Peoples Daily Newspaper, Wednesday 13, March, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 10 No. 53

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Senate, Reps on collision course over immunity clause >> PAGE 2

Cardinals undecided on new Pope >> PAGE 8

Jimadal Ula 2, 1434 AH

N150

Oshiomhole, Adoke in verbal war over Oyerinde >> PAGE 3

INEC registration

APC unfit to govern - PDP ACN, CPC, ANPP plan mass protest We’ll remain in PDP - Governors

By Lawrence Olaoye, Abuja and Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday berated the

leadership of the opposition All Progressives’ Congress (APC) for its failure to register the party with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) insisting that such party is not fit

to govern the country.

There are also fresh indications that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) alongside other political

parties are seriously mobilizing to hold a mass action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for denying the newly formed political party its acronym, ‘APC’.

The PDP in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated that the failure of APC to get registered smacked of Contd on Page 2

The 115 cardinal-electors will vote four times a day in the Sistine Chapel until they agree by a two-thirds majority on which of them should take over as the new Pope.

Boko Haram is FG’s business, el-Rufai alleges From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

F

or what he describes as selfish reasons, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, has accused the Federal Government of wanting the Boko Haram insurgency to continue.

Speaking on a television programme monitored in Lagos, yesterday el-Rufai faulted

President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement suggesting that members of the Boko Haram group are ghosts.

According to him, state governments lack the capacity to tackle insurgent activities as they are not in charge of the security agencies. He tasked the Federal Government to prove its claimed determination to tackle the problem.

Questioning Jonathan’s tagging of Boko Haram as ghosts, el-Rufai said that, “over a thousand Boko Haram operatives are in the custody of the SSS in Abuja so, government cannot claim to not know who the terrorists are.

“I know the Federal Government has a lot of information about the Islamist group.

“What is lacking is the will to address this issue and I think the government just wants this to continue because it is profitable for the security agencies to have huge budgets, most of which is stolen.”

On a recent visit to the Boko Haram enclaves of Yobe and Borno state, Jonathan said that government would not grant Contd on Page 2

PD INDEX 8th March, 2013

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

BUYING 154.75 234.50 201.78 0.2878 41.26

SELLING 155.75 236.02 203.08 0.3078 41.52

PARALLEL RATES EURO £ RIYAL $

BUYING 208 254.50 42 157

SELLING 210 257.50 43 158

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

Property

24-27

Motoring

28

Arts

29-30

Senate, Reps head for dispute over immunity clause T

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

here were indications yesterday that the Senate is headed for a showdown with the House of Representatives over a bill in the lower chambers which is seeking to give immunity to its members.

The Senate Committee on Information and Communication yesterday criticised the controversial bill which passed second reading in the House last week.

According to the Senate committee, the existing Legislative Powers and Privileges Act gives every legislator immunity for whatever comment made on the floor of the National Assembly.

The committee’s Chairman, Enyinnaya Abaribe, told reporters that: “I think that the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act already gives every legislator immunity for whatever he or she says on the floor of the chamber, so that is

already a settled law and fact.”

Although he admitted that the bill was yet to be brought before the Senate, Abaribe said it would be surprising if somebody is asking for immunity outside of the chambers of the National Assembly.

He said: “Why will anybody ask for such because we do not want to grant anybody such immunity.

“I had brought up this matter of privileges, something that

happened at the floor of the National Assembly and I think I brought it up when they tried to arrest somebody within this place by either the EFCC or so and I think that is a breach of our privileges.”

Abaribe explained further that anybody who comes to the National Assembly to give evidence is granted immunity to say the truth and that nobody can arrest such a witness.

“But there is no way immunity will be provided by the National Assembly for the actions of the lawmakers outside the floor,” he said.

Niger records 17 deaths from measles From Iliya Garba, Minna

T

he Niger state government confirmed yesterday that the area 17 persons have died out of the 619 cases of measles in the area since the outbreak of the disease in January.

According to the Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services, Dr Ibrahim

Babamini Sule, who briefed reporters in Minna, the disease was first reported on the January 1 at Edati local government area of the state and has since spread to 14 other local government areas of Bosso, Borgu, Chanchanga, Lapai, Mariga, Mokwa, Agwara, Gbako, Lavun, Munya, Shiroro, Rijau, Paikoro and Suleja.

Sule noted that but for the

early intervention by the Ministry, aggressive awareness and sensitization campaigns, the situation could have been worse.

He said that government in collaboration with development partners was able to give free treatment to the affected persons.

“The Ministry was also able to deploy measles vaccines to the

affected local government areas for reactive immunization and also stepped up surveillance of the disease in the state,” Sule said.

Measles is air-borne viral infection which affects all age groups, he noted, adding the disease can be prevented through immunisation which according to him, is free in all government hospitals and clinics.

APC unfit to govern — PDP We’ll build 49 new hotels in Nigeria within 3years, says Hawthorn, Page 21

Int’l

31-33

Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-45

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Contd from Page 1 planlessness and political naivety on the part of the opposition.

According to the PDP, the APC would drive the country to sociopolitical and economic abyss if entrusted with power, given the inability of the party to constructively plan.

PDP said that “the reality on the ground has shown that the leaders of the APC were all the while grandstanding; writing footnotes and glossary even when the first chapter of their history was yet to be successfully written.

“Nigerians are here confronted with an irony! It is an irony of a political party which without adequate planning, without a solid working rhythm, yet wishes to be entrusted to its effete, shaky shoulders, the fate of over 160 million Nigerians.

"Fortunately, Nigerians are witnessing first hand, the thoughtlessness and carelessness of the self-acclaimed political messiahs, a fore warning that the nation, her people and our democracy are all in jeopardy should they be entrusted with power. How can a group who could not conclude the basic as in due registration of its name be able to manage the affairs of Nigeria at this moment of critical challenge," the statement asked.

It added: "The APC and its conjugants -the ACN, CPC, ANPP and others have once more advertised their boastful and deceitful predilection. Who could imagine that their coalition was yet to be registered before its leaders started throwing red rag to the bull?"

Meanwhile the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it had received a notice of registration from a party, the African Peoples Congress, APC, and therefore may not be able to register the newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC, has attracted reactions from stakeholders in the merger process.

Stakeholders in the opposition yesterday met in Lagos with civil society groups and student union leaders to strategize on plans to stage grand protests in Lagos and Abuja against INEC’s decision not to register the APC. The stakeholders reiterated the alarm raised by General Muhammadu Buhari that the PDP may have entered into alliance with the INEC and the Police and also described the recent quizzing of the former Zamfara governor, Senator Sani Yarima as indicative of the PDP’s tyranny.

The ACN Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, said INEC was being used to cause chaos in the country. According to Igbokwe, “We said it that INEC has merged with PDP and some people thought we were lying.

Now the chicken has come home to roost. Did INEC not see the efforts put in place by the progenitors of APC? Did INEC not see how APC emerged through an excruciating process? Now INEC must deregister the so-called moribund APC and register the real All Progressives Congress in the interest of peace in this country and for the growth of democracy.

INEC should recall what happened in 1999 before the

registration of Alliance for Democracy (AD). INEC must not play with Nigeria,” he warned.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the INEC claim, as articulated by Mr. Kayode Idowu, the spokesman for INEC Chairman, is not supported by the relevant sections of the Electoral Act regulating the registration of a political party.

According to him, no party today with the acronym APC has applied to INEC to be registered, adding that even the phantom African Peoples Congress - which is being allegedly sponsored by the PDP to lay claim to the acronym - has only written a letter of intent, which has not even been discussed by INEC, let alone the commission taking any decision on it. ''The statement credited to Mr. Idowu is therefore reckless and provocative and clearly betrays INEC as truly having merged with the PDP to frustrate the merger of the progressives under the banner of the All Progressives' Congress (APC). One wonders who the spokesman is speaking for and what interest he represents. He should therefore be called to order before he sets the country ablaze,'' the ACN said.

In a separate development,the PDP Governors’ Forum yesterday debunked the claims made by the former Zamfara state governor, Senator Sani Yarima, that some of its members were planning to join the newly formed opposition’s All Progressive Congress (APC).

Briefing newsmen after a

meeting on Monday, the Chairman of the forum and Akwa Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio, told newsmen that the governors were instead working to win some other states into its fold by the 2015 general elections.

Akpabio also declared that the forum has set up a 5-man security advisory committee to collaborate with the federal government in tackling the security challenges confronting the country.

Members of the security advisory committee chaired by Governor Murtal Nyako of Adamawa state are Governors Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano) and Theodore Orji (Abia).

Boko Haram is FG’s business, el-Rufai alleges Contd from Page 1

amnesty to members of the Boko Haram, describing them as ghosts.

However, the President noted that government was willing to extend the amnesty option if the insurgents reveal their identities even as he assured that they would not be prosecuted.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar had earlier advocated amnesty for members of the Muslim group as part of measures of checking their deadly activities in parts of the north.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 3

Oyerinde: Oshiomhole, Adoke fight in Aso Rock

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

M

embers of the National Council of State were apparently shocked yesterday when two prominent Nigerians threw public decorum to the winds as they came short of engaging in fisticuffs right inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.

Few minutes before President Goodluck Jonathan entered the Chambers to signal the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting, Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole and the Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) were seen exchanging hot arguments over the handling of the former’s aide, Olaitan

Oyerinde.

The altercation almost degenerated into a physical combat before the intervention of Delta state Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadhome, and the President's speech writer, Matts Aikhionbare.

Oyerinde, Oshiomhole’s Principal Private Secretary was murdered in his home in Benin just before the Edo state gubernatorial election on May 4, 2012, an incident that sparked off a chain of crises.

While Oshiomhole has consistently accused the police of complicity and refusal to carry out a diligent prosecution of the case, the matter was recently referred to the office of the Attorney General

of the Federation, by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG).

Yesterday’s fire was ignited by Adoke who left his seat and moved to meet Oshiomhole.

Adoke told the Governor that the Commissioner of Justice in Edo state was at fault for the mismanaging the case.

This however angered Oshiomhole who stood up to Adoke and accused him of trivializing the killing of his aide.

He accused the Minister of blaming his Commissioner wrongly whereas it was the DIG who referred the case to him.

The two men then squared up to each other and began trading words which nearly led to a physical duel.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Oshiomhole berated the Attorney General and accused him of not only trivializing the issue but also disrespecting his office and person.

Oshiomhole insisted that the matter was wrongly referred to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and MInister of Justice by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG instead of the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

“I don’t think it is an issue I want to talk about because the issue is that, he was saying my Attorney General should have known what to do, that he has nothing to do with the matter and I simply asked him who referred the matter to him.

“Should we assume that the DIG did not know that the offence of murder is a state offence?

“Here I am and my Private Secretary is killed nobody seems to

bother, I am doing my best to raise the issue because that is the least I owe to someone who gave his life and someone else who does not think life is important begins to trivialise and joke about it.

In his reaction, Adoke told reporters that, “I will not disregard his office, he is my personal friend, I have the highest respect for him.

He is a governor in this country but I will not join issues with him.

“I did not trivialize his office and I have no reason to trivialize his office. He is at liberty as a governor in this country to say whatever he wants to say but I will accord his office the highest respect and I will not join issues with him.”

The meeting was also attended

by Senate President, David Mark, Speaker House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, Former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, former President Shehu Shagari, and Ernest Shonekan.

NNPC debunks claims of N142.7bn debt to FG

…accuses Hon. Jibrin of smear campaign

By Aminu Imam

T

Yobestate Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam (right), inspecting new Prado Jeeps and Hilux four-wheel drive vehicles procured for emirs to facilitate their official activities, yesterday in Damaturu. With him is his deputy, Engr. Abubakar D. Ali (2nd right), and other officials.

Confusion over 'state pardon' granted Alamieyeseigha, others

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

here was confusion and uncertainty all over the country yesterday as a story broke in the afternoon that President Goodluck Jonathan had granted a state pardon to some former convicts including former governor of Bayelsa state, DSP Alamieyeseigha.

While the Council of State meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Council Chambers did not produce any results as State House correspondents were not briefed on the outcome, the entire social medi a and Internet was awash with the stories that some ex-convicts and coup plotters had been granted state pardon by the Council.

According to an online news medium Premium Times, “the

Council of States headed by President Goodluck Jonathan, Tuesday afternoon, granted state pardon to his former boss and exBayelsa State Governor, Diepreiye Alamieyeisegha.

“The former governor, who was convicted for embezzling state funds while he was Bayelsa state governor, was pardoned alongside another convict and former head of the Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama."

The story continued: "Mr. Bulama, like Mr. Alamieyeisegha was investigated and later prosecuted for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. “Sources at the meeting say the Council meeting, attended by three former heads of states and some state governors also granted state pardon to some of those convicted for coup plotting by the

Sani Abacha administration."

The same medium had earlier in the day reported exclusively that the President would at the Council meeting present a memo requesting that the former governor and some others be granted state pardon.

It wasn't clear at the time of going to press if the President actually presented the said memo or if the Council discussed that matter at all.

Calls made to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to confirm the story confirmed that the story did not emanate from that office just like none of the former leaders, governors, deputy governors or ministers that attended the Council of State meeting in the State House briefed the media on the outcome.

The meeting started by 11am

and ended by 2: 30 pm Meanwhile, a News Agency of Nigeria alert had been sent to journalists confirming the story.

The alert read: "FG grants state pardon to DSP Alamieyeseigha, Oladipo Diya, late Gens. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua and Abdul Kareem Adisa, Maj. Belo Magaji, Muhammed Lima Biu, ex-Gov. Shettima Bulama."

Critics of the administration had already hit the social media to launch all sort of vitriolic attacks on the government for such an unpopular decision.

The confusion however intensified when another alert came from NAN later in the night to deny the earlier alert.

The second alert read: "Kindly disregard earlier SMS on state pardon for Alamieyeseigha and six others. Thanks"

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), yesterday debunked the claim of the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, over his insistence that it owes the Federal Government the sum of N142.7bn in unremitted internally generated revenues.

The NNPC explained that it has not made any profit in its operations since 2009 from which it should pay 80% into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government as mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act. The Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, made this clarification yesterday at a press conference held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, where he accused Jibrin of carrying out a smear campaign against the Corporation.

The GMD, who was represented by the General Manager, Media Relations, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, explained that he had clarified the issue of internally generated revenue by the corporation before Jibrin and his Committee in early February when he stated that the Corporation was running at a loss as a result of operational constraints such as demurrage, price regulation of petroleum products, pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.

“At that meeting, it was agreed that the Committee would get the Office of the Accountant General (OAGF) to raise a team along with some members of the Committee within seven days to look at the Corporation’s books and we promised to cooperate. It should be noted that one week after that meeting, no one visited us at the NNPC,” he explained.

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Gunmen kill two PDP chieftains in Maiduguri *As four insurgents killed in failed police station attack

U

People waiting to fetch water at a public tap on Wunti Street in Bauchi as scarcity of water hits some parts of the metropolis, yesterday.

Photo: NAN

Senate backs sacking of customs staff

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

S

enate has upheld the disengagement of Inimfon Chris, former staff of the Nigerian Customs Service, saying it is in line with the laid down rules as contained in Section 1(d) of Official Gazette No 15, which prohibits inconsistency in the records of service of staff.

It also rejected the recommendation by the committee for expunging of section 1(d) of the official gazette which provides that “a female Officer, on first appointment shall be un-married for an initial period of two years after which she should apply in writing for permission (to get married)”.

Presenting the report, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Ayo Akinyelure, said that during the investigation, the committee observed that the petitioner was not fighting for reinstatement into the service, but for the generality of women who are being discriminated by the obnoxious section1(d).

He therefore called for the expunging of the section, saying that unless this is done by relevant authorities, the relief being sought by the petitioner may not be granted.

In their debates, the senators criticised the section 1(d), saying it was contradictory to the constitution of the country, which allows basic freedoms to Nigerians.

Others pointed out that the committee has not been able to unravel the reason why she was sacked, suggesting that further investigation be done to ascertain the true circumstance surrounding the petition.

Customs impounds N200m goods, arrests 7 suspects From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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astern Zone (Benin axis) of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) said yesterday that it has recovered a haul of assorted seizures with a duty paid value (DPV) of worth over N200 million and arrested seven suspected smugglers.

Deputy Comptroller, Hassan Shallangwa at a news briefing yesterday in Benin on

anti-smuggling activities of the Service, said the feat was achieved in three months, adding that it was a clear testimony of how patriotic zeal supported by purposeful leadership could achieve for the nation.

Items seized include 4002 cartons of frozen poultry products, 176 bales of second hand clothings, 9,540 pairs of footwears, 900 pieces of ladies bags, 900 used tyres,

11 used vehicles and furniture.

Mr. Shallangwe explained that apart from the health hazard of consuming imported frozen chicken with questionable preservation, the continued importation of the products would affect the nation’s quest for robust agriculture sector, just as he highlighted the dangers of driving with imported used tyres.

Senate confirms appointment of five FCSC commissioners

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Senate yesterday confirmed the appointment of four new commissioners into the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) whose names were sent to it by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Those appointed were Ngozi Etolue, who will be representing Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states; Hope Odhuluma Ikiriko from Rivers to represent Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states; Aminu Diyo Sheidu, from Kogi, will represent Kogi and Kwara states.

Others are Emmanuel Ihedioha, from Abia, for Imo and Abia states, and Joseph Akande representing Osun and Oyo states in the commission.

However, during the debate, Itah Enang, PDP Bayelsa, raised objection to the existing irregularity in the number of states that form a cluster.

He argued that there is no justification for about three states to be represented by one person,

while in some cases, two states have one person representing them in the commission, saying this was injustice.

He opposed the allotment of two slots to Osun and Oyo states, where one of the commissioners and the chairman of the commission hails from, saying the chairman should represent the cluster.

However, other senators who spoke, pointed out that the senate could not change the system immediately, without first amending the Act establishing the FCSC. Others observed that there was no formula to ensure equitable distribution of the commissioners to the states, since the constitution only allowed a maximum of 15 members.

In his defence, the chairman of the screening committee, Aloysius Etok, explained that the traditional method of the sharing had been based on giving one post to some states which were split owing to state creation.

In his ruling, Deputy Senate

President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, congratulated the new appointees, urging them to work hard towards improving the standard and integrity of the civil service.

nidentified gunmen yesterday shot and killed two prominent members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno state.

The deceased are the PDP Zonal Vice Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Gula, who was reportedly shot in the head, near his close to the Maiduguri international Hotel, Hajiya Gambo, a PDP woman, who was murdered in her house at Shehuri North.

Eyewitness accounts said that the gunmen entered Hajiya Gambo’s compound, disguising as party loyalist and awaited her return.

On returning to the house, the killers were said to have shot her several times at close range.

When contacted, state Police Command and the Joint Task Force declined comments. Our correspondent reports that this is the first time PDP would be a target since the state was plunged into conflicts arising from activities of insurgents in the area.

A PDP source blamed Boko Haram, saying that it may not be unconnected with the recent proclamation by President Goodluck Jonathan that the Federal Government will not grant amnesty to members of the group as he described them as ghosts.

And on Monday evening, gunmen suspected to be terrorists again launched a fresh attack on Gamboru Ngala police station but policemen on duty there repelled the attack and reportedly killed four of the attackers while five policemen were reportedly injured.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin, told our Correspondent that the gunmen launched an attack on Gamboru police station but that it was a failed attack.

Civil Defense officer killed in Benue From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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n officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC James Nathaniel serving in Apa local government area of Benue State was last weekend murdered in his farm at Kaduna K’Olijamu in Edikwu ward by unknown gunmen.

Peoples Daily learnt that James was working on his farm alone when some armed men ambushed, over powered and him shot dead.

Worried by his long stay on the farm, unsuspecting family members went to the farm only to discover his dead body which

has since been deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Ugbokpo, headquarters of the local government.

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Philip Agena, who confirmed the incident said investigation has commenced into the matter.

The council chairman, Owoicho Oyi and the traditional ruler of Apa Odejo K’Apa have condemned the killing of the officer, describing it as ‘barbaric and unacceptable’.

Both officials urged the family as well as the community to remain calm as government was doing everything to bring the perpetrators of the act to book.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 5

Ex-militants on rampage, attack hotel in Uyo From Mike Etim, Uyo

A

fter what seems to be a lull in the activities of militants in the Niger Delta, apparently due to the Federal Government amnesty

programme, a new wave of insurgent attacks seems to have resumed as hundreds of exmilitants attacked PXIMAKO Hotel in Eket, Cross Rivers state.

This is the facility where several of them were being lodged

NHRC trains police personnel

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

N

ational Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commenced a nationwide training of police personnel following a request by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed.

Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, who disclosed this yesterday, said police officers are being trained on Fundamental Human Rights as contained in Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Convention Against Torture (CAT) and other instruments which highlight international human rights standards in policing. Other topics, according to the Executive

Secretary, include "rights of suspects to be treated with dignity" and "respect and proportionality in the use of force during arrests and while monitoring protests".

He said the training of officers on human rights was part of efforts by the Commission and the police to address the frequent incidents of human rights violations in police operations across the country.

Angwe said the Commission had developed a comprehensive training manual which will be used for training in police colleges throughout the country.

The training sessions which are part of the training schedule for promotion in police training institutions are being conducted in 14 centres across the country.

for the documentation exercise under the third phase of the amnesty programme.

The rampaging ex-militants according to the proprietor of the hotel, Akparawa Okon, destroyed property worth millions of Naira.

Okon said the militants were checked in by one Air Commodore Ikpe, an official of the Inter Agency Task Force set up by the Federal Government to carry out verification and reconciliation of disarmaments, as well as the documentation of the residual ex-militants who recently surrendered large cache of weapons, including, six browning machine guns, rocket launchers, and AK-47 rifles.

Okon told reporters that,

"more than 800 dreaded men from the creeks of the Niger Delta invaded my hotel destroying property worth millions of naira both at the reception and in the rooms; they destroyed all the television sets, gadgets and other electrical appliances. Other guests that were also lodging in the hotel have packed out." To stop the militants from further destruction of the hotel, members of the JTF were drafted in, who came in firing teargas to disperse them.

Reports said that trouble started when 800 ex-militants were lodged in 15 rooms in the hotel.

Due to the inconveniencies,

investigation revealed, the militants went berserk destroying property in the facility and complaining of lack of comfortable accommodation and inadequate feeding arrangements by the amnesty officials, as more than 30 persons were squeezed into a single room.

In a related development, aggrieved youths of Akwa Ibom origin numbering over 5,000 stormed the venue for the documentation exercise demanding that they be included in the amnesty programme.

They were however prevented from attacking the leader of the exmilitants, Commander Godsgift Egulea, who insisted that they were not genuine ex-militants.

Army prepares second battalion for Mali

By Joy Baba

T

he Nigerian Army says it is currently training a second battalion in Kachia for the Africa-led Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) as precautionary who will be deployed to that country soon.

The measure, according to the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, who spoke yesterday in Abuja during the Nigerian Army monthly press briefing, is to ensure a rotation of the troops.

According to him, the federal Government has aided the Army to procure 35 desert terrain vehicles for deployment for the AFISMA operation which will soon be deployed, after some modifications by the Nigerian Army Electrical

Gunmen attack school, injure headmaster, two others in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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unmen on Tuesday shot and injured three primary school teachers, including the Headmaster of HauaswaDanmaliki Primary school in Kumbotso local government area of Kano state.

Eye witnesses said that the incident happened at about 8: 30 am, shortly after some of the teachers reported for work.

"Nobody can tell whether the suspected gunmen were on tricycle or not but I just heard the gunshots," one of the eyewitnesses said.

A police who does not want to be named confirmed the report adding that the victims were taken to the hospital and later discharged.

Engineers. This he said will increase the operational efficiency of Nigerian contingents in Mali.

He also noted that it has become mandatory for all Nigerian Army units earmarked for peace support operations in various missions around the world to undergo pre- induction training at the Nigerian Army Peace keeping Centre, Jaji.

These trainings he said include Laws of Arms Conflict; Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency, in line with best global practices.

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he House of Representatives has commenced investigation into the circumstances leading to an alleged deportation of some foreign construction workers.

The decision of the lawmakers followed the overwhelming adoption of a motion by Razak BelloOsagie (ACN, Edo) who regretted that one Yaniv Dabah, an Israeli who works with RCC, a construction company handling the renovation of 5 Junction in Benin City, Edo state, ran into trouble after making clarification on the status of the reconstruction,

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke; Senate President David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives,Hon. AminuWaziriTambuwal, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, and former President ShehuShagari, during the Council of State meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Good governance tour: Reps to probe alleged deportation of foreign workers flood control and beautification project.

According to him, "it was noted that during the recent good governance tour led by the Minister of Information, the erroneous impression was created that it was a Federal government project.

"We are however aware that upon further enquiry, Dabah clarified that the project was indeed being executed by the Edo state government. "It is disturbing that

after the clarification, Dabah was subsequently deported from Nigeria, a situation that portends a grave consequence for the completion of the project and the country's image at large.

"At a time we are clamouring for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the power sector, oil and gas as well as manufacturing, what impression are we creating with this manner of deportation? "Even if the man was having immigration

APRA appoints Sule Ya'u Sule summit coordinator

T

he African Public Relations Association (APRA), a professional body that guides and regulates the practice of public relations in the African continent, is to organise the 1st All African Public Relations Practitioners Summit to mark the 50th anniversary of the African Union (AU).

Scheduled to hold between May 8 and 10 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the APRA in a statement named a Fellow of

the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and seasoned media relations practitioner, Malam Sule Ya'u Sule, to coordinate and mobilize all delegates, sponsors, advertisers and exhibitors from the northern part of Nigeria for the summit.

The statement jointly signed by the APRA President, Mr. Peter Mutie of Kenya, and the Secretary, Mr. Yomi Badejo of Nigeria, explained that the summit is designed to draw stakeholders from across

the continent and beyond in order to herald the journey towards a more positively perceived and prosperous Africa.

According to the statement, "the summit is also expected to bring together about 1,000 professionals in broadcast, print journalism, film making, advertising, branding, publishing, new media and communication generally from within and outside the African continent.

issues, why wait till after making clarifications on who engaged his company on a particular project.

Why can't we play by rules of engagement? "This man is clearly a casualty for telling the truth. The development is unfortunate, what is wrong in correcting an impression.

"Could the deportation be a backlash of Edo state Governor's refusal to commit his state's resources to the good governance tour?

"This is the most profound executive rascality and is clearly unacceptable to any civilized society; people should not be sacrificed for telling the truth."

The motion was overwhelmingly supported when it was put to voice vote by the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha.

The legislators mandated the House committees on Works, Foreign Affairs, and Interior to investigate the the said project and the circumstances surrounding the deportation of Yadiv and report back to the House within four weeks.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

UniAbuja: Engineering students redeployed to FUT Minna, 5 others

By Maryam Garba Hassan

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ontroversy surrounding the accreditation of some faculties in the University of Abuja which has hindered smooth academic activities in the last one year, may have been addressed with the federal government's decision to distribute engineering students to other universities in the country to enable them graduate.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja at a press briefing, the Chairman, Task Force Team of the University, Professor Chimede Mafina, said the visitation panel discovered that the University may not graduate the students.

Therefore, he said, the National Universities Commission (NUC )

shortlisted six universities in the country to send the students adding that already the team have collected details of each students of the faculty and have met with the institutions' VCs and Deans to accept the students.

He said final year students of the faculty would be sent to the Federal University of Technology, Minna while the rest will be sent to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Univerty, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, (MAUTECH), University of Illorin, and Federal University of Technology, Akure.

