Peoples Daily Newspaper, Saturday 13, April, 2013

www.peoplesdaily-online.com weekend.peoplesdailyng.com

VOL. 3 NO. 35

SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Jonathan must sustain dialogue with Boko Haram —Prof.

Ango Abdullahi

JIMADAL AKHIR 3-4, 1434 AH

N150

>>Pages 15,21,39

INTERVIEW

FG needs marshal plan to rehabilitate Boko Haram —Senator Lawal

COVER

TOURISM FEATURE Insecurity in Kano disrupts Empowering KATSINA our business —Calabash to reverse infant, seller laments >>Page 16

maternal death

Silent killer: Why many Nigerians have hypertension —Minister WEEKEND.PEOPLESDAILYNG.COM

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>>Page 8

Pages 9,10&11

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

News Nigerians will be shocked when Boko Haram perpetrators are exposed —JNI From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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ama'atul Nasril Islam, Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu yesterday, declared publicly that by the time the perpetrators of Boko Haram insurgents are exposed Nigerians will be terribly shocked.

According to him, the leader of the Sect, Muhammad Yusuf was killed as part of the conspiracy of the perpetrators.

Addressing newsmen during a Press briefing held at the JNI Headquarters in Kaduna, Dr Khalid said late Yusuf was murdered so as to stop him from talking. " This is why JNI is unhappy that late Yusuf was killed before he could speak. We keep asking questions on why he was killed before opening up on the matter?

They should have allowed him to talk so that we can know the perpetrators behind the insurgency. We are sure that by the time the truth finally comes out, most Nigerians will be shocked with the findings," he

said.

The JNI Secretary further berated the Christian Association of Nigerian, CAN President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor for his rejection of Amnesty for Boko Haram.

"While the call to grant amnesty to Boko Haram by Sultan of Sokoto and JNI President General received strong support of prominent Christians such as Cardinal Bishop John Onaiykan, Bishop Mathew Kukah, Pastor Unongo to mention but few. The President of CAN, Pastor Oritsejafor and his cohorts are busy confusing the country's leadership on the way out of the insecurity challenges.

"Our concern is, what is the motive behind the total rejection of amnesty by them? Do they benefit from the quagmire of Boko Haram? When were they appointed advisers to the president on the perpetuation of insecurity? He asked.

On the rejection of amnesty by Boko Haram leadership, Dr Khalid said President Goodluck Jonathan was the first to reject the idea of giving the group amnesty. " It is normal for the group too

to foot-drag the amnesty issue but I am sure their rejection will not stop the amnesty process and we believe the amnesty will work," he said.

He also criticised the manner in which the JTF handles the crisis as he urged them to always apply rules of engagement in addressing the problem.

The secretary-General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, right, with the Admin Officer of JNI, Mallam Yusuf Ahmed Bida, at a press briefing on the state of the Nation, at the National Headquarters- pix Mohammed Ibrahim

Amnesty for Boko Haram: JNI urges FG to ignore CAN

Customs deny media report on Kano market raid

h e Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI) yesterday appealed to the Federal Government not to be distracted from its amnesty plan for the insurgent group, Boko Haram.

Its Sectary General, Dr Khalid Aliyu, said in Kaduna at a press briefing that the government should ignore those bent on distracting it from pursuing the path of peace and reconcilliation.

He condemnend the negative campaign launched by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejifor, against the

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna omptroller of customs in charge of Federal Operation zone B, Kaduna, Mr. Amade Abdul yesterday debunked a media report on his men’s raid on a Kano market in search of local rice.

It was reported by a national daily not (Peoples Daily) that custom officers from the zone raided Kano Market few days ago in-search of local rice.

But reacting on the report in Kaduna during a press conference on the activities of the zone comprising 10 states, the Comptroller described the report as a conspiracy against the organization.

According to him, part of the achievement by his men was the seizure, within three weeks, of over 1,399 bags of foreign rice which were smuggled into the country. " It was not true that we raided the Market in search of local rice. Our mission is to stop those smuggling foreign rice into Nigeria. We are seizing the smuggled rice in line with the federal government directive," he said.

He said, among the ways used by the smugglers to transport their goods include motorcycles. " They park their trailer in the neighbouring country, they will now use motorcycles to ferry the bags of rice mostly from Pakistan, India and Vietnam. Each motorcycle carries three bags and before you know they will finish smuggling it into the country,” he said.

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amnesty plan, saying it was divisive and selfish.

“We appeal to the Federal Government to proceed with its plans for amnesty as a potent way of restoring peace to Nigeria without minding any distractive tendencies.''

The JNI secretary general described the Boko Haram insurgency as ``an accident beyond religion which affects every Nigerian directly or indirectly and upon which no passing of buck can be logical’’.

He said the attack by the insurgents had killed more Muslims than Christians and had

disrupted the livelihood of millions of others.

Aliyu listed some high profile casualties of the insurgents, to include the Shehu of Borno, the Emir of Fika, the Emir of Kano and hundreds of Muslim clerics, adding that the CAN president's rantings were misplaced.

The secretary general appealed to well meaning Nigerians to support the government to restore peace and normalcy to areas affected by the insurgency.

He called on Muslims not to be provoked by the smear campaign and to pray for peace and tranquillity in the country. (NAN)

Sex scandals rock Kogi varsity From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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he menace of lecturers demand for gratification before awarding marks to students has become a prominent feature in Kogi State University, KSU, Ayingba, Kogi state.

Students who have fallen victim of the illicit deal at the university have sordid tails of how most lecturers enter lecture halls drunk with wrong intentions at the end.

A female student who spoke with journalists in Ayingba, pleading anonymity stated that she had no choice than to yield to

the devilish demand of the lecturer adding , "it was not this bad under Prof. Idachaba".

She maintained that with the scarce financial resources in the state and the country, there was opportunity for outrageous demands which could tarnish the future or prospects of students.

She urged the school authority to wade into the matter to forestall damages that this could do to the image of school and the students in general.

Some male students who would not want to be mentioned in print said that till the school authority take bold steps like the

He called on Muslims to always pray to Allah to bring an end to the menace even as he said that Muslims were most affected by the sect killings.

days of Prof Idachaba, the dented image of the school would further worsen, adding that obnoxious fees were being demanded at will in the school.

Asked to comment on the allegations, the university’s spokesman, Joshua Edogbo stated that such report had not reached the authority but would be revealed if authentic information was out on the matter It would be recalled that a female student of the Kogi state Poly, Lokoja,weekend, set up her lecturer who demanded sex which she refused. The lecturer was rather beaten to coma.

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Court sentences man to death by hanging

By Usman Shuaibu

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he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court of Justice in Gwagwalada Area council has sentenced a 30-year-old man, Mr Alloysius Eze of Angwar Tudun Fulani , Dei-Dei, Abuja to death by hanging.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Balami Mwada, explained that the accused person committed culpable homicide punishable with death in accordance with Section 221 of the Penal Code Law of the Northern Nigeria.

He said the accused had admitted in the court that he beat one Mr. Edet Effiong of Angwar Tudu Fulani, Dei-Dei to death by going to his house.

Mwada pointed out that during the court proceedings, many witnesses were summoned and testified that Mr. Alloysius Eze committed the said act.

The judge said that the judgment would serve as warning to the people who may want to commit such act.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

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News Kaduna pays gratuity of dead policemen

JTF kills 6 insurgents in Kano

From Muhammad Adamu, Kaduna

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

he Kaduna state government has paid N3 million gratuity to the next of kin of two policemen who died in active service with Operation Yaki, a joint security outfit established by the state. The money, according to the coordinator of the operation Co.l Mamman Dangana (rtd), was shared to the children of the deceased as pledged by the state government.

"Thereafter, an insurance claim follows which is also given to the next of kin of the deceased", Dangana stated.

He added that ' of recent we have collected some payment worth 3million naira for the next of kin of late Corporal Abdulrahaman Ahmed and late Ahmed Shehu who shared1.5 million naira each".

The coordinator said that Operation Yaki has a good welfare package for its personnel, adding that the security outfit does not pay for life but assist the family.

"Operation Yaki personnel also get free medical treatment' he stated.

Meanwhile the state government has refurbished ten Toyota Hilux vehicles and handed them to the outfit for distribution to different divisional police stations in the state.

Speaking during the handing over of the vehicles, the director general, media of the state government, Ahmed Maiyaki explained that the rehabilitation of the vehicles showed the commitment of the state governor in ensuring the protection of life and properties of its citizens.

combined team of security operatives under the umbrella of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), yesterday morning raided a hideout of suspected insurgents killing six in the process.

The spokesman of the Joint Military Task (JTF) in Kano,

Shoddy jobs: Yuguda flays COREN for conspiring with technocrats

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From Ahmed Kaigama Bauchi

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overnor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state has challenged the Council for the Registration of Engineering in Nigeria to check unethical conduct of their members who cooperate with technocrats to execute substandard projects.

A statement signed by the chief press secretary to the governor, Ishola Michael Adeyemi, made available to newsmen in Bauchi yesterday said the Governor gave the challenge when he received the registrar of COREN during a courtesy visit to the governor.

He said as professionals, they have the moral obligation to provide world class service to their customers, although not all of them connive to do shoddy jobs.

Mallam Isa Yuguda also called on the Nigerian society of Engineers to offer voluntary teaching services to SS1 students in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry subjects to prepare them for a sound career in the services.

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Captain Ikedichi Iweha told newsmen that the hideout of the insurgents was discovered following a tip off by a member who was arrested earlier on Thursday in Mariri area.

He revealed that a plot to rob Kantin Kwari market was uncovered when the arrested insurgent confessed during interrogation that they planned to carry out a robbery operation

in the popular textile market and proceed to Yobe state thereafter for other operations.

He added that following the revelation, security operatives stormed the house located at Sheka suburb of the Kano metropolis. "On sighting soldiers, the terrorist opened fire killing one soldier on the spot while soldiers returned with superior gunfire killing six occupants of

the house who are terrorists."

Iweha added that five women and three children were evacuated from the house while two AK47 riffles were recovered.

Conducting newsmen round the demolished house after the operation, Iweha warned property owners to always screen their tenants so as not to habour criminals.

L-R : Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Osun State, Professor Olubukola Oyawoye, Commissioner for water Resources and Rural Development, River State, Hon. Patricia Simon Hart, Minister Of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe and Permanent secretary, ministry of special duties, Mrs foluke Owoseni, during the follow up meeting on presidential water summit with State commissioners, recently in Abuja, Photo: Justin Imo-Owo.

Ex-gov Muazu whitepaper: Mixed reaction over court's clearance From Ahmed Kaigama Bauchi

he annulment of exGovernor Adamu Muazu's indictment by a whitepaper for corruption has generated mixed reactions by people and opposition parties in Bauchi state.

A Bauchi state High Court 1 judgment washed former Bauchi state Governor Ahmadu Adamu Muazu of alleged N2 billion naira fraud and other indictments by the Judicial Commission of enquiry set up under Governor Isa Yuguda administration.

Adamu Mu'azu was the Bauchi state governor between 1999-2007.

Governor Isa Yuguda set up a commission of Inquiry that investigated the administration of Mu'azu and asked him to refund over N2billion and also barred him from holding any public office for ten years.

The opposition explained that the recent judgment that cleared the former Bauchi State of the allegations had vindicated their non-confidence in the anticorruption war.

Caretaker Committee

Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change,CPC, Bauchi State Chapter ,Alhaji Aliyu Sa'idu and the Chairperson of Democratic Peoples Party DPP Hajiya Sa'adatu Mahmuda stated this separately yesterday while reacting to the judgement , when they visited the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalist in Bauchi.

They said, the report of the Judicial commission and the white paper gazetted by the state Government indicted over 35 people and 45 companies who were asked to refund over N20billion to the state government , but were set aside by the court which left the state already battling with dwindling of resources to continue suffering.

"When one considered the number of legal luminaries many of senior advocates, who stood for the government during the 20 months sitting of the judicial commission of inquiries that investigated the administration of the former Governor and compared with the counsels that stood for the suit that led to clearing the former Governor, one will

clearly understand the missing link".

Sa'idu said the judgment proved that 14 years of PDP rule in Bauchi state did not help to wipe out poverty, shortage of social amenities in the areas of education, health care, infrastructures and workers welfare.

Hajiya Sa'adatu on her part, urged the PDP led government to fear Allah and work hard to alleviate the suffering of Bauchi masses in order to bring meaningful development.

Social critic, Mallam Sani Mohammed said "I use to say that these people are toying with us, I mean they are playing over the intelligence of the folks that brought them to government‌ that shows us that the whole expenditure on the judicial commission of inquiry for two years is now a history and useless, this money would have solved the numerous problem facing the state".

In his reaction, the personal assistant to ex Governor Mu'azu, Alhaji Kabiru Ilelah said he was satisfied with the judgment which showed that former Governor Mu'azu has done his

best to the people of Bauchi state during his eight year rule "and now even the judiciary has buttressed that".

Governor Muazu had on February11, 2013 Mu'azu sued Governor Isa Yuguda, the Bauchi State Government, Commissioner of Justice, Judicial Commission of Inquiry and Justice Bitrus Sanga who presided over the commission of Inquiry and asked the court to clear him because of he was not given fair hearing at the commission.

The Bauchi State High Court, presided over by the state chief judge, Justice Mohammed Ibrahim Zango , declared that the report of the Judicial commission of Inquiry into the management of some ministries, parastatals and extra ministerial departments of public service of Bauchi state was no longer valid and of no legal effect on the plaintiff.

"It is further declared that all forms of indictment inform of recommendations and government position on same as they relate to the plaintiff cannot stand and they are of no legal effect on the plaintiff", he ruled.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Photo News

Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo (middle) in a group Photographs with a Cross Section of Delegation from Rivers and Bayelsa States, during their Meeting with the Vice President on Soku Boundary dispute at the Presidential Villa, on Thursday in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

R-L: Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi with the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Dr. Mohammed Santuraki in Birnin Kebbi, Duiring the MD’s Visit to the Governor on Thursday in Kebbi

L-R: President, Alumni Association, National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Maj.- Gen. Lawrence Onoja (Rtd), presenting materials to Kebbi State Deputy Governor Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim, during a courtesy visit in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.

L-R: Special Adviser to the President on Aviation, Captain Shehu Iyal, Captain Farouk Umar and Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Taminu at a cocktail organized in honour of the Minister of Special Duties, recently in Abuja, Photo: Joe Oroye

R-L: Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo in a handshake with Borno State Governor and Chairman Presidential Committee on International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment, Alhaji Kashim Shetima, during the inauguration ceremony of the Committee held at the State House Abuja, yesterday.

Photo Joe Oroye

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, APRIL, 2013

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News Merger: ANPP inaugurates Convention committee

By Umar Muhammad Puma h e All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has formally ratified the All Progressive Congress (APC) by choosing Governor Abdullazeez Abubakar Yari of Zamfara as the chairman of its convention committee while the national publicity secretary of the party, Emma Eneukwu will serve as the secretary.

In a communique issued after the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party formally endorsed the activities of its Merger Committee headed by the former governor of Kano state, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, and that of its National Rebuilding and Inter Party Contact committee, leading to the setting up of the convention committee.

The four merging parties ANPP, ACN and CPC are expected to hold separate conventions where party members are expected to ratify the collapse of their parties into the APC fold.

Speaking earlier at the opening of the meeting, national chairman of the party, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu said there are no cracks in the rank and files of the opposition parties, as the significant progress made by the merging parties was due to the amicable resolutions of thorny issues in their discussions.

“I am happy to inform you all that significant progress has been made on the historic assignment given to this important committee. All the trouble areas that some people thought would have posed challenges have been amicably resolved as negotiations proceeded. It is clear to me that the Hand of the Almighty God is working in our favour. If this had not been so, then we would not have gotten to where we are today. I believe that so long as we remain united, surely we will achieve great things for ourselves, for our children and indeed for our country,” he said.

While urging party members to be united on the APC with the other merging parties, he said, “we must put aside our differences, learn to accommodate the different positions we hold on issues, think less of ourselves and always remember that those who stay together, always stand together. Let us resolve to unite for the sake of our children and our country. Our sole aim should be to work for the happiness of Nigerians. The demand of hunger, insecurity, epileptic power supply, poverty and illiteracy require urgent solution. There is no time to waste.”

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Governor Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state (3rd right) presenting certificates to one of the butchers, among the first batch of 10, 000 from the 44 Local Govts who were given 1 week training on meat handling, personal hygiene, sanitation and empowered with N20, 000 free to improve their trade by the Kano state government.

Photos: Govt. House Kano

Minister’s absence stalls FAAC meeting

By Abdulwahab Isa

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he conspicuous absence of the Minister of State for finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama to chair the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting yesterday stalled the sharing of monthly dues to three tiers of government.

The development infuriated the states' Commissioners of finance who saw the Minister's action as wanting to turn the forum into an arm of the executive.

Peoples Daily Weekend learnt that the technical session of the monthly FAAC meeting was rounded up around 4pm but the Minister was nowhere around to vet the figures and the announce them to the public through the media as was the practice.

States' Commissioner of Finance including other representatives of various organ that constitute FAAC were observed loitering around Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, venue for the meeting apparently to ward off boredom.

Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Muhammed Nakorji announced to journalists after several hours of waiting, that meeting would hold today.

JTF impounds vessels with stolen crude, destroys 35 illegal refineries T h e Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta has arrested a fishing trawler converted into a bunkering vessel and used for conveying stolen crude .

Media Coordinator of JTF Operation Pulo Shield, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said on Friday that the arrest was made on the Akassa waterways in Bayelsa during multiple raids held between April 1, and April 10.

“The fishing trawler, Christened DALLAL, was arrested laden with stolen crude oil product, when it was intercepted by operatives of NNS Delta, a maritime

component of the Joint Task Force.

“The trawler has been towed to Brass Terminal and secured pending further investigations.

Two barges laden with stolen petroleum products have also been arrested by operatives of Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force.

“The barges, named COASTAL 22 PEACE RIVER and MUDIGBA 1 are now berthed at the AGIP Brass Terminal pending their handover to prosecuting agencies at the completion of preliminary investigations,'' Nwachukwu said.

He said that 20 pumping

machines, one Lister generator and one cargo pumping generator were also seized by the JTF during the operation.

The JTF spokesman said that 35 illegal refineries discovered in Rivers and Bayelsa coastal communities were destroyed within the period.

According to Nwachukwu, JTF also destroyed 150 large plastic tanks and 23 pumping machines used by the oil thieves in another camp at Ogidigbem Village at Escravos in Delta.

On the number of arrests made, he said 18 suspects were arrested in the various anti-oil theft operations. (NAN)

Northern youth forum urges Boko Haram to embrace amnesty From David Hassan, Gombe

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ollowing the rejection of the Federal Government’s amnesty proposal by the Boko Haram sect, the northern youth forum of the National Youth Council of Nigeria has called on the insurgents to accept amnesty in order to negotiate with government.

This was contained in a communiqué signed and made available to Peoples Daily during a meeting of the

northern region of the National Youth Council of Nigeria held at the Women Development Centre in Gombe.

The northern youth forum also commended the federal government for the intended amnesty for Boko Haram sect, to “ bring lasting solution for peace in the region”.

The forum urged the federal government and other stakeholders especially the Northern Elders Forum to involve youths in all strata of life in the process of amnesty

programme, so as so to key into the process as main driving agents.

The forum also appealed to the Boko Haram sect to embrace amnesty by presenting themselves in order to secure a brighter future for the young in the country.

They called on government to tackle the problem of insecurity from the angle of poverty, unemployment, lack of proper educational policies and loss of moral values in the society.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Insight Empowering KATSINA to reverse infant, maternal death From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

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igeria has the second highest incidences of infant and maternal death with Afghanistan holding the gold medal.

A lot of factors are attributable to these unfortunate deaths which include among others harmful traditional practices and lack of proximity to health care services during birth.

While birth in other parts of the world is being celebrated with joy, in Nigeria the fear of the unknown is the norm.

To reverse this ugly trend, the Katsina Governor's wife, Hajiya Fatima Shehu Shema under her pet project, The Service to Humanity Foundation in collaboration with the state Ministry of Women affairs, Women Farmer Advancement Network, WOFAN and a Canada based n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l organization, Brown Button Foundation had recently organised a training workshop to sharpen the skills of Traditional Birth Attendants(TBAs).

The workshop was also intended to inculcate in them modern skills of handling child birth.

Speaking at the end of the 3-day workshop, the governor's wife wondered why Nigeria which is more endowed than Afghanistan is still second to it in terms of infant and maternal death.

This situation, according to her, is unacceptable so we have to work hard to reverse the trend.

She added: "Although the world over pregnancy period is being associated with a lot of risks and death is purely God's design but we should not allow it to happen due to our negligence".

Similarly the governor's wife admonished husbands to always allow their wives to have access to medical facilities during pregnancy period, adding "there is no reason why pregnant women should be deniedaccess to health facilities. Doing that is condemnable and unacceptable".

Hajiya Fatima Shema also advised pregnant mothers to always prepare for their safe delivery as according to her you can from the first day of your pregnancy start saving for the birth period by buying the delivery kits that cost N300 in the market.

She however gave some tips on how a pregnant woman can stay fit during pregnancy period which she said include daily exercise, keeping the environment clean and using Mosquito treated nets to guard against Malaria infection.

The governor's wife task

Katsina State governo's wife, Hajiya Fatima Shema, presenting delivery kits to one of the TBAs after training.

Birth delivery demostration for the TBA's husbands to take advantage of the rural mobile ambulance launched by the state government by utilizing their services in transporting them to hospital during delivery period.

To make the TBAs more comfortable to face their jobs, Hajiya Shema appealed to the state government to assist them with capital to set-up businesses that would complement their earnings.

Addressing the TBAs, the

state commissioner of women affairs, Dr. Salamatu Garba noted that worried by the rising cases of infant and maternal death the governor's wife in collaboration with other development partners and her ministry decided to take the bull by the horn by organizing the refresher training for the TBAs. According to her, the 150 trainees were selected from across the three senatorial zones in the state which include

Katsina, Daura and Funtua senatorial zones.

Dr. Salamatu said: "We know the TBAs are professionals that have been handling these cases for long but we organize the training to check and change some of the harmful practices during child birth".

The commissioner called on drivers union to join the crusade by providing selfless services by transporting pregnant women to hospital free of charge.

Although the world over pregnancy period is being associated with a lot of risks and death is purely God’s design but we should not allow it to happen due to our negligence.

Similarly the governor’s wife admonished husbands to always allow their wives to have access to medical facilities during pregnancy period, adding “there is no reason why pregnant women should be denied access to health facilities. Doing that is condemnable and unacceptable

Demonstrating the ups and downs of delivery to the TBAs, a senior official of the governor's wife pet project, service to humanity foundation, Mrs. Halima Idowu warned the TBAs not to assume the position of doctors during child birth.

She said: "You are not doctors and therefore there are limits to assistance you can give to pregnant women during delivery. If there are complications quickly refer it to a nearby hospital or health clinic".

Mrs. Idowu urged the TBAs to avoid the harmful practices of inflicting deep cuts on the private part of a woman having difficulties during delivery or inviting local barbers (Wanzamai) to cut the sensitive part.

She similarly cautioned that women with high blood pressure and diabetes should be quickly taken to hospital during labour.

The officer also urged the TBAs to after birth record the time and place of birth and whether the baby was delivered dead or alive.

Also speaking at the workshop, an Executive Director with the Brown Button Foundation, Mr. Ify Bamidele warned that a lot of work has to be done in checking the rising cases of Infant and Maternal death in Katsina State.

He noted that his foundation partners with government and n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l organizations in checking some health concerns in developing countries of the world.

According to him, 70 per cent of birth in Nigeria was delivered through the TBAs hence, the need to train them on modern methods of child birth and their complications.

In a remark at the occasion, the Special Adviser On Poverty Alleviation to the state governor, Alhaji Bature Masari announced that the state government has approved N20, 000 for each of the 150 TBAs that attended the training to enable them start their own businesses.

Similarly, Masari added that TBAs that were not part of the workshop would each receive N10, 000 as capital.

He therefore, re-affirmed the commitment of the state government in assisting any venture that could alleviate poverty in the state.

At the end of the training, each of the 150 TBAs received free child birth kits from the office of the governors wife.

The governor's wife also disclosed that she would appeal to the emirs of Katsina and Daura to assist in talking to the drivers union to assist women during labour period.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Cover

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Silent killer:

Why many Nigerians have hypertension —Minister Pate To mark World Health Day on 7 April, the World Health Organisation (WHO), called for intensified efforts to prevent and control hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. In Nigeria, efforts were also stepped up in enlightenimg the populace on the Non Communicable Disease. The Minister of State for Health, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, in this interview with Jamila Nuhu Musa, Abubakar Ibrahim and A'isha Biola Raji, spoke extensively on why many Nigerians have hypertension. He said there is still more to be done in reducing risk factors and tackling the disease, which many Nigerians have become prone to, due to their lifestyles and inability of states and local governments to invest more funds which they get from the federation account in taking care of the health of their people. He noted that education is imperative in enhancing health of the people while Nigerians should also spend more money on their health concerns than they do on airtime. Pate is of the view that health workers should be information providers in the bid to improve awareness on hypertension and other diseases by taking history of patients to determine their status even before they get treatment. However, he commended eminent personalities like the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa'ad the III, and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who, in discharging exemplary leadership and corporate responsibility, take up issues of Polio eradication and Primary Health Care, respectively. Excerpts:

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ecently, the World celebrated the international Hypertension has been described as silent killer that can affect anyone; its major cause is lifestyle which includes certain types of diet, sedentary lifestyle, lack

of exercise, smoking, excessive intake of alcohol amongst other causes. The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Ali Mohammad Pate in this exclusive interview with It has been estimated that 25 percent of Nigerians live with High Blood

pressure which implies that 1 in every 4 Nigerians is hypertensive.

Why is this huge number?

When you quote statistics, it is always good to try to understand where it is coming from and what does it mean. I think what I heard from the technical

people in the federal ministry of health is that, 25 percent of those admitted into hospitals have hypertension. So it is hospital based statistics. We have to differentiate that from population based

Contd on Pg 10

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Cover

‘Why many Nigerians have hypertension’ Contd from Pg 9 statistics. What we know for sure is that, the class of diseases called Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), are rising all over the world and countries like ours, Nigeria.

