Peoples Daily Online

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 9 No. 90

Friday, December 14, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Jang presents 2013 budget before seven lawmakers >> PAGE 3

Maina storms Senate with armed SSS >> PAGE 3

Safar 1, 1434 AH

N150

Money laundering: EFCC frees Lamido's son >> PAGE 6

Senate approves N161bn for Jonathan Reps refer request to c’ttees

By Richard Ihediwa, Ikechukwu Okaforadi & Umar Muhammad Puma

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arely two days after the request was made, the Senate yesterday approved the demand by President Goodluck Jonathan for a fresh N161.6 billion for fuel subsidy for the remaining 18 days of the year.

But the House of

Representatives has declined giving the request an accelerated consideration as it, instead, referred it to its joint Committees on Finance, Appropriations, Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and Petroleum Resources (Downstream) for further scrutiny.

Jonathan had on Tuesday forwarded to the two chambers of Contd on Page 2

Health workers demand minister’s sack

By Richard Ihediwa & Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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housands of federal health workers yesterday stormed the National Assembly demanding the sack of Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, over allegations of abuse and misconduct in the handling of the health sector.

PD INDEX

13th Dec., 2012

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

BUYING 154.76 249.02 201.11 0.2894 41.24

SELLING 155.76 250.63 202.41 0.3094 41.53

PARALLEL RATES EURO £ RIYAL $

BUYING 207 255 42 157

SELLING 209 256 44 158

The protesting workers barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly and stopped lawmakers and staff from moving in and out of the complex. They insisted that nothing short of outright sack of the minister will assuage them.

They accused the minister of a series of acts of misconduct, especially alleged partisanship in the crisis between the Dental and Medical Council of Nigeria to which he belongs, and the Joint Health Service Union (JOHESU), which comprises of other health workers in the country.

They also protested what they described as the lopsidedness of the Health Industry Bill which is pending at the National Assembly.

There are fears that the issues at stake may deteriorate into an industry wide crisis that may cripple the sector.

Contd on Page 2

R-L: Nasarawa state Governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-makura, presenting a souvenier to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, during the latter's visit to the governor, yesterday at the Government House, in Lafia.

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

CONTENTS Missing N2.1bn: CACOL wants Sanusi, NSPMC mgt sacked the ex-convict cum former he Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), has called on the Federal Government to relieve the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Malam Lamido Sanusi Lamido of his job for allowing N2.1bn to disappear without trace from the vaults of the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company last week.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, its executive chairman, Debo Adeniran averred that the apex bank boss should be shown the way out with the management of the NSPMC for dereliction of duty.

“Malam Sanusi and the management of the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company

should be sacked and prosecuted for allowing such rapacious corruption to take place under their nose. How could such huge money leave the vaults of the CBN without any trace? Or do the CBN and NSPMC have spirits in their workforce? It was definitely done in connivance with some staff members of the apex bank because it is not easy for an outsider to walk into the NSPMC and cart away such huge amount of money when it was not an armed robbery attack. These people should stop toying with Nigerians’ sense and sensibility. It would take a bullion van to move such a huge amount,” they declared.

Speaking further, the anticorruption crusader stated that the mystery behind the missing money

Contd from Page 1 the National Assembly, a 2012 supplementary budget in which he demanded the approval of additional N161.6 billion which he said would be added to the balance of N7.735 billion in the subsidy account to ensure adequate provision of fuel during the end of year festivities.

In separate letters to the two chambers, Jonathan, who demanded speedy passage of his request, said the N888.1 billion provided for subsidy in the main 2012 budget was inadequate, adding that a forensic audit carried out showed that it was “underestimated”.

The Senate obliged the President following arguments by lawmakers that this would alleviate the suffering of the masses during the festive period, though Senate President David Mark lamented that the subsidy scheme has been characterised by massive corruption. But the House of Representatives insisted on subjecting the request to further scrutiny following queries raised by members on the forensic audit and revelations of fraud in the system.

The decision of the Senate to approve the budget followed a motion by the Senate Deputy Leader, Abdul Ningi who prayed that the request be given accelerated passage “in view of the

emergency nature of the bill’’.

All the senators at plenary expressed support for the passage of the bill as they unanimously agreed that it would help alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, ensure peace and stability of the nation.

However, ruling after accelerated debate on the bill, Mark urged the Federal Government to stop the fuel subsidy if it was unable to stop the high level of corruption being perpetrated under the scheme. He said the Senate gave the bill an accelerated passage so as to ensure that Nigerians do not suffer during the festive period.

“It is not a secret anymore that there is so much corruption in the fuel subsidy industry in whatever system they are adopting. The nation must make a decision now, whether to continue this or to stop it. The nation must make that decision sooner than later because we cannot carry on this way. If they can’t eliminate and stop the corruption in the system, then, the other alternative will be to stop the whole exercise of the fuel subsidy.

We must take the one that is easier and the one that will bring less pain to Nigerians,’’ he said.

Mark commended the lawmakers for ensuring quick passage of the supplementary appropriation, in the interest of the masses. He said the proposal should have been forwarded in good time

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

18-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Religion

26

NEMA inaugurates group to run IDP camps, Page 9

Int’l

31-34

S/World

35

Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-46

Columnist

48

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

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must be unraveled and anyone found culpable be made to face the law.

“This is open corruption and must not be swept under carpet like the other ones. Sanusi Lamido and his entire board members should be sacked and handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for appropriate prosecution”, Adeniran submitted.

In a similar vein, CACOL has condemned President Goodluck Jonathan for praising the former governor of Bayelsa state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha”.

The President at Government House Castle, Yenagoa, while addressing leaders of the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a caucus meeting convened by Governor Seriake Dickson, had disclosed that

governor was his political benefactor.

Reacting to the news, CACOL derided the President for glorifying corruption with such impunity and without recourse to morality.