According to him, the 500 level students sent to FUT Minna, would go through 1 year of rigorous

practicals but would graduate with the University of Abuja certificate.

"Presently, we are transmitting their transcripts and no student without the requirements which include JAMB result and the five science subjects will be admitted into any of the universities".

Prof Mafina further explained that a major problem discovered by the team, were the qualifications used by some of the students to gain admission into the institution.

He said that year one students of the faculty would proceed on leave of absence and join the universities in a new academic year.

Veterinary medicine students,

he said, have received the node to proceed for their clinical while the Medicine students would know their fate when the team returned to the school adding that everything has been put in place for the Agriculture faculty which has no regulatory body, to take off soon.

Commending the universities Senates and VCs for accommodating the students, Mafiana said NUC would provide logistics and additional support to the universities for the staff and students.

Fielding questions from the press, Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja, Professor Sunde Adelabu, said the University would resume on March 18, 2013.

L-R: Nigerian Ambassador to United States of America Ambassador Ade Adefuye and US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terence McCulley, jointly briefing journalists after their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on the American investors, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

T

A

non-governmental organisation, Alliance for Good Governance, (AGG) said it has uncovered plans by a "faceless group of people" to launch a campaign of calumny against the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The group in a statement signed yesterday in Abuja by its Chairman, Comrade Shadrack Nwokolo and Secretary , Olujimi Sanwo said the arrowhead of the group was a top official of NIS who has promised not to relent in her plans to portray NIS in a bad light.

AGG said, the group has enlisted the service of an editor of a national daily with its headquarters in Lagos, in reaching out to other media outfits to carry out falsehood on NIS with a view to discredit the Ministry of Interior .

It revealed that the modus operandi in executing the plans include sponsored articles and advertisements in national radio and television, newspapers and magazines and social media alleging monumental corruption and sharp practices.

The group noted that the passport department of NIS would get the first blast from the faceless group.

By Abdulwahab Isa

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FAAN, private firms set to provide power at MMIA he Federal Government disclosed yesterday that plans are underway to build an independent power plant that will supply electricity to the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and communities around it.

The partnership would come under a public, private sector arrangement powered by gas.

Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. George Uriesi told reporters that the plant "will assist to address the shortfall in electricity supply to the terminals at the airport, which has been a major challenge for the airport authority for many years."

Speaking at the inauguration of 'Things Remembered', an eatery at the remodelled Domestic Terminal in Lagos, he said airports would be remodeled to create facilities that would boost passenger traffic, adding that with the expansion of the general aviation terminal, the facility could

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

FG dumps estimates in budget planning

Photo Joe Oroye.

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

Group 'uncover'plan to rubbish NIS

accommodate over four million passengers annually as against the 1. 8 passengers it handled in the past.

He said, "very soon Chinese investors will commence the construction of brand new international terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano,following the conclusion of

the discussions with a high powered delegation sent to China by the Federal Government to sort out the details of the agreement."

According to him, the agency worked out a new template to engage private sector investors into the sector to convince government of how the business would be funded within six months

of signing any concession agreement.

"The new template is coming on the heels of the sour experience between FAAN and some concessionaires, who will reach an agreement, fail to demonstrate any seriousness, only to come after some years to make ridiculous claims."

FG decries lack of American investors in infrastructure devt

By Miriam Humbe

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he Federal Government has lamented the lack of interest by American investors in the country's infrastructure development.

Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen, who expressed this concern while playing host to a delegation of Corporate Council on African's Infrastructure Trade Mission in Abuja, said that despite the huge infrastructure gap in the country, American investors had not shown much interest in it.

The meeting was facilitated by the Nigerian Ambassador to America, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye while the delegation was led by the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terence Maccully.

Onolememen told the visitors that the ministry had in October last year held an infrastructure conference in Washington DC to draw the attention of American investors to the huge investment opportunities in the infrastructure sector of the Nigerian economy.

He called on them to invest in the country's infrastructure

sector; noting that the federal government could not shoulder the responsibility alone.

Onelememen wants American collaboration in the areas of transportation, Information and Communication Technology, energy, housing, agriculture, water and minning.

Responding, the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terence Maccully said Nigeria had the potential for investment but however, American businessmen would take opportunities in roads, housing, aviation and food processing.

he era of basing annual budget composition on estimates and guess work is over, the nation's Accountant General, Mr. Jonah Otunla declared yesterday at a sensitization programme for the police in Abuja.

He also disclosed that the introduction of Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) by the federal government to ascertain exactness of government workforce in MDAs had saved over N100 billion for the government.

He said that the "federal government wants to integrate payroll with payments to plan budgets for its employees for advancement, including personnel emolument".

Otunla lamented that "often, the personnel component of IPPIS is ignored in comparison to the payroll component."

He assured the police their salaries will be paid more regularly just as he exonerated his office from delays in police pay.

He told payroll officers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that "IPPIS is not designed to retrench workers because federal government wants to plan for para-military as well so we are asking for their support,that is why the sensitization programme with the police was initiated", he said In his remarks, Inspector General of Police represented by Commissioner of Police Abdulsalam Iyaji, said he wants "IPPIS to recognize peculiarities in terms of size, location, movement, promotion and attendant salary increases, reaction of personnel to delay of salaries for the police."

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY,MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 7

Low patriotism threatens Nigerian’s unity, says Methodist bishop

By Stanley Onyekwere

A L-R: Nigeria’s Ambassador to Senegal, Ambassador Katyen C. Jackden, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, during their meeting with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs over the killing of Nigerians in Senegal, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

150, 000 Nigerians jostle for NIMC jobs

By Adeola Tukuru

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n an effort to beef up its staff strength, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) recently conducted aptitude test in six locations spread across the country.

A press release signed by the Director, Corporate Communication, Anthony Okwudiafor said over 150,000 unemployed Nigerians responded to the recruitment adverts which appeared in six national dailies and a dedicated website.

The examination which

covered questions in current affairs, Mathematics and English, was essentially computer/IT driven.

The purpose of this, the Director, Human Capital management, Ms Winifred Ojeih said was to provide a level playing field for all qualified Nigerians who are desirous of working in the Commission.

She further reiterated that, Nigerians have equal right to work in the commission once they excel in the aptitude test and oral interview session planned for this month.

Meanwhile, the DG/CEO NIMC, Barrister Chris

Onyemenam has warned applicants not to be conned into offering money to anybody in order to secure an employment.

He emphasized that anybody caught either receiving or giving money, would be handed over to the Law enforcement agencies for persecution, noting that employment into NIMC is not for sale.

“We have set up a transparent recruitment process in NIMC whereby only the most qualified applicants from each state of the federation will be offered the opportunity to work in the commission”, the DG asserted.

Furthermore, consistent with the mandate of the commission, enrolment centres have been opened in all state capitals in the country, while efforts are ongoing in extending enrolment centres to all local government headquarters before the end of the next quarter.

“We are encouraged with the public response to the enrolment exercise so far and we are looking forward to enrolling over 100million Nigerians once the enrolment exercise commences in full scale by next quarter” Onyemenam retorted.

Plateau CPC suspends four exco members UNESCO pledges to submitted their report and promote media in Nigeria From Musa Pam, Jos recommended the suspension

By Adeola Tukuru

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he Officer-in-Charge and Country Representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Abuja, Prof. Hassana Alidou has reiterated the commitment of the Organisation to media development in Nigeria.

Prof Alidou, said this yesterday in Ido-Ani community in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State during the opening ceremony of a two-day community based workshop on ‘Building Community Radio in Nigeria’ organized by the Nigeria Community Radio Coalition and supported by UNESCO International Programme for the

development of Communication (IPDC).

Prof Hassana, who was represented at the workshop by the organisation’s National Programme Officer for Communication and Information, Mr. Oluseyi Soremekun, explained that media development was one of the indices of a democratic society and therefore, should be promoted with all seriousness.

She noted that community radio as a symbol of media pluralism would promote community access to organ of communication and freedom of expression.

Community radio, she observes, “acts as the voice of the rural people, the underprivileged in the society.”

T

he Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Plateau State chapter said that, it has approved the suspension of four of its state and local government executive members, during its meeting, held in Jos. The party in a press statement made by its Secretary, Pastor Dabit Joseph, yesterday to Peoples Daily in Jos, said the meeting arrived at the decision after it “adopted and approved the report of the investigation committee of its Jos North Chapter, on an alleged misconduct of some party members.”

The statement read, “The teaming supporters of our great party CPC, Jos-North LGC,

of the following persons, namely Dauda Ibrahim - State treasurer, Sani Gangare - State Assistant Secretary, Sani Kura - Organizing Secretary Jos North Chapter and Shehu Bala - a member.”

The party said, anyone who transacts any official matter with the suspended persons in its name does so in his/ her risk expressing its determination to flush out bad eggs from its ranks, as it prepares towards the ongoing merger of parties.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the suspended three officials and a member of the party, were alleged to have collected huge sums of money from somewhere to work against the party.

s activities to mark the celebration of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates into Nigeria gains momentum, Nigerians have not demonstrated sufficient patriotism that could make her stand the test of time, Bishop of Methodist church Nigeria, Nyanya Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel R. Nortey has said.

By 2014 when the fusion would be celebrated, the country would have been 100 years old.

Speaking recently at the 3rd annual synod of the church with the theme: “What if the Lord has not been on our side”, held at the All Saints Methodist Church, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, the bishop held that lack of patriotism has led to unaccountability and mindless corruption both in high and low places, thereby retarding her growth.

According to him, Nigerians have not demonstrated sufficient patriotism that could make them stand the test of time; and this has affected the way some of her public and civil Servants have dealt treacherously with her common fund and image.

“No doubt for a nation with rich and diverse cultures, languages and belief systems, the journey for these hundred years has not been easy as the people have witnessed much bloodshed, maiming of innocent people, reckless destruction of lives and properties.

“Let us learn to be patriotic, love our dear fatherland, cultivate faith in this nation, learn to forgive and remain focused and resolute that the Nigeria Project must not only succeed but triumph”, he said.

Explaining the theme of the synod, the bishop said it was taken from the Psalm of David, Psalm 124 of the Holy Bible; which presents the Exile’s song of deliverance can be referred to as The Psalm of our Divine Ally”, adding that “there may be very few who are willing to stand with us in our effort to be separated unto God, but one with Him is ever in the majority.”

Earlier in his address to the synod, the Prelate, Methodist church Nigeria, Dr S. Ola Mankinde, said except during the Military incursion into politics, this was the time Nigeria needs prayers most.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 8

Black smoke emerges from the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating that cardinals have failed to elect a new pope.

Cardinals undecided on new Pope

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he 115 cardinals tasked to elect the next leader of the 1.2bn Catholics have entered a second round after the first round failed to produce the Pope.Failure of this emergence was signalled yesterday when the black smoke was sighted from the Sistine Chapel chimney.

The black smoke comes as predicted earlier by a church spokesman confirming the cardinals were unlikely to elect a pope by Tuesday night, when only one balloting is expected.

This event drives the search into a second round of elections today.

The cardinals will vote four times daily until two-thirds can agree on a candidate. If after 33 or 34 ballots no pope is elected, the two candidates with the highest votes will go into a runoff in which only a simple majority is required.

Reports from Europe strongly suggest perception that the church needed to be more flexible with

changes in the modern world.

As it stands, there is no clear frontrunner but about a dozen names had emerged as likely candidates to be the next pope, though Archbishop Angelo Scola

of Milan was the bookmakers’ favourite.

“He is seen as a safe pair of hands”.

But analysts submit that he being Italian would count against

him as there was a large push within the church to elect a nonEuropean as pope.

Possible candidates from the developing world include Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana,

Cardinals attend mass at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican before the start of the papal conclave yesterday.

Argentina-born Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, and Cardinal Odilo Scherer, the archbishop of Sao Paulo in Brazil who is of German descent. Nigeria’s Cardinal John Onaiyekan is also among those to decide the next Pope.

Nigerian Cardinal John Onaiyekan is surrounded by the media on March 11 as he leaves the final congregation before Cardinals entered the conclave to vote for a new pope.

Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana.

Before the doors of the Sistine were shut, all the cardinals below the age of 80, when the papal seat was declared vacant on February 28, made an oath of secrecy in Latin.

Earlier, a mass was held at the St. Peter’s Basilica.

Benedict’s resignation and the scandals make the choice hard to predict, Barbara Clair- analyst from Italy suggests.

“I think there’s an agreement across the board that there’s a huge PR problem for the Vatican, whether because of the sexual scandals or the VatiLeaks scandal,” she added.

Jamming devices in the Sistine Chapel have blocked all communications and the Vatican has also been checked for any bugging devices.

The Vatican has said anyone caught contacting anyone outside the conclave will be excommunicated.

Cardinals including, South Africa’s Wilfrid Napier, took to Twitteronyesterday to say goodbye to their online flock before they were cut off from the outside world.

“Last tweet before conclave,” Napier told his thousands of followers.

“May Our Father hear and answer with love and mercy all prayers and sacrifices offered for fruitful outcome. God bless!”

It was a modern sign-off before a centuries-old tradition was due to begin.

The tradition of holding conclaves goes back to the 13th century when cardinals were locked into the papal palace in Viterbo near Rome by the angry faithful because they were taking too long to make their decision.

Benedict stunned the world on February 11, announcing that he no longer had the strength of body and mind to keep up with a fastchanging modern world shaken by vital questions for the Roman Catholic Church.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY,MARCH 13, 2013

Mixed reactions trail Demuren’s removal From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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ixed reactions have continued to trail Federal Government’s decision on Monday to sack the DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, after about eight years in that office. ‘‘If the Director General of NCAA is sacked, it means that the aviation industry has been thrown into darkness,’’ Chairman of FAAN branch Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Ekanem Ekanem, lamented and for Captain Dele Ore, Chainman of Aviation Round Table (ART), ‘‘why do Nigerians take delight in killing their own heroes, I believe that it is a very bad thing that the government has done.’’

When our correspondent visited the NCAA headquarters in

the early hours of yesterday in Lagos, a number of staff there wore long faces and expressed sadness over the development as most of them have come to see Demuren as a pivotal point in the aviation industry.

Some of them who spoke on the condition of anonymity said his era brought some landmark achievements in the industry and cited the granting of access of flights from Nigeria into continental United States under the category one status in September 2011.

According to one of them, “we are in the Civil Service, so the decision of government is sacrosanct regarding appointment, he has tried his best for the country and the industry and we wish him well.”

However, some other respondents traced Demuren’s travails to “politics” adding that he should have been given a more

humane treatment than being humiliated.

According to the Assistant General Secretary of Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur, “it is quite unfortunate that the government gave a flimsy excuse to sack him. ‘‘Dr. Demuren served the aviation industry well and brought it to the where it is today.

“We know how the industry was before when we used touch light at the tarmac during the maintenance of an aircraft but Demuren came and changed all that. He he did well and we are going to miss him. ‘‘The Federal Government gave in to the pressure from the Senators and those from the House of Representatives and thus they had to sack him.

“So, as far as I am concerned, Demuren’s sack is politically motivated,’’ Tukur said.

Kogi awards N400m for reconstruction of flood affected roads From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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he Kogi state government has approved the sum of N400 million for the reconstruction of roads that were affected by the recent flooding in the state.

The roads are ShintakunOdogbo road in Bassa local government area, Ida-Oyedega road that links Ida and Ibaji local government areas, Ganaja junction/Ganaja village and Kpata-Old market road in Lokoja local government area.

Addressing reporters yesterday after the state Executive Council meeting at the Government House, the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Yabaji Bologi, said the contracts have already been awarded for the projects.

According to Bologi, government has also awarded a

separate contract for the construction of a workshop for power tiller at the cost of N133 million naira with another sum of N42 million for the renovation of the Presidential Lodge.

Meanwhile, the Kogi state government has advocated for more funds from the Federal Government for victims of last year’s flooding in parts of the state. .

The Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi, made the call when Presidential Committee on Flood, led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote visited the state to assess the level of response to the flood victims yesterday in Lokoja.

He noted that apart from cash assistance, government also needs building materials to for the construction of 200,000 housing units to enable it relocate people living along flood areas.

Bauchi teachers protest detention of colleagues by police From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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embers of the Bauchi State Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, (ASUSS) took to the streets on Monday protesting alleged detention of their colleagues by the police.

Addressing reporters at the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwan Suleiman, the union’s Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Ningi, fingered the Attorney-General of the state, the ommissioner for Education as well as the Chief Registrar for complicity in the detention of 11 of his members.

According to him, “members of the union are in the Emir’s palace to seek justice over the detention of our members.

“Last week, over 200 teachers converged here to

demand the release of our members but the Emir pleaded with us to exercise some patience.

“So, we came back again to remind him of his promise and he has assured us that he was doing everything possible to see that our detained members are released and since we respect him as a royal father, we are giving him the benefit of the doubt.”

“The education system in the state is really sick because you can see what the Commissioner of Education is hammering on. He is insisting that the state must sit for NECO, WAEC and JAMB examinations, forgetting how the students are going to perform during the exams.

“It is not the matter of writing the examinations but are they being given quality education that will equip them to write these examinations?”

Bauchi Peace Corp set to recruit 5,000 youth From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi L-R: Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, presenting public enlightenment materials to Gombe state Deputy Governor, Hon. Thaanda Jason Rubainu, during the NAFDAC DG’s visit to the deputy governor, recently in Gombe.

COREN sanctions erring members

By Miriam Humbe

T

he Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) says four of its members have been confirmed to be engaged in unethical practices.

According to the COREN President, Ibikunle Ogunbayo, the council will on Friday pass judgment on the affected members.

Ogunbayo disclosed this

yesterday in Abuja at a the opening of a two-day workshop jointly held by COREN and the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACEN), for prospective and practicing engineering consultants.

According to him, “we have an engineering tribunal and on Friday we are going to give judgment in four cases.

“They are basically about people who have done unethical things. They have been tried

already and we are going to give judgment on Friday.

“There was somebody who signed a drawing that he did not produce and there was another person who engaged in sharp practices to get his certificate and there is another case of somebody who did he not qualify to be an engineer but he claimed he is an engineer.

“All of us have a duty to be whistle blowers. Unless we know, we cannot do anything about it.”

T

he Bauchi state Command of the Nigerian Peace Corps (NPC) says it is set recruit about 5,000 unemployed youth to complement efforts of other security agencies in the state in order to restore lasting peace in the area.

Speaking with reporters in Bauchi yesterday, the Commandant, Mr. Patriot Maxwell, explained that the NPC was established to assist the youth to be self-reliant by training and providing them with jobs in the area of security so that they can contribute their quota in the maintenance of law and order.

According to him, the Bauchi state government through the Local Government Service

Commission has already purchased over 3,000 forms for selected youth from the 20 local government areas.

As Maxwell put it, “already, adequate arrangements have been put in place to mobilize them to the training camp at Wailo NYSC parade ground along Maiduguri road after which they will be posted to the local government areas.

“The command has also written to the state government through the state environmental Sanitation and protection agency (BASEPA) to ensure strict compliance in monitoring the monthly sanitation exercise in the state.

“This is to provide a platform for Peace Corps personnel to be active as the exercise would go a long way in boosting the revenue

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Will earning more money turn around your financial predicament?

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p till now, many of us are yet to understand what our problem is, with respect to financial freedom. We have always believed that our current income level is too small to achieve what we want to achieve in life. And so we are constantly waiting for that time when we will begin to earn double or thrice of what we currently earn.

If eventually that time does not come, then we are finished because the time may no longer be there to move ahead, either that we are near to retirement or almost out of paid job or something else. This believes are what financial experts call "lack of vision" because in the same position so many other people achieved their targets and even greater goals.

Experts say one of the most common financial pitfalls out there is having a poor money attitude. And among the worst money attitudes is the idea that all you need is more money, and that once you have it, your financial problems will be solved.

They said "the harsh reality is that, while making more money can help your situation, chances are that it's not truly a money earning problem you have; it's a money management problem."

How do you manage your financial resources?

There are some situations in which a lack of money really is the issue. If you've lost your job, or had a major and unexpected financial catastrophe, more

Biz Tip: Endure to learn under fire

N

o business book or business plan can predict the future or fully prepare you to become a successful entrepreneur.

There is no such thing as the perfect plan.

There is no perfect road or one less travelled. Never jump right into a new business without any thought or planning, but don't spend months or years waiting to execute. You will become a wellrounded entrepreneur when tested under fire. The most important thing you can do is learn from your mistakes--and never make the same mistake twice.

Quote The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it. — Debbi Fields

Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, whose country still faces financial difficulty, despite 31.5 Euros international donation income will really help. If you already have a steady income, however, your problem might not be that you aren't "rich." It might be that you're not managing your finances as well as you could.

It doesn't matter how much money you have if you don't manage your resources so that you're living within your means.

If you don't live within your means now, chances are that you wouldn't live within your means if you had more money. More money is likely to just mean that you experience lifestyle inflation, which also means that you'll still be in debt.

Think of all those wealthy athletes and other celebrities who

end up going broke. Their problem isn't that they don't have a lot of money. It's a management issue.

Before you can solve your financial problems, you need to look at your money habits, and the way you manage your financial resources. Until you start employing sound financial management principles, you'll

always have money problems - no matter how much you make.

Take charge of your finances One of the biggest problems with the "more money will solve my financial problems" mind-set is that it encourages you to hand over your financial destiny. When you say that you need more money in order to fix your situation, you're relying on outside forces.

You essentially choose to make yourself impotent in your own financial destiny. Instead of taking charge, you're waiting for something else to come and "save" you, whether it's getting a raise or promotion, winning the lottery, or receiving an inheritance.

The idea that more money will solve all your problems is a very passive mind-set. Instead, if you really want to tackle the root of your financial difficulties, you need to change your mind-set to one that is more active. Recognize that you need to make changes in the way you view your situation and the way you think about money. Reflect upon what actions you can take to improve your financial lot in life.

Even if you've experienced an unavoidable financial setback, it's possible for you to take charge of your situation and move forward.

Think creatively about how you could earn more money. Think about how you could work smarter, as well as harder, and how you could put your money to work for you.

Recognize that you can make a change. You don't need to wait around for someone else to grant you a higher income. You are in charge of your own financial future.

How often do you pay attention to financial savings? Here are some saving tips

S

avings can help you achieve any financial goal.

Whether it's a comfortable retirement, a down payment for a house, or a new car or stereo, you can get there by setting money aside. And best of all, you can have what you want without getting bogged down in debt.

Yet if you're like most people, you don't save as much as you'd like to. Or you don't save at all.

Americans spend more than we earn. Consider that the national personal savings rate has dipped to the lowest point since the Great Depression. Today's high energy, home and food prices may make saving seem less possible than ever.

But the time is now. And with a little forethought and effort, saving money is not only possible, it's easy.

Make saving a priority You'll be more likely to save money if you make it a priority.

Sit down and figure out what you'd like to save money for retirement, a house, car, college, dream vacation -and how much it will cost. Then make your plan:

*Set a timeline for when you'd like to reach your goal. *Set a schedule by dividing the total goal amount by the number of weeks, months or pay periods between now and your goal date. *Be vigilant by treating your

savings contribution just like any other must-pay expense, such as rent or groceries.

Find money to save While it may seem difficult sometimes just to make ends meet, chances are you have extra money you didn't even know about.

Here are some ways to find it: *Keep track of everything you spend for a week. You might be surprised what you're buying, and what you can do without. *Make purchases with cash. This can help you stick to a budget and avoid impulse purchases.

Simply decide ahead of time how much you want to spend and then set aside that amount in cash before Former First Bank Director, Mahey you go shopping.

Rasheed, Chairman of Nigeria's *Lower your bills.

Sovereign Wealth Fund management Many creditors will team to oversee Nigeria's saving account give borrowers a

lower interest rate if they're asked.

Also, conserving electricity and gas can make a big difference. *Rank your nonessential expenses. Keep the ones you like the best and cut the items on the bottom of the list. *Pack a lunch. Or cook more dinners at home. Eating out at restaurants can eat up a lot of money that could be saved.

Pay yourself first You're probably inclined to pay everyone else first - whether it's your landlord or your grocer or the electric company. But it's vital to start paying yourself first by saving money. Once you've made a contribution to your financial longevity and well-being, then you can divide up your money to cover everything else. Don't worry. You'll more than likely have plenty left over to cover everything you need.

In fact, most banks make this easier. You can have them automatically transfer funds from your checking account to your savings account, money market, mutual fund and other accounts. You might also check with your employer. Companies will often deduct savings from pay checks if asked.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

G

Fashola on military and civil law

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state had harsh words for the Nigerian military on Monday, March 11, when he received in his Ikeja office the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Abel Umahi. The governor was as blunt as ever while expressing his disgust over "frequent flouting of civil law" by military personnel, particularly those in his own state. And such untoward conduct has left him with this inevitable conclusion: military regimes are gone but Nigeria hasn't been fully demilitarised.

The governor may have exaggerated a bit about Nigeria being "a military state" still, but he had a good cause to be angry. We recall that recently, the governor had to personally arrest some soldiers for breaching his government's BRT law that prohibits driving on certain highway lanes. Apparently, the soldiers took advantage of their uniforms to do what other road users dare not do without dire consequences including imprisonment and hefty fines. And that wasn't Fashola's first sad experience with "men in uniform".

Recall also the huge military presence in Lagos at the height of the January 2012 pro-subsidy mass protests and its tragic outcome. Fashola, just into his second term then, described the soldiers as "an occupation force" and he fought relentlessly to have them pulled out.

This time round, however, he was careful to tone down the rhetoric. He acknowledged that infraction of the law is not an institutional problem. "I think that with the larger military community we haven't had any problem," he noted. "(But) like in any dozen, one will find

“

But let us not forget, these days, uniforms are cheap on the price just as are army rifles. Which says a lot about the level of security consciousness even in the military one with questionable disposition. And I think that they are those that seek to give the military the name that we all know that it doesn't bear". His advice was that "we must all work together to ensure compliance with law and order".

It is true that not all those who abuse the soldier's fatigue are military personnel. Dismissed soldiers who managed to make away with their uniforms use them to commit crime; and so do criminally minded relations of serving personnel who are not so careful

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with their uniforms. But let us not forget, these days, uniforms are cheap on the price just as are army rifles.

Which says a lot about the level of security consciousness even in the military.

With genuine soldiers committing the same infractions as do civilian impersonators, it is difficult to tell the criminal from the law-abider. This is why we consider Fashola's advice very apt: the military must plug the holes in their stores through which uniforms get into civilians' hands.

Then the authorities must ensure that officers and men are law-abiding, that they submit to constituted political powers as they do to their military superiors.

We often hear the military top brass declare that the military get a better deal under civilian authorities than when their own are in power: soldiers are better accommodated and kitted; military hardware is promptly acquired and better maintained. What then explains the penchant for ignoring civil law?

Nothing, really.

Professionalism, which the military preach like a gospel, is not just knowing how to handle the instruments of war and taking orders from superiors. It also requires the military as an institution is beholding to civil authority whose duty is to ensure that society functions on the basis of law and order, not brute force.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 13

North doesn't control Nigeria's oil blocks (I)

By Toyin Akinosho

S

enator Ita Enang's spirited claim at the National Assembly last week to the effect that 83% of the country's oil blocks are in the hands of northerners appears to be inspired by an old article, "Poverty and deprivation: Why the North is poor", by Ross AlaboGeorge.

Alabo-George's article plays up so well the sentiments that a good number of Nigerians, especially middle class types excluded from the spoils of the petroleum subsidy, and allied deliverables, nurse about the kind of leadership we have suffered since independence. But it has gone around so far and keeps being forwarded so rampantly, largely because it plays to the ethnic schism; the suspicions that each of us harbours, in our different silos, about "the other".