As you know, we used to deal with largely communicable diseases like Malaria, infectious diseases, Measles, Polio, Tuberculosis and so on. We are still dealing with those diseases even though they are on the decline but we are seeing emergence of NCDs like hypertension, heart disease, Strokes, Asthma that are non communicable, they don't get communicated. That is the new class of diseases that are rising, though they are old but, are beginning to emerge as important cause of public health concern and increase in mortality.

We have the third type of diseases which are traumatic injuries; both traditional traumas, traffic accidents as well as new kinds of trauma that are emerging. So in terms of the rise in NCDs generally, there are two broad issues that are driving this trend, one of this is lifestyle. People used to have life expectancy of mid forties and they now get to live to sixties, certain diseases that emerge when one is mid sixties would now become more prominent because there are older people in the population ratio.

That is one aspect, in Nigeria, we have a 4 percent ageing in our population but it's going to increase inevitably. As we have more proportion of Nigerians living longer and getting to old age, some of these diseases like cancers, hypertension, heart diseases that are not diseases of young people will become more prevalent.

The second aspect is the lifestyle and that is one aspect that the younger age groups are likely to be found wanting. The salt that people take in their food, high salt diet is one of the causes of hypertension. If you are on high salt diet, salt tends to mix with water in the blood stream, add to the volume and increases the pressure on the heart. Over time, high salt intake increases the likelihood of having hypertension and also the way salt is regulated in the body can lead to the blood pressure.

Years ago, when women used to have kunun kanwan (potash pap) when they are delivered of babies, a lot of them end up having swellings on their bodies, heart failure and often die because of that.

This is because the kunu has salt so they bloat out and it becomes a problem.

The second aspect is the kind of food that we eat; foods that have high saturated fat, oily foods, animal fats and high cholesterol. These get deposited on the wall of the blood vessels and make it very stiff and less resilient. Imagine if you have water flowing through a pipe that is flexible, the pressure would be less compared to a rigid pipe. If the blood vessel is rigid because of all these dietary foods, then hypertension will be more like it.

Some people smoke, though not majority but some do. We know that smoking accelerates those changes in people's blood vessel both primary and secondary smoking because even if you don't smoke, there are people smoking around and it affects your health. So those are lifestyles changes you are not born with but you picked at a point in time.

Some people have excessive alcohol and it's not good for their health, and also sedentary lifestyles.

There is a minority which is genetics,

they have tendencies looking at the way their kidney function and regulation of their fluid but that is less of an issue in hypertension, it is more an issue for diabetes.

Those are the lifestyle factors which the younger people that have diabetes and hypertension get it from. In this portion of people, it can be prevented and I think prevention is better than cure.

The key issues are, watch your diet, don't embrace the sedentary lifestyle, watch the amount of salt you eat, get screened and if you already have high blood pressure, take your medicines because that is secondary prevention. It doesn't have to progress to give you heart disease or strokes.

Most people, about 70 percent have hypertension and they don't know that they have it, what is the awareness level of hypertension in Nigeria?

There used to be a myth that, hypertension is a disease of the affluent but it is no longer the case! We know that in the rural areas, there are people who are hypertensive but they don't know!

Because it is a silent killer, only when it has advanced that you start having tendencies like headache, chest pain and stroke. A lot of people only know when they have stroke therefore it is important that adults should regularly check their blood pressure because if it is picked up early, the complication can be managed.

Still, it is believed the issue is enlightenment, especially at the grassroots, people still find it difficult to discuss their hypertension condition. Can you shed light on why this is so?

Even diseases that people see on a dayto-day basis, like Polio that paralyses people's children when we have vaccines that prevent it some people because of ignorance sometimes don't see the benefit. It would be staring at them in the face until it happens to them, then they regret it. HIV/AIDS for instance, I was in Akwa Ibom and many women still don't

go to deliver in hospitals even when they have HIV, they would say witchcraft even when it is killing people. So this issue of awareness on health matters is a collective responsibility. Leaders and government are doing their best, which is why we have World Health Day set aside but the media has an important role to play; paper, electronics, vernacular and also elites and people who understand the issue should also tell the others.

Everybody has home of origin, when you go there, tell people to check their blood pressure.

How many people check their blood pressure routinely?

The culture of medical exam, we have been saying this for some time now that we need to change our paradigm in health sector, away from a diseased based paradigm to a health based paradigm.

They are two different notions. When I came to this ministry, I said we are ministry of health not ministry of diseases. If it a ministry of diseases, all you do is treating diseases when they happen but when we are Ministry of Health, so you should be promoting the health of every one and recovering the health of those who are diseased because the majority of Nigerians are healthy but ultimately without intervention, they could become diseased. For those who are healthy, we think they don't have anything to do with the disease at the moment but if we are focusing on the diseased, we would be missing on the opportunity to prevent those who are healthy from becoming diseased. How do you get them to stay healthy? It is by preventing those diseases that can be prevented, by immunizing children if it is communicable diseases and treating infectious diseases, and controlling TB. For non communicable diseases, by inculcating ideas like reducing salt intake, alcohol, smoking, doing exercise while clean water and environment are important for good health.

The ministry has been pushing this through multi-sectoral approach. In our

schools am sure there are health education classes. Education has bearing on health even agriculture and other sectors also have bearing on health.

It doesn't have to be up here alone that we will speak about this issue, at every level, health workers themselves have a responsibility; when somebody comes with a disease check his family history, medical history and tell the patient to quit smoking. Health workers should be information provider and these are ways to prevent a lot of non communicable diseases.

For the ministry, we are now working with the National Assembly; a Bill expected to be passed into law and signed by the President, to prevent present and future generation of Nigerian youths from acquiring the habits that would potentially damage their health.

There is the poverty factor inherent in hypertension, which is affordability, making people to self medicate because they can't afford cost of medicines, and especially now that most health facilities have fallen into private hands. What is government doing about this?

Actually, Nigerians spend more on airtime that they spend on their health.

The numbers actually show that! So you see there are choices people make and what they prioritise. Health is primary and is linked to wealth in a way because if you are healthy, you would be more productive and if you are not healthy; your wealth would go down and that cycle continues.

From the government side, the issue of affordability of drugs is very important and that is why the NHIS is to expand its health insurance because government cannot be everything to everyone and because government has limited resources, it has to privatize what it does.

For instance, many Nigerian children do not even survive to get hypertension as millions die before their age of five. There

Contd on Pg 11

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

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Cover

‘Why many Nigerians have hypertension’ Contd from Pg 10 are thousands of women dying from maternal causes which we should stop.

Even polio that is a vaccine preventable disease, every country has done it but there are parts of this country where people still argue whether they should take polio vaccine or not, so we are focusing on these issues, step by step but while we are doing that, prevention doesn't need money as much as treating a disease. When you have kidney complication from hypertension, you need dialysis but how much does it cost to not take too much salt? How much does it cost to eat healthy and to screen regularly?.

So from that perspective, the affordability of healthcare will focus more on prevention as opposed to treatment. While we are trying to expand coverage of health insurance through NHIS, while government is investing in education and trying to provide basic needs, households should also make choices on a day-to-day basis where they are allotting their money. A lot of people would be stressed by acquired wealth which they don't really need and that stress would cause them hypertension. Poverty is more in the rural areas but they have less number of people suffering from hypertension. The combination of people living in urban centers are stressed from choices they make, in my view, there is personal responsibility, each individual have personal responsibility concerning his/her health.

Government can't regulate amount of salt each individual uses, you decide whether to use no salt or use salt.

If you are a smoker, government cannot decide how many times you smoke and if you should drink alcohol or not.

Government can only advise but you have personal responsibility.

There is community responsibility which the media is part of, also churches and mosques.

Every time people fall ill, die and there is funeral after which everybody disappears, nobody asks what the cause of the death was, and what the community can do to prevent such occurrence. Even maternal related deaths, people only go to pay condolence visit. Nobody raises issues on what can be done to prevent another woman dying while bringing forth life.

There is leadership

responsibility which is what we are trying to do. As federal government, we have a lot more to do but we have been vocal and been taking up a lot of issues. We expect states to also take up issues and even local governments; they are all leaders at various levels. They should be concerned about the health of their people.

They get direct funds from the federation account; they should invest on the health of their people.

We heard His eminence, the Sultan, talking about Polio eradication. That is discharging leadership responsibility. More leaders at all levels should be able to speak up. There are private sector leaders you hear Alhaji Aliko Dangote talking about primary health care, that is a cooperate leader but he is discharging his civic responsibility. All in all, it will take collective effort of all our people. It is not just one element; it's not asking ministry of health, 'you are responsible for everything.'

Why is the black race more prone to hypertension the world over?

When you look at the developed country like the United States, the AfricanAmerican have higher prevalence of hypertension than the whites as the whites regulate their blood pressure. There are differences that are inherent to the black that make more likely to get hypertension than the white race. There may also be other behavioral factors that come into it and in responding to treatment of hypertension, there are some particular class of medicines that work better in African-Americans than in non African-Americans.

In medicine, there is a field of pharmacy that actually looks at how response to drugs varies from one person to the other because every individual stand differently even in every race but they are not so dramatically different.

Problem of hypertension is however everywhere, Asia, Europe, African and the rest of them. In East Asia for instance, 1.5 million people die from hypertension annually. It is not black and white; there are all kinds of gradation in-between.

The other aspect is that there are core founding diseases. If you have hypertension and diabetes, it compounds the situation

because hypertension affects your kidneys, diabetes affects your kidneys.

When you look at the diet, traditional African diet consists of high fiber which is good.

Unfortunately, many people in the cities do not eat high fiber as those in the rural areas. The shafts which consist of the fiber are largely removed. This affects how much sugar you absorb while eating the grain. When you eat protein; animal protein that contain a lot of fats and all the various fats, you tend to accumulate more fat in your system.

We are still far better than the other parts of the world when it comes to diet. I have seen in the Asian countries (South East Asia) where the obesity rate is much higher; in Samoa, close to New Zealand because of the dietary and sedentary lifestyle, they have more non communicable diseases and in the Middle East, with the oil wealth, non communicable diseases have also become common but in Africa, in Nigeria, we still have an opportunity because the problem has not gotten out of hand. So what we are doing is to ensure that we don't follow that track.

As we become wealthier people over time, chances are if we don't address our lifestyle changes we may end up like them.

When you have Malaria or Pneumonia you may recover or die but when you have hypertension or diabetes, you live with it throughout your life so it has to do with the economic impact both in the life of the individual and the health system.

What is the relationship between obesity and non communicable diseases?

Generally, obesity contributes significantly to morbidity but the fact that you are not obese doesn't mean you are excluded so you should also keep an eye because it depends on individuals and their general metabolism.

One of the dangerous lifestyles is tobacco smoking.

How far has the ministry gone in achieving a robust anti-tobacco bill?

Nigeria signed the frame work convention of tobacco control which is the convention treaty of the World Health Organization that countries gradually sign up to, to enhance regulation of tobacco industries in their respective interest of public health. In Nigeria, there is a bill that the President is supporting which will cover different aspects of tobacco control. From a government arrangement as to how tobacco regulations are imposed, placing the ministry of health and other ministries and agencies; NAFDAC in charge.

Issues of regulating the packaging of tobacco so that the cigarette packs will have vivid warning message for smokers, so they will know the implication of smoking (I think in other countries, they have also done that), recommendation in terms

Exercise is important in managing hypertension of fiscal policy measures to ministry of finance, basically on tobacco sales. It is a very extensive bill that will also cover public education and awareness and also look at conflict of interest between players in the tobacco industry. It will regulate tobacco endorsement.

The bill is one of the important legacies we can bequeath to the future generation. We don't have it at the moment. The challenges are, there are two sides to the bill, there is a public health angle and the trade angle but the public health angle is more important compared to the trade aspect.

Looking at the conflict of interest here especially as it concerns economic interest and public health aspect, how long will it take to achieve the passage of the bill into law?

Like I said, there is unity in leadership which is important.

Definitely, the President has directed the Attorney General and Ministry of Health to work on the bill and we have been doing that. It is an ongoing struggle as we have been in touch with the leadership of the assembly concerning the bill. I think all of us have to be constantly aware of possibility of the other interests coming in to water down the bill. Some may not want stronger regulation, it may not be in their interest but so far, we've minimised that and I think we are pushing along.

In the area of alternative medicine, what is the ministry doing to identify genuine claims?

I have to admit that this is a

very large campaign and sometimes you have well intentioned effort to get remedies for problems of people, but occasionally you have charlatans who fly under the cover of traditional herbalists to sell their stuff to vulnerable people that are ill just for the interest of making money.

Sometimes people encourage this evil by patronizing drugs that are unproven. There are people that would know they have hypertension but will say it is something else because it doesn't have symptom and of course, there is no symptom.

They keep taking every drug given to them by these people even when they are not giving them for free. Six months later they have stroke. We advise Nigerians to be watchful, take approved medicine by the regulatory agency.

In the rural areas there are challenges where there is sale of government drugs by unauthorized dealers and chemist, drugs that are supposed to be dispensed in the hospitals to patients.

What is the ministry doing to curb this?

The sale of government properties is a crime. Anybody who purchases it is complicit in that crime so anybody who notices this should report to us. At the same time, federal government doesn't buy and dispense drugs all over the place; it buys through its teaching hospital. The sale of the drugs through pharmacy is criminal offence that should be reported to the police! They should be exposed!

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Politics

'How I have been managing my hypertension' Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, is a condition in which the arteries have persistently elevated blood pressure.

Every time the human heart beats, it pumps blood to the whole body through the arteries. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing up against the blood vessel walls. The higher the pressure the harder the heart has to pump. Hypertension can lead to damaged organs, as well as several illnesses, such as renal failure (kidney failure), aneurysm, heart failure, stroke or heart attack.

Researchers from UC Davis reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology that high blood pressure during middle age raise the risk of cognitive decline later in life. In this piece, a former councilor representing Badarawa ward in Kaduna state, Alhaji Muhammad Adamu, who has been hypertensive for over 10 years now, speaks on how he has been managing his condition from deteriorating to stroke, why many Nigerians are hypertensive among others.

O

v e r a decade ago, the onetime councillor representing Badarawa ward in Kaduna state, Honourable Muhammad Adamu, discovered he was hypertensive when he was diagnosed with diabetes.

According to him, medical expert told him he had a blood pressure because they made him to understand that diabetes patients are always hypertensive.

"Since I was diagnosed with the two sickness, I started trying my best to control the disease. I am about 48 years old. I am managing it daily because I am on drugs every day. Sometimes when I have the chance, I go for exercised because that is the best way to control it. Apart from the exercise, I am on daily drugs for both diabetes and hypertension," he said.

On why he thinks many Nigerians are hypertensive Adamu is of the opinion that poverty is one of the major factors attributable to the surge in number of people living with the condition.

"This has to do with our poverty line because many people are hypertensive due to lack of rest of minds. Many people are not sure of three square meals, somebody who is not even sure of two square meals a day will be in a terrible state of mind.

"This will make him to think all the time because he doesn't know how to cope with his life.

This kind of situation will eventually make somebody hypertensive," he said.

Adamu therefore, advised hypertensive patients to take life easy, saying, " It is true that we are in a terrible situation in this country but we should realise that if we keep worrying ourselves, definitely we will continue having this kind of problem. These days you will find out people are just collapsing just like that".

As a way of putting the condition under check, the hypertensive patient further advised that Nigerians who are above 40 years should always go for regular check up to ascertain if they are hypertensive or not for them to control the situation on time.

To him, the Kaduna state Governor, has a role to play in curtailing the rise in hypertension cases as he advised the governor to engage in serious

enlightenment activities so that people will know what is required of them health wise.

He emphasised that most people diagnosed with the disease do not even know they have it, adding: "It is now the duty of government, NGOs and all stakeholders involved to educate the people on this. Doing such will really help in curtailing the problem in Nigeria".

Commenting on the alarming figure that put about 56 million Nigerians as hypertensive, a Kaduna based Medical Doctor, Dr Ado Zakari Mohammed said the figure is really frightening and that it shows Nigeria is heading towards a dangerous situation.

He said the ill effect of hypertension in people's health cannot be over emphasized because it is one of the cause of sudden death and of course, it affect almost all human organs.

According to him, Hypertension affect kidney and that kidney condition can led to hypertension, so it is really alarming and the government must do something about it.

On why so many Nigerians are hypertensive, he said it was not a surprise because of the situations in the country, socio economic situation and change in dietary pattern of the people.

"We have totally deviated from the type of food we are use to. We are now taking European diet to the extent that many other diseases are now emerging such as diabetes. Obesity has also now become the order of the day to certain class of people in Nigeria.

"So this change in dietary pattern because there are some diseases that are associated with hypertension, especially diabetes and of course some are dietary induce Obesity, over time leading to hypertension.

According to him the security situation in the country is also not helping matters because Nigerians today no longer sleep in their houses with their two eyes closed. People are in constant fear and all these increase the rates of hypertension among Nigeria.

Asked what can be done to reduce the hypertension problem in the country, if government create job opportunities for the teaming youth roaming about without nothing to do, it help greatly.

"With constant health education, that is dissemination of information on the hazards of change in dietary pattern and the importance of exercise so that we burn excess fat being stored within our bodies, we can overcome it over time.

"And of course improve the security situation in the country and all these things will come down," he added.

He categorised hypertension into two: Essential Hypertension which usually occurs as a result of age.

Explaining this he said: "As we grow older our blood vessels tend to narrow down, that is a natural change and we have hypertension. This one is age related and of course it does not have cure as such. All we can do is to try to control it to normal level.

"In controlling this, whoever has essential hypertension has to be taking drugs regularly for life because as long as you take your drugs, the hypertension is controlled and you are likely not to have any of the complications. " But the second one which is Secondary Hypertension occurs due to certain diseases within our bodies for instance kidney disease, diabetes so if you are able to treat such diseases then hypertension will go. In a nut shell that kind of hypertension can be treated," he added.

The Medical Doctor advised the government to improve the living standard of the people saying the poverty figure is on the high side.

He further added that the

government should find ways of making people useful so that the economic and living standards of people improve. If the security situation can be improved people will relax.

"We the health expert will do our best to disseminate information to people on the importance of regulating their diet by knowing what they eat and on the importance of regular exercise. With these three things, we will overcome the situation," he assured.

“

According to him the security situation in the country is also not helping matters because Nigerians today no longer sleep in their houses with their two eyes closed. People are in constant fear and all these increase the rates of hypertension among Nigeria.

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Interview When you experience blackout, sudden blindness for some seconds, its warning sign, says expert Dr. Bello Ruth, is of the Department of Medicine, Dalhatu Araf Specialists Hospital (DASH) Lafia, Nasarawa state. In this interview with our correspondent in Lafia, Ali Abare Abubakar, she spoke on the causes of hypertension and how the disease is silently killing many who may not even know they are afflicted by the disease.

F

rom the layman's point of view, you hear different notions in trying to describe the disease. From the medical point of view, what is hypertension?

Hypertension is elevation in blood pressure. That is, when one's Blood Pressure (BP) is elevated above the normal, which is 140/90. This means that any BP greater than 140 systolic over 90 diastolic, is hypertensive. High blood pressure is the transitory or sustained elevation of systemic arterial blood pressure to a level likely to induce cardiovascular damage or other adverse consequences. The normal level for blood pressure is below 120/80, where 120 represents the systolic measurement (peak pressure in the arteries) and 80 represents the diastolic measurement (minimum pressure in the arteries).

Blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called pre-hypertension (to denote increased risk of hypertension), and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered hypertensive. The disease may be further classified as either essential or secondary hypertension.

Essential hypertension is described as a high blood pressure with unknown cause and this accounts for most cases.

Secondary hypertension on the other hand, is used to describe high blood pressure with a known cause, for example as a result of kidney disease, tumours or drug abuse.

What then causes hypertension?

There are different causes of hypertension. For instance, in the case of essential hypertension, it comes naturally for many people once you attain the age of 35. For some people, by the time they are above 35, their BP begin to rise naturally. But there are risk factors that can lead to being hypertensive. These includes among others, excessive intake of salt. If you take a lot of salt in your meals, it could lead to hypertension. Lack of exercise too can lead to the disease. Because if one does

not exercise regularly, one may become fat. There are also genetic predisposition, when hypertension is passed across family lineage. Hypertension can be inherited from one family member to another. Living a sedentary lifestyle could also lead to hypertension, when a person hardly moves around but remains at a spot without really moving around and shaking the body. Lack of fruits and vegetables as part of our meals can also lead to hypertension. There are other diseases that could also lead to hypertension, for instance, chronic kidney diseases.

But you hear that when one is not able to cope with challenges, one becomes hypertensive. How true is that?

Yes, stress can also cause hypertension because it can cause the release of hormones in the body that can lead to high blood pressure.

Most diseases have early warning signs, what are the symptoms of hypertension?

Hypertension has no particular symptom and that is why it is called the silent killer. It does not have any sign or symptom. Some people may complain of headache, just that. While others may not know until they have stroke. A lot of people do not know they have hypertension, they are not aware of their blood pressure. Some of course are aware but do not take proper medication. For others, the sign begins to show when the disease have damaged the kidney.

What is the correlation between stroke and hypertension?

When hypertension grows steadily, it can reach a point where deposits along the vessels block the smooth passage that can lead to a decrease in blood supply to the brain which could result in cardiovascular damages, with a section of the body being affected. Still, for others, it could be a sudden blackout, when they become blind for just some seconds, or even a feeling of tiredness. All these are

Dr. Bello Ruth symptomatic of hypertension but they also indicate the likelihood of stroke.

You also hear that only fat people have the tendency to be hypertensive. Do slim people also stand the risk of being hypertensive?

Yes, like I said there are many risk factors associated with hypertension.

Apart from being fat, low economic status can also predispose one to hypertension. If you don't have money, you will be stressed up, is it not? Some people that smoke also, hardly gain weight. Alcohol also can lead to hypertension. So, whether one is slim or obese, one can stand the risk of being hypertensive but the odds are more against those with obesity. Diabetes and other complications are more common among fat people.

What advice then can you offer to the general public in terms of reducing the risks associated with hypertension generally?

Advice can be given to everybody, the general public. First of all, we must make it a habit to constantly monitor our blood pressure, because if you don't check it regularly, you may not know you are hypertensive. It is on record that 22 million Nigerians are hypertensive but a lot of these don't even know they have the disease. Infact, only 30 percent of this population are actually aware of their condition. So, the advice to be given to people is that, first of all, check your blood pressure regularly and if one is not hypertensive, then modify your lifestyle, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, exercise, like brisk walking. You can walk for like 30 minutes per day. Try

and reduce weight and salt intake. All of these will go a long way to reduce the risk of hypertension. For those that are hypertensive, they should try and access proper treatment and get medication.

The knack is that some people after getting the medication, fail to comply by taking this medication religiously.

Some will take the medication and as soon as they notice a drop in their blood pressure, they stop taking their prescribed drugs. This is wrong. It is the drug that is responsible for the drop in the blood pressure and once you stop taking the medicine, there is every likelihood the blood pressure will rise again.

“

Hypertension has no particular symptom and that is why it is called the silent killer.

It does not have any sign or symptom.

Some people may complain of headache, just that.

While others may not know until they have stroke.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

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Interview

Over 50 million Nigerians are hypertensive —Pharmacist Akogu Pharm. Isaac Akogu a consultant pharmacist talks on hypertension, its T prevalence and measures individuals need adopt to be proactive and

he World Health Organization has set aside every April 7th as "the World Health Day".

Hypertension led this year's campaign with the theme - High blood pressure, control your blood pressure and cut your risk of heart attacks and stroke. What is Hypertension?

Hypertension otherwise referred to as high blood pressure is a condition in which the blood pressure rise above certain limits that could be damaging to the entire body.

Acceptable range is 120/80 to 130/90 mmHg (millimeter mercury) above which there is a need for consultation with a Doctor.It is important to note that the value of blood pressure is never constant but falls within low range for those without and high range for those with Hypertension.

What are the symptoms of Hypertension?

Hypertension is a silent killer with no visible symptoms apart from headache which could be absent in some individuals.

It is important to note that Diabetes is a risk factor for hypertension, hence appropriate management of Diabetes is necessary to manage hypertension. But it is important to be proactive to avoid this silent killer.

What are the effects of Hypertension?

According to the 2003 WHO/ISH (International Society of Hypertension) guidelines, hypertension is a highly prevalent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease, cardiac and renal failure.Treating hypertension has been associated with about 40% reduction in the risk of stroke and about 15% reduction in the risk of myocardial infarction.The management of hypertension is all about cardiovascular risk management and vascular protection. Lowering raised blood pressure decreases the risk of stroke, coronary events, heart failure, renal impairment and sudden death.

Is hypertension an ailment glued to a class of people or age grade?

Hypertension is not restricted to the elderly; it is an ailment common in youngsters as well.

Hypertension in these cases crop up as a result of an underlining condition, in other words they are referred to as secondary hypertension. They could evolve due to a problem with the kidney acute kidney failure, and such cases are managed by experts.

Talking about being proactive, what are the necessary adaptations an individual needs?

There is a need for regular check up to know the numbers and appropriate life style interventions such as:Regular physical exercise of 30minutes daily and 5 times in a week is a standard though one can do more with advice from your physician, reduction or abstinence from excessive alcohol consumption as it also increases the risk of hypertension, maintenance of a normal weight with BMI(Body Mass Index)- relationship of one's body weight to the height. The BMI is measured as the ratio of the weight over height, square. Advisably, the BMI should be less than 25.Individuals should also check their salt intake.Low salt intake is

reactive, to reduce the risk of being hypertensive. Abdulkadir Isa was there, excerpts: a healthier lifestyle, in fact, it is strongly advised that individuals restrict themselves to salt added to food during cooking, addition at the table or after eating is highly discouraged. Low fat diet is also a positive lifestyle that counters hypertension; individuals are counseled to reduce fat consumption as excess fat intake exposes one to risks of hypertension.

Another exposing habit is Smoking.Cessation of smoking is a positive proactive measure.

Finally one is also advised t o Increase intake o f

hypertensive agents. Such a person's blood pressure could sag and cause dizziness and may lead to collapse.Also loss of blood can lead to hypovolemity shock hypotension owing to the sharp shortfall of blood loss. These are the many causes of hypotension.

What is the relationship b e t w e e n hypertension and depression?

Hypertension and depression are birds of a feather.

They play around because depression h a s t o

Pharm. Isaac Akogu vegetable and fruits.

