Peoples Daily Newspaper, Saturday 10, November, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com www.peoplesdaily-online.com

VOL. 2 NO. 15 SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

. . . putting the people first

News: Uncertainty trails death of four year old in Benin

ZHUL-HAJJ 25 - 26, 1433 AH

N150

Kannywood: My relatives said they would disown me — Ruqqaiyatu

>> Page 2

>> Page 24

Ribadu Committee fallout:

More questions than answers Pages 9, 10, 11 & 15

I N S I D E The Entrepreneur

‘I started my business with only N700’ >> Page 34

Interview Jonathan should publish Ribadu’s report for Nigerians —Tanko Yakasai >> Page 12

President Jonathan

Flood Telecom, oil giants shun Presidential fund raising dinner >> Page 3

Politics Constitution review and the role of Editors

Ribadu

Oronsaye

Madueke WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

>> Page 40

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Special Report

Uncertainty trails death of four year old in Benin

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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d o State Police Command’s confirmation of an autopsy report on how a toddler who was mysteriously found dead at a school on the first day of November died from Asphysia or a lack of oxygen which interferes with the oxygenation of the blood before drowning to death have set the teeth of bewildered family members on edge.

The four year-old Imiefan Omokaro, a Kindergarten pupil of Kingdom Heritage Model School, owned by the Winners Chapel along Sapele road in Benin-City, said to have fallen into a drum located in the toilet area.

The autopsy defences the hypothesis that the child may have been forced into the drum of water and drowned due to perceived negligence.

The case was reported at the Etete Police Station last week with her class teacher and two nannies arrested while the autopsy was signed by Dr Wilson Akhiwu of the Police Medical Services.

Unconfirmed report has it that her class teacher was unaware that she had left the class to ease herself

until a co-teacher found the little girl lying lifeless at the toilet and raised the alarm which attracted the entire school.

The deceased who is the first daughter of her parents whose body was said to be warm at the time of the alarm was later taken into the Church, where pastors reportedly engaged in marathon prayers to revive the girl.

It was learnt that when the mother of the child, Mrs. Omokaro showed up at the school’s closing time of 1.30pm to pick her daughter, the class teacher told her that they were looking for the child.

Mrs. Osarugue Omokaro and several other teachers and parents spent over two hours searching every nook and cranny in the school only to find the corpse of the child and took her belatedly to a hospital where a nurse on duty confirmed her dead.

In tears she said, "I went to the school and asked where my ‘love’ is.

Nobody answered me. I asked the aunty, she said that my daughter went to the toilet."

"After waiting for some minutes, I was told my daughter was in the main church playing. I went to the church and was told my daughter with the pastor. I went to the pastor's

Imiefan while alive

office and saw the bursar of the school crying. It was there I was told something was wrong with my daughter."

On his part the father of the dead girl who gave his name as Mr. Omokaro Jolly told newsmen that he dropped his daughter at school hale and healthy on the fateful morning but was surprised that the school authorities gave his wife a dead child at the end of the school day.

He said his wife called him at about 3:45 to inform him that their daughter was missing and when he got to the school, he was asked to go to the hospital where he saw his child stone dead.

"When I dropped my daughter in school, she said I should come and pick her up so that I can buy her chocolate but I can't see my daughter now. The hospital said my child was brought dead. Until now, nobody has told me what happened to my baby."

"I can't bring a baby to school and they expect me to collect a lifeless baby. It is their responsibility to tell me what happened to my baby".

Meanwhile the Edo State Government has suspended the operational license of the Kingdom Heritage Model School, though authorities say that the school would be allowed to run for this term so as not to jeopardise the lectures of pupils in the school, after which it would be finally sealed up.

The outgoing Commissioner of Education in the state, Barr.

Ekpenisi Omorotiomwan who was at the school when the incident happened announced the suspension and said preliminary investigations revealed that 'avoidable mistake' led to the death of the child.

He added that investigations also revealed that the child went to the toilet at about 1pm with or without her teachers or two nannies’ knowledge and allegedly fell into the

drum of water only to be discovered at about 3pm by another teacher who went to the toilet.

"The provisional suspension will allow the school to run till the end of this term because of the remaining kids. The lesson is for school managers

to know they own a duty of care to the children."

He said, "We will now be looking beyond beautiful classrooms and buildings in giving operational license to schools. We will look at the management."

News Benue dep gov Five cult groups exist in Kogi condemns assault on varsity, suspect confesses Assembly by hoodlums From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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e p u t y Governor of Benue state, Chief Steven Lawani, has dismissed as baseless insinuations that his presence at the state House of Assembly, Makurdi on Thursday may have fueled the crisis rocking the House.

He also condemned in strong terms the unprecedented assault on the hallowed chambers of the Assembly by hoodlums.

Lawani who made the condemnation in a press statement signed by his chief press secretary, Mr. Ejembi Ogwuche, described the

incident as a hostile and intolerable act because of the sacredness of the State House of Assembly as a veritable organ of government.

The deputy governor said he does not in any way subscribe to any form of violence that is retrogressive to the deepening of our democracy.

He further explained that his presence at the Assembly was to intervene for peaceful resolution of the festering leadership crisis that led to the removal of the Speaker and urged youths in the state to desist from all forms of hostile and extreme acts of hooliganism and allow the legislature to perform their legislative duties.

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suspected armed robber who was paraded by the police in Lokoja, Kogi state capital yesterday has confessed that he belongs to a cult group known as Black Axe at the Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba.

He said that the black axe is responsible for most of the armed robbery and stealing cases on the campus in recent times and some on the highways could be linked to the group.

The prime suspect, Enemona Akoji, who has

implicated two other persons, Dajuma Yahaya and Abbas Shittu, disclosed that he was initiated into the group when he was in secondary school.

Akoji revealed that there are over five cult groups operating on the campus apart from the Black Axe. However, luck ran out of him on October 23, 2012 when he smuggled himself into female hostel for one of his nefarious activities.

According to one recent victim of an attack from this group - a student of Biological Sciences, who spoke to Peoples Daily Weekend in Anyigba, Akoji and one of his

friends had forced their way into her room when her roommate came out to throw away water, between 9.30 and 10 pm on the fateful day.

Speaking under anonymity, she said when the two suspects entered the room, one of them stabbed her by the ribs below her breast and went ahead to pick a laptop that was on the bed.

She added that her shouting attracted her roommate and security operatives and students who were still in the nearby lecture hall who now stormed the hostel gave Akoji a hot pursuit before he was arrested.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

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News Flood: Telecom, oil giants shun presidential fund raising dinner

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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e a d i n g telecom and oil companies in Nigeria who rake in billions of naira from doing business in the country shunned an invitation to the Presidential committee fund raising dinner on Thursday.

President Goodluck Jonathan had on October 11, 2012 set up the committee co-chaired by Aliko Dangote and Olisa Agbakoba to raise funds for the flood victims in addition to the N17 billion the Federal Government had already provided for the victims across the country.

Major telecom companies like MTN, Etisalat, Visaphone and Airtel, and Multi-choice as well all the oil giants in Nigeria however shunned the first fund raising drive held at the Banquet Hall of the State House on Thursday night.

Dangote who moderated the ceremony expressed shock and disappointment when he called on MTN to come forward and saw no one.

*** We'll get them – Dangote "We make a lot of money in this country and this is the time to give back and help the needy but all these telecom companies are failing to show up. This is not acceptable".

On the oil companies, Dangote asked the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke if she had collected donations from the oil companies, saying it was unbelievable that not even a single oil company was represented at the event.

The minister was made to promise that she would meet all the oil companies one after the other and collect donations from them and get back to the committee.

In the same vein, the Minister of Communications, Omobola Johnson, pledged to meet the telecom companies too to make sure they contribute in cash to the efforts to rescue millions of flood victims all over the country.

The committee however realised more than 11.35 billion in cash and promissory donations for victims of floods across the country.

Top on the list of donors at the event were Dangote and the Federal Government, who donated N2.5 billion each.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) comprising the President, his deputy, Head of Service, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff to the President and ministers, also gave N45 million, as each of the 45member council dropped N1 million each.

Upon Dangote's protest that the donation from FEC was too small compared to the calibre of personalities that make up the council, President Jonathan announced a donation of N2.5 billion by the Federal Government.

Dangote, however, said from

Demolition: Court strikes out Nsofor's suit against FCTA

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u s t i c e Yusuf Halilu of FCT High Court, Kubwa, Abuja, on Friday struck out a suit filed by a Super Eagles striker, Obinna Nsofor, to restrain the FCT Administration and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) from demolishing his property in the Cadastral Zone.

This followed non compliance with the procedure that ensured due diligence on the part of both the plaintiff and the defendants.

In his judgment, Halilu said that the statement of defence shall not be allowed to stand.

“Where a defendant abandons his pleading, he is taken as having thrown in the towel and as having admitted the allegations against him in the statement of claim.

“An abandoned pleading becomes moribund and no reasonable court of law has the jurisdiction to revive dead pleadings”.

The judge then struck out the statement of defence.

“Having struck out the statement of defence, I’m now left with the claims of the plaintiffs”.

The judge frowned at the fact that the three plaintiffs were represented by Engr.

Edemadelen.

“The plaintiffs before this court filed a joint statement on oath which was signed by the third plaintiff.

“Were the other plaintiffs not meant to be cross examined?

“On this note, plaintiffs have failed to prove their case against the defendants to warrant the court granting their reliefs”.

Halilu subsequently dismissed the claims by Nsofor and the two other plaintiffs.

“I am indeed faced with a hopeless situation that is akin to an aircraft engineer who got himself drunk before entering the cockpit.

“This suit was destined on arrival to crash in view of the inherent procedural lacunae. It hereby crashes”.

“Consequently, the said suit is hereby dismissed”.

The suit had been filed by Nsofor and two others on April 17.

The Super Eagles player and the co-plaintiffs had prayed the court to stop the demolition of the property by the FCTA and FCDA. The other two plaintiffs in the suit were Ishmael Taire, the agent who sold the land to Nsofor, and Gabriel Edamdelen, a building engineer.

Nsofor and Taire were not present in court as only Edamedelen made appearances throughout the hearing.

The plaintiff’s' counsel, Mr. S.C. Peter, had prayed the court to declare that an April 4 demolition notice given to his

clients was illegal, null and void.

The counsel also prayed the court to declare that the defendants had no powers to demolish the plaintiffs' property at No. 27 A, Cadastral Zone, Kubwa.

Peter further contended that the Minister of the FCT had the constitutional powers to issue the right of occupancy and he did issue one on the said property.

“He set up a Rural Land Allocation Committee, Abuja Municipal Area Council, and the committee issued a right of occupancy on the said Plot No. 27 A, Cadastral Zone, Kubwa.

“The allocation was evidenced in writing by the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy signed by an agent and servant of the minister.

“The plaintiffs did not set up the aforesaid committee; neither did the defendants revoke the actions of the Rural Land Allocation Committee’’.

During the hearing, the Minister of FCT and the FCDA filed a joint defence, while the Attorney-General of the Federation or his representative failed to enter any plea for the suit.

Counsel to the first and second defendants, Mr. Ramallan Abdullahi, made a submission on May 2 but failed to call any witnesses. (NAN)

his own N2.5 billion, 200 million had earlier been given to Kogi state government and N150 million for the running of the secretariat of the committee.

Chief Arthur Eze, Tony Elumelu and Jim Ovia donated N1 billion each and the chief fund raiser, Chief Mike Adenuga donated N500 million.

Anambra state governor, Peter Obi also announced a donation of N1.8 billion on behalf of the state governors at the rate of N15 million each.

Others who made donations were construction giants Arab Contractors, Setraco, Gilmor, CCEC, Dantata and Sawoe, RCC and other corporate organisations and public- spirited individuals.

Julius Berger and First Bank of Nigeria representatives promised to get back to the committee after their respective board meetings.

Minister of Finance and

Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala donated all the proceeds from the launch of her book which amounted to 10 million in addition to the N1 million she contributed as a member of FEC. Speaking at the event, the President appealed to Nigerians and the international community to donate generously to the cause.

He also commissioned the committee's website, www.nigeriafloodrelief.org which will be used by Nigerians to give more donations and other interactions.

In his address, Dangote also urged Nigerians to donate generously to assist the victims.

He said that the extent of damage caused by the devastating flood had overstretched the capacity of government, which necessitated the assistance of public spirited people.

Environmental challenges affect our life expectancy ratio —NESREA boss

By Augustine Aminu

D

irector General of the N a t i o n a l Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Ngeri Benebo has said that environmental challenges affect the ability to live long.

Benebo gave the indication recently at the National Media Dialogue on environment and longevity in Abuja. She said environmental degradation has changed the course of nature thereby shortening the life span of the old as it negatively impacts on the health and wellbeing of the people.

“Old age, for many in Nigeria constitutes a painful process attended by poor health, insufficiency, helplessness and vulnerability to environmental challenges such as poor sanitation, water and air pollution as well as social challenges.

“In emergency situations like collapse of buildings, disasters like flooding, the inability of the old to quickly respond to such situations becomes a very big challenge.”

According to her, societies today see ageing as a burden because such societies have not taken the necessary steps to tap from the blessings that come with growing old. The DG sought care for the old by every society, adding that any act of neglecting them would affect other ageing groups in future.

In his remark, Mr. Ike Willie-Nwobu, the National coordinator, International Federation on Ageing said environmental health constituted a major hindrance to longevity.

Willie-Nwobu said that effective and efficient environmental management would support the management of any population. According to him, a well managed population is wealth which could enhance longevity.

He advised Nigerians to avoid environmental pollution so as to reduce the effect of harsh environment on the old.

In her goodwill massage, Ms Marylin Ogar, Director of public affairs of the State Security Services (SSS) noted that environmental challenges were capable of causing security challenges.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

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News

NGO partners Kebbi govt on family planning From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi

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Cross section of the participants at the Defence Headquarters Skills Acquisition Training Programme for wives and wards of military personnel within the 3 Division, recently in Jos,

Constitution review: NBA reiterates call for referendum

By Stanley Onyekwere, with agency report

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h e Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has lent its voice to the call for a referendum in the ongoing public hearing on constitutional amendment process, saying it would provide opportunity to majority of Nigerians to have a say in the According to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report, the chairman of the branch, Mr. Onyekachi Ubani, who made this point on Friday, in Ikeja, said it is the only way that we can

get a peoples’ constitution that will ensure that Nigeria is on the path to greatness.

He expressed total support for the position of the national body of the NBA, which he said is fundamental. “It will lead to the convening of a constituent assembly that will be saddled with the responsibility of writing a new constitution for the country”.

According to him, “the country has to get this thing right once and for all and a referendum will give everybody the chance to express their views and grievances”.

Ubani said the NBA as a responsible and patriotic organisation, would participate in the public hearing on the constitution review being organised by legislators.

On the purported proposed dialogue between the government and the Boko Haram sect, he said Nigerians should not be ecstatic yet about the development.

The NBA chairman therefore urged the government to investigate the genuineness of the group making the demands for dialogue in order to ascertain its authenticity.

Oshiomhole sacks exco From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

E

do state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at the weekend announced the dissolution of state executive council.

At the valedictory exco session held in Benin City, on Friday, Governor Oshiomhole who is expected to be sworn-in on Monday for second a term, said: “I want to use this opportunity to say how much I appreciate your efforts”.

The emotion-laden governor said: “four years down the road, working together, arguing, debating, even sometimes disagreeing, we have provided a

collective leadership to the people of Edo state. We have served them diligently with all our hearts.

“You are the least paid commissioners in the country, but that did not dampen your morale to put in your best efforts...”

“I thought it wise that having worked so hard, it is right to appreciate you.

“On Sunday, I recognise it will be full time for the first tenure of this administration and when it is full time, no matter how interesting the game is, the referee must blow the whistle and end the game. The life of this council comes to an end on Sunday, not today, because that is when the end of the first tenure of

this administration will come to an end, so you are still commissioners even after this statement till 11:59pm Sunday.”

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Osagie Obayuwana, who responded on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the governor for giving them the opportunity and the free hand to serve.

According to him, “the experience of working with the governor has been a school of leadership for us, which was defined by the highest level of congeniality”, adding: “I doubt if there is any other exco in any other state in the country comparable to the one we had here”.

Jonathan condoles with Harriman's family

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has sent condolences to the family of the renowned surveyor, industrialist, philanthropist and political leader, Chief Hope Harriman who passed away earlier this week in the United States.

President Jonathan noted that Chief Harriman lived an exemplary and fulfilled life, always doing the best that he could to contribute positively to communal and national development.

According to a release signed by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President expressed belief that “Chief Harriman will

always be remembered in his professional field of surveying and estate management where he built his practice into a glowing reference point for others and became in the process, a role model and mentor for younger Nigerians."

He prayed the Almighty will grant Chief Harriman’s soul eternal rest.

non governmental organisation, Expanded Social Marking Project in Nigeria (ESMPIN), has advocated the need for stakeholders in family planning and the Kebbi state government to set up a more pro-active measure to encourage child spacing among couples.

Disclosing this at a one-day workshop organised for media practitioners in the state, the zonal coordinator of the programme, Dr. Yusuf Lawal Gusau, attributed the low level of child spacing awareness in the North-west zone of the country to the religious and socio-cultural beliefs of the people.

He disclosed further that many factors such as low awareness to the usage of

contraceptives, low status of women in decision making and religions/socio-cultural believes among others are grossly responsible for child spacing in family planning.

Gusau stated that Nigeria contributes 10 percent of annual maternal death globally, while infant mortality rate is 110/1000.

He therefore called on stakeholders such as religious leaders, traditional institutions youth and members of the community, government and local government authorities to join NGOS in this advocacy campaign.

The coordinator also wants government authorities to engage more females in the campaign to be able to reach out to women in the rural areas to achieve success in this respect.

Katsina stakeholders set for constitution review congress From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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l l major stakeholders in Katsina state were set for the commencement of congress hearing on constitution review scheduled to begin yesterday in the federal constituencies across the 34 local governments of the state.

Our correspondent in Katsina gathered that members of the House of Representatives in Katsina had a meeting at the Presidential Lodge of the Government House, Katsina, to articulate their positions on the issues.

A member of the House of Representatives from the state, Barrister Abbas Abdullahi Machika, told our correspondent on phone: “Yes we are meeting at the Presidential Lodge

Government House Katsina over the constitution review.

We have already articulated our position on the issue”.

At the Government House venue of the meeting members held a closed door meeting which lasted for over three hours.

Similarly, it was gathered that the state House of Assembly met to deliberate on the issues as regards the constitution review and the House has selected five members for the zonal review hearing scheduled for Sokoto next week.

When contacted, the press secretary to the House, Malam Nasir Zango, confirmed that the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Ya’u Umar GwajoGwajo, has met with members of the House over the issue but could not say what happened at the meeting.

67-year-old cashier jailed for stealing N9.6m

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n Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday, sentenced a 67-year-old cashier to two years imprisonment for stealing N9.6 million belonging to his employer.

Chief Magistrate C.T. Adesola-Ikpatt, found Lucas Oluwaseun guilty of the onecount charge of stealing leveled against him.

The magistrate, however, ordered the convict to pay N50, 000 fine and to refund N3.5 million of the loot to the company, in lieu of the sentence.

Adesola-Ikpatt, in her judgment, said she considered the plea of the convict’s counsel as a first time offender and his being above 60 years of age.

She, however, decried the convict’s action for stealing money entrusted in his care, at

his age.

The prosecutor, ASP Etim Nkamkuk, had told the court that the convict, who was a cashier with Stallion food company, Lagos committed the offence between Feb. 27 and March 3, 2008.

“He was first arraigned on April 23, 2008 on a one-count charge of stealing and admitted to bail in the sum of one million naira, with two sureties in like sum.

“During the trial, he admitted stealing the money and told the court that he used part of it to sponsor one of his children to study overseas”, Nkamkuk said.

The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravened Sections 390(6) (a), Cap. C17, Vol.11 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state, 2003. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

News Jonathan lauds Dangote for N2.5 billion donation to flood relief

Stakeholders advocate integrated policy for aviation sector

By Aminu Imam

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From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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he Federal Government has been urged to formulate an integrated policy that will cater for the aviation industry.

One of the speakers at a forum in Lagos on Thursday and former pilot with the defunct Nigerian Airways, Capt. Dele Ore, said the policy would enable the sector to achieve economic growth.

Ore, who is the president, Aviation Round Table, spoke at a workshop with the theme ‘Capacity Building in the Aviation Sector’, organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (Aviation chapter), in Lagos.

He said “We should know how to manage the transport industry, particularly the aviation sector.

Increase taxation, rising fuel prices and political instability has continued to test the economy system of the aviation industry in Nigeria”.

The ex-pilot noted that domestic airlines should return or adapt positively to a changing environment; otherwise the aviation industry would collapse.

“The charges in Nigeria are very high, when this are put together, airlines cannot survive. Intending airline investors should know the implication of what they are trying to get into. Successful airlines try to streamline their operations; they make money through hotel operation”.

Government should invest more in aviation training schools and they should specialise in a particular area of study”, he added.

Also speaking at the workshop, Managing Director, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, Mr. Olu Owolabi, said the sector was the most international and boundless branch at the world market.

L-R: Minister of State for Agriculture, Alh. Burkar Tijani, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, during emergency Meeting of the State Commissioners of Agriculture on the National Flood Recovery food Production Programme, yesterday in Abuaj. Photos Mahmud Isa, Joe Oroye and Justin Imo-owo

2015: Ibrahim dares Buhari on mega opposition party

By Richard Ihediwa

F

ormer Yobe state governor, Senator Bukar Abba-Ibrahim (ANPP), has declared his intension to run for the 2015 presidential election on the platform of the party that would eventually emerge from the merger between the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and other major opposition parties in the country.

With this the lawmaker may have drawn a battle line against the CPC standard bearer and presidential candidate in the 2011 election, Gen

Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) who is at the forefront of the merger plan and is said to be positioning to run on that mega platform.

Senator Ibrahim told the first Ambassador of Kuwait to Nigeria Amb. Saad Abdulah Al-Alsousi that he was likely to emerge a consensus presidential candidate in the planned alliance between his party All Nigerian Peoples Party(ANPP), All Progress Grand Alliance(APGA) and CPC for 2015 election.

The former governor said he was sure he would defeat the former presidential candidate of CPC and others that may want

to run under the planned coalition adding that he was already holding discussion with the chieftains of the said political parties.

He said he was fully prepared to run for the number one seat in 2015 adding that he cannot be intimidated by any force or person to abandon his presidential ambition.

Earlier, the Ambassador said the people and government of Kuwait are willing to partner with Nigeria in the area of housing and security. He said he was in the Senate to brief the relevant committees on the political situation in Kuwait.

AFCSC hosts 12 commandants of African staff colleges in Kaduna From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

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e m b e r s of the Troika Team including 12 commandants from various staff colleges in Africa were on Thursday hosted to a tour around the facilities at the Jaji Cantonment, home of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) in Kaduna to mark the end of the 6th African Annual Conference of Commandants (ACoC) of Staff Colleges which held in Abuja

from 5-7, November 2012.

The visit which was as a result of the conference held in Abuja organised by the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, with the theme "The Role of Staff College in Preparing Officers to Meet Emerging Security Challenges", had 34 participants from the 12 staff colleges in Africa in attendance.

The Commandant, AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal Tijjani Mu'azu who was the chairman of the

conference.

Activities at the event included visits to the E-Library, the Infantry Corps Center (ICC), the Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Center (NAPKC), and decoration of newly promoted officers at the Officers’ Mess to various ranks. The 12 staff colleges are located in Benin Republic, Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana and Botswana receptively.

f f o r t s at offering relief to victims of recent flooding across the country received a boost yesterday when prominent Nigerians and institutions made donations into a special fund set up by the Federal Government, in the wake of the disaster.

Business mogul, Aliko Dangote, who is a co-chairman of the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR), led the pack when he made a jumbo donation of N2.5 billion and another N150 million for the running of the secretariat of the PCFRR. This philanthropic gesture did not escape the mention of President Goodluck Jonathan, as he described Dangote as a rare breed that is always willing to give back to the society.

The President of Dangote Group who had earlier donated N200 million to Kogi state government during his visit to the flood ravaged areas in the state, said it was the responsibility of all Nigerians to bring back smiles into the faces of the victims.

While urging Nigerians to respond to the clarion call to help the flood victims, the President said though the nation had witnessed several natural disasters in the past, none of them could compare with the recent ones across the states.

The President noted that the floods had rendered millions of citizens homeless, in addition to scores of lives lost while property and farmlands have been destroyed.

“Economic activities in the highly impacted area have also been severely affected. Although the economic losses are difficult to quantify at the moment, there are indications that they may be higher than our projections.

We have witnessed several natural disasters in the past, none of them compares with what we currently experience, in scale and scope”, President Jonathan stated.

Pneumonia: FG introduces pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

By A’isha Biola Raji

I

n order to minimise the death of children recorded through pneumonia, the Federal Government through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has introduced Pneumococcal Conjugate

Vaccine (PCV).

The executive director of the agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad, made this known yesterday, at a press briefing to mark World Pneumonia Day slated for 12th of November.

According to Muhammad, pneumonia, though preventable and treatable, is the number one

killer of children taking over 130,000 children in Nigeria annually.

He however said being a preventable disease, the country has no justification to record such huge number of casualties hence the introduction of the vaccine.

The vaccine, according to him, will hugely complement

the newly introduced pentavalent vaccine which can singly prevent five diseases including pneumonia.

It would be recalled that the pentavalent vaccine had been introduced in 14 states including the Federal Capital Territory in the first phase.

He further stressed that; the

intervention is in line with the Federal Government’s ‘saving a million lives’ initiative.

He however advised parents, especially in the rural areas, to keep children away from cigarette smoke, cooking smoke and any other form of smoke, imbibe good hygiene system and visit health facilities regularly.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 7

News Girl, 14, accuses soldier-father of defilement

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Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, and the Project Director, United Nations Development Programme, DGD Project II, Dr. Mourtada Deme, at the Media Dialogue with Editors in the North and South-South of Nigeria on the Constitution Amendment Process in Abuja on Wednesday

Lagos traffic Maternal mortality: FG to recruit law: Soldier, 12,000 village health workers allowances. policeman By A’isha Biola Raji According to him, the o complement the initiative is double barrel and will at war achievements of Midwives reduce the burden on the health From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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h e saying that some people are above the law manifested in Oshodi, the ever busy suburb of Lagos, on Friday, when a policeman trying to enforce the new Lagos traffic law which bans okada from plying major roads accosted a soldier.

Both uniformed men threw caution to the wind as their altercation led to the exchange of gunfire and tear gas canisters were indiscriminately shot into the air, a situation which left marketers, residents and commuters as well traders and passersby to scamper for safety.

An eyewitness, Miss Maureen, told our reporter that the crisis erupted when a policeman on duty on the Agege road, stopped two soldiers who were on a motorcycle and attempted to arrest them for violating the traffic rule; but the soldiers resisted the ‘effrontery’ of the policeman.

Maureen said the incident which occurred at about 8.am, led to argument between the two parties and one of the soldiers who was on uniform pounced on the policeman for daring to stop them on the road.

However, a reinforcement of policemen from the nearby Akinpelu police station in Oshodi resulted into shooting into the air to disperse onlookers by the policemen who were said to have overpowered the soldier while his colleague on mufti escape from the scene.