“It is sickening that the President, who should show better example for the Nigerian populace to follow, could glorify corruption with such enthusiasm. The crop of people in the present government are so barefaced and really do not give a damn about what the people think about their actions and utterances. What was the President insinuating? Does it mean he benefited from his so-called benefactor’s proceeds of corruption?”, the group said.

Senate approves N161bn for Jonathan to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. He also lambasted the executive for no bringing the request early enough for thorough consideration and passage.

“They should have anticipated that there was going to be a shortfall when they first made this presentation at the beginning of the year. That did not happen. We are now shouldered with the responsibility of this additional approval. We have done so in the best interest of this country,’’ Mark said.

Contributing, lawmakers, including Senators Smart Adeyemi, Ayogu Eze, Ahmed Lawan, Nkechi Nwaogu among others while supporting the passage cautioned that such requests should be brought in good time for thorough scrutiny even as they insisted that a drastic step should be taken to end the corruption in the handling of the subsidy scheme.

In the House, members queried the request and threatened to throw it out following their insistence that there was too much corruption in the handling of the subsidy scheme.

It took the intervention of Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who pleaded with the angry lawmakers to refer the bill to relevant committee which were mandated to seek clarification on certain issues to guide the house to

arrive at a decision next week.

Trouble started when the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, John Enoh cautioned against hurried passage of the request and urged the House to allow for more scrutiny at the committee level.

Also in his submission, Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Ajibola Muraina said the idea of subsidizing fuel was not in itself bad, but that there have been so much fraud in management of the scheme.

His position was supported by Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Peterside Dakuku who called for the sanitization of the scheme.

Several members, in the course of the debate, described the request, coming at this time of the year as blackmail by the executive arm, and well intended to pitch members of the National Assembly against Nigerians. They however insisted that it should not be approved until certain questions have been answered.

The bill was subsequently referred to the Committees on Finance, Appropriations, Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and Petroleum Resources (Downstream) for further action.

Health workers demands minister’s sack Contd from Page 1 The protesting groups included members of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Non Academic Staff Union of Education and Associate Institutions (NASU) as well as the Nigerian Union of Pharmacists, Medical Scientists and Professional Allied to Medicine (NUPMTPAM).

Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Comrade Ayuba Waba, accused the minister of taking sides in the crisis between the dental workers and other health workers saying instead of finding solution to

the problems, Chukwu had rather aggravated the crisis, which he added was not healthy for the system.

He also regretted that after the collective bargain which the workers had with the minister regarding the Health Sector bill, nothing has been heard about it.

The angry protesters, for several hours sealed the main lane to the National Assembly forcing lawmakers and high profile visitors and staffers to trek from the security gate to the main complex.

Efforts by the police to force the protesters out of the complex was futile, as they threatened to lynch any individual or security operative who attempts to prevent

them from venting their grievances to the National Assembly members.

However, addressing the workers Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Ndudi Elumelu, commended the protesters for bringing grievances to the National Assembly, saying the lawmakers can only act if the people whom they represent bring complaints to them.

He assured the workers that the National Assembly will look into the issues and ensure that justice is done.

He said the legislature is committed to the health sector reforms as articulated in the bill.

It would be recalled that this

protests is coming on the heels of Wednesday’s threat by the Senate to veto the powers of President Goodluck Jonathan if he fails to assent to the bill if it is passed by both Chambers this time around.

The bill was earlier passed by the two chambers of the federal legislature in the last assembly but was not assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan who pointed out certain items he considered as gray areas.

The health sector reform bill, having being passed by the lower house, was yesterday debated and passed for third and final reading by the Senate, after which the President is expected to assent to it to give it a force of law.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

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PHCN cable vandal escapes electrocution From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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young man, Terseer Iorparegh, indigene of Ikpayongo, Gwer local government area of Benue state who attempted to vandalise a Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) high tension cable in Makurdi has been arrested by the police.

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Utilities, Mr. Gaddafi Asemanya, who narrated the incident to newsmen yesterday, said Terseer who is a bus conductor had yesterday at about 4 am attempted to steal the high tension wire after dismounting the down part of the transformer when he got stuck on the electric pole.

Asemanya said the victim’s screams awoke residents of Lowcost Quarters and he was promptly informed about the incident and immediately rushed to the scene with men of the Fire Service, Civil Defense and the police who brought Terseer down from the pole where he suffered high degree burns.

He noted that the residents who have been without electricity for a long time now, attempted to lynch Terseer but the timely intervention of the police who arrested him.

Meanwhile, the victim is said

to be hospitalised at the Federal Medical Centre, Apir just as Mr. Asemanya had decried the high rate of vandalisation of PHCN facilities and other government amenities.

He therefore appealed to

commissioner of police to set up anti-vandalisation team to guard against the stealing of government facilities that is suppose to make life worth living for members of the public.

Similarly, spokesman of the

PHCN Mr. Uche Oranye, refuted claims that such acts are always carried out by staff of the company, maintaining that no worker of PHCN would indulge in vandalising facilities that they work for.

Suspected cable thief, Terseer Iorparegh rescued by security operatives following his attempt to steal high tension cables.

Photo: Uche Nnorom

Jang presents 2013 budget before seven lawmakers

By Julius Ogar, with agency report

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he protracted crises in Plateau state manifested yesterday as only seven out of the 24 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly were

present when Governor Jonah Jang presented the 2013 budget to the House.

The absence of the other 17 members is believed to have been caused by protests earlier held by local government workers at the House of

Assembly complex.

Presenting a budget of N133.5 billion amidst tight security, Jang said: “Mr. Speaker, Hon. Members, the proposed 2013 budget which is christened, “Budget of Continuity and Inclusive

Growth III” has a total budget size of N133,459,176,903.

A breakdown of the budget shows N48.3 billion as Recurrent Expenditure; and N85 billion as Capital Expenditure for the 2013 fiscal year.

