except Misrata. They have a net lead in Tripoli and in Benghazi," said Mohammed Sawan, a Justice and Construction leader. Faisal Krekshi, NFA secretary general, said: "Early reports show that the coalition is leading the polls in the majority of constituencies."

Preliminary figures showed that an estimated 63 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots on Saturday Preliminary figures from the country's electoral commission showed that 1.7 million of the nearly 2.9 million eligible voters, or about 63 per cent, cast their ballots on Saturday. Full results could not be unknown until the end of the week as the election commission has decided to bring ballot papers to Tripoli for a centralised count in the first elections since the fall of

Gaddafi last year. The United Nation's top official in Libya applauded on Sunday how the country conducted its first free and fair election in more than four decades, saying it went better than anyone could "reasonably have expected". The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Ian Martin, spoke in Tripoli and said he hoped that the lengthy procedure of counting the ballots

would not be a source of suspicion. If the results are confirmed, Libya, unlike neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt whose strongmen were also ousted in last year's Arab Spring, will buck the trend of electoral success for Islamists. "But it is a tight race for us in the south," added Sawan, a former political prisoner and member of Libya's Muslim Brotherhood, which launched the party.

DRC rebels seize more towns in North Kivu

ebels from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have taken control of more towns in the country's eastern North Kivu province, forcing government troops to retreat. The rebels, known as the M23 movement, had captured the town of Rutshuru on Sunday, forcing thousands of civilians from their homes. This development opened the way for a possible advance on Goma, the provincial capital about 70km to the south. The rebels said that they did not face any opposition from the FARDC, the DRC's national army, as they captured the towns of Ntamugenga, Rubare and Bunagana, an important mineral town, siezed two days earlier. Al Jazeera's Peter Greste, reporting from the town of Rumangabo, 50km north of Goma, said that the morale amongst the government troops was very low. "We only found two government soldiers here. There

is no running water and the conditions are absolutely appalling," Greste said on Monday. "M23 have surrounded this place, but not occupied it. The main focus for now seems to be on Goma." Colonel Sultani Makenga, the head of the M23 rebels, told reporters hours after they took Rutshuruon Sunday, that they planned to leave all the towns they've taken except Bunagana. The rebels had taken the major town without a fight, after the military beat a retreat in the hours before the fighters arrived, residents and an army officer said. "The government is going to determine if they want peace. And if they want the combats to end," Makenga told reporters in Rutshuru. "If the military wants to keep fighting us, we will pursue them. Our plan is to retreat from the towns under our control and to leave MONUSCO [the United Nations peacekeeping mission] and the national police. But we

plan to hold Bunagana because we need to keep a distance from our enemies,'' he said. Until April, Makenga was an officer in the Congolese military. He and his men defected, accusing the government of not holding up its end of the March 23, 2009, peace deal that had paved the way for them to join the army in the first place. Pre-2009, the members of M23 belonged to the now-defunct National Congress for the Defense of the People, or CNDP, rebel group, which at one point came within a hair of taking Goma. Rutshuru was the largest town that the CNDP previously controlled. The new fighting in mineralrich North Kivu province has dampened hopes of a revival for the region after a short lull in two decades of instability. It risks dragging the vast, loosely governed central African state back into war and damaging fragile relations with Rwanda, which has repeatedly denied allegations that the rebels are receiving cross-border

support. The UN Security Council on Friday condemned attacks by the rebels on peacekeepers in the area after an Indian soldier was killed in Bunagana. Bunagana fell into rebel hands after the clash, according to the M23 spokesman and local civilians, causing around 600 Congolese soldiers to flee into Uganda. Despite outnumbering the rebels 10 to one, the FARDC has been unable to dislodge them from hilltop hideouts. Rwanda has denied allegations in a report by UN experts that provided the strongest evidence yet that officials of President Paul Kagame's government were providing military and logistical support to armed rebel groups in the DRC. Two months of fighting in the resource-rich region has pitted government troops against former Congolese Tutsi rebels, who were integrated into the army but defected this year and formed the M23 rebel movement.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 33

Donors pledge $16 billion Afghan aid at Tokyo meet

ajor donors pledged yesterday to give Afghanistan $16 billion in development aid through 2015 as they try to prevent it from sliding back into chaos when foreign troops leave, but demanded reforms to fight widespread corruption. Donor fatigue and war

weariness have taken their toll on how long the global community is willing to support Afghanistan and there are concerns about security following the withdrawal of most NATO troops in 2014 if financial backing is not secured. "Afghanistan's security cannot only be measured by the

absence of war," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told an international donors' conference in Tokyo. "It has to be measured by whether people have jobs and economic opportunity, whether they believe their government is serving their needs, whether political reconciliation proceeds

and succeeds." The roughly $4 billion in annual aid pledged at the meeting, attended by 80 countries and international organizations, fell short of the $6 billion a year the Afghan central bank has said will be needed to foster economic growth over the next decade. Clinton and other donors

Saudi protest crackdown leaves two dead

Delegates attend the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan in Tokyo, on Sunday, July 8, 2012.

Activists posted what they said was a leaked image of Nimr after he was arrested and injured [Facebook]

Pakistani army soldiers gather after attack on army camp in Wazirabad, some 180km southeast of Islamabad

audi Arabia said yesterday that two men have been killed after protests in a Shia Muslim area in the eastern part of the world's top oil exporter, following the arrest of a prominent Shia cleric. The cleric, Sheikh Nimr alNimr, is an outspoken Shia cleric and anti-government activist. Hussain al-Alk, a human rights activist, told Al Jazeera, "The speeches of Sheikh Nimr were very hot, and he's always attacking the government." A statement from an Interior Ministry spokesman said the deaths followed a protest in the village of Awamiya over the arrest of Nimr, but said there was no clash between protesters and police. "Security authorities had been notified by a nearby medical centre on the arrival of four individuals brought in by their relatives," Major General Mansour Turki, the spokesman, said in a comment sent to Reuters. "Two of them were dead, the other two were slightly injured. Competent authorities intiated investigations in the incident."

stressed the importance of Afghanistan - one of the most corrupt nations in the world taking aggressive action to fight graft and promote reforms. "We have agreed that we need a different kind of long-term economic partnership, one built on Afghan progress in meeting its goals, in fighting corruption, in carrying out reform, and providing good governance," Clinton said. According to "mutual accountability" provisions in the final conference documents, as much as 20 percent of the aid could ultimately depend on Afghanistan meeting benchmarks on fighting corruption and other good governance measures. However, a Japanese official said that it was up to each donor whether to make its aid contingent on such reforms and that the benchmarks could vary from country to country. World Bank Managing Director Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the pressure was on the Afghan government to deliver reforms and ensure fair elections in 2014 in order to secure aid beyond the amount pledged in Tokyo. "This is a fragile conflict state," Indrawati said in an interview. "Three years is a very short time for a country to be able to build stable and competent institutions." International donors provided $35 billion in aid to Afghanistan between 2001 and 2010, but the return on that investment has been mixed and the country remains one of the five poorest in the world. President Hamid Karzai admits his government needs to do more to tackle corruption, but his critics say he is not doing enough, and some directly blame authorities for vast amounts of aid not reaching the right people.

Pakistan Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top gunmen court rebukes strike army rescue camp presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unmen opened fire on an decree

army camp near Islamabad, killing eight security personnel and wounding five others, the military said. The attack happened yesterday near the industrial city of Wazirabad, less than 150km southeast of the capital. "At least seven security personnel, including a police official, embraced shahadat [martyrdom] and five others were injured due to firing by unknown assailants near Wazirabad," the military said in a statement. A rescue party had camped by the Chenab to look for the body of a pilot missing in a helicopter crash in May, the statement said, and the camp came under attack from a bridge. "The exact number of attackers is not known but they came by motorbike and sprayed bullets on the troops from the bridge," a senior security official told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.

gypt's Supreme Constitutional Court has rebuked President Mohamed Morsi, asserting that he has no right to reconvene parliament after the court ordered it dissolved last month. "All the rulings and decisions of the Supreme Constitutional Court are final and not subject to appeal ... and are binding for all state institutions," the court said in a statement yesterday after meeting in a special session. On Sunday, Morsi issued a decree reconvening the parliament in defiance of the court and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, both of which want parliament dissolved. In June, two days before the presidential election began, the court ruled that the legislature had been elected using an unconstitutional method, since political parties were allowed to run for seats reserved for individuals.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Greek government wins confidence vote

reece's new conservative-led government has won parliamentary approval, but still faces the much tougher task of convincing its European partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to give it more time to meet the terms of its bailout. There had been little doubt the government would sail through the confidence vote yesterday after a heated threeday debate in which it pledged to win back the trust of foreign lenders. All 179 ruling coalition deputies backed the motion in the 300-seat parliament. After demanding a long list of changes to Greece's latest rescue package when it took power last month, the threeparty coalition has struck a more conciliatory tone in recent days, as it faces the prospect of running out of cash without more aid. It pledged to push through privatisations and longdiscussed structural reforms, saying those were the first steps to regaining credibility with lenders. "We don't want to change the targets of the bailout, but that which is causing recession and hampering us from

attaining those goals," Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said in a speech before the vote. "We have been saying the same thing repeatedly all along: the only way to avoid bankruptcy, and an exit from the euro, is through growth and investments." Samara's opposition, the radical Syriza group, wants the bailout torn up. "The bailout is a political and economic crime imposed on the country by the troika," Alexis Tsipras, Syriza's leader, told parliament during the debate on Sunday. "You are not pro-Europeans, you are Merkelists. Berlin will lead Europe to dissolution," he told the government, referring to German chancellor Angela Merkel, who is deeply unpopular in Greece for demanding austerity cuts. Finance minister Yannis Stournaras says he has already been warned by visiting officials from the lenders that he will face a difficult time at a Monday meeting of European finance ministers. He has tried to lower Greek expectations of a swift overhaul of the harsh austerity terms included in the bailout. Samaras' government, which stumbled off to a rocky

start when both he and his initial pick for finance minister were laid low by medical problems, will have to juggle strident demands from home and abroad. Faced with deep anger against wage and spending cuts in the 130bn ($160bn) euro bailout, Samaras has

promised long-suffering voters that the punishing terms of the rescue will be softened. But with Greece facing bankruptcy within weeks without its next tranche of aid, the government has had to promise that the country will stick to its prescribed path of austerity in the hope of

officials said. But the results, announced on Sunday by the electoral tribunal, also cited allegations of excessive campaign spending and voter

fraud during the July 1 ballot. According to the final count, Pena Nieto got 19.2 million votes, or 38.21 per cent, compared to 15.9 million, or 31.59 per cent, for second-place finisher Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. In third place with 12.8 million votes, or 25.4 per cent, was Josefina Vazquez Mota of the National Action Party, or PAN, of President Felipe Calderon, who was barred by the constitution from running for a second term. The PAN was hurt by a sluggish economy and dissatisfaction over drug-related violence. Calderon has congratulated Pena Nieto on his election win, as have leaders from dozens of other countries. Ruben Olmos, the director of a Washington-based consulting

firm called Global Policy Strategies, said that Pena Nieto cannot take office until the Electoral Tribunal gives him a "diploma" that officially names him the president of Mexico when incumbent Calderon completes his term on November 30. Mexican tribunals have until September to rule on any wrongdoing and officially name Pena Nieto as president. Both Lopez Obrador and the PAN have alleged that Pena Nieto overspent, although they have yet to file legal complaints to the tribunal. Olmos said that the "young democracy" had made a lot of progress in recent years and that an annulment was "highly unlikely". Lopez Obrador said on