For an individual who detects high blood pressure, how does he/she go about it?

Treatment of hypertension is not similar to other ailments where one just goes to a chemist for drugs. There is need for proper diagnosis before administration of drugs.

First, one must see a professional - Doctor who will take it up from there. The doctor will re-gauge the Blood Pressure level and proffer the next step. Treatment of hypertension could be broadly classified into drug and non-drug measures. The nondrug measures are mostly based on life style interventions as enumerated above and the drugs require consultation with a physician to ascertain the level or class of anti-hypertensive to determine the type and class of drug to use.

Can you educate us more on low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure is also a problem. It is called hypotension and mostly occurs in people that are on high dose anti-

do with an individual's state of mind and cognitive functions. It also has to do with emotions while hypertension has to with pressure.

Does depression lead to Hypertension?

A layman's perception that depression leads to hypertension is not far from what obtains.. But ideally, stress which is the combination of release so many hormones

could cause increase in the pressure of the blood. But if somebody is depressed, you are talking more of a central nervous system, because the person is loses interest in his/ her own cognitive functions, normal activity. So Depression can lead to hypertension in the sense that, a depressed person can easily loose interest in physical activity, begin to eat indiscriminately thereby exposing that individual to the risk factors of hypertension.

What is the prevalent rate in Nigeria?

Globally, in year 2000, 972million persons had hypertension with prevalence rate of 26.4%; this was projected to increase to 1.54 billion persons and a prevalence rate of 29.2% in 2025. A recent community based study of rural and semi urban population in Enugu,Nigeria put the prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria at 32.8% and 12.4% from a meta analytical studies published recently hence a population of 20 to over 50 million Nigerians are living with hypertension translating to 2/3 of the population and a quarter of this figure do not know there status.

In Nigeria, whatis expected of government, NGO's and the general public?

In Nigeria, effort must be put in place

by Government through appropriate agencies to regulate the standard of blood pressure measuring equipments as a lot of sub standard machines have flooded the market. Regular check up should be encouraged among the people and the drug regulatory agencies need to ensure the standard of anti hypertensivedrugs imported into the country meets Standard.

Government must also look into the idea of job creation and employment, this will go a long way in sustaining a healthy populace.

The pharmaceutical market is adulterated with fake drugs, government agencies must beef up pharmacovigilance activities to help stamp out these fake drugs in circulation.

“

Treatment of hypertension is not similar to other ailments where one just goes to a chemist for drugs. There is need for proper diagnosis before administration of drugs. First, one must see a professional - Doctor who will take it up from there. The doctor will re-gauge the Blood Pressure level and proffer the next step.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

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Interview

Jonathan must sustain dialogue with Boko Haram- Prof. Ango Abdullahi Former Vice Chancellor of the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, led a delegation of the Northern Elders Forum on Wednesday April 3, 2013 to discuss the disruptive insecurity in the North occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency, with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential villa, Abuja. In this interview with the Chief Operating Officer, Ali M. Ali, News Editor, Abubakar Ibrahim & reporter, Stanley Onyekwere, he bared his mind on the amnesty proposal and its rejection by the group, root cause of insecurity and the expectations of Nigerians in the quest for good governance, democratic values and more.

Y

ou were part of the group that went to see Mr. President, during which he agreed to some of your requests.

Are you satisfied with the outcome and what's his position now?

As I spoke with the press after our interaction with Mr. President, I expressed satisfaction in terms of outcome of our discussions with him and explained to the media that our second visit to Mr. President was upon an invitation by him that we should go and follow-up on our earlier submission, which we did around May of last year.

It was a comprehensive submission, in terms of what we saw, that's the state of the nation and some of the measures we recommended, particularly, in the area of security, area of political instability in the country and so on.

Also, we took a wide range of issues, but the one we gave the most emphasis was the issue of security. So, he said that he was going to take a look at it, and invite us back at a future date, for us to take the issues further; in terms of the understanding of actions on some of the issues raised. This

is what happened. Then a letter came from him, and that is the reason why we went to see him on Wednesday last week. As I explained after the meeting, we were satisfied; first with the gesture of Mr. President, for inviting us; and secondly with the openness of the discussions on a number of issues that were raised earlier, and even some new ones were developed in the course of our discussions. Well, I didn't think that I confirmed strongly that he was going to grant an amnesty but the thing that I said was that the president said we came on time, because he was going to hold a top security meeting the following day, during which this matter would come up for discussion.

And at the end of the meeting, everybody read that the government was prepared to grant amnesty to this particular group that is often referred to as Boko Haram.

What happened after the meeting, especially in the light of divided reactions trailing the grant of the amnesty?

The questions that have risen so far from some of the things we read in the papers,there is to my mind a general reaction to the offer of amnesty by the president was generally

“

As I explained after the meeting, we were satisfied; first with the gesture of Mr. President, for inviting us; and secondly with the openness of the discussions on a number of issues that were raised earlier, and even some new ones were developed in the course of our discussions.

acclaimed as a good development across the country, but there were dissent. And this is to be expected, because you don't expect a hundred percent agreement on this kind of subject; for there were a few dissents here and there that the president shouldn't have gone that far. But by and large, the generality of public opinions supported the action the President took in this respect; and therefore I would want to urge him to take it forward. And I think this is the point. We are now in the process of taking it forward, but one is also aware that the bureaucracy is busy, in terms of drawing up the necessary terms of reference and so on for the committee that is to take the job of defining the parameters of the nature of the amnesty initiative and its implementation. So this is on.

But I believe that Mr. President is quite serious about it.

But now the latest in terms of the currency of the subject is what we read as a reaction by the group in the papers and going by what we read in the newspapers as a reaction

“

We are now in the process of taking it forward, but one is also aware that the bureaucracy is busy, in terms of drawing up the necessary terms of reference and so on for the committee that is to take the job of defining the parameters of the nature of the amnesty initiative and its implementation. to the proposed amnesty, that the Boko Haram has rejected the initiative. For me, I wouldn't dismiss it as totally negative, at all. In fact, I look at it as the beginning of dialogue through the media or through whatever channels that are available, because these kind of things had always happened through intermediaries; some visible, and some not so visible. And if you go back to the history of amnesty offered by late President Umaru Yar'Adua, to the Niger Delta militant groups, at some point he gave

them a deadline of sixty days or thereabout within which to accept the offer; and after its expiration the offer will be withdrawn; and this is what continued until two to three days to the expiry of the official deadline, that something just broke through; and the deal was struck, and from there on till the logistic of how to implement the amnesty that was offered and accepted by the group .

So, we have to wait now to hear a little more from the Cond’t on page 21

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Interview

Jonathan must sustain dialogue...

Cond’t from page 15

government in terms of whether it is going to take the same form of deadline like that of Niger Delta, because the fact that somebody has rejected the offer doesn't mean that the government should automatically withdraw the offer. Infact it should keep it there, in case the person changes his or her mind. This is the way the government should approach it. Yes, there is a reaction, a negative one at that but were there even negative reactions from the side of the civil societies? Some people said that in the first place, the amnesty shouldn't be given, but what alternative have they offered. They are saying that we should then wear a uniform and carry a gun, and fight it out in the field? So, this is not the way to deal with it, since the government has gone this far and it's the government of all Nigerians. I think they should keep the offer there, and use all channels that are known, including those that are to be known in the future to to fallacy, because there is no way Jonathan could have ever won the election of this country without the northerners, no way, there is no way. Infact his election was won here in the north. So, how could these people who helped him to become president, turn around to become his enemies; trying to destabilize his regime. Who won the PDP primaries for Jonathan? Who eventually won the election?

Is the same governors that are

“

Ahead here means 2015. So, they have started politicizing the crisis in the north, to cause greater misunderstanding and division between various segments of the north, particularly the ethnic-religious aspect of it; and hoping that perhaps this will be enough to attain victory in the 2015 election, and this will be disaster.

seating there now, and some of them are no longer in power while some are still sitting there now. So, would it make logical sense for some people to say we installed you or helped you to become what you are, and now we want to sabotage you? It didn't make sense. But there are always people who think that the way to or maybe they are already looking ahead. Ahead here means 2015. So, they have started politicizing the crisis in the north, to cause greater misunderstanding and division between various segments of the north, particularly the ethnicreligious aspect of it; and hoping that perhaps this will be enough to attain victory in the 2015 election, and this will be disaster.

There are also some persons who believe that northern leaders reacted to this insurgency very lately or lazily. In the same vein, there are those who feel that perhaps this politics you are talking about was that ordinarily, the calculations was that Buhari would win the 2011

election; and eventually when he lost, the situation degenerated further.

What do you think of this?

This is equally another fallacy; because those who actually ensured that Buhari lost the election are Northerners. So, how come that it will be the same people who would become Jonathan's enemies. And if you are talking of not responding to emerging problem early, there is the early politicization of this problem, because as

soon as this problem erupted, it was hooked on to Jonathan's victory, and Buhari's failure. It was the biggest mistake. So, how do you want me to feel when I have helped a man to win an election, and he turns around the next day and say I'm the one sabotaging your government; you want me to react in what way. I should just fold my hands and watch you finish your speculations, until perhaps at some point when you realize that your assumption was totally wrong.

“

What do you make of the alleged link between the current move by the president and 2015 as a tool to enable him woo the north to support his ambition?

I have clearly and emphatically in my mind separated the politics of Nigeria in terms power and the current insurgency in the country, because if we don't try to separate them, then we are not going to help this country. Unless we strive hard and deliberately to separate Nigerian politics with the current problem of insurgency that is linked to religion and ethnicity, we are not going to help this country. I did allude to the fact that there are people who think that perhaps this is a tool to use against the north in 2015. Today, all of us are being branded as Boko Haram members. So, there is this allusion that anybody who appears in our attire or dressing, is a Boko haram.

Even the president himself made the same mistake when he said that in his government there is Boko Haram; in the armed forces there is Boko Haram; he even eats with Boko Haram, and so on. And if you look at it critically who are the Boko Haram? It must be those of the northern extraction, and more specifically Muslims that are invariably by their own allusion, Boko Haram. And this most dangerous thing that one may want dive into. But thank God that he retracted most of these assumptions, unfortunately not as clear as it ought to be. I remember , this is why people challenged him that you know Boko Haram, then why are you saying that they are ghost? If you know that they are in your government, then why are they still ghosts? Expose them and deal with them. But where are they? These are maybe, the handiwork of handlers of Mr. President, and nothing else.

From all indications, the real Boko Haram Cond’t on page 39

I did allude to the fact that there are people who think that perhaps this is a tool to use against the north in 2015. Today, all of us are being branded as Boko Haram members. So, there is this allusion that anybody who appears in our attire or dressing, is a Boko haram.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Interview

Cond’t from page 21

appears not to have confidence in leaders of the north, and so they disrespect them. And as you have said, this is a complex matter with ethno-religious colour .

How are you going to address these issues in phases, so as to be able to get these guys to have confidence once again in their leaders?

Anybody who tells you that this crisis is religious or has a religious content is not being articulate enough to analyze things. The crisis we are having is socio-economic

with fringes in politics. That's why no northern leader is free from the accusation of Boko Haram or sympathizers of the Boko Haram, in terms of what is happening to them. We have argued that you cannot have peace in your house when you keep your family hungry. If as the head of the family; your children and wife sleep hungry every other day, for sometime you may be greeting each other in the morning, but soon you won't be exchanging greetings; and much sooner than later, you will be exchanging blows within the family. Reason why we brought this out is that, there is indirect connection between insecurity and such

“

I was one of those who formed the ruling PDP. There are ten of us who signed the document for it to become a political party in 1998; and I was among those who took the flag to Kaduna together with the late Yohanna Madaki. But what happened soon after we became the first set of Board of Trustees of the party with Alex Ekwueme as our chairman? And because Abdulsalami (referring to former head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar)had not enough time to have a detailed transition programme, he crashed everything, and in the course of crashing it, he did not allow the parties to really properly organize before elections.

Jonathan must sustain dialogue... “

things as poverty. And of course you know the poverty distribution in the country.

Also, there is insecurity related may be directly or indirectly touching on politics.

Looking back at 1983, and for those of us who are old enough, going back to 1964 when I was a student in Ibadan, the federal elections that led to the victory of the Northern Peoples Congress(NPC) generated what we called the 'Wetie' syndrome in the west, so some of us northerners were not able to move from Victoria Island to the Airport to travel to the north, because we are seen politically as having deprived the Action Group (AG) and Chief Awolowo victory in the federal elections.

Therefore, post-election violence did not start in 2011, it started many years before.

And in 1983, when the NPN( National Party of Nigeria) tried to rig elections in Ondo state and to some extent in Anambra state, in fact it is the Ondo election that led to the coup that overthrew Shagari's government.

Post-election violence has been with us for a very long time. It was not fair but shotsightedness to say that the post- election violence in 2011 had to do specifically with the failure of the north to produce the president. It could well be but then it will not be the first, there were others before it.

Yes, these links are there.

Infact, the Boko Haram solution would have been proffered much earlier if it had been purely regarded as social problem without linking it with individuals in the society. And some names are being mentioned such as senators, governors and so on, with connection to these various groups and so forth. Thus, if one look at it critically, one can be able to discern the difference between perception and reality. And the reality on the ground today is there are so many things and factors involved in it. Take for example elections; today to me perhaps this is the only country in Africa where free and fair elections are not held.

If I were still a strong man and young I will fight, to have my right to vote, and my vote to be counted where I want it to be counted; and not somebody to sit and declare results falsely.

How do you want peace with that? It is for me less painful for you to steal my money than to steal my vote.

But this is a country where there are no free and fair elections. I was one of those who formed the ruling PDP.

There are ten of us who signed the document for it to become a political party in 1998; and I was among those who took the flag to Kaduna together with the late Yohanna Madaki. But what happened soon after we became the first set of Board of Trustees of the party with Alex Ekwueme as our chairman? And because Abdulsalami (referring to former head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar)had not enough time to have a detailed transition programme, he crashed everything, and in the course of crashing it, he did not allow the parties to really properly organize before elections. So, we were told to go and tell prospective members of the party to participate in the elections and after they will be dully registered in their wards level. And up till now, there has been no election by the PDP done in accordance with the constitution of the party.

Then how do you intend to run a country like this?.

Again is this not giving credence to claims in some quarters that the country will continue to be in crisis as long as the PDP is in power?

It's not really so. Of course the PDP has been and is in control of power. But that's why I left the party as early as in 2003. And fortunately I became a traditional ruler, so I'm not worried about anything else. But our parents did very well; in fact if I want to score the various administrations of the country from 1950, ten years before independence, and six years after independence; our founding fathers will be Aplus-plus when you compare them with what happened thereafter. And it is a continuous deteriorating trend. After 1966, Gowon did far better for the nine and half years he was in charge; he was the best of the military administrations. The man fought a civil war with very little or no resources, but his wisdom was that he used his parents positively. He brought in Awolowo as his minister of finance; he brought Yahaya Gusau; he brought Mallam Aminu Kano. He brought veteran and honest leaders who served their people. And that's why his administration succeeded to prosecute a war and carry on some level of development up to 1975. And from that point on, things just went haywire, and they are still diving downwards. Also Sardauna's last budget in 1966 was equivalent, and is still equivalent to the budget of

I would say it's natural for me as a Fulani man that may be, I can't wake and start speaking the language of the Igbo man or pick up their culture and so on, but we should blame ourselves for this. We are not the only country that is multi-ethnic; others have succeeded in living together. And the same, one can't also just wish away ethnicity.

Kaduna North Local Government Area when the value of the currency is converted; in 1966 the budget for the entire northern, presently nineteen northern states. Go to kaduna, are there anything that has been added to things done during his reign? So the crisis we have, and have had for many years now is crisis of leadership.

And the crisis of leadership, of course was complicated by crisis of ethnicity. Infact that was the main problem at the beginning, and now it is even becoming a little bit more complex by the introduction of religion into it. I did a paper on this, which I presented at Sam Nda' Isaiah' s birthday lecture, where brought this out that tribalism is very much alive in Nigeria, but it is now complicated by the introduction of religion into it. I would say it's natural for me as a Fulani man that may be, I can't wake and start speaking the language of the Igbo man or pick up their culture and so on, but we should blame ourselves for this. We are not the only country that is multi-ethnic; others have succeeded in living together.

And the same, one can't also just wish away ethnicity. Take for example, Great Britain, which is the acclaimed oldest democracy in the world, there is going to be a plebiscite and a referendum in Scotland , because it wants to break away from the fold. And the crisis in Ireland too many years and lives to resolve, even today Northern Ireland is still in turmoil because of ethnic and to some extent religious differences. So, we are not going to wish away these differences easily. I would rather use the Sardauna's approach to it that you cannot forget your differences but try and understand them, and work within your differences.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Tourism

Insecurity in Kano disrupts our business —Calabash seller laments From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

K

urmi market is a popular arena in Kano which has existed for more than a century and popularly identified with trading in multicultural commodities, particularly the Hausa traditional variety.

Like other markets in Kano, a variety of things are sold in the market at specific areas where they are available for people to easily locate and patronise.

Calabash (Lagenaria Siceraria), popularly known as kwarya in hausa parlance, is a gourd or long melon casing (a vine grown for its fruit) which can either be harvested young and used as vegetable, or harvested mature, dried and used as a bottle, utensil or pipe.

It is widely known in Africa, mostly among Hausa/Fulani tribe in Nigeria. and used for many purposes, especially for home use or decoration.

Peoples Daily Weekend visited the area where calabash is processed and sold in the market and interviewed a man, aged 56, who has been in the business for about 50 years since childhood.

Sule Dantura, who is from Sabon garin Kode, Dawakin Kudu Local Government, about 30 Kilometres from the Kano metropolis gave an insight into what the calabash business entails.

He said the calabash gourd varies according to States where it is produced.

It is found in Sokoto, Gombe and Kano States but that of Sokoto State, according to him, is the best, thereby attracting higher prices. " Sokoto, Gombe and Kano are the popular states in calabash farming, but that from sokoto is the best and it is more expensive than those from Gombe and Kano state because of its quality and it easily adopts to any kind of style."

"Prices of calabash varies according to its quality and size. We sell calabash which is produced in Sokoto at N300 while those produced in Gombe and Kano States are sold at N200 and N100 respectively."

Dan tura classified the calabashes in terms of design and usage, saying that

some of them are plain while others are designed at both the inner and outer surface.

"Calabash is classified into different designs. There are those that we design, by engraving lines at the inner and outer surface to portray certain creatures and natures. There are also those that we make plain, having no design but smooth surface. The designed ones are m o s t l y used for decorations.

F u l a n i people also use it for selling cow milk.

The plain ones are used for home purposes such as giving bath to babies, eating and drinking as well as cooking purposes."

"However, home utensils like spoon, bottles and containers are also found in calabash.

Calabash spoon is used for drinking porridge, calabash bottle is used for keeping water by farmers and the containers are used for food and other purposes like storing food items.

Dan tura further explained the process of producing the calabash, saying it is planted like other farm produce.

"Like other farm produce, calabash is planted in a farm before it later on spreads on the surface of the soil and starts yielding fruits. The fruits will then be cultivated when it is due for cultivation. It will then be processed by removing the inner layers, to make it hollow.

"After that, it will be left to dry for certain period of time before it finally becomes marketed."

Dan tura also added that calabash production is seasonal like other farm produce and is produced immediately after cultivation of guinea corn.

Asked about target customers, Dan tura noted that t h e y

h a v e local and foreign customers. He said, it is patronised locally by Igbo and Yoruba and by foreigners- Americans, Chinese and Europeans. " We have customers around the world, Americans, Chinese and European people patronise our products. Igbo and Yoruba people in Nigeria also patronise our products. Foreigners buy calabash for decoration and the fact that they value culture, our cultural and traditional items fascinate them. We have customers from Jos, Benue, Abuja and other places in Nigeria."

However, Dan tura decried insecurity as the major problem bedevilling their

business, saying he used to make N20,000 to N30,000 a day but due to the current security challenges in the state, he hardly m a k e s N2000 a day.

"Our major challenge t o business now is t h i s current security chalenges bedeviling the Northern region, especaiyl Kano.

Foreigners used to come en masse to patronise our products.

Equally, Yoruba, Igbo and other tribes used to come to buy calabash but with the coming of this crisis, they have all vanished... It has become hard to make N2,000 a day, the situation is unbearable", he said.

Another problem, according to Dan tura, is the routine levy they pay out to security operatives and other traffic agents when they load calabash on a truck, saying that the load is not all that heavy but they are always fined for overloading.

"We use this opportunity to appeal to Government to consider our plight as the business is not flourishing now due to lack of patronage from our foreign customers", he added.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

PAGE 18

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

Let's share your love story.

Dating don'ts: 6 simple ways to clean your dating life

A

b o u t two years ago, I was going through a dating crisis of I'm-going-to-diealone proportions and sought help from a therapist, who specialized in that sort of thing. She gave me all these rules I should be following to help me find love. Like, she told me I should date at least three guys at once and tell each of the guys on date number two that I was dating other people.

Then, she instructed me to wait for two to three months and decide which one I liked the best and dump the other two. This is not something I ever would have considered doing on my own, but because I was blaming myself for being single, I was willing to try it her way.

Following her advice, I cancelled plans with guy #1 who I really liked, because guy #2 had asked me out for a drink and I felt obligated. I arrived at the "date" with guy #2 only to discover that without even asking me, he had invited 12 of his closest friends to join us. To cut long story short, the night ended with me crying on the way home, feelingstupid because even following an expert's rules, I couldn't date "right."

Anyhow, this long, tear-filled journey home helped me realize that there is no "right" way to do anything and that I should stop following other people's advice and start following my instincts. That was really the only dating mistake I was making.

Not long after that, I decided to clean my love basement, I emailed guy #2 and told him he was an ass.

I dumped guy #1 and, shortly after, the therapist. Then I went through my phone and deleted all three of their numbers. It felt amazing. I

didn't meet anyone special for a while still after that, but it was a definite turning point for me from hating dating, to embracing it.

To recap, there really are no dating mistakes you can make; only mistakes you can make about the way you think about dating.

Here are some things you can do to put yourself in a clearer, more receptive head space for love.

Having a "type:" We all have preferences about what we're attracted to but when we get too locked into dating say, dark-haired, tall guys who are well-read, we're discounting a whole wealth of other men who might be great.

When it comes to really clicking with someone, it's all about that wild card X-factor and you really never know who you're going to have that with. So remember, it's not about a look or a list of personality traits, you're looking for a feeling. Go out with a short, non-accountant and see what happens.

Trying too hard:You think you can make things better by trying harder, I mean, it makes

perfect sense, that's how I've handled every other obstacle in my life by working harder. The same principle doesn't apply to dating. Take a time out and try doing NOTHING AT ALL. You don't need to flirt with anyone. Give yourself permission to sit back and let the worthwhile ones find you. It's liberating.

Playing too hard to get: When we go on bad dates over and over again for a long period of time, we start to assume that every guy is bad. We get defensive and expect the worst from people. I know, I've been there, this is a normal human reaction to bad dates but sometimes it keeps us from recognizing when someone worthy of our time is tapping on our window. So for instance, when you go on a date with a nice dude who sends you a text message telling you he had a good time, don't start imaging all how he's going to disappoint you and go out of your way to make him prove himself to you. Each new person deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Saying yes to dates you don't want to go on: You don't have to go out with anyone unless you feel like it. End of story.

Negative talk: Watch what you say about your love life because what we say has power. Stop telling everyone you meet, how unlucky in love you are and how you'll die alone and all the other things single people need to stop saying. Try; just try to keep it positive as an experiment.

Indulging guys that you know are wrong for you: Sometimes a complete, deep cleaning of the basement is in order.

There might be guys lurking around down there that you've needed to sweep away for years now, but because of fear, or whatever, you continue to entertain the idea of them. It's time to say bye to the guy you sleep with occasionally when you're feeling lonely or the ex you text every time you have a bad date.

These people as special as they might have once been to you are clutter from your dating past. Look ahead to your future by acknowledging that these romantic interactions aren't right for you.

“

When we go on bad dates over and over again for a long period of time, we start to assume that every guy is bad. We get defensive and expect the worst from people.

I know, I've been there, this is a normal human reaction to bad dates but sometimes it keeps us from recognizing when someone worthy of our time is tapping on our window.

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

Confused: Am I in an abusive relationship?

M

y name is Lauren, I have been with my boyfriend for the past 4 years. I'm 21 years old and he's 23. An incident happened at the weekend that really got me thinking. An argument started between me and him that quickly escalated.

He started threatening me , saying he was going to put my head through the window of my mother's car that I took out that night. I locked the doors of the car and remained inside the car for sometime.

I smashed the top of my car and then rolled my window down to try and talk to him because obviously things were escalating quickly. He grabbed me by my hair and smashed my head into the window and then spit in my face.

I know that this is completely wrong and I'm not trying to defend him but this is not something that happens on a regular basis. We rarely fight but when we do fight it's like everything that has been built

up over time all comes crumbling down.

About a year ago, a similar situation happened. He had picked me up by my throat and tossed me across the room. During this brawl between us the force of him grabbing my arm/hand ended with me having one of myfingers half broken. Again I know that this incident is not okay at all. It is completely unhealthy for both of us.

I'm just not sure if this is considered an abusive relationship.

Those are the only times anything like that has happened. I know he loves me and I love him more than I could ever begin to explain. I'm going through a rough patch in my life right now. Very confused with, everything in my life including my relationship. I am not looking for judgment or criticism, just your opinions on my situation.

Thank you.

Re-Yes dear, you are in an abusive relationship, I hope you can leave or walk out of this soon before it becomes worst.

—Monalisa

“

He started threatening me , saying he was going to put my head through the window of my mother's car that I took out that night. I locked the doors of the car and remained inside the car for sometime.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Beauty Tips

Surprising habits that damage your skin When it comes to having flawless skin, we all know the basics: wash your face daily, quit smoking, and steer clear of excess chocolate. But what if eliminating vices isn't enough? Research shows that we do all kinds of things on a daily basis that can cause breakouts or premature wrinkles. Take a look at these five habits that could be damaging your skin.

Chewing gum Sure, a stick of gum will eliminate coffee breath or help kick a nasty nicotine habit, but some dermatologists say it could be causing wrinkles too. The idea is that we repeat the same muscle motion over and over when chewing gum, causing unwanted lines to form around the mouth.