Again, Jonathan promises changes in 2013

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has charged all Nigerians to ignore the things that seem to divide the nation and embrace unity and peaceful co-existence.

The President spoke yesterday

at the Presidential Christmas Carroll held at State House Banquet Hall, urging Nigerians to be hopeful of a better outing for the country in 2013 as his government is determined to bring changes into security, power, aviation and other areas of national life

"In the New Year, we will see the changes in the airports, seaports, power and security as we progress. Surely, 2013 will be a better year for the country," the President promised.

The Bishop of Ogbia Diocese, James Oruwari in his sermon, admonished Nigerians to eschew

bitterness and love their enemies.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu commended the President for organising the Carroll, saying such programmes are good for national rebirth.

PSC promotes, reprimands CPs

By Lambert Tyem

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he Police Service Commission (PSC), yesterday, reprimanded five senior officers, including a Commissioner of Police for unprofessional conduct.

PSC said the decision was taken at the 32nd plenary meeting of the commission’s board held on December 12, 2012 in Abuja.

According to PSC spokesman, Ferdinand Ekpe, the commission also approved the promotion of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Vincent O. Okoduwa to Commissioner of Police with effect from June 30, 2012.

Also promoted were two Assistant Commissioners of, Abdullahi Ibrahim Chafe and Peter B. Ogunyanwo to the rank of Deputy Commissioners with effect from August 8, 2012.

Chairman of the commission, Mr. Parry Osayande, admonished the newly promoted officers to work hard to justify the promotion, adding that promotion in the Nigeria Police is earned as a result of total dedication to duty and meeting other extant rules spelt out by the commission.

JTF refutes reports on killing of five female students From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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he Joint Military Task Force in Borno state, (JTF) yesterday, denied a report in some national dailies that unknown gunmen killed five female students.

Some national dailies published a report, claiming that gunmen had on Wednesday night raided Government Girls Secondary School Bama and shot dead five students.

However, spokesman of the JTF, Lt-Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement issued to newsmen, said there was absolutely no iota of truth in the purported attack.

"It was untrue that five students of GGSS Bama were killed as carelessly reported by some national dailies. For the avoidance of doubt and clarity, not a single student was killed or injured in the school", the statement insisted.

Subsidy fraud: Court orders release of travel documents of Tukur, others From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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n Ikeja High Court presided over by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, yesterday, ordered the EFCC to release the international travelling documents of Mahmud Tukur and Alex Ochonogor, standing trial for over allegations of N1.8 billion petroleum subsidy fraud, to enable them travel to the United Kingdom and France to attend a business meeting with their foreign investors.

At the sitting, the trio of Mahmud Tukur, Abdullahi Alao and Alex Ochonogor requested

more time from the court to discuss and conclude their discussion with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the charges preferred against them.

Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, the counsel to Tukur, Ochonogor and Eterna Oil told the court at the resumed hearings yesterday, that talks were still ongoing between both parties.

His submission was corroborated by Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, the counsel to the 3rd defendant, Alao and that of the EFCC, Mrs. Taiwo Ogunleye.

Oyetibo said:"On the last

adjourned date, counsel did take a second look at the matter.

"We are in that process and are asking for one more opportunity to come to terms.

"We have not been able to conclude because of certain reasons but if we are given a little time, we will be able to make progress on the matter", he said.

Asked by the court for his view on the development, Prof. Osipitan said: "I confirm we need some time to dot the I's and the T's in terms of our position.

EFCC counsel, Mrs. Taiwo Ogunleye also confirmed the development to the court saying:

"Your honour, it is true that we need more time".

The judge granted their request and adjourned the matter to Jan.30, 2013 to enable the parties conclude their discussions.

Oyetibo had earlier told the court that they put in an application dated December 12, 2012 on behalf of his clients for the release of their passport to travel out of the country for a meeting with some international investors on December 18, 2012 in first instance and January 18 and 19, 2013 in the second instance.

He said that the defendant would return their travelling

documents to the commission not later than January 25, 2013 after their second trip.

The request was opposed by the prosecutor, Mrs. Ogunleye who said she would want the defendants to return their travelling documents after every successive trip.

The trial judge, in his ruling, said the defendants have kept faithfully to their bail terms since the matter began.

He directed them to return the documents to the custody of the EFCC upon their return to Nigeria and not later than January 25, 2013.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

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Yobe commences monthly payment of N15, 000 to new workers

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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n its determination to tackle unemployment and solve the problem of insecurity in the state, the Yobe state government has commenced payment of N15, 000 to diploma holders, recently engaged under the Youth Empowerment Programme.

The payment of allowances comes six days after the State Assembly passed a request made by the state government for N8.623 billion to take care of over 10,000 employees engaged two months ago.

The programme saw the recruitment of over 6, 700 diploma holders last October in what the state government deemed a significant step in addressing the problem of idleness among youths, which is seen as potential contributor to the Boko Haram insurgency.

Chairman of the committee set up to coordinate the payment of allowances to the beneficiaries, Alhaji Kati Machina, says 6, 751 youth are currently being paid their November allowances.

Maina storms Senate with armed SSS men

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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mbattled chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, yesterday stormed the Senate with about six heavily armed members of the State Security Service (SSS), three hours after the lawmakers had waited for him.

The Senate Joint Committee on Establishment and Public Service, States and Local Government, issued him an ultimatum on Wednesday to appear before it by 11:am, but

Maina arrived at about 2:30pm, contrary to the the directive given to him by the lawmakers.

His arrival came when members of the Senate Joint Committee had already given up hope on his appearance, what with Maina having shunned the committee for three consecutive times, and was about to adjourn for Wednesday, 19th of December, 2012.

It would be recalled that two days ago, the Senators had signed a warrant of arrest on Maina, and directed the Inspector General of

Police to produce him to the committee.

Based on this situation, the Senate President therefore signed another warrant of arrest on him yesterday, before he stormed the Assembly with his security operatives.