It is largely a response to a claim by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Central Bank Governor, that the Boko Haram insurgency is a response to the 13% derivation allocated to the oil producing states from the federation account. "There is clearly a direct link between the very uneven nature of distribution of resources and the rising level of violence", Sanusi told The Financial Times of London.

Alabo-George's piece is compelling when he contrasts what non oil-producing Southern states have been able to do with their supposedly meagre allowances with what their Northern counterparts have done with their own allocations.

"Ekiti State has about the same revenue as Yobe and Gombe", he contends, "but only 17 students passed WAEC and NECO in

By Nasiru Suwaid

N

o source of history is as contentious as oral tradition which is a collection of stories, statements and occurrences passed from one generation to the other, involving the passage of information from the revered wisdom of old age to the impressionable minds of the youth, or simply put, a message from a father to a son, through the windy length of time to the present period. Indeed, I have not encountered any document, which has celebrated this unique method of preserving our past, than the famous Kano Chronicles, which is a compendium of historical occurrences, about the unrecorded facts of earlier eras that enlighten us on what happened in the course of time.

Although, some might question its veracity, the greater majority of the people, have already identified with the segmented series of anecdotes as the gospel truth.

However, while ancient tales tell us what happened a long time ago, it is the chronicling of the present, which after sometime metamorphoses into a documented manuscript of the past. This is a discourse on the

Gombe state last year, while Ekiti State is known for its high literacy level".

But once Alabo- George ventures beyond the political economic analysis and starts to list who owns what oil and gas assets, his article is a litany of inaccuracies and lies. He gets it totally wrong. He writes about the estate of the late Mai Deribe, the Bornu State born businessman, supposedly owning a huge oil field; Rilwanu Lukman having controlling shares in Afren; Atiku Abubakar being the stupendously rich beneficiary of the profits of Intels, the logistics company; Aminu Dantata's Express Petroleum. He ties Amni Petroleum to only Sani Bello.

So much conspiracy theory.

Oil acreage ownership in Nigeria does not have ethnic colouration. What's more important, sustaining production from oil and gas assets, whether or not awarded by the state, is determined by how much of a businessman you are. When Jibril Aminu handed

out oil prospecting blocks, in the first comprehensive effort "to encourage indigenous participation" in 1991, he gave blocks to companies owned by Folawiyo, Abiola, Adenuga, Udoji, Ibru, Igbinedion,(all southerners) as much as he gave to enterprises set up by people like Saleh Jumbo and Mai Deribe.

Between 1991 and 1993, we suddenly had over 25 companies, that were Nigerian E&P companies and they took themselves so seriously that they set up an association they christened "Nigerian Association of Indigenous Petroleum Exploration Companies". But what did these people do with the acreages? They were mostly clueless about how to go on from there.

Out of that class of awardees, only Mike Adenuga created what you could really call an E&P company. He is the only one producing oil today, from his own block. It is bad enough that Nigerian indigenous private

“

Oil acreage ownership in Nigeria does not have ethnic colouration. What's more important, sustaining production from oil and gas assets, whether or not awarded by the state, is determined by how much of a businessman you are. When Jibril Aminu handed out oil prospecting blocks, in the first comprehensive effort "to encourage indigenous participation" in 1991, he gave blocks to companies owned by Folawiyo, Abiola, Adenuga, Udoji, Ibru, Igbinedion,(all southerners) as much as he gave to enterprises set up by people like Saleh Jumbo and Mai Deribe

acreage holders do not produce, as a collective, up to 150,000 barrels per day or 7% of the national daily production, so why are we fighting ourselves? And I am less keen on how much you're getting as rent from the asset you are holding than the capacity you are building as manager of a Nigerian oil company who is awarded the asset, in trust for the rest of us. I am for an ongoing, earnest debate on the National Question. But false information misleads all of us into false conclusions, which reduce the complexity of the solutions we ought to be proffering.

The author cites a number of hydrocarbon acreages belonging to northern elites, but ignores the fact that holding acreage is one thing, but getting value out of it is another. That so many people believe the poorly researched article, and so instantly forward it that it becomes one of the most travelled essays on the National Question is testimony to poor knowledge of how the oil industry works.

The first field the author mentions is Obe field, which, he rightly claims, is held by Cavendish Petroleum, a company set up by Alhaji Mai Deribe. Alabo- George, however, lied when he said by that the Obe field, the main hydrocarbon pool in OML 110, contains 500 million barrels of oil reserves. The truth is it does not have a proven 20 million barrels. I am not sure it has 10 million barrels. It has not produced for five years, since 2007, when Tranfigura, the last technical partner engaged by Cavendish, walked out. I don't know what discipline AlaboGeorge belongs to, but this point I am about to make is well known to every junior petroleum geologist with three year

experience in the crummiest E&P company: If a field holds 500 million barrels of oil, proven, in shallow water Nigeria, it won't lie fallow. Investors would rush it.

In countries where you don't have the complications that the NNPC brings to the table here, fields that haven't proven much more than 500 million barrels are "rushed" through to development. Ghana's Jubilee field didn't prove a billion barrels before the country's authorities approved a field development plan. Apart from Nigeria, Angola, Libya, Algeria, Ghana (now, since 2008) and perhaps Equatorial Guinea, no African country has a billion barrels in proven reserves. 500 million barrels is half of that.

Alabo-George says that Obe has the capacity to produce about 120,000 barrels of crude oil daily from its OBE 4 and OBE 5 wells. What sort of numeracy is this? Or is he dreaming these figures? How can a field with less than twenty million barrels "have the capacity" to produce 120,000 barrels per day? What's capacity?

Alabo George's second example of a wealthy northerner swimming in oil money is Mohammed Indimi, "a Fulani and close friend of General Ibrahim Babangida". He says "Oriental Energy Resources Limited runs three oil blocks: OML 115, the Okwok field and the Ebok field. OML 115 and Okwok are OML PSC, while Ebok is an OML JV. All of them good yielding offshore oil blocks".

Toyin Akinosho, a petroleum geologist and one-time community newspaper editor, is now publisher of African Oil+Gas Report

Kano: An anthology of whispers series of whispers, which are the prevalent topics of discussion which constitute the body of evidence to authenticate a historical reality. No virtual reality confuses the soul more than Kano city's elites' reaction to the Kwankwaso administration; they never voted for the incumbent, yet as of today, they are amongst its committed defenders. While the dregs of the society, amongst who constitute the poor, the wretched and the armada of unskilled manpower, have taken a leave of absence from their love affair with the cult of red cap men.

But, what could have happened to engineer such a monumental three hundred degree change? During the 2011 elections, the governor's support base was strictly from the class of the unemployed and the underemployed youths, both of the male and female genders, while the educated breed and their entrepreneurial cousins had already pitched their tents with other political parties and at the eve of the polls, when it became clearly evident, that the incumbent is winning the

contest, most slept off the weekend as a carefree resting period, strictly avoiding the usual hassles that is the typical character of a polling center in Nigeria.

Today, the fiercest defenders of the administration are in the intellectual community, the literatti, the business community and the super rich.

While it is understandable the position of the last two groups, after all, Aliko Dangote the world acclaimed richest person from Africa, who is like a Maharaja to every upstart and budding money man, once quipped, when asked whether he is with the government, where he stated; a wise business man is always in support and a supporter of the leadership of the day. The other groups could only support the government, despite the fact that by their tradition, cynical opposition to everything within governmental leadership is the norm, more so, an individual belonging to the fold of the People's Democratic Party, which is the much vilified party in power at the federal level, also widely regarded as the root of most of the problems bedeviling

the polity. Fortunately for him, the projected image of the Kwankwasiya movement about town is that of an opposition, forced to co-exist within a hostile ruling party environment.

Evidently, it is a contradiction both in terms and concept of what we know of Nigerian politics, especially after the eight year interval of the last administration in office, where the mercantile psychology of citizens of the state was exploited to the fullest, which is the clear preference for the acceptance of monetary gratis, rather the development of concrete social infrastructures. Perhaps it is a surprise, yet it is not, because of the wonderful vagaries of electoral democracy, that lends itself to the periodic assessment of a re-election, which the present incumbent faced in the year 2003 and spectacularly faltered with an unexpected defeat. A fact which has made Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to be among a minute few, if at all there are others, to have won, lost and won again, forcing him to study and understand the intricate nature of a people, who have inflicted on

him one of the grossest acts of electoral betrayal.

To say the man understands the people of Kano is one of the greatest understatements of the century, because it is trite law of natural behaviour, which is that the length of time it takes for a monetary gift to last in the memory of an individual is not very long and subject to his or her ability to spend the collected sum, pending which the attitude is as though the cash was never collected. But a grand and grandiose project last for decades, with its image etched on the minds and psyche of supporters as well as the adversaries of a regime, a critical example being the ongoing overhead bridges project upon a beautified landscape, which must have satisfied a city most famous as a commercial nerve centre of the north. Because, one of the unique features of a trader is the ability to travel far and wide, soaking the spectacular wonders of the foreign lands, thus, the question has always been why not in my city.

Nasiru Suwaid wrote in from Kano.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 14

By Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele & Evans Bipi

T

he world conference of women in Beijing in 1985 did not only open new doors to understanding women's roles in the society but marked a turning point in women's awareness of themselves, which translated into increasing calls for recognition the world over and gave birth to female fundamentalism, activism and emancipation. It is in the light of these roles played by women the world over and they are still playing that the United Nations draws attention to their plight and earmarked March 18th of every year as mother's day worldwide.

Nigeria is proud to have women who have redefined governance, the Dora Akunyili's, the Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's, NdiOkereke Onyuike's, the Deziani Alison-Maduekes, the Victoria Ogunjiofors, the Dr. Lami Hamalais, the Ruqayyatu Rufais, etc whose roles would have not been recognized if not for the Beijing Charter of 1985.

The Women for change Initiative (W4CI) is an offshoot of that Charter, a nongovernmental, non partisan, gender focused movement structured to serve as a strong unifying voice for women in Nigeria. The desire of the womenfolk to better their lot in terms of wages, childcare, humane working conditions, pension protection, medical benefits and freedom from harassment in the work place are some of the most challenging problems confronting women in Nigeria and particularly the initiator who sees this veritable platform as an avenue to right the wrongs and injustice the women in Nigeria have gone through all these years having known what entails in other climes. She drew inspiration from leading women in Nigeria

Dame Jonathan, a change catalyst? who started this launch its campaign and programmes in advocacy for all states of the women federation with empowerment other first ladies Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text way back like lending their messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written Mrs. Olayinka support with the contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 Soyinka, assistance of words, Articles 750 words.

Please include your name and Funmilayo their husbands. a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed Ramsom-Kuti, Its Organogram to: Chief Mrs. cuts across the Margret Ekpo various strata of and Hajia the Nigerian The Editor, Gambo Sawaba society from Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, who lived their federal, states 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. lives for the and local Email: opinion@peoplesdaily-online.com cause in order government to turn around areas with SMS: 07037756364 the neglect of coordinators to women in liaise with the Nigeria. the message to the people and first lady of each state. It has also From the days of Mariam lastly, the women leaders should been able to change and reBabangida to Mariam Abacha, actually come from married orientate the women folk in the from Stella Obasanjo to Turai homes to be able to set good country that they can aspire to Yar'Adua's to Titi Abubakar and examples and galvanize the any position of leadership the present day Women for women across the country. without fear of discrimination.

Change Initiative (W4CI) Before you know it, the first lady Moreover, it has succeeded in spearheaded by the First lady, took all these to heart and decided drawing the attention of Dr. Dame Patience Jonathan, to focus on the mission and vision international organizations to the struggle for the emancipation of her passion by liberating the plight of the Nigerian woman and empowerment of women has women and empowering them to where seminars, symposia and not been an easy one. In spite of another level within a very short conferences are being supported the initial challenges on the way time and the rest is now history. and sponsored by these agencies of the initiator, it has succeeded As a trained psychologist, she while leaders of the NGO and so far in galvanizing and understands what the political other women NGos across the consolidating the involvement of discrimination against women country are being trained abroad the women in the development of has done to the psyche of the to expand their knowledge base, the country. A case in point is average woman and as such, capacity and advocacy. the recent elections across the took the bull by the horns to The first lady attended the country were women came out address this apparent neglect 8th General Assembly of the en mass to cast their votes during from the society and Organization of African First the elections. For the first time in government to redress the Ladies Against Aids (OAFLA) the history of the country, the imbalance thereby promoting where encomiums were poured women felt a sense of belonging women participation in every on her by fellow first ladies for and had a sense of responsibility area of human endeavour her unrelenting fight for the towards their leaders. especially in the socio-economic downtrodden and women When the first lady started and political sphere. empowerment even while a lot of this initiative, there were The Women for Change cynics are still of the view that it hurdles challenges put in her Initiative has succeeded in is just a flash in the pan that goes way like the problems of changing the belief in some with the change of baton but it personalities at the helm of quarters that it is all "sound and must however be emphasized affairs, the caliber of leadership of fury signifying nothing". This here that the NGO is self sustaining and it is built around the initiative from federal to local time there is "something" - real women of impeccable character level, characters to drive home impact. It has been able to

WRITE TO US

and its sustainability is guaranteed based on its foundation and charter of women on board whose dream has been very close to the heart of the first lady for years even before occupying Aso Rock where she was already involved in a pet project called Aruera Reachout Foundation which has trained over 5,000 women in various skills thereby making them strong enough to support their families. So far, so good, the women for change initiative is more or less an avenue to widen and increase the scope of the first lady in reaching out to the less privileged and women in the society.

As part of the major achievement of the initiative, the present administration has to its credit 13 women in ministerial positions and the first lady has succeeded in urging lawmakers to strengthen the 35 percent affirmative action with a legislation to enable women participate fully in governance in all its ramifications. It is also agreed that when this affirmative action is enshrined in the statute books, more women will be part of the decision making process in Nigeria and it will be one of the best legacies the lawmakers will be giving to Nigerians which she will be leaving behind.

Considering that women may not be easily attuned to politics because of our socio-cultural and religious beliefs, however with inspiring role models like the first lady and others before her that is set to change for the better as states and local governments are already imbibing the culture of appointing women into positions of authority.

Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele & Evans Bipi are of Citizens Watch Nigeria (CWN)

‘Obama, give us five’: Nigerians demand freedom for jailed 5 Cubans’

By Emmanuel Yawe

N

igerians from diverse backgrounds on 5th March gathered at the Cuban Embassy in Abuja to mark the 15th anniversary of the jailing of the five Cuban anti terrorist patriots by the United States of America.

The occasion was organized by a group known asfree the Cuban 5 solidarity organization of Nigeria also served as an Awards Ceremony of the Organization. Hundreds of people from across Nigeria turned up to grace the occasion.

Overwhelmed by the show of solidarity, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Hugo René Ramos Milanés, spoke with great emotion about what led to the imprisonment of the Cuban five.

"For more than 40 years, anti-Cuba terrorist organizations based in Miami have engaged in hundreds of terrorist activities against my homeland and my people, and against anyone who advocates a normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba. A total of 3,478 Cubans have died as a result of terrorist violence, and 2,099 have been injured", he said.

He said it was the refusal of the U.S. government to arrest or

prosecute these well-known, notorious terrorists in Miami that provoked the Cuban five into action. According to him, the Cuban Five at great personal risk infiltrated the terrorist organizations in Miami to inform Cuba of imminent attacks and to avert the terrorists' plots and thus protect the lives of Cubans and other people.

But instead of arresting the terrorists, the FBI arrested the Cuban Five anti-terrorists on September 12, 1998. The Five he said were illegally held in solitary confinement for 17 months in Miami and then subjected to what was at the time the longest trial in the United States. The Cuban Five were convicted on June 8, 2001 and sentenced to four life terms and 75 years in December, 2001.

In his opening address, Chief Balogun-Arogunjo James Aewumi, Director General, FREE-THE-CUBAN-5 SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION, said the organization was created to raise awareness and consciousness about the continued unjust incarceration in US prisons of the five Cubans.

Other aims of the organization are to serve as a catalyst for change and to plead

with the US President to review this unpalatable situation placed on Cuba. He said the organization was determined to make it known to the world that Cubans are not terrorists, mercenaries or aggressors but friendly, amiable, approachable and progressive.

He said the organization was prepared to let the world know that the Cuban citizens had chosen their system of government and the decision of the US to oppose that system of government would not help matters.

He praised the Cuban government for their willingness to support the Nigerian government in areas of mutual interest despite the meager resources of their country.

According to him Cuba has been able to support the Nigerian government in areas of mutual interest especially in education and health. He emphasized the fact that in education, scholarship grants are given to several nationals world over including the US. He emphasized the fact that it was in recognition of the great strides of the Cuban government for humanity worldwide that his organization had decided to embark on a programme to make more friends for Cuba and

create a level playing ground where all would share ideas about the way forward to addressing issues of terrorism and modern day slavery His organization he further revealed planned to raise a common voice of solidarity to foster sustainable fundamental human rights worldwide.

"We intend to show Cuba that we care and share their sadness and koy," the Director General stated.

The guest speaker of the day, Dr Tunji Abayomi, Founder, Human Rights Africa recalled his ordeal under the Abacha government because he called for the release of Olusegun Obasanjo in his capacity as Obasanjo's Legal Adviser.

"There was no basis for my detention other than that I spoke for freedom against dictatorship."

Dr Aboyomi said his travails have convinced him about the dangers of State persecution of citizens deemed rightly or wrongly to threaten State Security. He likened the case of the Cuban 5: Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González to his unjust imprisonement.

He also recalled that during

his longest detention of 11 months, the United States of America played a vital role in the struggle for his freedom. In his words: "the central gift the United States has given the world is the right to struggle for civil and political freedom as well as the right to be different. She constantly, in the Assembly of nations err on the side of liberty, equality of rights and justice.

Even in the history of Cuba, she played a part. Should we then support her when in the minds of men and women of the world the decision of her courts stands her wrongly, when judged, against the very ideals that empowers her to have so much influence in the world"? he asked.

Also speaking at the meeting, the President of Nigerian Congress Comrade Abdulwahed I, Omar praised the courage of the Cuban government and people to stand up against their great adversary, the United States of America. He said Nigerian workers had enjoyed the support of the Cubans in terms of training and pledged the support of all workers in Nigeria for the release of the Cuban 5.

Emmanuel Yawe is reachable on e-mail shetgatie@gmail.com

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

By Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo

I

was simply following the panache of the news when I said that President Olusegun Obasanjo met his American counterpart, George W. Bush, at the White House.

Immediately, raw anger storm across his face as if Kanji dam just busted at the center of his skull. The muscles of his cheek tightened like a bow tie around a boxer's neck. Even the hot moist air coming out of his mouth curled up with a vicious gait.

"Counterpart, my behind," the former MIT Professor said.

It was over ten years ago but I still remember it as if it was yesterday. We were watching T.V news at a Boston apartment of another Nigerian. The professor rolled out a series of rants on why nobody should ever make such comparison. He centred his argument on what real democracy and accountability for those charged with administering the state ought to be. I listened to him carefully because he was not another lost soul in the Diaspora.

In the 80s, a democratically elected governor lured him back to Nigeria to help open a university of technology. His dream university was soon abandoned by the very governor that brought him home.

At first, I attributed his bitterness to that experience.

And then, the 24-hour news channel showed a clip of the press conference at the White House between President George W. Bush and President Olusegun Obasanjo. The question for Obasanjo was why he sent in

By Ifeanyi Uddin

T

he strongest case for second-guessing the Monetary Policy Committee's (the MPC is the Central Bank of Nigeria's ratesetting arm) likely decision(s) when it meets Monday, next week, was made almost a month ago. Most serious watchers of the economy expected a lower inflation count for January this year, simply because the federal government's half-successful attempt at removing the "subsidy" on the pump-station price of petrol last year had bumped January, 2012?s inflation numbers up. Against resulting high inflation figures for January 2012, a year-onyear measure for January this year was always going to give a softer count.

The 9% that the National Bureau of Statistics returned for inflation did, however, surprise on the downside. It appeared too low, and again, it grated against anecdotal evidence. Still, it was welcome addition to the storehouse of an increasingly raucous movement for an easing of monetary policy. Other munitions deployed in support of this argument include the need to reinforce an economy that has begun to decelerate in the last two years. It helps in this regard that the central

PAGE 15

Dangers of false equivalence soldiers to Zaki Biam to massacre villagers.

"They butchered my soldiers with machetes," Obasanjo said, his hands outlining the descent of the machete on the bodies of his soldiers.

The vulgarity of his posture, the coarseness of his voice, and the crudeness of his answer left us in stunned.

"I rest my case," the retired Professor said at the end of the clip.

At the heart of every conflict that appears intractable is a misinterpretation of where to place the equivalence balance.

Ethical standard is supposed to be our guide in determining the moral line. But moral relativism has muddled up the ethical pond and given rise to moral equivalence. This misnomer is at play in the ArabIsraeli conflict, IsraeliPalestinian conflict, in the War on Terror. The same thing happened during the Cold War. In Nigeria, a similar dynamic has been playing out in the minds of those who try to do an in-depth analysis of the Nigerian situation.

Once an analyst tries to ask the question, where did water enter the husk of the melon, clarity gives way to minefields.

Today, everyone is grappling with the Boko Haram problem.

But it is impossible to understand it without a dispassionate comprehension of what happened in the past. People did

not just wake up and learn how to kill others with this degree of impunity. It typically follows a progressive decline. The degree of such a decline depends on whether there was any effort to stop it when it started. If human failing emerges without the society putting in control mechanism, it accelerates over time.

Putting in place and enforcing consequences is the only way to stop any society from descending into anarchy. And that was what we failed to do.

Today, we are left with the only option facing those whose ship is sinking - holding on to false equivalence.

The problem with looking at the past is often how far into the past we should look. The farther we look, the less credible the

prism is. But we must try to decipher through it all because the past has a way of stepping on today as it struggles to control the future.

As we search for solution to the Boko Haram problem, some compare Boko Haram to the Niger Delta militants and recommend the same sort of amnesty. That is where the controversial suggestion that "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" emerges.

Some northerners are frustrated that most Nigerians who look at the Boko Haram problem fail to see that northerners are, by far, the majority of the victims. Some go as far as complaining that even when these Nigerians do acknowledge it, they show no sympathy - instead some suggest

“

But the most frustrating feeling coming from the north is the idea that it is only when there is problem from the north that the call for the breakup of Nigeria is at its highest peak. For example, some will say that for Nigeria, the January 15th 1966 coup was where the Nigerian crises started. That on that day, Igbo people planned a coup killing only Northern leaders in order to finally take over Nigeria

What should the MPC do? bank has been able over the last three years to reach a semblance of stability with those indicators that it controls. The exchange rate, for one, has eschewed the volatility that the markets have come to associate with it, and has either lost or gained value at a stately pace. Besides, shouldn't we be looking to drive growth in the real sectors of the economy, by reducing banks' lending rates?

Taken together, these arguments make a strong case.

Each, nevertheless, is flawed in several respects. Lower lending rates are a compelling need, only if we are clear that it is the biggest let to the creation of

domestic credit. However, we all know that identity problems are a much more difficult hurdle to cross. How is a bank to guarantee that Tunde, Okoro, and Mohammed are whom they claim to be? Or, when it turns out that these folk have obtained loans across the industry with just one set of documents, how do banks redeem collateral? The stronger need, then, if we are serious about improving the environment for creating credits, is to strengthen the national identification infrastructure, and address shortcomings in the criminal justice system.

At this point, it is clear that

“

At the core of monetary policy management over the last three decades has been inefficient fiscal policies.

Government has failed to spend in a way that increases the economy's ability to create wealth. Yet it manages at the end of each political cycle to spend itself out of pocket

we confront a situation where the larger body of argument for the likely direction of the MPC's next meeting comprises historical data. The MPC unfortunately, is required to take decisions "looking ahead".

True, it ought to leverage all available data up to the point at which it starts to meet. But I would be surprised if MPC members did not look to understand sources of possible shocks to the system over the next twelve months, and to take their decisions accordingly.

From our current vantage, what are the likely shocks to which monetary policy should advert its attention over the current budget cycle? The headline concern is for the crude oil outlook. Bloomberg reported last week that "Brent for April settlement decreased as much as US$2.01 a barrel to US$109.1 on the London-based ICE Futures exchange". Over the last two months, we have had to re-appraise the optimistic numbers for the oil price with which the year opened. Supply of crude oil (new sources coming to the market) threatens to run ahead of demand (slower than expected growth in China, amongst other big consumers),

that the chicken has come home to roost.

But the most frustrating feeling coming from the north is the idea that it is only when there is problem from the north that the call for the breakup of Nigeria is at its highest peak. For example, some will say that for Nigeria, the January 15th 1966 coup was where the Nigerian crises started. That on that day, Igbo people planned a coup killing only Northern leaders in order to finally take over Nigeria. And because Igbo people did that, some bad elements in the north decided to kill many Igbo people.

We know that even after the war, we did not do anything about the "seed of the trouble."

We did not realize and accept the underlying causes. We did nothing to surgically remove the seed. Instead, we watered the ground and fertilized it with blindsiding strategies.

We are still at the false equivalence point where our failure to establish and enforce ethical standard has left us swimming in moral relativism and its counterpart, moral equivalence. Those who allow themselves to be lost in the cyclone of false equivalence are stuck in recurring violence, selfdeceit, delusion, and compounding confusion until a final slide into the abyss. There lies the danger of false equivalence. with obvious consequences for prices. The untold story is that the equilibrium price for our oil exports that ensures a balance in government spending is closer to the midUS$90/barrel mark than to the budget benchmark (US$79/bbl). As oil prices drift below the US$100/bbl mark, therefore, we should look to policies that make our economy better able to withstand this shock. Easy money does not come into the latter definition.

At the core of monetary policy management over the last three decades has been inefficient fiscal policies.

Government has failed to spend in a way that increases the economy's ability to create wealth. Yet it manages at the end of each political cycle to spend itself out of pocket. One could dwell endlessly on the perverse correlations in the management of our fiscal policy, but the more pressing housekeeping chore is to note that the current political cycle is nearing an early end. From the roughhousing in the governors' forum through to the renewed attempts at uniting the opposition, it is clear that our political class is not waiting until next year to begin bidding for the general elections in 2015.

Ifeanyi Uddin wrote in from Lagos

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARC H 13, 2013

Flood: Affected farmers in FCT get free bags of grain

By Adeola Tukuru

T

o cushion the effect of last’s year flood disaster which ravaged 19 communities in Abaji area council and four communities in Kwali area councils, the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) administration yesterday flagged-off the distribution of free bags of assorted grains to the 642 affected farmers.

Flagging-off the distribution at Tunga-Maje, Gwagwalada Area Council, the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, who felicitated with the farmers, noted that flood is one of the risks in agriculture that cannot be predicted.

In view of this, she said: “The Federal Government deemed it necessary to package a programme such as this to encourage people who were affected by the flood to keep them on their farming activities thereby boosting agricultural production and ensuring national food security”.

She said the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has allocated to FCT, 8400 bags of maize and 6600 bags of guinea corn for distribution to 642 flood affected farmers in FCT. She described the official distribution as a confirmation of the commitment of the FCT administration towards the development of agricultural sector of the territory.

Akinjide used the occasion to appeal to all stakeholders to see the development of the sector as joint responsibility.

According to her, “ the question of agricultural development and food availability at affordable prices is and would continue to be the top priority of the FCT administration especially during this period of economic difficulties”.