"I believe chewing gum promotes muscle over-activity and potentially breaks down support tissue within the skin, contributing to volume loss and perhaps loss of skin elasticity," Dr. Hema Sundaram, a Washington, D.C.-area cosmetic surgeon and laser expert, told MSNBC. Dirty cell phones Think about it, where does your phone spend most of its time? At the bottom of your dirty purse? On top of messy counters? In dusty jacket pockets? The amount of bacteria found on an average cell phone is much more than we'd care to imagine. As a result, leaning your phone on your face can cause breakouts and infections along your jawline and ear.

To avoid this dilemma, wipe your phone regularly with antibacterial wipes. Your phone needs to be treated more like your hands: every time it touches a new, foreign surface, wipe it down.

Dirty pillow cases It might seem obvious, but a pillowcase should be your number one suspect when experiencing a breakout. When we sleep, like the rest of our organs, our skin rebuilds and replenishes itself. Old skin cells are shed so new ones can be produced.

A buildup of dead skin cells on your pillowcase will ultimately lead to breakouts.

Be sure to exfoliate your face once or twice a week to eliminate excess skin cells, and hot wash your pillowcases at least once a week.

Puckering up Besides skin-damaging chemicals that smokers face, unwanted wrinkles are formed

when sucking on a cigarette repeatedly. The same applies to sucking on straws. Sipping on a straw may reduce your chance of touching germs on a can or bottle, but puckering your lips causes lines to form around your mouth.

Don't let your face pucker up too much-whether it's for smoking or sipping, wrinkles will begin to form around your mouth slowly, over time.

Long, hot showers Nothing is more relaxing than a long, hot shower after a busy day. Unfortunately, the heat could be causing major damage to our pores, experts say. Hot water strips skin of its natural oils, resulting in dry and itchy skin.

In a recent interview with The Daily Beast, Dr. Megan Moore, a dermatologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, put it like this: "Our skin contains special proteins and fats that make up a protective barrier and lock in moisture to protect us from harsh outside environments. Dry air, forced-air heating, extremes of temperature, and the frequent hot baths and showers we take all strip our skin of this natural protection."

The general rule of thumb is, if water is turning your skin red, it's too hot. That means steering clear of hot tubs too.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Learning Commonwealth announces shortlists for 2013 literary prizes Chibundu Onuzo, Dr E. E Sule and Ifeanyi Ajaegbo are among those shortlisted for Commonwealth Book Prize 2013

Book Review

By Robert Silva

T

h e Commonwealth Foundation has announced shortlists for the 2013 Commonwealth Book Prize and Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Part of Commonwealth Writers, the prizes unearth, is to develop and promote the best new writing from across the Commonwealth, and developing literary connections worldwide.

The Commonwealth Book Prize is awarded for the best first novel, and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize for the best piece of unpublished short fiction. Writers from around the world have been shortlisted in anticipation of being announced as overall winners at Hay Festival, on 31 May 2013.

Political, religious and social conflict runs through many of this year's shortlisted entries, but there are also humorous stories, stories of hope, and stories full of imagination and power. The unmatched global reach of the prizes allows readers internationally to engage with a world of literature that might otherwise remain undiscovered, consistently bringing lessheard voices to the fore.

Encompassing a span of 54 countries, entries are judged within the five regions of Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, the Caribbean and the Pacific, each of which will produce a regional winner for the two prizes. These will be announced on 14 May 2013.

The prizes' judging panels are made up of eminent members of the international literary community.

Commenting on the shortlisted entries, Chair of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, BBC Special Correspondent Razia Iqbal, said, 'People often assume short stories are easier to write because they're, well, short!

But it takes a particular skill to establish mood, character and tone in quick strokes, and tell a story which leaves a lasting

Dr E. E Sule

impression. These stories open windows on worlds which seem familiar but, through fiction, which is tightly written, reflect those worlds, in richer and more surprising colours.'

Chair of the Commonwealth Book Prize, Godfrey Smith, said, 'Our five judges did an admirable job of short listing from a bountiful harvest of debut novels, based on originality, linguistic flair, depth, quality of writing and freshness of tone. A number of books boldly pushed the boundaries of form and explosively rebelled against the conventional structures of fiction-writing, inspiring lively and passionate debates among the judges.'

Shortlists: Commonwealth Book Prize -Sarah House, Ifeanyi Ajaegbo (Nigeria), Pan Macmillan South Africa -Disposable People, Ezekel Alan (Jamaica), self-published -Floundering, Romy Ash (Australia), Text Publishing -Running the Rift, Naomi Benaron (Canada), HarperCollins Canada -Mazin Grace, Dylan Coleman (Australia), University of Queensland Press -A Tiger in Eden, Chris Flynn (Australia), Text Publishing -The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Howard Fry, Rachel Joyce (United Kingdom), Transworld Publishers -The Headmaster's Wager, Vincent Lam (Canada), Doubleday Canada -Island of a Thousand Mirrors, Nayomi Munaweera (Sri Lanka), Perera-Hussein Publishing House -The Death of Bees, Lisa O'Donnell (United Kingdom), William Heinemann -The Spider King's Daughter, Chibundu Onuzo (Nigeria), Faber and Faber -Em and the Big Hoom, Jerry Pinto (India), Aleph Book Company -The Wildings, Nilanjana Roy (India), Aleph Book Company -The Great Agony & Pure Laughter of the Gods, Jamala Safari (South Africa), Umuzi

Ifeanyi Ajaegbo

-The Last Thread, Michael Sala (Australia), Affirm -The Other Side of Light, Mishi Saran (India), HarperCollins India -God on Every Wind, Farhad Sorabjee (India), Parthian -Sterile Sky, E.E. Sule (Nigeria), Pearson Education -Narcopolis, Jeet Thayil (India), Faber and Faber -Beneath the Darkening Sky, Majok Tulba (Australia), Penguin Books Australia -The Bellwether Revivals, Benjamin Wood (United Kingdom), Simon & Schuster UK Commonwealth Short Story Prize -Not for Publication, Rachel Bush (New Zealand) -A Killing in the Sun, Dilman Dila (Uganda) -NORMAL, Susan Everett (United Kingdom) -Chutney, Debz HobsWyatt (United Kingdom) -Fatima Saleh, Alexander Ikawah (Kenya) -The New Customers, Julian Jackson (South Africa) -Notes from the Ruins, Anushka Jasraj (India) -A Good Friday, Barbara Jenkins (Trinidad and Tobago) -Antonya's Baby Shower on Camperdown Road, A.L. Major (Bahamas) -Mango Summer, Janice Lynn (Bahamas) -Things With Faces, Zoë Meager (New Zealand) -The Sarong-Man in the Old House, and an Incubus for a Rainy Night, Michael Mendis (Sri Lanka) -The Whale House, Sharon Millar (Trinidad and Tobago) -No War is Worth Debating, Tobenna Nwosu (Nigeria) -Take me Home United Road, Sally-Ann Partridge (South Africa) -Mortal Sins, Sinead Roarty (Australia) -We Walked On Water, Eliza Robertson (Canada) -Tug of War, Deborah Rogers (New Zealand) -Raven, Tom Williams (Australia) www.commonw ealthwriters.org

Chibundu Onuzo

MHL - What it is and how it impacts Home Theater

D

e f i n i t i o n : With the advent of HDMI as the default wired audio/video connection protocol for home theater, new ways to take advantage of it capabilities are always being looked at.

At first, HDMI was a way to combine both highresolution digital video (which also now includes 4K and 3D) and audio (up 8 channels) into single connection, reducing the amount of cable clutter.

Next, came the idea of using HDMI as a way to send control signals between connected devices, without having to utilize a separate control system. This is referred to by several names depending on the manufacturer (Sony Bravia Link, Panasonic Viera Link, Sharp Aquos Link, Samsung Anynet+, etc...), but its generic name is HDMI-CEC. Another idea that is now being implemented successfully is Audio Return Channel, which enables a single HDMI cable to transfer audio signals in both directions, between a compatible TV and Home Theater Receiver, eliminating the need to make a separate audio connection from the TV to a home theater receiver.

Enter MHL A new feature that has been added to HDMI that extends it capabilities further is MHL, or Mobile High Definition Link.

To put it simply, MHL allows a new generation of portable devices, such as smartphones and tablets to connect to your TV or home theater receiver, via HDMI, allow users to transfer up to 1080p high-definition video and 7.1 channel surround audio from the compatible portable device to a TV or home theater receiver, via a mini-HDMI connector on the portable device and a full size HDMI connector on the home theater device that is MHL-

enabled.

The MHL-enabled HDMI port also supplies power to your portable device so you don't have to worry about using up battery power to watch a movie or listen to music. Also, when not using the MHL/HDMI port for connecting portable devices, you can still use it a regular HDMI connection for your other home theater components, such as a Bluray Disc player.

MHL and Smart TV However, it doesn't stop there. There are also has implications for Smart TV capabilities. For example, when you buy a Smart TV, it comes with certain level of media streaming and/or network functionality, and, although new services and features can be added, there is a limitation as to how much upgrading can be accomplished without having to buy a new TV to get more capabilities. Of course, you could connect an additional network media player or streamer, but that means another box connected to your TV and more connection cables.

To solve that problem, Roku has taken its media streamer platform, reduced it down to about the size of the USB Flash Drive, but instead of USB, it has incorporated an MHLenabled HDMI connector that can plug into any TV that has an MHL-enabled HDMI port and, voila!, you

now have a mediastreaming capable TV, without that capability even having to be built-into the TV in the first place.

This "Streaming Stick", as Roku, refers to it, even comes with its own built-in Wifi connection interface, so you don't need one on the TV to connect your home network and the internet to access TV and movie streaming content - and you don't need a separate box and more cables either.

MHL Compatibility Issues Of course, for MHL to work, the HDMI connection your TV, home theater receiver, or Blu-ray Disc player needs to be MHLenabled, and, although there aren't many as of the beginning of 2013, that number is expected to increase greatly in the next year or so. In fact, a larger number of home theater receivers being introduced during 2013 are incorporating this feature, and ther are also an increasing number of TVs. However, even if your TV does not have an MHLenabled HDMI port, that may not be a problem, if your home theater receiver, Blu-ray Disc player, or even your TV antenna (yes, I said that right, has its own MHL-HDMI port, then it will be able to access the content and pass it along to a non-MHL-enabled TV. About.com. Guide

“

To put it simply, MHL allows a new generation of portable devices, such as smartphones and tablets to connect to your TV or home theater receiver, via HDMI, allow users to transfer up to 1080p highdefinition video and 7.1 channel surround audio from the compatible portable device to a TV or home theater receiver

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

PAGE 22

With Aunty A'isha

Sights and sounds

Abeokuta and Olumo Rock

T

h e town of Abeokuta was founded during the days of intertribal wars. The Egba people, who settled in the area, worship the rocks and its caves in the belief that they develop their natural strength and protection from supreme beings.

In a more practical way, the rocks with their shelters were an ideal place for cave castles. This cave houses are believed to have saved the Egbas during the old days of inter-tribal wars. As the rocks became famous for being a secured place, they also became a unifying factor.

Abeokuta is a city in the southwest of Nigeria. It is the capital of the Ogun state. The city is located on the east side of the Ogun River, enclosing a cluster of rock-strewn protrusions rising above the adjacent forested savanna. The city derives its name from the Olumo Rock, a gigantic outcrop of granite rocks.

The city of Abeokuta is located at a distance of 100 kilometres from the city of Lagos. The city is situated on the central railway line from Lagos founded in 1899, about 78 kilometre south of Lagos. It is sited on the earlier trunk road from Lagos to Ibadan.

The city of Ibadan, the capital of the Oyo state, is located to the north of Abeokuta, about 70 kilometres away. Abeokuta also has road connections to Ilaro, Shagamu, Iseyin, and Kétou.

The early and fairy-tale historical background of Abeokuta rotates around the Olumo Rock, caves that surround the cluster of rocks, one of which is around 20 feet in length and 25 feet in breadth.

The Olumo Rock is sacred to the Egba tribe of Abeokuta, as it is the place where they found a safe haven from the attackers at the time of the harmful conflicts. The Olumo Rock is a memorial of the belief in tribal unity for the native tribes, and also a symbol of potency and shelter. The Olumo Rock is connected to the history of the ancestors to the people of Abeokuta.

The city of Abeokuta is a significant site in Nigeria because of its strategic position and its historical significance. The city is located at a position, which is nearby to some of the most important cities in Nigeria.

Abeokuta is also a culturally significant spot in Nigeria, owing to the historic Olumo Rock.

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

SHOR T ST OR Y SHORT STOR ORY

The mischievous witch O

nce upon a time, there was a mischievous witch who used to steal children in the big oak jungle and eat them.

Parents of the eaten children were very desperate and were worried about the other children and couldn't do anything because the mean witch could cast some dangerous spells on them and kill them easily.

So they went to a wise owl and asked him for help, the owl said that, "The only thing that can kill her is to sacrifice a 3years-old girl who is beloved in her family and is very pretty.

Therefore, the villagers searched all the houses and finally they found the beloved girl named Eliza but Eliza's family didn't accept their decision and hid her in the basement in order not to let them get her.

The villagers were so cruel and came back at night and killed Eliza's parents and found her and took her to the jungle to let the witch eat her up.

When the witch found the tasty girl lonely in the jungle, she felt sympathetic toward the beautiful little girl playing

with dead leaves so she decided to bring her up and make Eliza her own daughter. Eliza was so beautiful like an Angel and

touched the witch's feeling deeply and gently altered her mean soul to a kind one and they lived happily ever after.

HIS AND HERS’ CORNER

Mixture of Ankara and burgundy for a nice effect on kids

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

PAGE 23

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

With Aunty A'isha

AFRICAN TALES

MODEL OF THE WEEK

Lazy Rip Van Winkle

R

ip van winkle was a lazy boy. He was so lazy that he slept all day. His mother tried her best to get him to take up a job. When he did get a job, he was asked to leave because he slept too much.

One day, Rip Van Winkle, tired of his mother insisting on him getting a job, ran up a mountain with his favorite companion, his dog and his gun.

He reached the top, crossed a stream, went to a spot where nobody ever came and sat down panting. He had never had so much exercise in all his life.

He was just getting back his breath, when he heard someone call his name. "Strange, nobody ever comes here and surely no one that I know," thought Rip Van Winkle. He turned to see a funny looking man carrying a big barrel. The funny looking man said, "Please help me carry this barrel to my mates a little below the stream."

Rip Van Winkle had climbed so far up the mountain to avoid

B

efore you begin making the candle stand, spread some sheets of newspaper so that you do not dirty the floor.

What you need: moldable plastic Old newspaper Steel bowl What to do: Flatten plastic to make a circle. Cut a perfect circle using the rim of the steel bowl.

Roll some plastic in a

work. Here was a man asking for help. He first decided to refuse but then thought, "Let's help the poor chap, then I can come and rest."

So, he and the funny looking man walked down to a cave in the mountain, below the stream.

There Rip Van Winkle saw many other funny looking men; all of them were playing the game of nine pins. They ignored him.

As soon as the barrel was placed in the ground, the men pulled out mugs, dipped it into the barrel and drank. It was wine.

Rip Van Winkle too dipped a mug in the barrel and drank the wine. It tasted good. He thought he should have one more mug, then another and another, until he found the room swinging in front of him. Rip Van Winkle went to sleep.

When he awoke, he saw that all the funny looking men had gone. He called out to his dog but there was no response. He could not believe he had slept the whole day and night. He got up, his joints ached. He picked up his gun.

Instead of the clean well-oiled piece, he found the barrel rusted and the lock falling off. He threw it away.

As he started trekking back home, he saw the village down below, which seemed somehow changed. When he entered the village he saw new faces; all of them looked at him and rubbed their chins. Seeing them do this, Rip Van Winkle did the same. To his astonishment he found he had grown a foot long beard overnight.

Rip Van Winkle was puzzled; he believed that he knew most of the village folks well but there did not seem to be anyone he knew around. This was the same village, where he could see the mountains and the streams. The children made fun of him, running behind him, pulling his beard.

Rip Van Winkle stopped by a place where there had been a school and asked the crowd that had gathered, "Where is Schooner, the school master?"

Somebody said, "Oh! Schooner, he went to war in sixty three and never came back." "And Van Dammel?" asked Rip Van Winkle.

"He died eighteen years back," said another voice in the crowd. Rip Van Winkle thought he was going mad. "Had he slept all these years on the mountain?"

Finally Rip Van Winkle asked, "Does anyone here remember Rip Van Winkle?" A very old woman said, "Yes, he was my lazy son. He went up the mountains twenty one years back but never returned. His dog came back without him."

Rip Van Winkle was overjoyed. He said, "Mother, it is me Rip Van Winkle. Don't you recognize me?" "Oh! My son, it is really you. Where have you been all this while?" Mother and son hugged each other.

Rip Van Winkle had indeed slept for twenty one years.

Chubby Emmanuella Ekondu Emmanuel (Triple E!) Congratulations on your dedication last Week

ACTIVITIES Using different colours of your choice, paint the picture below. Name and describe objects therein.

Show your work to your teacher for correction.

Cheers!

CREA TIVITY CREATIVITY

Make plastic candle stand for your household cylindrical shape.

Place it vertically in the centre of the circular plastic base. With your finger make a hole on top of the cylindrical bar to fix the candle.

To make your candle stand more attractive, roll out plastic to make it look like an earthworm and wind it around the candle stand in a spiral fashion.

PAGE 24

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Entertainment

Kannywood

PAGE 25

Nollywood

With Stanley Onyekwere 08138559513, sunnixman@gmail.com

' Mutu ka raba', is my Mercy Aigbe replies favourite, says Fatima Stella Dimoko-Korkus F A

Mike Aremu to release 3rd album soon

Fatima Isa Muhammad, popularly known as Ladi Mutu ka raba, is one of Kannywood's Super Stars who has become very prominent in the film industry for the past fifteen years. The Secondary School Certificate holder, in Kano, shares her experience in film making in this interview with Mustapha Adamu.

H

ow long have you been in the film industry?

I have been in the Hausa M o v i e s industry for close to 11 years now.

How old are you?

I can't tell you precisely, my age but I am almost 40 years old.

Are you married?

Presently, I am not married; I got married some years ago and h a v e

children, but am divorced now.

What motivated you to go into acting?

Primarily, I engaged in acting to educate the society on the good and bad. Naturally, both good and bad things have an end and according to a popular saying, "the end justifies the means". So,

we depict t h e end

of both in movies to serve as lessons to the doers. If you do well, you would see it at the end.

Similarly, if you do bad, you would see the consequence at the end and learn lessons from your deeds.

However, I didn't go into acting until I sought my parents'

permission. They accepted my request and asked me to go into acting because it is a career.

Which movie was your debut?

My first film, the film that I featured is titled "Al'ajabi", but my first movie that I acted in, is "Mutu ka raba."

How many films have you featured in your career?

I swear to God I can't tell you, I don't know the number.

Are they up to 100?

They are more than a million (laughs). Actually, I can't even estimate the number of films I have featured in because they are many.

Which is your best among the films you have starred so far?

There are many that are my favourite, but "Mutu ka raba" is my best because it was my first movie. There are many of my movies that contained better stories than "Mutu ka raba", but the fact that it is my debut, I have chosen it as my best.

W h a t are the problems that you face in y o u r career as an actress?

I have n e v e r encountered a n y problem.

I have

never had any quarrel with anybody, the directors, producers, members of the crew, at any point in time. Since my first appearance in the Hausa movies or Kannywood industry, I have maintained good relationship with them. And I pray to God, that from now up till

when I would get another man to marry again and leave the industry, that I would not have any cause to hurt anyone, and I have forgiven those who had hurt me in any way, knowingly or unknowingly.

What is the significance of Hausa film to the Hausa society?

Some people perceive Hausa movies in a negative light. But, Hausa films have been in existence for quite a long time now, as a means of informing, educating and entertaining people for the benefit of the society. In the past, even poems, stories were used through drama to send messages to people, especially children. These were later shown on a projector. It later became more developed to be shown on screens or the TV, during the time of our grand parents', until now when it has become more sophisticated through CDs, DVDs and on computers. This has been the case up till now, and we have become part of it. I don't see films or movies as a bad thing and I am ready to allow my children engage in film making if they wish to.

My daughter, Ummusalama once featured in a film produced by Ali Nuhu.

What message do you have for your colleagues in the industry for the development of Kannywood in the north and Nigeria in general?

We have good relationship with each other. There is synergy in the way we run our affairs in the industry. If this trend continues, Kannywood would certainly outshine our Nollywood counterparts.

“

Some people perceive Hausa movies in a negative light. But, Hausa films have been in existence for quite a long time now, as a means of informing, educating and entertaining people for the benefit of the society. In the past, even poems, stories were used through drama to send messages to people

recent online media has been saturated with story of the sultry actress, Mercy Aigbe-Gentry over her alleged strange ordeal with her hubby at Troy Lounge, Ogba, Lagos.

According to Nigeriafilms.com, an international journalist who wrote the story has since been lampooned by the mother of two, Mercy. Omoge Osas, as Mercy is fondly called by fans and friends, recent took to Twitter to prove that she did not cheat on her hubby and her dress was not missing as reported by popular journalist and blogger, Stella Dimoko Korkus.

The actress has been under serious fire ever since the report

was published. Mercy claims her dress was not missing as she posted pictures to prove her innocence.

Meanwhile, tongues are wagging seriously that why didn't she prove it that same day? What if she recovered it and now claims it never went missing? Well, journalists are society watch dogs; the society needs them as well as they need the society.

Keeping quiet, for now, about the whole situation would have done a great deal for the actress but with this latest development, it's obvious that the battle line is drawn between her and the most dreaded and fearful blogger and writer, Stella Dimoko-Korkus.

or all lovers of African wind and percussion music, here's a reason to go all lip-smacking from Mike Aremu, the spectacularly renowned Saxophonists is set sure to blaze people's minds with his new album, pulse.com has gathered.

The album is a 16-track pact, with a colourful choice of title, Coat of Many Colours. The planned release features a collection of different music genres ranging from Jazz, Salsa, Ballad and Afrobeat, to African Praise and Worship medleys.

And more reason to stay up with anticipation is that the album was

created in SAE Studio, one of London's vintage musical houses.

According to the report, it will be released as a double CD, under Aremu's label, MAV (Mike Aremu Vision) Records.

The award winning saxophonist had previously released two albums, 'Dance' (1999) and 'No Shaking' (2002) under his former label, Kennis Music.

Mike is also the convener of one of the biggest jazz concerts in Nigeria, Sax Appeal, a concept which is geared towards the rebirth and promotion of live musical performance.

Copyright Infringement: Albert Ujemba withdraws case against Omawunmi

A

popular highlife legend Albert Ujemba, who made waves in the Nigerian entertainment scene in the 80s, has dropped his purported threat of illegal action against Omawunmi, for alleged copy right infringement on one of his songs.

When Omawunmi released her Bottom Belle song, Alber threatened to sue but reverse is the case as Nigeriafilms.com learnt that Albert was at the album launch of Omawunmi recently disclosed that both of them have settled everything.

According to the report, the veteran musician when asked how far with his legal tussle with her said: "It was then, but now I have calmed down, we have settled everything.

There is no issue again."

Funmi Lawal loses battle to cancer

F

unmi Lawal, a UNILAG law graduate, who was diagnosed with malignant sarcoma, a cancer of the shoulder, sometime last year, has passed on.

Don Jazzy had donated the sum of two million naira for the last time to help save her life, but eventually she lost the battle for her life yesterday morning in Lagos.

Nigeriafilms .com recalls that late lawal's arm was amputated in January this year to save her life, but unfortunately, the cancer had spread to the lungs, and she was unable to breathe without a respirator.

Festival of Kite to debut in Lagos From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

A

first of its kind festival in Nigeria, featuring kites of various shapes, colours and sizes flying in the sky is set to debut in Lagos in September 2013.

The festival being organised by a Lagos based marketing and promotion company, Cranes and Ladders Limited, is targeted at reviving old games and bonding ties among families and friends.

Speaking at a press conference that held at Maruwa Beach Lekki, Lagos, to formally unveil the festival, The Chief Executive Officer, Cranes and Ladders Limited, Mr. Ebun Roberts said that the festival is a family growth

driven game which is set to become one of the leading individual, family and group fun game in Nigeria.

"Kite flying is an inexpensive/ recreational game that has always been one of those bonding opportunities for peers, families and friends, it is also an age old fun activity which both the classy and mass enjoy. With this festival, we aim to revive family and friends picnic, revive old day's time games and bring back fun memories for young and old adults in Nigeria."

"Kite flying is so much loved and appreciated that some countries in some parts of the world hold annual kite flying festivals, however, looking into our part of the world,

this game appears to be a game that has gone to sleep. But now the fun giant, Eko Festival of Kite is set to be awakening this family fun game.

The festival will be a great opportunity for friends and families to share moment of sheer fun and excitement." Roberts added.

On the festival activities, Mr. Ebun Roberts disclosed that the 'Eko Festival of Kites' will run through two separate days in September, 2013, with additional activities like the display of mind blowing kite, old games like 'Suwe' and 'ten-ten'.

Also we have confirmed the attendance of 20 international flyers from India, UK, USA etc to attend the event

Funmi Lawal

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Hollywood/Bollywood Nargis Fakhri off on Shobhit Rana debuts with holiday in New York 'Golu and Pappu'

A

t last, Nargis Fakhri has taken off on her first holiday of the year with a trip to New York and Los Angeles, to catch up with friends and visit her mother (who is based in the US) before she makes her return to complete the last leg of her film with John Abraham, midday.com has disclosed.

According to the report, apart from Shoojit Sircar's film, the actress had also been busy with her endorsements.

Again, 'GI Joe: Retaliation' is no. 1 film worldwide GI Joe: Retaliation is once again the No. 1 film worldwide with an estimated weekend of $61.3 million. The worldwide cume now stands at $231.9 million.

Also, The Croods passed the $200 million mark and Jack the Giant Slayer passed the $100 mark internationally this weekend."

The top-12 domestic weekend box office estimates listed in descending order, per data collected as of Sunday, April 7, 2013 are below.