When our reporter arrived the Akinpelu police station, men from the military police division of the Nigerian Army from the nearby Ikeja Military Cantonment had arrived to sort out the issue with the police authority before they took away the arrested soldier in the vehicle, an army coloured jeep.

T

Service Scheme (MSS), the Federal Government through National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHCDA), is to recruit 12,000 village health workers.

This initiative is as a result of the achievement recorded by MSS which recently earned the country an award by Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM).

Speaking at the press briefing to mark World Pneumonia Day coming up 12 November, the executive director of the NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Muhammad, said the recruitment is to “marry health facilities and communities”.

According to him, one village health worker will be in charge of 10 households making six village health workers in one ward.

He said the village health workers who will be drawn from within the communities will ensure safe delivery of pregnant women in the 10 households they are to cater for.

According to him, government will be responsible in equipping and paying their

system thereby productivity.

improving

A

v i a t i o n practitioners have been advised to acquaint themselves with current trends in the industry in other to be relevant.

This charge was given by the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Hajiya Salamatu Umar-Eluma, at a workshop organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Lagos.

According to Eluma, who was represented at the event by the General Manager, Corporate

2010.

Frequent virginal discharge made me to believe her”, she said.

The mother appealed to the centre to prevail on the estranged husband to provide funds for the treatment of her daughter.

She also prayed the centre to grant her custody of the four children she had with the suspect to save them from abuse.

The chairman of the Family Law Centre, Mrs. Elizabeth Nwali, said the centre would liaise with the Ude family to provide medical treatment for the victim.

She ordered that the suspect be brought before the centre to hear his part of the story.

“I have listened carefully to the victim and I will not proceed any further in this matter until the accused is brought before me in line with justice and fair hearing”, she said, and adjourned the case to Nov. 11.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Ebonyi state government established the Family Law Centre to provide alternative legal solutions to disputes among families. (NAN)

FG to boost nationwide access to quality drugs

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that the Federal Government has made boosting the availability and affordability of life-saving drugs nationwide one of the primary objectives of its strategy for achieving significant improvements in national healthcare services in the shortest possible time.

Speaking at an audience with a delegation from the Merck Pharmaceuticals Company of Germany, President Jonathan said the government was therefore doing everything possible to ensure that genuine essential

‘Aviation practitioners must be trendy’ From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

50-year-old man was on Friday arraigned before an Abakaliki Family Law Centre for allegedly defiling his 14year-old daughter.

The man, John Ude, a corporal with the Nigerian Army, was accused of committing the offence in 2010.

The victim (name withheld) told the Chairman of the Family Law Centre that her father sexually abused her and caused her physical, emotional and psychological damage.

“He usually threatens to kill me anytime I resisted his sexual advances”, she said, that “he once used his military belt on me for daring to show some resistance”.

The girl said that she constantly pass out urine mixed with blood as a result of the sexual abuse.

The estranged wife of the suspect, Mrs. Chinyere Ude, confirmed the virginal discharge.

She said that she was unable to give her daughter medical treatment due to lack of funds.

“She (daughter) told me how her father abused her in year

Communications, Hon. Yakubu Dati, “Aviation industry is indispensable to the development of the economy of Nigeria because it provides the fastest and safest means of transportation of goods and services. The airport environment can be made people friendly, safe and secure through effective service delivery”.

She encouraged industrial enthusiasts to embrace the ‘aerotropolis’ project being embarked on by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, stating that it would enhance the socio-economic development of the country through increased trade and commerce.

drugs and medicines are constantly available in hospitals and pharmacies in all parts of the country.

The President said that the Federal Government was working with drug manufacturers, friendly nations and international organisations towards the achievement of this objective and would welcome increased international support and assistance for its effort to give more Nigerians easier access to essential drugs and medicines.

President Jonathan thanked the Merck delegation which was led by Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp-

Merck for the company’s ongoing support for healthcare delivery in Nigeria through the continued donation of large quantities of its drug Praziquantel for the free treatment of schistosomiasis or bilharzia, a chronic illness that can damage internal organs and, in children, impair growth and cognitive development.

Dr. Haverkamp-Merck told the President that his company which is the oldest pharmaceuticals company in the world, having been in existence since 1668, will continue to support the Jonathan administration’s Save One Million Lives Initiative in every possible way.

Gunmen kill three policemen in Yobe

G

unmen on Friday attacked the Divisional Police Station in Buni Yadi, Gujba local government area of Yobe state and killed three policemen.

Lt. Eli Lazarus, spokesman of the Joint Task Force security outfit in Yobe, confirmed the killings in a statement in Damaturu.

The statement said, “in the early hours of today, gunmen attacked the Divisional Police

Station at Buni Yadi and three policemen were killed with some arms carted away”.

He said the JTF drafted its personnel to the area to beef up security to forestall further attacks in the area.

NAN reports that Fika, Gashua and Buni Yadi, the headquarters of Fika, Bade and Gujba local government councils, respectively, had in the week suffered attacks from gunmen.

(NAN)

PAGE 8

Analysis

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Deportation of female pilgrims: The 2012 Hajj in retrospect

P

reparatory obligations in the lead-up to the 2012 hajj were somewhat threatened by some scary news.

“More than 400 female pilgrims from Nigeria, who arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the religious rites, have been detained, prior to their repatriation,’’ the news reverberated repeatedly.

Why? The Saudi authorities said that the female pilgrims were not accompanied by “Muharram’’ (male escorts); a requirement under the Islamic jurisprudence.

Subsequently, 171 of the pilgrims were repatriated to Nigeria.

Recounting their experiences, some of the repatriated pilgrims said that they could not easily forget their harrowing experience in Jeddah where they were denied entry into Saudi Arabia.

Hajia Aisha Lawal said that when they got to Medina, none of them was allowed to enter the airport or permitted to buy food and drinks.

“Immediately we alighted from the aircraft, we were not allowed to move and the next thing we saw was a troop of soldiers who directed us back into the flight.

“We protested, screamed and screamed; all to no avail. We frantically tried to get the attention of the authorities; we were hungry and thirsty but there was no opportunity for us to buy what we wanted,’’ she said.

Other affected female pilgrims have similar tales to narrate.

“I had a terrible experience in Jeddah; after all the struggles

I made to get money for this year’s Hajj, I was disallowed from performing it’’, Mrs Muinat Ismail, one of the deported pilgrims, said.

Naturally, the pilgrims’ deportation provoked some controversies and elicited instantaneous reactions from different quarters.

President Goodluck Jonathan immediately constituted a delegation, headed

by Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to iron out the issue with the Saudi authorities.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, bemoaned the action of the Saudi authorities, describing it as an insult to Nigeria and the country’s Muslims.

He argued that the Saudi authorities never raised any issue concerning the need for female pilgrims to be accompanied by ``Muharram’’ in the lead-up to the pilgrimage.

“They did not make this a requirement for issuing visas; they issued visas to all these pilgrims, only to embarrass, detain and threaten to repatriate them when they arrived in the Holy land.

“The chairman of the National Hajj Commission assured me that the Saudis never asked for this during all the meetings with them; this is very unfortunate,’’ he said.

Expressing similar concern, the CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said: ``The most annoying thing here is that nothing in Islamic Law requires a woman travelling in a large group to go with a `Maharram’.

“A large group comprises at

least 20 members. So, when a woman is part of a Hajj delegation from a state with thousands of other pilgrims, why should she have a `Muharram’?

“The regulation is not Islamic; it is a violation of the female pilgrims’ fundamental rights,’’ Sanusi added.

In a counter-reaction, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Khaled Abdrabuh, said that although the stipulation concerning “Muharram’’ was never enforced in the past, the Saudi Government decided to enforce it this year.

“Clearly, this enforcement aspect was never communicated to both the pilgrims and the Nigerian authorities.

“In this case, this was a very serious omission on the part of Saudi Arabia. It was needless to have waited until the pilgrims arrived in Jeddah before enforcing the rule’’ he said.

Abdrabuh, however, insisted that every Muslim should know that a female intending pilgrim ought to be accompanied by a “Muharram’’ while on hajj.

“No Muslim needs be told of this basic requirement, as it is an essential Islamic injunction which the Nigerian authorities ought to have been enforcing without being reminded.

“True, it was quite inappropriate that the Saudi authorities never reminded the pilgrims and hajj authorities in Nigeria, it was also inappropriate for Nigerian pilgrims and officials to be reminded of such basic requirement.

“To say the least, some go there for other purposes, rather than performing Hajj.

“But as it is now, the Saudis need to review the enforcement of the ‘Muharram’ rule,’’ the envoy said.

However, with the Federal Government’s intervention, 204 female pilgrims from Jigawa, who were earlier repatriated, returned to Saudi Ariabia for the hajj.

Alhaji Mohammad Gumel, the spokesman for Jigawa Pilgrims Welfare Board, said that the pilgrims were elated because of their renewed opportunity to perform the pilgrimage.

“We are grateful for the intervention of the Federal Government and the Jigawa State Government in ensuring that the deportees were given a fresh opportunity to perform their religious obligations,’’ he

said.

One of the pilgrims, Hajia Maryam Zaka, said that she was glad that she had another opportunity to partake in this year's hajj.

She commended the Federal Government and the Jigawa Government for their prompt intervention which, she noted, enabled them to return to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.

Besides, Alhaji Awwal Wushishi, the Director of Operations, Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Commission, said that the eight female pilgrims from Niger, who were earlier repatriated, later returned to Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj.

However, what is the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) doing to prevent the recurrence of such deportations in the coming years?

Malam Musa Bello, the Executive Secretary of NAHCON, said that the commission had been working toward ensuring that such experience never occurred again.

“Several committees have been constituted to improve the services rendered to pilgrims. “`These include national reception to welcome all Nigerian pilgrims as they arrive in the Holy land, creation of command and control centres to monitor aircraft movement, among others,’’ he said.

Beyond this, observers underscore the need to strengthen diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, particularly in the area of hajj operations, so as to protect Nigerian pilgrims from any form of embarrassment in future.

(NANFeatures)

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 9

Cover

Ribadu committee fallout:

More questions than answers

By Jamila Nuhu Musa, Abdulrahman Abdulraheem and Mohammad Nasir

I

n d i c a t i o n s emerged Friday that implementation of the report of the Ribadu led Special Task Force on Petroleum Revenue may be scuttled, and that the case is disconcertingly similar to other reports yet to see the light of day. It was therefore not surprising when the Presidency yesterday, in giving its position on the matter appeared to validate this point. Speaking on behalf of the Presidency, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe said the Task Force report was inconclusive and therefore untenable. He said though President Goodluck Jonathan had good intention for setting up the committee for holistic investigation into the intransigent challenges of the nation’s oil and gas industry in the past 10 years, the committee passed the job of verifications and reconciliation back to government.

Simply put, it did not meet expectations of the government which earlier vowed not to spare any one found wanting no matter how highly placed.

Okupe in expressing disappointment on the report said “one of the terms of reference

of the committee was to work with consultants and experts to determine and verify petroleum upstream and downstream revenues due and payable to the Federal Government of Nigeria” “Unfortunately and most regrettably this paramount duty of the PRSTF committee could not be accomplished as stated in paragraph four of the covering letter signed by Ribadu and Secretary of the committee”, Okupe stated.

The fact that the Chairman of the committee, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, a man of strong conviction has kept mute about the whole show speaks volumes about his own role in the matter.

In February, the public woke up to a rude shock of Ribadu’s appointment to head the PRSTF, and not a few Nigerians questioned the wisdom of accepting the appointment. The fact that the committee was set up by Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke, who is deeply enmeshed in controversies dogging the sector was enough cause to reject the offer of such appointment, in the eyes of discerning Nigerians.

Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai for instance, said in an interview with Peoples Daily Weekend that: “I don’t know why the government could not wait until

after the report before appointing these gentlemen into the structure of the NNPC. I can’t see why the hurry and I don’t see why they must be appointed into the board of NNPC at the time they were appointed to investigate the affairs of the company. They could have been appointed into other boards; why NNPC?” On his part, Jaye Gaskia, the National convener, United Action for Democracy (UAD) alleged that Alison Madueke reeks of corruption to the high heavens and may spells doom for the present administration.

He wondered why she has not been sacked

by President Jonathan up till now and queried, in an interview within Peoples Daily Weekend if the government will collapse without her.

After days of intrigues and suspense caused by the leakage of the Nuhu Ribadu -led Special Task Force on Petroleum Revenue report, to world news agencies, an authorised report was finally submitted to the President a week ago. The theatrics of some of the committee members and the near endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan however raised more questions than answers regarding the sincerity of the Federal Government When in February 2012, the Federal Government decided to set up some

committees to look into the rot in oil and gas sector as part of its promises to Organised Labour before it called off the subsidy removal-induced strike action, not a few Nigerians distrusted its motives and intentions. Aside the fact that setting up committees upon committees without doing anything tangible about the reports has been the pastime of successive governments including this one, some Nigerians felt the government had not done enough to earn their trust.

The appointment of anti-corruption czar, Nuhu Ribadu to chair the Special Task Force on Petroleum Revenue however brought some credibility into it since many Nigerians believed that the former EFCC strongman was incorruptible. Many sceptics gave the government the benefit of doubt since the mind-boggling scandals that are said to take place in the oil and gas sector was one of the excuses given for the withdrawal of fuel subsidy in January.

Others however preferred Ribadu stayed away from the committee in order to avoid being rubbished.

The committee was mandated to determine if there have been fraudulent practices in the sector in the last decade

Contd on pages 10,11&15

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Cover More questions than answers Contd from page 9 and determine the extent of the scandals and the culprits. The committee was also charged to determine if the Federal Government had in any way been short-changed by any of the companies operating the sector in terms of payment of royalties and taxes.

Things however went awry when stories filtered into newsrooms across the country that the report had been leaked.

In fact, Reuters had the report on its website with its startling revelations and recommendations.

From the beginning, it was obvious that some people were afraid of Ribadu and would do anything to thwart the smooth operation of the committee.

The fact that Ribadu himself told State House correspondents last Friday that the report he submitted to the President was the same report that was leaked fuelled the speculation that committee chairman may have leaked it himself in order to neutralise the efforts of the suspected saboteurs.

Alison- Madueke may have said that the leaked report was only a draft, it was obvious to all industry watchers that the copy she submitted to the President on Friday was a only a photocopy of the one Reuters had leaked earlier.

In the report, it was alleged that Nigeria lost tens of billions of dollar in oil and gas revenues over the last decade from cut price deals struck between multinational oil companies and government officials.

The report shows that government agencies, such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) would be forced to refund over N2 trillion to the Federation Account, if it is implemented.

The Federal Government illegally took N51 billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to finance sundry projects including buying a presidential jet and sponsorship of Nigeria’s participation in the World Cup, the Ribadu committee report also said.

A copy of the final report shows that the Federal Government has been dipping its hands into the coffers of the NNPC, thereby placing unnecessary burden on

President Goodluck Jonathan

Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

Mal. Nuhu Ribadu

Mr. Steven Oronsaye

the corporation.

Some of the monies collected from the corporation, according to the report, were N2.23 billion by the Presidency for the purchase of a presidential chopper, and N19.87 billion to finance of a project called PICOMSS Phase 1 on behalf of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security.

Also collected were N11.47 billion for the Federal Ministry of

“

Aside the fact that setting up committees upon committees without doing anything tangible about the reports has been the pastime of successive governments including this one, some Nigerians felt the government had not done enough to earn their trust.

Science and Technology for a project called “RTCom – Galaxy Backbone”, and another N4.1 billion for the same ministry for financing “Skill G-Science and technology.”

The report said the Federal Government directed NNPC to pay N866.2 million for the sponsorship of World Cup, although there was no much detail on the sponsorship.

Also on the illegal expenses list is the payment of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) bills for some government buildings.

The report said as at December 2011, government owed NNPC about N6.4billion as outstanding debt.

It said there was a N2.42 billion transaction between the Federal Government and the Royal Swaziland Sugar Company which the NNPC was asked to finance.

Also, NNPC on the directives of the Presidency gave the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) a loan

of 798.6 million which is yet to be repaid.

The Federal Government further took a N700 million loan from the NNPC for Sao Tome and Principe, as well as another N673 million for the start-up operation of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board.

NNPC also paid N563 million on government’s directive for the storage cost on illegal bunkering, with additional N521 million to settle some expenses incurred by Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The corporation paid N250 million legal expenses in a case between the Petroleum ministry and the South Atlantic, and N128 million to settle the wind energy project carried out by Lahmeye International for the Science and Technology ministry.

The President had to order the committee to submit the report on Friday unfailingly.

Everyone who predicted a normal report submission

ceremony was shocked as Steven Oronsaye and company had other plans.

The atmosphere was still very calm when Ribadu summarised the report and submitted it to Alison- Madueke who is supposed to give same to the President.

Ribadu noted that the recommendations of the committee were the truth which will require courage on the part of the President to implement.

Ribadu urged Jonathan to take action on companies who fail to pay royalties and enforce the laws on gas flaring.

He called for the reorganisation and repositioning of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to collect all taxes, levies and royalties for the government. He also lamented the prevailing rate of oil theft in the country which he said happens only in Nigeria.

Oronsaye however stood up

Contd on page 11

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 11

Cover

More questions than answers

Mohammed Adoke Contd from page 10 after Ribadu to dissociate himself from the committee report that was submitted, accusing Ribadu of refusing to follow due process in compiling the report and advising the President not to honour it.

In an intervention that stunned everyone present in the Council Chambers, Oronsaye noted that the committee had not completed its work and should have ignored the President's order of submission which was fixed for Friday.

"No matter how good the outcome of an assignment is, if the process is flawed, the whole thing has to be jettisoned.

I say this with all sense of responsibility that the process followed was flawed and the report that has just been submitted is the outcome of Mr President's directive that the report be submitted today (Friday)."

Oronsaye said he had raised a couple of issues the last time the committee met where he suggested that a draft should be submitted to a committee of the whole before any public presentation of a report.

According to him, this was not done and it makes the committee report faulty.

The former Head of Service further said that Ribadu never gave the committee adequate time to study the report, adding that he personally refused to open his e- mail when he got a notice with an attached draft report around 5pm on a Wednesday that a meeting would hold by 12 noon on Thursday.

He therefore advised the President to ignore the report and allow the members go back and do a better job.

"When I came in here today, I asked the secretary for the signature page but was told that the chairman would sign on our behalf. I have not authorised anyone to sign any report on my behalf," Oronsaye said angrily, challenging any committee

Dr. Doyin Okupe member to dispute what he said.

In what looked like a premeditated plan of action, another committee member, Bernard Otti equally stood up to corroborate Oransaye's comments.

"This is a system assignment whose report and recommendations are supposed to be strictly backed by facts if they are to be implemented.

I emphasised that we needed to be more thorough, to go through all the transactions again and the agencies in order to be able to arrive at a good finished product. Mr President, despite the circumstances that have mandated us to be here today, I am not part of what is being submitted."

The whole thing then degenerated into a drama when another committee member, Sumaila Zubairu stood up and discredited the submissions of Oronsaye and Otti, revealing that there was indeed a committee that was set up to look at the draft report again.

Zubairu said the sub committee sought contributions from other members but everyone except Otti and Oronsaye made contributions. He said the two deviants had noted during that sittings that the report was too harsh, adding that Oronsaye wanted certain amendments to be made to the report which the

committee refused.

Mr Ignatious Adekunle, another member corroborated Zubairu's comments, saying it was unfortunate that after all the hard work the committee did, some persons were trying to discredit the report. He said the reservations raised by the duo had been resolved, adding that it was unnecessary to bring them to the President.

Oronsaye however insisted that "the committee was not ready to present a proper report and should have the courage to tell the President it wasn't ready.

The President said we should submit the report today and so what?"

Ribadu responded furiously and announced that the duo of Oronsaye and Otti never participated in the committee's work. He accused them of compromising and making attempts to bully the committee into satisfying their interests.

He said it wasn't a coincidence that Otti got a job as NNPC Director of Finance while Oronsaye was made a board member of of the NNPC , both happening at the time the committee started its work.

“The wise thing according to Ribadu was for the duo to resign from the committee on account of their appointments but they stayed to sabotage the committee's work.”

“

This raises a lot questions. What is the motive of government in appointing the duo in NNPC? Why not before the committee was set up? Why not after it has completed its work? Why not make them resign their membership of the committee before the appointments?

Alh. Lai Mohammed Oronsaye, we gathered, also sits on the board of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and many other juicy government agencies.

He was a super permanent secretary and Head of Service. He has chaired several Federal Government committees and panels. He can be said to be a darling of the establishment.

According to some analysts, this fact may have also contributed to why Oronsaye could not work under Ribadu as deputy chairman because "two rams cannot drink water from the same bucket."

Asked to comment on Oronsaye after the ceremony, Ribadu said "I weep for my country."

Ribadu also said in a post on Facebook at the weekend: “I have made my choice to stand with the Nigerian people, to place national interest before any other, knowing that a good name is better than silver and gold.”

Despite the criticisms by Oronsaye, President Jonathan accepted the report and urged any member of the committee who had a contrary opinion to those expressed in the report to submit his opinion to him through his chief of staff or the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

While responding to the drama earlier, President Jonathan tried to play down the embarrassing outcome of the ceremony, saying such disagreements were normal in issues at stake.

"From what I have listened to, I will advise that any member that has any observations should write it and send to me through the chief of staff or the minister.

If there are errors of calculation from the institutions, they will be filtered out. You don't need to quarrel about it.

Government has no interest in hiding anything. It is not to investigate anybody in government. Becoming board members of NNPC does not

disqualify them to be members of the committee, sometimes you need those in establishment to explain certain things and not to influence anybody. I don't believe anybody can influence Ribadu negatively."

The fact that Mr President did not express any shock however raised the suspicion that the comedy of the absurd, which the ceremony turned out to be was the handiwork of government.

The President in endorsing the appointments of Otti and Oronsaye also sent a signal that the Federal Government cares little about issues of conflict of interest.

This raises a lot questions.

What is the motive of government in appointing the duo in NNPC? Why not before the committee was set up? Why not after it has completed its work? Why not make them resign their membership of the committee before the appointments?

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) re-echoed these sentiments as it accused the Federal Government of deliberately sabotaging the Task Force.

In a statement in Lagos on Sunday, ACN’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the decision to appoint two members of the committee, Mr. Steve Oronsaye and Mr. Bernard Otti, to positions in the NNPC while the Task Force was still working on its assignment is a deliberate booby trap.

It said if the Federal Government did not have any ulterior motive, it would have waited for the Task Force to complete its assignment before naming Mr. Oronsaye into the board of the NNPC and Otti as the Director of Finance of the same body.

“Alternatively, both men should have resigned their membership of the committee the

Contd on page 15

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 15

Cover

More questions than answers Contd from page 10 moment they were given the plum jobs to avoid the apparent conflict of interest. The fact that they stayed on, only to disparage the report of the task force so openly and ferociously at the end, is the clearest indication yet that they were meant to play that exact role of spoilers,” ACN said.

The party said the temerity with which the duo sought to denigrate the report of the Task Force in the presence of the President of the Federal Republic showed that they must have been acting a well-prepared script.

“All that these two men needed to have done, if indeed they did not agree with the report of the Task Force, was to write a minority report and present such to the President, instead of engaging in theatrics as they did at the presentation, right in front of the whole world.

“Unfortunately, the President’s efforts to downplay the whole disagreement and give the dissenters a soft landing did more to accentuate the damage done to the report by the two men. The President’s statement, that becoming board members of NNPC does not disqualify them from being members of the Task Force, is an indication of his innermost thoughts on this issue,” it said.

ACN however said it was not surprised at how things turned out with the Task Force, having previously warned, in a statement it issued on February 8th 2012, that naming credible people like Mr. Nuhu Ribadu to head the Task Force might just be part of government’s ploy to poach credible personalities from the opposition just so it can decimate it (opposition) and also tarnish the well-earned credibility of such personalities.

“Among our observations in that press statement, we had said: ‘There is also the possibility that booby-traps will be deliberately set for such credible personalities to guarantee their failure in their stated assignment, after which they will be ridiculed and dumped like an ordinary chump’.” the party said, adding: ”We hate to say our fears have been justified.”

It reiterated its earlier statement that the Federal Government is not interested in any genuine effort to clean up the corruption and mess in the oil sector, and that is merely

engaging in window dressing by setting up committees upon committees, whose outcomes will eventually add to the growing list of reports that are now gathering dust at the Presidency."

President Goodluck Jonathan did not think so as he responded through his spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, describing the ACN statement as "silly insinuations.

According to Jonathan :"The statement falls into a familiar pattern by the party and its lying Lai, to seek every opportunity to insult President Goodluck Jonathan, as they write glibly about what they call “the President’s efforts to downplay the whole disagreement and give the dissenters a soft landing”, and the President’s “innermost thoughts on this issue.”

The drama that has been generated around the Petroleum Revenue Task Force Report, one of three reports that were submitted to President Jonathan on Friday, Nov 2, says a lot about the attempt by others to politicize everything possible and seek

“

All said, when the chips are down, the majority of Nigerians will pitch their tents with Nuhu Ribadu, a man that worked hard through the years to earn a well deserved reputation for himself as a no- nonsense anti-corruption crusader. The people of Nigeria will find it difficult to pitch their tents with Oronsaye and the government who are widely believed to be on the same page.

cheap advantages where they need not do so. For the avoidance of doubt, and for the benefit of the naysayers, the committees were set up as fact-finding and advisory bodies, to generate ideas and recommendations about how best to strengthen the oil and gas sector and to further pursue the objectives of institutional integrity, transparency and accountability," The statement said: "President Jonathan remains committed to the war against corruption and every step his administration has taken has been in this direction, and that has not changed.

The Presidency deplores the attempt by the ACN to accuse it of having had a hand in the open dissension among members of the Ribadu Committee.

The disagreements during the presentation were as surprising as they were sudden. President Jonathan should be commended for his mature handling of the situation, and not made the target of silly insinuations.

The ACN claims that Steve Oronsaye and Bernard Otti’s membership of the NNPC while serving on the Ribadu committee compromises their position. It is important to note that this committee and other committees had government officials, and exstaff as members.

They were not set up as quasijudicial bodies but as committees of wise and knowledgeable men and women who would offer useful advice and in getting such useful advice there is nothing wrong in encouraging the participation of a broad category of persons including insiders and outsiders.

If Lai Mohammed had done his home work, he would have discovered that there were serving government officials on the Petroleum Industry Bill Task Force, chaired by Senator Udo Udoma, and which submitted its report in June, its technical committee was chaired by Engr Osten Olorunsola of the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

Similarly, the Refineries Task Force headed by Dr Kalu Idika Kalu had all the Managing Directors of the Refineries as members. And in fact, the membership of the Ribadu Committee included

Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu

representatives of the FIRS, Federal Ministry of Finance, Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice, DPR, NNPC, and Accountant General of the Federation."