Earlier in her remark, the Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat,Mrs Olvadi Bema Madayi appreciated the efforts of the ministry for the inclusion of the FCT among the benefiting state to receive the relief materials from the Federal Government.

She said the secretariat was not leaving any stone unturned in order to address the problems of agricultural development especially natural disasters that affect agricultural production.

“In this regard we have in collaboration with the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation sensitised the FCT farmers on the need to insure their crops and livestock against natural disasters which their occurrence cannot be predicted,”Madayi said.

Also speaking at the event, Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Charles

Momoh, said two area councils, Abaji and Kwali were affected last year by the flood when river Gurara in Abaji and river Bobo in Kwali which over flowed their banks.

He revealed that 642 farmers were affected as a total of 734 hectares of farm lands were destroyed in the two councils by flood.

He said to cushion the effect of the disaster on farmers, Dr. Momoh said the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has donated 44 trucks of grains to the FCT administration which are being distributed to victims.

L-R: A man fighting a taxi driver, after an accident at the City Gate on Airport road due to gridlock, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Hygiene: FCT Water Board builds toilets in Bwari

H

ead of FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department, FCT Water Board, Dr Mohammed DanHassan, has said that the board was building 12 Ventilated Improved Latrines (VIP) in Bwari Area Council,FCT. Dan-Hassan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in

Bwari that the toilets were being constructed at the Vantage Teens Centre, an orphanage and the Lower Usuma Dam Primary School.

“The facility is a block of two compartments with three toilets for males and three toilets for females in each of these centres, making six each

in both centres.

“They are sanitation programmes by the board to enhance good sanitation practices in the area.’’

According to him, it is a pilot project aimed at raising awareness on the need to promote hygiene in the benefitting communities.

Dan-Hassan said that the Lower Usuma Dam Primary School was selected as a result of its dire need for toilets.

He said that other area councils would benefit from the gesture as soon as adequate funds were made available to the board. (NAN)

Principal tasks youths on sports competition in Kuje

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Principal of Nigeria – Ghana International College in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Benjamin Kwaku, has called on Nigerian Youths to participate in sports competition in order to excel internationally.

He also urged the parents to

encourage their children in sports inter-house sports competition so as to enable them to compete favourably with the outside world.

Kwaku, who made the call in an interview with newsmen during the maiden Inter-House sports competition held at the school premises, said that his administration would remain committed to the development of sports in the college.

He said that the efforts would be intensified by the management of the school to organize InterSchools competition among the students across the Federal Capital Territory, adding that this year’s Inter-House competition for displaying their talents during the competition.

Commenting on the academic performance of the students, the principal said that the students

have been doing well in their examinations.

On his part, the chairman of the occasion, Hon. Isah Egah Dobi, who is a member of the National Assembly representing Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Kuje Area Councils, had appealed to sports lovers, government and highly placed individuals to donate sporting equipment to the school for the benefit of the students.

Jiwa traditional ruler seeks synergy in polio eradication strategy

T

he traditional ruler of Jiwa in the FCT, Alhaji Idirs Musa, has called on his colleagues, religious and community leaders to collaborate with government to ensure the eradication of polio in Nigeria.

Musa, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, urged the leaders to enlighten their people on the importance of polio immunization.

The Monarch, who is the head of Jiwa community in the FCT, stressed that a lot of children were crippled due to the ignorance of some parents about polio immunization.

He said the recent reported cases of polio in the FCT were regrettable.

“My advice to other Emirs in the FCT and Nigeria at large is to partner with our communities for more understanding, to know the dangers associated in respect of poliomyelitis.

“Our children are becoming crippled and the rejection is their ignorance, it is lack of understanding.

“We need to partner with them, from government , community leaders, religious leaders and everybody that is a stakeholder, so it’s better for us to come together and mobilise.’’

Musa said the fight against polio was the responsibility of every Nigerian and urged “all hands to be on deck’’ to ensure its success.

He stressed the need for vaccinators to penetrate villages, so as to give many children the polio immunization.

NAN reports that FCT administration commenced its four- day Immunization Plus Days from March 9 to March 12.

The Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, said polio was an infectious disease that crippled children.

Mohammed urged parents to allow their children take the vaccine as it was safe for newborns, sick and malnourished children.

He said the vaccine had no overdose and that it did not matter if a child took it more than four times.

Mohammed urged parents to report any case of sudden weakness of the hands or legs in children less than 15 years to the team of vaccinators or health workers.

“Ensure that your children under five are fully immunized against polio and other vaccine preventable diseases, to stop the transmission of wild polio virus and other childhood diseases in the FCT.’’

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 17

INSIDE FCT COURTS Man sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for attempting to steal from farm

T

he Gudu Upper Area Court in Abuja home sentenced Kabir Fulani to 12 months imprisonment for attempting to steal from Mustapha Farms in Bassa Village of Abuja.

However, the presiding judge, Mr Adamu Wakili, gave him an option of N8,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to the offences of trespass and attempted theft.

The police prosecutor, Insp. Blessed Akpan, said Vincent Ayuba of Bassa Village and a security guard with the farm reported Fulani at the Airport Division Police Station on March 6.

Akpan told the court that Ayuba reported that while he was on security patrol in the farm on the date, he caught the convict cutting the farm’s cable wires.

“The accused who is of no fixed address was arrested immediately and during police investigations, he admitted to committing the offence punishable under sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code,’’ he said.(NAN)

Man, 19, remanded in prison over cell phone theft

T

he Mararaba Upper Area Court, in Nasarawa State yesterday remanded a 19-year-old man, Uchenna Bright, of Behind Olex Pharmacy, Mararaba, in prison for allegedly stealing a cell phone.

The police prosecutor, Mr Steven Kwaza, told the court that one Haruna Omale reported the matter at the Sani Abacha Road Police Station on March 4.

He said the accused stepped on Omale at the Mararaba junction.

“When Omale asked the accused why he stepped on him, he went to the complainant’s car and took his Nokia 200, valued at N12,500 and ran away.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 288 of the Penal Code, but the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Vincent Gwahemba, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case to March 25,2013 for hearing. (NAN)

Two young men hawking yams, yesterday in Mararaba.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Civil Servant, 41, arraigned for joint act, cheating T

he Police have arraigned one Adamu Mohammed, civil servant, 41, of Mararaba Wazobia Zone B, No 6 Nasarawa state and Salisu Wasa of Maraba now at large before an Upper Area Court in Karu for joint act and cheating.

Police Prosecutor, Njoku Pascal told the court that on May, 29, 2012, one Mrs. Hamila Olamoyegun of Jukwoyi police station and reported against the accused.

Pascal further noted that two accused collected the sum of one million one hundred and fifty thousand naira (1,150,000) to the complainant and they fraudulently and dishonestly converted the money toothier own use.

He said that during police investigation they confessed and three hundred and ninety thousand was recovered from them. They also deposited their vehicles to the police station.

They also wrote an undertaking to pay the remaining money but they did not.

He noted that the offence contravene the provision of Sections 79 and 320 of the Penal Code.

However the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Acuused counsel, Chukwu Obute said that the alleged offence is bailable quoting section 36 sub 5 and 6 of 1999

constitution. He also said that the accused has promise not to interfere with police investigation and will not jump bail.

The Presiding Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko granted the accused bail in the sum of one million naira with a reasonable surety who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He also ordered the police to arrest the second accused person before the next adjourned date. (NAN)

Police arraign man, 36, for alleged breach of trust

T

he police have arraigned a man, Adewale Oyinlola of 36, Zone D7, Jahi, Abuja in a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court for alleged breach of trust.

Prosecutor Mohammed Ahmed told the court that the matter was lodged at the Maitama Police Station on March1 by one Mojisola Ayeni of Zambezi Crescent, Maitama,

Abuja.

Ahmed said that Oyinlola, who worked for Ayeni as an accountant was entrusted with N404, 000 by one Mr Chike, a customer.

He added that “Oyinlola was supposed to deposit the money in the company’s account but did not do so, instead and he diverted it to his personal use.’’

However, the accused denied the allegation as his Counsel, Mr O. Oguntoye, appealed to the court for the bail of his client.

Oguntoye said that his client would not jump bail if granted, and that he would provide a reasonable surety, who would ensure the accused was present in court for the hearing of the matter.

He urged the court to use its

discretion in granting bail to his client on liberal terms.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr Tony Ubani, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 with a surety in like sum.

Ubani said that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the matter to March 28,2013 for hearing. (NAN)

Man bags 6 months imprisonment for cheating, breach of trust

A

Gwagwalada Upper Area Court in the FCT has sentenced a 48-year-old man, Abdullahi Murtala, to six months in prison for cheating and breach of trust.

The presiding judge, Alhaji Babangida Hassan, sentenced Murtala after he pleaded guilty to the charges and begged for leniency.

He, however, gave him an

option to pay N25,000 fine.

“The court finds you guilty of the offences and hereby convicts you for the offences for which you admitted to have committed.

“You are hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment on all the charges or to pay N25,000 as fine,’’ the judge said.

He also awarded a

compensation of N38,000 to the complainant.

The police prosecutor, Martha Paul, had earlier told the court that sometime in February, the convict was entrusted with a bus by one John Ezeani for commercial purposes.

Paul said Murtala, who was supposed to be paying N4,000 to Ezeani daily, in line with

their contract, however, failed to do so for five consecutive days.

She added that the convict also removed the vehicle’s spare tyre and battery, both valued at N8,000 and N10,000 respectively.

Following the convict’s guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to try him summarily. (NAN)

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

NRC resumes wheat haulage from Lagos to Kano From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced its recommencement of haulage of wheat freight from Lagos to Kano by rail.

The first consignment the corporation transported from Lagos to Kano comprised 525tons of wheat, conveyed with 15 covered hopper wagons for Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, for a journey that lasted 30 hours.

The Assistant Director of Public Relations, Mr. David Ndakotsu also told reporters that the Corporation would take delivery of six airconditioned passenger coaches and two sets of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) before the end of the year.

It will be recalled that rehabilitation work on the Corporation’s 1126Km Western line, Lagos – Kano was completed last December and since then, the Corporation has continued in its quest to optimize its market share of freight and passenger traffic demand.

“We are also taking delivery of additional four locomotives in April this year, which will have a significant impact on the motive power base of the Corporation as well as its passenger carriage capability”, he told journalists.

The Corporation which says it also moves cement freight for Lafarge Wapco Plc from Lagos to Oshogbo, Ilorin, and Minna has also recommenced sand traffic from Makurdi to Otobi and movement of track materials from Apapa to Kafanchan for CGGC Ltd, one of the rehabilitation contractors working on the Port Harcourt - Maiduguri Eastern line.

Airtel honours 8 employees for a decade of service From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

L

eading telecoms company, Airtel, has honoured eight of its employees for putting in ten years of sterling service in the company.

The telecom giant showered the faithful workers with gift and special citations at its Employee Consultative Forum (ECF) held in Lagos.

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, commended the awardees for their dedicated service to the company through the good and bad times over the past ten years.

The CEO, who also encouraged the staff to strive to achieve a healthy work-life balance, used the opportunity to re-assure the awardees and the rest of the staff of the company’s commitment to their welfare, affirming that hard work would always be matched with appropriate rewards.

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 21

Controversy trails tax collection in Edo

Mob: 08033644990

Sheffield UK to host 100-strong Nigerian business delegation

S

heffield will host more than 100 Nigerian business delegates this week, as part of a relationship with Sheffield United football club.The event, at the city’s Copthorne Hotel aims to promote opportunities in power and manufacturing, and will detail Nigeria’s privatisation process.UKTI and South

Yorkshire Trade Centre are behind the event that will feature Nigerian and UK e x p e r t presentations.Prominent Nigerian businessman Jacob Esan of Nigeria has become a director of both Scarborough United Group plc (SUG) and Sheffield United Plc, prompting the relationship

building exercise.Mark Robson, UKTI’s international trade director for Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “The interest in the visit has been remarkable and specifically the one day seminar on doing business with Nigeria where we have 95 representatives from firms from the Sheffield City region attending.“The business

community here has recognised that Nigeria is a rapidly growing and investing African economy rich in oil reserves that needs to source materials and support across a number of sectors.”The visit, from today February 13 to Saturday February 16, has attracted the attention of the Nigerian media. (Bdaily)

L-R: Guest lecturer, Dr. Austin Nweze, Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Malam Mansur Ahmed, and President, Sam Ohuabunwa Foundation for Economic Empowerment, Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa, during an economic business roundtable on Budget 2013, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

T

he National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has said that ‘Arise News’, a new 24 hours international television news operation launched on February 5 by the C.E.O and Publisher of ThisDay newspaper, Nduka Obaigbena, does not have a licence to operate within the country’s territory.

Yomi Bolarinwa, DirectorGeneral of the NBC said: “Arise News has not applied to the commission for a broadcast licence and does not have a licence to operate in Nigeria’s territory.”

According to the NBC: “The Commission’s attention was drawn to the publication in Thisday newspaper of February 4, which said that the TV station would “soft launch on Feb. 5 following a two-day test broadcast.’’

“The said publication claimed that the broadcast would emanate from London, New York, Johannesburg and Lagos.’’

‘Arise News’ TV station is illegal in Nigeria - NBC

Bolarinwa said that the Commission has been inundated with enquiries on the legal status of the station since the news of the launch broke out, and stated that the TV station does not have a licence to operate in the country.

“The NBC wishes to draw the attention of the public to the fact that the said television operation has not applied to the commission for a broadcast licence in accordance with the provisions of the law governing the establishment and operation of broadcasting stations in Nigeria as provided in Sections 2(1) (b)(c), 2(2) and 11 of the NBC Act No. 38, 1999.

“Section 2(2) states that no

person shall operate or use any apparatus or premises for the transmission of sound or vision by cable, television, radio, satellite or any other medium of broadcast from anywhere in Nigeria except under and in accordance with the provisions of this Act. “Section 11 states that a request by a person for authority to own, establish or operate a radio, sound, television, cable or satellite station shall be by way of an application for a licence addressed to the DirectorGeneral of the Commission and in the form prescribed in the second schedule to this Act,’’ it stated.

Arise News and Arise News

Management Tip of the Day

D

How to handle your conflict-averse boss

o you have a manager who won’t advocate for you or your team? Is she afraid to say no to requests from above? Here are three ways to get what you need from even the most conflict-avoidant boss.

Focus on problem solving. If you need to talk about a difficult issue with your boss, focus on the problem, not

people. Offer specific suggestions about how you might solve it.

Gather supporting evidence. If you want your supervisor to use her authority on your behalf, give her everything she needs to build her case: assemble data, write drafts, and zero in on how your request fits into larger unit or organizational goals.

Put it in writing. If your boss dreads face-to-face conversations, send him e-mails and brief documents outlining what you need. This will make it easier for him to engage in a productive conversation with you.

Source: Harvard Business Review

360, a sister channel are owned

by Nduka Obaigbena, owner and publisher of the fashion and culture magazine, ARISE, and the publisher of several other titles including one of Nigeria’s daily newspapers, ThisDay made its debut recently.

They are broadcasting from its main news centres in London, New York, Johannesburg and Lagos and supported by a further eight bureaux around the globe stretching from Beijing to Rio de Janeiro.

Obaigbena said: ‘We will attract a global audience interested in emerging markets, developing countries and evolving politics.

With headquarters and bureaux throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, we are ready to speak to our audience and give them a voice as well.

‘We are a new international network established to reflect the new world order not hardwired to the old and built to reflect the modern way news is consumed.

Nowhere is this more important than in the emerging economies.”

Obaigbena stressed: “There will be no state funding and no state agenda. Our coverage will be balanced, comprehensive and completely independent”.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS

Nigerian Eurobond

N

igeria’s dollar-denominated borrowing costs rose to the highest in more than two months on speculation that a U.S. economic recovery will drive up the global borrowing benchmark rate.

Yields on the nation’s Eurobonds due 2021 climbed three basis points to 4.21 percent at 11:39 a.m. in London, the highest since Dec. 4, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The international bonds of Africa’s biggest oil producer declined 203 basis points, or 2.03 percentage points, last year as crude prices stayed above the West African nation’s $72 a barrel benchmark, boosting foreign-currency reserves 34 percent to $44 billion by year end.

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc

F

lour Mills of Nigeria Plc, the country’s biggest miller by market value, said it will begin commercial sugar refining this month to boost revenue.

The Federal Government plans to end imports of packaged sugar from this year to boost local investment and become a self sufficient producer of the sweetener, Lateef Busari, executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council have said.

Flour Mills has also said it plans to borrow between $400 million to $500 million to construct a new cement plant which will double its existing 2.5 million metric tonnes capacity.

Fortis Micro Finance Bank

F

ortis Microfinance Bank has disbursed N4.5 billion as loans to operators of small scale enterprises in 2012, Mr Jero Omare-Ogah, the Chief Strategy and Implementation Officer of the bank, said on Monday.

Omare -Ogah said that the beneficiaries include farmers, self-help groups, associations and low-income salary earners.He praised the beneficiaries for a near 100 per cent repayment of the loan, saying: “we have hardly recorded any default in the loan repayment’’.

Fortis MFB and the NPF MFB are the two MFBs listed on the NSE out of over 900 MFBs licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Medview’s flight 214 and the furore over air returns in Nigeria Against the background of a Medview Airline's Boeing Airlines 737 400 which on January 27 made an air return to Lagos 15 minutes after take-off apparently for precautionary measures while on an Abuja flight enroute Yola, our Suleiman Idris, who sught experts opinions on the issue, examines the regulations governing such a situation and reports.

A

n account of a passenger aboard the Medview Airlines aircraft which made a return flight to the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal MMA2 in Lagos on Sunday, January 27,th 2013, 15 minutes after airborne had it that the man who had been recently recruited by his organisation in Lagos, and was on an assignment in Abuja, unfortunately was experiencing a normal incident in Nigeria's aviation for the very first time.

Source said when the man got to the office, in a typical Nigeria fashion, he declared a feast and call for celebration with cartons of beers of different brands declaring that God had saved his life from a plane crash.

One can safely say that other passengers will no doubt do likewise and may perhaps share mighty testimonies in churches the following Sunday.

Incidents of air returns are one of the tenets of aviation whenever the flying crew of an airborne aircraft notice any untoward occurrence in the course of the voyage, either from the machine itself or from the flying passengers that could endanger the lives of those onboard; hence pilots are required to alert the nearest aerodrome. As soon as they have an emergency they run through the check-list while diverting to the nearest airfield and see if they can fix the problem themselves or carry out checks, repairs or others measures they deem fit.

Experts and stakeholders have continued to express surprises at the rate at which such incidents are given prominence in our national discourse, especially in the mass media, whereas such a case in Europe, America and others with huge flight traffic will seldom attract any reportage in any medium.

The cases of two U.S.-bound flights which returned to London and Paris after suffering almostsimultaneous mid-air emergencies last October is a pointer to the Nigerian scenario.

The cabin of the Kuwait Airways 777 was filled with smoke as it approached the Irish Sea, off Wales in the United Kingdom, while the Air France Flight 010 was over the Irish Sea between Liverpool and Blackpool when it experienced technical problems in the cockpit.Both flights were heading to New York's JFK airport, having departed from Heathrow in London and the Charles De Gaulle in Paris respectively.

Passengers, who were in the region of over 500 were simply

Med-View aircraft on tarmac transferred to other planes to continue their journey while the incidents were investigated without any prominent publicity.

A similar occurrence in Nigeria will most likely shock the nation to a standstill, with virtually everyone calling for the heads of those in charge of our aviation agencies while emergency armchair analysts and critics will surface overnight to determine the cause and punitive measures to be meted out to such airlines without regards to international requirement, recommended standards and practices. Records has shown that anytime an incident happens in the Nigerian airspace, the position people involved occupy in the society will greatly determine the prominence such incident will get in the mass media, especially when such persons are political officers. They simply put a call to their media friends and contacts and narrate their experiences; sometimes usually exaggerated just to make the desire impact.

Captain Dele Ore, one time head of the Nigerian presidential fleet and Chairman of the industry's think- tank group, Aviation Round Table (ART) put it this way: "When an aircraft en-route Abuja, after having just taken -off from Lagos, made a precautionary landing back in Lagos, a local newspaper had reported that: "Pilot averts crash, lands plane with one engine."

Ore said, "This report was alarmist, uninformed and capable of eroding public confidence in the aviation industry despite every effort being made to ensure flight

safety. We need to set the records straight for proper education of a segment of the media as well and re-assuring the flying public."

The former pilot told journalists that "first and foremost, we commend the professionalism and airmanship exhibited by the crew of the aircraft. The capable handling of the situation makes the crew members to be an asset to the industry. When a single engine aircraft has lost the only engine, then there could be cause for concern but if one engine fails on a twin-engine aircraft there should be no alarm if the crew members have been well trained".

Elucidating the conditions for an air return, he said factors responsible for such include one or combination of factors which fall under the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Regulations 2006 captioned: "Reporting of failures, malfunctions and defects which may occur after the aircraft must have been airborne."

The NCAA stipulates that owners or operators of aircraft over 5,700 kg maximum takeoff weight or of any aircraft used in a commercial operation shall report to the Authority any failures, malfunctions, or defects that result in failure or malfunction of more than one attitude, airspeed, or altitude instrument during a given operation of the aircraft.

The man at the helm of affairs of NCAA, the agency charged with the responsibility to oversee the safety of the country's airspace, Dr Harold Demuren told reporters that, "Air return is a standard industry practice that pilots embark upon, at any

point in a flight, they realise that during either due to weather, mechanical for safety reasons.

Such return may be informed by weather or mechanical reasons."

For Mr. Chris Aligbe, a contemporary of Dr. Ore and industry consultant "Air return is a normal development in the aviation sector. Travellers should not be afraid; it should not create unnecessary panic in the sector. It should not be viewed as a sign of lowering standards of air safety."

He opined that "In the last instance, when Medview Airlines had an air return, the industry reacted appropriately.

The reaction from the Federal Ministry of Aviation was spontaneous. Even the airline involved - Medview Airlines also responded to the issue.

Rather, I think the pilot should be commended for his professionalism. It was caused by power surge in one of the engines, which resulted in a bang. The pilot shut down the affected engine and initiated an air return. That is enough evidence of a knowledgeable and professional pilot.

Special Assistant Media to the Aviation Minister, Mr. Joe Obi equally pointed out that air return was a normal procedure usually applied by pilots and airlines all over the world whenever there was a compelling reason to discontinue the flight.

One thing is clear, as government aims to make air transport a darling of the citizens in the not-too-distant time, we simply cannot run away from such incidents; as such, the flying public must be informed that these are regular occurrences globally.

PEOPLES DAILY,TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2013

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Uncertain economic prospect for Nigerians as 2013 kicks-in T

he year 2012, like every other year, has come and gone with its good and bad sides, though without much drastic turn in the fate of the economy. But as the door opens into 2013, many analysts see a pathway into economic growth amidst global challenges.

GDP or 'real' Growth Although, theoretically, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has said Nigeria's economy grew 6.28 percent in the second quarter (first half) of this year, the living standards of the people offer no proof of that as the average Nigerian, lacking access to the most basic of needs, has become the epitome of poverty and 70 % of the populace lives on less than $2 per day.

Analysts expect Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to recover moderately to above 7.0 percent in 2013 from 6.6 percent in 2012, with FBN capital forecasting 7.3 percent real GDP growth next year.

Fiscal & Monetary policy In its determination to bring down the rate, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has kept the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, at 12 per cent since last year.

However, the country's macro-economic stability has been questioned by experts, who have faulted the CBN's monetary policy. The Naira's performance vis-a-viz the US Dollar has stabilised in a 157-158.5 range since mid-August, after fluctuating in a 160-163.5 band over the preceding two months.

But fiscal policy still remains a

cause for concern.

A recent World Bank survey found that about half of all the Nigerian firms it interviewed, reported that access to finance and its high cost constitute a serious problem to them.

The latest lending and deposit rates released by the CBN show that the highest lending rate is 28 percent, against a deposit rate of 2.69 percent. Experts repeatedly say this constraint has hindered investment flows to the country and must be quickly tackled, for Nigerian businesses to thrive, be profitable and remain competitive.

Industry operators believe that the CBN will reduce its grip on monetary policy. Bismarck Rewane, chief executive of Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited believes declining interest rate environment which will be determined by market forces will dictate the tune for monetary policy.

Rewane said in 2013, he expects interest rate to range between eight and 10 per cents based on MPR, while at the foreign exchange market, the naira is likely going to remain within the range of N157 to the dollar.

Also he said real GDP which slowed to 6.48 per cent is expected to accelerate to 7.03 per cent.

According to Rewane, there is a high potential of recovery in major sectors of the economy in this year, following the slow output witnessed in 2012.

Inflation Efforts by the CBN to keep inflation rate at a single digit

Minister of Petroluem, Diezani Allison- Madueke

The Federal Government's economic reforms in the past one year, hindered by years of mismanagement, have barely put Nigeria back on track towards achieving its full economic potential. Aminu Imam reports that uncertainty still prevails as the New Year starts.. lar, one of the best performers in Africa.

Other reforms expected for 2013, include conclusion of the privatisation of electricity assets, the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), and the effective take-off of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), which is expected to replace the Excess Crude Account.

President Goodluck Jonathan have not yielded result and Nigeria's consumer inflation rose to its highest in four months in November as the impact of the country's worst flooding in 50 years pushed up the cost of food, data showed.

Headline inflation quickened to 12.3 percent year-on-year in November, from 11.7 percent in October and the highest since July, the NBS has said. According to the NBS, food inflation, the biggest contributor to the consumer index, rose to 11.6 percent year-on-year in November, from 11.1 percent in October.

In reality however, the prices of food items are on a steady rise.

For instance, the cost of a big De Rica measure of beans, which sold cost for between N170 to N180 now goes for between N250 to N300. A small bulb of onion sells for N100 as against N10.

Prices of other food items have all gone up.

Another factor responsible for the inflationary trend is the partial removal of oil subsidy at the beginning of this year. The government's attempt to block the drain through which the subsidy payments were leaking has provoked oil marketers into causing artificial scarcity.

With the monetary policy rate stagnant at 12 per cent

through the year and a rising inflation, Bismarck predicts that inflation which currently stands at 12.3 per cent is more likely to fall to single digit in the New Year.

FX reserves Statistics from the CBN showed Nigeria's foreign reserves which has moved in tandem with higher oil prices up to 34.9 per cent, has reached $44.340 billion, helped by a 20 percent jump in the nation's benchmark Bonny Light crude blend from this year's low in June.

The price of Brent for February settlement on the Londonbased ICE Futures Europe exchange traded at $109.36 a barrel last Friday.

Nigeria's dollar reserves which have moved in tandem with higher oil prices, are up 34.9 percent ytd, reaching $44.4 billion on December 17 according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) website.

Market analysts like FBN Capital forecasts dollar reserves to close 2013 at $48 billion, up some 9 percent from its current levels.

The Naira is up 3.08 percent so far this year versus the dol-

Energy Nigeria's crude oil production hit a record high of 2.7 million barrels per day on August 1.

Average daily crude oil output rose marginally to 2.38 million barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter from 2.35 million bpd in the first quarter, an NBS report said.

Brent oil prices are on the point of seeing an average for the year of about $111.5 a barrel, higher than the previous alltime high set in 2011 of $110.9.

Just last week, the Federal Government announced the preferred bidders for the privatisation of five Power Holding Company (PHCN) successor generation companies as part of its plans to privatise the country's electricity sector.