1. Evil Dead - Sony - $26.0M 2. GI Joe: Retaliation - Paramount $21.1M 3. Croods, The - 20th Century Fox - $21.1M 4. Jurassic Park - Universal - $18.2M 5. Olympus Has Fallen - FilmDistrict $10.0M 6. Tyler Perry's Temptation - Lionsgate $10.0M

S

h o b h i t Rana, a model from Chandigarh who has featured in several commercial adverts like Colgate and others, including many shoots for Hoardings and Femina Magazine is due for her first Hindi film 'Golu And Pappu' wherein she is playing central character along with Kunal Roy Kapur and Vir Das. The newbie hopes the comedy will provide her a foothold in Bollywood. Shobit has also featured in several commercials and is from Chandigarh.

'Golu and Pappu', a comedy movie based on the lines of Jim Carrey's 'Dumb and Dumber', produced by Viacom18 and directed

by Kabir Sadanand is due for release in May. According to Bollywoodworld.com, it is a complete entertainer, having Kunal Roy Kapur and Vir Das play lead with Shobhit Rana as central character; and the corporate house Viacom18 has full faith in the project and has therefore decided to release the film during the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in May this year.

"Shobhit hopes this film will be a major break for her in Bollywood", the report said.

Minissha Lamba goes undercover for her next film

M

i n i s s h a Lamba, who is known to all in the make believe world as a girl next door is set to go rough and tough as she will be playing an undercover agent in her next film opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Reports have it that the petite actress even lost oodles of weight and got toned for a bikini body as she is working hard for her new role; which obviously requires her to be extremely fit and tough.

Not only that, a source tells an online entertainment portal, mid-day.com that she has also been watching all the Hollywood mystery and action packed films every night to brush up and understand her role as an agent.

7. Oz The Great and Powerful - Disney $8.2M 8. Host, The - Open Road - $5.2M 9. Call, The - Sony - $3.5M 10. Admission - Focus Features - $2.1M 11. Spring Breakers - A24 Films - $1.2M 12. Identity Thief - Universal - $0.8M (Courtesy of Rentrak Corporation, the global leader in box office measurement.)

I don't fit in Bollywood anymore —Lata Mangeshkar

A

f t e r recording songs for more than 1,000 films in 36 languages in a career span of seven decades, legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar says she now feels out of place in the Indian movie industry, reports Bollywoodworld.com.

The singer, who admits she hated acting in films, but had no choice at that time, said she believes that "change is inevitable in this world," which she is not "blaming anyone for this".

"Cinema has changed a lot from the times when we used to work. I will not say that it's not good, but I don't fit into it. If I would sing in any film today, then I don't think I will be able to sing it beautifully," said the 83-year-old singer, at an event organised to announce the recipients of Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards.

"I have worked in some seven to eight films and I didn't enjoy it. I used to be very sad when I worked in those films. But at that time I was helpless. I had no choice," she said.

From classical to romantic numbers to ghazals to bhajans, Lata has made her mark in a variety of genres. Her last song in a Bollywood film was "Tere hasne se" for 2011

film "Satrangee Parachute".

Lata started her singing career in 1943 at the age of 13 with the song "Mata ek sapoot ki duniya badal de tu" for Marathi film "Gajaabhaau", and she even did bit roles in films for her family's living.

She also launched her music label LM Music with a bhajan album last year.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

PAGE 27

Homes

Design mistakes in your kitchen

A A

lot of activity happens in the kitchen such as cooking, preparing a quick snack, eating breakfast or a 3course dinner with family or friends. The kitchen is one place that needs to be both beautiful and functional. This raises a double challenge of do's and don'ts in order to achieve both practical and elegant kitchen design.

Don't obstruct access to the kitchen triangle Specialists refer to the sink, stove and refrigerator as the kitchen triangle, the area of greatest activity which requires careful planning and unobstructed access. Of the three, the sink will see the most action and should have easy access to the stove and refrigerator, as well as your countertop workstations.

Sinks need to be installed in close proximity to the plumbing, but often kitchens are designed with the sinks installed right above the plumbing or in a poor location.

Instead of making this kitchen design mistake, consider hiring a plumber to relocate the drains and the plumbing to accommodate the best placement for the sink.

Don't waste storage space Finding a home for your kitchen stuff while keeping it easily accessible can be a tricky proposition. Because built-ins are expensive and the overall size of the area you're working with may be limited, one big design mistake is not including enough storage. Also remember to always install cabinets over the refrigerator. Not to fully utilize the space above the refrigerator is a waste of potential storage space for large or seasonal kitchen items.

Don't ignore counter-top work space One of the biggest complaints about kitchen design is the lack of

counter-tops. Consider all the kitchen activities that require a counter-top, as well as appliances that are permanently located there, you might want to fit as much open horizontal surface areas in a kitchen as possible. This may be achieved by adding an island or breakfast bar to an Lshaped kitchen.

Poor lighting The kitchen is one room where you can't afford to have poor lighting. It's not only a matter of design and atmosphere, but also a safety matter when it comes to handling sharp kitchenware. For the kitchen you especially should evaluate the work areas and focus on how you can provide each spot with the light it needs. Consider adding lighting directly above all the main working areas, use pendant lights or a series of minipendants in areas where these can enhance the lighting and beauty of the kitchen. Pendants look great above kitchen sinks, while a series of mini-pendants enhance the appearance and lighting of breakfast bars and kitchen islands. Also, install undercabinet lighting as an additional way to ensure that the counters have sufficient lighting for common kitchen tasks.

Don't forget the backsplash While budgeting or designing a new kitchen or kitchen remodel, sometimes the backsplash considerations slip to the end of the list. Occasionally, the backsplash area is completely left out of the plan. This is one mistake that saves you money on the short term, but on the long run costs you a lot of time and effort. Imagine the steam, high humidity and grease content in the kitchen and you will understand why installing a backsplash behind the oven and

extending it above all the counters throughout the kitchen is a smart idea. It is much easier to clean grease off a backsplash made of tile, metal, or plastic, than wall paint or wallpaper.

Don't forget to ventilate The best of kitchen design fades in the presence of bad smelling air.

Effective ventilation systems also help extend the life of your appliances and although they can be an investment, if you have a kitchen that opens to a living area or family room, they will make life easier, cleaner and more pleasant for everyone.

Choosing the kitchen island When it comes to kitchen islands, think of additional storage, preparation and serving space in the kitchen. Kitchen islands can waste a lot space.

Choosing the wrong island or placing it in the wrong spot can be a disaster, especially in a work area that can get over cluttered.

Islands that obstruct the flow of traffic to and from the sink, refrigerator, stove and primary workstations will create bottlenecks and major hassles. At minimum, an island should be 4 feet long and a little more than 2 feet deep, but it must also have room for people to move and work around it. Unless the kitchen is at least 8 feet deep and more than 12 feet long, one shouldn't even consider an island.

Don't ignore your trashcan With the advent of recycling, dealing with trash in kitchen design has gone beyond sticking a bin under the sink. Recycling is here to stay. Be prepared to manage your trash efficiently and incorporate trash sorting bins into your kitchen design.

Going too trendy

Although it's not necessarily a mistake, choosing the latest kitchen designs and high-end equipment may not be the best of choices. The most stylish colour of the season and trendy designs has a short half-life, and you may never get your return on large investments in the latest kitchenware.

Avoiding professionals Taking over a kitchen design project on your own to save money

is a common mistake which can waste more money, time and energy. There are some jobs where, for safety and quality work, a professional is not a whim.

Kitchen designers possess the latest trends, ideas, and manufacturer's details, help you identify your specific needs and translate those details into an efficient plan according to your taste.

Freshome.com

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Cuisine

Pots & Pans

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

Kuli-kuli (Crunchy groundnut snacks) K uli-kuli (Groundnut Cakes) is a traditional Nigerian snack of fried crunchy peanut rounds. This exciting delicacy is mostly prepared in the states of Northern Nigeria and enjoyed far beyond. Kuli-kuli can be eaten as a sole and separate snack or in combination with some variety of foods like soaked garri, boiled cassava or moringa, (zogale) leaves. In this edition, Kuli-kuli is served with lettuce for your weekend delight. Savour……

Ingredients: 500g peanuts to be roasted and salt to taste Preparation: Pound the peanuts using a pestle and mortar or grind to a smooth paste. Add a little salt then collect into a ball and squeeze to remove any excess oil. Do this by continuously adding a little water if necessary. Shape the pulp into rounds then heat the oil extracted from the peanuts until hot, and fry the shaped balls in it until brown.

Drain and serve cold as a snack or crushed into powder form on a salad of greens.

Kuli-kuli in its solid form

Lettuce sallad Ingredients: -1 head of lettuce -1/2 cup chopped onion -1/2 cup chopped celery -1 pk. frozen peas -Next morning -2 large tomatoes sliced on top -4 hard boiled eggs sliced on top -6 slices of bacon crisp or bacon bits -grated cheese on top

Powdery Kuli-kuli

Steamed lettuce is served with powdery kuli-kuli

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Womanhood

They beat me up until I passed out Continued from last edition….

T

h e daily routine in Ghana was fairly simple. Every morning at about 5am, Chris would wake me up and take me to an open field, where people gathered and screamed morning prayers at the top of their voices for about an hour. Chris and his group, with me as their reluctant captive would then go from house to house visiting people until about 11am. At each place we went to, we did nothing but sit down. I never said a word, not even a hello. I had started to pick up the language and I always heard him say “she doesn’t understand.” After sitting for 10 minutes, he would say let’s pray, then the hosts would hand him a gift of money and he would go off to the next house. I would be falling down from exhaustion, humiliation, and shame.

The mosquito bites I endured on that field were just incredible. After about two weeks of going begging, I started to refuse to do the prayer mornings. To compound my issues, one night as he had sex with my body, I actually laughed aloud. After he was done, he wanted to know why I was laughing. I had started to learn that silence was a powerful tool against him. I would go without saying anything for hours until my breath would start to stink from keeping my mouth closed. I didn’t answer him. He physically dragged me to the next morning prayer and told them that I was possessed by a demon, and that I needed to be delivered of it. They would pounce on me, pull me back and forth and they would scream in frenzy.

I stood silently as they pulled, yelled, shouted, and prodded at me – a medical doctor to be, a pampered child from a rich and loving home. I removed myself from there in my mind, and I must have lost consciousness at one point because it was afternoon when I woke up, and I was back in the room where I lived.

The next time he took me to go pray, I stood in the midst of them and deliberately peed on myself. That was a brilliant move, because even though Chris gave me the most miserable beating, he never again took me for prayer and begging spree, which was a good thing, because I had planned to defecate the next time we went.

When he goes out every day, I would roam the streets of Tema, the city in Ghana where I was. I soon discovered a bookshop, and I would sit at the kiosk all day long. I read every single book and magazine in that place. After Chris found me there, I stopped going there. I continued wandering around the town daily and soon discovered an internet cafe. It became my new home. I spent even longer hours there. They also sold barbecued chicken and drinks there, so I spent whole days from 7am until sometime near 10:30pm there, paying per hour for internet access.

As a means of escape, it didn’t get much better than books, food, lots of Coca-Cola, and the internet. One night,

—True story of woman involved in abusive relationship

Amaka and her children in a swimming pool after about two weeks of hiding at the net cafe, I made my way back to the house. He was there waiting for me with a big stick. There was a carpenter in that house that made big boxes that fisherman stored and transported their catch in. Chris attacked me with the stick. I hit him everywhere that I could. He called one of the carpenters and they beat me until I passed out. I woke up outside the compound with no clothes on. I realized that he must have stripped me naked and thrown me outside the gates.

There were a man and a woman standing over me, trying to wake me up. He said “my name is Seth Boakye, let me help you. This is my sister.” I was too far beyond shame by then. Their house was about 100 meters away. Seth’s sister took off her head tie and gave it to me to cover myself. I went to their house and was allowed to have a shower. I told them some of my story. They were appalled.

Seth told me “don’t look back, return to Canada, just run, and don’t wait for anything just go.” I could not tell my whole story about how I was a prisoner, and how I was existing but not really alive.

I still wasn’t able to tell them that Chris had put me under what I thought was a forever binding blood covenant, just because I didn’t know too much about blood covenants and that sort of thing yet. They wanted to know if I knew other people besides Chris in Ghana, I told them that I remembered a lady from the church that Chris called Docia, and that she was married to a doctor. He came back later in the day to pick his sister and myself up.

They had now called a few people together: a woman called Mrs. Zanor was among them. Chris was also there. Seth was so furious. He faced Chris at once, asking him how he

could have brought me to the town, and left me outside to die. They asked if he was unaware that I had been beaten up and that I was naked, and he replied that I had been disobedient and had gone out without his permission, and that he had beaten me, but that he had not thrown me outside the gates.

Pastor Abakah, who I guess to be about sixty years old at the time, knelt on the floor before me and begged my forgiveness, saying how sorry he was that this had happened. Mrs. Zanor asked me to stay in her house since I knew no one else. She said I didn’t have to stay with Chris, and to come stay with her until I was able to arrange my return to Canada. I looked to Seth for guidance; I could see that he was barely controlling his anger. I stepped outside to speak with Seth and his sister. Seth kept insisting that I do nothing but buy a ticket to return to Canada. I could not tell him that I felt I was under this bondage of the blood covenant, and that I could never be free no matter where I was; I couldn’t tell them that I felt that I was under a curse, and that it was either stay married to this man, or lose my life.

I went to stay with Mrs. Zanor; I was still very desperate. I wanted to die. My parents had already lost one of us about five years ago, and I couldn’t imagine putting them through the same anguish yet again.

I continued to stay with Mrs. Zanor, and sure enough, before very long, Chris started to come there. I would usually not come out while he was there, but one day I heard raised voices. It was Chris shouting about a Caucasian man he said had defrauded him and some friends of his. I was in the kitchen, and crept unseen towards a corridor near the living room where I could listen in, without being seen. He was talking about a man called Lindsay.

From my hiding place, I then heard Chris tell Mrs. Zanor that he had gone with his friends to confront Lindsay, and that they had told him that if he did not repay the money within seven days, that he would die.

At this time, I was not seeing Chris or speaking to him, but when I heard what he said, I came out into the living room. In a very tiny way, this white man represented Canada to me, in that in Canada, there is such an

“

I still wasn’t able to tell them that Chris had put me under what I thought was a forever binding blood covenant, just because I didn’t know too much about blood covenants and that sort of thing yet. They wanted to know if I knew other people besides Chris in Ghana, I told them that I remembered a lady from the church that Chris called Docia, and that she was married to a doctor. He came back later in the day to pick his sister and myself up.

eclectic mix of people, that you could meet just about anybody from anywhere. Granted that Lindsay was just this buffoon of a man, a con artist who had taken money from gullible fools, I didn’t think he deserved to die.

I was scared enough of Chris at that point to firmly believe that he would indeed do something to Lindsay.

I decided to intervene on his behalf. I said please talk to him and give him time to get the money for you guys. I said you should have known that he is not an American.

Chris said what is it to you? Are there not enough black men, now you are after a white man? Is this what you have been busy doing in Canada?

Sleeping with white men? He ignored me and continued to talk; seven days and that’s it. He soon left. I tried to talk to Mrs. Zanor, but she said she had to go out, so I had no choice but to let the matter drop. I took a cab and paid him, asking him to drive around some of the bars to see if I would spot Lindsay. I didn’t find him though.

After about a week, Mrs. Zanor came back with Sammie, Chris and some other people. Chris was saying, “yes, people have to know where the power is. You cannot just cheat people and go free”. I came out. I said “what happened to Lindsay”? Chris said, he is dead! I was stupefied. He is dead? I asked repeatedly. “Yes dead”! I asked what happened to him. Chris said, “He went to a hotel with a prostitute and then he died”. All I know is that he is dead. We have to show people that there are powers and then there are powers”. He went on to say, “anyway I came to take you back, so pack your things and let’s go”. I didn’t know if Mrs. Zanor was also afraid or what, but she never said a word, or even looked at me. I packed my bags and went with Chris. …To be continued

PAGE 30

Archives

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL , 2013 Do you have old pictures for memories?

Send them to junioremma419@gmail.com

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Prime Minister of Nigeria), Princess Alexandria (representative of Queen Elizabeth II) & Sir James Robertson (Governor General of Nigeria) @ State House Marina.

A man sits in front of his farmhouse in Toro, Nigeria. Traditionally, only men own land

Kwame Nkrumah's motorcade driving down Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Idumota in 1959

Eshugbayi Eleko (Oba of Lagos) & his Grand Council

The Governor-General, Sir James Robertson, checks an elector's registration card during his tour of polling stations.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

PAGE 31

Leisure DID YOU KNOW?

WORD SEARCH

Some Prophets’ names Find the words from the names (listed below) in this word search puzzle. Circle each letter one by one. When the word Search puzzle is complete, read the remaining letters left to right, top to bottom, to learn the names of the Prophets of Allah.

Adam Ayyub Dawud Harun Hud Ibrahim Idris Ilias Isa Ishaq Isma’il Lut Muhammad Musa Nuh Salih Shu’aib Sulaiman Yahya Yaqub Yunus Yusuf Zakariyya

Amazing Brain Facts

A Real Lagos Child

1.Brain imaging studies show that human feelings originate inside the brain.

2. The human brain structure is almost fully developed by age 11, though some higher selfmanagement brain functions continue to develop into the mid 20’s.

3. The diameter of an individual brain neuron is 4 microns, meaning 30,000 could fit on the head of a pin.

4. The human brain has 100 billion neurons, making it the most powerful learning tool in the world.

5. Each single brain neuron has from 1,000 to 10,000 connections with other neurons, making up to 10 trillion neuron connections possible.

6. Alcohol interferes with brain processes by weakening connections between neurons.

7. The same part of the brain interprets both your physical and emotional pain.

8. Stress over long periods can weaken the brain’s ability to learn and remember.

9. A dog’s brain is 19 times smaller than a human adult brain; an elephant’s brain 4 to 5 times bigger than ours.

10. An adult bottle-nosed dolphin’s brain is about the size of a human adult’s brain.

11. The average adult’s brain weighs 3 to 4 lbs. but consumes 20% of the body’s supply of oxygen.

12. Loss of oxygen for even 5 to 10 minutes can cause serious brain damage.

13. Our brain requires 20% of the entire body’s blood flow.

14. The human brain contains 400 miles of blood vessels.

15. Brain imaging functional MRI equipment measures blood flow and provides a picture of brain activity during actual emotional experiences.

16. There is no sense of pain within the brain itself. This allows neurosurgeons to probe areas of the brain while the patient is awake.

17. A living brain is so soft you could cut it with a butter knife.

18. Brain messages travel between neurons in just one thousandth of a second.

19. Each time you have a new thought or memory, a new brain connection is made between two or more brain cells.

20. Your brain generates up to 25 watts of power while you're awake--enough to illuminate a light bulb.

Source: copingskills4kids.net

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

Famous Quotes The pen is mightier than the sword.

—Bulwer-Lytton The act of writing is the act of discovering what you believe.

—David Hare To thine own self be true.

—Shakespeare To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere —Martin Luther King Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom.

—Thomas Jefferson Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it.

—George Bernard Shaw The life which is unexamined is not worth living.

—Socrates We must become the change we want to see.

—Gandhi We must all work to make the world worthy of its children.

—Pablo Casals Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.

—Kahlil Gibran

CARTOON

PAGE 32

F 'White affair', at 2013 Lagos International Polo Tournament

I

n the 'olden days' the piece of cloth which was used at the start of any Horse race was white, though they were used so often they often turned a dingy sort of beige color. Nowadays flags are only used and it is typically still a white flag. Perhaps this informed the use of White attire by horse race lovers at the recently 2013 Lagos International Polo Tournament. However, Nigeria's foremost Businessman, Aliko Dangote who also cherishes Polo, stood out in his own choice of casual wear.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Compiled by Miriam Humbe

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

33

News Feature

Benue: Children of man nailed to tree call for justice A

By Miriam Humbe

young man, Richard Anyamtswan from Benue state is the son of a retired army officer, Mr. Gideon Nyiyongo Anyamtswan, his father had served the Nigerian army from 1968 - 1980. On March 7, 2013, Richard was informed by an anonymous caller who told him that some people were going to his father's village Dyom, to kill him. Since Richard resides in Zaki Biam and the message came to him late in the evening, it was not possible for him to get to Dyom, which is on the outskirts of Zaki Biam to warn his father.

Worse still, armed robbers laid a siege on Zaki Biam the same night and it was

impossible for anybody to venture out at night. He however made phone contact with one of his relatives who delivered the message but failed to convey the gravity of the threat to his father.

On the night of March 7, however, the retired civil war veteran, Anyamtswan was dragged out of his house at about 9pm and thoroughly beaten by suspected assassins, who sporadically shot into the air. Nobody came to his rescue even when he cried loudly for help.

Those who managed to come out ran into the bush for their dear lives.

His abductors used heavy iron rods to smash his hands and legs. They then used

electric cables to tie him to a mango tree and drove long nails into his palms, his head and his legs, in a similar way like Jesus Christ was nailed over 2000 years ago.

The only person to come to his help was his daughter Tersoo, who picked courage to come out after the noise and commotion caused by the 'crucifixion' of his father ebbed out. It was the daughter who released him from the electric wires that were used to tie him to the mango tree and unhinged the nails. She then used a wheel barrow to take him to the village head where he eventually breathed his last.

The case was reported to the police in Zaki Biam the

following morning and his corpse was taken away by the police.

Before his eventual death, Anyamtsswam was said to have made statements to his daughter and the village head, giving the names of his killers. So far, the police are reported to have arrested the following suspects in connection with the gruesome murder: Joe Ajiva, Teryem, Asua Abugh, Monday Ogbu - alias Ofoka, Ugbenyi, Bem Agba, Kaaondo Likita, Terhumba Tyozer and King Ityav.

The police are working on the theory that the late Anyamtswam must have been a victim of land dispute.

It is believed that a piece of

land recently bought by Etisalat from Joe Ajiva at N1.5 million had generated bad blood between him and some people.

The disagreement was between the late Anyamtswam on the one hand and Joe Ajiva and Asua Abugh on the other hand.

The suspects have been charged to court and are currently in detention waiting the resumption of trial on May 5. Only Monday Ogbuh is said to have been released on bail. But the family of the deceased are calling on the authorities to ensure justice prevail to appease the soul of late Anyamtswam who was expected to have been buried on March 13.

He bravely fought in the Nigerian civil war before he retired to private life. He joined politics and at a time was elected a supervisory Councilor in Ukum Local Government of Benue state.

His death has sent shock waves all over the Local government.

NMS: Family of student killed, yet to receive autopsy result From Mohammed Ibrahim, Kaduna

F

amily of the 15 year old Junior Secondary School Student of Nigerian Military School, NMS Zaria, late Hamza Dan Azumi who died in the college is yet to receive the autopsy result from Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital, Shika Zaria so as to know what actually led to their son's death, Peoples Daily Weekly has gathered.

It would be recalled that late Hamza's decomposed corpse was discovered inside a stream a stone throw from their school premises penultimate week and till now his family has known what killed him.

His father, Kano based businessman, Alhaji Dan'azumi alleged that his son was murdered and dumped inside the stream which prompted his demand for autopsy.

It was further gathered that the father was invited to State police Command on Monday after the case was transferred from Zaria to the police Criminal Investigation

Department (CID) Alhaji Dan Azumi told our reporter on phone what happened at the command headquarters on Monday. " I left Kano State very early on Monday to Kaduna on the invitation of the police after the case was transferred from Zaria. When I got there I was asked by an officer there to give a statement on what actually happened and I did.

So they asked me to go, on the ground that they have commenced investigation," he said.

According to him, after he left the command, he called the IPO in charge of the case in Zaria to know if they have received the autopsy result since they told him the last time he was there that the result will be ready in two weeks.

"When I called him, he told me that the result was still not ready. He said the last time he went there, the Head of Autopsy department in the hospital was not on seat. That I should call him later in the day," he said.

The aggrieved father also vowed not to rest until he finds the truth about his son's

Alhaji Dan'azumi and his late Son Hamza death.

He added that the commandant of the NMS only called to tell him that the

college has not completed its investigation on what led to the boy's untimely death.

He appealed to all those

concerned to hasten up their findings in the interest of justice.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Feature

It's a sin to pray for corrupt politicians- Pastor Oladiyun From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

‌Says Jonathan surrounded by cultists

P

astor Wole Oladiyun is the Senior Pastor and set man of Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM) located in Lagos, a seasoned Evangelist with a strong Apostolic and Prophetic Ministry.

The cleric, who exude an uncommon passion for Nigeria, engages himself in prayers and soul winning activities through village and city-wide crusades under the umbrella of CLAM GLOBAL OUTREACH (CLAMGO) of which he is President.

Lamenting the state of the nation during his sermon recently, Baba Aladura as he's fondly called by his fast growing members said it was wrong for pastors to pray for "unworthy" politicians.

Oladiyun said that politicians, who had oppressed the citizens of the country knowingly or through negligence, should not be prayed for, saying any pastor that prayed for them had committed a sin.

"Why should somebody, who has pocketed millions of Naira meant to improve the standard of living of the populace be prayed for?

After coveting money meant for roads, people ride on those roads and lose their lives. They are dead because of these politicians who later come for prayers. This is a sin," he said.

Continuing, he added: "Pastors know that this is wrong and yet some would go ahead to pray for them.

Whether they are governors or the President, they are all guilty and many have died because of them. These kinds are an abomination, and should therefore not be prayed for.

"I refuse to be a part of this category, am passionate about Nigeria, this is my country, I believe in Nigeria if President Jonathan should come here I would only ask God to give him wisdom, because he's surrounded by occultic people giving him wrong advice, using occultist powers to manipulate

Pastor Wole Oladiyun

him. Even if he has good intension to lead right the people around him will manipulate him".

He however, warned President Jonathan to beware of political sycophants who are wasting the resources of the country in his cabinet.

He said his only prayer for President Jonathan is the Lord will give him boldness to take right decisions.

Oladiyun further lamented that "Nigerians are being wasted because of the failure and inactivity of government to do the right things at the right time,

instead of promulgating policies that will uplift Nigerians, our government is busy incapacitating them.

The nation seems to be moving towards no where.

This was even as he predicted that Nigeria will soon witness a mind-blowing revolution that will

Why should somebody, who has pocketed millions of Naira meant to improve the standard of living of the populace be prayed for? After coveting money meant for roads, people ride on those roads and lose their lives.

They are dead because of these politicians who later come for prayers. This is a sin,"

permeate all segments of the society.