However, the Chairman of the Senate Joint Committee, Aloysius Etok, ignored his arrival and adjourned the hearing to December 19, 2012.

Addressing the press after the adjournment, Maina said he was not

NASS delaying $200m Entertainment Fund disbursement – BOI From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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Court declares Lagos road traffic law constitutional From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he constitutionality and validity of the recently enacted Lagos State Road Traffic Law has been upheld by a Lagos High Court. In a suit challenging the validity of the Law, Justice Aishat Opesanwo of Ikeja Judicial Division yesterday, held that the law did not violate the rights of the claimants.

The suit was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of All Nigerian Autobike Commercial Owners and Workers Association against the Lagos state government, the state House of Assembly and the AttorneyGeneral of the state.

In a judgment which lasted about one and half hours, the court agreed with the submission of the AttorneyGeneral, Mr. Ade Ipaye, who represented the state government and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who represented the House of Assembly, that the state legislature has constitutional powers to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the state.

Justice Opesanwo held that the Road Traffic Law regulates other forms of vehicles and as such, the right of the claimants to their constitutional right to freedom from discrimination has not been violated. The court further held that the law did not violate the right of the claimant to move freely across the state as the “the objective of the Road Traffic Law is not the movement of person but the mode, means or tools of movement.”

aware of the invitations, saying: “I came last night from a trip and I don’t really know what is happening I don’t know what is going on. How can I refuse to come when I am not even in town? I was about 10 hours away from here.

“I traveled by road to go and see somebody who lost three kids at the same time, the person is my staff so how would you feel. So I have to go and console him. When I came back last night, I heard that I have been asked to come to the Senate so that is why I came”.

Managing Director, Capital Oil and Gas , Mr Ifeanyi Ubah (left), with Chairman, Coscharis Group, Chief Cosmos Maduka (right), when they appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petition over the petition brought against Coscharis Group by Capital Oil, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Reps to investigate poor treatment of Nigerians by foreign embassies

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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oncerned about the inhuman and poor treatment of Nigerians seeking visa by some foreign embassies in Nigeria, the House of Representatives yesterday mandated it’s Committee on Foreign Affairs to investigate the matter and report back within three weeks.

A motion jointly signed and read by Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP River state), said the trauma

Nigerian visa applicants are subjected to at various foreign embassies across the country comes in various forms, including non-provision of waiting lounge and seats, thus making applicants stand and or wait under the sun and rain, having to wait endlessly before being attended to, excessive delays in the processing of application, refusal of visa without reasons, among others.

He noted that Chinese, South African and several other

embassies for instance, do not have conducive waiting or rest places for visa applicants who daily besiege their embassies, while at the Israeli embassy, visitors and visa applicants are thoroughly and indeed embarrassingly searched in the open, while Canada embassy, it takes minimum waiting period of about 45 working days for a Nigerian visa applicant to receive response from the Canadian authorities, while applicants from other countries takes lesser periods.

Customs impounds 7,000 bags of rice From Mathew Aramunde, Lagos

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n a renewed effort to ensure strict compliance with the directive on zero tolerance for importation of rice through the land borders and waterways, the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigerian Customs Service on Sunday, December 9 2012, intercepted a barge off the Badagry-Seme axis laden with 7,269 bags of rice with

Duty Paid Value of N50.1 million.

Making the disclosure at the local jetty, the Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Mr. Dan Ugo, confirmed that the seizure was made by a team led by CSC Kirawa Abdullahi.

Briefing newsmen at the seaside, he stated that “what you see here is in furtherance to the wake-up call by the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Dr. Abdullahi

Dikko Inde on zero tolerance for importation of rice through the land borders”.

In a related development, men of the unit, also intercepted a truck along Shaki-Igbokpe road of Oyo state with 155 bags of parboiled rice and 95 kegs of 25ltrs vegetable oil, stressing that the seizure was as a result of harmonisation of intelligence gathering involving three teams in the unit.

anaging Director of The Bank of Industry (BOI), Evelyn Oputu, said the entertainment industry’s $200million Intervention Fund has not been released because it is still awaiting approval from the National Assembly.

Speaking at the opening of the Film House Cinema in Lagos yesterday, Oputu proved that the Federal Government was committed to disbursing the Nigerian entertainment industry intervention fund to enable the industry compete at the global level with the opening of the Film House Cinema.

Original inhabitants’ resettlement is national priority – Minister

By Etuka Sunday

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inister of state for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has said that the resettlement of the original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be given the needed attention, describing this as a national priority.

Akinjide stated this yesterday in her office when the Ministerial Committee on APO Resettlement Scheme submitted its report to her. She said as recommended by the committee, the move to resettle the original inhabitants of Abuja is a national issue therefore should be included in the national budget.

It is not that the inhabitants are not ready to be resettled; there are issues to be resolved before they move, she said.

Therefore the work of the committee would give the road map into resolving such issues, she said.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 5

N4bn fraud: Audu denies evading EFCC arrest

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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ormer Governor of Kogi state, Prince Abubakar Audu has denied claims that he is evading arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Audu said he travelled outside the country eight days before the purported attempt by operatives of the anti-graft agency to arrest him.

EFCC is after the former fovernor for his alleged complicity in the embezzlement of N4 billion belonging to Kogi state government during his reign.

The commission had last Monday reported a failed attempt by its operatives to arrest the former governor, claiming that Audu fled his No. 32, Suleiman Barau Street, Asokoro, Abuja residence.

But Audu in his response said he was out for medical treatment as a result of a motor accident he had along Abuja - Jos road some weeks ago and wondered why the commission has to tarnish his image and give the impression that he had become a fugitive.

In a letter written on his behalf by his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and addressed to EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, Audu said he flew out of the country through a lawful route, the Nnamdi Azikwe International airport, Abuja and could therefore not be accused of fleeing especially that he is a "free citizen of Nigeria."