World War I. It was in Reims that Germans signed their surrender to the Allies on May 7, 1945,

heralding the end of World War II in Europe. On July 8, 1962, De Gaulle and Adenauer shook hands in a symbolic gesture meant to bury generations of enmity between France and Germany. On Sunday, Merkel and Hollande exchanged kisses on the cheek. Today's leaders, whose countries are the biggest economies in the eurozone, acknowledged the challenges facing the shared currency as debts in smaller countries have affected the whole region and worry markets worldwide. The conservative Merkel and Socialist Hollande disagree on some key issues raised in seeking solutions to the crisis, including sharing debts across the eurozone.

convincing lenders it deserves more time, money and flexibility. Stournaras sought to reassure some of the concerns of the so-called troika of European Union, European Central Bank and IMF lenders by pledging to jumpstart a stalled privatisation plan and

Antonis Samaras's government stumbled off to a rocky start but has won a confidence vote in parliament

Electoral officials confirm Pena Nietoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s win

nrique Pena Nieto has won Mexico's presidential election by 3.3 million ballots, or almost seven percentage points, electoral

Thousands protested on Saturday against President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto claiming voting irregularities

Germany, France urge closer European unity

he desecration of dozens of graves of Germans killed in World War I and buried in a French cemetery clouded a historic meeting yesterday by the leaders of the two nations, who urged Europeans to set aside economic worries and deepen their union. In the medieval cathedral in Reims, France, a city battered by the two world wars, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel marked the 50th anniversary of a meeting between France's Charles de Gaulle and Germany's Konrad Adenauer that paved the way for decades of crossborder partnership. The Reims cathedral where the two leaders attended a special

mass was where kings of France were long crowned, and was bombed by German planes in

France's President Francois Hollande (R) listens to Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Saturday that he is gathering evidence for a legal challenge and urged the PAN to join him. Tens of thousands also marched through the Mexican capital against Pena Nieto on Saturday, holding banners accusing him of being corrupt and authoritarian. Pena Nieto denies any wrongdoing, and officials from his Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) say they could sue Lopez Obrador over his accusations. Olmos said that it will be a challenging term for Pena Nieto and that he would have to address opposition from groups that have been protesting against him, but the director said that Pena Nieto had begun to do so "by addressing the fact that youngsters are participating in this young democracy". Vote counts also confirmed that the PRI, and its allies in the Green Party, would have a minority in both houses of Congress, which could complicate Pena Nieto's agenda when he takes office in December. Officials projected that the two parties will have 240 deputies in the 500-seat lower house of Congress, which will convene in September. Pena Nieto, however, may also be able to garner support from 10 deputies from the centrist New Alliance party. The PAN will have 116 deputies, according to projections. But Calderon's party may also support energy and labour reforms that Pena Nieto has proposed.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 36

Couples compete in Sniffing victory at the 18th Snuff Wife Carrying World World Championships in Germany Championships

ouples from across the globe went head-to-head this weekend at the annual Wife Carrying World Championships in Finland. Taking on a 250 metre assault course, 34 teams headed to the Finnish outpost of Sonkajarvi to take part in the event, attended by an estimated 8,000

spectators. Loving husbands travelled from countries including Australia, Russia and Estonia, to lend some much-needed support to their partners throughout the day. Darth Vader and a team of smurfs were just some of the fancy dress costumes on display,

Competitors of the Snuff World Championships take their snuff in Peutenhausen (Picture: AP)

Two smurfs compete in the Wife Carrying World Championship (Picture: EPA) as contestants navigated their way through neck-deep pools of water and obstacle-filled sand pits. This year's championship was won by Finnish lawyer, Taisto Miettinen and his wife Kristiina Haapanen, who completed the course in one minute and 22 seconds. Four-time World Champion Miettinen explained the secret of his success, saying: 'In last autumn, I started running in the track, one hundred, two hundred and four hundred meters. 'I think that it helps that I am now a little bit faster than last

Darth Vader appears to have forgotten his wife (Picture: AFP)

t's snort pretty, but for these men and women black noses are the price of battling it out for snuff glory. They were trying to shovel as much of the stuff up their noses to win the 18th Snuff World Championships held in Germany at the weekend. Snuff - the name given to scented, finely ground tobacco leaves - is sniffed directly off the fingers or through special devices.

It was the preserve of foppish dandies in the 18th century but little of their elegance was on display at the contest held in Peutenhausen, near Munich. Ninety participants from Germany, Austria, the USA and Switzerland competed to see who could sniff the most snuff tobacco into his or her nose from a 5g container within 60 seconds. Points are given for the

amount of snuff consumed and the cleanliness of the snuff site though clearly not for the nose. According to experts, having a big schnoz doesn't help and there's snuffin' like intensive training and a sophisticated technique. Snuff was first imported from the Caribbean at the end of the 16th century and is still provided for MPs by the entrance to the House of Commons chamber.

The Wife Carrying Championship has been held in Sonkajaervi since 1992 (Picture: EPA) year.' The first wife carrying competition was held in the Sonkajarvi in1992, becoming the official world championships three years later. This year's event was accompanied by a pageant to celebrate the village's 90th anniversary. The event forms part of several unorthodox summer events held in Finland, including swamp football, cell phone throwing and sauna sitting.

A participant sniffs smokeless tobacco as she competes in the championships (Picture: Getty)

Taisto Miettinen celebrates with his partner Kristiina Haapanen (Picture: EPA)

Participants tried to put a maximum of five grams of tobacco in their noses within one minute (Picture: AP)

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Babies born just a few weeks early struggle more in English and Maths at school

abies who are born just a few weeks early could go on to struggle at school, research suggests. Scientists found a little more time in the womb may result in greater brain development and better scores on academic tests. Premature babies are newborns born before 37 weeks and are known to face increased chances for health and developmental problems. Full-term is generally considered to be between 37 weeks and 41 weeks and until now researchers assumed it made little difference when babies emerged during this time. However, a new study has found that more children born at 37 or 38 weeks performed poorly in maths test when they were eight-years-old compared to youngsters born a week or two later. The researchers and other experts said the results suggest that the definition of prematurity should be reconsidered. The findings also raise questions about hastening childbirth by scheduling caesarean deliveries for convenience - because women are tired of being pregnant or doctors are busy - rather than for medical reasons, the researchers say. Women should ‘at least proceed with caution before electing to have an earlier term birth,’ said lead author Dr Kimberly Noble from Columbia University Medical Centre. The study involved 128,000 New York City public school children and included a sizable number of youngsters from disadvantaged families. But the

authors said similar results likely would be found in other children, too. Of the third grade children born at 37 weeks, 2.3 per cent had severely poor reading skills and 1.1 per cent had at least moderate problems in math. That compares to 1.8 per cent and 0.9 per cent for the children born at 41 weeks. Children born at 38 weeks faced only slightly lower risks than those born at 37 weeks. Compared with 41-weekers, children born at 37 weeks faced a 33 per cent increased chance of having severe reading difficulty in third grade, and a 19 per cent greater chance of having moderate problems in math. ‘These outcomes are critical and predict future academic achievement,’ said Naomi Breslau, a Michigan State University professor and sociologist. Her own research has linked lower IQs in 6-year-olds born weighing the same as the average birth weights at 37 and 38 weeks’ gestation, compared with those born heavier. The study was published online Monday in Pediatrics. The research ‘will cause quite a stir,’ said Dr Judy Aschner, a pediatrics professor and neonatology director at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. ‘There are still a lot of babies who are being delivered more or less electively at 37 and 38 weeks, with people thinking, “This is no big deal - these babies are fullterm.” I think this is a big deal,’ Dr Aschner said. Dr Aschner, who was not involved in the study, said no one

Compared with 41-weekers, children born at 37 weeks faced a 33 per cent increased chance of having severe reading difficulty when they were eight years old. is recommending trying to delay childbirth for women who go into labor at 37 weeks or 38 weeks. ‘I don’t want to panic moms whose babies come at 37 weeks,’ she said. ‘But those elective early deliveries really need to stop.’ Some hospitals including Vanderbilt require obstetricians planning elective C-sections to complete a checklist and if

appropriate boxes aren’t checked, the operation can’t be performed, Aschner said. In the study, 15 per cent of children were born in C-section operations but there was no information on how many of these were elective or medically necessary procedures. C-sections can cause birth complications that also increase chances for developmental delays.

But the researchers took that into account, along with other risk factors including low birth weight, lack of prenatal care, smoking during pregnancy and neighbourhood poverty - all of which could contribute to academic difficulties. And they still found that birth at 37 weeks and 38 weeks was an additional risk. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

State. ‘If you focus too much on how you’re feeling, it usually backfires,’ Bushman said. ‘It keeps the aggressive thoughts and feelings active in your mind, which makes it more likely that you’ll act aggressively.’ Instead, Bushman found after tests where students were ‘stressed out’ by being interrupted rudely by an intercom, the best thing you can do is imagine you are far away. People should think about their problems - but from a ‘fly on the wall’ perspective. Researchers call this strategy ‘self-distancing.’ It’s more effective even than other techniques such as thinking of something calming to take the mind off their anger. Mischkowski said this may be effective in the short-term, but the anger will return when the distraction is not there. In one study, college students who responded less aggressively

and showed less anger when they were told to take analyse their feelings from a self-distanced perspective. ‘The secret is to not get immersed in your own anger and, instead, have a more detached view,’ said Dominik Mischkowski, lead author of the research and a graduate student in psychology at Ohio State University. ‘You have to see yourself in this stressful situation as a fly on the wall would see it.’ There were two related studies. The first involved 94 college students who were told they were participating in a study about the effects of music on problem solving, creativity and emotions. The students listened to an intense piece of classical music while attempting to solve 14 difficult anagrams (rearranging a group of letters to form a word such as ‘pandemonium’). They had only seven seconds to solve each anagram, record their answer and communicate it

to the experimenter over an intercom. But the plan of the study was to provoke the students into anger, which the experimenters did using a technique which has been used many times in similar studies. The experimenter interrupted the study participants several times to ask them to speak louder into the intercom, finally saying ‘Look, this is the third time I have to say this! Can’t you follow directions? Speak louder!’ Results showed that students who used the self-distancing perspective had fewer aggressive thoughts and felt less angry than both those who used the selfimmersed approach and those in the control group. ‘Many people seem to believe that immersing themselves in their anger has a cathartic effect, but it doesn’t. It backfires and makes people more aggressive,’ Bushman said. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Angry? Counting to ten is the worst thing you can do C

ounting to ten when you’re feeling angry could actually make things worse. Tests on students in a stressful situation found that taking time to ‘focus’ on a situation actually makes people MORE angry. Thinking about your feelings is the worst thing you can possibly do, say Ohio State scientists. ‘The worst thing to do in an angerinducing situation is what people normally do: try to focus on their hurt and angry feelings to understand them, said Brad Bushman, Tests on students in a stressful situation found professor of that taking time to 'focus' on a situation actually communication and makes people more angry. psychology at Ohio

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

PAGE 37

Anambra LG polls: APGA restructuring tears kinsmen apart All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)’s crisis, which revolves around the Chairman, Victor Umeh, and the governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi, has been deepening for months now, taking dangerous turns. In this analysis, Ikechukwu Okaforadi looks at their counter demands for party restructuring and conduct of local government polls as the party seems to be heading towards the precipice.