His words: "I see a revolution coming soon but not arms -carrying revolution, but family value revolution whereby people will train their wards to have the fear of God. I see a mindset revolution, whereby people will want to do what is right for the nation.

"I see a governance revolution whereby people want to go to government to do what is right.

"I see an industrial revolution in the country whereby there are industries in every state and local government in this nation.

I see an integrity revolution, morality revolution and spiritual and revival revolution in this nation.

I see a positive turnaround for the nation because we cannot continue like this as a nation".

In 2010, Apostle Oladiyun in a proposal on how to build a new Nigeria titled "How to move Nigeria Forward after 50 years" advocated for N75,000 ($500) as minimum salary a police corporal should earn.

The 75,000 he said will go a long way in motivating and improving the Nigeria police force.

He describes the state of the present police force as very discouraging.

He said in the new Nigeria, resident must know the nearest police station in their environment, the name and number of their Divisional Police Officers and the local government chairman number to report issues and distress to them.

Oladiyun said if citizen begin to disturb those in authority to do what his right, things will begin to change and in no time, Nigeria as a nation will take a new turn.

He however, urged affluent citizens to participate in the growth of the country by contributing to every sector saying government alone can't rebuild Nigeria.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

PAGE 35

Business News Oil coy donates N85m Chest clinic to Osun Govt.

A

n oil company, FAMFA Oil Ltd, has donated N85 million Chest clinics to the Osun Government, to help the state in controlling the spread of tuberculosis and other chest-related diseases.

According to the company’s Chairman, Mrs. Modupe Alakija, the gesture is part of the company’s corporate responsibility role to Nigerians through the implementation of projects in various parts of the country.

She said the company is working to help bring health care delivery closer to the people and improve the quality of life by eradicating tuberculosis, also urged the health workers to maintain and monitor the facilities, which

L-R: Jigawa State Commissioner for Finance, Nasiru Umar Roni, Commissioner of Finance, Katsina State, Mohammed Lawal Jau and their Bauchi State Counterpart, Mahmoud Maijama'r, during the Federal Account Allocation Meeting, yesterday in Abuja.

Photoi: Justin Imo-Owo

Surveyors seeks major role in govt projects, procurement process T

h e Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria wants to play a key role in the procurement process of government projects, in order to further strengthen the development of the country’s infrastructure.

Board’s President, Malam Hussaini Dikko, who said this during the board’s maiden stakeholders’ forum in Abuja help to develop and to achieve improvement in the nation’s economy, which currently is not being adequately considered in the award of projects in Nigeria.

He said that involving the board in the procurement process of government projects “will help to ensure that the projects are delivered according to specifications; because it is very essential to ensure that projects are

awarded within acceptable range, at reasonable cost and get value for money.

“This is what we want to help to develop and to achieve improvement in the nation’s economy, but this is not being adequately considered in the award of projects in Nigeria.

“But there is more to that because what is far more important is getting value for money on investment in projects and that is what we want to achieve through our professional competence.’’

Dikko said the board had registered 630 new quantity surveyors and 95 practising firms in the last two years, compared with 1,281 surveyors and 54 firms registered in the first 21 years of its existence.

“As at September 2010, only 1,281 registered quantity

surveyors and 54 practising firms had been inducted by the board in the previous 21 years, representing an increase of about 50 per cent over what it met; and the 95 practising firms is also an increase of 17.6 per cent over what it met.’’

According to him, the board had overhauled the accreditation system of universities and polytechnics offering quantity surveying, and accredited 10 institutions during the period under review.

He further stressed that the board was created by the enabling law as an agency of government to ensure professionalism in every sphere of quantity surveying practice, as the board would not renege in its efforts to guarantee quality infrastructure development in the country.

(NAN)

included microscopes, rapid sterilisers, x-ray machine, among others.

“Significant among these projects are the chest clinics which we are constructing and donating to hospital across the country to curtail the spread of tuberculosis and other contagious diseases, which we have and will continue to implement several projects to improve health care delivery across the country.” She said.

In his remarks, Gov Rauf Aregbesola, acknowledged the firm for donating the clinic to Osun, and Nigeria, as a whole, which he said would help to save the lives of the citizenry from dangerous and deadly ailment like tuberculosis. (NAN)

Ajaokuta Steel Company will resume production soon —Sada

T

he Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Mohammed Sada, said that the Ajaokuta Steel Company would soon resume production.

The minister who made this known at the Ministerial Briefing of members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) on the ministry`s activities in Abuja, on Thursday, said he met nothing on ground when he assumed office, but so far the ministry generated N60 billion as revenue through mining activities.

He said that 34 mineral types existed in different locations in the country, adding that there was no local government in the country that did not have mineral deposit.

Sada further said that Nigeria

had coal estimate reserves of over 2.7 billion, Iron Ore 10 billion, limestone 3 trillion tonnes and one million ounces of gold.

The minister, however, said that funding was a constraint to the ministry, adding that the ministry got only N1.6 billion out of the N2.16 billion budgeted for it in 2012.

He also said that inadequate manpower, lack of adequate mining special purpose surveillance equipment for field work and revenue collection and monitoring were other challenges facing the sector.

Other challenges, he said, were illegal mining activities; smuggling of minerals and lack of legal and regulatory framework for the steel sector. (NAN)

Abia to train 750 youths in agriculture, says Commissioner

N

o fewer than 750 Abia youths are to benefit from the pilot scheme of the state’s Liberation Farms, being established by the State Government to tackle unemployment.

According to the state's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Eze Chikamnayo, who made the announcement in Umuahia while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this outgoing week’s

State Executive Council meeting, the initiative would boost the production of cassava, cashew, palm produce and other cash crops in the state.

He said that about 30 hectares of land had been acquired in each of the three senatorial zones in the state for the farm project.

Chikamnayo disclosed that the farms would be cited at Abiriba (Abia North), Ukwa (Abia South) and Ikwuano (Abia Central).

(NAN)

Investors task Nigerian, Portuguese authorities on direct flight

N

i g e r i a n and Portuguese investors on Wednesday in Lisbon expressed concerns over the absence of direct flights to and from both countries.

The investors said such flights had become imperative in the drive to boost economic ties and encourage investors to take advantage of vast economic which abound in Afria's second largest economy.

They spoke against the backdrop of renewed efforts to promote trade and investment between both nations at the ``Nigeria Day Investment Forum’’ jointly organised by the Nigerian embassy, and the Nigeria-Portugal

Business Friendship Association.

Some of the investors who spoke to the Western Europe Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said direct flights from both nations would further encourage investors to explore the opportunities abound in Nigeria.

According to the president of the Lisbon-based Golf Resort Hotel, Mr. Luis Varela, said that regular flights operated by Portuguese and Nigerian airlines will be very useful in facilitating business trips, as it will address the challenge of connecting flights from other parts of Europe.

Varela said in the hospitality

business which he operates, and tourism would be easily promoted with more regular and direct flights.

Similarly, Chairman of ‘de Engenhania Lda’, Mr. Pedro Chaves, also noted that direct flights from Portugal to Nigeria would also bridge the gap limiting investors from engaging effectively with their Nigerian partners.

Chaves who recalled the relationship between both countries during the time of early Portuguese explorers said “this was even before the advent of airplanes, so with technology, the world has become a global village where direct flights are possible with the

right arrangements in place’’.

He also stressed the need for simplified business visa process in order to deepen economic ties.

Nigerian Ambassador to Portugal Mrs. Ijeoma Bristol told the News Agency Nigeria (NAN) that both countries would reopen negotiation on the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) in September.

However, Mr Adebisi Shonubi, Managing Director of Nigeria Inter- Bank Settlement System said the volume of passengers would determine such direct flights, noting that ``no company will invest in a venture without expecting returns on

investment’’.

Shonubi, who also head the Nigeria-Portuguese Business Friendship Association further called for a joint flight that would have a stop over in Nigeria adding through plan, ``when the volume of passenger increases, can then press for direct flights’’.

It would be recalled that the previous agreement which had Portuguese airline TAP operating regular flights from Lagos lapsed in 2000.

The Investment Forum was jointly organised by the Nigerian embassy, and the Nigeria-Portugal Business Friendship Association (NAN)

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

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Re: isSovereign wealth fund Who afraid of Gov. Rotimi Amaechi?

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men and women to do nothing" ...Edmund Burke.

A

yi Kweh Amah, a frontline, versatile and prolific Ghanaian author, in his book ' The Beautyful ones are not yet Born' examines post independent African democracies at large and his native Ghana in particular, where he singled out endemic corruption and bureaucratic inertia as the bane for its underdevelopment.

He opined that there is something significantly wrong with our democracies, as corruption and corruptive tendencies, inept leadership with self destructive consequences have hijacked our core values, hence the crude ravaging and ransacking of the heart and soul of the continent.

The word 'Beautyful' is figuratively used in this context to depict a nascent African democracy that buckles under the full weight of ravenous and greedy political class, whose only guiding principles was the degeneration of level of governance where mediocrity and iniquity rules.

With probity and accountability taking a centre stage coupled with good leadership and the determination to depart from the past for a change, Ghana is today a better society as its leaders have demonstrated a clear vision and mission towards the dispensation of the proverbial dividend of democracy.

Sadly, the Nigerian situation is today different. Things have fallen Apart and the centre no longer holds. The average politician as a man of the people has succeeded in creating a big river between development and underdevelopment in our march to nationhood. Consequently, what becomes a norm is the willful vandalization of our common pool and unbridled desecration of the nation's treasury. There is lack of honest, transparent and selfless approach to governance, as high level corruption and monumental looting of our resources occupy the centre stage.

Consequently, the Nigerian state is now laying prostrate due largely to administrative neglect, crumbling social infrastructure and services, high unemployment rate, social deprivation,

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

Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com abject poverty, filth and squalor and endemic social malaise.

The much touted reforms of President Goodluck Jonathan seems to be cosmetic rhetorics and mere propaganda as more than two years down the line, nothing noteworthy has come to Nigerians as goodies of democracy. Buckling under a spineless, clueless and weak government with stifled bureaucratic network, Nigeria is today faced with huge political and socioeconomic challenges which largely translate to its stunted growth and development. What operates today is a confused social order that lends credence to short term vision and long term losses It is for this reason that come 2015, Nigeria must get square pegs in appropriate holes.

We need a change that could usher in peace, prosperity and progress, so that transparency in the art of governance could strengthen our democracy, promote our core values, advance the course of our people and fortify our national psyche to conform to modern democratic order.

I am therefore at home with the philosophical dictates of Warren Bennis who said "leadership is like beauty, it's hard to define, but you know it when you see it" Having set a template for discussion, the fundamental question to ask is; Who is afraid of Gov. Rotimi Amaechi ? For the purpose of records, let me state that I have never met Governor Amaechi except his solid achievements that I see on the screens of our Television stations.

From the exposé on the development strides in Rivers under Gov. Amaechi , I feel deeply humbled by his courage of conviction as a far sighted visionary with deep sense of nationalism. I see him as leader who is in a hurry to change

the destiny of his people and one whose quest to render selfless service is borne out of genuine and patriotic desire to positively respond to our generational challenges.

Little wonder that the Governor's alleged aspiration for a higher office is generating tension in the land. The recent posters that flooded Kaduna and some northern states has not only sent cold shivers but instant diarrhea among some Lilly livered Lilliputians. The Governor's strength of character, formidable democratic structure and depth of strategic thinking is bound to elicit bitter envy from the centre as people whose political future is threatened by the Governors rising profile have resorted to hard tackles with Stone Age tactics.

With solid personal achievement as a democrat of conscience, why should the rumored aspiration of this politician give some lesser mortals sleepless nights in their heaven on earth? Why torment, and persecute an achiever whose only 'crime' is the thought of aspiring to serve his father land? I think these posers are as profound as they are injurious to the tenets of democracy.

As a bridge builder, a grass root mobilizer, a liberal democrat and a charitable achiever, Governor Amaechi's robust approach to issues of democratic governance has endeared him to millions of people as it equally silenced even his most ardent and venomous critics.

As a Governor, he operated a transparent system of government where probity and accountability rules.

Among his numerous achievements, I want to single out for mention the construction of the multi-million Naira American model international primary

and secondary schools flung and scattered across all the senatorial districts of the state. Apart from being a cynosure of beauty to any one in touch with modernity, it will offer an enviable platform to the state's children where brilliance will dazzle mediocrity, scholarship will obliterate darkness and public good will overcome public relations.

The provision of beautiful network of roads in and around Port-Harcour is a clear testimony to a performer's vision and mission in politics. The construction of the new greater Port-Harcourt city, the modernization of waterfront and the multibillion Naira Adokie Amasiemaka stadium are all people oriented projects with the full capacity to rival the achievements of Napoleon The Great.

It is therefore tragic in strategic thinking for some powers that be to stop a moving train. To gag an achiever that is variably described among his kinsmen as the Jewel of the Delta, the government whose action can genuinely be described as a deliberate act of nepotism confiscated almost all the oil wells belonging to Rivers for onward hijack by Bayelsa. As if that is not enough,the chairmanship of the Governors forum currently headed by Amaechi is being rivaled by a stooge whose only credential is subservience to the president. And finally, in trying to frustrate with a view to humiliating the Governor, the 'hunting dogs' of the government has been let loose and are currently approaching the boundaries of the government House barking Wow! Wow! Wow, all with the aim of intimidating to submission, this patriot and a powerful agent of change.

I challenge Governor Amaechi to stand out and be counted among democrats of our time who will pick up the gauntlet with a view to saving the country from eminent collapse. As I end this article, let me leave Gov, Amaechi with Franz Fanon who is generously quoted as saying "Each generation must out of relative obscurity discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it".

Modibbo is an Abuja based journalist. (ibrahimmod1960@yahoo.co.uk)

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

PAGE 37

Opinion Katsina LG Polls: The unending games

By Ahmad B. Kaita

A

n article "Katsina LG Polls: Anxiety, Doubts Envelop Election Date" 3/4/ 13, highlighting the fears many people expressed about the unwillingness of most governors to respect constitutional provisions made to enhance the smooth administration of the third and most abused tier of government; incidentally the tier closest to the people - the local government couldn't be more timely. The article coincided with the withdrawal of my suit against Katsina state government for its refusal to conduct local government elections.

Based on professional advice the suit was withdrawn to deny the government of Katsina state the luxury of employing legal acrobatics to keep foot dragging on local government elections on the flimsy excuse of 'contempt.' Already, rumour mills have it that apart from the laughable excuse of funding the government is giving for its continued refusal to conduct council polls the second reason is my pending suit which has been dragging with endless adjournment. This informed my decision to withdrew the case. Having said that, let's analyse the issue on a broader perspective.

Perhaps, the administrative and constitutional arrangement that made local government the connection between the other tiers of government and the people is its greatest undoing. No doubt, the flaws inherent in the laws governing local administration, though made with the best of intentions left ample room for manipulation which many governors today waste no time to exploit. Of particular interest are the flexible laws governing leadership selection process of this tier.

No doubt this process is having a really bad time in the hands of governors who uses local council's funds to cover their misadventure with state funds. In this devilish scheme, 'joint account' came in handy as a convenient tool. The attempt by the designers of 'joint account' to check corruption and ensure smooth and constant flow of democracy dividends to the grassroot backfired when state governors started to turn their eyes to these accounts to cover their deficits in governance. Now it has

By Abdulhamid Babatunde

A

recent visit to Jigawa State by this reporter provided a unique insight into the issue of good leadership in the north and the prospects for halting and reversing the descent of the region from potential prosperity to abject poverty. Driving past the landmark agricultural project initiated by Governor Audu Bako almost half a century ago at Kadawa and seeing how it had taken on a bounteous life of its own, still bestowing thousands of peasant families with an evergreen source of livelihood and prosperity, the relevance of good leadership to the development of people was crystal clear.

It was perplexing to observe that such a lasting legacy of good leadership which continues to sustain the masses long after its initiator's demise is a rarity in the north, hence the tragedy of stagnation and decadence besieging the region. This was also a redeeming reflection on the popular but erroneous notion that the north has been bereft of good leadership since the days of the great Premier and Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello.

Arriving Dutse and beholding the emergence of a modern capital city in the heart of a hitherto desolate hinterland of Nigeria was ecstatic. Asphalted dual carriage-ways, gleaming government buildings, street lights and the frenzy of on-going urban infrastructure and renewal projects captured the attention of the reporter whose last visit to Dutse was in the

reached an alarming stage where such accounts are simply turned into slush funds for the governors to do as they wish with chairmen practically turned into glorified "cashiers" running errands for most governors. What happened to the mandate hanging on the necks of these "cashiers" can best be explained by these modern day Pharaohs. Perhaps, this may explain the desire of governors to impose the most subservient cronies in position of leadership in the system to do their bids. Where this desire faces threat of polls revolt, the governors turns to the creative "caretaker" arrangement.

Interestingly, the complimentary effort by the legislative arm to build a cushion that would soften the brutal effect of the executive bringandage was met with stiff resistance by the executive. The idea of "constituency project" was brought about by the glaring infrastructural deficit that has virtually became part of the Nigerian system. Regimes breeze in and breeze out with promises of social and developmental reforms with nothing to show for it while the promises kept being recycled. It was this unpatriotic void that "constituency projects" is addressing; and excellently too. Many state governors cannot compete with these projects in their domain both in purpose and quality.

Unlike state projects, constituency projects are designed and executed with meticulous precision.

In-built safety mechanisms make it impossible to temper with constituency projects unlike local council funds that can be juggled with like a yoyo.

The smear campaign engaged by the executive arm to tarnish the image of many hard working members of the legislature by weaving lies around these projects were simple efforts to demobilise the "lie detector" that constituency projects has became.

Virtually the country is now running on constituency projects. Call it the "PTF" of our time if you like. In saner societies, the idea of a legislature performing the functions of the executive by providing basic necessities to local communities is enough to expose the rot in the executive arms.

Every prize have a price. The price for the success of the "constituency projects" were the illogical lies sponsored by the real cheats (the executive) desperate to cover their tracks. Many people were brainwashed

to accept "constituency projects" as some kind of pool for slush funds that the legislative arm can play with like the infamous "joint account." Few people know the intricacies of accessing funds for constituency projects. In a well thought plan, the process is made stringent and almost "FRAUD PROOF." This process is an all inclusive that carries along the executive, legislature and the public, while the judiciary enforces compliance. So much lies have been woven around this that many people believe members just carry constituency projects funds in the trunk of their cars to do as they wish. It was a creative method of diverting attention by the executive.

From the time constituency projects was incorporated in to the system to date, I'm yet to hear a past or serving member who confesses to any dealings in regard to constituency projects. More amazing, no one is in prison or court for any constituency project related offence despite all the sponsored noise being made about the imaginary abuse being perpetrated. Of course, we can agree, former legislatures could not be as powerful as former governors many of whom are cooling their heels in prisons and a good number jumping from court to court fighting corruption charges.

How this failed to register on the people is truly amazing.

Agreed, some may argue that the legislature have a fair share of "rats", but then we also have to agree there are many "cats" patrolling the corridors of the chambers. We have instances where members publicly rejected hundreds of millions of Naira from the executive arm.

What stopped these honourable men from exposing any shadowy arrangement in regard to constituency projects can better be explained by the proponents of these ideas.

Narrowing this issue, the anxiety expressed by Ilelah in his piece further amplified and exposed the systematic fiscal and administrative abuse local councils are suffering under the leadership of governor Ibrahim Shehu shema of Katsina state; incidentally a barrister of "repute." This professional reputation however, which ordinarily should add value to the system did little or nothing to help ensure adherence and respect to rule of law in local

government administration in the state. So disreputable is the system that even a goat in Katsina is aware - down to the tiniest detail of the "ONE MAN CHOP" policy governing local council administration. The fiscal rascality with which the regime of governor Shema administers local government funds through the instrumentality of 'joint account' is something that Katsinawa of all ideological bent wishe to see an end to.

Projects/policies designed with devilish ingenuity were being executed with the governor as the major beneficiary. Take for instance the rumoured purchase of drugs for local councils. It was alleged that about N800m is being expended quarterly to purchase drugs for the 34 LG councils while in reality only a fraction of it reaches the people. These are the kind of issues we encourage people to come forward and challenge the government to explain. How do one reconcile such a huge quarterly amount with our empty hospitals?

This technique is built on the silly idea that expenditure for consumables is not easily verifiable.

It can easily be said that the refusal of the government to conduct council elections may be due to the fear of losing the leech like hold Shema have on the councils and, an even more horrifying fear of the expose any leadership structural change in the councils may bring about. Not an unfounded fear, considering many rumoured instances of funds released with strict instructions to return most of it to the "Palace." Even if this remain unsubstantiated rumour for now, people can hazard a guess at the dirt that may be uncovered with a change of government. Nobody should live with the illusion that people will not talk. Talk they will, and with facts too.

It was this desire that necessitated my action to drag the government to court to force the regime to conduct council elections.

Trust the ingenuity of the "learned" people.

My legal option was reduced to an excuse for the regime not to conduct council elections for fear of "contempt." I was left with no option than to withdraw my case to deny the government the luxury of exploiting legal rigmarole to pursue an anti people agenda.

Ahmad B. Kaita is a member of the House of Representatives from Katsina state.

Jigawa in the Northern jigsaw puzzle "ancient" eighties, when only its rocky landscape was remarkable in the Sahelian environment. But, for a 21 year old state there was something strange about the newness of the roads and buildings that bogged the mind.

By the time one had compiled an inventory of the development projects after a gruelling tour round the rapidly expanding capital city, the mystery transformed into a miracle of good leadership, recalling the Audu Bako/Ahmadu Bello reminiscences earlier mentioned.

Prominent projects that project the dynamic development profile of the Jigawa State capital include the Three Arms Zone, a modern integrated complex of imposing buildings exclusively structured to accommodate the tripartite institutional arms of democratic government comprising the new secretariat, the House of Assembly and the High Court and their full complement of supporting facilities strategically sited in the vicinity. Its completion has greatly boosted the morale of Jigawa's civil servants who had been disenchanted with the policy of locating ministries across local governments. No less awe-inspiring is the iconic Aminu Kano Triangle, an architectural symbolic memorabilia in honour of the trail-blazing political leadership and awakening of the

Talakawa by the great Malam Aminu Kano and the historic pronouncement of the Sawaba Declaration by its eight NEPU founders on 8/ 8/1948. Not even Kano can boast of a Sawaba Monument of this magnitude! A similar edifice is the G9 Quarters in Dutse dedicated to the pioneering stages of PDP formation.

Housing, road and other infrastructure developments are taking place all over Dutse.

An array of official and private residences of all top Jigawa State government functionaries who are encouraged by government to build their personal homes in the city are complemented by the sprawling Dutse and other housing estates. Township road construction projects in progress soon lead to the transformed Rasheed Shekoni Hospital and the bustling Manpower Development Institute.

The image of a rapidly developing capital city is unmistakable. The Yakubu Gowon NYSC and Sports Centre is a fully-facilitated haven for orientation of corps members with year-round functionality. Dutse's development index is soon to be further elevated on completion of the Dutse Airport scheduled to handle this year's Hajj.

Amazingly, these are all foundationlaying projects everyone would expect a 21 year old state to have in place in its formative few years but alas, they are virtually all

projects that have been executed only in the last six years since the Sule Lamido Administration was elected, raising eyebrows about Jigawa's first 15 years. Considering Jigawa State's lowly ranking in allocation of federal revenue it is head-shrinking to imagine what must be going on in supposedly older and richer states, especially bearing in mind the zero-loan policy of the Jigawa government. Yet this is actually taking place in the remote fringes of the "hopeless" North, supposedly synonymous with corruption and bad leadership.

The only logical explanation for the awesome achievements of Governor Sule Lamido with so little and in so short a time, is the effective deployment of genuine commitment to human development, prudent management of available public resources and selfless determination to build a legacy of good leadership which, the governor insists, is the basic responsibility of all good leaders. His marvellous actions speak even louder than his humble words of inspiration. Fellow northerners and all Nigerians to note!

Abdulhamid Babatunde , former Editor of the defunct Democrat Newspaper, is a media consultant in Kaduna

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Online comments that should be devoid of Fashola reopens Ladipo bitterness among its personnel. market Alana My brother recommended that I may like website. He was Islamic foundation replaces totally right. This news actually Wazirin Katsina The exercise was long overdue.

Audi, S. A

made my day. You can't believe simply how much time I had spent waiting for this information! Thank you!

Hoodia Supplement Recruitment, promotion irregularities rock Army Well, in every enterprise there are bound to be losers and winners; promotion and appointment inclusive. For this issue to become a subject of discuss certainly attracts some consideration. What is reportedly happening in the Nigerian Navy, could be an eyeopener to what the other services are enduring with pains. The President should as a matter of urgency, constitute a panel to investigate these and other allegations in the Armed forces to establish the veracity or otherwise of these claims.

The Military is one institution

Amnesty: The morning after May the Almighty Allah guide Nigeria through this amnesty process and handle squarely, those that might try to sabotage the process. I pray to Allah to bring peace back to our region and our dear nation as a whole.

TZR

Scrapping of NECO: Students' dilemma If the idea is to cut cost, then this is very unfortunate. Our educational sector is already in a very bad state. Why look at the education sector for cost reduction. This governmentt should as a matter of urgency look at itself. The system of government in this country is too expensive aside from the fact that over 100% of Nigeria' s politicians are corrupt. The government should look at cutting cost in the running of the two houses of the National Assembly, ministers, advisers, etc. Let the governmentt remember that if they destroy the education sector, Boko Haram will be a child's play to what this country will degenerate into. Be advised that in some of these

actions, there must always be judgedforeverysinglesoulthatthey sent to untimely death. If you who reaction, positive or negative. claim to be elders would be honest, Lee then things like this would not have Asari Dokubo defends come up at all. You are a typical Jonathan on politician and in my view, worse Alamieyeseigha pardon than those whom you negatively I don't know why I don't trust referenced. this man. In an interview last year Don with Daily Trust, he narrated 2015: S/south group endorses Buhari/Oshiomhole ticket If Nigeria will change, these people will do it. Buhari/ Oshiomhole can fight corruption and bring security. Fashola/Rochas can transform and unite Nigeria.

Ameka Board sacks Mint MD, others

how he shared the same cell with the late Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf and also narrated how 'nice' the BH leader was, not forgetting that he said he converted to Islam in Maiduguri.

Asari has been given a multibillion naira contract by this government. Just then, some foreign terrorists were caught at Ijora in Lagos with IEDs at a property owned by the Bayelsa State Government. I don't know‌ please somebody should dig into this deeper.