Making the announcement at opening of financial bids, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) revealed that saw a consortium, which includes Transcorp, Femi Otedola emerge preferred bidders for the Ughelli, Geregu Afam, Shiroro Power plants amongst others.

The highest bidders for the electricity distribution companies are due to be announced on October 16.

Capital Market Nigeria's money and capital markets still lack the depth of lift the economy out of the doldrums. According to IMF, in a recently released report, the domestic money and capital markets in Nigeria remain underdeveloped and shallow-offering mostly short term instruments.

Nigeria will also float a $1 billion Eurobond in 2013, twice as much as it sold in 2011.

Rewane have identified 17 stocks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that he considers attractive buy in 2013. The stocks are in banking (GT Bank, First Bank, Fidelity, FCMB and Diamond bank), breweries (Guinness, Nigerian Breweries, and International Brewery), building materials (Lafarge, Ashaka and Dangote),conglomerates, Continued on page 21

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2013

PAGE 21

Uncertain economic prospect for Nigerians as 2013 kicks-in Continued from page 20 (Unilever and UACN) and food and beverages (Cadbury, Dangote Sugar and Flour Mills).

He expects that the stock market recovery seen in 2012 will be sustained in 2013.

"The recovery will not be broad based. Only companies with strong fundamentals will gain from the recovery" Rewane said, while forecasting that the All Share Index will hit 38,000 points in 2013.

ICT With an estimated 87.298 million mobile cellular telephone lines in use in the country, network quality remains a problem and the general assessment is that further expansion and modernisation of the fixedline telephone network is needed.

For instance, the expansion of telecom facilities in the country, which had raised the volume of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), from $18bn in 2009 to $25bn this year, could drop following attacks on telecoms facilities by terrorists in northern Nigeria.

Even while the actual total loss to the attacks is yet to be computed, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, former Deputy Governor, CBN, believes it will cost about N4bn to replace the telecoms masts. Having invested about N2.6tr in the sector, Mailafia reckons that Nigeria will lose foreign direct investments. The sector's new challenge is indeed a huge one.

Non-Oil sector Nigeria is losing billions of Naira that should accrue to the federation account from the mining because Nigerian mining regulators are not efficient enough, an audit report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), has revealed.

The maiden report, which covers 2007 to 2010, shows that over 70 per cent of mining title holders in Nigeria's solid mineral sector are inactive companies, causing Nigeria's government huge revenue losses.

"Mineral titles were issued by Mining Cadastre Office to many companies, but only few are paying their annual fees and other fees as stated in Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, thereby making the government to lose revenue," the report noted.

The report prepared by an independent Chartered Accountants firm, Haruna Yahaya & Co., showed that Nigeria's solid minerals sector is dominated by companies engaging in speculative mining activities.

It also revealed that out of about 3,163 companies granted 1,443 mining titles during the period; only 30 per cent are engaged in active quarry, mining and exploration activities, with illegal miners, medium scale operators and artisan miners the dominant group.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Total revenue yield from royalties paid by the major players between 2007 and 2010 was N2.2 billion; earnings from ground rents/annual surface rents for the period was about N173.9 million; tax, N51.4 million; and levies N122.9 million.

Going forward, there's a need for the Federal Government to review the existing Land Use Act to enable the state government's access and reap from the huge potential benefits derivable from the non-oil sector.

Future Outlook In spite of the country's sorry state, analysts on average expect to see higher growth, higher equity valuations, robust reserves accretion, firm oil prices and slightly lower inflation next year. Apart from the general fear of falling oil prices and growing public debt, most industry observers have foretold a better year in 2013, if the government plays its cards right.

Most of the stakeholders, including the Deputy Governor (Operations) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tunde Lemo including analysts like economist, Henry Boyo and a Bank Executive, Foluke Aboderin have said that Nigeria would see higher growth, higher equity valuations, robust reserves accretion, firm oil prices and slightly lower inflation next year.

However, the analysts disagreed on some government policies that have impeded the growth of the Nigerian economy such as the interest rates, cash liquidity and other economic growth indicators.

As usual, President Jonathan has made promises to spur the nation's economy and stimulate job creation. However, the increasing rate of unemployment in Nigeria has reached a worrisome stage. The official rate released by the NBS puts it at about 24 %. It is believed that this rate is not reliable, as many unemployed Nigerians are yet to register with the government.

The agricultural, construction, power and downstream oil sectors of the Nigerian economy are good investment outlets in 2013, says Bismark Rewane. He identified these investment areas at the December 2012, monthly Lagos Business School breakfast session held in Lagos.

Huge investment opportunities exist in commodity trading, processing, equipment financing and trade finance in the agricultural sector, according to him.

He also expects that the government will continue to offer policy support to the agricultural sector in 2013.

Economic performance in the agricultural sector is driven mainly by activities in cocoa, sugar, poultry, grain, and cassava production, he said.

Rewane identified the risks likely to be faced by investors in the sector to include foreign exchange volatility, interest rate movement and a global decline on commodity prices.

Focus on infrastructural development by states and the federal government, the existing massive demand for infrastructure in the country, adoption of privatisation as instrument of government policy and im-

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi provements in regulations on how business is done in Nigeria, are all factors that will make investments in the Nigerian infrastructure sector worthwhile in 2013.

The existence of a strong power supply gap, a strong policy framework and multilateral agency support for the current power reforms process, reform of the power tariff structure and the expected growth in power demand, are some of factors that will drive the opportunities in the power sector in 2013, Rewane added.

He identified some of the current trends opening up opportunities in the power sector as including the sale of the unbundled successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in 2012, the ratification of the contract management award of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to Manitoba Hydro International of Canada, and the fact that Afam Generation Company and the Kaduna Distribution Company have been lined up for sale in 2013.

The African Institute for Applied Economics (AIAE) sums it up, as it said it believes the economic outlook for Nigeria is promising, but this is dependent on the government putting structures in place for the desired growth.

As the predictions of the fortune teller is dependent on steps taken into prosperity, so also the bright future of Nigeria is dependent on tackling issues that may deride growth.

AIAE in its economic outlook for 2013 noted that the challenge in 2013 is to translate the growth

witnessed in the agriculture, telecommunications, and wholesale and retail trade sectors "into improving Nigeria's human development index - a comparative measure of the impact of economic policies on life expectancy, literacy, education, and standards of living of the people."

"Finally, in 2013 we will expect government to invest more resources into improving the investment climate and business environment as a basis to attract investors, particularly in those key sectors and in the feeder industries that will drive, grow and sustain the Nigerian economy going forward", it stated. "Finally, in 2013 we will expect government to invest more resources into improving the investment climate and business environment as a basis to attract investors, particularly in those key sectors and in the feeder industries that will drive, grow and sustain the Nigerian economy going forward", it stated.

There are understandably good reasons to be bullish about the once sleeping giant now shaken from her long slumber.

Bequeathed with a stable foreign exchange regime, a projected drop in inflation and interest rates, rising business confidence, a growing appetite in investors, improvement in power and emerging competition among states to attract investment, 2013 can be the year Nigeria truly takes-off.

However, one thing economists watching this country seem to agree on is that 2013 can and should be a pivotal year for our nation.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Controversy trails tax collection in Edo From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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ontroversy is trailing Edo state’s decision proscribing 18 Local Government Councils in the state from collecting log control and gaseous emission fees.

This followed the arrest of three suspected illegal revenue collectors, who are now in prison.

They were arrested in Ovia South-West local government area by officials of the state’s Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities and brought before an Evbuoriaria magistrate court presided over by Magistrate Francis Odiase, who ordered that the accused be remanded in prison on Friday.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities, Major Lawrence Loye (Rted), described the move as necessary to prevent Cabal from ripping off Commuters and block leakages to shore-up revenue for development.

…as court remands three revenue collectors in prison Officials of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Edo state chapter condemned the act, explaining that it’s an attempt to muzzle government at grassroots level the right to collect levies and rate as contained in section 7, 4th schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 48 of the Local Government Law 200 (as amended).

President Pat Okeranlen, led the NULGE officials in a peaceful protest to Edo state Government

House, Oba of Benin Palace and the state House of Assembly Complex, where the Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea promised to look into the matter dispassionately.

Okeranlen had appealed for unconditional immediate release of their members, failing which, local activities would be grounded.

In a swift reaction, Major Lawrence Loye (Rted), in an interview, said since January 30th this year, the ministry terminated all contractual agreements between the ministry

and contractors on revenue collection from logs, any form of stickers and control on woods and gaseous emissions, as directed by the state government.

He said, the proscribed revenue collectors increased their monthly revenue collection from each haulage commuter from N10, 000 to N25, 000 and remit N1.7million monthly to state government.

According to him, ‘’Those arrested are bandits in our society who have been milking the

government for years’’ and accused them of conspiring with some officials of the ministry over the years. He noted that the state Board of internal Revenue has now been mandated to collect the log fees.

He explained that the gaseous emission fee has been suspended until the ministry employ laboratory device that will help in the determination of the appropriate fee either at the point of vehicle Registration or other means

Nigeria has highest air safety in Africa, says Damuren

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule, with agency report

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mbattled Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Damuren has said that Nigeria has the highest air safety standard in Africa, and as such, the country is currently assisting many African nations to achieve the highly coveted Category one (CAT 1) status.

Demuren, stated this at the weekend, during the BusinessDay In-house Briefing, and added that NCAA would not bend aviation rules for anyone, for any reason.

The CAT 1 is a safety certification awarded by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (US-FAA) to countries that have clean safety records and have met all regulatory requirements, as prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

In 2010, it could be recalled, Nigeria achieved a Category 1 air safety rating from the U.S FAA International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme.

This means that Nigeria complies with international air safety standards set by ICAO, the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aviation practice.

Demuren, while responding questions also observed that by 2015, Nigeria would displace some countries, such as South Africa, from being the countries with the biggest fleets of private jets.

This, according to him, shows the stability and trust Nigeria’s civil aviation regulations have put in place.

L-R: Chairman, Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX), Mrs Margaret Orakwusi, President, Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, Mr. Bolaji Akinola, and Director-General, Nigeria Chamber of Shipping, Mrs Ify Akerele, during a news conference, on Monday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Investors stake N24.7bn as Nigeria Stock Exchange’s turnover soars

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), said it recorded a turnover of 3.56 billion shares worth N24.69 billion in 39,321 deals last week, just as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), appointed First Bank of Nigeria, FBN, as agent for its equities and bond transactions.

According to the NSE, investors traded with 2.81 billion

shares valued at N22.19 billion in 33,123 deals last week, with the financial Services sector remaining the most active as investors traded 2.53 billion shares valued at N16.34 billion in 23,085 deals last week.

The conglomerate sector sold 473.15 million shares worth N1.05 billion in 2,341 deals, while the NSE All-Share Index (ASI),

Arik offers Valentine special fares for customers

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule assengers of Arik Air, especially for economy and business class, are up for new and attractive fares across all domestic, regional and international routes for the Valentine season.

As part of the airlines’ “With love from Arik Air” special fare initiative to celebrate the Valentine season, passengers booking these flights will enjoy super savings over previously published fares on the applicable routes.

The airline’s Global Chief Executive Officer, Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, explained further that “we have always been a value based airline, offering good value for money without

P

compromising our safety and quality standards and ensuring a warm and exciting travel experience on board our aircraft.

“This year we wanted to give something back to our customers and reward them for helping make us Nigeria’s leading airline. We believe this offer will give more of our guests greater flexibility of flights at very attractive prices across our entire network.”

Arik air said customers can enjoy even greater savings when booking seven days or more in advance, through the airline’s website www.arikair.com.

In addition, customers will enjoy a 30% discount on the cost of the return leg fare of their journey when they book return domestic flights.

appreciated by 901.63 points or 2.78 per cent to close at 33,313.49 from the 32,411.86 posted in the preceding week.Also, the market capitalisation appreciated by 2.78 per cent to close at N10.66 trillion against the N10.37 trillion recorded in the previous week.

Some capital market operators attributed the ongoing rally on the nation’s bourse to declining yields from fixed income securities.The Chief Executive Officer, Lambeth Trust Investment Company Ltd., David Adonri, said the expectation of impressive full year results was responsible for increasing demand for equities.

According to Mr. Adonri, the growth might be sustained if there was stability in the macro economy, adding that the rally might not stop if the high tempo of foreign portfolio investment continued.

For the Managing Director, Maxifunds Investment and Securities, Okechukwu Unegbu, the introduction of new products and initiatives contributed to the growth, adding that zero tolerance to market infractions by market regulators increased investors’ confidence in equities.

Meanwhile, SEC said on Monday, through one of its officials in Lagos that the appointment of First Bank was to help strengthen

market making activities on the nation’s bourse.Securities lending is the act of loaning stocks, derivatives or other securities to an investor or firm.The borrower (investor) is only required to put up collateral, either in cash, security or a letter of credit to obtain the facility.

According to the official, who would not want to be quoted as he is not authorised to speak on issue, apart from FBN, one other bank was still being considered.He said that the appointment of the second bank could not be announced immediately due to some issues, which needed to be addressed.

With the appointment, First Bank has joined United Bank for Africa, UBA and Stanbic IBTC, appointed in August 2012 as lending agents on the NSE securitiesThe NSE in April 2012 approved 10 stock broking firms out of the 20 firms that applied as market makers.The firms include Stanbic IBTC, Renaissance Capital, Future View Securities, Vetiva Capital and ESS/DunnLoren Merrifield.

Others are WSTC, Capital Bancorp, FBN Securities, Greenwich Securities and CSL Stockbrokers.Market making activities on the nation’s bourse commenced in September, 2012.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

PAGE 22

By Robin Wiggleswort

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t is the ultimate in risk versus return.

Hunters of investment exotica are heading to Africa, where some of the world’s riskiest markets are enjoying big gains After trailing behind more mainstream markets for the better part of a decade, so-called frontier markets as defined by index provider MSCI have climbed more than 8 per cent already this year – outpacing both emerging and developed stock markets Vietnam, Dubai, Argentina and Kazakhstan have all enjoyed a robust start to the year, but fund managers argue that the real frontier market stars are Africa’s bourses “There is a second scramble for Africa under way,” says Richard Gush, head of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s South African operations The larger sub-Saharan markets have been the primary beneficiaries.

While some smaller markets, such as Namibia and Zambia, have languished, Nigerian stocks have returned almost 63 per cent in US dollar terms during the past 12 months, Kenya’s Nairobi All-Share index has returned 46 per cent and Ghana’s market has climbed more than 17 per cent That is quite a turnround.

Before the global financial crisis many frontier market investors favoured countries such as Vietnam, and regions such as the oil-soaked Gulf Nowadays, it is Africa that is the continent on investors’ lips, notes Zin Bekkali, chief executive of Silk Invest, a boutique asset manager. “When the frontier markets story started before the crisis people actually tilted away from Africa, but these days that is where they want to go above all,” he says Investing in the continent’s stock markets can be a turbulent ride, because of the underlying shares and the choppiness of exchange rates. For example, Namibia’s market is up about 8 per cent during the past year, but down 10 per cent in US dollar terms The economic gains of many African countries are also linked to commodity export booms.

Sceptics caution that if that unravels, growth – and investor prospects – will be dented The limited size and depth of the markets are also a challenge.

Ashmore estimates that, excluding the South African market, there are about 250 investable companies across 17 exchanges worth roughly $250bn. But this makes the overall market smaller than Denmark, and about the same size as the Philippines Trading volumes are woefully low by international standards. Even Nigeria’s stock exchange, the busiest in subSaharan Africa apart from South Africa, only sees $40m of shares change hands a day on average. Investors therefore face difficulty exiting larger investments. Even access can be

Investors start a new scramble for Africa

President Goodluck Jonathan a technical challenge in some markets Yet some fund managers are still attracted to African equities. While the developed world faces years of economic torpor and painful deleveraging, and in some larger emerging markets growth is slowing, many African countries are enjoying an economic renaissance Asset managers say African shares are cheap. Even after the recent run, most exchanges are only now trading at roughly

Minister of Trade and investment, Olusegun Aganga the same or slightly lower forward-looking price-toearnings ratios as emerging markets Julie Dickson, a fund manager at Ashmore, argues that the rally should be sustained by still-compelling dividend payments.

She estimates that the dividend yield is about 6 per cent on average in Africa, compared with about 3 per cent in emerging markets African markets also offer some diversification away from

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the risk-on, risk-off forces that have dominated global markets Although frontier markets can be highly volatile, they largely move independently of events in the US or Europe – an attractive characteristic for many fund managers, points out Russ Koesterich, chief investment strategist at BlackRock In fact, the main driver of African exchanges recently appears to have been big global and emerging equity funds taking “off-benchmark”

Before the global financial crisis many frontier market investors favoured countries such as Vietnam, and regions such as the oil-soaked Gulf Nowadays, it is Africa that is the continent on investors’ lips, notes Zin Bekkali, chief executive of Silk Invest, a boutique asset manager. “When the frontier markets story started before the crisis people actually tilted away from Africa, but these days that is where they want to go above all,” he says

positions in local companies – not necessarily inflows into dedicated frontier and Africafocused funds These emerging market funds take small positions relative to the assets they control, but their size means bets can have a big impact Nigerian Breweries, for example, boasts a list of shareholders that includes Franklin Templeton, Oppenheimer and Fidelity, via their emerging market funds.

That has helped its shares rally almost 80 per cent in US dollar terms during the past year “There are definitely a lot of off-benchmark bets by global emerging market funds, which is a bigger story than dedicated frontier market funds,” says Richard Lacaille, global chief investment officer at State Street Global Advisors Nonetheless, history has shown that the appetite of international investors for frontier markets such as those in Africa is fickle. If appetite for risk evaporates again, money could pour out quickly Paradoxically, more international investment will also gradually increase the links between local bourses and global markets, lessening one of the big attractions of African stocks. Ms Dickson says the potential returns are worth it: “You just have to do your homework.

(Source: Financial Times)

PEOSPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Report as at Tuesday, March 12, 2013

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Why Nigeria may not meet the Millennium Development Goals on Housing

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Making a difference with Marble Marble is a natural stone composed of calcium carbonate; it's in the same stone family as limestone and travertine. Color variations occur in marble due to mineral impurities in the stone. Slabs, rather than tiles, are typically used for countertops and other aesthetics from floor to ceiling. Here are marble design tips to inspire you in your next remodeling or new project.

El-Salem’s N1 billion suit against CPC Marble and steel - stainless steel countertop with marble backsplash

Beautiful kitchen with marble countertop, aluminum framed cabinets and pale pink hanging lights.

Marble and rich color wood floors.The quintessential modern living room would not be complete without a dramatic all-white marble fireplace.

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ast week, the property market was abuzz with condemnation of the illadvised invasion of the head-office of mass housing developer, ElSalem Nigeria Limited, by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC).

The developer has, expectedly, slammed a NI billion suit against the CPC. The misadventure by the CPC against ElSalem, a highly reputable company that holds the award of "Most Outstanding Estate Developer in Abuja" is viewed by industry analysts as taking statutory responsibilities a bit too far and against the spirit of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan which is focused on encouraging private sector development.

Information coming out since the unwarranted raid show that some top officials of the CPC clearly lied to the public and were pursuing personal vendetta. The people the CPC officials came to fight for have turned out to be a few CPC staff, their spouses and friends who made equity contributions of 20 - 30 percent of the properties they want but are unable to complete payment and yet want to be given the houses. It was a trivial business misunderstanding which CPC mismanaged violently.

The manner in which the CPC raided the developer's office is, to say the least, despicable. Hear, El-Salem's Managing Director, Mr. Ben Gbade Ojo's account of the raid to the press: "On Monday February 25, 2013 around 10 a. m, residents and passers-by of the Garki Area I section of Abuja watched in horror as a convoy of vehicles belonging to the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) filled with its officials, thugs and

stern-looking armed policemen, swept into the premises of El-Salem Nigeria Ltd, located in the area and in a true Gestapo style, as if starring in a gangster movie, the CPC officials, along with their thugs and policemen, jumped out of their vehicles and invaded the head office of El-Salem.

El-Salem workers on duty were quickly rounded-up at gun-point, while the invading CPC gang went from room to room, jerking off computers, office equipment, files, telecommunication cables and several other office items. These they carted away and loaded into their vehicles even as members of the public gathered and looked on in amazement. The ElSalem office was completely looted by the CPC officials and their thugs, and appeals by our traumatized and cowed staff to be allowed to take inventory of El-Salem property being carted away were rejected by the CPC officials and their thugs".

Athough the CPC officials told journalists that El-Salem refused to honour the Council's invitation either in writing or visit, El-Salem has now released several documents to the press showing that it not only responded to CPC's invitations through letters but also through visits to the council's head-office.

There seems to be a clear disconnect between President Jonathan's policies and agencies of government charged with executing the policies. People who lead government agencies should be those with the requisite understanding of government's policy objectives. The federal government must endeavour to wean its personnel and agencies of the desire to embark on actions that clearly stand government policies upside down.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Why Nigeria may not meet the Millennium Development Goals on Housing

By Udenna Orji

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nless concerted efforts are made to reverse the current state of affairs, Nigerians nationwide will have to wait much longer than other nations before they can enjoy the benefits of the Millennium Development Goals on Housing.

Millennium Development Goals on housing are a global pact to ensure that citizens of nations have access to affordable and decent housing by the year 2020.

The Millennium Declaration was adopted by Member States of the United Nations in September 2000. It contains eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG's) ranging from eradicating extreme poverty to combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. The MDGs detail out 18 specific development targets, each with a time-frame and indicators designed to monitor the extent to which the target has been achieved.

Specifically, Millennium Development Goal 7, Target 11 assigned the UN-HABITAT the responsibility of assisting Member States to monitor and gradually attain the "Cities Without Slums" target also known as Target 11, which is one of the three targets of Goal 7: To Ensure Environmental Sustainability". Target 11 aims to achieve a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020.

By UN-HABITAT definition, a slum household is a household that lacks any one of the following five elements: Access to improved water: (Access to sufficient amount of water for family use, at an affordable price, available to household members without being subject to extreme effort).

Access to Improved Sanitation: (Access to an excreta disposal system either in the form of a private toilet or a public toilet shared with a reasonable number of people).

Security of Tenure: (Evidence of documentation to prove secure tenure status or de facto or perceived protection from evictions).

Durability of Housing: (Permanent and adequate structure in non-hazardous location).

Sufficient Living Area: (Not more than two people sharing the same room).

But the increasing growth of slums in Nigeria, borne out of the nation's estimated deficit of 16 million housing units is causing unease in government circles and among industry operators.

While commending the federal government for the newly approved housing and urban development policies, experts say bills on Land Tenure (the proposed amendments/repeal of the Land Use Decree), Foreclosures, Tax Incentives for

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

President Goodluck Jonathan Housing and Mortgage related transactions still pending at the National Assembly constitute major impediments to the realization of the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals on Housing in Nigeria.

According to mortgage banker, Muhammed Jibrin, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Trust Savings and Loans Ltd, "If you look at the Nigerian economy generally, it is clear that minimum attention has been paid to the housing sector‌ Every body in this country knows that the land tenure system confers the right of title to the governor of the state,

making ownership and transfer of title cumbersome. The banks cannot easily foreclose on properties that mortgages have been created on. The foreclosure law has to be passed. The Law concerning tax incentives for housing and mortgage related transactions should also be passed. Unless the National Assembly passes these legislations, the expected Millennium Development Goals in terms of providing decent affordable housing will not be achieved. Government needs to move forward and make sure those bills are passed into law."

Explaining further, he said

"the second thing is that you bring in private sector participation. Nigeria today has an estimated shortage of 16 million houses based on Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria figures. Assuming a decent home in the country will cost a minimum of N10 million, to meet 10 million housing units, it will sum up to 100 trillion. So government must provide a holistic policy framework and the necessary environment to tackle this shortage. Only then can the needed long-term private sector funds to develop the sector be attracted."

A recent World Bank report

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

Concurring with the statistics, the Jibrin noted that "in the highly developed economies, the average contribution of the real estate and housing sectors to the GDP is 40 per cent. In every economy, there is an engine room for that economy. The Nigerian housing sector can serve as that engine room as we seek to diversify our economic base. The sector has the potential to generate and create huge economic activities.

The housing sector needs to consume other building materials and products such as electrical equipment, furniture, paints, roofing, cement, etc. The sector can help in developing small and large scale production of these key inputs thereby generating employment and increasing the level of national income. Addressing the housing sector problem is the same as addressing the unemployment problem and one avenue to diversify the economy away from dependence on the oil sector".

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 27

Foreign investors swoop on real estate opportunities in Nigeria I

nterestingly, despite the recent global meltdown and turmoil in Dubai where property prices are coming down, discerning investors, with eyes on the future are building more portfolios in real estate.

And following the approval of a new National Housing Policy and a new Urban Development Policy by the Federal Executive Council last June, foreign capital has been flooding into the

country for housing development under the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) through which the federal government intends to build one million housing units annually under the new housing policy.

The reason for the blossoming real estate sector in Nigeria, according to Seyi Oyetunde, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Continental Estates, is because “real estate

cannot crash, it stabilizes.

Demand is higher than supply in real estate. I tell you there is nowhere else like real estate. The richest men in the world, if you look at their wealth, the bulk of it comes from real estate. I can’t remember exactly now but I know about 90 per cent of the world’s richest men thrive in real estate.

Even when they do other things, it is based on their stock of real estate. They own corner shops

everywhere, corner shops that enjoy appreciation. Because they own their own shops, they don’t rent and if at all they’ve got to rent, maybe it’s out of compulsion. But 90% or 95% of their locations are out rightly owned. People whose wealth is phenomenal and will last about four generations without effort are in real estate. I tell you it is exodus syndrome that happens in Nigeria. With the direct foreign investment into the

Nigerian market too, many shops are opened, so many people globally are beginning to realize that the local market in Nigeria is attractive for their various businesses. One of the first things they will need is commercial real estate and then maybe back it up with one serious luxury apartment for the CEO and then the other managers can be given housing allowances and the rest of them.”

working in Abuja would decide to reside in Lokoja and commute to and from Abuja daily.

With the dualization of the Lokoja-Abuja road nearing completion and the proposed Ajaokuta-Abuja standard gauge rail line, he said it would not be too long for that to become a reality.

Wada said his administration would create a safe and conducive environment that would make the state attractive to Nigerians from all parts of the country.

He said housing delivery was a key component of his administration’s development and transformation agenda adding that already the state government was building 350 housing units in Lokoja.

The governor said the state government was willing to take full advantage of the strength, competence and experience of the Federal Housing Authority in housing delivery.

He directed that the title for the 100 hectares of land allocated to FHA a Kungbani village along the Abuja-Lokoja road be released to the Authority immediately while efforts would be made to allocate more land to the Authority in suitable parts of the state.

Earlier, Gemade who led an eight member team of his management to Government House told his host that lack of title for the land had hamstrung the Authority in its bid to commence the development of the estate.

He said the Authority requested for 300 hectares but was given 100 hectares and appealed to the governor to expedite the release of the allocation paper for the remaining 200 hectares.

He said the FHA’s new housing estates in Kaduna, Calabar, Gombe, Makurdi, Lagos and Yenagoa were nearing completion and would be commissioned soon.

Gemade said the Authority wished to be a key player in the development of the state and urged the governor to accord priority attention to housing because of its huge potential to energize the economy.

He urged the governor to also take advantage of the FHA’s public-public partnership delivery model

which he said would relieve the government of the stress of housing delivery.

In that regard, he said the government would be required to bear the cost of infrastructure at any site provided for the FHA which would be redeemed with the allocation of a commensurate number of houses to the state government on the completion of the estate.