ANALYSIS

he APGA’s slogan is ‘Be o u r brothers’ keeper’. By extension, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state, elected on the APGA’s platform, and the embattled Chairman of APGA, Victor Umeh, are from the same community in Anambra state. This makes them kinsmen. It is even alleged that both of them belong to the same kindred in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. Before now, the two brothers used to be the best of political friends; being together in public events, mostly with late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu; sharing ideas together, and consulting each other before taking decisions. Then, Umeh was very frequent to the government lodge in Amawbia, and government House in Awka. In the common sense of cheering and carrying each other along, it was both brothers that fought vehemently against the PDP in the law court to reclaim the stolen mandate of Peter Obi. Then, Umeh used to be the Treasurer of the party. Even after winning the court case, it was both of them that composed the government’s cabinet in both the first and the second tenures. When crisis broke out between the former chairman, Chekwas Okorie, (now deposed) and the Board of Trustees of the party over his alleged attempt to thwart the court verdict in favour of PDP, both brothers were quick to, not only unite against the deposed Chairman, but also convinced the late Ojukwu, the supreme leader of the party to stop recognizing Okorie as the party’s chairman. They were inseparable to the extent that observers suspected that they were mulling to transform APGA into a community affair. So, the relationship lasted until the death of the supreme leader. As if they were waiting for Ojukwu’s death to come before they tear the binding cod, it was not up to a month that their political father died that both severed their relationship and were suddenly at each other’s juggler; even threatening to kill one another’s political and business ambitions. y

Gov. Peter Obi However, the current crisis in APGA has a far reaching effect on the political ambition of the south east zone, whether 2015 presidency or any other time. This is particularly as many prominent Igbo politicians and Nigerians have described the development as shameful, as well as an indication that the Igbos may hardly unite and present a common front, even if the Presidency is zoned to the south east geopolitical zone. The bewildering question in the minds of many political observers, as well as those observing the soaring prominence of APGA with regards to the sudden crisis is ‘what is the problem that it could not be negotiated by both brothers, especially now that Ojukwu is dead. At the centre of the crisis is the demand for local government election in Anambra state and party restructuring. In the first tenure of the governo, they could not have raised these issues, due to their respect for Ojukwu. Immediately after Ojukwu’s death, the disagreement between the two political leaders broke to the fore. While Obi demanded that Umeh should urgently restructure the party, Umeh in turn insisted that Obi should first conduct local government polls in Anambra state, being the first APGA state. Party members, including Umeh, argued that conducting the polls will help to diversify APGA at the grassroots level in Anambra

Victor Umeh state, and prepare her for victory across the south east believed to be APGA’s stronghold. As an indication to his sense of urgency in ensuring that the local polls are held, Umeh directed the Anambra chapter to start selling nomination forms to intending candidates far back in 2010. It would be recalled that while pressure was mounted on Obi by party loyalists, including Umeh, to conduct local government polls, he was comfortable with using caretakers, insisting that he was waiting for the 2011 general elections to be over to enable him use the updated INEC voters’ register in conducting the election to forestall rigging. Obviously, while Obi was waiting for INEC to conclude the 2011 elections, the struggle to have APGA restructured emanated. During this time, as Obi pressurizes Umeh to restructure the party, Umeh in

turn requires Obi to urgently conduct local government polls before demanding the restructuring of the party. This situation has therefore placed the APGA stalwarts who are members of Anambra Executive Council under Obi, against the National Working committee (NWC) of the party under Umeh’s chairmanship. Analysed objectively, political commentators agreed that the crisis in the party is predicated on the fear that if Obi conducts the local government polls before the party is restructured, he will have to cede 40 to 50 percent of the local government chairmanship seats to Umeh. They reason that this is because the APGA chairmen in the various local government areas will largely influence who emerges as the party flag bearer in the local government polls, which APGA is likely to sweep.

“

It would be recalled that while pressure was mounted on Obi by party loyalists, including Umeh, to conduct local government polls, he was comfortable with using caretakers, insisting that he was waiting for the 2011 general elections to be over to enable him use the updated INEC voters’ register in conducting the election to forestall rigging and make the elections free and fair

Observers also submitted that if Umeh is able to get up to 50 percent of the local governments chairmen, he is very likely to retain his position as the Chairman of the party, since majority of the delegates that will vote in the convention to be convened by the party will be Umeh’s candidates, though subject to guidelines by a committee to be set up by the NWC of the party, which is currently under him. They added that with the development, Umeh will be in a vantage position to call the shots on who becomes the successor to Obi in 2014. This is moreso when the convention that is expected to produce the next governorship candidate of the party will be shaped by party delegates, including local government party chairmen, who are automatic delegates. This will therefore be a walkover against Obi’s candidate from Anambra North, and bestowed victory to an oil mogul from Nnewi, Ifeanyi Uba, who is favoured by Umeh. On a good authority however, the Obi’s cabinet in both first and second tenures was shared on 40, 60 basis by both brothers. The source close to Obi’s government disclosed. To buttress this point, immediately the crisis between both brothers went public, Obi urgently dissolved his cabinet. By the time the cabinet was recomposed, he has shed those commissioners nominated by Umeh, retaining only his allies. This is because those commissioners and other cabinet members nominated by Umeh will vote for Umeh’s governorship nominee, since they are among the delegates that will vote in electing both the party chairman and APGA governorship flag bearer. He analysed further “On the contrary, if Umeh decides to allow the restructuring of the party before the local government polls, there are glaring chances that he will not retain his seat as the chairman of the party. This is because the delegates will be more of Peter Obi’s candidates, who will vote to remove Umeh. Aside losing his position as the chairman of APGA, which will most likely be zoned to the north or west, he will discard his ambition of nominating the next governor of Anambra state.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Ewuga’s victory reveals INEC’s bias, says CPC By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

he Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has described as a revelation of partisanship by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Supreme Court’s verdict which validated the candidature of Solomon Ewuga as the duly elected Senator to represent Nasarawa North Senatorial District in the April, 2011 general elections. In a statement issued yesterday by the party, CPC noted that Ewuga had been the choice candidate of the party, explaining that the conflict started from the stubbornness in forcefully

adopting the candidature of Yusuf Nagogo against the Party’s choice. The party therefore regretted that this partisanship therefore set a long and needless adjudication among CPC loyalists in the Courts, pointing out that in all the Courts of the land, the Party’s position was upheld. “What is obscene in this matter was the deliberate and indecent stance of INEC in condescending from the status of an umpire to a player.” CPC stated. Buttressing its alleged bias by INEC, the party recalled that as part of the secretly planned pranks by INEC, Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman wrote to

the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) accusing the CPC National Chairman and National Secretary of forgery. In addition, CPC said “Despite its full knowledge that it is trite law that the Party’s choice of candidate is supreme, INEC has, for over one year, denied our candidate the fulfillment of the electoral mandate freely given to him by the electorate.” Against this background, the party expressed the hope that with this Supreme Court’s verdict, all procedural imperatives for swearing in Ewuga as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be done expeditiously.

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Solomon Adeola, his Deputy, Hon. Auwal Jatau, and a member of committee, Hon Raphael Ibokwe, during a hearing on Bureau of Public Enterprise , at the weekend in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Lawmaker accuses ANPP of rigging Zamfara LG polls By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

member of the Federal House of representatives from Zamfara State, Hon. Bilyaminu Shinkafi, has alleged that the ruling All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) rigged the recently conducted local government election in the state. The lawmaker, who made the accusation while speaking to journalist in Abuja, added that “there was no election but massive rigging”. “I travelled home because of the said election. But unfortunately, there was no

election. In my pulling unit, Gida Hajia, we did not see anything”, the lawmaker said. Reacting to the allegation that INEC moved some of its materials to a popular hotel in the State, Shinkafi said “Why will somebody take anything that has to do with public election to a private building? Karma Hotel is an open building, anybody can go there but none of our agents went there to risk their lives”, he added. Speaking on the allegations that PDP candidates did not sent their agents to the polling units, the PDP lawmaker said “it is because there was no election, so you will not see them there; PDP members are peace loving

people, we told our people not to take laws into their hands; that they should not do anything that will cause tension in the State”, he stated. Commenting on the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Hon. Shinkafi said the president is trying his best, adding that Nigerians will soon be enjoying his good works. He also urged the president not to be deterred by series of criticism against his government, urging the Jonathan led government to continue its good work. The lawmaker also called on the people of his constituency to be law abiding, and work in the interest of peace in the state.

Plateau killings: Ihedioha wants indigene-settler crisis resolved

eputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Emeka Ihedioha yesterday called for the resolution of the Plateau indigene-settler crisis. In a statement issued in Abuja, Ihedioha expressed sadness and pain at the orgy of killings and violence which engulfed Plateau State over the weekend, which claimed the lives of Sen. Gyang Dantong and Mr James Gyang, among others. According to him, the crisis has assumed “very disturbing and dangerous dimensions

and must be halted by concerted efforts from all well-meaning Nigerians without any further delay.” Ihedioha noted that the unfortunate indigene-settler controversy in Plateau had continued in spite of peaceful interventions at various levels. He called on relevant stakeholders across the country, especially the victims, to take advantage of the ongoing constitution review to come up with proposals and solutions to deal with “this raging controversy once and for all”.

“The ongoing constitution review process by the seventh National Assembly, is a window of opportunity we must not miss to address fundamental issues of our national life. “It includes the raging controversy of indigene-settler that has been identified as one of the root causes of the seeming unending violence in the Plateau, “he said ”My heart goes out most sincerely to the families of the deceased Senator, the Honourable member of the Plateau State House of Assembly and other victims affected by the violence one way or the other.

INEC warns Edo politicians against wild, spurious allegations

ndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday warned political actors in the July 14 governorship election in Edo to desist from making “wild and spurious allegations capable of heating up the polity’’. This is contained in a report on the investigation into the allegations made by some political parties and candidates on the July 14, election, presented by INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega to political stakeholders in Edo. The meeting was held in Abuja between INEC officials and major political actors in Edo politics. Jega cautioned the stakeholders not “ to divert the commission’s attention from the main essential issues to chasing escalating tension, deepening fears and undermining the integrity of the process”. Jega said INEC had conducted thorough investigations into all the allegations made by some political parties and candidates. The chairman said that INEC had not at any point in time considered the option of making use of the state civil servants in the conduct of the elections. Jega revealed that two investigations conducted on the allegation that the NYSC neutrality and fairness had been compromised indicated that it was a spurious allegation. “The commission had viewed the video clips given to it by the PDP, in which corps members were alleged to have participated in Gov. Adams Oshiomhole’s political rallies. “The video shows young men and women wearing khaki shirts and trousers that resemble those of NYSC, but there is no evidence that those people were youth corpers. Jega said that there was an allegation that PDP had commenced the purchase of voter’s cards from eligible registered voters from other states at a cost of N10, 000 per card. He said the purchase of voters’ cards was a criminal offence, adding that INEC was aware that a few arrests had been made by the police in Edo and the suspects would soon be prosecuted. The report further stated that it would be very difficult for anybody to present a voter’s card other than his/hers own at a polling unit and vote. INEC chairman said there was no evidence that the PDP was fine-tuning the unlawful use of police and military men to intimidate voters at the polls. According to him, the activities of Inter Agency Consultative Committee on election security have dealt with all the past challenges on the role of security forces during elections. Jega said, “investigations have revealed that virtually all the allegations are spurious and speculative in an atmosphere of intense mutual suspicion such allegations and counter allegations are bound to take place.’’ However, INEC appealed to all political parties to work toward a violent free election, devoid of rigging and other actions that could infringe on the electoral act of 2010 as amended. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report was presented to the national and state chairmen, secretaries and governorship candidates of the seven political parties involved in the election.