The letter reads: "This is to inform you that Prince Abubakar Audu is at present outside the shores of Nigeria, receiving medical treatment following a ghastly

motor accident he was involved in on the 29th of September, 2012, along Abuja-Jos Road.

"He had legally travelled out of Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikwe International airport as a free citizen of Nigeria on the 4th of December, 2012.

"As was heavily publicised in the Nigerian media following the said motor accident, Prince Abubakar Audu had been immediately admitted briefly at the Deef Hospital Aso Drive, Maitama, Abuja, for first aid treatment before he was flown to a hospital in London for further intensive medical attention as an emergency case, after he had achieved some measure of stability.

"Throughout his over three weeks stay in Nigeria, the EFCC never invited him for a chat either by letter or phone call. How could

he have run away from a purported “arrest” that he was not aware of and over which he was never invited?

"We want to categorically state that contrary to the false position put forward in the widely circulated statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) and reported in virtually all Nigerian Newspapers of 12th December, 2012, and on the internet, Prince Abubakar did not flee Nigeria to escape arrest upon your “storming” his house.

EFCC is very well aware that its letter inviting our Client to interview you was only delivered to his Counsel at 8:00pm on 11th December, 2012, after EFCC had impugned his integrity by telling the whole world that he had escaped from justice”.

Kaduna to spend N176bn in 2013

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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ix persons were yesterday crushed to death at Aviele along the Auchi-Okene highway, Edo sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said.

The Edo FRSC sector commander, Kenneth Nwaegbe, who made the confirmation to journalists in Benin said that 18 other persons were injured in the accident which involved an articulated vehicle and two buses.

Nwaegbe, who confirmed that all the dead commuters were adults, said they were five men and a woman.

He explained that although the accident caused a gridlock during the early hours. “we managed to get a recovery truck to remove the vehicles from the road. There is free-flow of traffic as I speak with you now.’’

…as 11 tankers are destroyed in Edo for bunkering

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From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

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aduna state Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, has proposed a total budget of about N176 billion for the 2013 fiscal year.

Presenting the draft budget to members of the House of Assembly yesterday, Yakowa gave the breakdown of the figure as comprising N74,441,824,583 recurrent expenditure and N102, 038,518,425 capital expenditure.

Tagged “Budget of Consolidation and Advancement,” he explained that funding for the budget is based on projected internally generated revenue of N29,087,728,838, N65 billion statutory allocations from the Federation Account and an additional N3, 372,000,000 from SURE- P. According to Yakowa, the budget is expected to transform what he described as critical areas of peace and security, infrastructural development, qualitative education, improved healthcare delivery, agricultural development, poverty alleviation, civil service reform as well as enhanced internally generated revenue for the state.

Auchi-Okene road mishap claims 6, injures 18

L-R: Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, President Goodluck Jonathan, and Senate President David Mark, arriving for the Christmas carol service, yesterday at the State House, Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

leven tankers reportedly used for illegal bunkering in some parts of Edo State have been destroyed by the Nigerian Army.

Two cars and some jerry cans used by pipeline vandals arrested by the Army were not spared.

Edo state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole who witnessed the destruction, condemned the activities of pipeline vandals whose criminal activities are undermining the nation’s economy.

“It is a shame that we still have some criminal elements in our midst who are still involved in pipeline vandalisation inspite of the fact this has claimed several lives in different parts of the country over a period of time”, he said.

Al-makura creates 10 new chiefdoms From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

G

overnor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa state has announced the creation of 10 new chiefdoms across the state.

A release made available to journalists in Lafia yesterday, signed by the Secretary to the

State Government (SSG), Hamza Elayo Mohammed, stated that the governor created the chiefdoms pursuant to his powers under the state local government laws 2009 as amended, the chiefs appointment and deposition law of Northern Nigeria (as applicable in Nasarawa state).

The statement listed the new

chiefdoms and their headquarters as follows: Chun Mada, first class status with headquarters in Akwanga; Nunku, second class, with headquarters in Nunku; Ngah, second class status, with headquarters in Rinze; Yanakajie, with headquarters in Uke; Tunga with headquarters in Tunga; Gurku,Ara, Ribi, Adogi and Kadargo,

all third class status, with headquarters at the respective towns.

While directing that the new chiefdoms be submitted before the state Assembly as required by law, Al-makura also approved the upgrading of the district heads of Tunga, Gurku, Ara, Ribi, Adogi and Kadarko as pioneer chiefs of their respective chiefdoms.

Flood donation: N500m FG grant intact, not diverted- Wada From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

A

pparently disturbed by insinuations that funds donated by private individuals and organisations for rehabilitation of victims of the recent flooding in Kogi State and the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) may have been diverted, Kogi State Governor

Idris Wada yesterday declared that the monies are intact.

Governor Wada spoke in Lokoja at a one-day meeting with traditional rulers, religious leaders and liaison officers of the local governments on polio eradication, routine immunization and primary health care, organised by the state Ministry of Health.

The governor said the

administration of these monies would be systematic and methodical including stocktaking of the buildings affected by the flood.

Specifically, the governor disclosed that the N500 million given to the state by the federal government is in a bank account.

Commending the health ministry and the representatives of

World Health Organisation in the state for their consistency in the fight against polio, the governor promised that his government would continue to provide counterpart funding for its eradication and other health facilities.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Omede Idris, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, enthused that while the

state had been polio free since 2009, cumulative immunization coverage for other diseases such as yellow fever and measles had achieved between 52 per cent and 99 percent respectively.

He attributed Kogi state’s free polio status to the giant feats of the immediate past administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and his successor, Capt Idris Wada.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

FG worried over ill-treatment of Nigerians in Bakassi

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he Federal Government has expressed concern over cases of maltreatment of its citizens in the Bakassi Peninsula.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohamed Hello Adoke stated this yesterday in his address during the opening ceremony of the 30th session of the Cameroon-Nigeria MixedCommission (CNMC) in Abuja.