All said, when the chips are down, the majority of Nigerians will pitch their tents with Nuhu Ribadu, a man that worked hard through the years to earn a well deserved reputation for himself as a no- nonsense anti-corruption crusader. The people of Nigeria will find it difficult to pitch their tents with Oronsaye and the government who are widely believed to be on the same page.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Cover Interview

Jonathan should publish report for Nigerians, says Tanko Yakasai Despite its controversial stance, Tanko Yakasai, an elder Statesman and First Republic politician, said in an interview with Nasiru Mu’azu Isa and Austine Aminu, that the Ribadu Petroleum Task Force committee report should be published for Nigerians to know its contents so as to follow up on its implementation.

What is your opinion on the Ribadu Petroleum Task Force committee report recently presented to President Jonathan? t is a controversy and it is unfortunate. First and foremost, the appointment of Oronsaye and other members of the committee to the structure of the NNPC is capable of making Nigerians to regard actions of the Minister of Petroleum in bad light, and whoever holds such a view can be entirely wrong because by the action of Chief Oronsaye and other members in an attempt to puncture the report and undermine its integrity, this shows as if they acted on the instructions of somebody who do not want the investigations to succeed. I don’t know why the government could not wait until after the report before appointing these gentlemen into the structure of the NNPC. I can’t see why the hurry and I don’t see why they must be appointed into the board of NNPC at the time they were appointed to investigate the affairs of the company. They could have been appointed into other boards; why NNPC? We have seen such reports being swept under the carpet in most cases do you think this one will be implemented?

Dr Jonathan is the President of Nigeria. It is incumbent on every Nigerian to give him due respect but Nigerians are entitled to be sceptical as to whether the report of the committee will be implemented or not, but the President has promised that he will implement the recommendation of the committee. The onus now is on the President; after going through the report of the committee to ensure that whatever recommendation is contained in it is religiously implemented. That is number one. Number two, in the interest of transparency, I will appeal to the President to publish in full, the report of the committee since it is now a public issue having been submitted to him, it is no longer confidential; so that Nigerians will know what the report actually contains and when it comes to the time of implementing the recommendation of the committee, Nigerians will be able to cross check whether the

I

Tanko Yakasai, recommendations were being implemented. I think the controversy that followed the presentation of the report has made it more important and mandatory on the government to ensure transparency on the way the entire report is handled. I think it is very important. That will earn the president the respect of every Nigerian and also international community that there is no hidden agenda in the appointment of chief Oronsaye and other members into the structure of the NNPC. Are you worried that before the report was presented to the president, it was leaked to some international media agencies?

Well, it is normal for particularly the international media organisations, they work hard. It has been universally acclaimed that norms of investigating journalism is being religiously adhered by journalists belonging to international organisations, then by journalists in Nigeria. I think it will be a lesson for Nigerian journalists that it took some people from outside to find out the contents of the report before Nigerian journalists were able to do that, and in fact they had to rely on foreign media organisations to get hint of what the report contained. I think it

shows that there are lots of lessons that Nigerian journalists should learn from that effort of the foreign media organisations. I commended them for that.

It was alleged in some quarters that there may have been threat Ribadu’s life and that probably led to leaking of the report I have not heard that.

On the issue of corruption, the government has reiterated its decision to fight corruption There is a commitment on the part of Nigerian government to fight corruption. Cases are taken; don’t even bother about the cases of the immediate past.

There are cases of 5-7 year old that were taken to court and today no final decision is taken.

In most cases, there is what we call lack of evidence indicating seriousness in prosecuting cases involving corruption. You remember the former Senate president Adolphus Nwabara, he was removed from his position as senate president because of the allegation that he took money from the minister of education at that time and distributed the money to some senators in order to assist the minister get his way, and Nwabara was removed, the senators and the ministers

were arrested and taken to court and till today, nothing has happened. You tend to forget that these people are being charged to court. There are other cases; there are cases of senate committee chairman and house committee chairman on either power or health, I can’t remember, who were arrested and tried before the court but till today nobody has heard anything about them. There are also cases of some former Governors who were arrested and arraigned before the court of law; about 10 of them. Yet the trial is not being pursued at all, we don’t hear anything about it.

Nobody will see such a situation and say that there is real commitment on the part of the authorities to fight corruption.

The problem is that the inaction has become a license for others to continue to commit the same thing because there is no lesson to learn from what happened to people who committed such crimes before them. There is no evidence that the office of the Attorney General and the EFCC are committed by way of diligent prosecution of all those corruption related cases. Such people manage to use the money they have stolen to hire high profile lawyers; Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and the case will keep on being adjourned, and in fact most of the adjournments are indefinite, we don’t hear of new days for the resumption of such cases. There is also a case of a former Governor who took the Attorney General to the police, EFCC, ICPC headed them to court; that he should not be arrested and the court granted the request and there was an appeal by EFCC against the ruling of that court to the court of appeal, till today nobody has heard anything and this matter has taken approximately about 5 years. I think there are so many instances that will convince virtually everybody that we are not prosecuting war against corruption proactively.

Still on fuel subsidy, the issue between the Chairman House Committee on fuel subsidy and Femi Otedola seems to have died down and what we see on TV is that they are still taking part in governance, what is the problem with our

leadership?

What happened was that only the chairman of the committee was accused of taking some money by one of the company that took money from government in respect of the fuel subsidy matter. To the best of my knowledge, the House removed the chairman of that committee. I think what you ought to direct your attention to is the Chairman of the Committee; the issue has not been taken to court till today while the allegation is hanging on his head. It’s only recently that I was reading that the House has investigated him and found him not to be guilty of the accusations. But the police, whose responsibility it is to take action in one way or the other either to dismiss the case or take prosecution, hasn’t done anything. So the problem is more on the agencies that are charged with the responsibility of tackling these national problems.

But they were arrested and let off the hook while a man who steals a cell phone is jailed for theft?

My complain is not that nobody was arrested, they were arrested , but after they are arraigned before the court, you don’t hear anything about it for 5, 7years even the cases of corruption in the issue of National Identity Card registration that involved 3 ministers and other officials, the case was allowed to die. I want justice to be done in the cases; I want Nigerians to be satisfied that what is expected to be done is being done. There are so many of such instances.

So the problem is that of the agencies who are not actually discharging their responsibilities with transparency because they are denting the image of the government of Nigeria whether the government likes it or not.

We indicate that the government is not serious about it and the blames will be on the government of the day. I hope that the government will rise up to the occasion of ensuring that actions are taken sufficiently to convince us that it is really prepared to fight corruption.

That is why some foreign countries are not happy with Nigeria; this is the reason why when Obama came to Africa, he refused to come to Nigeria. I hope we will be able to save ourselves from this embarrassing situation.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 13

Cover Interview

Presidency isn’t serious about cleaning up the sector- Activist Jaye Gaskia is a foremost social crusader and the National Convener, United Action for Democracy (UAD). In this interview with Muhammad Nasir, he averred that the Federal government is deceiving Nigerians in not giving the Ribadu-led Task Force on Petroleum Revenue free hand to do its job.

What can you say about the controversies surrounding the Ribadu committee report? think it’s very simple and is also unfortunate that the President did not see that there was a conflict of interest.

The President could paper it and say it was a disagreement between Oronsaye and Ribadu, but that is not the issue, the issue is that two people are appointed into a committee that are supposed to probe the oil and gas sector, particularly the NNPC. In the cause of their assignment, they got appointed into the board of the NNPC, senior position, the two of them. The first thing they ought to have done if they had any shame, the two of them ought to have resigned from the committee or rejected the appointments or stayed the appointment until they completed the assignment, but they resumed duty. The second thing is that on the side of the appointing authority, that’s the minister, it was the minister that appointed the committee to probe the oil and gas sector, and went ahead to give them NNPC jobs and the minister did not see the conflict interest?

And she could not say that the condition for joining the board was withdrawing from the committee, so that’s why credence was given to them on their appointment to board of the NNPC. It was a plan to play the script that unfolded on Friday, during the submission, to discredit the integrity of the committee.

It is not an isolated thing if you compare it with the House of Reps probe. They actually planned to discredit the committee by making sure they created conflict within it and saying it was inconclusive.

If not that Nigerians were consistently putting pressure on government, there was no way such reports would have been submitted in secret. Now, what they don’t want Nigerians to see is now out in the public.

Remember, the Ribadu report would not have come out if the report was not submitted a month ago, in August when it

I

Jaye Gaskia

was leaked, the minister said the government was studying it. You ask people to do a report for you and you want to make inputs before they give you the advice? Their job was to make recommendations after which you act on it.

I have three questions to ask here. Why is it that this level of corruption is going on in the oil and gas sector and the minister, Diezani Madueke has not been sacked, the board of NNPC has not been charged to court? The only thing we can say here is that the government is entangled in this corruption.

Let me give you an example, just yesterday President of Russia, Vladimir Putin dismissed one of the most powerful ministers in his cabinet because there was a scandal in a Defence contract which amount was about

$100, 000,000.

In the Ribadu committee, we are talking about billions of dollars, the minister is still talking, the President is still defending the minister, something must be really wrong, that is the issue. For one hundred million dollars a minister is dismissed, for hundreds of billions of dollars, a minister is still on seat. She’s virtually the Prime Minister because the President and the petroleum minister are the two powerful people in Nigeria, because of the power they have in the oil industry and to grant licence in the industry.

The political elites do not think that something is wrong because they benefit from the rot.

As a leading member of the civil society, what do you advise government to

do with the report?

Professor Wole Soyinka once said in the days of Abacha that: “Speaking to Abacha is like speaking to the deaf.”

I think that this regime is incapable of listening because it is deeply enmeshed in corruption. I am sure if the minister of petroleum is sacked and arrested today, the government will fall. I have no doubt that it will lead to the collapse of the government because by the time a proper investigation is done, all the people involved will be the very leaders Nigerians look up to.

That notwithstanding, I advise the government to redeem itself by implementing this report to the letter. The Ribadu committee report is broad.

There is need for

recommendation to help fix the problem. Not only that we have found out from the reports, that the same way that there are shady deals in the importation of refine products and also in the importation of crude oil because there are companies that are exporting crude to us.

In short 100 percent of our crude oil are exported by the private sector, Nigeria is the only country in the world that 100% export is by the private sector.However,50 to 60 percent is done by the state, that’s why all of them in Indonesia and Brazil have shipping arms, to ship their products.

On gas flaring, the amount paid on subsidy, the documentation with this amount is different from other agencies; the CBN figures is different from the DPR figures in terms of what the amount should be, what should be owned is different. The minister issued an executive order in August, 2011 to increase the fine from N10 cubic of gas to $3.5 cubic volume; we are now talking about N600 or so. Since August when the circular came out, the charge was N45, between that time and now, look at the amount that has been lost, we depend on the oil companies to tell us the volume of gas they are flaring. And if you are going to penalize them on this, it is in their interest they declare the volume they want. Those are some of the things the committee has unraveled.

It is in the interest of everybody for the report to be implemented because one of the biggest challenges that government have had in this regime, is the inability to deliver what ought to be delivered in a democracy. It is the deficit we are seeing in education, deficit in finance and deficit in health care, all of these require resources, now over ten years, we lost $1000 billion, what is the size of our annual budget, 4 trillion. We are talking about four annual budgets, money that would have been enough for four annual budgets has been lost to corruption in ten years.

There is no reason why we should be having deficit budget, all of these monies were available to the federation account, no reason why the executive should go to the National Assembly and be asking for loan.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Feature Kwara: Reviving Kaima through education support programme From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

F

o r some decades now, the people of Nassara-Gatte in Kaima local government area of Kwara State, from Zulu tribe, who migrated from Kebbi state has been suffering due to lack of basic amenities. They have been deceived severally by politicians that they would be provided with portable water, road, schools, hospital and other amenities but they never see these come to fruition.

But the coming of Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN) led by Mrs. Emma Mba to Kwara State, Nigeria rekindled the hopes of the people that the change they have been agitating for has come.

Before then, after a fruitless long wait for state intervention the community had constructed a mud building as classroom for the pupils and teachers who were to utilize it for academic activities. But many teachers posted by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to the community always sought for transfer thereby leaving the area deserted.

Investigations by Peoples Daily Weekend showed that the community which is under Gwaria district is also divided into two namely; Nassarawa-Gatte A and B. They were also in dispute over supremacy of land that is ownership, who should settle first and where the primary school must be sited.

When ESSPIN through SUBEB and Kaima LG investigated happenings at the community it was gathered that the leaders of the community eschewed their grievances for the course of progress and development. A large area of land between them was cleared for ESSPIN to construct its proposed teachers' quarter, classrooms, toilets and water system but the road was not included.

Our correspondent who was part of the team which commissioned the projects observed that the rural teacher housing which cost N2.9million was built for four teachers and finished within 12 weeks. It was a 2-bedroom flat with concrete block, steel doors and windows, electrical wiring, standard modern plumbing, located within the school premises with a life span of 30 to 40 years. Apart from this, the two classrooms, an office and a store, constructed within 8 weeks by ESSPIN had cost N5.8 million with direct labour from the host community. It has steel roof trusses, elevated PVC interior roof that prevents termite infection, steel doors and windows among other facilities.

The toilet cost about N3million with modern system installed.

Speaking with our correspondent at the Community, the Sheikh of Nassarawa-Gatte A, Alhaji Adamu Noma said the community had used the mud building as classroom before the intervention of ESSPIN. He lamented that they were in dispute over the land but the intercession of Mrs. Mba's programme brought an

end to it.

Similarly, the leader of NassaraGatte B, Isiah Sule confirmed that they had a disagreement over the land but they had resolved it because of the development the school would bring to the community. He also expressed his grief over the bad condition of the road and lack of accommodation for teachers, stating that majority of those posted to the community always absconded.

The Emir of Gwaria district, Alhaji Adamu Bawa who supervised the community, in an interview with Peoples Daily Weekend expressed his happiness that the promises made by leaders have come to reality. He said if ten of such buildings were constructed within the area, the community would be happier stressing that the government and NGOs in Nigeria needed to beam their search light to rural areas if poverty would be eradicated in the country.

As if the contribution of ESSPIN in the community has geared up state government, the SUBEB in collaboration with UBEB has started its own construction of two classrooms which would cost about N1 million with direct labour by the community.

Speaking during the commissioning of the projects, Mrs. Emma Mba said the projects came to reality as a result of the acceptance of the people in the community. She said "the last time I came here nothing was here this place was bushy, it was just cleared by the community and they just said oh yes, this is our school.

But there was nothing here. " They were still using mud houses in the old site and another one up there.

I am very happy to come here today and see not only the ESSPIN projects but SUBEB project that had started. It is my pride that I can come back here to commission this project because the last time I came here, I told you that we were going to give you classrooms, blocks a house and water.

"I can stand before you today and say the things we said will happen have happened. I am happy about it".

Mba, a Briton who is married to a man from Delta disclosed that the British government has set aside counterpart fund to ensure that children who dropped out of school were brought back, stressing that ESSPIN decided to come to Kaima LGA in order to build classrooms and teachers' quarter so as to bring the girl child and other children back to school.

She disclosed that she was happy that the rate of girl child enrolment in Kaima has increased from 5,000 in year 2010 to 6000 in year 2011 and about 7000 in 2012.

In his reaction, the Head master of Nassarawa-Gatte LGEA primary school, Mr. Idrishu Garuba said before the construction of the classroom blocks and teachers' quarters students' enrolment stood at 74 but had increased to 186. He added that the number of teachers has also increased from two to seven adding that the gesture of ESSPIN to the community will go a long way in

Old school building used by Nassara-Gatte Community at Kaima LGEA,Kwara State.

New classroom constructed by ESSPIN at Nassara-Gatte Community. changing the situation of the people positively.

Having observed the plight of Kiama people, a Social Mobilization Official of Kiama LGA, Mallam Musa Sulyman confirmed that a lot of farm produce from the farmers of the area were sold in Lagos, Oyo, Niger, Abuja and part of eastern states. He noted that the main reason for this is; the only road that linked the area with major towns in Kwara state is very bad but it is always easy for them to get to the neighboring states within the shortest time with less stress.

While speaking on the community's efforts on the road, he disclosed that leaders of the area had met Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on the issue and had been assured that the road was captured in the 2012\2013 budget.

Besides, Sulyman noted that if ESSPIN had not done the projects, it would have taken long before SUBEB or the state government equipped NassarawaGatte with these facilities.

Commending ESSPIN on its effort, Hajia Raodat Omowumi Yusuf, a

Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of SUBEB and the Chairman committee on Infrastructure disclosed that ESSPIN projects are going in 41 locations within the state stressing that SUBEB would follow the trend of their foreign partner.

The Secretary of Kiam local government, Alhaji Muhammed Ibn Ahmed in his own speech had accused SUBEB of transferring teachers posted to the area to urban schools, noting that their action had led to closure of four schools in Kiama LGA.The council scribe said that the council has added N10, 000 to the N15, 000 monthly salary of 25 teachers newly recruited

by ESSPIN highlighting that they would continue to support any programme that would improve the welfare of their people.

But the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Barrister Lanre Daibu who was represented by Permanent Member 3, Alhaji Sulyman Dadi disagreed with Council Scribe accentuating that they had stopped any transfer of teachers from Kaima.

The Executive Chairman who ordered Kiama Education Secretary to recall those teachers immediately said whoever among them refuses to comply, "we know how to deal with that administratively".

Describing the project as a tool that would contribute to the betterment of people of the area, Daibu believed that the collaboration of SUBEB with ESSPIN would benefit the people of the state a lot.

However, without the initiative of ESSPIN, the people of the Nassarawa-Gatte community would still be using old mud building for learning which could collapse at any time. Above all, they are likely to be deceived by politicians who has been plying the road during campaign every election without doing any concrete efforts.

With Standard classroom blocks, toilet facilities, water and teachers' quarter, the people of NassarawaGatte will have two rivers to contend with which cut them off from Kaima town while their teachers would have to battle with erosion frequently.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Tourism Oyo Ile: The ancient National Park O

l d Oyo National Park is one of the National parks of Nigeria, located across northern Oyo State and southern Kwara State, Nigeria.

It is rich in plant and animal resources including buffaloes, bushbuck and wide variety of birds. The park is easily accessible from southwestern and northwestern Nigeria. The nearest cities and towns adjoining Old Oyo National Park include Saki, Iseyin, Igboho, Sepeteri, Tede and Igbeti which have their own commercial and cultural attractions for tourism.

History The Park takes its name from Oyo-lle (Old Oyo), the ancient political capital of Oyo Empire of the Yoruba people, and contains the ruins of this city. Oyo Ile was destroyed in the late 18th century by Ilorin and Hausa/Fulani warriors at the culmination of the rebellion of Afonja, commander of Oyo Empire's provincial army for which he allied himself with Hausa/

Fulani muslim jihadists.

The National Park originated in two earlier Native Administrative forest Reserves, Upper Ogun established in 1936 and Oyo-lle established in 1941.

These were converted to Game Reserves in 1952, then combined and upgraded to the present status of a National Park.

Environment The park covers 2,512 km2, mostly of lowland plains at a height of 330m and 508m above sea level. The southern part is drained by the Owu, Owe and Ogun Rivers, while the northern sector is drained by the Tessi River. Outcrops of granite are typical of the North Eastern Zone of the Park, including at Oyo-lle, with caves and rock shelters in the extreme north. The central part of the Park has scattered hills, ridges and many rock outcrops that are suitable for mountaineering. The Ikere Gorge Dam on the Ogun river provides water recreation facilities for tourists.

Buffaloes

Bushbuck

When the water dries up, it leaves little plants on the rocks which dry up in the sun and create intricate white patterns on the rocks which looks beautiful.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Weekend

PAGE 17

Cocktail CUISINE

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Bringing out the best in tomato rice

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Eddie Murphy's New Flame: Model Paige MODEL OF THE WEEK Anansi and the Alligator

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FASHION Highlighting your contours with high-waist skirts >> Page 32

Abdulhafiz Usman Dorayi

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 18

Relationship If you have any relationship story you want to share with our esteem readers, please send to the above address. Let's share your love story.

How to impress a woman within five minutes

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

My husband has ruined my life

I

went through my husband's phone yesterday because of my recent suspicions that he's cheating on me but what I saw on the phone was far worse than what I expected to find. It has practically ruined my life. My husband told his cousin via bb chat that he had fallen out of love with me a long time ago, that the only reason he's still in the marriage was because of our three kids. We've been married for eight years and I've done everything I know how to be a good wife and this is what I get? It would have been less painful if he was cheating on me. I don't know what to do. I even called in sick to work this morning because I've not been able to stop crying. Should I confront him? Should I release him by giving him a divorce? I love this man to death and I can't believe he stopped loving me along the way. What did I do? He always said I was a good wife, when did I stop being that? He has been so distant lately that I thought he was seeing another woman. My husband has ruined my life.

—Anonymous

I

f you enter into a conversation with any human being with an intention to control how they think and feel, not only do you get yourself into space where you are not being yourself, but there is also a likelihood of them thinking and feeling the opposite of what you intended.

This is especially true when talking to a woman.

Human connection is pretty complex, and you can get yourself in a place of conscious overload trying to control it.

Let's talk about connecting with a woman, and how by trying to impress her in five minutes you may actually end up turning her off in thirty seconds!

When you try to impress a woman, what normally happens is that you use any and every opportunity in the conversation

“

You do not have to do anything out of the ordinary or different if it's an attractive woman, in fact the only thing you can add to your conversation is a bit of flirtation.

to show how great/funny/smart/ successful/etc you are. The problem is that the conversation ends up being led by you and literally all about YOU. You probably don't even realize that you are doing it.

Or maybe you let her talk instead, and you ask her a number of questions, whose answers you are not really all that interested in knowing. My question is, why are you asking those questions? It's so obvious from your responses that you are not engaged in the conversation, and unfortunately she will know it too.

If you want to leave a great impression simply stop trying to impress a woman to get her interested in you. Don't try to manipulate the interaction with your own wants and needs.

Human connection is actually pretty straight-forward. It only messes up when we try and control it, or we are not being clear about our intention.

You showing your interest in this way does not tell a woman you like her; it tells a woman you really think a lot about yourself instead. I know this is not what you want her to think!

The irony is that instead of working so very hard on trying to get her to be interested, the one thing that is really going to get her attention is you simply showing your interest IN her.

I have never ever met a man that I liked the look of and thought, "I want him to impress me."

No, the one question that normally used to pop up in my head was, "I wonder if this guy likes me?"

Simply be interested in her

and let this show in your conversation.

When you meet someone new whether it's a man or a woman, if you want to get to know them better in either a social or business context, you normally ask them questions about themselves.

Normally the questions you ask, the way you listen intently and respond to what they have just said, is a pretty good indicator that you find them interesting.

You can pretty much guarantee when someone is interested in you and genuinely wants to discover more about you, not only do you feel great but you also become more curious about them too.

You do not have to do anything out of the ordinary or different if it's an attractive woman, in fact the only thing you can add to your conversation is a bit of flirtation.

So to conclude, don't try and impress, just be genuinely interested in her instead! This is an incredibly important distinction and I have simplified here for this post. However don't under estimate its power.

By switching your focus in your conversation from you to her will shift your conversation into something magical.

In fact if you consciously do this in all your conversations and take an interest in other people, you will find your connections with anyone and everyone change.

We go into much more depth into this distinction at our live three day training and also how to be calm, confident and feeling good in your all interactions with women. www.naij.com

Confused: I am in love with my boyfriend but am having crush on another

I

'm having a crush on one of my office guys while I'm currently in a relationship with another.I have a feeling though, that the guy with whom I'm in a relationship with is not serious with me. I don't know what am I supposed to do. I am really falling inlove with this guyat the office. How can Iexplain the situation to my present boyfriend?

—Faith

How can I apologize to him?

I

had a fight with my boyfriend just because he refused to come with me to my aunt's house. We ended up having a big fight and we have been separated since then. We have been in relationship for three months but I have always hurt his feelings by complaining that he doesn't love me, this time around, he took it badly. How can I apologise and make him trust me again? I have made up my mind not to ever hurt him again.What can I do to make him forget everything —Grace

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 19

Beauty Tips Ways to apply eye shadow, eye liner, and mascara perfectly S

t a r t by washing your face according to your normal routine including any creams or lotions that you normally use. To make your eyes look their best, start applying an eye cream that contains sunscreen in the morning and a night repair cream before you go to bed at night.

If you use a makeup primer, only apply it to your eyelids if (1) it is gentle enough not to bother your eyes; and (2) you have difficulty getting eye makeup to stay put without it. For most of us, a separate eye primer is unnecessary.

Start with eyeshadow. For a casual look, pick two

complimentary colors. Start with the darker one and brush it lightly onto your lids along the lash line.

Sweep the lighter color all over your eyelid.

For a more dramatic look, use an eye shadow quad. Use a medium tone along your eyelashes. Sweep a lighter one over your eyelid. Sweep the lightest one just above your eyelid up to just below your eyebrow. Sweep the tiniest bit of the darkest color in the outermost creases of your lids. Then, blend, blend, blend.

Eye liner comes next. Draw a light line just above your upper eyelashes and just below your lower

ones. Have them meet with a slight flourish at the outer crease. Older women may not want to line their lower lid to avoid dragging down their eyes. For a more casual look, only line the top and bottom of the outermost corners.

Finally, mascara. Start by using the eyelash curler. Hold the curler clamped down in place for 15-20 seconds. Apply mascara to lower lashes first. That way, you don't get smudges of your wet upper lashes as you look up trying to do your lower ones. Do two coats on the lower lashed followed by two coats on the upper ones. Let dry, and you're good to go!

How to grow eyebrow hair naturally

E

yebrows are one facial feature that many people overlook. Having thicker eyebrows can make a woman more beautiful or give more character to a man. Eyebrows draw attention to the eyes, which are some people's best feature. You can grow thicker eyebrows easily and quickly, and help accentuate your features.

Over plucked and waxed eyebrows are unsightly and are out of style. Full eyebrows are in style now. There is a way to help grow eyebrows back out naturally and faster. Stimulating the skin and area where the eyebrows grow through massage will help with this process. Full eyebrow appearance

can be achieved using an eyebrow liner to help make eyebrows look fuller and in shape while they are growing back.

Massage olive oil into your eyebrows every day.

Swipe an over-the-counter eyebrow conditioner on your eyebrows one or two times per day.

Pour a small bit of whole milk into a cup. Dip a small makeup sponge into the milk and squeeze it onto your eyebrows.

Take a multivitamin daily.

Massage castor oil into your eyebrows one or two times a day.

Massage castor oil into your eyebrows one or two times a day.

Dip your fingertip in castor oil and

massage each eyebrow 10 minutes. This will help stimulate new hair growth without causing zits and oil buildup around the eyebrow area.

Stop plucking and waxing the eyebrows to keep them in shape, this slows the growth of the eyebrows.

Place the eyebrow stencil over the area where the eyebrows are supposed to be, and color in the stencil with an eyebrow pencil that matches your hair color. This will help give eyebrows shape until they grow in If you don't have castor oil on hand, jojoba, olive, almond, or vitamin E oil can be used to help stimulate eyebrow growth, but these oils may make your skin oily and cause breakouts.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Learning Book Review

With Augustine Aminu 07038749120 julius2001_a@yahoo.com

Chike and the river "The more Chike saw the ferryboats the more he wanted to make the trip to Asaba. But where would he get the money? He did not know. Still, he hoped. "One day is one day," he said, meaning that one day he would make the journey, come what may."