Dandee Boko Haram: What northern elders told Jonathan Wanteregh Paul Unongo as quoted, is a dishonest man. Every single man of the inner caucus of the Nazi-rule is till today hunted down and that is called justice. You said one truth though, "they are terrorists", yet, you want to pardon terrorists without due cause of justice. They could be pardoned for being terrorists but they must be

The problem in the Mint came from the refusal of the management to pay the workers well. The workers in the mint are not treated like their counterparts in the central bank of Nigeria. How can you pay those who print the naira peanuts and expect orderliness?

Amon Zamfara Assembly sets up committee to investigate ZSUBEB I commend the Honourable House of Assembly of Zamfara state for the very positive decision taken to reverse the sorrowful condition of the teachers in Zamfara state (UBE) via the unnecessary slashing of salaries by management of the board.

Ibrahim Jangebe

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Interview

FG needs marshal plan to rehabilitate Boko Haram —Senator Lawal A

s an ANPP stalwart in Kaduna State and founder of the new Greater Kaduna Group, won't it look as if the group is another platform for recruiting people into APC? I am not the founder of Kaduna Greater Group. I am just the convener and without any apology, I know I'm a politician. But I want to tell you that politics for me is a higher calling. Politics for me is a call to duty, it is not about getting office for anything. The APC you are talking about has not even been registered in the first place.

Even the name APC is under contention. I am very sure that about four groups have applied to use same name. So, to say we are recruiting for APC, I think it does not hold a wall. We are not recruiting for APC but if by the grace of God, anybody find place in our heart or agrees with what we are doing and decide to join GKG, I think he will be welcome.

I can only tell you that the invitation we sent out on this issue was not given to opposition alone, it was given to all concerned citizens of this state. If we want to recruit for APC or any political party, we will just have meetings with local people and register them. But our essence is to make the society a better place for you and me, most importantly for our children.

We cannot continue the way we are going. If we do that, we are just living in self deceit and it is just a matter of time that we will all live to regret what is happening.

So, we call on the press in particular and other well meaning Nigerians even if you are not joining us in GKG. Get something doing, enlighten people, hold people in authority accountable, expose corruption, try to promote good governance.

We want to make the society a better place for all, that is the central message. Of course, politics is a vehicle for doing that but this is not a time for politics. We will talk to political parties about the essence of our mission in due course. I thank God we are also politicians and we know what it takes to be in politics.

I have been in the opposition for 14 years and if our aim is to make money out of politics, probably I will not be there by now. Our whole lives have been spent in opposition and we are still there. We did not decamp to PDP or any party. We will never do anything like that because we want to serve the society, that is our mission and that is what gave birth to GKG. President Jonathan was recently alleged to have directed his aides to frustrate the registration process of APC so that the party can remain a still born political party.

What is your take on this?

There is nothing abnormal or unusual about that as far as I am concerned. I think it is politics the

The Kaduna State Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party ANPP Senator Mohammed Lawal Aliyu recently spoke to journalists including our correspondent, Mohammed Ibrahim on a new association- Greater Kaduna Group(GKG), state and national issues especially the politics and security challenges facing the nation and what should be done to curtail it.

Sen. Mohammed Lawal way he understands it. People understand politics differently.

Maybe that is his understanding, that is, only when there is one party that he will get what he wants or Nigeria will be a better place. Incidentally, we are 160 million people and a lot of us know their onions very well and I'm not a major promoter of APC but I know the promoters of APC are equal to the task.

If they have their interest and they want to protect it, I believe within the limit of the law, they will achieve their objectives. So allow politicians to do their politics, let the president use his office or footsoldiers and let the other people try to have their way. I believe they will have a voice.

If what you are saying happens to be the truth, then it is unfortunate because the office of the president is not an office that should descend so low into doing this funny things you are talking about.

You said that your organization is out for awareness creation, particularly in Kaduna state and given your background as a politician, does this this include shopping for a good candidate for the state's gubernatorial election come

2015?

We are providing a platform for service, for good governance.

We want to give people sense of awareness. I don't want to go deep into what our plans are but I can tell you that we will continue to use the press, we will continue to use the internet, we will use the Radio to try and enlighten our people.

If through our activities, descent and good people pick interest and decide to come out to look for elective positions, I think we will be proud to say we have contributed our quota towards the development of a betterKaduna state.

But that is not our main

objectives for now. Our objective is to enlighten, educate and to hold those people in authority accountable for what they are doing and what they refused to do.

How do you intend to sustain the KGG? Like I said, our group is that of professionals. We have doctors, professors, in fact, every member of this group is an accomplish person in his own right. So, the issue of sustaining this outlet should not be a problem to any one of us.

How will you assess Governor Muktar Yero 100 days in office?

To be honest with you, there is nothing to assess because you only assess what you see. As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing for me to assess. I did not see anything happening and it is difficult for me to assess anything in the vacuum.

Maybe, I will take the opportunity to probably ask the governor to try and sit up and face his responsibilities and give the people of Kaduna state the dividend of democracy, that is building roads, hospitals, schools e.t.c. I have not seen anything being built and no single contract has been awarded.

So, for me his performance is zero.

This is one of the things we want to address with our outfit.

What is your opinion on amnesty for Boko Haram insurgents?

In the first place, I don't believe that members of Boko Haram are ghosts. I believe the government knows where they are, because it is their responsibility to tell us who this Boko Haram is. I don't think it is right for the president to come on air telling us that he has ghosts in this nation.

He has all the security outfits at his disposal, the army, Police, SSS, name them. In the last budget of 2013, I understand President Jonathan asked for 1 trillion naira for security. This one trillion naira is not going to be used for Police,

“

He has all the security outfits at his disposal, the army, Police, SSS, name them. In the last budget of 2013, I understand President Jonathan asked for 1 trillion naira for security.

This one trillion naira is not going to be used for Police, army or SSS salary. This is money they can spend to guarantee the safety of lives and properties of citizens of this nation.

army or SSS salary. This is money they can spend to guarantee the safety of lives and properties of citizens of this nation.

With all these bombings in Kano, attack on the emir, attacks on schools, churches, barracks in Borno, Yobe; by the grace of God, we have seen the last of it in Kaduna state. For security agents to come out to tell us that they have discovered bomb factories in one location to the other and that so so and so person has been arrested and now you come and be telling us that somebody is a ghost.

I think what is important is for them to rise up to their responsibilities and make sure these things stop or otherwise, we will begin to think they are the Boko Haram. This is because they refuse to expose who the Boko Haram is and if they fail to do that, Nigerians will hold them as the real Boko Haram.

So, my personal opinion with regards to amnesty is that, you see amnesty been granted to armed robbers, thieves, people that stole billions of naira recently. The kind of money that can sustain the whole state for one year... not just that he stole but he also jumped bail. Information given to us was that he dressed like a lady to run from justice in the United Kingdom.

Later, he resurfaced at Bayelsa Government House. Thank God, Ribadu was in EFCC then and Obasanjo was the president and there was a little justice to him.

Today, he is working a free man because he has been granted amnesty or pardon. I want to believe that if the money he has stolen were given to the National Hospital Abuja or some decent hospital around, they could save million lives.

So, if a criminal can be given amnesty, I think people that take up arms for whatever reasons, although not that I believe in what they are doing. Far from that- but I think they are minor criminals compared to him. Besides, we have MEND in Niger Delta who are also killing, stealing crude oil and kidnapping people. These same people have been given amnesty. They are there undergoing rehabilitation.

So, it is not even the issue of amnesty itself that we need. What we need is a marshal plan that will rehabilitate these people because no normal human being will allow himself to be used to kill another person. No human being that believe in tomorrow will allow himself to commit such a crime.

So, what we need to do, is a marshal plan such as Borno State Governor was talking about which will rehabilitate these people.

Remove them from bombings so that they will not see crime as an alternative option. There has to be a skill and rehabilitation so that we can have peace in this nation

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

PAGE 41

Weekend CAN U-17: African cadet stars begin march to glory

Eaglets.

By Patrick Andrew

B

arely three weeks after an array of African cadet talents were on display in Algeria at the CAF U-20 championship, another set of prodigies will showcase their round leather artistry in the CAN U-17 fiesta featuring eight countries in Casablanca and

The ffixtur ixtur es ixtures Casablanca today Group 'A' 15:00 Morocco vs. Gabon 18:00 Tunisia vs. Gabon Marrakech Sunday 14th April Group 'B' 15:00 Congo vs. Cote d'Ivoire 18:00 Nigeria vs. Ghana Past Winners of the CAF U-17 Championship 2011 Burkina Faso 2009 Gambia 2007 Nigeria 2005 Gambia 2003 Cameroon 2001 Nigeria 1999 Ghana 1997 Egypt 1995 Ghana

Marrakech, Morocco.

The fiesta will offer the ambience for the display of the continental's budding aces. Of course, these starlets are sure to throw up the usual robust flair: the flamboyance and artistry brilliance that players of African extraction are renowned for.

The tournament's history is replete with a flurry of starlets that later blossomed some to global reckoning. Former Arsenal's Nwankwo Kanu, Marseille's Andre Ayew, Nee Lamptey of Ghana, compatriot Anthony Yeboah, Seydou Keita of Mali, Morocco's Yousuf Hadji, John Obi Mikel of Chelsea among an array of fledgling stars that twinkled with glow.

And so since it incepted in 1995, the tournament has been a breeding ground for future African stars. This 10th edition is sure to provide no less excitement and prospects for future stars.

Surely, the cubs of the Atlas Lions and their counterparts from Gabon, the cubs of Les Panthères, will take to the pitch in the opening clash.

Next will be the fierce contest between Botswana's Junior Zebras and Carthage Eaglets of Tunisia, to complete group A opening fixtures.

No doubt, the group B with

Nigeria, Ghana, Congo and Ivory Coast could be prove to be the tougher of the two considering the pedigree of the teams particularly Ghana and Nigeria, both two times winners of the trophy.

The Golden Eaglets will kickstart the campaign against their regional rivals-the Black Starlets in what could arguably be the final before the final.

The coach Paa Kwesi Fabin's team last Thursday lost narrowly to Sampdoria in one its many friendly games, it is on record that they defeated Swiss secondtier side FC Gossau 10-0 and

finalised their preparation with a convincing 6-2 win.

Intimidating as that would appear, the Golden Eaglets, however, seem to hold a better one with 27 matches unassailable record in both competitive and friendly duels only drawing once.

Coach Manu Garba, who was part of the technical crew that won the 2007 African Under-17 Championship in Togo and FIFA World Cup same year in Korea, exudes such confidence that he believes the present squad is far better than that year's.

"I do remember that the team we took to Korea actually lost one

of its qualifying matches away to Morocco but this present squad have not lost a game in spite of the fact that we have met stiffer oppositions along the way," he said.

With the absence of Burkina Faso, the defending champions, the eight teams are to take advantage to gun for a sip in the trophy.

The semi finalists will represent Africa at the FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates next October, this evidently is the priority of all teams. The two-week tournament will end on April 27.

NFF denies appointing Amodu technical director

A

lthough the media had been awashed with reports that former Super Eagles chief coach Amodu Shuaibu as been appointed the Nigeria Football Federation's technical director, the chairman technical subcommittee,Chris Green, has debunked the said appointment.

Green headed the committee

that interviewed Amodu alongside James Peters and Kashimawo Laloko for the vacant post on Monday.

"The NFF has not appointed Amodu or any other individual as technical director. I have read some reports in some sections of the media that the NFF has appointed Amodu as technical director.

Although he admitted that letters were issued to the gentlemen informing them that they are considered for appointment as director and two assistants, he insisted that no formal appointment has been made as they were directed to study the proposed offer and then inform the federation accordingly.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Centenary celebration committee submits proposals to Anyim T

he Sports Committee for the Centenary Peace Celebration in 2014 has submitted its proposals to the Federal Government for approval.

The committee, an off-shoot of the Nigeria Peace Centenary Celebration, was set up to draw up some social, economic and cultural activities to mark Nigeria's 100 years of existence as a country.

The Chairman, Sports Committee of the Centenary, Fabio Olanipekun, confirmed yesterday that the proposal had been submitted to Anyim Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Federal Government.

Olanipekun said that Anyim, who is also the National Coordinator of the Centenary, promised the committee that the

proposals would be implemented. ``My committee took cognisance of the importance of sports in Nigeria, and the emotional attachments our people have to sports, especially football, in packaging our proposals. ``It is a comprehensive package that will showcase monumental feats achieved by our sports heroes and heroines over the past 100 years of Nigeria's existence," he said.

Olanipekun said that sports activities were among the events that Nigerians would be entertained with during the celebration in 2014.

According to him, his committee would start work as soon as its proposals were approved, to cover the time

Kareem's C'wealth fight suffers another postponement

Yaqub Kareem (kareem)

T

he Commonwealth Super Flyweight title defence bout between Nigeria's Yaqub Kareem and Britain's Paul Butler, scheduled for last night at the Liverpool Olympia, England has been postponed till April 20.

Olatunji Isikiola, Kareem's coach, who confirmed this yesterday, said the news of the postponement got the team after they had arrived in Liverpool ahead of the duel.

According to him, the organisers failed to give reasons for postponing the fight for the second time, after Kareem had settled the issue of visa and travelled since Wednesday. ``The fight had been postponed two times now and

this time, they refused to disclose why it was postponed. ``I believe this is just the politics and antics of the British opponent which I have warned Kareem not to be ignorant of, so he has prepared well. ``We know what is at stake and we are not ready to take any chances for Butler to dislodge Kareem in the title bout,'' he said.

Isikiola urged Nigerians not to be demoralised, but to give their total support to Kareem to win the Commonwealth title defence fight.

Kareem became the current Commonwealth Super Flyweight champion after claiming seven technical knockouts against the former title holder, Ghana's Johnson Cobbinah, in Accra in 2011.

frame.

He said that the committee's proposals included the broadcast of notable matches of the various national teams on television, including the female national

teams, during the period.

The chairman added that sports talk-shows aimed at rekindling national interest in active athletes, would also be anchored by renowned sports

veterans.

Former President-General, Lord Lugard, in 1914, amalgamated the then Northern and Southern protectorates to what is today called Nigeria.

NRFF won't seek re-elections

T

he president of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Richard Ajayi, has disclosed that the entire officials of the federation would not seek reelections into their respective positions.

Ajayi made the revelation at a stakeholders meeting where he gave the stewardship of their four-year tenure.

"I can assure you that we will not want to serve twice. The four-year duration we have served in office is enough for us,'' he said and went on to assert that their tenure had produced over 100 certified coaches across the nation, more than 12 certified referees, as well as some 3,000 children now playing rugby in the north.

However, the assertion particularly as respect the game in the north was fiercely contested by northern delegates.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have disagreed with the outgoing NRFF president over the federation's concession adopted since 2009 by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Divergent views on the imperative or otherwise of the concession became apparent on Thursday at the stakeholders meeting held on Thursday in Lagos specifically to fine-tune the developments processes for the sport.

Tempers rose when a member, Edward Pamfom, asked the president the terminal date for the concession contract, instead of expected response, the house became divided into factions: the stakeholders and the federation's outgoing officials.

Pamfom, the Northern Zonal Coordinator for Rugby, had also sought to know the importance of the concession.

However, Ajayi later said that the concession would be terminated on June 9 and added that the concession was not only a good idea, but has brought notable developments to the sport, over the years.

Ajayi added that by the end of their tenure, the outgoing NRFF officials would not be seeking re-election, but hoped that the concession process

would still be allowed to continue.

After the heated arguments, the NRFF president excused himself from the meeting and asked Tunde Akinrele, the Chairman of the forum, to continue with the deliberations.

Later, Akinrele and the stakeholders jointly decided that a communiqué would be prepared and would be immediately forwarded to the NSC. Akinrele assured that the communiqué would include the dissolution of the concession arrangement, to pave the way

for democratically elected officials.

The Secretary-General, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Tunde Popoola, who later came into the meeting, calmed the aggrieved stakeholders, saying that the communiqué should be their priority.

Popoola assured that the NSC would treat the communiqué with utmost respect and assured the stakeholders that the forthcoming election into the rugby board would be absolutely democratic.

Isinbayeva to launch season in Shanghai

P

ole vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva will make her first appearance of the season at next month's Diamond League meeting in Shanghai, the Russian athletics federation (VFLA) said on Thursday.

According to media reports, it seems Isinbayeva was considering retirement after failing to win her third consecutive gold at last year's London Olympics and then missing the indoor season.

However, VFLA chief Valentin Balakhnichyov said the 30-year-old would definitely compete at the world championships in Moscow in August.

"She has been training hard. She wants to come back stronger than ever," Balakhnichyov told Reuters.

The flamboyant Russian was virtually unbeatable in the pole vault after setting her first world record in 2003 but has struggled to maintain her dominance since the 2009 world championships.

The Shanghai meeting will take place on May 18.

Yelena Isinbayeva (season)

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

PAGE 43

WEEKEND FIXTURES Barclays Premier League Arsenal v Norwich Aston Villa v Fulham Everton v QPR Reading v Liverpool Sunday Newcastle v Sunderland Stoke v Man Utd thampton v West Ham French Ligue 1 Troyes AC Ajaccio Evian TG Lorient Brest Bordeaux Sunday Nice Lyon Lille

Yaya Toure and Torres

Manchester City battle Chelsea in FA semi-finals M

a n c h e s t e r City and Chelsea can make up for unfulfilling campaigns in the Premier League by winning their FA Cup semifinal tomorrow and installing themselves as heavy favourites to lift the old trophy next month.

City's 2-1 league win at Old Trafford on Monday is unlikely to trigger a meltdown by Manchester United, who holds a commanding 12-point lead over their neighbours with just

seven games left. In fact, City and third-place Chelsea have already conceded the title.

It makes their meeting at Wembley Stadium all the more pivotal, especially since the winners will take on Premier League strugglers Wigan or second-tier Millwall in the final.

"We are aware people are saying our semifinal is going to be 'The Final, City defender Pablo Zabaleta said, "but that is disrespectful to Millwall and Wigan. Nobody

wins a trophy for winning a semi.

Buoyed by their derby win, City should also be the fresher team for the game as Chelsea faces a grueling return trip from Russia after taking on Rubin Kazan in the Europa League quarterfinals on Thursday.

It will be a bittersweet moment for Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, whose career was ruined at the age of 23 when he broke his leg at Wembley in the FA Cup final in 1960.

Bayern face Barcelona as Real Madrid Wenger blasts host against Dortmund UCL referees

T

h e prospect of an all-German or an all-Spanish European Champions League final next month remains alive after yesterday's semifinal draw.

But with the Spanish and German teams kept apart when European football's governing body Uefa made the draw for the last four, the Wembley showpiece could just as easily feature yet another GermanySpain clash.

Last year's beaten finalists Bayern Munich, who have already secured the Bundesliga title, take on Spanish league leaders Barcelona.

Their arch-rivals Barcelona and Bayern both have four and Borussia weigh in with

their single victory in 1997 when they upset favourites Juventus 3-1 in the final.

Neutral fans were probably hoping for a Bayern v Barcelona final, promising a feast of football between arguably the continent's two top teams of the moment.

The semifinal is given added piquancy in that former Barca coach Pep Guardiola is to take over the helm at Munich's Allianz Arena next year.

Bayern, having comprehensively dispatched Juventus in the last round, again have home advantage first but are unlikely to find the Barca defence as porous as the Italians, who shipped four goals without reply over the two legs.

Borussia Dortmund players celebrate victory and a place in the semifinals in UCL

A

r s e n a l manager Arsene Wenger has described some of the refereeing in this season's Champions League as "disastrous" and welcomed the news that goalline technology will be introduced in the Premier League next season.

Wenger, who saw the Gunners knocked out of Europe's elite competition by semifinalists Bayern Munich, was unequivocal in his condemnation of key decisions in some recent big games.

As he reflected on Borussia Dortmund's contentious victory against Malaga on Tuesday, the Arsenal manager said: "When you look at the level of the referee that we have seen in Europe this week, it is absolutely disastrous what happened.

"Honestly, the refereeing has been very poor in the Champions League. I don't know why. You analyse all the teams in the semifinals, how they have gone through, there have many, many decisions that have been wrong.

"In Dortmund, when you have four players who are offside and no one sees it, how can that happen? Then another player is offside and he scores a goal and we have to stand here and defend it. It's absolutely not acceptable.

European football's governing body remains firmly opposed to any form of technology being introduced in the Champions League, and Wenger dismissed the suggestion that the additional officials employed behind the goal in Champions League and Europa League game provided an answer.

v v v v v v

PSG AS Nancy Rennes Bastia Reims Montpellier

v v v

Sochaux Toulouse Marseille

German Bundesliga Bayern Munich v Nurnberg Wolfsburg v TSG Hoffenheim Mainz v Hamburg Greuther Furth v B/ Dortmund F/Dusseldorf v W/Bremen Schalke 04 v B/Leverkusen Sunday VfB Stuttgart v B/ M'gladbach Augsburg v E/Frankfurt Italy Serie A Pescara Atalanta Sunday Palermo Chievo Cagliari Torino Genoa Parma AC Milan

v v

Siena Fiorentina

v v v v v v v

Bologna Catania Inter Milan Roma Sampdoria Udinese Napoli

Spanish Primera Liga Valladolid v Getafe Levante v D/ La Coruna Espanyol v Valencia Malaga v Osasuna Sunday Rayo Vallecano v Real Sociedad Atletico Madrid v Granada Real Zaragoza v Barcelona Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid The FA Cup Millwall Sunday Chelsea

v

Wigan

v

Man City

Sunday CAF Confederation Cup Academic v Motema Pembe Sunday Nigeria Professional Football League 3SC v Akwa United F.C. v Bayelsa Sunshine Stars v Wikki Tourists Sharks v Kano Pillars Heartland v Lobi Stars Dolphins Rangers v Gombe Nasarawa United v Enyimba v Kwara Nembe City v Kaduna Warri Wolves v El-Kanemi

PAGE 44

P I C T O R I A L

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

A goalkeeping legend in England and Wales's most-capped player, Neville Southall worked as a waiter and then a binman before getting his big break. Now he is teaching excluded children.

Chelsea - the Premier League's last representatives in European competition have been drawn to face FC Basel in the semi-finals of the Europa League, while Turkish side Fenerbahce will play Portuguese giants Benfica for a place in the Amsterdam final.

Spain's bitter Clasico rivals have been kept apart in the draw for the semi-finals of the Champions League, with Barcelona being pitted against last year's finalists Bayern Munich and Real Madrid taking on Borussia Dortmund for a place at Wembley

American heavyweight Deontay Wilder promises to knock Audley Harrison into retirement when they meet in Sheffield.

From karate to climbing, wakeboarding to wushu, BBC Sport profiles the seven sports bidding for a place at the 2020 Olympics.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

PAGE 45

Interview

Amnesty: FG can start dialogue with detained sect members, says Unongo Who were among the northern elders that held a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan recently, what informed your decision to table the issue of amnesty?

We made a lot of presentations and our position is that, our country is dear to us. And this country supersedes the ambition of anyone. The viability of it, the sustainability of it is critical to us. We have seen so much, we lived through a lot and we gained experiences along the line. And we felt that if a government was confronted with problems, and we watch the country drifting from the position of perhaps bad to worse, and that at our ages most of us are above 70 very few of us are below 70, that this is really serious. So we felt, we are morally and even religiously obligated to offer useful suggestions. So he should study the insurgency and the insecurity in Nigeria and make it a priority and we offered suggestions on how he should go about it that include the amnesty.

Does it make sense to dialogue with people who take the laws into their hands?

Did we not dialogue with criminals even here in Nigeria? In the First World War, those people who caused war for the whole world and lost millions, didn't we dialogue as human beings with criminal Germany that eliminated almost 8 million Jews? How did the war ended? Was it killing all the Germans?

Why do Nigerians want Mr. President to fail, lying to him that these are religious problem?

I am a Christian and as a Christian, why is Mr. Ayo Oritsejafor lying to the President that it is a war against Christians even when large numbers of Muslims are killed. Boko Haram is a more complex phenomenon and they should leave President Jonathan alone. He is on the right track; this is not a religious war.

The Muslims in Kano, the Muslims in Borno, the Muslims in Yobe all hate Boko Haram more than you because Boko Haram has wrecked such havoc on their families -they have lost their wives, they have lost their monies, they have lost their trade, they have lost everything they have. How can they support Boko Haram? I am from the north; I come from Makurdi, Gboko in Tiv land. I am a northerner and they say northerners are killing people. These are agents' provocateurs; these are enemies of Nigeria; these are people pushing Jonathan to make a mistake.

It was Mr. President unknown to many of us that was pivotal to the solution of the Niger Delta problem. So what is wrong in talking to the people that come from other part of Nigeria in the north and giving them a chance to have a change of heart? You wouldn't know what would happen until you give them that chance to change their heart. Why would the Christian come into this as if it is a Christian matter when the evidence on the ground is so emphatically convincing that these people who are opposed to dialogue and amnesty are the main enemies of Nigeria? Mr. President has a serious problem of terrorism in the country on his hand which is much bigger than all the thieves of Nigeria, than all the enemies of Nigeria. The people arrested by the police, are they only Muslims? There are some of them that are Christians.

Can there really be negotiation with a faceless group as against the case of the Niger Delta militants that are identifiable?

We told the President that if we create conditions and define the conditions of amnesty and there is protection and there is the sort of things we provided the people of the

Elder statesman and spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Wantaregh Paul Unongo in this interview with Edwin Olofu is of the strong conviction that the proposed amnesty to members of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents could bring to an end the bloodshed.

Chief Wantaregh Paul Unongo Niger Delta, we could negotiate with them.

You can't end a war by perpetual war which is the theory presented to Jonathan by the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) because he doesn't want Jonathan to talk to the people who are the warring people. He wants soldiers to kill them the more, finish them, and kill them. These are the people who tie bombs around themselves up to be blown up; do they care about their lives? They see innocent people in the Church, in the Mosque and with their children, with their wives, in universities, in their homes, and they tie bombs around their bodies, when they go who do they kill first?

They kill themselves first. They press the button and blow themselves and it becomes a bomb. Do they care if you kill them? Can you solve the problem by killing them? How many would you kill?