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Jonathan rules Nigerians like civic orphans – SNG From Ayodele Samuel and Ojebola Matthew, Lagos

ave Nigeria Group (SNG) yesterday described President Goodluck Jonathan as an unattentive leader who rules the people like civil orphans. The group in a lecture in Lagos described the country as a moral desert and political jungle noting that corruption has become official in the transaction of government business. The guest speaker, a Professor of English Language, Professor University of New Orleans in the United States, Niyi Osundare, said that if Nigerians refuse to kill corruption; corruption will kill Nigeria. Osundare described President Jonathan as an inattentive President that wears a meek look to look innocent who shedding crocodile tears to deceive his subject at scenes of misfortune since the activities of Boko Haram as started. Lamenting Jonathan's approach to corruption, Osundare said the President has always promised to bring culprits to book, though committees are set up but none of the perpetrators has faced the music of their evil deeds. He recalled how Jonathan shed tears at the Dana Crash in Lagos on 4th of June, promising that the offenders behind the unfortunate incident that claimed lives of over 150 innocent Nigerians would be fished out but the President left for a foreign trip few days after and nothing has been of it till date. "People holding power in this

country especially political and economy sectors have been waging war against the country's resource and the welfare of its citizens. Before, they were stealing millions but now, they steal billions and trillions either in dollars or naira. And the more they steal the more chieftaincy they acquire and the more they get closer to the victory in the next election. "Farouk Lawan and his team were asked to investigate subsidy fraud in subsidy payment, he received a heavy bribe and the House of Representative set up another committee to investigate the former appointed investigators," he added.

Speaking further on the subsidy report, Osundare said the intention of the subsidy report victims was to rubbish the Farouk's report by setting him up which they achieved as attentions are now shifted from the subsidy report to the misconduct of the committee. "Every Nigerian speaks of evil and solution to corruption in the state but no one is taking action. The President even said declaration of his assets will never make a change because it's personal and not proper. Also speaking at the lecture, the convener of SNG and the 2011 Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Vice-Presidential

candidate, Pastor Tunde Bakare said now is the time to act to save the country from the grip of corruption. He said "If we recall, the slogan of Save Nigeria Group was 'Kill Corruption Not Nigerians.' And this is what we are saying, if you don't kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigerians. "According to subsidy report only 36 marketers were participants under the Petroleum Support Fund. How come they suddenly became 128? Does it mean that 128 fuel marketers collected the same amount of subsidy and they imported the same quantity of

PDP chief cautions reinstated Imo council officials By Umar Mohammed Puma

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibril, and a member of the Committee, Hon. Abdulrahman Tera, during the committee's hearing on insurance of government assets and property, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Killing of Sen. Datong is unacceptable, says Ekweremadu By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

he Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has stated that the killing of Senator Gyang Datong and innocent Nigerians in the renewed killings in Plateau State was brutal and unacceptable. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche

Anichukwu, Ekweremadu said the incident was one of the saddest moments of his life, adding that the nation, especially the Senate, has lost a consummate lawmaker in a most shameful circumstance. “I am indeed worried about the growing cheapness of human life in troubled parts of the country and the long-term implications of our descent

from a culture of love and high value for human life to that of hate, senseless killing, and wanton destruction”, he said. While calling for full and immediate measures to arrest the waste of lives and property in troubled parts of the country, he however said Nigeria would never surrender to brutishness, violence, and senseless destruction of human lives as a

way of life. He therefore condoled with the government and people of Plateau State and the nation in general over the sad losses. It would be recalled that Senator Datong is among the victims who were killed on Sunday while attending a mass burial of a reprisal attack in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Atiku condemns descent into anarchy in Plateau By Lawrence Olaoye

ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the fresh orgy of indiscriminate murder of innocent people in Plateau state by criminal gangs would complicate the country’s insecurity crisis. Reacting to the death of Senator Gyang Dantong, the Majority Leader in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Danfulani and over 30 others killed earlier in fresh outbreak of violence, Atiku said he was

oil? It's all fraud. "The budget presented and approved by the legislature in 2011 on subsidy payment was N245bn and they ended up spending N2.6tn. The President must be made to answer for extra budgetary spending." The Chairman of the lecture, Professor Itse Sagay added that Nigerians must be strong hearted and determined to take back the country from the recklessness the leaders forced on them. "If people realize what N3 trillion of the subsidy scam can do in the life of a nation, it would not be difficult to understand why we must kill corruption lest

deeply disturbed by seeming descent to anarchy. Atiku recalled their common sojourn in party politics and praised the late Senator’s broad-minded outlook, describing him as being neither a religious fanatic nor an ethnic chauvinist. He said a situation where followers on both sides no longer obey their leaders to keep the peace poses a grave danger to the political and social stability of the country. According to him, well-

meaning peace efforts were being needlessly undermined by evil-minded enemies of peace and harmonious coexistence. The former Vice President noted that a situation where revenge and counter-revenge becomes the order of the day is an ill wind that blows nobody any good. In what appears to be one of his strongest expressions of outrage, the Turaki Adamawa said death and destruction could not be the substitute for peace.

“In the absence of enduring peace, life itself will be difficult to live. Violence benefits nobody and it only holds back our progress and prosperity. The frequent explosion of violence in Plateau State, if not checked, could lead to despair and dire consequences, which the country could ill afford,” he added. Atiku also condoled with the government and the people of Plateau State, the Senate and the families of all those cruelly murdered in cold-blood.

he National Vice Chairman, South East Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.) has appealed to council Chairmen and councilors in Imo state, who were reinstated by a recent ruling of the Appeal Court, not to take any action capable of overheating the polity but to remain lawabiding. Reacting to the court ruling, Akobundu commended the Court of Appeal for reinstating the lawfullyelected officers of the third tier of government in the state who were arbitrarily sacked by Governor Rochas Okorocha on assumption of office. The National Vice Chairman saluted the courage of the Judiciary and thanked the Court for standing up for Justice. He described the ruling as a victory for democracy, a triumph of the rule of law and a vindication of the age-long aphorism that might is not right. In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Assistant (Communications), Mr Dan Okereke, the )PDP chief he seized the opportunity to congratulate the local government Chairmen and Councillors in Imo state for this historic and well-deserved victory as they mobilize to resume in their positions to serve the people who elected them. Finally, Akobundu thanked South Easterners in particular and Nigerians in general for having faith in the PDP and assured them of better days ahead. “Once more, let me say congratulation to all because this victory is for all of us”, the National Vice Chairman said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Reps query BPE over N56.8 billion bailout to agencies By Lawrence Olaoye

he House of Representatives at the weekend queried the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, over the N56.8 billion bailout the agency extended to about 22 privatised companies in 2006.

The House Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Rep Solomon Adeola asked the BPE boss to furnish it with details of the transactions with immediate effect. The BPE was under scrutiny in regards to 2006 AuditorGeneral of the Federation audit report which the committee was probing.

According to AGF's audit report, the said N56.8billion loans were offered as bailouts by the Federal Ministry of Finance though the BPE includes Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, Ajaokuta Steel Company, Delta Steel, Jos Steel Rolling Company, Power Holding Company of Nigeria PHCN) and 19 others.

To this end, the committee has instructed the Accountant General of the Federation, and BPE boss to produce a list, status, year, and structure of the loans to the affected companies. They are also expected to provide share certificates issued to the Federal Government if the loans had been converted to equities.

L-R: Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, and House of Representatives Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Senator Victor Lar, and Chairman House Committee on Drugs Narcotics, Hon. Adams Jagaba, during a press briefing on the political and security situations in the country, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

Osun Assembly tasks LGs on development drive

sun State House Committee on Public Accounts has urged the executive secretaries of local government councils to explore ways and means to increase internally generated revenue (IGR) of their respective councils. The Chairman of the committee, Mr Rasheed Olalekan, gave the charge while meeting with the

Executive Secretaries and the management of six councils which appeared before it on Friday in Osogbo. The local government councils were Olorunda, Osogbo, Odo-Otin, Orolu, Irepodun and Ife-East . Olalekan stressed the importance of IGR to the overall development of their local government areas in particular and the state in

general if they work hard at improving their revenue profile. Also, a member of the committee, Mr Ajibola Akinloye, said the management of the councils had been instructed to embark on projects that would benefit the people at the grassroots. Akinloye said the committee had advised the

executive secretaries to shun frivolous spending as their attention should be focused on the provision of infrastructure such as good roads, water, electricity, schools and health centres. The lawmaker urged the people of the state to support the present administration in its effort to deliver the dividends of democracy throughout the state.

Plateau PDP orders members in State Assembly to open constituency offices

he leadership of the PDP in Plateau has given its 19 members in the State House of Assembly three months to open up their constituency offices. The State Chairman of the party, Dr Haruna Dabin, said this was to increase the chances of the party in future elections. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Jos that the directive became necessary as the party believed it would aid its effort in forthcoming elections, especially at the local government

level. Besides, Dabin said that it was also a constitutional requirement which the members had to meet in carrying out their functions of law making. He said that the flags of the party flying at those constituency offices would help in consolidating the gains of the party as the offices would provide party loyalists a place to hold regular meetings. “A situation where a law maker does not have a constituency office means that he is virtually absent

because he is only making laws for himself, he is not interacting with his constituency. “We want them to properly interact with their constituencies so that whatever laws they make, even if they were executive bills, will have an input from their constituency. Dabin lamented that currently, only seven second time Assemblymen out of the 19 PDP elected members of the Assembly had constituency offices in the state. “Only seven of them, who are

second time legislators’ already have offices, we have 19 members in the Assembly.” The PDP chieftain said that the directive which, would surely be complied with, was to enable the party to be prepared for major political events in the state that may soon unfold. Dabin, however, did not prescribe any sanction for failure of the members to comply with the order. “We want to be on ground because it will add a lot of value to our efforts.”

Consultant calls for the passage of NABRO bill

consultant, Prof. Matthew Odedokun yesterday called for the passage of a bill on the establishment of the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO). Odedokun made the call in a paper entitled : The Budgeting Process in Nigeria and Experience from other Jurisdiction presented at a two-day stakeholders forum in Abuja. "It is therefore recommended that the existing NABRO bill be revisited and its consideration be expedited for passage into law.'' He advised that the National Assembly should refrain form extensive amendments and changes to the budget draft until it was equipped to do so. Odedokun said the National Assembly would not be adequately equipped to exercise its powers on budgetary matters, unless members were technically equipped on budget matters. "Until such an institution is created, nurtured and mature to effectively provide a technical support for the National Assembly, the Nigerian legislature may not be adequately equipped to exercise the enormous constitutional power conferred on it on budgetary matters,"he said. The consultant said that budgetary matters were becoming increasingly sophisticated and technical year in year out. He said that statutorily, the National Assembly had the primary responsibility to scrutinise and pass the budget. According to him, the frequent interference with the budget by the legislature since 1999 had widened the fiscal deficit thereby increasing the national budget. In another paper presented by Mr Agele Alufohai, President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, entitled : Abandoned Projects Syndrome: Lessons of International Experience, said the abandoned project phenomenon was a product of Nigeria's particular political economy. According to him, a presidential committee set up by government on abandoned projects discovered about 12,000 abandoned projects across the country. "The total budget cost of these projects was N7.5 trillion, with N2.7 trillion already approved and committed to the projetcs, "he said. He said the abandoned project phenomenon was a product of Nigeria's particular political economy. Alufoha said the legislature had a major role to play in ensuring that political parties designed and committed to clear economic strategies and do not deviate from them when they got into government. He attributed abandoned projects to a number of reasons, among them, the lack of sufficient funds to complete them. Alufoha said the quality of infrastructure was a key component to private sector investment.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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London Olympics: Pundit lauds D’Tigers qualification

Council, also commended the team and the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for hoisting the country’s flag at the Olympics. “I will say this is the first time the NBBF president is breaking the barrier by not using scouts but operated an open camp to select players,’’ he said. Pinhero said the team’s qualification also showed that trial matches and adequate funding of training tours before the competitions had yielded good results. He said the D’Tigers’ performance at the qualifiers was a good omen for NBBF and the team. “I will like to give kudos to the

NBBF president, Tijani Umar and the technical crew of the team for a job well done,’’ he said. A former player and coach, Alabi Adelanwa, said the team had proved that the country was a good basketball nation and that it could return with a medal. “I hope the teams in their group will help our boys to go far in the competition,’’ he said. On his part, the coach of Lagosbased Union Bank Basketball Club, Johnson Ayinla, described Nigeria’s qualification as unbelievable. “I think our players have done the impossible with the little time they had to go through foreign training. By the grace of God Nigeria basketball will move forward from here because we are going to take advantage of this development,’’ Ayinla said. Other countries that have qualified for the Olympics are Britain, U.S., Brazil, Australia, Spain, France, Argentina, China, Lithuania and Russia.