C

h i k e is Chinua Achebe's young hero in this gentle, touching story of an elevenyear-old Nigerian boy who has to leave his village in order to continue his schooling in the big city on the shores of the mighty Niger River. It is a charming tale about finding your way in a totally new environment and learning some important life lessons about loyalty, honesty, courage and the strength and limits of dreams.

Originally published in 1966 this slim volume has been reissued in a very attractive presentation, fitting beautifully into the publisher's Achebe publication series, standing out in their stark traditional colours of ochre red, ivorypale yellow and black, with simple, wood cuts-style images throughout the text.

Best known for his first novel, Things Fall Apart, published in 1958, Chinua Achebe is revered as the father of the African novel and and THE standard for African fiction writing.

In a few simple sentences, Achebe captures both Chike's happy childhood in the village of Umuofia and his mother's struggle to make ends meet and to keep him and his two sisters in school. When Chike is told one day that he will be living with his uncle in the big city of Onitsha to continue his schooling, he is excited. Yet, his first impressions of life in Onitsha are filled with confusion: "He could not say who was a thief or kidnapper and who was not. In Umuofia every thief was known, but here even people who lived under the same roof were strangers to each other‌" His uncle is very strict with him and Chike finds easier companionship with his uncle's servant, Michael and his new school friends.

With ease Achebe describes this new world from the boy's perspective.

His friend Samuel tells him how "easy" it is to cross the River Niger by ferry, it only costs one shilling for the return trip. From that moment on, Chike dreams of taking the ferry to the other side of the wide delta and to the much more exciting city of Asaba. But Chike has no money, his uncle having refused to give

him any. We can follow the ups and downs of Chike's search for that one shilling he needs - from finding a sixpence piece, to losing half of it to finding out the hard way that magicians who claim to double your money are not to be trusted. While very specific in its setting, Achebe's story is universal in its messages.

A great story teller, who is deeply attached to his people's traditions and values, Chinua Achebe is also a committed educator. In this relatively uncomplicated story he conveys, nonetheless, atmosphere and day-to-day reality of both, rural and urban, African life, illustrated by his comparisons of Umuofia and Onitsha. While written more than forty years ago, much of the underlying issues and realities are still relevant today in African countries and elsewhere. Children are still sent off to relatives who can better afford to look after them and their education.

Children still feel lonely and lost in new environments and align themselves to real or false friends. They still yearn as much to travel to places they have dreamed of or can even see in the distance, on the other side of a river‌ and get themselves into potential trouble for taking such an

initiative into their own inexperienced hands. Achebe writes in a gentle, warm and caring way about Chike and his environment, about the severe uncle who could have been a bit more understanding and generous.

He brings out the possible temptations and the pitfalls that a young boy can fall into - before he learns his lessons and, of course he does succeed in the end.

Is this a book for children?

Yes and no. While usually categorized as a children's story, I wonder how much young readers in our society would appreciate this for what it is: as much a social portrait and introduction into another society and culture as it is a growing up story with lessons that are important as they are timeless. I prefer to describe Chike and the River as a story for "children of all ages"; those who have remained young at heart will enjoy this tale. And as many of us readers have young people in their closer or wider family, we might also like to share it with children around us. There is much to talk about in this book that both informs about life in an African country and, as well, much that transcends our respective cultures.

Physical side effects of Texting

T

exting sending text messages using your mobile phone - is a popular way that young adults and teens prefer to communicate. But it comes at a price.

A new study has discovered that the more someone texts, the more pain they had in their neck and shoulders.

"What we've seen so far is very similar to what we see with office workers who've spent most of their time at a computer," said Judith Gold, an assistant professor of Epidemiology at the College of Health Professions and Social Work.

"The way the body is positioned for texting - stationary shoulders and back with rapidly moving fingers - is similar to the position for typing on a computer."

Text messaging is a fairly new technology, Gold says, so this is a new area of research among ergonomists. "But given the similarities in body position, findings from research on overuse injuries from computers could be applicable here," she said.

Ergonomics researchers are starting to wonder whether it's putting the younger generation at risk for some overuse injuries.

These are injuries that were once reserved for older adults who have spent years in front of a computer.

Current studies on computer use show office workers are prone to carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, and tendonitis.

In Gold's lab, she and her team use tools like infrared cameras, motion analysis and heart rate monitors to study the body's position in several job-related simulations.

But given the prevalence of text messaging among young adults, Gold wants to delve further into the physiological effects of this latest form of communication.

"Looking around our campus, you see every student on their cell phones, typing away," she said. "It's the age group that texts the most, so it's important to know what the health effects may be to learn whether it will cause long term damage."

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Healthy Living

Why your BlackBerry could harm your health... especially if you have sensitive skin

T

h e y are the two major players in the smartphone market, with millions of users.

But, when it comes to your health, the iPhone emerges as the clear winner over a BlackBerry.

Scientists tested several popular smartphones for two of the most common allergens cobalt and nickel - and found neither metal was present in iPhones.

But a third of BlackBerrys tested contained nickel, which can bring those with sensitive skin out in a rash.

A nickel allergy is the most common contact allergy in Britain, thought to affect 30 per cent of the population and rising.

The scientists tested the phones' buttons, keypad, speakers, camera and metal panels.

Dr Tania Mucci, who presented the study at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, said: 'Both metals can cause an allergic reaction including dry, itchy patches along the cheekbones, jawline and ears.'

Nickel is a silvery-white metal used in alloys because of its resistance to corrosion.

It is found in objects including door handles, scissors,

jewellery - and even occurs naturally in some foods, such as nuts and kidney beans.

'Patients with nickel and cobalt allergies should consider using iPhones to reduce the chance of having an allergic reaction,' said allergist Dr Luz Fonacier.

'BlackBerry users with known allergies should avoid prolonged conversations, text messaging and handling their phones if they begin noticing symptoms.'

Women have a higher risk of developing mobile phone dermatitis as they are more likely to have become sensitive to the metal following a reaction

to nickel-coated jewellery.

The British Association of Dermatologists advises anyone who develops a rash on their face which might be due to prolonged mobile phone use to seek advice from their doctor.

A spokesman said: 'In mobile phone dermatitis, the rash would typically occur on the cheek or ear.'

A Blackberry spokesperson said: 'Allergic reactions to nickel occur if it is found on the outside of a phone.

'We test our phones against EU test protocol EN 1811 and have found no nickel exposure on the exterior surface of newly purchased BlackBerry smartphones.'

Blackberrys contain nickel which is thought to affect 30% of the population

Apple's iconic iPhone contains none of the chemicals associated with common allergies

Taking aspirin every other day 'cuts cancer risk by more than 40%'

Even taking an aspirin every other day reduces the risk of bowel and stomach cancers

T

a k i n g aspirin every other day cuts the risk of certain cancers by more than 40 per cent, according a study.

Harvard researchers have found that even a very low dose of the painkiller drastically reduces the odds of bowel and

stomach cancers.

Women who took one 100mg tablet every other day were 43 per cent less likely to get bowel cancer and 36 per cent less at risk of stomach cancer, after a period of 20 years.

Recently a number of studies have shown that a daily dose of aspirin drastically cuts the risk of developing cancer, and of tumours spreading once diagnosed.

But until now it was not known whether the pills had similar, preventative effects when taken less frequently.

Although aspirin has been dubbed the wonder drug as it protects against heart attacks, strokes and cancer, it also causes stomach bleeds and ulcers in some patients.

Taking a low dose of the drug every other day however would mean such patients would be less likely to succumb to these side effects.

Researchers from Harvard University and Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston, the US, looked at the records of 39,876 women over 45.

Half were told to take one 100mg aspirin tablet every other day for ten years while the remainder were given a placebo - a dummy drug.

At the end of the study the researchers compared how many women from each group had developed cancer and found no difference.

But when they looked at them again eight years later - 18 years after the study had started - they found the odds of

developing bowel or stomach cancer amongst those on aspirin were significantly lower.

They think it may take several years for aspirin's beneficial effects to 'kick-in.'

Although experts are unsure exactly how it protects against cancer, they think it may stop certain harmful chemicals or enzymes in the body from working.

In particular they think it blocks the Cox-2 enzyme - which exists on all our cells and is known to trigger cancer.

But in spite of her findings, lead researcher Professor Nancy Cook said patients should not start taking aspirin every day or every other day.

Addressing the National Cancer Research Institute conference in Liverpool, she said: 'There are side effects. They are rarely fatal but they do cause the need for hospitalisation.

'The side effects do depend on the dose which is one reason we were testing taking 100mg every other day.'

She said her future research would try and identify which patients were most at risk of bowel and stomach cancer who would be most likely to benefit.

Around 40,000 Britons develop bowel cancer every year and another 6,000 contract stomach cancer.

Although this research only involved women, Professor Cook said similar effects would be seen in men who took aspirin every other day.

The study only found that aspirin only protected against bowel and stomach

cancer, it did not reduce the risk of breast and lung cancer.

But last year Oxford researchers found that taking the pill every day cut the risk of dying of any type of cancer by 37 per cent.

The experts found that not only did the drug prevent cancer, it also reduced the chance of it spreading to other organs once patients were diagnosed.

Jessica Harris, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: 'Research has shown that taking regular low doses of aspirin can reduce the risk of developing and dying from cancer although the effect takes about 5-10 years to show.

'But aspirin has a range of serious sideeffects, including internal bleeding, so other than for those at very high risk, it's not clear whether the benefits would outweigh the harms, or what the best dose might be.'

Taking aspirin cuts the risk of certain cancers by more than 40 per cent

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

With Aunty A'isha

Sights and sounds Mansa Musa the Muslim King of Mali (II)

PAGE 23

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

SHOR T ST OR Y SHORT STOR ORY

O

A lesson from nature

ne day, a boy was playing in a garden. He was running after butterflies and trying to catch them. He was very happy to see the colourful flowers.

Then he saw a frog skipping and jumping. As he ran behind the frog, it jumped into the pond.

A cow was also grazing in the garden. He saw how the cow was chewing grass. A fly then came there and buzzed over the cow. The cow swung her tail to make the fly move away. The child clapped and laughed.

The boy was enjoying the beauty of nature. He said, “Nature is wonderful. Its beauty attracts everyone.”

When he saw a squirrel he ran after it and reached near the bed of roses. He tried to pluck some of the roses, but a thorn pierced his finger. It was very painful. The boy started crying and ran to his house.

His mother asked him, “What is the matter? Why are you crying?” The boy said, “The thorn

of the rose pierced my finger while I was plucking it and now I feel serious pain.”

His mother said, “It is your mistake. You should not have tried to pluck the flower.

The flowers are meant to be seen and not to be plucked. Besides, natural beauty should never be harmed. One should not interfere with the natural processes.

Instead, we should help to maintain the nature.”

HIS AND HERS CORNER

T

he people had every reason to be happy. They were very bright and creative people. They worked hard. They played hard. They were not poor. The common people were given some luxury goods. Goods were given to the elders and distributed as they saw fit. Mansa Musa was a great believer in spreading wealth around.

Since things were going so well at home, Mansa Musa decided now was the time to see the holy city of Mecca. Muslim law requires that all the faithful visit Mecca at least once.

With a huge number of guards and attendants, along with camels carrying comforts, luxury, and bagsful of gold nuggets, Mansa Musa set out across the desert towards Mecca. Along the way, everywhere he went, he freely gave away gold. You can imagine the excitement he generated as he traveled from one oasis to the next.

His caravan stopped in Cairo, in Egypt. Word of his unbelievable wealth spread quickly through the city. Mansa Musa was amazed at how expensive things were. They were expensive because merchants quickly increased their normal prices. Mansa Musa did not care. Even though he had given away so much gold on the trip to Cairo, he had bagsful left to spend. And spend he did. Mansa Musa left so much gold behind him in Cairo that it was rumored it took 12 years for prices in Egypt to get back to normal He distributed so much gold on his way to Mecca that he had to borrow money for his return trip home. Everyone with money was eager to be of service to such a wealthy man. True to his nature, Mansa Musa repaid the loans most generously.

His journey took about a year. He traveled around 3000 miles by camel. No one attempted to take over his kingdom while he was gone. Mansa Musa was a very smart man. To reduce the likelihood of a takeover, he had brought with him on his trip most of the powerful people in his kingdom. He left the army in charge. They did a great job.

His people were impressed. They thought it amazing that he was willing to make such a long trip, with so many dangers, just to see a faraway holy place. His trip had other results.

Scholars poured into Timbuktu, making it the most prestigious university in the land. Trade became even more brisk.

Mansa Musa literally put Mali on the European maps and Moslem maps!

END

The son said, “I will always follow what you have just told me, mama.”

The Mother said, “Let me know what you have learnt today.” Her son explained, “We should protect all living beings, whether animals or plants. We should never harm them.

Unnecessary interference with nature is harmful. It may harm the human beings in the long run.”

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 22

With Aunty A'isha

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

AFRICAN TALES

MODEL OF THE WEEK

City rat and village rat

O

nce there were two rats who were good friends. One of them lived in a city and the other lived in a village. Both of them exchanged news of their wellbeing through other rats who travelled between the two places.

Once, the city rat wished to meet his village friend. He sent the message through some rats of the village. The village friend was very excited about his friend’s visit. He made preparations to welcome him. To receive his friend, he went to the border of the village wearing a traditional dress and cap, with a garland in his hand. However, his city friend was wearing a suit, boots and a neck tie. They hugged each other and exchanged greetings.

The village rat welcomed him and said, “We have fresh and unpolluted air here. The atmosphere in the city is impure.”

They gossiped a lot and exchanged their views on different topics. Then, they sat down to eat.

The village rat served him fruits and boiled wheat grains.

After having food, they went for a stroll outside the village. The fields looked green and the natural beauty of the jungle had its own

attraction. The village rat said, “Does the city have such beautiful scenes?” The city rat said nothing but invited the village rat to come to the city at least once to see the comfortable life of the city.

The village rat said he would certainly come to the city one day.

The city rat said, “Why don’t you accompany me now?” The village rat replied, “All right, I will consider your proposal.”

When the night fell, they came back and slept on the soft grass.

Next day, for breakfast, the village rat served his friend fresh fruits and cereals. The city rat was irritated and said to the village rat, “Let us go to the city right now.

Give me a chance to serve you.”

The village rat accepted the proposal and got ready for the journey to the city. The city rat lived in a big house. At night the village rat was surprised to see, the dining table full of different types of dishes. The village rat has not seen such a variety of food before.

The city rat asked the village rat to enjoy the meal. Then he started eating. The village rat had a liking for the sharwama and finished the piece quickly.

At this moment, they heard

the voice of a cat. The city rat said, “Quickly hide yourself below the chair, otherwise the cat will eat us.” Both rushed to the chair and hid themselves under it. After some time, when the cat went away, both came out. The village rat was still trembling. The city rat again started eating the dishes and advised his friend too, “Do not be afraid. It is part of the city life.”

The village rat gathered courage and went to the dining table again. This time he quickly finished the cake of his choice. At this juncture, a boy came there with a dog. The village rat, afraid of the dog asked his friend, “Who is this fellow?” The city rat said, “He is Jimmi, the son of the master of this house and the dog is his pet.

Be quick and hide yourself there.”

After their departure, both the rats came out.

The village rat was very afraid. He said, “Friend, I think I should go back now. I am thankful to you for the tasty dishes, but there are too many dangers.

Thanks again.” And he started for the village. On reaching, he heaved a sigh of relief and said, “Oh! Life is precious and above all wisdom.”

CREA TIVITY CREATIVITY

How to make a log cabin the tips off of some of the sticks to What you need: ·Small empty milk carton ·sticks ·Chocolate frosting or peanut butter ·tubular shaped candy ·1 square cracker ·Scissors ·Hot glue or tape What to do: 1.Cut the top flap of the milk carton off and tape or hot glue it closed to form the roof.

2.Spread chocolate frosting or peanut butter on one side of milk carton then cover with sticks.

Repeat this step all over the milk

carton until log cabin is complete. You may need to break

make then fit up the sides.

3. Break a square cracker in half, and then break one of the halves in half. Spread some frosting or peanut butter on the back of the first half. “Glue” it to the front of the cabin as the door.

Repeat this step with a smaller broken piece for the window.

4.Spread some frosting or peanut butter to the bottom of candy and stick to the roof.

Tip: You can make this a larger project using any box and large stick logs.

Abdulhafiz Usman Dorayi

ACTIVITIES Name and paint the image below with any colour of your choice, where does it live, inside water or on land? Confirm answer from your teacher.

PAGE 24

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Kannywood My relatives said they would disown me says Ruqqaiyatu Ruqqaiyatu Bala is a well known face in the Kannywood industry.

The young lady has acted in movies such as “Aikatau”, “Baushe” and “Ganin Hadari”. She shares her views in this interview with Nasiru Mu’azu Isa, about how she got into the industry and the challenges facing actresses.

How long have you been acting? have been acting since 2006.

I developed interest in it as a child. While other children were thinking of becoming medical doctors, politicians etc, I was thinking of becoming an actress when I grew up. At an early age I told my father that I would study Drama so I could become an actress but he said he wanted me to be a medical doctor.

What was his reaction when you opted to act?

It was only my mother that supported me because when I started acting my father didn’t know. He just saw me on TV even though people told him earlier they saw me on Television, he only heard about it until the day he saw me with his own eyes. It was my step mum who actually showed him one of my films in which I acted and he was very upset that I did not mention it to him that I had started acting in films. I remembered that when he confronted my mum she said she knew nothing about it then one day he received calls from some of our relatives asking if he knew what I was doing. They informed him that I had started acting in movies and if he did not put an end to it I might end up as some wayward girls.

He was saying this because some members of the public see actresses as women of easy virtues I tried to make my father understand why I was interested in acting but I could not convince him enough instead he asked me never to act again. But because I was not ready to abandon my dream I went ahead regardless of his instructions and made sure that whenever I received a call to go for casting I would inform him about it and ask for his blessing and also try to reassure him that I’ll not bring shame to the family.

He kept insisting that I must pursue my education and also pointed out that his relatives were mounting pressure on him to stop me from acting. I then took the decision not to tell him about it anymore. Thereafter if I received a casting call I’d sneak out and go to the location or studio as the case may be.

I

Bashir Yusuf Daura

Ruqqaiyatu Bala You know how the movie industry is like, an actor or actress has no hiding place. Once when I was in the village and my uncle and brothers were there they all advised me to stop acting or they would disown me. Some of them insulted me while some prayed for me. Others expressed hope that one day I would see the wrong in it and jettison the idea.

How many movies have you done so far and which is the most popular?

I have done six movies so far and the most popular among them is “Aikatau”, “Madam Labila” and “Baushe”. There is also one that I called “Ganin Hadari”, that is also quite popular too.

I heard about a movie in which you played the role of an

PAGE 25

Entertainment adulteress, which movie was that?

That was the movie that really enhanced my popularity despite its negativity; the movie is “Aikatau”. People started using the movie to describe me in bad light it was not a good experience and surprisingly my father watched the movie and liked it very much though he suggested that I should not play such a role again.

Why are actresses viewed as wayward and how can we change the perception?

You know a lot of times when people make up their mind about some issues; it is difficult to change their minds. What I want to tell the ladies in the industry is, we are in the industry as artists not to become prostitutes or anything like that. They should also know that acting is a profession that can give you the world if you are diligent and good at it. Let them not forget that women have limited time, you can be the toast of the industry today but in a year or two your beauty and popularity starts to wane and if you spent all that time chasing after men then you are in for it because soon those men will abandon you and go for the latest beautiful woman in town.

And always remember that while you are struggling to maintain your beauty and relevance in the scheme of things, the men are not facing such problems and have no such constraints.

In fact a man will come and spend time with you but still be involved with women younger than you are. In some cases when you are no longer in the movie industry and your daughter joins it she might still get to meet those men that you spent time with.

If you hold onto your pride and dignity, you are not just doing it for yourself but also for the other females in or outside the industry.

Why do women in the Hausa movies industry face some other problems?

There are a lot of reasons. Some girls want to be like others when they don’t have the necessary qualities and ability to do so, that attitude has put our girls in

trouble severally. And of course, there is the familiar one, greed!

A lot of people think that actresses make money from their movies but unfortunately that is far from the truth. Some of them make money from gifts from the public or appearances at events and sometimes they get rich fans that are willing to shower them with gifts and money. Also some get money from genuine admirers who sometimes want to marry them.

Don’t you think the way the industry is being run is one of the reasons why you are not making as much money as you should, don’t you sign contracts?

In all honesty we don’t. I have been in the industry for six years now and I have never been given a contract. What happens is, you come and you do your role and the producer gives you what he deems fit and nothing more and this is actually for the reasonable ones. There are those that you will act in their films free of charge for you to gain popularity, this happens a lot in the industry. If we will adopt this kind of arrangement I’m sure we will all get what we want. Some of these popular names are just that, names! Some have been acting for so long and their audiences think they have made a lot of money but if you check you’ll find most of them are not making any money from the movies but some other businesses!

There is the allegation that some producers will not give you work unless sex is involved, is that true and have you ever experienced such?

Yes! I have heard about it but I can’t say I have an example for you. Even when I was thinking of joining the industry, it was one of the things I was told. That they will not allow me act in a movie if I didn’t have sex with them fortunately for me I have not had such an experience.

What is your advice to those practicing the profession?

First I’d like to advice our producers, before going into any project make sure you have your money ready, that way you are sure that you can pay for the services rendered. I know for a fact that it’s not every producer that pays every member of his cast and crew.

My advice to young girls coming into the industry is to do so based on the passion they have for film making, not money or fame. Your passion drives you to riches and fame because if you come in and you are just after making money then you have opened the door for all the predators out there looking for young girls.

There are people who go around saying they are producers when in fact they are just out there looking for innocent girls.

They should also protect their dignity and do what they are there for.

Nollywood

Thugs can’t do without Fuji music-Ganiyu Abefe

Omotola Jalade highest grossing actress in Nollywood

Alhaji Ganiyu Abefe is the foremost Fuji musician in Kwara state. His parents wanted him to be a Medical Doctor but was destined to be a Fuji star in Nigeria. In this interview with Olanrewaju Lawal in Ilorin, Abefe, a founder of Mr. Wonder band reveals how his mother became his source of his inspiration. Excerpt.

he actress was recently honoured in the UK as the first-ever African BEFFTA (Black Entertainment, Film, Fashion, Television and Arts) Film Icon for her contribution to the film industry in Africa, Europe and globally.

The year 2012 will be one in which the duo of Omotola JaladeEkeinde and film maker Obi Emelonye won’t forget in a hurry as the duo grabbed the headlines in spectacular fashion judging by the quality of the kind of jobs they both did.

The movie, Last Flight to Abuja produced and directed by award winning Obi Emelonye first grabbed the headlines when it reportedly sold more than 8million in its first week at the cinema!

Omotola’s popularity and boxoffice credibility was put to test when the movie, opened at the cinema. The premiere till date remains the biggest premiere of any movie with six packed halls, a record no premiere has beaten. Last Flight to Abuja also starred Hakeem Kae Kazeem, Jim Iyke, Jide Kosoko and others.

Last Flight to Abuja is still showing at the cinema and it has already grossed 24 million, thereby making it the highest box office earner this year! No other movie has come close to this record so far.

The year 2012 has been incredible for super star, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde; from being the highest paid actress to being the busiest on locations of big budget movies, now famously called “the new Nollywood” Omosexy has had a full calendar and bag as well.

It will be recalled that the sexy superstar starred in the acclaimed Ties That Bind alongside Hollywood’s Kimberley Elise, Kofi Adjorlolo, Ama K, and Khareemar Aguiar among others.

Still in 2012 Omosexy as she’s fondly called played the leading role in the High budget Tarila Thompson’s movie,”Up Creek “still in post production. She was also on call for Teco Benson’s film “Blood on the Lagoon” also in post production.

M

y name is Alhaji Ganiyu Abefe, the founder of Mr. Wonder band. I was born in 1959 to the family of Alhaji Abdulganiyu Alabi in Oke-Ila Orangun, Osun state. I attended both primary school and secondary schools in Agege, Lagos state and Ekiti state before I obtained my HND in Business Administration at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin in early 2000.

Journey to Stardom I started singing Fuji as far back as 70s during Ramadan period. I always go around with my friends to wake Muslims up at dawn to eat during the fasting period and later discovered I was endowed with a beautiful voice which also made me popular in school.

But my parents initially did not like my idea because they wanted me to read Medicine and become a Medical Doctor. I told them I want to become a Fuji star. Unfortunately, I lost my father at a tender age and my mother had to shoulder my responsibilities. My mother was in Ilorin then, so I had to relocate from Ila-Orangun a town in Osun, to Ilorin to stay with my Mother.

Around ’87 or there about, I started gathering my band in Ilorin and we were playing for people at different occasions. So, we went to Ogbomosho, Northern states and many Nigerians wanted to know this young man that sings Fuji in Kwara state? I was tagged King of Fuji in Kwara state.

Struggle to get tertiary education My ambition to become a Fuji star did not stop me from acquiring formal education. So, I went to Kwara state Polytechnic to study Business Administration and finished in year 2007.

Life as Fuji star in Lagos state When I decided to leave Ilorin to Lagos state in 1990, it was a hard decision. I realised that I couldn’t reach stardom if Lagosians didn’t know me. I went to Lagos and it was there I released my first album which I called ‘Jealous’. Between 1990 and 1994, I released four albums and every area in Lagos started patronizing me and I played for many people during celebrations, especially those that came from Kwara state who see me as their ambassador in Lagos state. Many guys would follow me to any area where I was invited, to appeal to area

P Square

Ganiyu Abefe boys in the place not to disturb me because I am their brother. Why did you return to Ilorin?

Some of my fans in the Northern states, Ogbomosho, Osun state and other areas started calling me to come back home. But it was my mother who finally told me that I must come because she would like to be seeing me and whatever I want to in life, Ilorin is suitable for me. So, I had no choice than to come back home. From that time, my career has been rising; moving from one state to another to entertain my fans and later I was opportuned to travel to UK to play Fuji to my fans.

Relationship with other Fuji musicians.

I follow late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Alhaji Ayinla Rasak know as Killington ,King Wasiu Ayinde but

people like Obesere, Pasuma and Osupa Saheed are my juniors because I released my album before any one of them. So I don’t have any problem with them.

It is generally believed that Fuji musicians obey their mothers’ wishes. Is there any hidden thing behind it?

We are just following the principles of Holy Quran and Hadith of Prophet Muhammed (SAW). Any child who wants to succeed in life must receive blessing of his or her parents especially mothers.

How did you cope with tertiary education, family and Fuji music?

I take life very easy and one did not disturb another. I don’t allow women to distract me because many of them do come around during my

performances but I remained focused.

When I enrolled at Kwarapoly, students used to wonder how I was going to cope but I had that thirst for knowledge and that helped me a lot to become a good manager.

Challenges on job I do hear many stories when I am away from Nigeria but rumour mongering has always been the way of man from inception. But I thank Almighty Allah for being there for me.

Years on stage I will mark my 30 years on stage next year May Insha Allahu.

Album that uplifted you to stardom Volume one of my record promoted me to stardom which is titled, “Esi ma joro mi”(Jealous). It was like a dream come true.

Can Fuji stars succeed without carrying thugs around?

We can do without them but I don’t know why they like us. They are our fans. In fact, they are in the majority.

They have been like that since the time of late Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. They always follow us around and nothing can stop them.