The FHa chief executive expressed sympathy over the flood in the state and praised the governor for the prompt and adequate steps taken by the state government to provide relief for the victims.

Kogi to partner with FHA in housing delivery

K

ogi State is to partner with the Federal Housing Authority towards accelerated mass housing delivery in the state.

Governor Idris Wada announced this In Lokoja while receiving the Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority, Arc Terver Gemade who paid him a courtesy call in Lokoja.

He said his administration was eager to fast-track the amelioration of the housing challenges facing the people of the state.

Wada said the state was determined to leverage its strategic position as a gatewY to the Federal Capital Territory to boost the economy of the state.

He said the state envisaged a time when some of those

U D Bond extends sales discount on properties

P

roperty company, U D Bond Shelter Services Limited has extended its New Year Sales Discount on properties. The company has announced that it is extending the discount sales to enable more Nigerians become homeowners.

Executive Director of the company, Mrs. Nkechi Ugochukwu called on intending homeowners to seize the opportunity of the ongoing sales discount on properties to own their own homes, adding that U D Bond is committed to ensuring that majority of Nigerians become homeowners.

U D Bond has on offer various house types including flats, bungalows, terrace houses, duplexes and others in different districts of Abuja. There are various payment options including mortgage assistance from reputable mortgage institutions. Also available for sale by the company are undeveloped and serviced plots of land for homes, plazas, factories and hotels.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

GMC Acadia is a minivan with rugged good looks

A

ble to handle tasks ranging from taking a big family on vacation to handling all of their purchases from Costco the week before, large crossover SUVs are vehicular utility players.

Combining the roomy passengerand cargo-hauling abilities of a minivan with the rugged good looks of an SUV, it's no wonder that big crossovers have become hugely popular. And among them, the 2013 GMC Acadia ranks as one of the best.

From outward appearances, the 2013 Acadia looks almost fully redesigned. Highlights include a bolder-looking grille, new LED running lamps and rear glass that distinctively wraps around the back.

The interior also receives the nip/ tuck treatment, with sculpted surfaces and shapes integrated more fluidly into the overall design, and additional features including a new touchscreen infotainment interface (GMC's "Intellilink") at the driver's disposal.

The rest of the Acadia remains largely unchanged and that's a good thing. Interior cargo capacity continues to be a top draw, with an impressive 116 cubic feet available behind the first-row seats. We like the way the Acadia drives, too, as its comfortable ride quality and 281horsepower V6 put this big GMC right at home on city streets and on the highway.

Consumers should know that the 2013 GMC Acadia is actually one of a set of General Motors triplets, as the Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse share the same platform and running gear. The Chevy presents the most affordable option, while the Buick goes uptown with its luxury persona, providing a more sumptuous cabin. The Acadia offers an agreeable middle ground, along with ruggedly handsome styling that reflects t h e brand's truck heritage.

Choosing among t h e three w i l l likely c o m e down to y o u r styling preference, pricing and/or d e a l e r experience.

Still, you'd be wise to check out our top choice, the well-rounded 2013 Ford Flex and the more athletic 2013 Mazda CX-9. The Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer don't offer quite as much interior space as any of the above models,

but each is certainly desirable in its own right. All these choices may make your search for a family hauler a little tougher, but w i t h crossovers l i k e the

2013 GMC Acadia around, at least it's hard to go wrong.

The 2013 GMC Acadia is a large crossover SUV offered in five trims: SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1, SLT-2 and Denali. An eight-passenger seating configuration with a second-row bench seat is standard on the base SLE-1 and optional on the rest,

which have a standard sevenpassenger configuration with secondrow captain's chairs.

The SLE-1 comes standard with 18-inch wheels, automatic headlights, integrated blind-spot mirrors, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, privacy glass, keyless entry, cruise control, rear manual air-conditioning control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, OnStar emergency telematics, Bluetooth connectivity, a 6.5-inch touchscreen display and a sixspeaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, HD radio, a USB port and an auxiliary audio jack.

The SLE-2 adds remote vehicle start, a power liftgate, an eight-way power driver seat, a two-way power passenger seat (manual recline), an auto-dimming rearview mirror and the Intellilink electronics interface that includes voice controls and smartphone app integration.

The SLT-1 adds 19-inch wheels, foglamps, variable-effort steering, heated sideview mirrors (with turn signal repeaters), tri-zone automatic climate control, leather

upholstery in the first and second rows (third row vinyl), heated front seats, an enhanced trip computer, rear seat audio controls and a 10-speaker Bose sound system.

The SLT-2 includes powerfolding mirrors, driver memory functions, an eight-way power passenger seat and access to additional options. These add-ons include ventilated front seats and the Technology package, which adds xenon headlights, a head-up display and cargo area audio controls.

The Denali includes all of the SLT-2's optional items, plus unique styling flourishes inside and out, 20inch chrome-clad wheels, increased sound deadening, a wood-trim steering wheel and a panoramic sunroof.

That sunroof is optional on all other Acadia trims except the SLE1. The same goes for the rear-seat entertainment system, which includes a Bose surround-sound audio system. The SLT trims and the Denali can also be equipped with a navigation system, which includes real-time traffic and a touchscreen interface.

Every 2013 GMC Acadia is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 288 hp and 270 poundfeet of torque. A six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive are standard, but all-wheel drive is optional.

According to EPA estimates, a front-drive Acadia will return 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined. Opting for all-wheel drive drops this to 16/23/18.

Antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front seat sideimpact airbags and side curtain airbags for all three rows are standard on all Acadias, as is one year of GM's OnStar service, including turn-by-turn navigation and hands-free phone connectivity.

All but the SLE-1 also have a frontcenter airbag that inflates between the driver and right front passenger for additional protection in a sideimpact collision. The SLT-2 and Denali also feature standard side blind-spot monitoring.

In crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Acadia earned the highest rating of "Good" in frontaloffset, side-impact and roof strength tests.

Source: Edmunds.com

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 29

FR OM THE FROM LIVE ST AGE STA with Patrick-Jude Oteh 0803 700 0496, 0805 953 5215 (SMS only)

Cat on a hot tin roof!

I Exhibition by students of Federal Science and Technical College, Orozo, during the Commonwealth Day Celebration, on Monday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Artist laments low patronage of works of arts

A

n artist, Aisha Idrisu, has lamented low patronage of artistic works in the country, saying the market can be discouraging even to an upcoming artist.

She said that people, who were talented and would also want to build a career in the creative work, could be discouraged due to what she described as lack of appreciation of creative work.

Idrisu, who specialises in arts’ works, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that if encouraged, such could help reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.

When asked why arts’ works were so expensive in the country, she said it was not only peculiar to Nigeria, adding that, that was how it was all over the world.

“Art market all over the world

is expensive, is not just in Nigeria, based on my experience, the works of arts have to do with emotion and expression of the artists. “ A carpenter cannot just come and express what the artist has been thinking of, an artist is telling you his dream and which everybody cannot interpret,“ she said.

She said that people could not afford the work of arts because of its rich nature, adding that people did appreciate it but they could not just afford it.

Idrisu said that the country was doing its best to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths, adding that the youths should not rely on government to provide jobs for them.

“We cannot rely on the government, government is doing the little it can, but the people should

Osun is blessed in indigenous art, culture – Commissioner

T

he Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Osun, Mr Sikiru Ayedun, has said the state was blessed and rich in many indigenous art and culture.

Ayedun said this in Lagos during the 35 years remembrance ceremony held in honour of the late theatre art practitioner, Chief Duro Ladipo.

He described Ladipo, an indigene of Osun, as “a legend of our time”.

According to him, Ladipo will be remembered for his contributions to the promotion of art and culture in the state.

“Ladipo was one of the pioneers of theatre art in Nigeria and left a good legacy for the future generation on theatre art and cultural practices,’’ he said.

Ayedun said that the remembrance of the late theatre icon was to bring back the lost

glory of what art and culture used to be in the olden days.

The commissioner listed some of the indigenous culture and art in Osun to include: Osun Osogbo festival, Umbari Umbayo Culture and Ise Idale in Ile-Ife. Mr Vincent Ayodele, a Lecturer in Theatre Art and Music Department, Lagos State University, Ojo, directed a stage play “Ajagunnla” in honour of the late Ladipo.

Ayodele said that the stage play was to impact in the young generations to appreciate indigenous culture and practice.

“The youths are the leaders of tomorrow, therefore, there is need to groom them on how to maintain and appreciate the old culture and the norms of our heroes,’’ he said.

(NAN)

do more because government has a lot to attend to.

“People should think out what they can do for themselves individually rather than looking up to government for jobs.

She, however, called on government to provide support for the arts’ works while also providing an enabling environment for people to thrive without looking for government jobs. (NAN)

C’ttees roll out plans for Black Heritage Festival

M

r. Disun Holloway, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations said the Black Heritage Festival would be a source of relaxation for residents of the state and foreigners.

Holloway said this at the Freedom Park in Lagos, while unfolding programmes for the festival.

The commissioner explained that the Festival would be of immense economic benefits to Lagosians.

He said the week-long festival would kick off on March 23.

Holloway said the state government had resolved to make the state the preferred business and tourism destination of the nation.

According to him, Lagos State is home to over 21 million people and the event would give Lagosians the opportunity to have fun in a secured environment.

The commissioner added that the annual event, which had come to stay, would further empower the youths.

The week-long Festival will end on April 1. (NAN)

magine a cat on a hot tin roof with the house burning!

What does the cat do?

Does it jump off the roof or does it stay there?

Tennessee Williams was a master story teller! He often used instances from his own life to write his masterpieces.

He was a deeply troubled and talented man who lived in an era when being gay was absolute taboo. But not for Tennessee! It has often being argued that his play Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is his own story on his troubled sexuality, his affairs and his attempts to deal with his addiction to drugs and drinks. His entire life was a potent mix - but no one could deny him the talents that so set him apart from his peers and contemporaries. With so many awards to show for his work and his numerous plays on the human condition, he has definitely earned his place as one of the iconic writers of the theatre worldwide.

It is Big Daddy's 65th birthday. His second son Brick does not know it. But Big Daddy is dying of cancer. For the past three years, he has been running a series of tests at the Ocshner Clinic, one of the very best in the country.

All the tests came out positive - he has cancer. However, on his 65th birthday another result comes in that shows that Big Daddy's does not have cancer.

Both Big Daddy and Big Mama his wife believe this new result.

His first son, Gooper has the real result - Big Daddy's cancer is terminal and anytime from now his body will develop uraemia - the inability of the body to dispose of its wastes.

This result is kept away from Big Daddy.

Big Daddy has not written any will. Two of his sons Gooper is a lawyer with a wife and five children with the sixth on the way while Brick a former football player and now a sports announcer is married

with a wife but no children. He is an alcoholic. He no longer sleeps with his wife who accuses him of harbouring gay tendencies towards his best friend Skipper who is now dead. Skipper and Brick were school and football mates.

They liked themselves but according to Brick that was all.

Everyone around Brick believes that it was the death and loss of Skipper his friend that led Brick to start drinking.

According to his wife it was the loss of unreciprocated love.

In this setting they all meet during the birthday of Big Daddy. Gooper and his wife to share his father's property, Brick with his drinks without a care in the world. In a strange twist of events, Big Daddy prefers Brick as his heir. He does not think much of Gooper. Big Mama prefers Brick too. Gooper and his wife have no respect or regard for Brick and his wife!

Then in a moment of Brick paying Big Daddy back for his suggestion that he killed Skipper with his uncaring attitude, Brick reveals to his father that the results from the clinic were false and that the new result shows that the cancer is still very much in his body. He is devastated and in a final confrontation between father and son, Brick tells his father that 'as friends they have only told each other the truth!'.

The family then meets to examine this truth and also determine who gets what. To Gooper and his wife, the fact that they are a 'normal' family should entitle them to the estate and that is when Maggie, Brick's wife reveals that she is pregnant!

BLACKOUT! Tennesse Williams' Cat On A Hot Tin Roof opens at the Merit House auditorium as part of the ongoing Festival of Theatre in Abuja on the 15th and 16th March at 7pm daily.

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

New book unveils uncommon compatriots’ travails, triumphs and 'trump cards'

By Akum Itah

A

s a journalist he had made some mark while serving as editor of different Nigerian newspapers over the years, including the ABUJA INQUIRER, LEADERSHIP WEKEEND, HALLMARK and DESERT HERALD. What not many know, however, is that Sonde Abbah, a senior editor and Editorial Board member of PEOPLES DAILY newspaper, Abuja, is also a seasoned author with a few books to his credit. So much so that in the November 2002 edition of SUCCESS DIGEST magazine one of Abbah's books was described as 'insightful, creative and refreshingly different' by none other than Mr. Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbese, publisher of COMPLETE FOOTBALL newspaper and SUCCESS DIGEST. The prolific writer is at it again. This time around Abbah's creative enterprise is directed at the leadership and management success secrets of what he calls a group of "sensational six" carefully selected Nigerians from a variety of backgrounds. Not only does the new book, LEAPS OF FAITH…, unveil the remarkable grass-to-grace stories of these six indomitable compatriots, it also x-rays their exemplary courage, persistence, audacity, and faith.

Explaining what inspired this seminal work, the journalistcum-author said he was particularly inspired by the impressive measure of faith and persistence which characterizes the true-life-stories of these uncommon Nigerians. "Like every other true champion, they never gave up even when all hope seemed lost," Abbah remarked.

"Instead, each and all of them kept hope and faith alive. Above all, the book highlights their leadership and management methods, as well as the principles and/or secrets that enable them to forge ahead againt all odds until they triumphed."

Interestingly, the characters in LEAPS OF FAITH are not very familiar faces such as Mike Adenuga, Jimoh Ibrahim, Aliko Dangote, and their ilk. Abbah, instead, opted for not-so-familiar personalities whose life experiences are no less absorbing.

These include two outstanding entrepreneurs: Otunba Kayode Oke, CEO of Softess Group of Companies, Abuja; and Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, Chairman of M.S. Group of Companies, Kaduna. Also featured in the slim, revealing book are the notable publisher, Tukur Mamu; the Nasarawa State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Idris-Apa; as well as James Garba, a Knight of Saint Mulumba (KSM) and senior civil servant; and Erina J.

BOOK REVIEW Mohammed, the Executive Director of Destiny Youths Int'l Forum.

The common denominator in their respective stories, according to the author, is that salient principle embedded in the boxing legend, Mohammed Ali's book, THE GREATEST: "Champions aren't made in gyms.

Champions are made from something deep inside them: a desire, a dream, a goal".

Expatiating on that, Abbah stated: "Every champion, every achiever, has some story to tell, some experience to relate or share. But some stories/ experiences are more

his life, bound to a wheelchair.

Despite this crushing blow, and despite the elephant-size odds confronting him, the youngster determined to soldier on. Not only did he persevere, he has risen to the highest position in his chosen profession, adroitly harnessing his disability as ability.

Interestingly, none of these featured in the book was interviewed for the work. This course, according to the author, was deliberately taken "to preserve the book's freshness, vitality and spontaneity, so to say". He said: "Nearly one year was devoted to research, and to interviewing diverse sources, including some family members, colleagues, and associates of those

Front cover of the new book

remarkable, more hearttouching, and more electrifying, than others. And that's one of the ingredients that make this book, LEAPS OF FAITH…, such a compelling read. All the six persons featured in the book have one heart touching, lifechanging experience or the other to share."

Consider Mohammed IdrisApa, for example. While doing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) the young Apa, who had just graduated from the university, was involved in a near-fatal auto crash in Kafachan, Kaduna State. He barely survived the crash but such was the extent of the horrific injury he sustained that IdrisApa was crippled for the rest of

concerned, with a view to getting different perspectives. All these were then carefully distilled to separate the chaff from the grain.

The result is a book that is as insightful as it glitters with wit, intelligence, and creativity."

The experience of the CEO of Softess Group of Companies is no less absorbing. The then teenager, Kayode Oke, had his pick of good paying jobs after leaving school.

Instead, he opted for business. Not even the fact that he had only a few thousand naira at hand would deter him. Shunning the advice and plea of a host of family members, friends and wellwishers who thought he had gone nuts, Oke plunged into the risky world of self-employment with abandon, blissfully unfazed by the

seemingly insurmountable challenges confronting him.

Barely had this adventure started than Oke found himself in a tough corner. Things were not moving according to expectations.

The situation was so dire that keeping body and soul together became a titanic battle. Defeat starred him ominously. Failure appeared to be inevitable. "Give up, give up," an insistent voice screamed at the young man.

But he, of course, never gave up. Instead, he redoubled his effort.

And soldiered on doggedly until he turned adversity into advantage.

So much so that Softess has not only grown in leaps and bounds over the years, the outfit which was nurtured with less than N10,000 about two decades ago, has soared beyond expectations, with Oke now the proud owner of a privaye jet!

Like Idris-Apa and Otunba Kayode Oke's illuminating experiences, the other personalities featured in the new book all parade sundry gripping stories, according to Abbah. One of the unique things about LEAPS OF FAITH, he asserted, is that "the six persons here are basically like you and I, in that they are ordinary people who embarked on extraordinary ventures and not only did well despite many odds, but performed to such an impressive extent that they have become living legends in different fields of human endeavor."

It was gathered that the book, "crafted in the inimitable tradition of the universally famous treatise on management methods entitled THE ONE MINUTE MANAGER," is due for public presentation later this year in the Federal Capital Territory. Judiciously laced with memorable anecdotes, inspiring quotations and life-changing experiences, LEAP OF FAITH is, in the author's words, "an eye-opener not only for entrepreneurs and those aspiring to make it in business, but also for everyone who desires lasting success in life, family, business, relationships, and profession or career."

He added: "In the introduction to his best-selling book, HOW TO GET RICH, the real estate magnet, Donald Trump, admonishes that the second rule of business is to 'keep it short, fast, and direct'. Then he added that though his book's pages are 'straightforward and succinct,' we shouldn't 'let the brevity of these passages prevent you from savouring the profundity of the advice ' that abound in the book "The same, to some extent, can be said of this humble effort of mine, entitled LEAPS OF FAITH. Granted, it is not as rich or great as that of Donald Trump. But in terms of brevity and succintness, and in terms of profoundness of the lifechanging experiences and lessons that fill every page of the book; just as they say that seeing is believing, reading (this book) is believing."

Itah is an Abuja-based freelance journalist.

POEM OF THE WEEK Title: Nod to a falling tree & the cut

By Chris Msosa

I ran into a skanking daffodil drunk on something Screaming and surely saying something Important to sober up my indisposed mind A leftover from burning embers a pile of ash Redeeming itself to rekindle its scalded flowers From ever getting stuck on this grey From ever becoming what is left of this grey And the freedom which gives it good time Also gives me good rhyme and these eyes and mind Of mine are no strangers to such a landfill weathering Or this rude animated dance pulsating before this Gathering of grey owls ****************** So all we have is; Viphya, Ausi, Sister! Sister!

Reminiscence, Python! Python! To take home And the rest of them gather dust Stored away from our literary hearts We will not become prisoner To their occupation We will not get lost in their Literary pages Just admirers always looking And wondering What it could have been like Taking more than just the usual Alfred & Steve home

QUO TE UOTE

Every literary critic believes he will outwit history and have the last word.

– Mason Cooley

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 31

DIPLOMATIC CIRCUIT ECOWAS unanimously backs Nigeria's UN Security Council bid, says Minister

isaochako@yahoo.com 08091700949

Stories by Abdulkadir Isa

T

he Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador OlugbengaAshiru, yesterday, summoned all African heads of diplomatic mission in Nigeria on the need to back Nigeria for the candidature of the United Nations (UN) Security Council seat.

At the ECOWAS Summit in Cote D'Ivoire, Nigeria was unanimously endorsed as the ECOWAS candidate to contest for the seat of the UN Security Council for the period between 2014 and 2015 which will take place in October in New York.

Canvassing support from African countries' support, the minister informed the ambassadors in attendance the ECOWAS' decision to endorsed Nigeria as preferred candidate for the seat.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador OlugbengaAshirusays the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador OlugbengaAshiru pulled its weight behind Nigeria to secure the UN Security Council seat. The minister said this while addressing African

International Womens Day: time to end violence against women, say Peter Carter

Ambassadors at the ministry yesterday. In his words, "I will like to inform your Excellencies that ECOWAS region has

endorsed Nigeria for the seat by the Heads of States of the region a week ago. We are also forwarding this to the Heads of Missions to request your support by informing your governments to support Nigeria for the seat. We believe we will have unanimous endorsement from the African Union (AU) in May," he stated.

While briefing them on the proceedings of the 7th Summit of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), Mr Ashiru said as stakeholders in the shared vision of achieving sustainable peace and development in Africa, it is essential that everybody exchanged views on the way forward.

He recalled that at a summit in Brazzaville, the First Ladies unanimously requested Nigeria to provide a permanent secretariat for the AFLPM. "This request followed an offer and intense lobby by Libya under its late leader Muammar Ghadaffi, to host the secretariat and bankroll its activities

including building of the secretariat. The ambition of Libya to the host secretariat failed. Thereafter, Nigeria accepted the offer which was, indeed, an honour being a key member that has been called upon to lay s solid foundation for the AFLPM. "When the secretariat is completed in Abuja, other international organisations and agencies will be accommodated in the building in line with our national policy.

It is important to stress that the AFLPM is an idea noble cause in the promotion of peace and development in Africa that will outlive the current generation of African First Ladies," he said.

The AFLPM which is expected to further put Nigeria on the lead in Africa has brought about uproar as to the budget the project will gulp.

The FCT which is to provide the funding has refuted the claims and suggested that the project will save the Federal Capital City over a billion per annum when completed.

Two years ago, Japan was hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake, which caused tremendous damage and took many lives. This grant aid is designed to support the promotion of the economic and social development of countries by utilizing the products made in East Japan, especially in Tohoku region, where the local corporations are striving for

reconstruction.

The Exchange of Notes concerning the above-said grant was signed by H.E. Mr. Ryuichi SHOJI, the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, and H.E. Dr. ShamsuddeenUsman, Honourable Minister of National Planning of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development will distribute the equipment.

Japan provides N600bn aids to disabled persons in Nigeria

T

he Government of Japan and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have signed the agreement for the donation of wheelchairs and walking support wheels for the welfare of the people who require mobile aids. The amount of the grant is 350 million yen, which is approximately 600 million naira. This grant will benefit all 36 states and the FCT.

Cross section of participants at the event.

T

he British Deputy High Commission in Lagos marked the International Women'sDay by highlighting the issue of violence against women and girls at a seminar andinteractive session. This year's theme is "A promise is a promise: Time for actionto end violence against women" In his opening remarks, British Deputy High Commissioner, Peter carter said violence against women is an enemy to social and economic development in the society. He said further that he hopes the session will bring out a strong message of our commitment to women being relevant to the society.

Baroness Lynda Chalker, former UK Minister of State for Overseas

Development and Coordinator of the President's Honorary International Investor Council said ending violence in Africa will need the help of men. She said further that there national and state politicians need to help raise public awareness of the issue of violence against women and girls. Shade Bembatoum - Young, President Zonta International, Rita Akpapuna,Counsellor, Project Alert and Amy Oyekunle, Executive Director, Kudirat Initiativefor Democracy (KIND) all spoke on how to end violence against women.A highlight of the seminar was the signing of a petition by staff of the British Deputy High Commission, Lagos for legislation to end violence against women and girls in Nigeria, which will be passed to the State House of Assembly.

Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi SHOJI (3rd left), Minister of National Planning Dr. ShamsuddeenUsman (4th left), with other dignitaries at the event.

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Deal reached to resume Sudan-S Sudan oil flow

Thabo Mbeki, the former president of South Africa, mediated between the two countries.

S

udan and South Sudan have agreed to resume the flow of southern oil exports through pipelines in Sudan within two weeks, more than a year after Juba shut down its entire output.

An African Union mediator announced the deal on Tuesday,

Addis Ababa.

Thabo Mbeki, the former president of South Africa who is mediating between the two sides, said the companies have been ordered to resume oil flows by March 10 but have an extra period of two weeks in which to implement the order.

Both countries depended heavily on oil for revenue and use foreign currency to import food and fuel, but disputes over the border and other issues prevented the two from resuming exports.

The rival countries also agreed at the talks in the Ethiopian capital on Friday to order the withdrawal of their troops from contested borders within a week to ease tensions and open the way to resuming the oil exports.

South Sudan's army spokesman, Philip Aguer, said soldiers would take around two weeks to withdraw southwards from a series of flashpoint border areas.

Troops must "start moving to the designated areas, 10km away from the buffer zone," Aguer said, reading a letter with orders from the army chief of staff.

In Sudan, a statement on Monday from Abdelrahim Mohammed Hussein, defence minister, said his forces were committed to the timetable signed under African Union mediation last Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

which rekindles trade between the two countries after South Sudan shut down its 350,000 barrel-perday output in January last year in a dispute with Khartoum over fees.

The armies of the two countries have also agreed to withdraw troops from contested border areas, in the

latest attempt to set up a buffer zone after fighting last year.

Idris Mohammed Abdel Gadir, Sudan's chief negotiator, signed a deal with his South Sudanese counterpart Pagan Amum setting out a timeline for resumption of oil after four days of African Union-brokered talks in

according to a witness.

Security forces and bystanders tried to extinguish the flames before the man was rushed to hospital, witnesses said.

"His life is not in danger but he has third-degree burns to the head and the back," said an emergency services spokesman.

Officials named the man as 27year-old Adel Khadri and said he hails from an extremely poor family in Jendouba in northwestern Tunisia.

Interior ministry spokesman KhaledTarrouche attributed Khadri's desperate action to his economic situation.

Police wheel the victim to an Ambulance.

Man sets himself ablaze in Tunisia

A

man has set himself on fire in central Tunis, just hours before the country's legislators were to vote on a new government entrusted with pulling the country out of a deep political crisis.

Tuesday's gesture recalled the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, whose death ignited a revolt in the North African country that echoed across the Arab world.

"This is a young man who sells cigarettes because of unemployment," the man shouted before immolating himself on HabibBourguiba avenue,

Central African Republic rebels recaptureBangassou town

The Seleka rebels were sighted patrolling the streets of Baangassou.

R

ebels in the Central African Republic (CAR) have captured the key southeastern town of Bangassou, a

government minister has said.

The attack took place despite the fact that the Seleka rebels signed a peace accord with the

government in January.

The army withdrew, putting up little resistance as the rebels advanced, reports say.

The rebels have repeatedly accused President Francois Bozize of failing to honour the peace deal.

They accuse him of undermining the power-sharing government formed in terms of the accord by running a parallel administration, and not fulfilling promises made to rebel fighters.

Under the deal, senior Seleka leader Michel Djotodia became the defence minister, but he is currently out of the country, reports say. Communication Minister CristophGazam-Mbeti, who is also a Seleka official, confirmed that fighters had seized

Bangassou, which is more than 600km (372 miles) from the capital, Bangui, and close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The rebels say they are demanding the release of political prisoners and the withdrawal of South African troops which were deployed last year to prevent a rebel advance on Bangui.

Communication lines to Bangassou have been cut, making it difficult to establish what is happening in the town.

However, there are reports that the rebels have blocked the main road linking Bangassou to Bangui.

Earlier this month, Seleka fighters also attacked the northern town of Sido.

Mali media strike over editor arrest

M

ali's private media have launched a news blackout after an editor was arrested for publishing a letter about poor conditions from soldiers fighting Islamist militants in the north.

Le Republicain editor BoukaryDaou was arrested last Wednesday and has yet to be charged.