Keshi opens negotiations for Eagles’ FIFA free-day foes Ekpe Udoh’s D’ Tigers’s player

’Tigers’ scintillating performance Monday morning that earned Nigeria one of the prestigious slots for at next month’s London Olympic Games has been applauded by several basketball pundits. Wale Aboderin said the qualification to the Olympics Games has rekindled his interest in the basketball event of the Olympics, adding that by that victory Nigeria have enlisted in the comity of basketball super powers. It would be recalled that D’Tigers on Sunday defeated Dominican Republic 88-73 to qualify for the Olympics holding from July 27 to Aug. 12. The national men’s team was able to defeat fifth ranked Lithuania 86-80 in the preliminary stage and fourth ranked Greece 80-79 in the quarter-finals. They woke up to the call to secure a ticket to the Games by shaking off the 77-88 loss to Russia by beating Dominican Republic. D’Tigers have now joined Tunisia as Africa’s second representatives at the Games. Also, another basketball enthusiast, Abdullahi Yahaya, who is based in Abuja said the performance of the players was a clear demonstration of the dedication and what determination could do to any team or person who wants to achieve and focuses on the task at hand. “They were simply fantastic. I wish the Super Eagles draw inspiration from the performance of the D’ Tigers and rise up to the

challenge of Nations Cup and World Cup campaigns. The basketballers have shown the way and we are happy that Nigeria will compete for honours in basketball at the Olympics”, Yahaya said. Aboderin, the President of Dolphins Basketball Club of Lagos, said the victory would propel him to watch the basketball event at the Olympics. “Their qualification is absolutely wonderful. They surprised everybody; I thank God we got rid of some older players,’’ he said. According to him, some of the new boys that propelled the team to victory have yet to be polluted by the system. “Most of them are coming into the country for the first time. They are absolutely wonderful,’’ Aboderin added. Also commenting, Felix Awogu, the General Manager of Super Sports, Nigeria, commended the efforts of D’Tigers, for overcoming their Dominican Republic opponents to qualify for the basketball event. “It was quite interesting. I am excited, the players have made us proud, and our investments have not been in vain; they have equal chances of a medal at the Games. “All they (D’Tigers) need to do now is to remain focused. They need to be properly motivated by the government to further raise their game at the Games proper. “They were tactical in their approach and they will have to sustain the tempo at the Olympic Games. The boys are simply exceptional, their determination paid off,’’ Awogu said. Agboola Pinhero, a former Chairman, Lagos State Sports

uper Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has confirmed that efforts are in top gear for the Eagles to engage Grade A opponents within the West African sub-region on FIFA free-day. Accordingly, he said negotiations were go with several team that may be available on August 15 noting that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was working assiduously to come to agreement with a quality to engage the Eagles. Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi confirmed yesterday that discussions have already begun with some West African countries for a warm-up match on August 15. The former Togo and Mali manager said efforts to secure quality opposition to engage the Eagles in a challenging friendly duel are with the intent of keeping the Eagles in shape and as part of their build-up for the 2013 AFCON qualifier against Liberia. “We are making arrangements to ensure that the Eagles play a friendly next month to help us prepare for the

Eagles Coach, Keshi

Aminu Maigari, NFF president match against Liberia. It’s a FIFAfree window so I expect some of my foreign based players to be available for the game,” Keshi disclosed. The former Togo coach further added: “I cannot confirm to you who our opponents would be, but I do know that the NFF technical department has opened talks with some West Africa countries who play similar football like Liberia.” On the strength of his next opponents in the AFCON qualifiers, Keshi warned,” The Liberian side we are going to face would be different from the one we defeated 2-0 the last time we met. “That was a friendly and this is a competitive game, so we need to prepare very well for the encounter. We must not under rate them.” Nigeria will be guests to Liberia in the first leg in Monrovia on September 8, while the return leg match will be played on October 14 in Calabar. The overall winners will qualify for next year’s Nations Cup, which kicks off in South Africa on January 19.

Falconets’ coach, Okon, dismisses fear for Brazil, South Korea By Patrick Andrew

oach Edwin Okon has dismissed suggestions that the Falconets are the underdogs in the group that comprisses Brazil, South Korea and Italy in forthcoming FIFA U20 Women World Cup finals in Japan. The Head Coach said after the team’s training yesterday that his crop of players have more it would take to beat any team stressing that the Falconets do not harbour any fear for Brazil or South Korea. Instead, he reiterated the team’s determination to win the fiesta adding that they aggressively fine-tuning their preparations and would take on any opposition with zest and valour during the tournament. Okon, who spoke yesterday in Abuja, after a training session with the team, reassured that the team would take the bull by the horns and added that his optimism was based on the amount of work the girls have put into their preparations for the biennial cadet football fiesta. “Everything is in order and the players are responding to training; we’re working hard, we’ll crown everything with prayers,’’ he said. The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will hold from Aug. 19 to Sept. 8 in several cities across Japan, and the the Falconets’ other opponents are the girls from Italy. Okon stressed that in spite of the pedigree of the teams in group, the Falconets were not in any way intimidated. “They are just like other countries that we’ve previously played; Congo and Zimbabwe are equally tough countries to contend with. There’s no country that’s a pushover so we take each match as it comes,’’ Okon said. The coach also said that the team had had no cause to complain about the conditions in the camp, which he described as conducive adding the team has taken shape after he dropped five more players from 30 that were in the camp on Sunday. The Falconets qualified for the U-20 World Cup after defeating DR Congo 7-0 and Zimbabwe 60 in the African qualifying series. The team resumed training in Abuja on July 2.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

...But coach says all hope not lost

Carmelita Jeter and Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce square off in London 2011, the duo are set for the London Samsung Diamond League

Maigari chides Sunshine for failing to shine

he President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, said the 0-2 loss of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure in Sunday’s Champions League match was a disappointment. The Sunshine Stars were beaten by Esperance of Tunisia at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun. Reacting after the match, the NFF president said the home loss was a rude shock because Sunshine Stars had been expected to outshine their opponents considering the quality of players in their confine. According to him, there will be the need to rally support to the team in subsequent matches, “Since I did not watch the match, I can’t assess the quality of play but I believe the league and the entire football family would see to this. “We will do what is needed to be done to correct this, we need to go back to where we used to be in football. It is sad for us to suffer such a defeat at home. It is terrible,” the president lamented. Maigari said the football federation would work with relevant authorities to ensure that the team regain its confidence and thus challenge for the leadership of the group and the semi-finals ticket. Former Super Eagles Coach, Christian Chukwu described Sunshine Stars 0-2 home loss to Esperance of Tunisia as unfortunate. According to him, the two first half goals from the Tunisians in Ijebu-ode on Sunday is enough to take them the top of Group A. Chukwu added, that although the defeat was

unfortunate, he was still hopeful that Sunshine would have a chance to progress to the knockout stage of the competition. “The result is not good but all hopes are not lost yet. This is just the first leg match and they still have five more matches to play. “I believe they can still turn the table around even though they are currently at the bottom of the table,” he said. According to him, Sunshine’s next game against another Tunisian side, Etoile du Sahel, will be a good opportunity for them to catch up although they will be playing away from home. “It does not matter if they are playing away to Etoile du Sahel. If Esperance can come to Nigeria and win I believe they can equally do it,” Chukwu said. He advised the Akure side to put the defeat behind them and focus on the next game. “They should put the defeat behind them but should also watch the match again and look out for areas they made mistakes and try to correct them,” he said. Sunshine’s other group opponents Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia defeated ASO Chlef 1-0 away to stay in second place, leaving ASO Chlef and Sunshine to occupy the third and fourth places respectively. Sunshine Stars would play its next Champions League match away to Etoile du Sahel in a fortnight in Tunis.

unshine Stars coach Gbenga Ogunbote has maintained that the Nigerian flag bearers are not totally hopeless in spite of losing rather sadly at home to Esperance in their opening group game of the CAF Champions League. First-half goals by Youssef Msakni and Yannick Ndjeng condenmed Sunshine Stars to their first home defeat in the continental clubs Group A campaign in front of their own fans in IjebuOde on Sunday. Speaking after the game, Ogunbote said his team failed to convert any of the chances they created against Esperance. However, he said this was just a game out of six games, we still have five games more, we will do our best and make good use of the opportunities. We work on our lapses here for subsequent games. He said “We did our best and created chance but unfortunately we could not convert any, but we are not out of the competition as we will do our best to bounce back. This was just a game out of six that we will play and we will do well to get through the group.” Esperance coach, Nabil Maaloul, on his part, said they came to Ijebu-Ode to win because they know how crucial the first game is. “First games are always important. After scoring two goals, I felt Sunshine could come back because they attacked very well in the second half and that was why we wanted to score more goals to kill off the game, but it did not happen,” he said. “As defending champions, everyone expects us to do well. We are on course with this victory. Sunshine need to go and win away from home to stand any chance of going past the group stage.” In the second round of matches in Group A, Esperance will host Aso Chlef of Algeria on Friday, July 20, while the following local rivals Etoile du Sahel welcome Sunshine in Sousse.

Federation lauds Katsina U-14 team for Patille Cup win in Sweden

he Handball Federation of Nigeria has applauded the success of the Katsina State U-14 Handball team in the 2012 Patille Cup Handball Tournament in Sweden, and attributed the victory to hard work and dedication. Musa Hamza, the Technical Director of the Federation, made the remark while reacting to the team’s 20-9 victory over host, Sweden, said the victory has confirmed the assertion that talents abound in Nigeria. Two teams from Katsina: the U-15 and U-14 teams represented Nigeria at the competition, which was held from July 1 to July 7, but the U-15 could not go beyond the quarter-finals. Speaking from Stockholm, Sweden on ‘phone, Hamza said that the young boys were too much for the host. “They were highly determined and well dedicated to training and the end result is a remarkable victory for them. They are good ambassadors,” he said. The technical director noted that the team was made up local players, who competed in the U-13 category of the 2011 edition of the championship and finished second. “It shows that they learnt from their mistakes in 2011 and did their homework by training harder. It also shows the need to keep players in an age group competition together and groom them to mature into the next age group. “That will guarantee continuity and excellence in our handball and even other sports,” he said. Hamza said that the young lads were very professional in their displayed of skills adding that the quality “has convinced me that handball has a bright future’’ in Nigeria.