How did you cope with them in Lagos State?

I was based in Ijora and whenever I was going to play in Mushin, Ajegunle or any part of Lagos state, my home base area boys would follow me. They are the ones that would talk to their friends in these places to treat me gently because I am their man.

Those that come from Kwara state see me as their brother and would sacrifice anything to protect me and my band members.

How do you get your inspiration?

I read a lot of novels, watch films and drama. I love to listen to instrumental and other music. So, in the nearest future, I will also produce my life experience as a film for my fans to learn one or two lessons from it.

Where did you get that idea?

I do participate in theatre. When Oga Bello and his group come to Ilorin, they always asked me to play for them or act a part. Besides, music and theatre go together.

Any message to your fans and upcoming Fuji musicians.

To my fans, they should keep on buying our album because our best is yet to come. To upcoming stars, let us take life easy and pray very well.

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde continues to prove that there is more to her than her curve-ridden figure as she emerges biggest box-office actress of the year.

T

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Hollywood/Bollywood Eddie Murphy's New Shahrukh's stardom comes Flame: Model Paige with shades of loneliness

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E

ddie Murphy has been showing off a new leading lady on his arm and she's almost 20 years younger than the actor.

Murphy, 51, walked the red carpet with Australian model Paige Butcher, 33, Saturday at his Spike TV tribute event, "Eddie Murphy: One Night Only." The pair held hands

and looked affectionate as Murphy did interviews.

In 2005, Murphy split from his wife, Nicole, after 12 years of marriage.

Since the split, Murphy has been linked to a list of woman including former Spice Girl Melanie Brown. Brown announced she was pregnant with Murphy's baby but he denied it. After taking a

paternity test, the actor acknowledged their daughter, Angel, in 2007.

Murphy married Tracey Edmonds in 2008 in a symbolic wedding that he decided not to make legal.

The actor is currently producing a television show based on the 1984 film, "Beverly Hills Cop," which Murphy starred in.

Celebs react to Obama's re-election The Twitterverse went into a tizzy as Barack Obama was re-elected for his second term as President of the United States.

Here's what Hollywood had to say about the momentous occasion:

J

essica Alba: "Woohoo! Congrats P r e s i d e n t @BarackObama & 2 all the Americans who made their voices known & heard! I love our great country & our Democracy!"

Kelly Osbourne: "Thank God #Obama2012 has victoriously won I feel Safer now there hopefully won't be a world war III & gays can finally get married! #victory" Olivia Wilde: "AMERICA! You have spoken! Women! You have been heard! Young people!

You proved them wrong!

Tireless Obama volunteers!

I THANK YOU!" Demi Lovato: "Tonight is a good night for women.

Proud to be a WOMAN IN AMERICA!!!"

Eva Longoria: "We did it!!! Obama re-elected!!!!!

Yes!! Yes We Can!" Katy Perry: "DONE AND DUSTED!!!"

Elizabeth Banks: "Wow, great day! Open the champers! Whoo hoo - let's make sure we win the popular vote too - congrats @BarackObama !! #election2012" Rashida Jones: A VERY BIG EXHALE. #RightSideOfHistory #fourmoreyears #Obama2012 Zoe Saldana: "We all

spoke and our voices were heard. See?! We do have the power to make a change!

We voted and as Americans we elected our president!"

Chris Rock: "We did it America. President Barack Obama Wins the ReElection! Way to Barack the Vote. We did it together.

Thank you, America. #VoteObama" Alyssa Milano: "God Bless The United States Of America."

Chris Colfer: "All ages, genders, ethnicities, and orientations dancing badly TOGETHER on TV! THATS America! Wouldn't see that 50 years ago. #USAProgress " Jennifer Hudson: "It's a new day!!!!!!! Come on!!!"

Rosie O'Donnell: "YES WE CAN - YES WE DID - ON WE GROW !!!!!

#OBAMAUSA" Aisha Tyler: "Tonight America smells like cookies and freedom, my friends.

Cookies and freedom. #forward" Queen Latifah: "OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Ben Stiller: "Phew."

Nikki Reed: So proud to be an American! #forward #obama2012 #amen" Dianna Agron: Congratulations, Mr. President, our president."

Nick Cannon: "2 Termz!!!!!"

Evan Rachel Wood: "I got my rights!!

Wooooooooooooo!"

NeNe Leakes: "See what we can do when we stick together! #Obama" Solange Knowles: "Yes. We. Can. Yes. We. Did. Obama 2012."

tardom does not come easy to all but there is no doubt about everybody wanting it.

However, one thing that all and sundry know of is that there are pros and cons to it. With achievement comes the independence to delve into the finer luxuries of life, without a shade of doubt, but what tags along with it is a feeling of lonesomeness.

This has been best exemplified by the 'King Khan' of the Hindi Film Industry himself. What is keeping Shahrukh Khan occupied at the moment is the work associated with his autobiography. It has been reported that only the finishing touches are to be specified in his book.

This autobiography postulates the development of this actor, right from his infantile stage to his coming

into prominence. Reading out extracts from his book, at the Think Fest Conclavean event held every yearthat was organised in Goa, Shahrukh Khan bared his heart out to the media and everybody present there.

He said that he felt lonely at the top to the surprise of everybody.

He also referred to his perpetual struggle with his "feeling of emptiness" and went on to say "There is something wrong in me. I sense it. I feel it but I don't know what it is."

He also added "Four years back, my daughter used to think that I am Aamir Khan and for my son I am always a hero".

On a more philosophical note, he described his feelings in these words, "Somehow there is this feeling of emptiness. I have this restlessness,

strangeness, which I fill up with my acting."

Recalling his childhood, Shahrukh Khan said to the media that he, who lost his father when he was only 15 years of age, has been through trying times as there was always dearth of money. Thus, as he has been close to the harsh and brutal realities of life, he finds it easier to depict these experiences into his films.

Adding to this he said, "I have a beautiful family. I have a few friends with whom I spend lot of time. I don't want to die like my father. I don't want to be unknown. I would like to be just successful. Believe me it is lonely at the top."

Shahrukh Khan's interview at this Think Fest conclave presented his ideologies and true feelings, which in-turn mirrored his inner self.

Super vehicles owned by Superstars of Bollywood Vehicles are one among all the other fetishes of our celebrities belonging to the Hindi Film Industry. Topof-the-line vehicles are a symbol of luxury. Thus our stars delight in having their favourites. They shell out tons of money to own their tailored motors. Let us take a look at our celebrities and what 'drives' them crazy.

S

a l m a n - The latest 'beauty' that has caught the eye of this hunk is a two-wheeler.

It is a limited-run blue coloured Suzuki Intruder M1800RZ. Everybody knows he is a fervent biker and thus it was only normal for him to add this to his oneoff collection. He also retains the Suzuki Hayabusa that was at one point the fastest.

He also enjoys having an inimitable collection of fourwheelers. He owns a long list of SUVs such as Range Rover, Audi Q7 and a BMW X6.

John Abraham- John owns an Audi Q7 but he loves his two-wheelers more. He is known as an avid-biker and has an exclusive collection of bikes such as the Yamaha R1, Kawasaki ZX Ninja, Suzuki Hayabusa and Yamaha Raven.

Ajay Devgn- One thing that is conspicuous is his love for cars. The newest addition that made to his list is a Mini Cooper. The car is stylish and matches up to his luxurious living.

Saif- He likes tough and hard-hitting vehicles.

Range Rover Sport and Toyota Landcruiser are the most able in this business,

and clearly he owns them.

Amitabh BachchanObviously he could not have been left behind in this list. He owns the classiest of cars among the industry people. He owned a Bentley Arnage R before. At present he navigates in a RollsRoyce Phantom which costs more than 4.5 crore.

SRK- King Khan has a collection of the BMW series, to be precise, the 6 and 7 series. He also has an Audi A6 and a Bentley Continental GT. Kangana- With fame and money comes the finer luxuries of life, is a known fact. This was best exemplified by her when she bought for her 21st birthday a spacious BMW 7 series.

Bipasha Basu- Her latest buy has been the Beetle from Volkswagen.

This car has been fondly named 'Brad' by her.

Priyanka Chopra- She owns a Mercedes S-Class and a Porsche Cayenne. The latter is not owned by many of her peers. This car costs about 77 lakhs. The Mercedes S-Class costs a whopping Rs. 1.63 crores.

Abhishek BachchanLike father like son is a fit saying for Abhishek. He too

has a similar classy taste in cars, like the Senior Bachchan. He recently disbursed Rs 1 crore for a customised Audi A8L. Kareena Kapoor- She could not have been far behind in this list. She owns a Mercedes-Benz S-Class and a Lexus LX470. The latter has been imported.

The Mercedes is the costliest among the cars that have been assembled in India. It retails at a price of Rs 1 crore and more.

Sanjay Dutt- The best four-wheeler collection has been owned by him in the Industry. He possesses a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Audi R8, Audi A8, Audi Q7, Bentley Continental, Ferrari 599 GTB and Range Rover Sport. He owns a two-wheeler as well namely Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. Imran Khan- This young entrant in this Industry has quickly been able to acquire the best of the luxurious cars. He has a Porsche Cayenne, a BMW 3series, a Beetle for his wife Avantika and a Ferrari California.

Katrina Kaif- She owns an Audi Q7 just as many others in Bollywood.

The car costs 70 lakhs.

Hrithik Roshan- He rides a Porsche Carrera that has a starting price of Rs 1.22 crores.

Aamir Khan- He owns a Rolls-Royce Ghost- a luxurious car that costs a whopping Rs 3 crore.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Homes

Sideboards for entrance decor

S

ideboards are more than just pieces of furniture to fill the empty space in your dining room. As a matter of fact, many homes use sideboards in other rooms besides dining ones.

They can be found in living and family spaces as well as in bedrooms, verandas and in enclosed space or what can be called sunrooms.

Sideboards come in a wide range of designs from massive wood and granite pieces with drawers, doors, upper shelving and glass door display sections, to smaller, simpler dresser or table styles. Some feature lighting in

their glass display sections. There are even sideboards that feature open-up tops that can either be slid out or folded open to provide extra table surfaces.

While most homes choose to use their sideboard furniture to house china, table linens, and special occasion flatware and glassware, there are also many other uses for them. For lower flat surface styles without upper display areas, they can be used as dressers in bedrooms especially if they have drawers or both drawers and cabinet doors. They're also perfect for use as hall and front entrance

furnishings (if the space is large enough to accommodate them.)

They're excellent for enclosed reception areas at social centers and to store all types of games and outdoor recreation storage such as rollerblades, rain boots, gardening gloves, etc.

With so much versatility packed into them including storage, display and various other functions, it's no wonder sideboards are often an integral part of many home decors.

They're available in such a wide range of styles and are priced to fit most budgets depending on materials, size and feature.

PAGE 27

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Cuisine

Pots & Pans

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

Bringing out the best in rice tomato Rice with carrots and peas

Ingredients: -1-cup white or brown rice -¼ of yellow or white onion minced -2 tablespoons olive oil -½ cup plain tomato sauce -2-cups water -½ tablespoon to 1-tablespoon salt How to cook: In a large saucepot stir fry the onions in the olive oil until they are aromatic

and glossy.

Add the rice and toast for a few minutes on medium heat.

Next, add in the tomato sauce and mix it into the rice.

Add salt and water.

Bring the rice and water up to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cover for 30-45 minutes.

Fluff rice after it's finished cooking.

-1-cup white or brown rice -1/4 -cup diced carrots -¼- cup frozen peas (thawed) -¼ of yellow or white onion, minced -2 tablespoons olive oil -2-cups water -½ tablespoon to 1-tablespoon salt How to cook: In a large saucepot stir fry the

carrots, then add onions and peas in the olive oil until they are aromatic and glossy.

Add the rice and toast for a few minutes on medium heat.

Next, add salt and water.

Bring the rice and water up to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cover for 30-45 minutes.

Ginger and lemon grass juice Ingredients: 2-1/2 cups superfine sugar, to taste 5 cups water 1/4 cup palm sugar 1 quart ice cubes 4 stalks lemongrass, + extra for garnish 2 chunks ginger, about 3 inches 1/4 cup crystallized candied ginger, cut in half Directions: For the lemongrass: Wash the lemongrass. Remove all the white powder from the leaves and also a few outer leaves. Cut the stalks in half and crush with the back of a chef's knife. Cut the remaining stalk into extremely thin slices using a chef's knife. In a mortar and pestle, grind the thin slices of lemongrass, then transfer

and mix everything using a mini food processor. It should turn into a fine moist powder.

Set aside.

For the ginger: Clean the ginger, carefully removing any dirt. You don't have to peel it. Thinly slice both chunks.

Set aside.

For the lemongrass water: Combine the water and lemongrass powder. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Filter through a fine sieve.

For the caramel syrup: In a sauce pan, melt the sugar without any water over high heat.

It's important to carefully watch the sugar; as soon as the edges of the pan start caramelizing, immediately lower the heat to medium-low. Gently jiggle the

saucepan in circles. Do not use a spoon! Set the heat to the lowest when there are only a few remaining noncaramelized pieces. Don't let the sugar get dark brown or you'll get a burnt taste.

Assembly time: When all the sugar is an amber colour, remove from the heat, pause for about a minute (be careful of splattering when the water is added), then slowly add the boiling lemongrass water, palm sugar, fresh ginger and candied ginger. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon. Bring back to a full boil then let simmer for about 10 minutes.

Remove from heat and let it cool.

Serve in tall glasses with ice; stir well and garnish with a stalk of lemongrass.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Womanhood

Protection strategies to deter rapists T

h e s e are the strategies that most women have been taught to consider, if they find themselves in a confrontation with a rapist.

1.

Running away 2 . Outside help intervenes 3 . Yelling 4 . Pleading and begging 5.

Claiming an illness 6 . Reasoning, appeals to his humanity 7 . Fainting, sickness, seizure (real or fake) 8 . Physical force The first and most crucial fact that all women must understand, is that if you don't have any strategies to use in this type of confrontation, you will almost certainly end up a victim. The second important factor to remember is: the sooner you respond the better.

Women who escaped from their attackers reacted immediately, within the first 30 seconds. They didn't wait around for a "better time" later.

Running Away Your first strategy should always be to immediately run away from your assailant. A study found that 85% of women who ran away, or attempted to run away, successfully avoided being raped. It seems so obvious; yet running away tends to be the least used strategy by women.

First of all, many women have never considered beforehand, what they would do, if they find themselves under attack. These women are so unprepared, they go into shock, and miss the initial opportunity to run.

Many women are intimidated if the assailant shows, or threatens to pull out a weapon.

Almost all "stranger" rapists threaten that they have a weapon, but in fact, only 15%

actually do. Keep in mind that you should never believe anything an attacker might tell you. All criminals are liars. All of these men will say anything at all, in order to get control over you.

Outside intervention Another way a rape can be avoided is when a stranger stumbles upon the crime scene and intervenes to help the victim. This will almost certainly stop the attack. Remember that these predators don't want to get caught. They will almost certainly run away.

However, outside intervention is largely a case of luck. A defender can increase her luck, though, by yelling, and keeping her eyes open for people that might be able to help.

Yelling can be a very effective strategy.

While a woman's best weapon is her mind, her first weapon is her voice. Unlike screaming, this only conveys to your attacker that you're afraid, yelling expresses anger, and generates power and force.

Not only will yelling attract the attention of others, but it will also intimidate your assailant. As well, yelling will pump up your adrenaline making you better able to defend yourself, or run away.

It's better to yell commands such as "NO", "BACK OFF" or "GET AWAY". Yelling these kinds of comments conveys the message to your attacker that you're not going to be an "easy victim".

Yelling this at your attacker surprises him. And it's the last thing he wants to hear. It destroys any fantasy he has that you're going to be an "easy victim" who he can exercise power and control over. Instead,

Hitting his jaw will knock him off

he realizes that he's up against a very aggressive defender.

Many women believe that swearing at your attacker will make him even angrier. This is very seldom the case. Swearing at your assailant may save your life. For most women, this is a decision that should be made in advance.

Pleading and begging Begging and pleading with your attacker, in an attempt to gain his sympathy, is extremely unlikely to be effective. Attackers generally expect their victims to cry.

Pleading with a rapist simply gives him exactly what he wants, a victim who acknowledges his ability to dominate. Don't play into his game. Always make it as difficult as you can for him.

Claiming an illness An equally bad strategy is to tell your attacker that you've got your period, or you're pregnant, or you've got AIDS, or cancer.

Not only are rapists not concerned about the victim's health or well-being, but they are unlikely to believe these kinds of stories. In fact they expect to hear this kind of lie. It rarely works.

Lies that do work There is one kind of lie you can tell your attacker that can sometimes be very effective.

That's the comment that you're expecting someone at any minute. This will make him fearful that he might get caught, particularly if you're also putting up resistance. The key to telling this kind of lie effectively is to say it assertively.

And to say it assertively, you have to have thought about it ahead of time, and decided to include it as one of your defensive strategies. Having these kinds of lines prepared in advance can help to save your life.

Travelling alone These days, many women are travelling all over the world, often alone. If you're a woman travelling alone, never go anywhere with a man who approaches you. He has picked you out. Your best bet, always, if you need help, is for you to approach someone yourself, preferably a woman.

Trying to appeal to his humanity A final type of verbal strategy is when a woman tries to reason with her attacker, by trying to make him see her as a "real person". Women should avoid saying things like "What if I was your daughter or your sister?"

The important thing to remember is that verbal reasoning strategies are extremely unlikely, in themselves, to prevent rape. You are highly unlikely to succeed in talking the attacker out of raping

Hitting him in the groin will destabilise him you. This type of strategy can be successful however, as a stalling tactic.

The dialogue may allow time for a bystander to intervene, or for the victim to get into a better position to be able to escape.

Fainting, sickness, seizure (real or fake) Another type of strategy involves faking an illness. These types of responses include; fainting, throwing up, loosing bodily control (wetting yourself), or pretending to have a seizure.

These responses may work very occasionally, but generally they're considered unreliable, and sometimes can even be dangerous. Remember this is a crime about power and control not sex.

What would "turn off" a normal man, won't work with most rapists. Many would consider a woman who faints as the perfect victim.

Physical force The final and often the most effective strategy is using physical force. Physical force can range from; -Moderate responses such as struggling, in an effort to get away, -to violent responses, where a woman defender attacks highly vulnerable areas like her assailant's face, knees, and groin, with lethal force.

While size and strength may be important in weight-lifting, it's not in so important in self-

defense. Self-defense is not a fair fight. There are no rules. There are no illegal target areas.

You don't have to be a karate expert to physically stop your attacker. One well placed kick, or elbow will do the job. The defender's only concern is to inflict as much pain as possible in order to escape. The goal is to run away.

However if you are going to kick or strike your attacker, you have to be 100% committed. On a scale of 1 - 10, you have to fight at level 10 every time.

The key to maximizing that amount of damage you can do to your assailant is to remember the "Two Inch Rule" (five cm).

Always aim your blows two inches beneath the surface of the skin. If you can continue the momentum and the force of your swing two inches beneath the surface, you'll cause much more pain and damage.

And every time you hit him, yell "No!" as loud as you can. This is important. It will surprise him, and threaten to attract the attention of others.

To respond with physical force, whether it's resisting and struggling to get free, or it's shoving your car keys into his eyes, you have to have determined beforehand that you're willing to use force if necessary.

Creative new thoughts will not come to you in a crisis. Always have a plan.

Source: Mailonline

PAGE 30

Archives

Louis Armstrong meets Sir Ahmadu Bello

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Do you have old pictures for memories?

Send them to julius2001_a@yahoo.com

Biology students at The Queen’s College, Lagos – 1959

Oba Adenji Adele ll (a Yoruba chief) and his wife being received by the Duke of Devonshire at the Commonwealth Relations Office.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 31

Leisure WORD SEARCH

PICTURE OF THE DAY

With Augustine Aminu

A Real Lagos Child

Find the words about the Sleeping Beauty movie that are listed at the bottom of the page in the Sleeping Beauty word search grid. Circle each letter separately. Many letters in the word search grid are used in more than one Sleeping Beauty word.

Sleeping Beauty Word Search Puzzle I

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A HUNDRED YEARS AWAKENED BEAUTY CLASSIC CURSE ENCHANTMENT FAIRY TALE GIFTS GODMOTHERS GOOD FAIRIES KISS MUSICAL TALENT PRICK FINGER PRINCE PRINCESS SLEEP SLEEPING BEAUTY SPINDLE WICKED FAIRY WIT

Mandela’s ANCand Roben Island prison boots at the Mandela museum in South Africa

QUOTES "The worst realities of our age are manufactured realities. It is therefore our task, as creative participants in the universe, to re dream our world.

The fact of possessing imagination means that everything can be re dreamed. Each reality can have it" —Ben Okri "One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised."

—Chinua Achebe "Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We have to begin to learn to rule ourselves again."

—Chinua Achebe "The only thing we have learnt from experience is that we learn nothing from experience." —Chinua Achebe " "Let's say there are prospects for a new Nigeria, but I don't think we have a new Nigeria yet."

—Wole Soyinka

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

Proverbs and wise sayings A fowl does not forget where it lays its eggs.

It is by the strength of their number that the ants in the field are able to carry their prey to the nest.

When an only kolanut is presented with love, it carries with it more value than might otherwise be associated with a whole pod of several kolanuts.

By being grateful, a man makes himself deserving of yet another kindness.

A speedy wrestling and a bad fall go hand in hand.

One finger cannot remove lice from the head.

He who is courteous is not a fool.

Rather than tell a lie to help a friend, it is better to assist him in paying the fine for his offense.

A hunter who has only one arrow does not shoot with careless aim.

It is little by little that a bird builds its nest.

CARTOON

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

F Highlighting your contours with high-waist skirts

By Miriam Humbe

F

or those who value good taste in terms of what to wear to the work place and high profile events, the high waist skirt which does well to accentuate your curves and brings out the best in your outlook comes quite handy. A look at the selections on this piece will give you a good idea of what to ask for when next you go shopping.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

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Business

L-R, Project Director, SURE - P MCH, Dr. Ugo Okoli, Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ado Jimada Gana Muhammad and Director, Primary Health Care System Development (NPHCDA), Dr. Muhammad Jibril Abdullahi shortly after Nigeria received the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) Award in New Delhi, India, Last week.

NAMA operates on digital NAVAIDS...as FG spends over N15b on facility upgrade From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

h e Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) yesterday confirmed operating its air navigation services with modern technology contrary to a media report that the agency runs on obsolete equipment.

According to the agency, facilities like the radar, Instrument Landing System (ILS), Very High Omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR) and the VHF radio system are all digital and their installations at airports across the country over the years had enhanced the safety of the nation's airspace.

These equipments, the agency said, are all working at optimal level while training of staff has been intensified to sustain the safety drive.

Spokesperson for the agency Mr. Supol Atobatele added that as part of the ongoing transformation of the industry, the federal government had paid almost 95% of the cost to the foreign contractor handling the AIS automation.

"It is absurd therefore for anyone to think that the high -tech industry in Nigeria will be operating with complete obsolete equipment considering the huge capital investment of over N15 billion by the federal government on various air navigation safety critical equipment over the years."

Atobatele told reporters.

FG targets N2.6 tr foreign investment in 2013 T

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

h e Federal Government said on Thursday that it was targeting $16 billion (N2.6 trillion) revenue from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigeria in 2013.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga who spoke at the closing ceremony of the 8th National Conference on Investment (NCI) in Abuja, disclosed that Nigeria had so far realised $8.9 bn (N 1.424 trillion) from foreign investments.

Aganga explained that the amount represented 40 per cent increase from the 2010 achievement, adding that the government was determined to improve the country’s investment environment so that it could take its rightful position as

major player in the global economy.

He maintained that government was not comfortable with the current investment competitiveness ranking of Nigeria, and called for synergy between the federal and state governments in order to improve the country’s investment environment for the benefit of all.

The Minister informed that 12 states presently have the one-stopshop investment centres (OSIC), and promised that others, including Abuja, would have their own before the end of next year, to ensure that the issue of doing business becomes easier in the country.

Aganga said the government had taken some measures to improve the country’s investment environment, including the setting up of Presidential Committee on Doing Business and

Competitiveness, and the Committee on Investors’ Care, among others respectively.

In their goodwill messages, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and his Works counterpart, Mr. Mike Onolememen pledged the collaboration of their ministries with the Ministry of Trade and Investment to further improve the nation’s economy.

Secretary to the Government of Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, while declaring the conference closed, said the present administration was determined to transform the economy, especially through the growth of small and medium enterprises, SMEs. According to him, the future of the country is tied to the growth and

development of SMEs so that more jobs and wealth would be created for the citizenry.

Anyim disclosed the government’s plan to put in place infrastructures like power, road, water and others to facilitate economic growth and improved living standards of the people.

The SGF, however, appealed to financial institutions to help the government in achieving this through provision of adequate funds, which he identified as one of the challenges facing the SMEs development in the country.

He pointed out that the government’s various reforms have been yielding positive results, and called for the continued public private partnership, PPP in order to fast-track the nation’s development.

NCAA to introduce automated flight reporting system on aircraft

T

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority NCAA yesterday disclosed that it introduced what it called the automated flight information reporting system to the public.

Director General of the agency Dr. Harold Demuren told journalists in Lagos that the instrument will enable the authority ascertain the condition of any aircraft during an emergency situation whether the pilots report such incident or not.

Speaking at the flag off

ceremony of the Maiden flight operation of Med-View Airline, he referred to the Dana aircraft that crash landed in Lagos on the 3rd of June this year and said “All of you were concerned after the crash as to who did what, what went wrong, whether there was a snag on the aircraft. This is the most sophisticated equipment on board all over the world; it’s the latest. It’s going to be steaming the flight data recorder automatically while the pilot is flying.”

Dr. Demuren said the instrument “has the capacity to record any exigency; if there is any snag, engine failure, high temperature, leakage of hydraulic, it will pick it up automatically. So whether the pilot reports or not, we will pick it up automatically.”

“It will be installed on each aircraft that we buy. What we are doing is that we are improving our airlines so that when they are flying and there is a problem, they will know what the problem is.”

He also added that “We are going to make it compulsory for the airlines; it is going to be a minimum requirement, it is a must item and it must operate before you can fly.”

In his response, the managing director of the airline, Mr. Muniru Bankole said the airline would ensure that “the aircraft you are flying is airworthy with standard inflight services, on time departure and reliability of our service so that people will have comfort.” he told the gathering.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

The Entrepreneur

‘I started my business with only N700’ For Benjamin Amedu, an Abuja based industrialist, who specializes in making shoes, bags, uniform foot wears as well as repairs of these products, persistent exposure to new skills and equipment are key to high productivity, in enhancing volume and quality of byproducts of entrepreneurial activities in any industry. At 41, this entrepreneur who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman, Bentex shoes industry Nigeria Ltd, with production capacity of over a 100 brands of shoes, sandals, bags, and belts amongst other products per week, he still cherishes opportunities to acquire new skills as he plans to travel on a sponsored study trip to Turkey for a course in shoe and bag making. Amedu, an indigene of Enugu state, is married with four children. Stanley Onyekwere chronicles his entrepreneurial sojourn in the leathe world.