He said such maltreatment is against the content of Article 4 of the Green Tree Agreement for handing over of the Peninsula to Cameroon.

Adoke who led the Nigerian delegation to the CameroonNigeria Mixed-Commission said such reported cases of maltreatment of Nigerian by the Cameroonian authorities in the Peninsula is not only capable of generating political upheavals but could erode public confidence in the whole

exercise.

But in a swift response, the Cameroonian government disagreed with the Federal Government's position and accusation saying Nigerians in the Peninsula are being accorded the same hospitality extended to over 3.5 million Nigerians living in

Cameroon.

The Cameroonian VicePrime Minister, Mr. Amadou Ali who led the that nation’s delegates, said already, there is a massive requests from the 10,000-15,000 Nigerians in the Bakassi Peninsula to obtain Cameroonian nationality.

… sets up committee to resettle displaced persons

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Federal Government yesterday set up a committee to look into the provision of relief to displaced people of Bakassi.

The committee which is headed by the acting governor

of Cross River state, Effiok Cobham, is to look into all the modalities necessary for the resettlement process.

The committee, inaugurated

by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo at the State House, Abuja has about three months to turn in its report.

The Sambo - led committee was set up by President Goodluck Jonathan in October at the height of the agitation for the government to appeal the 2002 International Court of Justice judgement which ceded the oil rich Peninsula to Cameroon.

Director, Corporate Communication Department of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Ugo A. Okorafor (right), briefing journalists on the CBN remittance, yesterday at the National Assembly in Abuja. With him is Media Officer of the Communication Department of CBN, Mr. Sam Okogbue (left).

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Money laundering: EFCC frees Lamido's son From Edwin Olofu, Kano & Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has granted Aminu Sule, the eldest son of the Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido administrative bail, barely a day after he was arrested in Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano for alleged money laundering.

Spokesperson of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren who dropped the hint in a phone interview with our correspondent yesterday, said although charges were preferred, the embattled son of the governor would be charged to court on a later date.

EFCC officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said he was granted bail because judges were

…he is not laundering money for me - Father

not available in Kano yesterday to take his plea because of the judges' conference ongoing in Abuja.

It would be recalled that Aminu was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday by a team of EFCC operatives for alleged money laundering.

According security sources at the airport, Aminu was arrested in his attempt to board an Egypt Air flight to Cairo by 12.30. am.

The governor's son was said to have declared $10,000 on the counter to enable him travel. But the officials were said to have discovered additional $40,000 concealed in his luggage.

However, Governor Sule Lamido issued ut a statement stressing that "it is not true that my son is laundering money for

us".

Lamido’s denial was contained in a press statement signed by the Director of Press, at the Government House Dutse, Malam Kyari Umar.

According to the Governor, "I have read from Sahara reporters that my son Aminu Sule Lamido has been arrested at Malam Aminu Kano Airport for carrying $50, 000 on his way to Egypt and for the purpose of removing the notion that he was embarking on a money laundering mission on my behalf, I find it necessary to clarify the allegation", said the governor.

"Aminu Lamido had a daughter born with a spinal cord problem and was taken to Cleopatra Hospital in Cairo, Egypt

last year. She was in the hospital for three weeks for treatment and was asked to be returned after three months for the second phase of the treatment and this was done about four months ago at the end of the second phase of the treatment they were asked to return to the hospital for examination after three months.

"It was on the third leg of the visit that Aminu was arrested by the EFCC while trying to board an Egypt Air on Tuesday 11th December 2012 around 11 am. the impression the EFCC gave to Sahara Reporters that he has carried out several trips abroad for money laundering on my behalf is therefore false and mischievous to that extent".

We are not against unionism, says NECO registrar

By Maryam Garba Hassan

R

egistrar and chief executive of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Okpala Okpala, has said that the council's management is not against unionism as alleged by the Non- Academic Staff Union (NASU) in the state, but that the union should acknowledge that there is a management and give it due respect.

Prof. Okpala disclosed this in Minna while fielding questions at a media parley organised by the Council.

According to him, there is a presence of NASU in the state but that it is not strong because the union has membership strength of 157, less than six percent of the management.

He said unionism is a good concept but faulted the manner the union handles its issues. According to him, the problem with the union started when it held a meeting and arrived at a resolution and tried to impose the resolution on the management.

He said for NECO to overcome the challenges it is facing in terms or materials and infrastructure and to forge ahead, additional funds, other human resources are needed, revenue for conducting exams be improved as well as marked utility vehicle be provided to the council for safety as according to him, 60 percent of vehicles used during the conduct of examinations in the country are hired and come with their drivers.

New Attah Igala to be unveiled soon From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

I

f reports from Igala Area Traditional Council are anything to go by, the people of Igala-land will soon have a new monarch as all screening and selection for the emergence of Ata Igala have been concluded.

The acting head of traditional council, Alhaji Yakubu Amodu the Ejeh of Ankpa, disclosed that both the Igalamela kingmakers and the Achadu Ata have unanimously elected Mr. Idakwo Michael Ameh the son of the former Attah of Igala late HRM Ameh Oboni as the new Ata Igala.

According to the traditional ruler, the council met last Tuesday and took a far-reaching decision to harmonise the reports of the two screening bodies and was subsequently endorsed by the council..

He said the nominee of the council has been submitted to Governor Idris Wada to act on and stressed that all documents pertaining to the nominee were before the governor for endorsement and pronouncement.

It would be recalled that the tool became vacant after the death of late Ata HRM Alhaji Aliyu Obaje. This prompted the kingmakers and Achadu Ata to commence a selection process leading to the selection of Idakwo Ameh Oboni from the Ocholi lineage as the 22nd Ata-elect.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

We need honesty to have crimefree society, says Ali Kwara T From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

he famous hunter of armed robbers, Alhaji Ali Kwara, has declared that for a crime-free society, people

should have fear of God and be honest in their dealings.