...Yobe gunning for excellence in U-18 handball tourney in Italy

he Chairman, Yobe Sports Commission, Alhaji Sani Fema, said yesterday that the state handball team had intensified training in preparation for the U-18 handball tournament in Italy. Fema said in Damaturu yesterday that the team had developed and worked hard to adapt to new skills that would enable them to make Nigeria proud at the tournament. “The players have employed new skills and techniques in our intensified training sessions to do Nigeria proud at the tournament. I am optimistic that the vigour, stamina and dedication exhibited by the team coupled with the state government’s support, they will surprise the world at the tournament,” he said. According to him, the state has the best handball players in the junior and senior categories that are capable of winning trophies and medals in their category. He added that the state also represented Nigeria and came fourth in the African Club Hockey championship in Zambia. The chairman, however, added that the commission had commenced preparations to feature in the next world club championship in hockey. “We have the best facilities in Nigeria and some of the excellent coaches and players for both male and female hockey teams,” he added. The chairman added that the commission had also concluded plans to re-introduce active sporting activities in schools across the state. He said that the commission would liaise with the state Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to assist young boys and girls realise their full potential in sports.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Dia signs for Lekhwiya

urkish club Fenerbahce has announced that midfielder Issiar Dia has concluded a transfer deal with Qatari champions Lekhwiya Sports Club. “Agreement has been reached for the transfer of Issiar Dia to the Qatari club,” Fenerbahce said in a statement, adding that the transfer fee was •4million. The 25-year-old previously played for Ligue 1 side Nancy and joined Fenerbahce in 2010. He failed to impose himself at the the Istanbul club and they opted not to renew his contract.

Issiar Dia

Sturridge to re-unite with Villa-Boas at Spurs

helsea starlet Daniel Sturridge is considering reuniting with former boss Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham Hotspur with £5 million bid. The Portuguese manager took charge of Spurs only recently, but has already been busy in the transfer market, signing Gylfi Sigudsson and closing in on possible deals for the likes of Ajax centre-half Jan Vertonghen, Manchester United youngster Ezekiel Fryers, and Porto ace Joao Moutinho. The 22-year old, despite his hit-and-miss record, would be great value for the £5 million price that Spurs are offering. Chelsea however is unlikely to sell the talented youngster for such a low bid, and is expected to push their valuation up to double digits. Sturridge had a frustrating second-half of the season last time around, with the forward’s playing time recuding drastically after Roberto di Matteo’s appointment as manager. He however was a regular starter when Villas-Boas was at Stamford Bridge, and could be tempted to force an exit in order to move to the ambitious Spurs.

Fiorentina lodge Chamakh bid

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Transfer The season is over. Clubs are counting their blessing as well as losses and would like to make amends and even beef up their squads where noticeable lapses exist. And the transfer market is agog barely 24 hours after major European leagues dropped the curtain. And so to keep abreast with latest rumours, we begin daily doses of movements within the market both for players and coaches like.

Bale set to leave Spurs

areth Bale could still be allowed to leave Tottenham this summer if the club is offered a massive fee for the winger. Bale, 22, has been linked with a move to one of Europe’s elite clubs but recently signed a new White Hart Lane contract that includes no release clause. That deal, though, will not stop Spurs selling Bale should they receive an offer of anything approaching the £80 million Real Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo. An ESPN source said: “Yes, Bale might well have signed a new four-year contract, but that won’t stop a club making a big enough offer if they wanted the player badly enough and Spurs are not going to turn down £80 million or even •80 million. “Of course that sounds a lot for Bale, but you have to consider that he is 22, and were Ronaldo worth that high a fee when he was 22? He wasn’t. “If you consider that Andy Carroll cost £35 million, it is easy to see why Spurs would place such a massive value on Bale.” Bale’s renewal comes at a time when no team was believed to be willing to meet Tottenham’s valuation of the player. However, there are still reports linking Bale with a move away from the club this summer.

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed Fiorentina have made an offer for striker Marouane Chamakh. Chamakh, 28, has been linked with a summer move away from Arsenal after failing to impress during his second season with the club. The Morocco international, who signed for the Gunners from Bordeaux on a free transfer in 2010, scored just one goal in all competitions in the 2011-12 campaign. It is suggested Wenger is open to moving on the forward, having brought in Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud already, and the Frenchman has revealed Fiorentina are keen. Wenger was dealt a blow last week with the news that star striker Robin van Persie will not be signing a new contract with the club.

United target open to exit

anchester United target Lucas Moura admits he could be heading for the exit door at Sao Paulo. The Brazil star, 19, has been linked with a bigmoney move to Old Trafford this summer. Italian giants Inter Milan are also interested in the talented midfielder who looks set for a switch to Europe. Moura said: “I cannot guarantee that I will stay until the end of my contract. “Much has changed and the situation is not up to me anymore. “I know my father and my agent had a meeting (with Inter) but I don’t know what was said.” Moura, an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, will get a taste of what life in England is like when he competes at the Olympic Games in three weeks. He added: “You never know what can happen. I don’t have a crazy desire to leave but, when the time comes, I will speak with my family and decide what is best for my future. “When I go on the internet I see Inter, Real Madrid and I don’t know who else, wanting to come for me with a truck load of money. Inter president Massimo Moratti has confirmed the Serie A outfit are interested in signing Moura. When asked if he still hoped to seal a deal for the Brazilian, Moratti said: “Yes. I don’t know if it’s a hope or more a target to keep tabs on, considering the times we’re in.”

Lucas Moura

Mancini signs new City deal

anchester City manager Roberto Mancini has agreed terms on a new five-year deal with the English Premier League champions. The Italian, who had been linked with the vacant job as Russia boss, began discussions on a new deal at the end of last season and has committed to a long-term future at the Etihad Stadium. The deal, which runs until the summer of 2017, follows the club's most successful season in more than four decades, which concluded in the most dramatic of circumstances in the team's thrilling 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers in May this year." Former Inter Milan manager Mancini took over as City boss from Mark Hughes in December 2009. In his first full season at the club he ended a 35-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup and also secured UEFA Champions League football with a third-place finish in the Premier League. Last season he wrote his name into the club's history books by edging Manchester United in the closing seconds of the season to win a first league title in 44 years. This new agreement allows Roberto to focus on the challenge of guiding a team which is capable not only of defending the Premier League title, but one which can compete for European honours."

Birmingham seal Lovenkrand deal

Marouane Chamakh

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS ZAINB AHMED MOUD NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ZAINAB AHMED MOUD. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. KADUNA POLYTECHNIC, NYSC AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Gareth Bale

irmingham City will compete the signing of former Newcastle forward Peter Lovenkrands on a free transfer, subject to a medical. Lovenkrands, 32, has agreed personal terms to move to St Andrew’s after being released by Newcastle earlier this summer. The move was made possible after the Football

League lifted a transfer embargo on Birmingham, imposed after the club failed to file accounts on time, and Lovenkrands will become new manager Lee Clark’s first signing for the Championship outfit. Lovenkrands, a target for previous Birmingham bosses Chris Hughton and Alex McLeish, scored 26 goals in 85 appearances over two spells at Newcastle since 2009.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Klitschko to fight Tyson next year W

ladimir Klitschko says he expects to face new WBO Inter-Continental champion Tyson Fury “in the next year.” Fury, 23, overcame American opponent Vinny Maddalone in Somerset on Saturday, while Klitschko retained his WBA, IBF and WBO belts on the same night against Tony Thompson in Berne. The 36-year-old Klitschko now predicts a heavyweight world championship bout with Fury within the next 12 months. Klitschko extended his winning run to eight years in Switzerland on Saturday. Manchester-based Fury, who is ranked sixth in the world, is seen by many an upcoming rival, and the Ukrainian champion acknowledged his qualities. “From fight to fight he’s just going to get better,” Klitschko told Channel 5. “I doubt [a fight] is going to happen this year, but probably next.” For his part, Fury predicted success if and when he faces a Klitschko brother for a world title shot. “I think I can win,” he said. “Wladimir Klitschko hasn’t fought anyone like me. “I bring ambition, youth, power and determination. There’s never been anyone like me. I am unique.”

Bielsa stays at Bilbao A

thletic Bilbao’s coach Marcelo Bielsa said Monday he is staying with the club despite earlier reports he was considering resigning in a row with the board. “I can continue carrying out my work as I have done up to now,” he said in an online statement widely published by Spanish sports media. “I maintain the commitment that I made to the club.” The Argentine coach publicly fell out with the club’s management last week when he criticised construction work on its new training centre, prompting the board to publish a statement distancing itself from his claims. Bielsa held a meeting with the management on Friday, giving rise to rumours he would resign, but he showed up for team training on Monday as usual. He said in his statement he stood by his criticisms. Bielsa, former national coach of Argentina and Chile, led Athletic to last season’s UEFA Europa League final and Spanish Copa del Rey final and extended his contract with the side last month until June 2013.

John Terry trial: Ferdinand says racism hurtful

nton Ferdinand has told a court he would have been “very hurt” if he had heard John Terry racially abuse him.

Anton Ferdinand

Chelsea and England footballer Mr Terry, 31, is charged with a raciallyaggravated public order offence - an allegation he denies. It relates to a comment allegedly made by the Chelsea captain to the QPR defender when the teams played at Loftus Road last October. The trial, set to last five days, is at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. If found guilty, the maximum sentence Mr Terry could receive is a £2,500 fine. When someone brings your colour into it, it takes it to another level and it’s very hurtful” It is alleged that the Chelsea defender insulted Mr Ferdinand by calling him black with the use of extreme sexual swear words. Lip reader and sign language interpreter Susan Whitewood concurred the bad language had been employed. Mr Ferdinand told the court that initially he did not think any racist terms had been used.

London 2012: Suarez in Uruguay squad

Wladimir Klitschko

Olympics 100m wide open, says Gay

Tyson Gay

he men's 100m at the London Olympics is wide open and promises to be "spectacular", according to the world's second fastest man, Tyson Gay. Gay was speaking after outgunning US teammate Justin Gatlin, champion in the Athens Games in 2004, in the Diamond League meet in Paris on Friday, leaving it late to claim victory in 9.99 seconds on a wet track at Stade de France. "There are a lot of people now in the 100m, it is open for the Games," said Gay, who claimed golds in the 100 and 200m at the 2007 worlds in Osaka. Bolt, Blake, Gatlin, my training partner Bledman. It will be spectacular!" The blue ribbon event of track and field promises to be a sizzler in the British capital, with a host of sprinters hitting form just as reigning Olympic double sprint champion Usain Bolt showed he was fallible. Bolt was beaten twice in the Jamaican trials by training partner and current world 100m champion Yohan Blake, and has now withdrawn from the July 20 meet in Monaco after picking up what his coach Glen Mills labelled a "slight" injury. That intrigue can only add to what is

building up to be one of the most competitive events in recent history. Although Gay, whose 9.69sec is second only to Bolt's world record of 9.58, recorded a good reaction time in Friday's race, he wilted badly in the opening 15 metres to give Gatlin and France's Christophe Lemaitre a headstart. However, Gay proceeded to reel the duo in and flung himself at the finish line to nip Gatlin by four-hundredths of a second. "I tried to be patient," Gay acknowledged. "I'm strong mentally and ready for challenges. Trials was a faster race but here a better one for me technically." Gay said his confidence was growing after a slow return from a hip injury that required surgery. "I feel pretty good, considering I came back and made the team. I was under a lot of stress, mentally and physically, early in the season, but I feel a lot better now," he said. A first defeat of the season did not dent Gatlin's ever-high confidence levels. "I won the gold in Athens and the same thing should happen in London," said the 30-year-old who came back from a fouryear doping ban in May 2011. Obviously the trials were better because I won. I also had some jet lag." Lemaitre, 22, was racing on home turf on the back of having sealed his second European 100m title in Helsinki. And the French record holder in the 100m (9.92) again showed that he could be in the running to upset a US-Caribbean cleansweep of the sprint podiums at the Olympics, as he did in last year's Daegu worlds when he claimed a surprise 200m bronze. "I'm pleased with placing third," he said of his 10.08sec performance. "Third behind such top runners is good. Also I reduced the gap between me and the two Americans. I'm now really close to them. "But I missed my start. I got out of the blocks behind everyone. Even I saw it. I was able to close the gap on the others, but the bad start killed me. There is still some work left to do."