The soldiers said they lacked equipment and rations - the same complaints made by those behind last year's March coup.

Mali's interim government has not commented on the arrest or strike.

Alex Duval Smith in the capital, Bamako, says about 40 newspaper titles are published each week - and none have appeared on news stands in the city on Tuesday morning.

The 16 local private FM radio stations are either silent or only playing music, she says.

Communications Minister Manga Dembele has said Mr Daou acted irresponsibly and unpatriotically by publishing the soldiers' open letter to the president, but there has been no official word from the authorities about the case.

The letter also complained that the military top brass were living in comfort in Bamako while their colleagues suffered on the frontline.

CaptAmadouSanogo led the March 2012 coup saying the army was ill-equipped to fight a rebellion led by Tuareg separatist fighters in the north.

Islamist rebels then took advantage of the chaos and seized control of the whole of northern Mali - prompting France to intervene in January 2013 to help the army recapture most of the area.

Cap Sanogo was recently named the head of a government committee to oversee reforms in the military and is believed to be paid about $7,800 (ÂŁ5,250) a month.

"Do we have to stage a coup to be rewarded and recognised as a good soldier?" the letter says.

Our reporter says that under Malian law, Mr Daou should have been charged within 48 hours of his detention.

But Mali's legal landscape has been confused by the current state of emergency, she says.

The striking journalists said they did not expect their colleagues working at the stateowned broadcaster and newspaper to join their indefinite protest.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Asia and Middle East

I

srael has strongly criticised a French town after it granted honourary citizenship to a Palestinian convicted in the killing of an Israeli government minister.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman YigalPalmor on

PAGE 33

French town honours Israeli minister ‘killer’ Monday called the honouring "humanly outrageous to honour a convicted murderer, no political view can justify it."

The Paris suburb of Bezons last month honoured Majdi alRimawi, who was sentenced to life in prison in Israel for his role in the 2001 murder of tourism minister RehavamZeevi.

Zeevi, who had founded the

South Korea warns North on armistice threat

right-wing nationalist Moledet party, had advocated the ouster of all Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The Bezons monthly newsletter cites leftist Mayor Dominique Lesparre as saying honouring Rimawi was a "strong political act" related to the "colonisation of the Palestinian people."

The monthly newsletter stated it was a unanimous decision taken by the Bezons local council to honour Rimawi, whose crime was "defending his town and its inhabitants, calling for the application of international law for the establishment of Palestine to the 1967 borders as recognised by the United Nations, and Jerusalem as its capital."

Al-Rimawi, with three other Palestinians, were convicted of Zeevi's assassination. The four are members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which claimed the assassination was in revenge for the assassination of Abu Ali Mustafa, the PFLP secretary general, by the Israelis earlier in the same year.

S

outh Korea says North Korea cannot scrap the armistice that ended the Korean War and called on Pyongyang to tone down its rhetoric.

A unilateral move to end the pact was not legally possible, it said.

As well as the armistice threat North Korea has in recent days also cut off a hotline and vowed to end non-aggressions pacts with Seoul.

It says it is responding to US-South Korea military drills and new sanctions imposed after its third nuclear test.

The two Koreas remain technically at war because the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice, not a treaty.

North Korea has declared that armistice "invalid", but South Korea said a one-sided declaration was insufficient.

"Unilateral abrogation or termination of the armistice agreement is not allowed under its regulations or according to international law," Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Tai-Young said.

Seoul would "absolutely keep the armistice agreement as well as strengthen consultation and cooperation with the United States and China, who are also concerned parties of the armistice", he said.

"We demand North Korea withdraw remarks threatening stability and peace on the Korean peninsula and in the region," the spokesman added.

This is not the first time North Korea has said it was withdrawing from the armistice. It also issued a similar threat after its nuclear test in 2009, for example.

Majdi al-Rimawi (far right) was convicted with other members of the PFLP of assassinating an Israeli minister.

Doubts over Israel's Iron Dome

A

leading US expert on missile defence has raised doubts about the efficacy of Israel's Iron Dome defence system.

Israeli officials say it hit some 84% of the targets engaged in last year's conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

But Professor Theodore Postol of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests the defence system's success rate may have been "drastically lower".

The success of the Iron Dome was one of the most significant military aspects of Israel's brief campaign.

During this upsurge in fighting dubbed Operation Pillar of Defence by the Israeli military - Israeli aircraft, drones and artillery bombarded Palestinian targets, while Palestinian groups fired over 1,400 rockets into Israel.

The Iron Dome missile defence system - built by the Israeli company, Rafael, but largely funded by the US

- was rushed into service to defend against the Palestinian missile threat.

Mr Postol has a track-record in debunking claims made for state-ofthe-art missile defence systems.

In the wake of the 1991 Gulf War after which lavish praise was directed at the Patriot defensive system used by the Americans to defend against incoming Iraqi Scuds - Mr Postol showed that the Patriot's defenders - like the Patriot itself - were wide of the mark.

Patriot's success rate, he argued, could have been less than 10%, perhaps even zero. It may actually have hit nothing.

Mr Postol's criticism of the Iron Dome rests upon the nature of the warhead carried by the interceptor missile and the observed trajectories - or flight paths - of the launches he has studied from the November 2012 conflict.

Korea's official news agency released an undated photo of a military drill as Kim Jung-Un threatened Baengnyeong [AFP]

NATO force hit by fatal Afghanistan crash

F

ive members of the NATO-led international force in Afghanistan have been killed in a helicopter crash in bad weather in the country's south, according to coalition and provincial authorities.

Police in the southern province of Kandahar said the accident occurred on Monday evening during a heavy rainstorm in Daman district.

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) does not release the nationality of casualties, but US, British and Australian soldiers operate in the country's south.

"The cause of the crash is under investigation. However, initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time," ISAF said following the incident.

Helicopter crashes are fairly frequent in Afghanistan, where the 100,000-strong international mission relies heavily on air transport.

"There was bad weather in the area and the helicopter crashed at about 10pm," General Abdul Razeq, the Kandahar provincial police chief, told AFP. "No insurgents were there at the time."

The Iron Dome Defence System.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 34

Europe and Argentina urged to respect Falklands mandate Americas US expels Venezuelan diplomats

T

he United States has expelled two Venezuelan diplomats, following the expulsion of US attaches from Caracas.

The Venezuelans were asked to leave a day after President Hugo Chavez's funeral, US officials said on Monday.

The two countries have not had ambassadors in each other's capitals since 2010.

The latest expulsions came as Vice President Nicolas Maduro and challenger Henrique Capriles registered as candidates to succeed Mr Chavez.

The second secretary in Venezuela's Washington embassy, Orlando Jose Montanez, and New York consular official Victor Camacaro were declared personae non gratae on Saturday and left the US on Sunday, state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

"When you have an incident that you consider unjust ... you need to take reciprocal action and make your point clear," she added.

The US officials were sent back hours before Mr Chavez's death was announced on Tuesday.

At the time, Vice President Nicolas Maduro accused them of "attempting to destabilise the country."

Monday saw Mr Maduro, who is now acting president, officially register his candidature for the presidential elections on 14 April.

"I am not Chavez, but I am his son and all of us together, the people, are Chavez," he told crowds of supporters outside the National Election Council in a two-hour speech.

He will face the opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who has agreed to run for the umbrella opposition group Table for Democratic Unity (MUD).

Mr Maduro's supporters tried to prevent Mr Capriles reaching the council, forcing officials to extend a 14:00 (18:30 GMT) deadline for registration.

Earlier, the former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has made his first remarks about the death of his close friend Mr Chavez, calling him "Cuba's best friend in history".

In a newspaper article, Mr Castro said he had been "hard hit" by the death of the Venezuelan president last week.

B

ritish Prime Minister David Cameron has urged Argentina to respect the wishes of the Falkland Islanders after they voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to remain a British territory.

Before the result, Buenos Aires had dismissed the vote as meaningless in international law, saying it would not affect its claims on the South Atlantic archipelago.

Cameron said on Tuesday that the 99.8 percent "yes" vote, on a turnout of 92 percent, was "the clearest possible result there could be" and Argentina should respect that.

"They should take careful note of this result. The Falkland Islanders couldn't have spoken more clearly," he said in a statement.

"They want to remain British and that view should be respected by everybody, including by Argentina."

He added that he was personally "delighted" at the outcome.

Residents of Port Stanley,

where most of the roughly 2,500 islanders live, celebrated into the night on Monday after the vote.

British broadcaster Sky News showed islanders waving the British flag, singing, and cheering after the results were announced.

T

US official in China hacking call

he Chinese government should acknowledge and investigate cyber-theft from China, a top US official has said.

National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon said cyber security was a "growing challenge" to the US economic relationship with Beijing.

The pointed remarks appeared to reflect growing US concern over cyber-crimes said

Of the 1,517 valid votes cast, only three islanders voted "no" to the question: "Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?"

The islanders directly elect

members of a legislative assembly, and settle all their own affairs except for defence and foreign policy.

Argentina consider the "Islas Malvinas" to be part of its national territory, taken from them by the British more than

180 years ago.

Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez has piled pressure on Britain to negotiate the sovereignty of the islands, something London refuses to do unless the islanders request talks.

Most Latin American countries and many other developing nations have voiced support for Argentina, which has stepped up its demands since London-listed companies started drilling for oil and natural gas off the Islanders celebrated into the night after results were announced on Monday. Falklands' coastline.

to originate in China.

On Saturday China's foreign minister criticised claims China was behind hacking attacks on US companies.

In a speech at the Asia Society in New York on Monday, Mr Donilon said that US businesses were increasingly concerned about "cyber intrusions

National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon

emanating from China" that stole confidential business information or intellectual property.

"We seek three things from the Chinese side," he said. "First, we need a recognition of the urgency and scope of this problem. Second, Beijing should take serious steps to investigate and put a stop to these activities."

"Finally, we need China to engage with us... to establish acceptable norms of behaviour in cyberspace."

China has long been suspected of a role in cyberhacking. But the issue has become more high-profile in recent months following widely reported hacks into media outlets including the New York Times - in that case apparently linked to a report by the paper on the wealth of relatives of outgoing Premier Wen Jiabao.

In a report in February, US cyber security firm Mandiant said that it had linked hundreds of data breaches since 2004 to a Chinese hacking team it had traced to the site of a military unit in Shanghai.

Last month, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that the hacking issue came up "in virtually every meeting we have with Chinese officials".

China, which called the Mandiant report flawed, says that it opposes hacking activities and is a victim of cyber attacks itself.

Speaking on Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said: "Cyberspace needs rules and co-operation, not war."

He criticised recent reports that said China was responsible for cyber attacks against Western companies, saying they were "built on shaky ground."

Four Russians killed in U.N. helicopter crash in Congo

F

our Russians were killed when a U.N.-contracted cargo helicopter crashed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday.

The helicopter crashed on Saturday on a thickly wooded mountainside around 20 km (12 miles) west of Bukavu airport.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said it was an Mi-8 helicopter owned

by UTair and blamed the crash on adverse weather conditions.

A U.N. rescue team was only able to reach the crash site on Tuesday.

In a statement Ban, offered "his sincerest condolences and sympathy to the families and friends of the victims, and to the Government of the Russian Federation" and said the U.N. mission in Congo was investigating the cause of the

crash.

The United Nations has an estimated 17,000 peacekeepers in Congo, and operates an extensive aviation network to counter an almost total lack of roads in the vast central African country.

The peacekeepers have been stretched thin by a rebellion in the resource-rich east of Congo and the U.N. Security Council is considering creating a special intervention force, which one senior council diplomat has said would be able to "search and destroy" the M23 rebels and other armed groups in the country.

Air accidents are common in Congo and in 2011 a U.N. passenger plane crashed in the capital, Kinshasa, killing all but one of the 33 people on board.

At least five people were killed when a twin-propeller

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plane crashed last week as it tried to land in bad weather in

the town of Goma, north of Bukavu.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Pregnant women can transmit the damaging effects of stress through the placenta

By Anna Hodgekiss

A

pregnant women can transmit the damaging effects of stress to her unborn child through the placenta, say researchers.

The impact is felt by a protein that affects the developing brains of boys and girls differently.

Scientists believe it could explain known links between maternal stress and disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, which are more common and serious in male offspring.

'Almost everything experienced by a woman during a pregnancy has to interact with the placenta in order to transmit to the foetus,' said lead researcher Dr Tracy Bale, from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine in the U.S. 'Now we have a marker that appears to signal to the foetus that its mother has experienced stress.'

The researchers studied female mice that were exposed to mild stresses such as the smell of foxes or unfamiliar noises during the first week of pregnancy.

They identified an enzyme called OGT that was present at

Baby boys are more sensitive to stress in the womb than girls, said the researchers (file picture) lower levels in the placentas of stressed mice than in unstressed mice.

Male offspring placentas also had lower natural levels of OGT than those attached to female offspring.

Further research showed that cutting levels of OGT triggered changes in more than 370 genes in the brains of unborn mice.

Many of these genes play a role in functions critical to neurological development, such as energy use, protein regulation and creating nerve cell connections.

The findings, reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are likely to translate to humans, say the researchers.

Analysis of human

placentas discarded after the birth of male babies showed evidence of reduced OGT levels.

The results suggest that OGT may protect the brain during pregnancy. Males have less of the protein to begin with, placing them at greater risk if their mothers are stressed.

'We want to get to the point where we can predict the occurrence of

While 25 per cent had predicted their future h a p p i n e s s accurately, 32 per cent had overestimated it.

Surprisingly, those in the oldest group who overestimated how happy they would be were found to have a 9.5 per cent increase in r e p o r t i n g disabilities.

They had a ten per cent increased risk of death, the analysis showed.

Older people, who tended to have a 'darker outlook' on the future, were said to be more realistic with their predictions and therefore were more likely to be accurate.

In contrast, the o p t i m i s t i c youngsters had the sunniest outlook, overestimating their success.

People who were 'overly optimistic' about the days

ahead had a greater risk of disability or death within ten years.

The research, published by the American Psychological Association, also found those with higher income were more likely to be at greater risk of disability.

'Unexpectedly, we also found that stable and good health and income were associated with expecting a greater decline compared with those in poor health or with low incomes,' said Dr Lang.

A pregnant mother's placenta can transmit damaging effects of stress to her unborn child neurodevelopmental disease,' said Dr Bale.

'If we have a marker for exposure, we can meld that with what we know about the genetic profiles that predispose individuals to these conditions and keep a close eye on children who have increased risks.'

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Pessimists are more likely to live longer F

By Larisa Brown

inally the pessimists among us have something to be happy about.

Older people who are blighted by negative thoughts and fear for the future are more likely to live longer, a study has revealed.

Scientists found those with low expectations for a 'satisfying future' actually led healthier lives.

A study into 40,000 people found that being 'overly optimistic' in predicting a better future was associated with a greater risk of disability and death.

Lead author FriederR.Lang said: 'Our findings revealed that being overly optimistic in predicting a better future was associated with a greater risk of disability and death within the following decade.

'Pessimism about the future may encourage people to live more carefully, taking health and safety precautions.'

The research, based on data collected between 1993 and 2003, asked participants in three different age groups to rate how satisfied they were with

Those who have a 'darker outlook' about the future are said to live longer, the study found their lives and how satisfied they thought they would be in five years.

The age groups were divided into 18 to 39, 40 to 64 and 65 and above.

They were interviewed again five years later, and their satisfaction levels were compared with their own predictions.

A total of 43 per cent of the oldest group - 65 years old and above - had underestimated their future life satisfaction.

'Moreover, we found that higher income was related to a greater risk of disability.

'We argue, though, that the outcomes of optimistic, accurate or pessimistic forecasts may depend on age and available resources.

'These findings shed new light on how our perspectives can either help or hinder us in taking actions that can help improve our chances of a long healthy life.'

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

The study found people with low expectations about the future tend to lead healthier lifestyles and therefore live longer

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 37

Anenih charges PDP governors on security, reconciliation

By Lawrence Olaoye

C

hairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, yesterday charged the governors on the platform of the party to judiciously use their security votes to gather intelligence information in their states.

Anenih, while addressing the PDP Governors' Forum chaired by the Akwa Ibom state governor, Barrister Godswill Akpabio, in Abuja also urged the state executive officers to use their positions in the party to foster unity and reconciliation in the party.

The BoT Chairman declared that those who constitute security threats in the country live among the people but with proper intelligence gathering their activities could be nipped in the bud.

He counselled that the responsibility of providing security should not be left to the federal government alone and stressed that the governors, political office holders and even traders and every Nigerian has key role to play.

"All of you are the chief security officers of your states; the Federal Government alone cannot give all Nigerians security, everybody, every Nigerian must be involved.

The market women, the trader, the Governors, the members of the National Assembly, the Councilors they must be involved.

"Most of those who destroy houses and kill people live with us and police cannot perform miracle without information. Getting information now is very expensive so I appeal to the governors that this

is the time you use your security votes to seek information; nobody will blame you for that, that is my special appeal".

While expressing confidence in the quality of PDP governors, whom he described as the best in Africa, Anenih charged "I want to say that the challenges ahead are enormous and we must all be up and doing to achieve success in our endeavours, success at the national levels, success at state levels and indeed success at local government

levels.

"Our people are eagerly waiting to make sure that we take them to the promise land and it is you that will make that happen there is no other person".

He further called on the PDP governors to lay emphasis on self sacrifice, reconciliation of members, party discipline and loyalty to enable the party focus on meeting its obligations to Nigerians.

"It is my special appeal that we must develop the spirit of give and

take; we must remain loyal to the establishment, to the party at all levels and we must be ready to reconcile ourselves and avoid those things that tends to divide us.

"If anybody says that PDP is not on ground, he must be telling lies.

The problem PDP has is the inability to reconcile. I want to appeal to all of you here present and through you to others that are not here that Nigerians want a change; they want reconciliation, they want to see that it is well with us".

R-L: Speaker,Osun stateHouse of Assembly, Hon.Najeem Salam, Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Speaker,Hon. Adejare Bello, during a capacity building programme on budget retreat 2013 organised by the state House of Assembly, on Monday in Osogbo.

FCT polls: Abaji chairman assures residents of adequate security

By Adeola Tukuru

A

head of the FCT Area Council polls slated for this weekend, Chairman, Abaji Area Council, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed has assured residents of adequate security.

Yahaya made this known in an interview with newsmen in the council yesterday just as he stated

that it is necessary to let the people perform their civic responsibilities by coming out to vote for the candidate of their choice.

In his words “I want to assure the entire citizens of the area council that their safety, lives and properties has been guaranteed.

Enough security men are going to be provided during the election exercise”.

The chairman also warned who

may be recruited from outside the area council to cause trouble during the election to desist from such acts.

“We are telling them that if they venture into Abaji area council, their lives will never rest in peace”.

He explained that “governance is an act of responsibility and election is by campaign; election is by letting the people understand the manifesto of the party , what they intend to give to the people and

hooliganism where peoples properties would wiped out or destroyed, we are not going to condone it or accept that.

“We must also know that collectively we own this area council; we are resolute and we are convinced by the support of our people that God willing, the people’s choice will definitely emerge. They should remain peaceful, hopeful and to remain committed”, he pleaded.

FCT council poll: Traditional ruler urges residents to shun violence

A

lhaji Jibrin Tanko, the Gomo of Kuje, yesterday advised residents of Kuje Area Council to shun violence during the FCT council elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 16.

Tanko, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kuje, said Kuje was known for its “peaceful approach to issues’’.

He stressed the need for

candidates of the various political parties in the area to educate their supporters to ensure that the elections were peaceful.

“This election must not be seen as a do or die affair; I want to appeal to politicians to abide by INEC rules and regulations, so as to ensure that a popular candidate is given the mandate.

“Kuje has always been known as one of the most peaceful area

councils; so my appeal to the candidates is for them to encourage their supporters to be peaceful because whatever peace cannot bring, violence cannot give as well,” he said.

Tanko also called on INEC to be truly independent in the conduct of the election by ensuring free, fair and credible elections.

“I want INEC officials to have the fear of God in them and to be

sincere in their dealings during the elections.

“Any candidate, who emerges as the winner should be declared so that we can have peace in the community,” he added.

The traditional ruler called on the youth to resist any attempt by politicians to use them as thugs during and after the elections.

Elections into the six area councils are scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 16. (NAN)

Rep proffers solution to youth restiveness From Mohammad Adamu, Kaduna

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orried over youths unemployment and involvement in socials vices, a member Representing Kaduna South Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Honorable Rufai Chachangi, has said that the solution to youths restiveness, particularly in the north was to provide avenue where such youths would be engaged in different vocational skills to enable them earn a living and self dependent.

The lawmaker said he has started helping such youths in his constituency by providing them with sewing, welding machines and transport cabs so that the can make use of them to earn a living.

The lawmaker disclosed this at a parley held with district heads and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) leaders in Kaduna, particularly from his constituency. He noted that engaging youths in different vocational skills remains the only way to checkmate restiveness in the country.

Rufai who is also Vice chairman, House committee on Aviation said his committee had been able to attract numerous facelift and renovation projects to different airports through appropriation which include, Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Abuja Airport.

“Instruments landing facilities, airports navigational facilities and runways and taxiways at our main airports have all got our attention in the past 2 years which have helped in restoring the lost glory of our airports both in Nigeria and abroad,” he said.

He further highlighted some of his achievements in the areas of education, youth empowerment and infrastructural developments to include provision of scholarship to students in secondary and tertiary institutions and provision of learning and instrumental materials for primary school pupils in his constituency.

He explained further that despite pressures and challenges attached to his office, he said he had fulfilled half of the target goals set in terms of delivering dividends of democracy to his constituency having been delivered in less than two years of assumption to office in May, 2011.

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Enugu Assembly adopts motion to renew N1b agric credit facility

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he Enugu State House of Assembly has adopted a motion authorising the state government to renew a N1 billion credit facility from Fidelity Bank under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS).

Presenting the motion during plenary yesterday in Enugu, the sponsor, Mr Chinedu Nwamba (PDP-Nsukka East), noted that agriculture was a key component in the state desire to diversify and boost its economy, create employment and ensure increased food production.

He said that the state government had obtained similar loan which was applied in the establishment of the Songhai Farm and other commercial agricultural development projects.

Nwamba said that since the state government lacked enough money to finance its numerous projects, the need to utilise the opportunity provided by the credit scheme to expand agriculture projects would not be over-emphasised.

In the three point prayers of the motion co-sponsored by 15 other, they prayed “That this honourable House do resolve to urge Enugu State government to renew the N1 billion term facility from Fidelity Bank Plc under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme.

“That when renewed, the purpose for which the facility was obtained should be followed strictly.

“That Enugu State government should endeavour to comply with the conditions of the facility including timely repayment of same, be it moved and it is hereby moved.”

Supporting the motion, Mr John Nwankwo (PDP- NkanuEast), said the motion was very apt because if agriculture was boosted it would reduce the state’s dependency on federal allocation.

Also contributing, Mr. Okechukwu Nwoke, (PDPIgboetiti West), said the essence of the credit scheme could not be over-flogged as it would boost food production, create employment and increase the revenue profile of the state.

He suggested the inauguration of a technical committee for the effective management of the credit facility, when obtained.

Putting the question for the adoption of the motion, the Speaker, Mr. Eugene Odo, urged the assembly committee on agriculture to ensure that the purpose for which the credit facility was obtained would be strictly implemented. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

A’Ibom 2015: Akpabio’s comment threatens Eket’s bid for governorship Position From Mike Etim, Uyo

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he Eket Senatorial District’s ambition to have the zone produce a governor under a zoning formula of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have suffered a set back due to a comment credited to Governor Godswill Akpabio questioning the party’s members integrity in honouring the zoning formula.

The Akwa-Ibom governor at a crowded Town Hall meeting to

round off the good governance tour to the state stated that when the position of who governs the state in 2007 was zoned to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District where he hails from, members of the party from Uyo and Eket senatorial District, the two other senatorial districts making up the state contested against him.

Against this background, the governor declared that he was a product of a popular vote of the people and not zoning.

“In 2007, 58 people from Uyo,

Eket and Ikot Ekpene senatorial districts all contested the primaries against me and after the people had spent 5 days on the street, they finally voted who they wanted and said ‘Let Gods will be done’”.

Akpabio remarked.

The governor also in a comment recently at a visit by a social cultural organization group, Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, said he would only appose the election of any governorship candidate that is lacking in vision and capability to continue

with the current development tempo of Akwa Ibom state.

He maintained that the state needed persons that can perform, adding that at the level of the current development, the state needs a governor in 2015 that would develop and move the state forward.

The governor’s comment has however thrown a spanner in the wheels of the ambition of the people of Eket senatorial district who have been warming up to occupy the “Hill Top Mansion” in Uyo.

L-R: Kano state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, Kaduna state Governor, Alhaji Ramalan Yero, and Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Aliyu Babangida, during their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday at the State House Abuja. Photo Joe Oroye

ACPN not part of APC, won’t betray Saraki, says chieftain From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) yesterday said it was not part of the All Progressives, Congress (APC) insisting that doing so would amount to betrayal of its founder, late Senator Olusola Saraki.

Addressing Newsmen in Lagos, the ACPN Deputy National Chairman, Prince Babatunde Sarumi said the party has no plans to merge with the APC or any other political party. He said “The founding principles of the ACPN, which is built on the ideology of better life for the poor will not allow such fraternity.

“The ACPN will at all time respect the memory of Saraki whose plans, while alive, was to see the party well established in all parts of Nigeria.”

According to him, some members who were aggrieved over some internal leadership issues in the party are the ones

willing to join the APC. “Every Nigerian has a right of association.

These members who we are still trying to woo back to the party reserve the rights to join any party of their choice but not in the name of the ACPN. The ACPN has a mandate to contest in all elections both at the national and state levels, come 2015.

“We may, if necessary, have a

working relationship with any party or parties wishing to go into an alliance with us but we will not dissolve the party into any merger platform.By merging, it means that the party will seize to exist which we cannot afford” he said.

Sarumi said that the ACPN was already in 28 states in Nigeria and would soon be inaugurated in the remaining states.

On the immunity bill for legislators currently before the House of Representatives, the ACPN Chieftain described it as unfortunate. “It is so unfortunate that we have a crop of lawmakers wishing to make themselves thin gods to the people they are representing. It will be in the interest of peace for the Lawmakers to discard the bill” he said.

2006 census figure grossly inaccurate, says Nembe LG Chairman declared for the area did not “The commission during the

M

r.

Sylva Waribugo, Chairman, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa, has described the figures declared for the council in the 2006 National Population and Housing Census as grossly inaccurate.

Waribugo stated this while testifying before the Census Tribunal on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the 130,966 figure

represent the exact inhabitants in the area, adding that some of the communities were omitted during the exercise.

According to him, 300 communities in the council area were not captured by enumerators during the exercise.

Waribugo told the court that the council’s population would have been above 200,000 if it had been counted properly.

1999 census, enumerated the area accurately, but the reverse was the case in the 2006 census,’’ he said.

He claimed that the NPC’s Form 07 which he described as the vital document for the head count meant for the area, was grossly inadequate.

The Chairman of Tribunal, Mr. Abraham Yisa, adjourned the case until March 20 for continuation. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 39

2015: Kwara APC vows to dislodge PDP From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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head of 2015 governorship elections in Kwara state, the opposition parties in the state under the auspices of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) have vowed to dislodge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party at the polls.

The opposition parties state Chairmen, including those of ACN, CPC and the ANPP, Mr. Kayode Olawepo, Alhaji Suleiman Buhari and Alhaji Taye Eleja respectively, during the press conference in Ilorin said they have resolved to abandon their personal interests

and work together to defeat PDP in the state.