How I started After I finished my technical school in 1991, I ventured into shoe making business. I trained for four years, after which I established my own outfit in the southeastern Nigerian. I moved down to Abuja in 1995. I started the business with Seven hundred naira but today I'm living comfortably with proceeds of the business. At first I was only able to make four pairs of shoes with the little startup capital I had then, but with profits and money from sales and repairs, I was able to increase my production capacity from the initial four pairs to ten, twenty and so on. Currently, we produce on the average fifty pairs of shoes, bags and 100 sandals every week. And today, we produce and supply our products to companies, wholesalers and retailers including security outfits.

Challenges Some of the challenges we face in the industry include; shortage of working tools and machinery, raw materials and finance needed to go into full mass production and distribution of the products nationwide and even export them outside the shores of this country.

In this regard the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) is doing a lot to address the shortcomings. I have been given an offer letter and what remains for me is to receive my draft for the loan. Today, if one goes to commercial banks to ask for loan for your business, you would end up being discouraged as their terms and condition for granting to small businesses is very unfavorable and unfriendly to the survival of the business.

This is because the financial institutions would always demand for a C of O for land or house property in choice places in Abuja or other Nigerian cities before a loan application would be considered for grant to entrepreneurs.

So, finance remains the main challenge. The

is because a lot of money is required to improve the quality of the finished works and make it of international standard to be able to compete favorably with similar products from other countries of the world. This would also create more job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the country. However, despite these we have been able to make quality goods. For now, the Abuja Shoe Makers Association is doing a lot to secure a permanent site from the government for stakeholders in the industry to have a single place for shoe making activities as it did for building materials dealers and mechanics. This is necessary to promoting the production and patronage of the products.

My contribution towards entrepreneurial skills development in Nigeria includes assisting in training persons under the NDE scheme. Currently, I have 8 trainees undergoing training on a train and learn basis, I also pay a token for their sustainability while on the job. Over the years I have been able to train over 35 persons on shoe and bags making, some of them are from the NDE and other individuals in the society. We have good animal skin for leatherworks in the country. For instance, in Kano state alone one can get a deposit of all kinds of leather as raw materials for fabricating all kinds of shoes and bags. Same goes to Aba, Onitsha and Lagos states respectively.

There is a corroborative effort by the Nigerian-Turkey chambers of commerce and industry to sponsor me for a study tour, during which I would be exposed to more techniques and acquire more skills in shoe and bag making, which I believe is an initiative designed to encourage entrepreneurs in the industry.

Part of the plan is that I would be

allowed to bring back advanced equipment needed to enhance my productivity in terms of volume and quality of our work here in Nigeria. And by the grace of God I hope to expand the business through an efficient and effective partnership with interested persons or companies,

to bring in more machinery needed for developing greater production capacity in the industry. We have the market for our products.

Advice Nigerians especially the youths must not always depend on the government or white collar jobs for

survival but look for ways to develop profitable means of adding value to the economy and earning a living in the process. In fact by so doing, you end up creating job opportunities for others in the country. So, as an entrepreneur, you have to start somewhere before the government could come in to assist.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 35

Feature

When female youth corpers received training

A cross section of the trainees

By Miriam Humbe

E

fforts aimed at equipping young graduates with skills to take their destinies into their own hands in this era of high rate of unemployment by starting their own businesses and becoming their own bosses were made manifest in the past week.

Nigerian born Diaspora returnee, Chikodi Bethel Anele, a British trained Communication Engineer took up the challenge of training about 200 female corps members posted to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in the current year as a pilot scheme in entrepreneurial development opportunities.

With the training, the Participating Corps members were inculcated with the skills ranging from business conception, types of businesses, developing and writing business plans and developing and writing business proposals.

Tutorials on how to carry out feasibility studies, basic management accounting, regulatory requirements for business start-up, fund raising for start-ups and entrepreneurial motivation were also featured.

The National Council of Women Societies, NCWS which is the umbrella body of all women based organisations in the country

and the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), an Affiliate of the NCWS jointly co-sponsored the project in partnership with Amen Mori (Nigeria) Limited, an I.T Consulting and Business Development Company.

The NCWS, in order to ensure by every means that women are given every opportunity to play their part as full responsible members of the community and nation; by mobilising and facilitating their political and economic empowerment towards self reliance took up this partnership.

The endeavour was an effort towards the development of entrepreneurial skills and business fervour among youths in the country, to enhance both selfemployment and the creation of the much needed employment opportunities. The training marked three days of intensive hands-on programme which was targeted at not less than 200 female Youth Corpers. The participants were all enthusiastic about the new knowledge they acquired and spread the good news round. Before the end of the three days, at least ten more persons were added to the group.

The promoter of the event and a British trained Communication Engineer; Chikodi Bethel Anele is

a returnee Nigeria Diaspora who founded his own company, Amen Mori (Nigeria) Ltd rather than wait for a white collar job that may not appear. An ardent optimist in the future of the Nigeria youth, but he believes that to get the country to where it should be in employment and growth, all hands must be on deck.

Having completed his service last year as a result of having just returned to the country, he was motivated by his experience and knowledge of the aspiration of other Corps members he met during his NYSC Community Development Service (CDS). Being an employer of about 15 people himself while serving, he inspired other Corps members who approached him for support and entrepreneurial start-up advice.

It is agreeable that Nigeria's economy needs more entrepreneurial spirited youths to take the plunge. For many reasons, not enough Nigerians see running a small business as sufficiently more attractive than working as an employee of a firm, large or small, or in a public organisation.

These reasons apply as much to women as to men, but there are certain additional factors which make entrepreneurship even less attractive or viable option for women, in addition to factors

which count against women in all sections of the labour market.

Thus, the program aimed to identify individual young women with strong desire to take the risks and make significant commitments to get their own new

Engr. Chikodi Bethel Anele

businesses off the ground or build on an existing one. It was expected that the participants would be supported all the way through mentoring and financial support, where start-up funding has been identified as the main hindrance.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

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Are and Yobe states still partfund of Nigeria?

Re:Borno Sovereign wealth

F

ellow countrymen, my heart goes out to hundreds of hapless and helpless Nigerians resident in Borno and Yobe states who have become refugees in their own country home for no fault of theirs. Thomas Hobbs' 'life is short, nasty and brutish'aphorism best describes what has become of Borno and Yobe states in recent time. Both states have literarily become Africa's latest killing fields where life has become so cheap that death 'pays no dime' to claim. Women, children and even men have fled their homes and businesses. Nothing! I mean nothing positive can be said of the affected states. The security community whose responsibility it is to protect lives and property of the citizenry have become prime targets and have lost an appreciable number of its men to the activities of the Boko Haram.

The situation has become so terrible that security men, especially policemen, for fear of imminent attacks now appear in plain clothes while on duty. The states have suddenly become no go areas, even to indigenes. The cliché, 'no place like home' definitely means a different thing to indigenes of Borno and Yobe states who have fled their homes for their dear lives.

They feel much more at home in foreign lands than contemplating a visit to their ancestral abode where they truly belong.

Life in these north east states has become an issue of 'everyone to himself and God for all'. Security agents seem to have given up the fight against the Boko Haram Islamist sect. Citizens have been left all alone to provide security for themselves.

For those of us who are far-removed from the affected states, we can hardly feel the pains of those who live there.

Now to the crux of this piece. Are Borno and Yobe states part of the Nigerian federation? I sincerely don't think the answer to this poser would be in the affirmative. The Nigerian 1999 constitution clearly says that the welfare and security of lives and property of all Nigerians is the responsibility of government. Anything short of this certainly calls for concern. There is no gainsaying that the chief executives of Borno and Yobe states have been practically overwhelmed by the rising spate of bloodbath in their domains. We actually don't require any news medium to confirm it to any discerning mind the

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

Email: letters@peoplesdaily-online.com fact that both Ibrahim Gaidem of Yobe and Kashim Shettima of Borno feel more relaxed in Abuja than staying back in their respective states where peace seem to have gone on sabbatical leave. In all honesty, I equally sympathise with both Gaidem and Shettima. I have no doubt in my mind that these fellows are truly not pleased with what fate has brought to them. It is very obvious that development is at a standstill in these affected states. No serious investor who means business would contemplate investing a penny of his in an environment plagued by uncertainty.

Aside the deployment of troops to the affected states, the President Goodluck Jonathan's government has indeed failed woefully especially in identifying with Nigerians in the affected states! The situation in Borno and Yobe states is so bad that President Goodluck Jonathan with his retinue of armed security guards is scared of visiting the aforementioned states. We are not saying his presence would bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency, but to a very large extent it will restore hope and confidence in the lives of the victims. It will inspire those who have lost everything and have no defined source of livelihood owing to the carnage witnessed in the states.

Beyond the ritual of condemning such barbaric acts each time they occur, we really expect the President to be more proactive rather than reactive. His resolve not to have visited any of the states to see for himself the horror on ground no doubt sends a wrong signal. As Nigeria's president, we expect that he metes out same measure of concern to all, irrespective of tribe, religion, class or political leaning. In my honest thinking, Mr. President has no genuine reason to offer on why he has practically left these Nigerians to suffer and continue to live in fear. Our leaders,

especially the ones presently in office appear very dumb and unintelligent both in thinking and action! They travel out every now and then to foreign lands to understudy how things work in such land, but fail to replicate experiences gotten from there. No responsible and responsive leader turns his face the other way when his people cry to him for help. We are all living witnesses to how President Jonathan fled to faraway Brazil to attend a mere summit on a day dare-devil Boko Haram members visited terror on innocent Nigerians in the ancient city of Zaria, Kaduna state.

Imagine this. In the wake of recent floods in some parts of the country, we all rose up in support of the victims. We were there for the victims in prayers, offered financial and material assistance as well. The Nigeria media was awash with several stories of donations made to flood victims by people who were touched by the extent of damage the floods have caused. But in our very eyes, we watch on local television and read in news dailies how victims of Boko Haram insurgency have continued to cry for help only for us, including those whose responsibility it is to offer help, to maintain sealed lips and deaf ears. Are we now blaming innocent Nigerians who are unfortunately caught up in the unrest in these two states? When has it become a crime to settle in any part of the country?

Aside visiting the flood victims, Mr. President had in the first place dispatched a number of his ministers to visit the affected states for an on-the spot assessment tour. As a follow plan, the president also set-up a fund-raising committee headed by Billionaire business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote to raise money for victims of floods.

Though commendable, can't same be done to victims of Boko Haram in other states where the faceless group had registered its

presence?

Mr. President, you are the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your number one duty as our e(Se)lected President is to use your good office to ensure that we are safe from internal and external aggression. You are expected to be there for us all the time. Sir, there is absolutely nothing wrong if you temporarily shift your base from cosy office in Abuja and have a feel of what your fellow country men and women have been going through in Yobe and Borno states.

Like I have always maintained, Boko Haram is a national calamity. It shouldn't be seen as a problem for the north alone. If we continue to use regional binoculars in viewing their nefarious activities, then we are indeed far from recording meaningful success in our effort to overcome the group.

Being a President goes far beyond rising to condemn actions that are antithetical to our growth as a people. It is about been alive to your presidential tasks in all spheres of human existence.

My last line is this, Sir, since you are afraid of visiting Borno and Yobe states for reasons you lack the courage to tell us, should we now assume that the states are no longer part of this geographical enclave called Nigeria?

Yunusa Abdullahi writes from Minna, Niger state

“

Being a President goes far beyond rising to condemn actions that are antithetical to our growth as a people.

It is about been alive to your presidential tasks in all spheres of human existence.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 37

Opinion Cashless policy and the economy

By John Ode

T

h e r e has been one form of controversy or the other since the CBN announced its intention to introduce the cashless policy and the five thousand naira note into the economy.

The CBN’s reasons being that the policy will reduce (not eliminate) the amount of cash circulating in the economy, and encourage more electronic-based transactions.

The aim also is to improve monetary policy in managing inflation and driving economic growth. It was also announced on the 23rd 0f August that the five thousand naira note is to be introduced into the Nigerian economy hereby redenominating the N50, N20, N10 and N5 into coins.

While some may see the idea of the CBN as a welcome idea, I think the harm this may cause might be greater than the benefits.

However, without dwelling on the aims and ideas of the CBN concerning the cashless policy and the five thousand naira currency, this paper will attempt to point out the adverse effect such ideas might have on the economy.

The CBN is in a hurry without taking into cognizance the peculiarities of the country’s challenges. No country in the world is cashless and care must be taken in applying that phrase. It is imperative that Nigeria focuses on the transaction process rather than the transaction output .In putting the cashless policy in place some factors have to be considered which pose challenges ranging from broadband infrastructure, tested and accredited software, trust economy, call center, human skill capacities, consumer profile data and most importantly, data protection. It should be noted that etransaction without strong national database system is like a suicide mission to the economy.

A cashless society will inevitably be faced with surcharge on goods and services as interest and charges will apply on every transaction hereby making banks and service providers more powerful, this may indirectly limit the goods and services that are to be purchased as there will be no instant means of payment for goods and services.

Moreso, an individual who decides to go with the cashless “flow” will have to surrender his personal data to effect registration, and if not

managed properly may at the long run grant access to intruders with assault purpose, hence the issue of privacy has to be considered.

Also to be taken into cognizance is the high rate of internet fraud and criminal activities in a country like Nigeria. It will not do us any good if the issue of computer hacking through cards or chips is not considered. This will inevitably increase the rate of online criminal activities hereby destabilizing the society’s security system. In a case of lost (with card and not with chip), it may take longer process and protocol to recover such, this may grant another person access into one’s account to steal or to make transactions in the name of another.

Considering the introduction of the five thousand naira note by the CBN, if implemented and enforced, poses imminent threat to the nation’s economy. I thought the reason for going cashless is to reduce expenditure on printing worthless paper money,Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is confused after deciding to go on the path of cashless economy.

The introduction of the five thousand naira note is concomitant with the redenomination of the N50,N20,N10 and N5

into coins, but the question I wish to ask is where is our N2,N1 and 50kobo coins?.

Immediately after the N2,N1 and 50kobo coins were introduced, not long was it buried in the nation’s economy as their equivalence in the market is equal to nothing. If a second thought is not given to it, same will inevitably happen to proposed coins and indirectly will cause inflation.

The five thousand notes will also increase the risk of the production of fake currencies into the economy, let us analyze this, it costs more than N10 to print a fake N10 note, it also costs more than N20 to print a fake N20 note, and however, it is very profitable to print a fake five thousand naira note with fewer amounts.

There are many challenges the society stands to face if it operates a cashless system which cannot be fully analyzed within this context. It is therefore advisable that a society considers the internal challenges facing its economy and should take steps to formulate principles towards improving the nation’s economy rather than pursuing a target when it is actually short of resources.

Ode, is a Law student at the Obafemi Awolwo University, Ile-Ife

mentor?. When Kanti was romancing the ruling People Democratic Party to truncate the political ambition of Buhari, he did not realise then that Buhari was his mentor? Why has he waited until he lost the election on the platform of PDP, and subsequently decamped to CPC before saying so?

For the benefit of those that may not be conversant with the trend of political development in Katsina state, there is a need to set the record straight. Yes! Kanti was among the people that encouraged Gen Buhari to join the ANPP but what was the motive behind the role he played? Why did he start fighting Buhari the moment he realised that it was impossible for him to get the gubernatorial ticket of ANPP then? Kanti Bello, having realised that Katsina state political structure was firmly in control of the then Governor Umaru Musa Yaradua of PDP decided to look for someone on whose credibility he needed to contest gubernatorial election in the state, this he found in Buhari.

However, from the moment he realised that Buhari supported party politics, and that he was not ready to impose him (Kanti) on the party supporters as the party gubernatorial flag bearer, he decided to plot against the presidential ambition of Buhari.

It was on record that Abu Ibrahim never stood against Kanti in the ANPP, but it was the shadow of his past deeds that haunted him. Today, in grass root politics in Katsina state, Senator Abu Ibrahim and Kanti Bello are definitely not on the same pedestal. And in comparison, Abu Ibrahim stands out.

Senator Abu is not a dog that always returns

to his own vomit. Abu does not talk before reasoning. And also Senator Abu Ibrahim has never been stoned anywhere in Nigeria not to talk of been stoned in Saudi Arabia where everybody knows that it is only Satan that is being stoned by pilgrims.

Kanti should also realise that Senator Abu is not interested in joining issues with him, at the right time, the antecedents of individuals will play critical role as regards their political endeavour. It should also be noted that nobody earns integrity and honour by talking, but by exemplary conduct and character. If Kanti Bello is a grassroots politician with tremendous followers as he always claims, he should have followed the footstep of politicians like Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state who left the ruling party to contest gubernatorial election on the platform relatively new political party ( Labour Party) and subsequently won the election despite the daunting opposition. That is how to know a politician with distinguised pedigree.

There is need for politicians to wake up and know that Nigeria is fast changing. Election can no longer be won on the pages of newspapers, or based on the number of people a politician fights or abuses, but based on the antecedents and people oriented track record.

In a free and fair election, anybody thinking that he can use the image or the name of another person to win an election having lost his own credibility is living in a world of illusion.

From the statement credited to Kanti Bello also, and published in another national newspaper, it was stated that, ''Yes, it is true

that after the 2011 elections, Sen. Kanti Bello had no intention of going to court. There was no pretence but when it was made clear that the CPC did not sponsor the candidates who were declared winners, it was obvious that the election could not stand and thus the Tribunal correctly annulled the election''.

This statement demonstrates the fact that Kanti was not well grounded in the rudiment of an election. If not so, how would a politician proceed to an election for senatorial seat, yet he did not know that the candidate he was contesting against was a 'ghost' candidate, not being sponsored by a political party?.

Nobody needs Kanti to announce to the world that General Buhari is now wiser, never should anyone think he can use Buhari for selfish political motives. Not even in the new CPC that will soon emerge. Right now, General Buhari has discovered those who accepted him as their mentor because of his principles and ideals. He has also recognised those who refer to him as their mentor simply because of what they want to eat. In this two categories, Buhari does not need anybody to lecture him.

The survival of any political party is based on allowing only the loyal, committed and dedicated members of such party to hold political offices. There is need for CPC to get it right not only for today but also for tomorrow. To allow those who are sowing the seed of discord in politics to hijack the party structure will definitely spell doom for the future of the party.

Abdullahi Musa Funtua, wrote from Funtua LG, Katsina state

Kanti Bello and opportunistic politics

By Abdullahi Musa Funtua

M

a n y may not be surprised that senator Kanti Bello has started attributing his political misfortunes to the distinguished Senator Abu Ibrahim, who was elected during last year general election as senator representing Katsina South Senatorial District of Katsina state on the platform of the Congress for Progresive Change (CPC), because of the fact that Kanti is well known for playing such game of politics. However many are worried that he threw caution to the wind in his statement published in a national daily (not Peoples Daily Weekend) recently, accusing Abu Ibrahim of 'putting' a wedge between senator Kanti and his mentor, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari''.

For those who know Kanti Bello very well, it is part of his antics to discredit others in other to cover his own tracks. But Kanti Bello should realise that Genaral Buhari is not a fool, neither are his supporters' moron. Kanti Bello should be honest enough to tell the story of the masquerade behind the suspension of Gen Buhari from the ANPP in 2006 by the Katsina state chapter of the party. The key actors in the whole saga are still alive. The time has come for him to stop shedding crocodile tears; it can no longer work.

Kanti Bello's statement regarding Buhari as his mentor is ridiculous, irresponsible, and is a climax of political rascality that needs to be checkmated. The question is, has Kanti been sleeping all this while that he has suddenly woke up to realise that Buhari is his

Accessing entrepreneurship education in Nigerian varsities

By Iwabi Dubagbakumo

E

v e r y year higher institutions of learning in Nigeria produce graduates and send them to the labour market. The number is always so much that there are no corresponding jobs to absorb them.

Many of these graduates have waited endlessly for white collar jobs both in the private and public sectors.

To make matters worse, Nigerian graduates have been said to be the least qualified for good jobs in the world.

Government institutions of learning were equally blamed for lack of intellectual capacity to deliver the needed manpower.

This factor led to the establishment of private universities in the country. The numbers of graduates from these private institutions have also added to the crowd of unemployed graduates in the country.

Considering the dangers it portends for the future, government through the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) introduced entrepreneurship in the universities curricular and ensured that it is made compulsory for all students .

The policy as it is being contemplated, is to enable all students acquire basic skills that will empower them with a view to making them self reliant after graduating from the school. The skills include poultry, tailoring, fish farming, fruit and juice production, catering, computer training etc.

As good as this programme is, it is yet to accomplish its intended purpose. For instance at Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, students feel that it only exists as course to meet their credits requirements for graduation. The time for the lecture to most students is not properly

fixed that is 7am for any of the course components .Lecturers on their part rarely come to classes at that particular time.

The mindset of the students is geared to only reading of the course contents to pass examination at the end of the semester. Another deficit aspect of the programme is the relegation of practical to the background.

Practical skills are not being taken seriously hence, its objectives are far from being achieved.

Iwabi, is an IT staff with Peoples Media

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Interview

‘Land administration is our goldmine’ Hon. Ayuba Wandai, TMC Chairman of Nasarawa LGA, Nasarawa state, is also the state secretary, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON). In this interview with Ali Abare Abubakar in Lafia, Hon. Wandai opened up on allegations that Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura is withholding council funds and other issues. Excerpt:

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here has been this allegation that Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura has been withholding councils funds, how true is this?

This is a misconception, because ever since we came on board, our governor has helped us to manage council’s fund.

He saved some money for the councils before we came on board and the fact is that, for me as chairman of Nasarawa local government, ever since I came in on the 19th of March this year, the allocation that comes from the federation account, have not been able to pay staff salaries alone.

However, mostly due to the prudent nature of our governor, it was out of the savings that LGs have continued to augment workers’ salary. For instance, in the whole of my council, comprising Loko and Udege development areas, in October we had a monthly allocation of N128m and teachers’ salaries alone, gulped up to N110m. And you know, after paying teachers’ salaries, there are other statutory deductions that have to be made. In fact, we had a total deduction of about N125 m and out of that; we are still expected to pay salaries of workers at the council headquarters, as well as the two development areas. So when you put these together, it amounts to over N200m, here we are, having just N110m. So if not for the prudent manner in which the governor has been handling council funds, we would not have had savings to augment the payment of salaries. That is exactly the situation as it concerns the councils. Still, despite the obvious limitations, the governor, in his magnanimity has been able to release funds for projects at the LG level, which has so far been managed prudently by councils across the state, in line with the programmes of the CPC administration. We have been putting on ground projects and as such, we are not in any position to even accuse the governor of withholding funds.

It has also been alleged that a sizeable number of council chairmen and administrators of development areas are set to resign their appointments

Hon. Ayuba Wandai, Nasarawa LG Chairman because of the alleged withholding of council funds. How true is this?

First, it is not true that any local government chairman or administrator of a development area has said that he is willing to resign. Reason being that, I am a key official of ALGON in the state; there was never a time we sat down and took that decision.

Individually, I know, no chairman or administrator has said that, because, as you are aware, ALGON recently organized a press conference and 27 of us that were in office then, were all in attendance. We addressed the press conference, where we denied a certain newspaper report and we categorically stated that we have projects ongoing at the LGAs and there was no need for anybody to complain over the lack of funds. We have projects going on and the fact is that, everyone in Nasarawa, both at the state and LG levels, knows that you cannot compare yesterday and today. Today, is

better off, with chairmen and administrators all happy with the development taking place in the state. They are happy with our governor’s style of administration. We know times are challenging but we always put heads together to see that we alleviate the suffering of our people. A fact is that, progress is being made in the state as have never been experienced.

Chairmen and administrators are glad to be part of the team bringing such development and I don’t see anybody that does not want to be part of this success. It is a success story and we want to be part of it. In fact, we count ourselves lucky to be chairmen and administrators at this point in time.

Now, talking about projects at the council level, how far have you gone in the effort to implement projects that would improve the living standards of the people?

During the campaigns, the CPC promised to give the electorates electricity, portable drinking water and healthcare.

For us in Nasarawa LG, we have keyed into those programmes to fulfill those promises we made to the electorates. So far, I have electrified 3 communities with the projects at about 95 percent completion. I have electrified Kawon Tsakiya, Dogon Fili and Ago communities. I have also renovated the clinic located at the palace of the Emir of Nasarawa. We have also been able to sink a mechanized bore hole in Nasarawa central market to improve hygiene. We have put in place a drug revolving fund in order to purchase drugs and distribute to the 28 PHC clinics across the LG. In order to improve revenue generation, we have brainstormed and have come to the conclusion that our gold mine is in land administration.

When we are able to administer our land department very well, we feel there is a gold mine for us to generate revenue. In line with that, we are looking at creating 5 settlement areas within the council at Laminga, Marmara, Kurudu Wache, and Arabishi Dansa areas. What we want to do is that, we want the LG to supervise land

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administration in these areas in conjunction with the emirate council. We have procured satellite images for these settlement areas; we have delineated them and gotten all their coordinates, with the plan on paper. We are still working on it to see that we build out one of the best LGA land department in the state. We want our record keeping to be excellent, we want to make it corruption free, though it is nearly impossible to tackle corruption in land administration but we want to bring it to the barest minimum.

We want to bring credibility to land administration in the council. We want to run it in such a way that people will not run away from paying various levies and amounts they are supposed to pay. We want people to willingly that; we want them to readily transfer titles because we are in charge of issuing customary titles, in conjunction with the emirate council and the land advisory committee.

We are putting modalities that will make that less cumbersome as well as provide proactive strategies that will condone system abuse. We want every land to have its file, its record; we want to know fees chargeable. And also in revenue, we are also trying to engage the services of a revenue consultant, not to collect taxes on our behalf but to help us identify places where we can generate revenue. We want to have a template whereby we can not only project revenues but set achievable targets. That way, we can know what to expect, which will enable us embark on projects, knowing full well that we can afford such.

Because of the dwindling federal allocation, we are seeing how our IGR will augment our allocation so that we can execute more projects.

In line with that, we are looking at creating 5 settlement areas within the council at Laminga, Marmara, Kurudu Wache, and Arabishi Dansa areas.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 39

Interview

PDP has achieved a lot since 1999 —Kwacham N

i g e r i a clocked 52 years recently. What can you say the country has achieved so far?

Even if I don’t tell you, you already know that progress was attained. I will give you an example; I am an indigene of Mubi local government. In the past, those who owned a Mercedes car were just 6, but now, those who own cars in my street alone cannot be counted. So you see there is improvement. When I was a kid, I could see the market in the village from my house but now, I have to travel 200metres before I get to the market because the population of people has increased which has led to an increase in the number of houses. Also, in the past, we don’t usually eat meat except on Fridays and Sundays.

But these days, virtually every household has avalanche of meat in stock. In the past, very few households could afford to eat rice but now, every household is fed up of eating it. The level of illiteracy has reduced drastically when compared with what was obtainable in the past. Everybody now agitate for child education unlike in the past when people are aloof when it comes to educating the child. Everyone wants their child educated so that they will become a responsible person in future.

How can you assess the PDP's impact on Nigeria in the last 13 years?

First and foremost, we are PDP, we belong to PDP and we shall not leave PDP. The tenure of PDP’s leadership has recorded developments as well as various misunderstandings. Even as human beings, we are capable of transforming a place as well as destabilising it. Whoever holds a leadership position in Nigeria is definitely trying his best and must have within his cabinet, those that are contributing to the success and those plotting your downfall.