ruguay has named Liverpool’s Luis Suarez in their 18man squad for this summer’s Olympic Games in London. The 25-year-old striker is one of three over-aged players along with Napoli striker Edinson Cavani and Palermo midfielder Egidio Arevalo Rios. Suarez’s Liverpool teammate, defender Sebastian Coates, and Ajax midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro are also included. Uruguay is one of Great Britain’s opponents in Group A, along with Senegal and United Arab Emirates. ‘La Celeste’ starts their campaign against UAE on 26 July before facing Senegal on 29 July and finally Team GB on 1 August. Uruguay, who won last year’s Copa America and finished fourth at the 2010 World Cup, are aiming for their third Olympic title, after wining gold at the 1924 Summer Games in Paris and again four years later in Amsterdam. Uruguay Olympic squad: Goalkeepers: Martin Campana (Cerro Largo), Leandro Gelpi (Penarol) Defenders: Sebastian Coates (Liverpool), Diego Polenta (Genoa), Ramon Arias (Defensor Sporting), Alexis Rolin (Nacional), Emiliano Albin (Penarol). Midfielders: Egidio Arevalo Rios (Palermo), Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax), Matias Aguirregaray (Palermo), Gaston Ramirez (Bologna), Maximiliano Calzada (Nacional), Diego Rodriguez (Defensor Sporting) Forwards: Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Edinson Cavani (Napoli), Abel Hernandez (Palermo), Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Vitoria Guimaraes), Tabare Viudez (Nacional).

Luis Suarez

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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PICTORIAL i Brendan Rodgers has left an air of mystery over the future of ÂŁ35 million striker Andy Carroll amid reports that AC Milan are preparing a loan bid for the England striker.

ii Roberto Mancini could put pen to paper on a new contract at Manchester City as early as this week, despite rumours linking him with the Russia national side. iii Queens Park Rangers have confirmed the signing of Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung on a two-year contract.

iv Uruguay name Liverpool pair Luis Suarez and Sebastian Coates in their 18-man squad for this summer's Olympic Games.

v British number one Andy Murray says he is already thinking about how he can win the Wimbledon title in 2013. vi Gareth Bale could still be allowed to leave Tottenham this summer if the North Londoners are offered a massive fee for the winger.

vii Footballer Anton Ferdinand tells a court he would have been "very hurt" if he had heard John Terry racially abuse him.

iii

vii

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

We are in London for first gold medal, says Neymar Neymar’s name has cropped up in the media so much over the last two years that he appears to have been on the scene for a lot longer than he actually has. A star for club and country at the age of just 20, quite an achievement when the country in question is Brazil, Neymar has nevertheless grown used to the fuss. The Santos player takes the headlines and the spotlight in his stride, accepting them as the price he has to pay for his inordinate talent, upon which the hopes of a nation are founded as it goes in search of two historic titles. The first of them is the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament London 2012, where the five-time world champions will attempt to win the one major title still to elude them, while the second is the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. Speaking to FIFA.com on the day after he was named in coach Mano Menezes’ 18-manSeleção squad for London, Neymar discussed his expectations ahead of the tournament.

o you remember watching the Olympic Games when you were a boy? Was London 2012 an objective in your career plans? I do remember, and not just the football matches. It’s a dream for me to play not just in the World Cup but in the Olympics too, because you’re there with everyone else in the Olympic Village. You want to be there taking part, to be involved in it all, and as far as we’re concerned we want to bring the gold medal back for the very first time. When you’re involved in a huge global event like this you feel tremendously motivated. We’ve got everything we need to be champions. I think Brazil are always one of the favourites, no matter what the competition.

I’m going to be seeing people like Bolt and Lebron James, and I’m going to ask to have my photo taken with them and ask for their autographs. I don’t know what I’m going to say, but I’m going to ask them (laughs).

It must be very interesting for you as football players to be in contact with people from other sports. Well, you’ve got Lebron James and Usain Bolt going from one side to the other (laughs). I’ve already told my friends that I’m going to be the biggest fan there, that I’m going to be taking photos all the time.

Were you happy with the warm-up matches you played against Denmark, USA, Mexico and Argentina? Did they reveal the areas where you need to improve? We’re coming into some really good form, even though we were really upset with a couple of results we had (the 2-0 defeat to Mexico and the 4-3 loss to Argentina). The fact is though that we had our Olympic team out against a very strong Argentina team, with some fantastic players in it, and still we nearly beat them. All I think we need to do now is iron a few things out in training.

Do you think this Brazil team has a genuine chance of winning gold, a better chance than ever before perhaps? We’ve got everything we need to be champions. I think Brazil are always one of the favourites, no matter what the competition. It’s always been that way. We’ve got a very good side too, and players with a lot of potential.

You’re one of the stars of the full national side now so it’s logical to assume that you’re also going to be the key player in the Olympic team, isn’t it? I think they’re all key players and they all have a job to do. Everyone’s important. The 18 players who were picked represent everyone who’s taken part up to here and we need to stick together and be strong. During those friendlies, though, you must have noticed how differently you’re treated outside Brazil now. Ah, yes. People recognise me more. I’m more of a marked man on the pitch and people know what I can do. Everyone knows a little more about me, and that means I’ve got one or two players marking me. It’s not easy, but I need to play for the team in situations like that and be aware that the player who’s been left unmarked because of that can decide the game. Hardly anyone knew me when I was first picked for the national side, but now everyone knows something about me. Is that something that is more and more obvious to you when you play abroad now? It’s changed a lot. Hardly anyone knew me when I was first picked for the national side, but now everyone knows something about me. You congratulated Andres Iniesta on Twitter after Spain won UEFA EURO 2012. Did you watch the tournament, and if so, what did you think of the standard? The technical standard was very high, just as high as the World Cup. All that was missing were teams like Brazil and Argentina. The Spanish are going to finish with the game at this rate. They really are the best side. There’s been a lot of talk about whether you’re going to move to Europe or not. When you watch a team like that do you feel the level is much higher than what you’re used to in Brazil? It’s a bit different because of the type of game they play in Europe. It is different, but you can adapt to it and come away with things so that you can put it into practice here too.

Neymar

Which other players do you admire? I really like Iniesta. I think he’s a sensational player. Cristiano Ronaldo is really good as well, and I enjoy watching (Mesut) Ozil of Germany a lot too. He’s a great player and I’ve always been a big fan of his.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

School sports boss urges careful search for grassroots talents

he Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), has implored coaches at the grassroots to be meticulous in their search for budding talents, to ensure a balanced development of the country’s sports. The federation’s president, Malam Ibrahim Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos that it was only through such an approach that genuine talents could emerge. He added that coaches should be dedicated and avoid taking the usual short cut of fielding athletes who were already established, in place of the intended grassroots

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Chief Patrick Ekeji, DG, NSC talents. “We will succeed in grooming more talents in this country the moment we look inwards and look

out for the best without recourse to inappropriate sentiments. “There are so many talents in this country that are yet to be discovered, most of these children could be moulded into great talents, if given the opportunity to thrive. “In recent times, most of the coaches are more interested in results by using established athletes, to the detriment of the developmental aspects of the sport they

cover,’’Mohammed said. The president also urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to come to the aid of NSSF, by organising regular refresher courses for coaches under its purview for better performance. “The NSC needs to show more interest in the activities of the NSSF, because this is one federation that ensures the emergence of genuine age grade talents,’’ he said. He was highly optimistic

that the NSSF would continue to play a prominent role in the discovery of potential world-class talents that would eventually represent the country at major international sporting events. “The likes of Falilat Ogunkoya and Yusuf Ali are products of school sports, if we did it then, we can still do it again with support from NSC and the federations. Am optimistic that we can do it if we want

to do it,’’ the president of the NSSF said, When asked about the state of the country’s sporting facilities, he said that the facilities were good enough to train the country’s athletes, but should be refurbished. “We have the facilities quite alright, but we lack maintenance culture which has been our bane over the years. This is disturbing, the National Stadium in Surulere is rotting away.

Onabogun dethrones NB Open Chess Int’l tourney champion

olapo Onabogun, a Fide Master, defeated defending champion, Bunmi Olape, to emerge champion of the 35th edition of the Nigeria Breweries Open Chess International tournament which ended on Sunday in Lagos. Onabogun, who finished with 8.5 points as the winner of the master category and was ranked 28th in the competition, took the lead in the fifth round of the competition and ran away with the star prize of N250,000 with other consolation prizes. Speaking after the tournament, he said though he had prepared for it, he did not believe he would have the nerves to defeat the defending in the manner that he did. “I really did not believe that I could win. This looks like a dream to me. I never thought I would win because I thought that I was still rusty. I am very happy over my victory.” Olape, ranked number one in the competition, tied for the second position with a fast rising chess master, Nonso Oragwu, Both finished with 7.0 and shared the N80,000 prize money.

Olape said later that he lost the title to a very experienced player and wished him success. “Though I lost and could not defend my title, I am still glad I lost it to an experienced player who played the game with caution. I wish him all the best as I hope to come back for the title in the next edition,’’ he said. Martin Odun came third in the category finishing with 6.5 to take home the sum of N50,000. Meanwhile, in the Women’s category, Funmilayo Akinola emerged winner and went home with the star prize of N65,000. Akinola, who is ranked second in the competition, led the pack from the seventh round after she drew with the defending champion, Nsisong Bassey. “I am excited at this win and dedicate it to my child. I have not played the game in two years due to personal reasons, but came back strong to compete for the title. “Finally, all I can say is that hard work pays and I thank God for giving me that strength to persevere,” she said. Vivian Dzaayem clinched the second position, finishing

with 7.0 and winning N60,000, while Blessing Davies took third, finishing with 6.5 and winning N45,000. Reacting to her defeat, Nsisong, the competition’s former champion, blamed her defeat on mistakes made during the tournament. “It has been a long week full of action; we all had to use our thinking caps and mistakes were bound to happen in the game. I made a few, which cost me the championship. “Sometimes one wins; sometimes one loses that is all I can say. I made mistakes that I have learnt from and hope to play better in the next edition,’’ she said. In other categories, Tosin Akinwanmide and Efemuai Odafe won in Open I, finishing with 7.5 points and shared the sum of N65,000. David Obanula,the winner in Open II, finished with 8.0 and the took home the sum of N65,000, while AdeoluwaOlotu and Debbie Akintoye emerged winners respectively in the U-14 boys and girls tournament. The two winners went home with N25,000 each.