Olawepo who addressed newsmen along other members of the parties said “We are convinced beyond doubt that at no time in the history of our dear Kwara state has drastic change become more urgent than now.

And to meet this challenge, we have unconditionally agree to pool our talents, energies and material resources together in order to rescue Kwara state from the present parlous state.

He said “For a long, tortuous and harrowing period, the political landscape in the state has been dogged by the near absence of a formidable

alternative to the ruling PDP. This unfortunate situation has regrettably bolstered the PDP to aggressively pursue an elitist democracy where the interest of the people is clearly subsumed in the self aggrandizing proclivity of the political elite in the state.

“And this prevailing sociopolitical and economic order of motion without movement in the state is a fallout of this ugly development. Thus, rather than playing second fiddle to a behemoth that is big- fornothing, we have put individual aspirations aside, and agreed unconditionally to work as a team, in the hope of engendering

a new vista for our people.

“We hasten to say that God has thrust on our laps the onerous but surmountable task of rescuing our people once and for all from the PDP dungeons.

As such, we are under no illusion that we will be held culpable should PDP rig itself into government again in 2015.”

The APC members who vowed that 2015 would not be the same for the ruling party stated that posterity would not forgive them if the opposition leaders and all stakeholders of good conscience allow personal agenda to mar the renewed bid.

“We want to assure

Kwarans that we are driven not by a rapacious bid to grab power by all means but by the commitment to arrest the current drift in the state and rescue Kwara from despair and hopelessness that has so far characterised the PDP government in the state since it unfortunate inception.

“We therefore, promise Kwarans that we will come up with a more realistic, humane and globally acclaimed alternative Action Plan, in line with the ideology that will be espoused by our national leaderships, which will essentially be anchored on a pro-people, welfarist ideology.

NGO urges unity among women

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irector, Women Act Now (WAN), Mrs Bidemi Mark-Mordi, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), yesterday, called on Nigerian women to be united and work together for societal advancement.

Mark-Mordi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that unity would strengthen women to achieve a common purpose.

She noted that women had potentials which would rapidly develop the Nigerian society when fully-exploited..

The director said that many Nigerian women had distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour, and that they needed to unite and share ideas for social change.

She said that such a change would improve the welfare of the women in both urban and rural areas.

“Women have not had a fair deal; they have not had a fair share of the dividends of democracy, economic empowerment and security both at home and the larger society.

“The basic necessities of life, accommodation, clean environment and security are still lacking.

“Good healthcare services are still beyond the reach of many women and their households. These are the things that need to be addressed,” she said.

The director said that the change would also reflect in increased women participation in politics, adding that Nigeria’s politics was still dominated by men.

Mark-Mordi, also the publisher of the Effectual Magazine, said that unity among women would also strengthen Nigeria as a country.

She called on governments to formulate policies that would improve the lives of the women. (NAN)

R-L: Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. AminuWaziriTambuwal, Chairperson, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, (CPA) African Region, Hon. LindiweMaseko, and Speaker of Gombestate House of Assembly and Chairman Conference of Speakers, Hon. InuwaGarba, during their visit to the Speaker, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Bauchi Speaker tasks NAWOJ on sensitization of women politician From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he Speaker of the Bauchi state House of Assembly, Hon Yahaya Mohammed Miya, has tasked Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to sensitize women over participation in politics in the country Miya stated this when the executive members of Nigeria Association of women Journalists (NAWOJ), Bauchi state chapter, led by its Chairperson, Kaltume Abdulahi Shall, paid him a courtesy visit in his office, saying that women journalist must carry out the responsibility of sensitizing women politicians to contest for political offices in 2015 to ensure participation of more women in politics.

He said “I want to urge you to enlighten and sensitize our women especially those in rural areas to participate actively in politics particularly in the forth coming general election in Nigeria.

“At the moment, we have only

one woman in Bauchi state House of Assembly and it’s not encouraging, so we need more women in politics because women play vital roles in our society,” the speaker said According to him, NAWOJ should assist in sensitizing our women because we need more women representatives in the state to contribute their quota to the development of the state and the country in general.

He therefore expressed the determination of the legislators to support NAWOJ in their programs to enable achieve their aims and objectives.

Shall, while speaking earlier, commended the Speaker and its members for passing bills that have brought about change and development in the state said “it has been observed that the achievements recorded by the administration of Isa Yuguda could

not have been possible without the support of the state House of Assembly.”

“We want to thank members of the State House of Assembly for supporting the establishment of BACYWARD, the agency that caters for the needs of youth and women. We call on the state legislators not to relent in your effort of passing bills that will open the doors of development in all sectors in Bauchi state.

Kogi governor’s wife inaugurates fish processing machine

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ife of Governor of Kogi Hajia Halima Wada yesterday inaugurated a fish processing machine for use by women in Idah Local Government Area of the state.

The equipment was inaugurated under the auspices of Kogi Women Empowerment Network (KOWEN), a pet project of Wada to empower women, especially those living in the rural areas.

Wada said on the occasion that the machine was expected to reduce the drudgery women undergo in processing their fish, adding that it would also help the women to become self-reliant and open more markets.

Wada said that the machine would help women to produce cracker fish, bush meat, fish cake, while there were plans to purchase more for women in other local government areas.

Earlier, the Director of the Local Government Council, Mr Musa Bako, had thanked the governor’s wife for siting the project at Idah, noting that it would go a long way in reducing women hardship.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ms Patience Mameh, who was represented by Ms Joy Akor, said the knowledge gained from the project would be applied into other areas for profitable ventures. (NAN)

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

L-R: World Bank Representative, Dr. Diresh Nair, Executive Director/CEO of NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Muhammad, and Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, during their visit to the governor, him recently in Akure.

L-R: Wife of Katsina state Governor, Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Shehu Shema, in a handshake with a beneficiary, during the distribution of 204 Keke-NAPEP to women in 34 local government areas to mark the International Women's Day Celebrations, recently in Katsina.

L-R: Senator Ali Mohd Ndume, National Coordinator, National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Alhaji Muktar Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, during the ActionAid annual national poverty dialogue, yesterday in Abuja.

L-R: Head, Nigeria Mission Control Centre, Navy Caption Baratuaipri Iyalla and Director, Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Commodore Charles Otegbade, during the stakeholders consultative meeting on coordination of satellite-aided search and rescue services, yesterday in Lagos.

R-L: Director General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Chief Patrick Ekeji acknowledging the donation of a giant Victory Signatory Super Eagles Jersey by National Orientation Agency (NOA) with NOA Director General, Mr. Mike Omeri, during the presentation of jersey, on Monday in Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-Owo & NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Afrobasket men draws hold March 30

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he official draws for the African Nations Cup for men termed Afrobasket 2013 will hold this month, March 30, in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital.

Tijjani Umar, the Nigeria Basketball Federation president, who disclosed this to yesterday, said the federation will be fully represented in the event.

Though, he declined to disclose the names of players and coaches that will constitute D’Tigers in Cote d’Ivoire, he hopes that the team would re-enact the performances that earned them first qualification for the London Olympic Games.

He said once the DStv league commences, the federation will name its players and technical crew and then set matters on course for their participation.

Afrobasket men title has eluded Nigeria since its inception. Nigeria are currently ranked 2 nd on the continent after Angola.

With the Olympics qualification last year, hopes are high that D’Tigers would clinch it in Cote d’Ivoire at the Afrobasket scheduled slated for August 20 to 31 this year. The Nations Cup tournament is also the qualifier for 2014 World Cup in Spain.

New Bauchi Net coach assures sponsors of success From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he newly contracted Chief Coach of Bauchi Nets Basketball team, Umar Bala, has assured sponsors that that the team will not disappoint in the 2013 Premier League Basketball competition.

He regretted the challenges including political clamour, security issues and the NBA elections, which have led to the late commencement of the league, the coach was optimistic that Bauchi Net would excel.

Coach Bala said with the support of the state government and the state sports council, the team will not disappoint, adding that with the motivation given it would be possible for them to be among to top four.

The former Tapgun Rocket tactician said that he injected five new players into the team plus the five he meet on the ground, adding that A Libyan and three others were engaged recently.

“Fortunately, we have played two warm-up matches and we are well motivated and salaries are paid on time. But we need more training kits and ease of transportation. I have confidence that we will be among the first four teams at the end of the league” he said.

PAGE 41

Keshi urges Eagles to forget AFCON victory as 23 players begin battle for shirts

Daniel Akpeyi

Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has bluntly told members of the Super Eagles, who are still basking in their African Cup of Nations victory, to perish such excitement and refocus on qualifying Nigeria for the 2014 Brazil World Cup final.

“The Nations Cup is long over. Yes, we are champions, but don’t forget it is harder to remain champions than to become one. Now, the eyes of the whole world are focused on you. We must concentrate on picking the ticket to the World Cup. It’s a target that can’t be compromised.

“Nobody will regard Nigeria as underdogs whenever we play any game. So, be prepared and be alert to the next game,” he said as he welcomes the players to the Practice Pitch of the National Stadium Abuja, where they begin training for the qualifier against Kenya.

And the new phase of keshi’s quest to lead Nigeria to Brazil 2014 resumes.

Meanwhile, Zango Umar’s loss may be Festus Ajah’s gain as the First bank FC of Lagos central defender was yesterday called up to replace injured Kano Pillars’ defender even as 23 domestic league Super Eagles kick-start

NFF denies contacting Siasia for U-23 job

By Patrick Andrew

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he Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation (NFF) has denied c o n t a c t i n g immediate past Super Eagles head Coach, Samson Siasia, to assume the post of national U-23 - Olympics team manager.

Spokesman of the

football federation, Demola Olajire, said yesterday that he was not aware of nay such move to return Siasia to the post he graduated from to take over as the Super Eagles gaffer in 2008.

‘Siaone’ had led the Dream IV to win silver at the Beijing Olympics Games losing narrowly to Lionel Messi-inspired

Keshi may drop Mba over transfer saga

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uper Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has said he may be forced to drop AFCON star Sunday Mba if his transfer saga rages on.

Top Nigeria league clubs Warri Wolves and Rangers are at tug of war over the ownership of one of the biggest revelations of the recent Nations Cup in South Africa.

Last week, a committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)

asked the two clubs to reach an agreement on the player within a week.

And now Keshi has warned that he may axe the player if his club future is not sorted out soon.

“I may be forced to drop Mba from the team if his transfer issues are not sorted out. If by our next game, they have not resolved the problem I may not invite him,” Keshi said .

The Eagles handler also explained that he

battle for shirts in the March 23 World Cup qualifier against Harambee Stars of Kenya.

Umar was the only invitee that was conspicuously missing as the players’ assembled yesterday morning to begin training exercise that would come to a climax when the 15 foreign-based players join them in battle for the final 23-man list.

Characteristically, Keshi assured the newly invited players to brace up for vigorous activities and added that nobody who merits a place in the main squad would be sacrificed for any foreign-based player.

“If you are good, I work with you, but if you are not good or not ready to work with us we leave you and move.

You have equal chances with every other player whether they are your colleagues here or foreign-based. if they show enough readiness to break into the team they will be given the chance. If you show enough resolve and readiness to break into the team you will be given the chance,” he said.

Umar’s replacement Ajah, who is said to have severally impressed scouts, was expected to hit the camp last night for this morning’s training.

was forced to call up as many as 15 foreignbased pros for the Kenya match because the local league has just kicked off. “I invited 15 foreignbased players because the Nigeria league is just starting,” he disclosed.

“The foreign-based players have been regular at their clubs and as such their fitness level is very high. Most of our local boys are rusty but we see how it goes in our training camp.”

Coach Samson Siasia

Argentina and was i m m e d i a t e l y heralded as the ‘new Daniel come to Zion’ to rescue Nigeria from the morass of disappointment with the senior national side.

He took over and began a gradual process of rebuilding a team from the ashes of the disbanded 2010 World Cup finals squad. Though

he identified quite some crop of players including a few of those that ‘Big Boss’ Stephen Keshi-his successor- relied upon to build a new generation of Eagles, Siasia failed to qualified Nigeria for the 2012 Nations Cup and was promptly sacked.

Penultimate day news filtered in that the football federation had contacted him for the job of the Olympics team.

However, Olajire refuted that but quickly admitted that it was not impossible.

“I am not aware of any such move. But under the circumstance that we are in it is not impossible,” he said even as he declined to elaborate on what he meant by ‘circumstance’.

Peoples Daily Sports learnt though that some members of the NFF technical sub-committee were

mandated to sound out Siasia with a view to ascertaining whether he would be inclined to assume the post.

Olajire admitted though that Nigeria need to quickly assemble a technical crew for the team to f a c i l i t a t e preparations for the qualification of the Rio 2016, which is likely to begin within the next couples of months.

Dependable sources disclosed that the former Flying Eagles coach bowed to their persuasion but was yet to be officially invitation to indicate interest in the job.

Austin Eguavoen was the last coach of the Olympic team that failed to book a ticket for the 2012 London Olympic Games, in spite of having what could arguably be considered the then cream of Nigerian aces within the age bracket.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 45

Martins to earn N141.3m at Seattle Sounders

By Patrick Andrew

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ecalled Super Eagles forward, Obafemi Martins, has bagged a three-years contract worth $9 million (N141.3m) with the Seattle Sounders FC in the Major League Soccer in the United States of America.

The former Inter Milan, Newcastle player, was reported to have personally paid his buyout clause of •3.6 million to Levante FC, and made the payment in the LFP office in Madrid on Monday following successful talks between the club

and MLS club, Seattle Sounders on the deal.

According to Inside Spanish Football, Martins opted to pay off Levante because a buy-out clause in his contract with the La Liga club.

According to the report, Martins, who is one of the 15 Super Eagles’ foreign-based players called up for the March 23 2014 FIFA World Cup against Kenya, will sign a three-year contract at Sounders to the tune of $3 million per season.

The attempt by Martins to force his exit at Levante and join the MLS club collapsed with the Spanish side angrily

threatening to go to court by citing that Seattle Sounders violated FIFA transfer rules in Articles 16 and 17.

Negotiations were called off by Levante a fortnight ago but Martins continued work with a professional attitude, as talks for his exit was rekindled.

Now, Martins could make his debut for Sounders in the MLS against Portland Timbers this weekend.

Martins said afterwards: “I look forward to this new era in my career. I also look forward to meet my new teammates and the Sounders FC fans, my new family.”

How meeting Beckham, Henry ended my MLS dream, says Udumezue

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ormer Flying Eagles player, Emmanuel ‘Lion’ Udumezue, says David Beckham and Thierry Henry were the reasons he did put pen on paper to play the Major League Soccer in the United States.

The player, who featured the junior Eagles under Samson Siasia, reveals that the duo were taken in by this mercurial dribbling skills and visionary passes that they bluntly advised him against playing anywhere other than Europe.

“There was this fateful day, I stood close to David Beckham

in the dressing room after training and he looked at me and told me candidly that a player of my quality should be playing in Europe, I simply smiled. But the message was well delivered. I ended up not signing for LA Galaxy,” Udumezue who is fondly called ‘Lion’ said.

Also, in another instance, Thierry Henry, former Arsenal hitman gave similar advice after he watched him play for his club Seattle Sounders who defeated New York Red Bulls 21 in a friendly game.

“I also remember the game

Emmanuel Udumezue in training while with the Seattle Sounders

Seattle Sounders played against New York Red Bulls. We won 2-1 and after the game, I went to meet Thierry Henry to collect his jersey, he asked me which country am I from, I told him Nigeria.

“He nodded his head and said that you are indeed a Nigerian as he also re echoed what Beckham told me, that I am too young and very talented to play in the MLS, insisting that i should play in central Europe “ ‘Lion’ said.

The player, who was on trials with Seattle Sounders where he scored six goals in four matches, played against French team side Reims where fate connected him with Henry.

The former top scorer in the Moldovan league with 33 goals in the colours of FC Olympia said that FC Reims were in the United States to play some friendly games. The team played Seattle Sounders twice and on both occasions the French team lost.

“Reims played Seattle Sounders in a friendly game and we defeated them 2-1 . I scored the winning goal, having given assist for the first goal. The club officials could not fathom how a French team could lose to an unknown club in the United States, so they requested for another friendly after their proposed friendly game with L.A. Galaxy failed to hold.

“Sadly, for Reims but a breakthrough for me, their second game against Seattle Sounders ended in 4-0 whitewashing where I scored a hat-trick, which made the club officials to make enquiries about me and they discovered I was yet to sign for Seattle Sounders and that was how I signed for Reims” Udumezue, who has signed for the French club, hopes to extend his exploits by scoring goals for them. Reims are currently struggling in the French Ligue 1.

Obafemi Martins

Okemiri assures on FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification

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gbonnaya Okemiri, a player in the national beach soccer team, yesterday expressed confidence that the team would qualify for the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Tahiti.

The player said in Lagos ahead of the African regional qualifiers for the championship scheduled to be held from April 10 to April 14 in Casablanca, Morocco, that the Supersand Eagles would scale over whatever hurdles to qualify.

He added that the World Cup would hold between Sept. 18 and Sept. 28 in Tahiti, a French island colony in the southern Pacific Ocean.

The player said he was confident because the country had formidable players that could qualify the nation for the World Cup. “I strongly believe my team

mates and we will qualify from the African regional qualifiers to represent the country at the World Cup,’’ he said.

According to him, the team would build on its success at the last Copa Lagos competition to ensure its qualification for the World Cup from the African qualifiers.

“Our performance at the last Copa Lagos tournament will spur us to ensure qualification for the World Cup,’’ Okemiri said.

He added that after its qualification, the team would embark on a series of friendlies, overseas training and matches, ahead of the World Cup tournament.

Okemiri, however, urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to give all necessary support to the team to ensure its qualification.

Erico lauds Maigari’s CAF exco membership attempt

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oe Erico, a former Super Eagles goalkeeper and later assistant coach, has lauded Aminu Maigari’s failed attempt to secure a seat on the CAF executive committee.

Erico said nothwithstanding his defeat by a Beniniose opponent, Maigari put up a gallant fight for the seat and urged the country not relent in her efforts to secure a seat in CAF executive committee.

Maigari, the President of the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), lost his bid for a seat in CAF’s executive committee on Sunday to Anjorin Moucharafou of Benin Republic, in the run-off ballot, after both candidates failed to get the required majority in the first round of voting.

“Maigari has done well to have attempted the contest.

Even when he did not win, I

believe it’s a step in the right direction for sports in the country.

“We are making progress, and I am certain that we will make a more meaningful impact in the next CAF election,” he said.

Erico, who was a member of the Green Eagles squad that won the country’s first ever bronze medal at the 1976 AFCON in Ethiopia, added that Issa Hayatou’s reelection was expected.

“Hayatou’s win is not surprising because he has been in power since 1987, and with the situation surrounding the elections, it was clear that he was unopposed,” Erico said.

It would be recalled that Dr Amos Adamu was the country’s representative in the CAF executive committee before he got caught up in the FIFA bribe scandal that earned him a ban.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

PAGE 47

Some Interesting Facts

Say what?

•Plant life began on the Earth's landforms about 430 million years ago. The first plants were likely single-celled organisms distantly related to algae.

•The first reptiles began life 300 million years ago, and modern mammals appeared roughly 75 million years ago.

•Apes originated on Earth about 35 million years ago, and the first apelike men appeared about 10 million years ago.

The modern human species of Homo sapien has existed on the earth for only 100,000 years.

•Scientists believe that Earth will exist for another 7.5 billion years before the sun becomes a red giant star and, in all probability, destroys the planet. Earth may cease to support life forms far before that date, however, due to increased energy output from the sun over time.

•Living organisms are divided into two basic domains: prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Eukaryotes, to which humans belong, have a cellular structure with a nucleus and membrane-bound genetic information, while the cells of prokaryotes do not contain a nucleus.

•Today, all identified living organisms are scientifically named and categorized according to Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus's taxonomy. In his 1758 publication, SystemaNaturae, Linnaeus divided and classified different living organisms with a ranking scale: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species •Scientists estimate that anywhere from five million to 100 million unique species of plants and animals currently live on Earth. However, only about two million of these species have been identified •Insect species account for 950,000 of the two million identified species on Earth •There are nearly 300,000 different species of plants currently living on Earth •Mammals make up just 5,416 of the two million identified species on Earth •The theory of evolution, which explains how living things change over time through natural selection, was first publicized by Charles Darwin in 1859. Many scientists now point to this natural phenomenon as the reason behind Earth's great biodiversity.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

SUDOKU

Yesterday’s solution

Ordeal: Cen washes her hair every four days. She is forced to stand over a bucket to wash the entire length, in Guigang, China.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Believe we can beat Bayern Munich today, Wenger tells Arsenal

A

rsene Wenger has told Arsenal to "make the impossible possible" at Bayern Munich with the Gunners needing to score at least three times today's UEFA Champions League last 16, second leg clash.

Having lost the first leg 3-1 at Emirates stadium three weeks ago, Wenger's side face an uphill task to become only the second team to win at Bayern's Allianz Arena this season.

Wenger is urging his squad to be positive with Bayern weakened by the loss of France wing Franck Ribery with a sprained ankle, while both Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and defender Jerome Boateng are suspended.

"We have to go there and give ourselves a chance to qualify with everybody believing we can do it. The chance is small, but that chance makes the impossible possible.

That would be a great credit for our team to do it. We have to try to achieve it.

Arsenal's task is especially daunting against a buoyant Bayern side that proved their mettle by twice coming from behind in Saturday's 3-2 win at home to Fortuna Dusseldorf which left them 20 points clear in the Bundesliga.

Bayern have lost just once at home this season when Bayer Leverkusen pulled off a shock 21 win last October in the league, but Munich have won all of their eight games so far in 2013.

Even without their stars Ribery, Schweinsteiger and Boateng, Coach Jupp Heynckes has a strong squad to choose from but right-wing Thomas Mueller has said the team will not take the Gunners lightly.

Bayern know all about European disappointment having lost last season's Champions League final at home to Chelsea on penalties and are wary of resting on their laurels, despite the big win in London.

UEFA Champions League Results Barcelona - AC Mlian Schalke 04 _ Galatasaray _

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE We know that in spite of the fact that the military have left governance, I think that Nigerians haven’t demilitarised themselves — Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state on the reluctance of the military to submit to law and order

The war of words in Borno T

he President's longpromised visit to the Boko Haram - ravaged NorthEast at last took place penultimate week. As expected by many, the President went to both Yobe and Borno States and thank God, came back safely. What many did not envisage however, was the political storm that he stirred, ravaging the landscape ever since. Beyond its symbolism, it is difficult to pin-point any success achieved by this two-day visit. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as President is not known for mincing his own words. Many would rather credit him with an enormous capacity for mincing his opponents. Little wonder therefore, that the visit did not do anything to soothe the pains and trauma of fellow citizens living with the daily fear of bomb and gun attacks. Instead, Jonathan who clearly made the choice of asserting himself as one hell of a tough leader fouled the sentiments of his hosts. Borno elders have complained that what they got was an affront and a heap of insults.

Professor Nur Alkali was the leader who spoke for his people.

After him, the Chairman of Borno Elder Committee declined his speaking opportunity, saying Alkali had spoken their minds.

In that impactful speech, Professor Alkali announced to the President that "this town is full of orphans, fathers and mothers who lost children. Many youths are in detention while some have been incapacitated.

"There is hardly anyone in this meeting," he continued, "who has not lost a close relation, family member or close friend".

In presenting their demand for amnesty for the Boko Haram, Professor Alkali said "even if it is one person who came forward to call for peace, he should be received with open arms and reintegrated into the wider society".

Upon hearing this, reports said the President got angry. He accused the Borno elders of playing to the gallery and thundered thus: "if you elders will not condemn (Boko Haram activities) you will continue to suffer under the terror of Boko Haram" (The Nation on Sunday, Pg.2).

I think the tone of this tough sounding rhetoric was set against the backdrop of synchronized calls just a day before his trip by the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Sa'ad Abubakar and the Northern States Governors Forum with both of them calling for amnesty for the insurgents.

Jonathan's reply to the Sultan

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MUSINGS By

Garba Shehu garshehu@yahoo.co.in

Gov. Kashim Shettima who I must add spoke responsibly by calling for amnesty, was something as polarizing as his own Presidency. Speaking at a townhall meeting in Yobe State, Dr. Jonathan said: "You cannot declare amnesty for ghosts. Boko Haram still operates like ghosts So you can't talk about amnesty for Boko Haram now until you see the people you are discussing with."

Hardly had he finished speaking than the Bishop of Sokoto, Monsignor Mathew Hassan Kukah and the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC jumped on the President by asking him to reconsider his tough stance. For them, this insurgency or any other one can be defeated either by force or with dialogue. Violence by way of an eye for an eye has shown its severe limitations. But the option of dialogue, as offered

by Kukah calls for will, capacity and competence and unless the administration is telling the citizens that it is lacking in these, it cannot claim that dialogue had become impossible because the insurgents are ghostly. Indeed as the youthful Governor of Borno would thoughtfully say thereafter, it is for the authorities to fish-out these ghosts and talk to them.

All over the world, there are methods for dealing with these kinds of situations including this gorilla or urban warfare we are faced with.

In Iraq and now Afghanistan, the United States of America faced insurgency. They fought it hard

but after sometimes they engaged in dialogue. Today we are at a point where the U.S. feels they are in a good stead to remove all their troops from Afghanistan by 2014.

In Spain, the vicious campaign of insurgency by ETA was brought to a near-end following the search and identification of those to dialogue with. In Northern Ireland, it was the same story. In all these cases, first of all there was the will to end the insurgency.

They then evolved capacity to engage and overcome through dialogue. If the will is not present on the part of the administration, the President can only continue to make motion without movement.

President Obasanjo didn't make any pretenses to finding a peaceful solution to the Niger Delta insurgency. He saw war as the only option and intensified it. President Yar'Adua on the other hand saw the need for dialogue and embarked upon his highly celebrated amnesty programme.

Unless he is clearly uninterested, the President cannot dismiss Boko Haram as mere ghosts. They have leaders who issue statements and even address wired press conferences.

A sizeable chunk of the group led by one Abdul-Aziz say they are ready to lay down their arms to negotiate. With all of these, it is

amazing to say the least, for the President to say there is no rope to hold onto. Even if the Boko Haram were ghosts as he claims, doesn't he, as Christian believe in exorcism?

The distinction the President tried to make between the Boko Haram and the Niger Delta militants was to me an inanity.

Both of these are insurgencies against the state and they both call for an equal and appropriate response.

In response to the question on his tardiness in visiting Borno and Yobe States, the President made the unbelievable assertion that he had no time.

Some say the President has problems with his erudition and should be forgiven these gaffes. He deserves a benefit of the doubt. My reading of the reaction from Borno and much of the North is that this was a bad, sad, joke on the embattled North and a yet another blot on his Presidency. It is clear by now that this attempt as with many in which the President tries to assert himself in front of victims of violence has backfired. Whenever he spoke like this, it is as if he is asking Nigerians to question why they voted him into office. This was the feeling that greeted his speech in defence of Niger Delta militants in the aftermath of the October 10, 2010 Abuja bombing and the references to Boko Haram terrorists in the government that he runs. He exposes some unwanted street-side ethos. The wicked and the nonchallant will say "allow him to selfdestruct. When his own political party is not reining him in, who else would do that"? Well, I won't say that and no patriotic should citizen should say a thing like that.

It is the country, not the leader that will pay the price of these at the end of the day.

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: +234 805 727 9862. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141