We have recorded a lot of achievements so far but there are certain things that have intruded the peace of the country, thereby causing people to live in constant fear. However, these things are normal in the world and not restricted to Nigeria.

In specific terms, what can you say are the achievements of PDP so far?

Firstly, during Obasanjo’s regime, mobile phones were first introduced in Nigeria. Secondly you will observe that our roads are undergoing repairs, likewise the restructuring of Nigerian banks. We cannot say there is no poverty in Nigeria; of course there is but it is not up to that of some other countries. From the beginning, Nigerian leaders are not the only ones facing problems and if every Nigerian will love

The former financial secretary of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Adamawa chapter Alhaji Abdulrahman Kwacham in this interview with reporters in Abuja bare his mind on the developmental stages the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has attained and also the issues bothering on the recent dissolution of the Adamawa Executives of the party’s exco, security challenges facing the country among other issues. Augustine Aminu was there for Peoples Daily Weekend.

Alh. Abdulrahman Kwacham their country the way they love themselves, it would have been more developed than this.

Therefore we should stop putting the blame on our leaders alone.

Whoever is criticizing our leaders is a wrong doer. If we don’t address this issue; we can’t progress according to the expectation of people. There has been a reduction in the level of poverty as well as aids being administered to the less privileged by governors of some states, unlike the military regime. These are the things people like us should come out and say that challenges are bound to come irrespective of the party in power. Based on this, we know that PDP is doing its work with clean conscience. Nevertheless, peoples’ criticisms cannot be avoided because they prefer themselves, their relatives and families above Nigeria.

Economically, the PDP leadership has fast-tracked Nigeria into the digital world of information and communication technology. The mobile telecom market in Nigeria started in 2001. It is rated the fastest growing in the world. The PDP government indeed provided the enabling environment and gave the push for investments in this sector to thrive. What that means is that it has created a lot of employment for the army of unemployed youths in Nigeria.

There is no gain saying that the PDP is the only truly national political party in Nigeria. It is the

only political party not owned by any individual or group or associated with any tribal or religious group. It is a melting pot that has given adequate expression to the aspirations of all Nigerians irrespective of class, tribe or religion.

The founding manifesto of the PDP is also elaborate on the resolve and determination of the party to institute a legacy of credible polls that has eluded the nation for ages, knowing that free and fair election is fundamental to democracy.

Within fourteen years, the nation has gradually advanced to a stage where free and fair election is taken as guaranteed.

The 2011 presidential election, in which President Goodluck Jonathan contested as an incumbent was adjudged locally and internationally as free, fair and most credible in the nation’s recent history.

What is your take on the recent dissolution of the exco in Adamawa PDP? Right from the beginning, INEC has written to the national body of PDP concerning the elections that have not been conducted. I was among the chosen excos. Maybe INEC has observed something and they wrote it down. We are just followers of PDP, if they say ‘yes’, we say the same and if they say ‘no’, we also follow the trend. But if we see something bad, we tell them to make amends. Now the exco of Adamawa state was

dissolved and they set up a caretaker committee. I was not sad about the dissolution because maybe they might have observed certain defects which led to the dissolution. I am hundred percent in support of PDP campaign, its national body, and its exco which is the caretaker committee and I will perform my duties to the best of my ability.

We are grateful for the PDP chairman from Adamawa state which was chosen by the president, we are supporting him and we shall welcome anything he brings to Adamawa state. We will not resist anything simply because the exco was dissolved, we shall give him our full support.

What advice do you have for political office holders from Adamawa PDP? I can say that there is no position in Nigeria that an indigene of Adamawa has not gotten except the position of the president. That is the only level they have not attained. I am therefore calling on our leaders to be God fearing and make amends so that those who have left the party will return. People should not be doing things for their selfish interests or that of their children, wives, relatives or their friends; they should do it for God’s sake.

We should come together and restore PDP. Whatever we are instructed to do, in as much as it will bring success, we shall do it, but if it will let the party down, we shall resist it What is your take on security challenge in Nigeria and especially the recent killing of students in Mubi?

The issue of killing is not limited to Mubi alone, even in my house; they attacked my house and killed two of my gatemen. If you go to my house now, you will see the areas were bullets hit.

What is happening now is lack of justice among people. First of all, when these things were happening, if justice had prevailed, the event wouldn’t have repeated.

Secondly, security agents are doing their job as expected; they are also peoples’ children as well as peoples’ parents. If a civilian is killed, everyone reacts to it but if a police or soldier is killed, no one will bother about it. We are supposed to realize that they are also human beings.

Thirdly, in the past, when a family has a visitor, the head of the family informs the head of that community of his arrival as

well as the day he will depart. But now, you don’t even know who your next door neighbour is and where he is from, thus making problems unavoidable. Now if you allow your child to go somewhere and spent two weeks, you will not know what he will bring to your house, talk more of someone you don’t know.

Aside this, security men also make mistakes, if they are not well trained as well as the Nigerian judiciary, there is nothing that can be done to make Nigeria a better place. But when there are trustworthy people among the judiciary and security, everyone in this country will behave as expected without waiting to be told what to do. If they find someone guilty, they don’t pass necessary judgements but they begin to deal with innocent persons. This makes these innocent people to seek for means of vengeance. But if there is justice, such problems will not occur. The security men are also in constant fear, we civilians are also in fear, and as such, no one is secured in this country.

The people are more in number than the security personnel. It is important that we understand the fact that Boko Haram are not the only ones committing crimes in this country. If your enemies attack you, they will say it is Boko Haram. Politicians will send hired assassins to kill you, they will say it is Boko Haram. Therefore, security personnel should be scrutinized thoroughly before being appointed. The problem in Maiduguri and that of Mubi is different. They are not related.

The problem in Maiduguri is that, when the securities catch anybody, they will say he is a son of so and so or he is a friend of so and so. But in Mubi, we cooperate with the security personnel. We told them to carry out their investigation and should not oppress innocent people. We shall not prevent them from carrying out their investigations. Aside that, Mubi is a small village, the killings that took place recently in the Federal Polytechnic, is an issue among the students themselves, we are aware of that. It is very wrong to attribute the killings to Boko Haram. Proper investigation should be done in order to fish out the perpetrators. But the problem is from the students; they conducted their election and started fighting thereafter.

Everybody in Mubi knows this.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Politics Constitution review and the role of editors

Senate President, David Mark

By Jamila Nuhu Musa

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a n y stakeholders have begun to key into the proposed Constitutional Amendment process of the National Assembly, which initiative to broaden participation of Nigerians, culminating in the submission of memorandums stating their various positions has been commended. But for the on-going Constitutional Review to achieve the expected outcomes the critical role of the Media in its actualization has been reemphasized.

This informed a Media Dialogue with Editors on the Constitutional Amendment Process early in the week held by the UNDP Demographic Governance for Development (DGD Project II) in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity tagged, 'The Editor and the Constitution Amendment Process.'.

In his address at the occasion, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Ruben Abati said the review of the Constitution will further unify the country despite the challenges faced by Nigerians. It is in view of this that professionalism and strict adherence to ethics of journalism must be the watch word of journalists. Attempts should therefore be made at reflecting on the agitations/submissions of Nigerians with a view to meeting their aspirations. "The Constitution Review is an opportunity to identify, reflect and see what issues to focus on and how to deepen reporting", Abati said and urged the media to work with other groups such as the CSOs, politicians, youths etc, through media networking to project the views of Nigerians.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal Some experts who shed light on the process of review of the Constitution were a representative of the Guild of Editors, Hajiya Sani, the Executive Director, Human Rights Monitor &Alternate Chair, NBA Election Working Group, Barrister Festus Okoye. The Executive Director, International Press Centre, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, who gave the Assessment of Media Coverage of the Constitutional Amendment Process, Executive Director Women's Right to Education Programme, Mrs. Mimido Achakpa and Chairman of Intra-party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC, Alhaji Shitu Mohammed, amongst others.

Some submissions made to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Constitutional Review, and, which formed part of the presentations at the Media Dialogue highlighted the 'Autonomy and Independence of INEC', for true representative administration of the sovereignty of the Nigerian people as opposed to the current situation of Section 154 (1) which provides for the INEC Chairman and members to be appointed by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate. For the Nigerian Women under the auspices of Gender and Constitution Review Network (GECORN), its memorandum, while frowning at the Nigerian Constitution's silence on harmful traditional practices that affect the dignity of women and girls, recommended some amendments to include- Section 147: No gender shall occupy less than 35% of the positions to be filled and Section 14 (3), after the word 'group' include the phrase " or from a particular gender".

Speaker at the event, Okoye in his presentation explained the supremacy of

NUJ President, Mal. Mohammed Garba

the Constitution as "bringing into being, amending or reviewing the fundamental law of the land which is a huge national assignment because it embodies the sovereign powers and rights of the people and it is not an ordinary statute that the National Assembly can bring into being and amend with little or no controversy".

In this light Okoye in identifying the challenges asked Editors to watch out for the following-A full docket of amendments, many cooks, pessimism and cynicism, fifth columnists, contractors, middlemen and consultants, security issues, referendum and constitutional process and the iron fist of governors.

However, there is a way forward if the National Assembly, as the tribune of the people is also responsive to the demands of the people for constitutional alteration and changes to the law. Editors must bear in mind that even though the National and State Assemblies are the main drivers of the process, the Nigerian people are the ultimate repositories of power and by extension the licensing authorities for their mandates.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu could not agree more. At the opening of a two-day National Conference on Advancing the role of the Media in the Constitution Review Process recently, in Abuja, he assured Nigerians that the lawmakers at the upper legislative chamber, "have no fixed position on any of the issues" slated for review. Saying, "We will be guided by the force of argument and strong opinion of the majority of our people."

In his speech, National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists Garba Mohammed commended organisers of the

programme which he said was timely and acknowledged role of media in promoting mass participation in line with the vision of the NASS. The DGD Project Director, Dr Mourtada Deme, had observed that the process of Constitution Review in most cases strengthens democratic document of any nation.

Late President John Evans Atta-Mills, had during the last Ghana experience, inaugurated his country's Constitution Review Commission (CRC), mandated with the inestimably important task of over viewing the paramount legal document in his country, known as the Constitution of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. About 170 consultations were recorded with over 50,000 public submissions.

In January 2011 the Commission held a National Constitution Conference to present its findings and recommendations, and opened up further discussions with the populace resulting in impressive participation of Ghanaians.

Similarly, over 150,000 elated Kenyan's congregated in the aptly named Uhuru Park (Uhuru meaning 'freedom' in Swahili) sometimes ago to witness President Mwai Kibaki sign the new, publicly endorsed, Constitution of Kenya; an event referred to by the local media, in earnest, as the birth of Kenya's 'Second Independence'.public referendum.

With the 'Yes' camp winning the public referendum by over 3 million votes, Kenyan politicians had (finally) listened to their citizens, and Kenya's legal experts had crafted a document that realized the people's vision for a better Kenya.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 41

Weekend

Members of the domestic league Eagles in training

US Embassy gives Eagles grand reception, grants visas

By Patrick Andrew

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ears that the US Embassy would rigidly insist on its stringent requirements as pre-condition for issuing visas to members of the Super Eagles dissipated yesterday when the US Ambassador to Nigeria personally led embassy officials to receive and accord the players and team officials diplomatic reception.

Nigerians had heckled the US Embassy following fears expressed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Tuesday night that the Eagles may be denied entry visas to the USA for the November 14 international friendly duel with Venezuela because unnecessary bottlenecks were being created and insisted upon by the embassy officials.

However, that was not the case. Instead, the Eagles and their officials were given a pleasant surprise as the Ambassador personally received the team at the embassy and ensured that they were accorded diplomatic reception.

In fact, not only were the 12 players and the officials granted required travelling documents, but were accorded grand the reception in a manner that left the players and members of the technical crew and other supportive staff dumbfounded.

The embassy officials were said to have openly embraced the players: took photographs, obtained autographs, and exchanged banters, even as the Ambassador supervised the processes for the issuance of the visas.

“I’m totally shocked and positively excited at the treatment meted to us at the US embassy and I will convey this to our head coach Stephen Keshi,”said Eagles assistant coach Daniel Amokachi after the warm reception the team received at the embassy in Abuja.

“The Bull” had led the team to the 1075, Diplomatic Drive,

CBD, Abuja, offices of the Embassy as early as 7:45am.

Though protocols were duly followed by the embassy officials, but all members of the team were shocked at the convivial reception that the team got as both Americans and Nigerian staff of the embassy swarmed the team for pictures, autographs and pleasantries. Officials also wished the team well in the game against Venezuela in Miami and later at the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup. Later, the team was ushered into the US Embassy library, where an official of the ‘Education USA’ programme that seeks

to empower all with good education revealed that footballers of Nigerian extraction should educate themselves in preparations for life after football.

“There are even opportunities for scholarship if such players and the general Nigerian public tap into the opportunities that are available,” she said.

Brochures of the various programme available at the embassy were thereafter freely distributed to players and officials of the team, before they departed the venue for their Bolton White Apartment camp.

Agbim, Oboabana, 10 other NPL players for US

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xcept for injured Reuben Gabriel and Papa Idris, Head Coach Stephen Keshi kept faith with the core of the players from the domestic league that he has worked with since his assumption as chief coach by giving them a nod for the international friendly duel against Venezuela in Miami on Wednesday.

Skipper of the home-based Eagles Chigozie Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi were the goal tenders that were selected while leading defence ace Godfrey Oboabana along with other stalwarts Azubuike Egwuekwe, Umar Zango, Benjamin Francis, Solomon Kwambe also made the squad.

Ejike Uzoenyi, another regular, who had been permitted to reporter later than others to the camp as well as forwards Manir Ubale, Sunday Mba, Gomo Onduku and Henry Uche, completed the list. They will be joined on Monday by the 11 foreign-based players who also received call up to showcase their skills and probably earn places in the squad to represent Nigeria in the Nations Cup fiesta in South Africa, next January.

These include returnee Obafemi Martins, Onyekachi Apam, Raheem Lawal and debutant Shola Ameobi. The others are

Obafemi Martins, Raheem Lawal, Onyekachi Apam, the returnees to the Eagles and Shola Ameobi, debutant Elderson Echiejile, Austin Ejide, Nosa Igiebor and Ogenyi Onazi.

Chelsea’s defensive midfielder John Obi Mikel is given another chance to earn a place in the squad as well. In the same vein, Brown Ideye and on-fire new Chelsea’s acquisition, Victor Moses is equally in the team.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 42

World Cup ticket my biggest wish reveals Keshi T

Eko 2012: Teslim Balogun renovation nears completion

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igeria coach Stephen Keshi has revealed that his biggest wish is to qualify the country to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The Super Eagles currently top a qualifying group for the 2014 World Cup that has Malawi, Rwanda and Kenya.

They are on four points from two matches.

Namibia are second in the standings with three points, Malawi are third on two points, while Kenya are bottom having only recorded a point thus far.

This round of qualifiers will terminate in September and the following month, the overall winners of this group will slug it out with another group winner for a

Stephen Keshi

final play-off to be played on a knockout basis. Keshi qualified little Togo to the 2006 World Cup, four years after he assisted Shuaibu Amodu to guide Nigeria to the 2002 tournament.

In October, he guided the Eagles to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations after the team sensationally failed to qualify for the 2012 tournament.

“If I have one more wish, I would want to take the nation to the next World Cup in Brazil. That will make me happy and fulfilled,” he said.

Keshi will on Sunday night from Lagos lead out a squad of players from the Nigeria Premier League for a friendly against Venezuela in Miami, Florida.

Cleverly debutes in USA as two WBC champions clash for vacant Super-bantam weight title

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athan Cleverly makes his debut in the United States when he defends his WBO lightheavyweight title against Shawn Hawk tonight.

The bout at Staples Centre in Los Angeles is on the undercard of Abner Mares’s WBC super-bantamweight title defence against Anselmo Moreno.

Cleverly, 25 and unbeaten in 24 professional fights, hopes to follow in the footsteps of fellow Welshman Joe Calzaghe, who retired in 2009 after capping his unbeaten 46-fight career with a unanimous decision over Roy Jones in New York.

Cleverly, who is testing the transatlantic waters earlier in his career than Calzaghe did, has had to endure uncertainty after his opponent, Ryan Coyne, withdrew at short notice.

Hawk, an American who campaigned at cruiserweight until 2010, has a record of 23-2, with one drawn. He is determined to make the most of his unexpected title chance.

Mares, a former bantamweight champion who won the vacant WBC super-bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Eric Morel in El Paso on April 21, is also unbeaten. He stands at 24 wins, one draw and 13 knockouts.

He expects Moreno, another former bantamweight champion who is stepping up in weight, to provide a difficult test.

“This will be a very good fight, a very tough one that will bring out the best in me and the best in both of us,” the Mexican said.

“This is the kind of fight the fans want, a pretty even fight, you could say, between two world champions going at it from the opening bell.”

Moreno (33-1-1 with 12 knockouts) said several appearances on the same card with Mares had made him think about eventually taking on the American.

“It’s a fight that has been talked about before. I’m ready and it’s going to be a

very, very good fight,” he said this week.

Mares knows his Panamanian opponent’s Moreno’s speed and skills could make for a difficult fight.

“This could be a more mentally exhausting fight than a physically exhausting one for me,” he said. “I know I have to be mentally sharp. With Moreno’s style, if you miss, you cannot become frustrated. You have to keep

working, and that is one of the biggest keys for me.”

Also on the card, Mexico’s Leo Santa Cruz puts his IBF bantamweight world title on the line against Victor Zaleta.

Cruz, who has a record of 21-0, with one draw and 12 knockouts, will be making the second defence of the title he won with a unanimous decision over South African Vusi Malinga on June 2.

he ongoing renovation work at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, one of the venues for the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival, is nearing completion, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A check by NAN on Friday revealed that a facelift had been given to the existing tennis courts, the squash court, the astro turf football pitch and the tartan tracks encircling it.

The stadium now wears a new look from the coat of paint that has being applied on the facility, with contractors scrambling to put finishing touches to the job.

The ongoing works at the Molade OkoyaThomas Sports Hall is also at an advanced stage, with contractors working meticulously on the fittings and the air conditioning system in the hall.

Meanwhile the swimming pool area of the stadium is also awash with workers striving to upgrade the existing swimming pool, to Olympic size standard.

Explaining the development, Okanlawon Lawal, the Stadium Manager told NAN that most of the renovation had been completed adding that the remaining would be completed soon.

Lawal who did not disclose the name of contractors, nor the scope of the project assured that the renovation would be completed before the commencement of the NSF. “The renovation work is almost completed as you can see, even the contractors are speeding up their works to ensure they beat the time given to them.

“I can tell you that “Lagos is ready’’ and I think the state government should be praised for hosting this festival one year after the Port Harcourt edition,’’Lawal said.

The biennial sports fiesta is scheduled to hold from November 27 to December 9 in Lagos.

Mimiko tasks federations, schools on sports facilities

G

Abner Mares

Nathan Cleverly

overnor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on Friday in Akure urged sports federations and schools to make good use of facilities in the state to discover and groom talents for competitions.

Mimiko made the call at the opening of the Africa Swimming Confederation (CANA) Zone II Junior Swimming Championships.

Mimiko, represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, said his administration accorded sports development priority attention, not just for winning laurels, but to build the athletes’ character and leadership qualities.

“Sports are not just a tool to win laurels, but a top platform for character and leadership development. We will continue to upgrade our existing sports facilities to world-class standard and construct new ones for development in Nigeria and the continent in general.

“I therefore call on the Nigeria Swimming Federation (NSF) and other sports federations, corporate organisations and schools to utilise our facilities, especially where we have comparative advantage, to discover talents.

Earlier, the CANA President, Sam Ramsamy, said he was certain that the championships at Akure would not only identify talents but would also inspire the participants to pursue it as a career. “This championships will inspire participants to emulate the likes of Cameroon’s Van der Burg, Chad’s Les Clos and Oussama Mellouli, all of whom brought glory to Africa at the London 2012 Olympics,’’ the CANA president said.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 43

Blues, Reds at daggers drawn faceoff C

helsea against Liverpool is one of the Premier League’s more modern rivalries but the teams, who have clashed over 30 times since the start of the

PSG out to protect slip lead against Utaka’s Montpellier

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aris Saint Germain will attempt to shelter their narrow advantage at the top of Ligue One on Sunday without suspended top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic as they travel to defending champions Montpellier.

The Sweden captain leads the domestic charts with ten goals and inspired PSG to a 4-0 Champions League victory over Dynamo Zagreb in midweek, but the 31year-old will be sorely missed for the trip to the Stade de la Mosson after picking up a straight red card during last weekend’s surprise 2-1 reverse at home to Saint Etienne.

However, Montpellier have shown few reminders of the form that made them champions for the first time last season and come into the match sixth from bottom with just three wins from 15 matches including their elimination from the Champions League last Tuesday when they slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Athens club Olympiakos.

Marseille who trail their arch rivals only on goal difference and have a game in hand can pile the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti’s men when they play on Sunday afternoon against a Nice side who have won only four times in 44 trips to the Velodrome and just the once since 1976.

Lyon are slated to play Marseille on November 28 in the game in hand that was initially postponed due to stormy weather on the south coast and have quietly slotted into third place and just one point behind the two leaders as they travel to Sochaux on Sunday.

The seven-time champions travel back from their Europa League encounter against Athletic Bilbao where Eric Hely’s side await, following their 2-1 victory over Evian-TG in a replayed match that lifted them out of the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, fourth-placed Toulouse will attempt to bounce back from their defeat against Bordeaux last weekend and a home tie against Corsican side Ajaccio while Valenciennes look to remain in touch with the leaders and can even break into the top three with victory in Bastia.

Bordeaux the 2009 champions under Laurent Blanc are in Britanny to tackle Lorient, Lille must somehow overcome their 61 Champions League humiliation against Bayern Munich as they host Brest, Saint Etienne entertain Troyes, Reims are at home to EvianTG.

2004/05 season, meet at Stamford Bridge this Sunday each with a point to prove.

After enduring their worst start to the league for 101 years, Liverpool - mired in mid-table with 11 points from 10 matches and just two wins - would relish the chance to get one over on the capital side.

Chelsea, who lost top spot to Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Team Man Utd Chelsea Man City Everton West Brom Tottenham Arsenal Fulham West Ham Newcastle Swansea Liverpool Wigan Norwich Stoke Sunderland Aston Villa Reading QPR Southampton

Manchester United last weekend, will be hoping the return to league action of captain John Terry following a four-match ban for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand, will plug the London team’s leaky defence.

Last season’s more memorable clashes came in the FA Cup final where Chelsea survived a late P 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 9 10 10

W 8 7 6 4 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 2 3 2 1 1 2 0 0 1

D 0 2 4 5 2 2 3 3 3 5 3 5 2 4 6 6 3 5 4 1

L 2 1 0 1 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 3 5 4 3 2 5 4 6 8

fightback to win 2-1, and then in the league three days later at Anfield where a 4-1 defeat consigned Chelsea to their first finish outside the top four since the 2001-02 season.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers made it clear where his priorities lay this week by leaving several first-team players, including skipper Steven Gerrard GF 26 22 18 19 15 17 15 21 13 12 15 13 11 8 8 6 8 12 8 14

GA 14 10 9 13 11 14 8 16 11 14 14 15 16 18 10 9 14 18 19 28

GD 12 12 9 6 4 3 7 5 2 -2 1 -2 -5 -10 -2 -3 -6 -6 -11 -14

Pts 24 23 22 17 17 17 15 15 15 14 12 11 11 10 9 9 9 5 4 4

Lius Suarez, Liverpool’s point man celebrates after scoring against Man City.

Real looking for revenge at Levante

S

panish champions Real Madrid will be looking for revenge this Sunday when they visit bogey team Levante.

The whites have picked up just one point in their last two visits to Levante’s small Ciutat de Valencia stadium but this time they cannot afford another slip-up.

Jose Mourinho’s team are third, eight points behind runaway leaders Barcelona, and can not afford to drop further points.

Eternal sub Jose Callejon, who had a goal controversially disallowed in Tuesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw against

Borussia Dortmund, will probably make a rare start because Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema both have muscle injuries.

Cristiano Ronaldo and company lost 1-0 at Levante last season and were held 0-0 two years ago. Levante, the oldest team in La Liga, are currently sixth and their defence has conceded just one goal in four games.

However, before Sunday’s clash they have to travel to Enschede for an important Europa League game against Twente.

Midfielder Juanlu, one of their many veterans, said that they had

not yet started to think about Sunday.

Before then, Barca will visit out-of-sorts Mallorca, who have lost their last four games. Gerard Pique will be finally ready to return to the Barca defence, though Carles Puyol, Adriano and Thiago are still injured.

Barca have won on their last three visits to Palma, without conceding a single goal. Also on Sunday, Atletico Madrid will be trying to get back to winning ways after a 2-0 meltdown at Valencia.

Atletico are second, three points behind Barca but five ahead of Real.

and top scorer Luis Suarez out of the squad for Thursday’s Europa League trip to Russia to face Anzhi Makhachkala.

Rodgers has conceded the club need to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window but defender Jose Enrique believes Liverpool, who drew 1-1 at home to Newcastle last weekend, are showing improved form.

Premier League leaders Manchester United travel to Aston Villa on Saturday (1730) and a victory could put them four points clear of Chelsea, albeit temporarily.

Champions Manchester City, whose 2-2 draw with Ajax in midweek all but ended their chances of making the Champions League knockout stage, host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday Bottom side Southampton take on Swansea City with speculation mounting over the future of manager Nigel Adkins at the South Coast club.

Earlier this week, Adkins conceded he was favourite to become the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season.

Southampton’s only Premier League win so far was against Aston Villa in September and they are bottom on four points.

Fixtures: EPL Everton vs Sunderland Southampton vs Swansea Stoke City vs QPR Reading vs Norwich Wigan vs West Brom Arsenal vs Fulham ASton Villa vs Man Utd Sunday Man City vs Tottenham Newcastle vs West Ham Chelsea vs LIverpool La Liga Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo Espanyol vs Osasuna R/Zaragoza vs Deportivo Malaga vs R/Sociedad Sunday Valladolid vs Valencia A/Bilbao vs Sevilla Mallorca vs Barcelona A/Madrid vs Getafe Levante vs Real Madrid Serie A Cagliari vs Catania Pescara vs Juventus Sunday Chievo vs Udinese Palermo vs Sampdoria Torino vs Bologna Genoa vs Napoli Lazio vs Roma AC Milan vs Fiorentina Atalanta vs Inter Milan Ligue I Lille v Brest Saint Etienne v Troyes Bastia v Valenciennes Reims v Evian-TG Toulouse v Ajaccio Sunday Marseille v Nice Lorient v Bordeaux Sochaux v Lyon Montpellier v Paris Saint Germain

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 44

Novak Djokovic completed a 100 per cent round-robin record at the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-2 7-6 defeat of Czech Tomas Berdych on Friday booking his place in the semifinals.

P.I.C.T.O.R.I.A.L

Frankie Gavin wins the British welterweight title with a unanimous point's decision over veteran Junior Witter

Referee Mark Clattenburg has been interviewed over his alleged used of “inappropriate language” towards Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, with the Football Association confident a verdict will be delivered in the coming days.