Talabi sets sight on 2016 Olympics O

motayo Talabi, a bronze medalist at the 18 th African Athletics Championships held in Port Novo, Benin, has said that her target is to participate meaningfully in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. U.S-based Talabi, a shot put athlete, in an on-line interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that she would work to improve on her techniques to qualify for the 2016 Games. “Although I failed to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics at the justended African Championships, I have already set my target for qualification for the 2016 Games. “My main challenge is to conquer my techniques in the sport, and by so doing, see how possible it will be for me to participate in the 2016 Olympics. “My desire to master my techniques arose from watching Vivian Chukwuemeka as a role model. In fact, my ambition is to upset Chukwuemeka’s record and set a new one in shot put. I know Chukwuemeka has come a long way, but I hope to achieve it with perseverance,” Talabi said. She said that the African Championships was her first ever in Africa and that it was an eye-opener and a big experience for her. “It was really a good experience. Despite the fact that it rained during my event, I was mentally strong for

my throw and I won a bronze medal. As my first championship in Africa, I am glad I was able to achieve the little I did in my four years experience,” she said. She added that her participation also enable her to know how much they appreciate track and field sports in Nigeria and indeed Africa. “Having competed in the U.S and in Nigeria, I realised that people are much more appreciative of track and field events in Nigeria than in the U.S. “In the U.S it was a different ball game where basketball and American football reign supreme. “In the U.S, whenever an athlete makes a mistake, the spectators will yell and boo, but it is always overwhelming cheers for basketball players and American footballers,” she said. The athlete, who would not be among the “Team Nigeria ‘’ for the London 2012 Olympics scheduled to hold from July 27 to Aug. 12, however, wished them luck. “With what I experienced during our interaction during training and the period of the African championship, I believed Team Nigeria will achieve a lot at the Games,” Talabi said. Nigeria emerged the overall champion at the African Championships held between June 26 and July 1 with 10 gold medals, 6 silver medals and 5 bronze medals.

Mr Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, former Captain of the Super Eagles (right) and Mr Austin Popo (middle) present a trophy of 2nd term endorsement to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole during a visit of ex-international players to the Governor at the Government House, yesterday.

FIFA scuttle Eagles AFCON build-up

igeria’s build-up for a 2013 AFCON qualifier in Liberia has suffered a massive setback after FIFA moved the friendly window by a month. The Super Eagles had hoped to play a top grade friendly against a West African team during the FIFA-free window fixed for August 15, but the date has now scooped that the world football governing body has moved that window to September 11. This means that Nigeria will not be able to line up a full-strength team before they travel to Monrovia to take on Liberia in the first leg of the final qualifying match for South Africa 2013 on September 8. Coach Stephen Keshi had planned to play a top grade friendly most likely against another West African team in August prior to the trip to Liberia the following month,

but this change by FIFA has now scuttled this arrangement. "It’s a problem because it now means that there will not be a friendly for the Eagles complete with their Europe-based stars before the first leg match against Liberia," an official said in reaction to the development. "The best bet for the coach would now be to work with players from the Nigeria Premier League before the match against Liberia." This comes on the heels of last week’s cancellation by Arsenal of a proposed match against a Nigerian selection on August 5 in Abuja. The Lone Star of Liberia host Nigeria on September 8 in the first leg of the final qualifier for the 2013 Nations Cup, while the return leg match will be played in Calabar on October 14.

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TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE As a nation, we must just rise against ho ar e deter mined to rretur etur n us eturn who are determined those w to a state of nature where life had little or no value — Senate President David Mark on latest killings in Jos, Plateau state

SPORTS May your road be rough, Dasuki (II) LA TEST LATEST FOR THE Federer's victory I a windfall for Oxfam

he British charity Oxfam has won more than £100 000 thanks to Roger Federer's victory at Wimbledon after being left a bet in a gambler's will. Tennis lover Nick Newlife, from Oxford, southern England, placed a bet of £1 520 at odds of 66 to 1 almost ten years ago with bookmakers William Hill on Federer winning seven or more Wimbledon titles. But Newlife died in 2009 and left his entire estate -including the 2003 betting slip -- to Oxfam, which provides emergency and development aid around the world. The charity can now collect £101 840. Federer beat Britain's Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to join Pete Sampras and William Renshaw as a seven-time Wimbledon champion and rack up his 17th Grand Slam win. Despite most of Britain rooting for Murray, who was bidding to become the first British Wimbledon men's champion for 76 years, Oxfam said its staff were backing the Swiss tennis star in the hope of securing the giant windfall. Oxfam, which earlier picked up £16 750 from another bet by Newlife that Federer would win 14 Grand Slam events, hopes the donations will inspire others to give. It said the latest payout was enough to provide a month's worth of food for 10 000 people hit by the food crisis in west Africa, where millions are affected by a drought in the Sahel region.

Mancini extends Man City stay

anchester City manager Roberto Mancini has agreed terms on a new deal that will keep the Italian at Eastlands for another five years, the English Premier League champions said yesterday. Victory on final day of season saw City crowned champions of England for the first time in 44 years. Mancini ended the club's 35-year wait for major silverware by guiding the team to the FA Cup and also secured Champions League football with a third-place finish in the Premier League.

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t is not unlikely, that some weighty voices, from both within Nigeria and abroad, had helped by putting in a good word for Dasuki, either on their own accord or when consulted on the matter by Jonathan. In the United State where Dasuki has, until now, been living on and off, he is, it is said, former U.S. Secretary of State, Collin Powel's next door neighbour. And who knows what Powel, who must have direct access to Jonathan, might have done to help a good neighbour, especially with the U.S. now showing more than a keen interest in the insurgency situation in the north of Nigeria? Dasuki was, according to sources, one of four ex-soldiers that Jonathan considered for the job. Two of them are retired Generals. All the four are Northerners and Muslims. Now, is this merely a case of 'if a Southerner can't do it, try a Northerner'? There is, in my view, much more to it than this. By restricting his options this way, and zeroing in on only Northerners, Jonathan has, in a way, confirmed to the world what has always been obvious from the hints and intimations he has been dropping by way of his utterances and actions, namely that he views the raging insurgency essentially as a carefully woven conspiracy by Northern leaders against his person and his government. This jaundiced and narrow perspective of the Boko Haram insurgency, which is dominant in the Villa and among all those close to the president, is itself part of the problem. It has blocked opportunities for a proper understanding of the problem, made more difficult real rapprochement between the Jonathan administration and the Northern leaders and elders, led to the diversion of time, energy and attention from a search for the causes to a fruitless search for sponsors of the problem, and occasioned huge wastes and outright stealing of resources by government officials and the security chiefs and operatives. Yet, there is a way in which the choice of a Northerner makes sense. There obviously is merit in the idea of using a thief to catch another thief. Or, as the stratagem and experience of that arch British colonialist, Lord Lugard, teach us, in using local talents to conquer their own people, for which the Hausa have this apt phrase: Da dan gari ake cin gari. It may be, though, that in finding a replacement for Azazi, Jonathan reached for, and used General Obasanjo's old manual of relations with the North, which teaches or prescribes turning always to the Northern aristocracy in general, or the relics of the Sokoto Caliphate in particular, for solutions to the problems in the North. Hence,

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By Rufa’i Ibrahim ruf585@hotmail.com

NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki the decision to settle for Sambo Dasuki, a caliphal aristocrat, son of a former Sultan and an ex-Colonel, who, incidentally, is Azazi's classmate in the Defence Academy and also a close friend. This idea of, or fixation with, relying on the northern aristocracy and its scions to resolve problems in the North may have worked well in the past for Obasanjo, both as a military and civilian Nigerian leader. But today we live in such a drastically altered and dysfunctional Nigerian and northern Nigerian social and political universe that the same approach may well create more problems than it solves. New identities, new awareness, new ideologies and new technologies of violence, resistance and change have all permeated our society. So it is to be really doubted if the vestiges of the Sokoto Caliphate can today reassert their political writ over even the largely acquiescent northern space, let alone rein in the far more sulphurous Boko Haram, whose members have no more respect for the traditional institutions than they have for the Nigerian State and its coercive apparatus. As I have previously analysed in this column (05-07-11; 12-0711; & 19-07-11), the Boko Haram dilemma is one that has to be clearly understood historically and in its wider socio-political, economic and religious contexts. It cannot just be evaded or wished away. It is not just a matter which direct or backchannel negotiations, tokenisms, bribery, moral outrage or exhortation, and prayers would sort out, although all this might somehow help. Nor is it a phenomenon the brutal arm of the

state can really curtail or crush forever, regardless of whoever directs the operation. Rather, it is illustrative of a grave social breakdown. In the Boko Haram insurgency, we are reaping the consequences of our past and present leaders' failings and failures, their decades of misrule, their theft and corruption and their treacherous betrayals of the peoples' trust and aspirations. It is a tragic national nightmare that may well require not only the restoration of a legitimate democratic state that is responsive to the pains and needs as well as aspirations of our masses, but also the rebooting of our socioeconomy for a decent and fairer society in order to get things back on track. All this is not to doubt, or downplay, Dasuki's qualification for the job he got. Perhaps he would still have landed the job even if he didn't have the kind of pedigree he has. Still, on its face value and looking at it objectively, Jonathan's preference for Dasuki seems to strike many as an odd decision. Hence, the question being asked everywhere: If a bright intelligence specialist like Azazi who rose to the pinnacle of the Nigerian Armed Forces couldn't contain the current wave of insurgency in the north, is there a good chance a former artilary corps commander of far lesser rank and experience but equally good education would fare any better? That is an open question, to which only time will avail us conclusive answer. But, doubtless, Dasuki is coming to the job with many positives and bringing into it some useful experiences. He has a good educational background. He has wide exposure, and an even wider network of relationships and friendships that cut across our religious, ethnic and regional divides. I first met him in the house of former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. Unlike his predecessor and many of those who have wrapped their tentacles around the president, Col Dasuki is someone who can think and act with ease and grace across the country's many divides. He is known to be humble and not greedy for money. All this apart, Dasuki has a father from whom he can gain experiences and insights that have direct bearing on his job. His father,

former Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki, did a lot to promote religious harmony and understanding between Northern Muslims and Christians and was most instrumental in the formation, in 1991, of the Inter-faith committee. Plus, the new N.S.A. seems to have started well. We can't say for sure yet what the Boko Haram insurgents are making of his appointment, his visit to their territory and his overtures of peace to them. But with the local population and leaders and elders in both Borno and Yobe states, his visits and his overtures and show of concern for their plight seem to have earned him a bountiful harvest of goodwill and an assurance of what he needs most at this stage of his assignment: the benefit of the doubt. It would appear, however, that the new NSA, anxious to make a difference in as short a time as possible, is moving a little too fast, especially as regards his overtures to the insurgents. Has he properly guaged the size of the problem and fashioned the appropriate responses to it before making overtures to the insurgents and asking that they come out? A no less important question: is he on the same page with Jonathan and his people on the issue of dialogue and the larger one of amnesty, rehabilitation and empowerment programmes that he is already talking about? As the NSA, Dasuki must know a few things that the rest of us don't. But it is now hardly a secret that there is not just one Boko Haram sect today but a number of them. Is Dasuki talking to all of the different factions, or just a few, or even just one of them? If so, which? And why does he expect that the insurgents will simply oblige him and come out without a ceasefire being agreed between the parties and without concrete guarantees for safety, when they are no fools and know that the government has a history of insincerity and betrayals in such matters? Then there is the issue of the security agencies themselves and their chieftains and operatives. The squabbles between the different agencies have been a problem from the start. But the much bigger problem is whether some of them really want an end to the problem. It is being said, and there are some hints, though no real evidence, that one of the security agencies has a unit that also plays the terror game, bombing and shooting, as part of an agenda either to keep the money flowing or to deepen the schisms in the country and thereby hasten its break-up. The NSA shouldn't completely dismiss such talks, or the more plausible one that there are rouge elements within the agencies who are deriving huge benefits from the insecurity situation in the country and, therefore, want it to continue.

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