Kwara made the declaration while talking to newsmen in Bauchi, saying that if people and their leaders will live up to the

expectation of the citizenry robbery and insecurity will be of the past.

He decried the alarming rate of crime and attacks on innocent citizens across the land calling on

Nigerians to be more security conscious to protect themselves and their property.

Kwara stressed that lack of government’s commitment to consolidate on the gains of L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mrs. Kenhide Ajoni, representative of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ogbole Ode, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and Chairman, Senate Committee on Media, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, during the opening of 43rd National Council on Information, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

democracy has been responsible for the recurrent security challenges in all quarters and charged the authorities to address the situation.

He also attributed poverty as one of the causes of the security problems facing the country when political office holders no longer stand to fulfill mandates in tandem with their campaign promises.

He stressed that there will be no end to attacks on people unless there is solid and concrete foundation for unity among Nigerians, charging the Federal Government to wake up to their responsibilities.

He said: “People should not only rely on security agencies as they are not angels; security is the collective business of all stakeholders as government alone cannot handle it.

Kwara commended residents of Azare over the recent repelling of robbers in Azare Market, pointing out that Nigerians should always stand firm to defend themselves against any act of criminality in their respective societies.

Flooding: Maku calls for continuous sensitisation

By A’isha Biola Raji

IBA, Nippon Foundation collaborate to help leprosy victims

By Adamu Saleh

T

he International Bar Association (IBA) and The Nippon Foundation, Japan’s largest private philanthropic foundation, have formed an alliance to combat the stigma and discrimination against leprosyaffected people.

The launch of the collaboration will be the occasion of the annual global appeal to end stigma and discrimination against people affected by leprosy and their families.

The appeal, which is headed by the Nippon Foundation chairman, Yohei Sasakawa, who is the World Health Organisation (WHO) Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination and the Japanese Government Goodwill Ambassador for the Human Rights of People Affected by Leprosy, will be held at the Law Society in London on January 24 next year – three days before the 60th World Leprosy Day. In a release, Sasakawa describes the fight against leprosy and the discrimination it causes as his life’s

Ex-militant sues FG for discrimination

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he lingering crisis between a group of 22 documented ex-militants and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Amnesty, Mr. Kingsley Kuku took a twist yesterday as some former agitators sued the Federal Government, the Special Adviser and the governor of Akwa Ibom state at the Abuja High Court for the sum of N500 million.

The suit which was filed at the Abuja High Court on behalf of Mr. Andrew Joel Azazi, the leader of the ex-militants, by their counsel Emeka Uchegbulam and Co (Univoice Chambers) noted that the suit is to redress for the hardship and frustration suffered by the applicants as a result of the discrimination, abandonment and neglect by the respondents.

The originating motion brought by Azazi and his group read “An order that the prior, present

and further refusal to pay monthly stipend to the applicants and members of his group after they have been discharged like every other ex-militant who had undergone training in their respective camps is discriminating, unconstitutional and a violation of their fundamental human rights”.

“An order restraining the respondents from carrying out further acts of discrimination against the applicants”.

In addition, the order also mandated the respondents to commence payment of stipends to the applicants and their members like other ex-Niger Delta militants and to pay same the arrears of their stipends from the date of their respective disarmament till the date judgment is delivered while mandating the respondents to commence training of the applicants and their members on education and skill acquisition like other ex-Niger Delta militants.

work.

“A major breakthrough was achieved in 2010 when the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members.

“Leprosy is easily curable today by multi-drug therapy. There are no grounds to discriminate against someone with the disease. We now need to ensure that the UN resolution is fully implemented. I would also like to propose, as the

60thanniversary of World Leprosy Day approaches, that it be made an International Day designated by the UN agencies so that people can more seriously consider this issue.

“As the global voice of the legal profession, the IBA will work to eliminate discriminatory laws, and to ensure that the human rights of people affected by leprosy are upheld in accordance with the principles enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, the statement added.

Foundation distributes items to 254 women, youth in Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

I

tems worth over N10 million have been distributed to 254 women, youth and the School of the Deaf and Dumb by AlMuhibbah Foundation founded by the wife of FCT Minister, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed.

The items which were distributed through her special assistant on Poverty, Habiba Umar Alkaleri, at the multipurpose hall yesterday in Bauchi, included sewing machines, grinding machines, clippers, hair dryers, wheelbarrows, mattresses among others.

According to her, the foundation has made tremendous impact in sundry humanitarian endeavors such as donation to orphanages, donation of drugs and medical

equipments to primary health care centres, donation of wheel chairs to disabled persons and donation of educational materials to schools.

In his remarks, the District Head of Bauchi, Alhaji Nuru Adamu Jumba, urged well to do Nigerians to emulate the gesture of Aisha Mohammed, adding that the only way to curb the problem of poverty in the society is to empower the poor to become self-reliance and independent.

“We want the beneficiaries to make judicious use of these materials because they only way you can help someone in life is not just by giving him money but to teach him how to fish for money. This imitative will go a long way at reducing poverty among the poor and low income earners”.

M

inister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku has called on concerned stakeholders to continuously mount crusades against flooding and other environmental hazards especially in areas that are prone to them.

Maku made this call yesterday at the 43rd National Council on Information meeting, held in Abuja with the theme, ‘Information Management for Good Governance and National Transformation’.

He said there is need for information managers to spread weather reports that would guide inhabitants hence protect lives and property. “To be forewarned is to be forearmed”, he said.

Speaking further, he said the country cannot shy away from negative stories surrounding it. ”Boko Haram, high-profile kidnapping, corruption, oil subsidy scandals, ethnic and religious conflicts and harmful politics are among issues, destroying the image of the country at international level,” he said.