Michelle Wie had six birdies in a six-under 66 on Thursday to seize a share of the first round lead in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational alongside Candie Kung and Angela Stanford.

World discus champion Darya Pishchalnikova could face a life ban from athletics if she is found guilty of taking a prohibited substance, the head of Russia’s antidoping agency (RUSADA) said on Thursday.

Napoli striker Edinson Cavani has shrugged of media speculation of a big-money transfer to a top European side by vowing to replace Diego Maradona as the club’s alltime top scorer.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

PAGE 45

Dambe: Striking act of brave men Compiled by Augustine Aminu with Wikipedia report

D

ambe, also known as Kokawa is a form of boxing associated with the Hausa people of West Africa. Historically, Dambe included a wrestling component, known as Kokawa, but today it is essentially a striking art. The tradition is dominated by Hausa butcher caste groups, and over the last century evolved from clans of butchers traveling to farm villages at harvest time, integrating a fighting challenge by the outsiders into local harvest festival entertainment. It was also traditionally practised as a way for men to get ready for war, and many of the techniques and terminology allude to warfare. Today, companies of boxers travel, performing outdoor matches accompanied by ceremony and drumming, throughout the traditional Hausa homelands of northern Nigeria, southern Niger and southwestern Chad. The name "Dambe" derives from the Hausa word for "boxing", and appears in languages like Bole as Dembe. Boxers are called by the Hausa word "daĂŚmaĂŚnga" Techniques Although there are no formal weight classes, usually competitors in Dambe matches are fairly matched in size.

Matches last three rounds. There is no timelimit to these rounds. Instead, they end when: 1) there is no activity, 2) one of the participants or an official calls a halt, or 3) a participant's hand, knee, or body touches the ground.

Knocking the opponent down is called killing the opponent.

The primary weapon is the strong-side fist.

The strong-side fist, known as the spear, is wrapped in a piece of cloth covered by tightly knotted cord. Some boxers dip their spear in sticky resin mixed with bits of broken glass. The lead hand, called the shield, is held with the open palm facing toward the opponent. The lead hand can be used to grab or hold as required.

The lead leg is often wrapped in a chain, and the chain-wrapped leg is then used for both offense and defense. The unwrapped back leg can also be used to kick. Because wrestling used to be allowed, and the goal of the game is to cause the opponent to fall down, kicks are more common than they used to be.

Tournaments Traditionally, contests took place between men of butchers' guilds who would also challenge men from their village audiences.

Drawn from a specific lower caste of Hausa society who were the only ones who could ritually slaughter animals and handle meat, traveling butchers formed boxing teams from their ranks called "armies". Their bouts took

place at festivals marking the end of the harvest season, as clans of butchers would travel to slaughter animals for farm communities.

Harvest also marked a time when rural communities were flush with money, so gambling on feats of strength became closely associated with these celebrations.

Today, participants are as often urban youths who train in gyms or backyards, competing year-round. While no longer the preserve of the Hausa butcher caste, the cofraternity aspect remains, as youths who join the professional ranks join a professional community which travels to perform bouts in carnival like appearances, complete with amplified sound systems and elaborate prematch ritual. Side betting for spectators and prize purses for competitors remain an important part of the event.

During village bouts, contests take place in a cleared area called the battlefield, with spectators forming the boundaries of the ring.

In modern urban bouts, local competitions take place in temporary rings, often setup outside meatpacking plants as members of traditional butcher castes still predominate. In these urban matches, participants wear shorts rather than loincloths. Sand filled West African Lutte Traditionnelle arenas, common in large towns, are used for larger bouts, and are often

combined with traditional wrestling championships.

Whether traditional or modern, percussive music and chants precede the bouts. The music and chants are associated with both groups and individuals, and serve to call boxers to the ring, taunt opponents, and encourage audience participation.

In traditional bouts, amulets are often used as forms of supernatural protection. Amulets are seen in modern urban bouts, too, but officials generally discourage the use of magical protection on the grounds of fairness. It is still common that amulets are placed in the feather filled pillows which fighters place in their wrapped fists, and fighters often scar their

striking arm, rubbing salves and resins into the healing wounds which are meant to provide strength or defence. Some modern traveling boxing companies engage in ritual smoking of Hemp or Marijuana before bouts.

Origin theories The stances and single wrapped fist of Hausa boxers bear visual resemblance to illustrations of Ancient Egyptian and Hellenistic boxers. This has caused speculation that Hausa boxing is directly related to Ancient Egyptian boxing (Powe, 1994). Precedence and who influenced whom is always a contentious topic, but the argument is supported by theories that the Hausa people used to live farther east, toward Sudan, than they do today.

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

City Life

With Stanley Onyekwere 08138559513

Pedestrian walkways and FCT Administration

T

he quality of the environment in any given place influences the quality of life of the residents and visitors alike.

Ordinarily, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria as a fast growing city is supposed to be hinged on a well architectural masterpiece blue print, its park-like setting and tree-lined walkways should capture the essence of a warm sense of decent community, but the reverse seems to be the case as walking through pedestrian walkways in FCT amidst unwanted characters portend danger to residents, making the territory an unfriendly community of sorts.

With approximately over 3 million population, and about four decades gone, Abuja still paints the picture of an expensive city where the horse is routinely placed ahead of the cart, where massive architectural works are provided while essential social facilities which languishes in hopeless abandonment. With billions of naira sunk into provision of infrastructure for districts where the affluent reside, the larger chunk of the Territory wallows in neglect.

In the city, all forms of environmental and traffic rules are disobeyed, and even pedestrian walkways are not spared while environment related elements like good drainage, service ducts, street lights and so on, which both the government and residents ought to protect jealously from any form of vandalisation and abuse, are grossly relegated to the background.

Generally, the sewage and drainage systems are open gutters that present danger to pedestrians and vehicles, whereas in most well planned and developed cities in the world, these facilities are entirely underground or fenced off where they can never constitute death traps.

However, there is no doubt that among the big cities in the country, Abuja boasts of having wide pedestrian

walkways lining the streets, which are rare in this part of the world, with the few existing in other towns often fenced off and guarded by road-side businesses, compelling pedestrians to take their chances ducking cars, buses and swarming motor-cycles and taxis in what passes for a road.

It is not enough for the FCT administration to provide a handful of wide pedestrian walkways lining most streets of the city centre and districts, but it is equally if not most important to ensure that they are not abused in any form. Of course, whether the walkways are designed correctly, is entirely a different thing to be considered by the authorities.

Visibly absent in the city streets, especially in public places is the provision of public convenience, or better put what many understand as public toilets or rest-houses, so the sight of men and women defecating and urinating beside the road and in full view of the public is commonplace and routine, a revolting spectacle absolutely unheard of in similar cities

which Abuja prides to chasing or at par with. No thanks to the laxity of the relevant authorities in the FCT. Thus, it is common sight for pedestrians and commuters traversing the streets of Abuja to be accosted by hordes of pick-pockets, beggars, aggressive street-vendors, and hoodlum gangs, including human feces, all posing a lot of dangers to hapless users and residents living around these places. This is not unconnected with the utter neglect of essential social amenities and lack of effective policing of the environment by the relevant stakeholders.

In particular, defecating on the floor along footpaths and waysides with reckless abandon is particularly common in areas recording high human and vehicular traffic such as motor-parks, marketplaces, ministries, low- and medium-density residential areas and squatter settlements.

Also, it is not uncommon to see people rushing into nearby bushes to relieve themselves in the daytime or

inside open undeveloped plots at night.

It is surprising and shocking though, to point out that some residential and commercial buildings do not provide public convenience for even their support staff within the premises. And one can hardly pass through these places without sighting human excreta or perceiving a terrible stench, which overshadows the seemingly serenity and aesthetic beauty of the City.

Recently, there appears to an upsurge of some transporters turning the walk ways into a mini motor park for their transporting activities. They park on pedestrian walkways thereby obstructing the pedestrians from using the safe walk ways and pushing pedestrians back on the major road where vehicles are passing thereby causing traffic obstruction and exposing them to danger. And with the usual ember months fever around the corner, this development would only gain more momentum if nothing is done by the relevant authorities to check mate the unfortunate trend.

The development leaves one to want to know whether a provision was ever made for public convenience in the original (or even the modified) Abuja Master-plan? Because, the ugly trend if not curtailed could render Abuja the filthiest capital city of the world in the nearest future.

For there to be an end in sight to these mortal dangers located along pedestrian walkways and paths in the city, there should be intensified consideration for public health and safety, concerned with the prevention of diseases, accidents and pollution through efficient environment management system, which facilitate the comfort and enjoyment of living.

Thus, this piece calls for the need for all stakeholders especially the FCT administration to wake up to its responsibilities towards safeguarding pedestrian walkways and paths from abuse by different elements in the society.

Got interesting stories about life or happenings in your neighbourhood? Contact CityLife, and let others read about them. Send suggestions/comments with your names and phone numbers via mycitybeat2pml@gmail.com.

CITY BRIEFS: Unpaid N20,000 vigilante fee: Lagos CDA arraings landlord

4

7 -year-old landlord, Nurudeen Gberedu, was on Thursday brought before an Ikorodu Customary Court in Lagos State, for allegedly failing to pay his community’s security levy for 10 months.

Gberedu is being tried for allegedly owing the community the N2, 000 monthly levy, amounting to N20, 000.

Mr Taiwo Ogunsanya, the chairman, Community Development Association (CDA) in Peace Estate, Igbolomu in Ikorodu, told the court that the security levy was used in paying members of the vigilance group employed by the community.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gberedu pleaded guilty to the offence, but urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

However, in her ruling, the president of the court, Mrs Risikat Ekerin, asked the defendant to pay the arrears of the security levy before Dec. 5.

Court dissolves 16-year-old marriage over abandonment

A

n Ikorodu Customary Court in Lagos State on Thursday dissolved the 16-year-old marriage between a trader, Bolaji Orosola, 45, and his estranged wife, Rukayat , over abandonment of her matrimonial obligation for four months.

The marriage was dissolved after the husband who resides on Igbe Road in Ikorodu, had told the court on Oct.24 that his wife, Rukayat, was very violent and troublesome.

The Court President, Mrs Riskat Ekerin, said that the marriage had broken down due to irreconcilable differences, and that all effort to bring the defendant to contest the suit had proved abortive.

Ekerin, however, said that the issue of custody of the three children of the marriage would be determined by the Family Court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the wife did not appear in court, in spite of being served hearing notices three times. (NAN)

CITY QUOTE "Walkers are 'practitioners of the city,' for the city is made to be walked. A city is a language, a repository of possibilities, and walking is the act of speaking that language, of selecting from those possibilities. Just as language limits what can be said, architecture limits where one can walk, but the walker invents other ways to go." —Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking

From the Pulpit PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

Living for Eternity (lI)

G

l o r y to God! I'm glad to welcome you again to your favourite column. Today, I want to bring you the concluding part of this message. As I said last week, you cannot afford to postpone preparation for eternity. No matter how long you live here on earth in this dispensation, it will be infinitesimally small compared to eternity. Life here on earth is temporary; it is transient and fleeting.

Eternity with God God's plan has always been that you will spend your eternity Him. That was why He sent Jesus to die for you.

"For God decided to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. He died for us so that we can live with him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of his return." (1 Thess 5:9-10 NLT) And before Jesus finished his earthly ministry, he told his disciples: "Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know where I am going and how to get there." (John 14:4 NLT) What you need to do?

What do you need to do to live for eternity?

-Accept Jesus as your Saviour and Lord and continue to live in obedience to his teachings. This is how to secure today a place for yourself with God in eternity. "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is Nehemiah 1:1-11

A

c c o r d i n g to Historians, Nehemiah was probably born and raised in Exile. While still in a strange land, he enquired about the welfare of his people. The information Nehemiah got gave him a new vision and dream. Hence, he meditated, wept, fasted and prayed while still attending to his secular engagement. Nehemiah occupied an important, prestigious position in the most powerful government in the world during that period. Yet, he was not indifferent to the deplorable condition of God’s people.

Though exalted in the society, he had spiritual burden, scriptural conviction and righteous character. He was living far away from the afflicted people but he asked questions so he could be wellinformed about the spiritual state and the physical condition of the people.

Nehemiah did not give room to any form of discouragement, hence, he rose up to the task that was before him in spite of the challenges he faced. When Nehemiah was informed that the remnant that were left of the captivity were in great affliction and reproach, his heart was broken and burdened. He became concerned and grieved because of their suffering, spiritual destitution and eternal separation from God. Nehemiah’s concern was not passive but passionate. Information received led to intercession resumed. He internalised the information and identified himself with the people. He surrendered himself to God in prayer, willing to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. He was prompt at offering

small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it." (Matt 7:13-14 NLT) Be among the few entering through the small gateway and walking the narrow road. Quit the broad highway to hell and wide gate to eternity with the devil which many have chosen. Don't live in a mansion here on earth and spend your eternity in hell fire. Prepare for your eternal home too. Hell is a place where the worm never dies and the fire never goes out. (Mark 9:48) God didn't design it for you. People only go there when they reject God. Rev 21:8 says, "But cowards who turn away from me, and unbelievers, and the corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those who practice witchcraft, and idol worshipers, and all liars - their doom is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death." (NLT) If you're born twice (born naturally and born again spiritually) you will die once and resurrect to live in eternity with God. But if you are born once (born naturally without being born again spiritually) you will die twice (die physically and cast into the lake that burns with fire and sulfur which is the second death).

Anyone whose name is not found recorded in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:15) Get your name registered in that book today by committing your heart to Jesus.

-If you've already given your life to Jesus, you must be heavenly-minded.

Don't be concerned about the things of this world alone. Think about the things in heaven. Col 3:2-4 says, "Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.

For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in

God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (NLT) -Be controlled by the Spirit of God. Listen to and follow the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit. Remember you were born by the Spirit. (John 3:58) "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God." (Rom 8:14 NLT)) Rom 8:6-7 says, "If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace."

(NLT) -Remain faithful to Jesus. As a blood-bought child of God, don't become complacent or lukewarm like the church at Laodicea. Condemning that church, Jesus said, "But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!" (Rev 3:16-17 NLT) Only those who endure to the end shall be saved. (Matt 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:13) Don't use your temporary time here on earth to lose the opportunity of spending your eternity with God. " Don't be selfish. Don't be like that rich fool in Luke 12:16-21 who was selfish making plans for himself without plans of sharing his bountiful harvest from his farm with anyone he wasn't rich towards God. He stored up the harvest for himself alone. Don't amass wealth for yourself. Be generous to God, Kingdom projects, others especially the poor and the needy.

Don't be stingy. "The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."

(Prov 11:25 NLT) God is the one who gives you power to get wealth. (Deut 8:18) Don't be entangled with the things of this world. Don't become a slave to your money, wealth or business. Don't

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GREEN PASTURES

By Pastor T.O. Banso cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 let your possession go to your head. Hold to it lightly. You are a stranger and pilgrim here on earth. (Heb 11:13, 1Peter 2:11) "But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior." (Phil 3:20 NLT) Hear what 1 Cor 7:31 says: "Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away." (NLT) This world is fading away, along with everything it craves, but if you do the will of God, you will live forever. (1 John 2:17) That means you'll spend your eternity with God. Eternity for sinners means eternal damnation. "He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power when he comes to receive glory and praise from his holy people. And you will be among those praising him on that day, for you believed what we testified about him." (2 Thess 1:7-10 NLT) Don't live for this temporary world; live for eternity.

TAKE ACTION! If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus. I urge you to

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

Passionate intercession by a zealous believer his prayer and life to God for use. If we offer our prayer to God without offering ourselves to Him, our prayer cannot be effective. People who do exploits in any generation are those who offer their prayers and lives to God. The Lord is looking for men and women who will give their time, talent and money for His service. Nehemiah made sacrifice for the total redemption of his perishing people.

Single-minded and separated from the world, he gave himself to God in prayer, seeking only the welfare of the people, not his own advantage or prosperity.

Such passionate, selfless and prayerful believers are needed today.

1. CONCERN OF THE FAITHFUL FEW FOR THE PERISHING PEOPLE Nehemiah 1:1-3; 7:2; Psalm 79:4; Isaiah 64:10; Lamentations 2:15.

It takes few faithful men like Nehemiah, Hanani and Hananiah to change the course of a nation. It is only when we isolate ourselves from the crowd and become loyal, committed and consecrated that the Lord will use us. Time should not affect the faithfulness of true believers. If God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Word, the Cross, the mind of men and their resistance to God’s word have not changed, we must not adjust our faithfulness with time. We are the mouthpiece of the Lord and must preach His word faithfully to sinners around us. The Lord expects us to remain faithful in order to rescue the perishing, especially as individuals and churches that started well are

FAITH DISCOURSE WITH

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi compromising their standard of holiness and righteousness. This is because faithfulness, commitment, lifestyle, discipleship, consecration and zealousness of believers are growing cold. If it took only Nehemiah to change the course of the nation of Israel, we too can change the course of our nation in our modern times.

The seemingly casual information given to Nehemiah led to a purposeful mission and a great historic service for God’s glory. He took the information he received as a divine call. Although no direct appeal was made, he heard God’s call for a lifetime mission. The cry of the lost around us is a divine call for us to rise and save the lost. The awakened believer will answer God’s call without hesitation and at any cost. With Nehemiah’s kind of heart, we too can become agents of change in our nation.

He was concerned for the city of the Lord’s habitation from where His glory,

presence and power shone forth in days gone by. God’s sovereign rule and law came forth from Zion in Jerusalem to govern the nation. But as he recalled the past glory and saw the present degradation, his heart was broken and felt concerned for his people. The decreasing level of holiness, righteousness and integrity in our nation today should spur every concerned believer into action of rescuing the perishing.

2. CONSECRATION AND FOCUSED FASTING WITH PREVAILING PRAYER Nehemiah 1:4-6; Psalm 69:9,10; Joel 2:1; 2:12,13,15,16,17; Luke 18:7,8.

Generally, people who make historic changes are consecrated, devoted, determined and courageous.

They are willing to take risk; they recognise the reason God has placed them in a particular position. Like Moses, Joshua, Caleb, David etc., we

must be focused and consecrated in accomplishing the task that the Lord has committed into our hands.

Nehemiah’s deep concern led to a deep contrition, conviction and consecration. He wept and mourned certain days, not just at the time he heard the news. He fasted and prayed, seeking God’s face from the month of Chisleu to the month of Nisan. The desolation and the distress in our society today requires similar concern and prayerful commitment from us. He fasted and prayed, not in the public but before the God of heaven who sees in secret and would reward openly. Throughout the period of praying and fasting, seeking God’s guidance, wisdom, favour and divine providence, he remained engaged in the king’s palace as his cupbearer.

Nehemiah was a type of Christ who was rich but made himself poor. In answering God’s call, he was willing to sacrifice all the luxury and ease of his present position. He was also willing to toil and face danger and hostility from the surrounding communities. He exchanged his VIP robes for a soldier’s armour. With present devastation and destruction upon the land, there is need for us to wait upon the Lord. God will not move until the church moves His hand through prayer. For our prayer to be effective, it must be borne out of passion and concern for the spiritual condition and deprivation of the people.

With faith in our heart, family and church, nothing can hinder our prayer from being answered.

BIG PUNCH “Certainly, the second Boko Haram was the criminal gang attacking market places and killing and maiming people. But I said and I still maintain it that the biggest Boko Haram is the Federal Government itself because it has all the powers to stop anarchy particularly in the Northern part of the country” – General Buhari after CPC BoT.

SATURDAY 10 — SUNDAY 11, NOVEMBER, 2012

The clash of ignorance

Note. Radio Nigeria invited the present writer to deliver a lecture on ‘Religious Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence: Moslem and Christian Perspectives,’ as part of FRCN Annual October Lecture. The event held on October 11, 2012 at Shehu Yar’adua Centre, Abuja. The lecture inspired the present series which will cover a few weeks. The writer expresses profound gratitude to the leadership of Radio Nigeria for the opportunity.

Samuel P Huntington, a Professor of the Science of Government and former Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies at Harvard University, published an article titled ‘The Clash of Civilization?’ in 1993 summer edition of Foreign Affairs, which he later expanded and published under the title,The Clash of Civilization and the Remaking of World Order, 1996.

In it he proposes to America a thesis on a ‘crucial, indeed a central aspect of what global politics is likely to be in the coming years.’

It is a somewhat bold attempt at formulating a vision of the future a ‘new world’, and it attracted an instant world attention. Prof.

Huntington sets out the thrust of his thesis as follows: “It is my hypothesis that the fundamental source of conflict in this new world will not be primarily ideological or primarily economic.

The great divisions among humankind and the dominating source of conflict will be cultural.

Nation states will remain the most powerful actors in world affairs, but the principal conflicts of global politics will occur between nations and groups of different civilizations.

The clash of civilizations will dominate global politics. The fault lines between civilizations will be the battle lines of the future.”

Prof Huntington is, however, quick to point out that he is not advocating the desirability of conflict between civilizations as such, rather, he merely attempts to ‘set forth descriptive hypothesis as to what the future may be like.’

The world, he goes on to elaborate, has passed the stage where wars are fought in the name of states, or ideology or the like. The world has advanced to the next phase: ‘Conflict between civilizations will be the latest phase in the evolution of conflict in the modern world.’

He defines civilization as: ‘The highest cultural grouping of people and the broadest level of cultural identity people have short of that which distinguishes

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humans from other species.’ Those civilizations whose conflict with one another will shape the new world are: Western, Confucian, Japanese, Islamic, Hindu, SlavicOrthodox, Latin American and, ‘possibly’, African.

After wandering and meandering across the world, Prof Huntington finally arrives at his point of destination. The most significant conflict that will give birth to the ‘New World’ and in the process shape the future of mankind, he suggests, is the clash between Islam and the West. Both civilizations have been, according to him, in conflict for the last one thousand three hundred years and this military interaction is unlikely to decline; on the contrary, it will escalate and become more virulent. The unexpected and unwelcome resurgence of Islam in the recent decades, coupled with the spectacular population growth among Muslims, including those in Europe and America, ‘surely complicates relations between the Islamic countries and the West.’

In other words, the less Muslims, the better. Prof Huntington cites the ‘recurrent riots and communal violence between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria’ as a manifestation and also a harbinger of that inevitable global clash, while on a broader scale ‘the modernization of Africa and the spread of Christianity are likely to enhance the probability of violence along the fault lines.’

War between Islam and the West will be fought everywhere, no peace, no coexistence, no rational choices; Humankind will impulsively and thoughtlessly plunge themselves as in a frenzy into interminable wars of civilizations just for the sake of war. What is not clear, however, is where in Nigeria, for example, will the line of battle between the West and Islam be drawn, or the boundary between Islam and Christianity. The same can be said of Africa, and indeed of many other places around the globe where Huntington’s wars will be fought.

Prof Huntington hopes that in this perpetual war between Islam and the West in particular, and between the West and the other civilizations in general, the West will emerge the ultimate winner, even tough he would concede that such a prospect is very unlikely, and that in view of the nature of its rise and behavior over the centuries, the triumph of the West might not necessarily be for the

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WEEKEND Ibraheem Sulaiman sa427420@gmail.com

Radio House, Abuja. ultimate good of Mankind. He has already acknowledges that the rise of the West had depended mostly upon the exercise of force.

In many instances across the world this exercise of force had resulted in the extermination of races, the dispossession of large populations of their countries as well as the large scale, irreversible depletion of the resources and vital energies of nations. ‘The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion, but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence,’ Prof Huntington observes, adding that: ‘In the emerging world of ethnic conflict and civilizational clash, Western belief in the universality of Western culture suffers three problems: it is false; it is immoral and it is dangerous.’ Never before, it may be said, has there been a civilization as violent, as destructive, as bloody as Western civilization, its bloody, genocidal violence straddles the entire globe, and its inordinate ambitions and insatiable greed, backed by the most lethal weapons ever invented by the human genius, are capable of bringing human career on Earth to an abrupt, catastrophic end.

What then should the West do?

‘Islam,’ Prof Huntington asserts brazenly and unashamedly, ‘is the problem.’ Therefore Islam must be contained and undermined at all cost, at all time, everywhere. Prof Huntington proposes that, in the short term, the West must strive to limit the military strength of Muslim countries and undermine Islam

continuously through conflicts and wars. In the long term, he suggests, the West must maintain its military superiority, as well as economic and political hegemony.

He could not see the value and desirability of peace, of cooperation, of coexistence, of interdependence among the diverse people of the world; he could not visualize a moral equivalent of war because he imagines that humans are only capable of making war and are incapable of making peace; what appears to him as desirable and inevitable is perpetual war, exploitation and hegemony. Yet the human instinct almost always gravitates towards peace, harmony and justice.

Prof Edward Said, a global, peripatetic scholar who had lectured in more than one hundred universities across the world, responds to Prof Samuel Huntington in an article titled, ‘The Clash of Ignorance’, published in The Nation in October 2001. Prof Said argues that Huntington’s thesis emanates from ‘a clumsy and inelegant thinker’, who is ever anxious to grab the attention of the American establishment, in other words, a sycophant; it represents an obsequious intellectual justification and validation of American policy in the Middle East in particular and the larger Muslim world in general; the thesis is no more than a ‘reductive and vulgar notion’ which reduces highly complicated matters involving human identity, human civilization and indeed the dynamics of human destiny into

a cartoon like world ‘where Popeye and Bluto bash each other mercilessly, with one always more virtuous pugilist getting the upper hand over his adversary.’

A great deal of demagogy and downright ignorance is involved, Prof Edward Said states further, in Huntington’s presumption to speak for a whole religion or a whole civilization; therefore, not surprisingly, the outcome of his endeavor exposes ‘the purest invidious racism, a sort of parody of Hitlerian science directed against Arabs and Muslims.’ The hypothesis has only succeeded in reducing civilization to what it is not: ‘shut-down, sealed-off entities that have been purged of the myriad currents and countercurrents that animate human history, and that over centuries have made it possible for that history not only to contain wars of religion and imperial conquest but also to be one of exchange, cross-fertilization and sharing.’ This fact of history though less visible because less dramatic, is ignored by Prof Huntington ‘in the rush to highlight the ludicrously compressed and constricted warfare that “the clash of civilizations” argues is the reality,’ The whole idea of Islam versus the West misrepresents the reality in the world today. ‘Islam,’ Prof Edward Said says emphatically, ‘is no longer on the fringes of the West but at its center,’ as can be seen in the ever growing Muslim presence in all the major capitals of the West.

What is more, Islam’s humanism, science, philosophy, sociology and historiography were decisive in the making of the West, indeed, in the making of Humanity. In fact: ‘Islam is inside [the West] from the start.’ Humanity, that is, Westerners, Muslims and others alike, is swimming in the same ocean of history, and it is futile trying to plow or divide them with barriers. ‘These are tense times,’ Prof Edward Said concludes, ‘but it is better to think in terms of powerful and powerless communities, the universal principles of justice and injustice, than to wander off in search of vast abstractions that may give momentary satisfaction but little self-knowledge or informed analysis.

“The Clash of Civilizations” thesis is a gimmick, better for reinforcing defensive self-pride than for critical understanding of the bewildering interdependence of our time.’

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141