Those people who make the president feel he can get solution by killing them are mad. I am a psychologist; I know the human mind; and I taught it in the university. When you make somebody feels that there is worth in what he is doing, even if you don't believe in him, let's talk, they need to be encouraged to talk. Security operatives have arrested many of their leaders, what is so difficult in talking to the leaders that you have arrested? As Nigerians, we can dialogue and tell ourselves home truths.

What is your opinion about the fact that even with the amnesty; terrorists in the Niger Delta are still killing innocent persons?

But it has reduced. Since the time they were killing on a daily basis, are Niger Deltans killing people on a daily basis today? Some of those that were killing people are today big moneyed men that the federal government rehabilitated, they are happy today. They took their money and told their people that this thing is for real and the majority of them listened to them. You can't get a 100 percent in matters of human problems. Today oil production has resumed and there is stability in the region. This shows that the policy is a success. All we need to do is to refine the policy and apply it to the insurgency in the north.

Those who say the Boko Haram insurgents are faceless are liars; they are the tribal jingoist and enemies of Nigeria.

Have you come in contact with some of the Boko Haram insurgents?

Well, let me talk about myself, I am not in contact with them. But if the presidency tasks me to use my professional knowledge, I will tell him that you know some of them. I will advise him there are some in detention; it is not only out there that you can recruit. The people in the intelligence service should have given him the advice on what to do, sometime the American CIA recruit people without them knowing. So we could have used our mind to recruit the people we have in the detention centres. We could work on their minds. If we like, we can indoctrinate them and it can be done. And then we use them as a point of contact to the larger group.

Is there any nexus between power shift to the south and Boko Haram

insurgency?

There is nothing like that, I repeat, there is nothing of that nature. Those who think that way are crazy. They are bombing everybody. If they get an opportunity to bomb me, they would bomb me. I have heard some people say it is Buhari who is doing this because he couldn't become president. When the first bombing incident occurred in Abuja, we later got to know those that masterminded it. Even the president of CAN in a lecture somewhere told the President that Boko Haram came because they didn't want him to govern Nigeria. These are the type of people that should be arrested and detained for thinking along that divisive line.

There was amnesty to the Niger Delta militants, now we want to extend same treatment to the Boko Haram insurgents, are we not laying a bad precedent?

There is nothing in Nigeria like the next time. We didn't sit and decide that there should be Niger Delta militants; we didn't sit and decide that there should be Boko Haram; we didn't sit to decide that there should be kidnapping; the criminals did it; the zealots did it. I wish there is no more insurgency in Nigeria. The problem is that I have been so baffled with Nigeria. Why do we react whenever there is a problem? Haven't we reached the time that we should be proactive and provide for the intelligence as we see happen in Europe so that we can have intelligence available to the Head of government so that he can harmlessly tackle any problem that may affect the country?

Why can't we do that? Is it because our skin is black that we wait until people kill people before we come and confront the problems before us? It's unfortunate that everything in Nigeria has been politicised and this is why we are having problem talking about our problems. If America that can annihilate North Korea in a matter of seconds from the face of the earth is exploring dialogue, why can't we dialogue with the Boko Haram insurgents to bring to an end the mayhem they are unleashing on the country?

“

Mr. President has a serious problem of terrorism in the country on his hand which is much bigger than all the thieves of Nigeria, than all the enemies of Nigeria. The people arrested by the police, are they only Muslims? There are some of them that are Christians.

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

Interview

Fashion is an expression of Faith, says fashion icon Abulameed Adetona is the Chief Executive Officer of Muslim Identity (MID), a fashion outfit he started while still an undergraduate. As MID plans to host the third edition of their annual fashion exhibitions this Sunday, he speaks with Miriam Humbe, saying the need to avail Muslim women clothes that are stylish, comfortable and modest is what prompted the setting up of the outfit more than five years ago.

W

hat is the name of your clothing line?

It is called Muslim Identity (MID) How did you get started with Muslim Identity?

I started it as an undergraduate and went into it full time by my third year in school.

Why did you choose the name, 'Muslim Identity' (MID)?

It all started while I was looking for a practical solution to Muslim women being modest and still stylish with their outfits. You know that as an undergraduate, you meet several Muslim young ladies who may dress indecently based on what is available and follow the trend. Hence, I decided to create a practical solution to this by contacting International Islamic brands and becoming a distributor, and in turn, I make available outfits that are stylish, comfortable and modest.

You just mentioned Muslim women and sisters.

What of your fellow brothers?

Our clothing line caters for both gender, although, we have more of the female brands than the male brands. The male brands include Islamic inscribed T-Shirts and executive Jalabiyyahs.

Are you really a fashion designer?

I am not exactly one. My company, Muslim Identity (MID) owns franchises of various top Islamic International Clothing Brands. We work closely with them in the design and production of our wears as we are more familiar with the Nigerian market.

What does fashion mean to you?

Muslim Identity sees Fashion as an expression of Faith.

How would you define your personal style?

Well, mine is Simple, Natural and industrious.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get it from the Islamic way of life.

Fashion business is very competitive. How have you been able to overcome the inherent challenges to remain on top?

Our success stems from our business model. The most important thing is to know your market and have offerings that will not only satisfy their needs, but do so at a pocket friendly rate. We are the foremost provider of Islamic fashion in Nigeria and of course you know the segment is largely obscure. We have executed some innovative concepts in the course of getting to where we are today, but our underlying principle is to offer our customers the best quality at very affordable prices.

What are the most important steps you have taken to grow your business?

The first was identifying a need and the quality Islamic brands and services that are needed. Then we organized promotional programmes/events like organizing Islamic Fashion Show

Abulameed Adetona and Exhibitions; Organizing a tour of Nigeria for Sister Na'ima B. Roberts, Editor-in-Chief, Sisters Magazine; organizing As-Souq Expo, a 2 Day Pre-Ramadan/Eid Trade Expo; designing and manufacturing School Uniforms / Compound wears for Secondary Schools through our International Partners and the launching of the first Islamic Online Store in West Africa.

What steps do you take to stay ahead of competitors?

One of our core values is excellent Customer Service Relations/delivery. We place much

emphasis on having well satisfied customers. Of course our Packaging and branding are second to none.

We have also made it easy for our customers to view our collections online by launching our website.

What advice do you have for aspiring fashion outfits?

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to start a career in fashion?

Don't be derailed from your dream. Success comes to those who persevere.

Quit worrying to live long

I

Worry is a burden

n our society today, lots of people are worried stiff about the present and future.

Worry does no good but makes one to think only about unpleasant things that might happen or about problems facing an individual. It can also be seen as a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems, or to give way to anxiety or unease; allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.

Understandably, both the rich and poor alike get worried at some point in their lives irrespective of their social status. Only those who are perpetually in the habit of ensuring their happiness and that of others end up not getting so unnecessarily worried about every situation.

When allowed to weigh you down, worry is burden that can take different dimensions.

It is capable of subduing and overwhelming people to their wits' end. The resultant effect is fear, weakness, uncertainty and depression.

Worry is capable of killing the best dreams.

The simplest achievable thing in life seems virtually impossible. Those who worry so much only sulk or nag without appropriate action leading to loss of self esteem. Lack of self confidence, deprives one of good health, cutting short its victim's lifespan. Worry is culpable for unwarranted fear which could lead to untimely death.

While death, according to playwright, William Shakespeare, is an inevitable end, those who worry much less have the tendency to live much longer and enviable lifestyles.

When embarking on a project or set goal, do not weigh your chances of succeeding or failing before an attempt is made. Always relax, be focused and confident that you will succeed.

Think mush less of the challenges that may be encountered before accomplishing a task in life.

Self back-up is the keyword needed to enhance one's efforts at boosting their chances of being on top always in one's pursued endeavors because responsibilities will come in life as well as challenges which worry cannot solve.

The present economic and security challenges in the country may cause people to worry. Lack of employment, high rate of poverty, health challenges and other social factors may tend to create fear and subsequently, depression in some people.

Presently, the security situation in the country is another worry some aspect of life.

Places of worship where in recent past, people went to find comfort have suddenly become high points of targets by unscrupulous persons.

People hardly sleep with their two eyes closed.

The reason is not farfetched.

Adequate security arrangements have not been put in place to protect the lives and

properties of citizens while those in the corridors of power use the security apparatus in place to guarantee their personal security, leaving the common man at the mercy of criminal perpetrators.

Consequently, it would be an understatement to say that more that 70% of Nigerians live in worry on daily basis despite their attempts at keeping life going. Therefore, if worry is to be reduced among the masses, the government must live up to many promises to the people by ensuring that basic social amenities are put in place to enhance a better standard of living of Nigerians.

Besides job opportunities, programs that will ensure Nigerians are self-reliant must be created and sustained. The need for positive thinking and approach to issues of life with doggedness is also paramount.

They must also realize the fact that riches are not easily obtained on a platter of gold.

Therefore, they must be ready to be work hard to support the government at all levels, be committed, focused and result oriented. Worry is harmful to one's mental and physical health.

To avoid that, putting a smile on your face can do the magic. Try it today, in everything you do, be happy and contented.

Titilope Alabi is a student of Department of Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic, Bida in Niger State

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

PAGE 47

From the Pulpit Responding to God's correction (II)

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l o r y be to God! I want to bring you the second part of this message today. If you missed the first part, please ask your vendor to help you get a copy. As I said lastweek,God'sdisciplineinvolvesonone hand instruction, teaching and training, and on the other hand correction, punishment, and rebuke for those who fail to heed to the first side of discipline.

When God corrects, it's because He wants you to do the right thing. His discipline is not meant to destroy but to call you to order. God told David concerningSolomon,hisson,whowould reign after him, "I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will use other nations to punish him. But my unfailing love will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed before you." (2 Sam 7:14-15 NLT) God is our Father, and He corrects His children.

Deut 8:5 says, "So you should realize that just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you to help you."(NLT) Good parents correct their children because they want them to turn out well; not because they hate them. A child will therefore do well to respondfavourablytosuchdisciplineand not rebel. Pro 3:11-12 says, "My child, don't ignore it when the LORD disciplines you, and don't be discouraged when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights."

(NLT)Heb12:5-6alsoreferstothistruth: "And have you entirely forgotten the encouragingwordsGodspoketoyou,his children? He said, 'My child, don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and Matthew 5:5 o be meek is to be humble, to be lowly, to be gentle, to be submissive, to be patient, to be calm and quiet, to be unresisting, unruffled. In the world, the meek is despised; the humble is not reckoned with. The lowly is supposed to be trampled upon and life squeezed out of those who are gentle and submissive like the worm. But the principle of Christ is very, very different. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

When things happen and people try to belittle you, to disregard you, to walk over you, be meek and be blessed. He (Christ, not they) is testing you: He is allowing them to test your Christian faith, to know whether you are lowly and humble or you are proud and haughty. He wants you to understand that the meek are those who are unresisting and unruffled when belittled and disregarded by others.

The people of the world always go the opposite direction; while Christ teaches meekness, they preach selfconfidence, self-esteem, self-assertion and self-respect. They want to show that they are not meek and they cannot be meek. The Lord does not want us to be like the civil rights activists fighting for our rights. Be meek. Don't fight for anything; receive the message of Christ and have the mind of Christ. This is not a new revelation; it has always been the mind of God (Psalm 37:11; Isaiah 29:19).

The Lord is calling us to meekness of character, disposition and attitude that will be visible.

1. PROPER PERSPECTIVE OF MEEKNESS Matthew 5:5; Psalm 45:4; Zephaniah 2:3; 1 Corinthians 4:21; 2 Corinthians 10:1; Ephesians 4:2; Matthew 11:29; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 3:4; Galatians 5:22,23.

The meek are those who have

T

don't be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children.'" (NLT) Any child who rejects correction will regret later in life. Discipline is usually unpalatable to children but children who respond to discipline, though painful to them, thank their parents in future. They realize later that the discipline meted out to them by their parents was not borne out of hatred but rather out of love. Same wayGod'sdisciplineisbecauseofHislove hence every child of God should respond toGod'sdisciplineandnotignoreorrebel against it. God says, "I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love.

Be diligent and turn from your indifference." (Rev 3:19 NLT) How God corrects us God does not come down physically to correct His children but He executes discipline through different channels.

WhicheverwayGodchoosesatanypoint in time, either one or a combination of some of these channels or agencies, it is your responsibility to respond to correction by amending your ways.

-ThroughHisWord.TheWordofGod is a major agency of God's correction. The Bible is the Word of God, and when you read it or it is preached, God can correct you depending on what junction you are inlife.2Tim3:16-17saysthat theScripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable,amongothers,forcorrectionthat the man of God may be complete, thoroughlyequippedforeverygoodwork.

-By His Spirit. God corrects by His Spirit.EverychildofGodwhohastheHoly SpiritwillbecorrectedbytheHolySpiritin

Himwheneverhedoeswhatiswrong.The HolySpiritwillconvicthim,andhewilllose hispeaceuntilheamendshisway.InJohn 16:8, Jesus says of the Holy Spirit "And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (ASV) This ministry is even continuousinthelifeofChristiansafterthey have given their lives to Jesus. Whenever the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, it is wise torepent,confessandcorrectyourself.Don't silence the voice of the Spirit of God. It is dangerous.

-Through your conscience.

Everybody does not have the Holy Spirit but everybody has conscience, both Christians and non-Christians. God speaks to us through our consciences to correctus.Whetheryoulistentothevoice of your conscience or not is a different thing. If you keep silencing the voice of your conscience, it will become seared and you may lose the safety that your conscience can provide you at the most crucial point in your life. 1 Tim 4:1-2 says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies inhypocrisy,havingtheirownconscience seared with a hot iron.

In 2 Sam 24:10, we read how David's conscience condemned him after he had conducted the census though he was determinedtodoitdespiteJoab'scounsel against it. His conscience had condemned him even before Prophet Gad came to deliver the word of God to himonGod'spunishmentforconducting the census. "But after he had taken the census, David's conscience began to bother him. And he said to the LORD, 'I

GREEN PASTURES

By Pastor T.O. Banso cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 have sinned greatly and shouldn't have taken the census. Please forgive me, LORD, for doing this foolish thing.'" (2 Sam 24:10 NLT) John writes on the need to maintain a clear conscience. "Dear friends, if our conscience is clear, we can come to God with bold confidence." (1 John 3:21 NLT) God corrects us through our conscience but after silencing the voice of your conscience over a period of time, your consciencewillnotconvictyouagainover asin.Suchafellowhasbecomehardened, andhardnessofheartleadstodestruction as was the case with Pharaoh.

-Through godly authority figures.

Such authority figures include parents, guardians, teachers, spiritual leaders, employers, superiors at work etc. It is the main responsibility of parents to train their children and correction is part of training. And the Bible always alludes to parental discipline when talking about GoddiscipliningHischildren.(Prov3:12, Deut 8:5) Heb 12:9 says, "Since we respect our earthly fathers who disciplined us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenlyFatherandliveforever?"(NLT) Parents,especiallyChristianparents, are instruments of God's correction in their children's lives. It is a bad parent

who doesn't correct his children, and such children become spoilt.

Kindly permit me to stop here today.

I have more to say next week on God correcting us through godly authority figures. That is where I'll start next week.

Please respond to God's correction.

TAKE ACTION! Ifyouarenotbornagain,kindlysaythis prayernow:"0LordGod,Icomeunto youtoday.IknowIamasinnerand I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on thecrosstosavemeandresurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus intomyhearttoday.Bythisprayer, IknowIamsaved.ThankyouJesus for saving me and making me a child of God" I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. May the Lord be with you.

The power of meekness in life and ministry mourned for their sins and the sins of others that they influenced to sin.

Meekness shows that the forgiven sinner is grateful to God and appreciative of the blessing of God upon his life. There are seven things that are connected with meekness; you cannot separate meekness from them. They are: (i) Meekness and truth (ii) Meekness and righteousness (iii) Meekness and love (iv) Meekness and gentleness (v) Meekness and lowliness (vi) Meekness and humility (vii) Meekness and a quiet spirit. The meekness that is acceptable in the sight of the Lord is joined and connected with truth, righteousness, love, gentleness, lowliness, humility and quietness of spirit. Meekness is one of the fruit of the Spirit. Meekness enables us to submit unto God and to quietly endure provocations from man without being inflamed.

2. PROVEN PEOPLE WITH MEEKNESS Numbers 12:1-13; Genesis 13:5-12; 14:1,2,11-16; 18:17-32; 19:15-17,29; 2 Samuel 16:5-14; Matthew 11:28-30; Isaiah 53:7-10; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Ephesians 4:1,2,15.

The lifestyle of Moses shows his meekness. In spite of the envy and jealousy of Aaron and Miriam against him, the Bible says that "the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." This meekness, like Christ's meekness, is not the same as weakness of character, lack of conviction, timidity of spirit or passive disposition of temper as seen in Aaron (Exodus 32:1,21,22), Eli (1 Samuel 2:2224) or David (1 Kings 1:5,6).

Meekness without conviction or courage leads to compromise and judgement. Christ, in His meekness, did

FAITH DISCOURSE WITH

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi not fail to warn unrepentant sinners (Matthew 11:20-30). Meekness makes us not to fight back or defend self; rather, it makes us to uphold and defend God's glory. When Miriam became leprous as a result of her misdeed against Moses, he "cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee." He was not one of those who want their enemies to suffer because they offend them. Also, although Abraham was older than Lot, because he was meek, he avoided a possible clash that would have followed the problem their servants had. Those who are meek do not fight over their rights or property. Abraham did not rejoice in the problem of Lot in spite of what he had done to him. Meekness always enables those who have been hurt to help those who have hurt them.

When you are meek, there is no end to the help you render. The angels delivered Lot because of Abraham's intercession.

These Bible characters submitted themselves unto God and quietly endured provocations from man without being inflamed. If they were able to do it, we are well able through the grace we receive from the Lord.

3.

PROMISED POSSESSION FOR THE MEEK

Matthew 5:5; Psalms 37:11,18,19,29,34;25:9;22:26-28;149:4; Isaiah 29:19,20; 1 Peter 3:4,9-12; Ephesians 5:5-7; Acts 20:32; 26:18; Matthew 19:29; 1 Peter 1:3-5.

The meek are humble, submissive, unresisting, unruffled under provocation; and the Lord has promised to guide, teach and bless such with abundance. If you really want the blessings of the Lord in your life and the inheritance He has promised to His own children, then, first receive grace to be humble, submissive and meek. The meek, the one that has the quality of character of Christ does not render "evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." And "the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers". May God make us meek and may the meekness of Christ be reproduced in our character and nature. Then the promises of the Lord will be fulfilled in our lives.

Remember, "blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

Study 5: SUPERNATURAL WONDERS IN A SPIRIT-

BAPTIZED CHURCH Acts 2:41-47 The purpose of Pentecost immediately became visible for all to see.

The promise of the baptism was given so that we receive power to be effective and fruitbearing witnesses of Christ. The best proof of a Holy Spirit ministry is the conversion of souls. At the beginning of Christ's ministry, the Lord had promised, "I will make you fishers of men" and this first evangelistic event after Pentecost proved the promise fulfilled. The response of about 3000 souls who became stedfast disciples of Christ after hearing a single message preached by Spirit baptized Peter must have reminded them of Christ's promise.

The 3000 souls were genuine converts.Theproofofgenuinerepentance and conversion was that they continued stedfastly in the teaching of Christ as expounded by the Apostles; they were all separatedfromtheworldandinfellowship with the believers. They also expressed complete,unwaveringdependenceonthe Lord as they continued in breaking of bread, and in prayers, trusting in the Lord without any reservation or vacillation. All the Apostles, disciples and new converts becameawitnessingcommunity"andthe Lord added to the Church daily such as shouldbesaved"(Acts2:47).Suchaswere saved, truly saved; and "such as should be saved", finally saved. The addition happened DAILY because the believers were all preaching the saving gospel, the life-changing gospel, the hearttransforminggospelDAILY."AndDAILY in the temple, and IN EVERY HOUSE, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ"(Acts5:42).MaythewholeChurch be committed to doing the same thing today.

BIG PUNCH “Net enrolment for girls in the country is 22 per cent compared to 29 per cent for boys. In the North-East of Nigeria, and this is a frightening statistics, 70.8 per cent of young women between the age of 20 and 29 per cent are unable to read compared to 9.7 per cent in the Sounth-East.”

– CBN Gov. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on insecurity in the country

SATURDAY 13 — SUNDAY 14, APRIL, 2013

'Too many orphans!'

A

ndy Morgan, writing in The Guardian, [3/4/13], quotes a Toureg fighter in Mali as stating concerning their struggle for self determination: 'I still have the dream of independence. It's engraved in our hearts. There will always be turncoats and traitors but even if they've signed some kind of accord with Mali, tomorrow someone will awaken. Maybe me, maybe someone else or maybe the child of one of the people they killed.

We'll never get to the end of it.

There are too many orphans now.' The young fighter whom the occupier, France, would label as an 'Islamic terrorist', a label echoed by the Nigerian commander conscripted to fight on behalf of France, alludes unwittingly to a well known pattern in human experience: a people could be pushed, through discrimination, stigmatization and oppression which can assume the proportion of genocide, to a point where they must fight back with all the strength and will they could muster in order to survive; at this point they can't be defeated - they must win.

The Tuareg have lived in their ancestral territories which stretch from Mauritania to Libya, passing by Burkina Faso, southern Algeria, northern Mali and northern Niger for nearly three thousand years. In modern times their struggle for independence started in 1958, their quest was however denied and instead their homeland was dismembered by the colonial power, France, part of which, called Azawad, was ceded to the newly independent state of Mali. The new state excluded the Tuaregs along with the Arabs from the political process, the economy and development. In a nutshell, the Tuareg were ostracized and forced to live a desolate and barren life.

Their plight is epitomized in the type of work they do in Nigeria, night watch. Yet, they are born into prosperity, owners of the most precious resources of the earth. This, then, is the origin of the Malian crisis. It stems from the quest for freedom, identity, survival and justice.

Tracing one aspect of the genesis of the current events, Eva Dadrian writes in ahramonline [16/3/13]: 'Under the newly "independent" Mali of President Modibo Keita, the very land on which the Tuareg nomads grazed their herds was taken away from

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them and redistributed to sedentary farmers. Emulating the decision of their former colonial masters, the Malian leaders ignored the cultural and traditional claims of the Tuareg.

The first Tuareg rebellion against Bamako in 1963 was quickly crushed by the Malian government. To add insult to injury, the rebels were massacred

in public, in front of their women and children who were forced to "applaud" the killing of their own.

This trauma would never fade from the collective memory of the Tuareg. It even transcended borders to reach the Tuareg of Niger. Many of the young boys who had witnessed the massacre of their elders took the roads to exile.'

These orphans have returned home to form the nucleus of the current struggle in Mali. Call them what you will, 'terrorists', 'islamists', 'jihadists', they are, per excellence, rebels with a cause. Their homeland has since assumed a greater, indeed global significance, sitting as it does on vast strategic resources the world is hungry for: gold and uranium.

A former rebel leader who now works for the Tuareg Prime Minister of Niger Republic, Brigi Rafini, told Andy Morgan about the wider dimension of the Tuareg struggle: 'The politics of the uprising in Mali are stronger than me and stronger than my region. It's not just a problem of the Maghreb or the Sahel. It's an

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WEEKEND with

Ibraheem Sulaiman sa427420@gmail.com

international problem.

Americans and Europeans, Chinese and Japanese are involved. We have no experience of that. But we've begun to learn, we've begun to play the game.'

Indeed, if the Malian crisis persists, it will spread to the entire region, from Mauritania to Nigeria, which will be forced to encounter forces of the orphans.

In fact William Lloyd George, in an article in Daily Beast, [39/ 1/13], warns that France and its allies are fighting a doomed war in Mali, because they are fighting a force that cannot be contained, a force that appears and disappears at will in the territory they know all too well. 'It seems there is a danger that the intervention could only unite groups which were previously fragmented,' he suggests. 'Now with a common goal, the intervention could only be radicalizing further the Islamists of Africa and entrenching western forces in another long, bitter and most notably counterproductive conflict,

which could eventually span across the whole continent.' On his part, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, told the Security Council a few days ago that the Malian crisis is a 'ticking time bomb,' capable of rallying the oppressed, dispossessed Muslims to the cause of liberation, pointing in particular to the forgotten refugees scattered in the Sahel.

'All governments consulted,' he says, 'raised serious concern over the risk that the fighting in Mali could spill over into the neighboring countries.'

In other words, unless the crisis is addressed in a manner that hope and justice are restored as quickly as possible, Mali could unleash the orphans on Africathose innocent young lives whose parents and relations were killed in cold blood sometimes in their presence, whose mothers and sisters were raped and in some cases then murdered; those forced to grow up in refugee camps, not in their homes in the embrace of their fathers, mothers, siblings and neighbors; whose lives are

disrupted, arrested, degraded.

Their own state, which they revere as their one and only home -its government, its elite, its soldiers, its security apparatus is the primary cause of their plight. The International Crisis Group, in a report published on April 11, 2013, adds its voice to growing sense of urgency by urging the Government of Mali to stop procrastinating forthwith and embrace peace and reconciliation openly and unconditionally. 'Reconciliation must begin now,' it says unequivocally, 'as should the provision of basic social and economic services to the North.'

It insists further: 'Focusing on terrorism alone risks distracting from the main problems.

Corruption and poor governance are more important causes of the crisis than the terrorist threat, the Tuareg issue, or even the north-south divide.

The challenges for the region and the UN are to align their positions on the political process, and to insist that Malians, especially their elites, assume responsibility for reversing bad governance and preventing another crisis.'

The Tuaregs have reached the critical stage in their struggle when they can no longer be crushed, when their aspirations can no longer be denied. They are on the threshold of taking their destiny into their own hands.

Whatever decision they may take regarding their future, whether to be part of Mali or to continue the struggle for full independence, will be their own decision, not a decision made by France, China, America, or the slave nations of Africa. If the present leadership falters, still the cause is not, and never will be, lost; someone, whose father or mother was killed by the soldiers in the name of the state, or on the orders of the President, will rise.

The issue ultimately is simply that every nation reserves the right and prerogative to decide its own fate; the resources of the people can not and will not be the property of other nations but belong precisely to those on whom God Almighty has bestowed; ostracism, political or economic, is ever a doomed and self defeating policy which in the end endangers the whole state and benefits no one, and which therefore must be resisted. The Tuareg resistance is the way of the future.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 322 3427. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141