According to him, the on-going media tour, first embarked on in 2001 by the then minister of information, Prof. Jerry Gana has opened a platform for citizens to understand stages of development in their states.

He said the current non partisan tour which has so far, covered five states in the Northcentral zone including the Federal Capital Territory has been useful in monitoring developmental projects.

In her opening remarks, Mrs. Kehinde Ajoni, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, called on stakeholders and information experts to concentrate on development issues such as rule of law, accountability and welfare of the people.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

L-R: Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cameroon, Ambassador Hadiza Mustapha; Leader, Nigeria’s Delegation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke; Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa/Chairman, Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, Ambassador Said Djinnit; and vice-prime minister of Cameroon/Leader, Cameroon delegation, Mr. Amadou Ali, during the opening of the 30th session of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, yesterday in Abuja.

L-R: Kauran Katsina, Alhaji NuhuAbdulkadir; Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mr. Mike Omeri; Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu; and Zamfara state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Hassan Zurgemi, during a two-day National Forum on Security Challenges and Peace Building in Nigeria organised by NOA, recently in Katsina.

Nigerian Defence Academy cadets on counter-terrorism course 2 demonstrating their skills during their graduation ceremony, yesterday in Jaji, Kaduna state.

Members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria protesting the poor quality of health services in Nigeria, yesterday at the National Assembly, Abuja.

Photos: Mahmud Isa & NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 9

Insecurity: We will ensure prisons safety – CG

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

C

ontroller-General of the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS), Mr. Zakari Ibrahim has assured that his administration will not relent in ensuring the security of prisons across the country in view of the current security challenges facing the nation.

Zakari who said this Wednesday, in Abuja, during the inauguration of command Public Relations Officers (PROs), added that he would “ provide adequate welfare for both inmates and staff and also ensure proper training of Inmates and relevant manpower development of the Prison workforce.”

He therefore charged the new

PROs to take their work seriously and ensure that they upgrade their knowledge in the quest to project the Agency in more positive ways.

Earlier, Deputy Controller General in charge of Administration and Supply, Dr. E Ogbendu, had charged the newly command PROs to always remember that Prison Service

was a security Agency and should always be in touch with their command bosses and as well as headquarters’ Press unit before going to the press.

Responding, the Public Relations Officer of the Agency’s staff college in Kaduna, Muhammed Fari, assured the CG that they will not disappoint him in discharging their duties.

L-R: Minister of State for FCT, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide; Vice-Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on Apo Resettlement Scheme, Architect Joshua Kaura; and member of the committee, Architect Eni Ugot, during the submission of the committee's report on Apo resettlement, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Partner with us to fight insecurity, private firms urge FG From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

S

ociety of Security Practitioners of Nigeria (SSPN) has attributed the current insurgency in the country to the refusal of the Federal government to partner with credible private security practitioners in the war against insecurity.

Speaking at its annual end of year dinner at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, President of the body, Davidson Akhimien

said that in the last two years, terrorism has taken the front burner in the country and is refusing to stop because the federal government has continually refused to give heed to the subtle request of private security bodies to partner with them in tackling the Boko Haram menace, which has caused tension, huge destruction of lives and properties.

He noted that globally, no government could tackle insecurity alone without the

support and cooperation of its citizens who have knowledge of their environment, in aiding intelligence gathering at the local, state and federal levels.

He therefore called on the government to initiate arrangements between private security organizations and government security agencies so as to reduce the raging violence to the barest minimum.

In his contribution, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Fola

Arthur Worrey alleged that the Federal government is not sincere in tackling insecurity in the country.

Worrey wondered why the FG cannot empower the police enough to sufficiently execute the community policing project, which would incorporate private security practitioners, guards, community associations, vigilante groups and community based nongovernmental organizations.

NEMA inaugurates group to run IDP camps

By Albert Akota

T

he Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) has inaugurated a work group to coordinate activities in the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camps in the country.

Inaugurating the committee in Abuja yesterday, Sani-Sidi said it would examine issues relating to the management of the camps, as well as coordinating and assigning roles played by different stakeholders.

He said that although internally displaced persons

camps do not provide permanent solutions to displaced persons, they provide refuge for persons in emergencies.

“There is, therefore, the need for proper camp management as part of the effective humanitarian response operations in line with international best practise to give relief to displaced persons,’’ he said.

Sani-Sidi further said that no single agency had the sole responsibility or capacity to provide adequate protection and care for displaced persons.

Therefore, there was the need

for proper coordination of roles played by various groups in the camps, he said.

“A forum of this nature is necessary to enlighten the various agencies involved in camp management in order to prevent the duplication of responsibilities among the agencies.

“This is also to ensure the efficient use of resources, personnel and assets.

Country Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Angele Dihongue expressed the organisation’s commitment to

serve on the committee, where policies would be designed and implemented for effective management of IDP camps.

She said the forum would pave a way to address the challenges of camp management and the roles of stakeholders in emergencies.

Earlier, NEMA’s Director of Training, Mrs Clementina Asueni, gave the objective of the committee to include the strengthening of coordination mechanism among relevant actors across national, regional and local levels.

The membership of the

Nigeria, Niger to collaborate on youths

By Albert Akota

N

igeria is set to collaborate with Niger Republic on the youth sector in order to broaden the frontiers of cordial relationship between the two countries in line with the agreed protocol of cooperation on youth development under the NigeriaNiger Joint Commission for Cooperation.

The Minister of Youth Development, Inuwa Abdulkadir disclosed this yesterday at the opening ceremony of the Committee of Experts on the Implementation of the Protocol of Cooperation.

The minister who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Mr. Imam Abubakar, said it was significant for the two countries to partner on youth sector.

He added that it was in demonstration of this conviction that Nigeria was hosting the meeting to keep faith with the protocol of cooperation signed at the 37th Session of the Council of ministers meeting held in Niamey in October, 2011.

Abubakar praised the efforts and commitment of experts from the two countries towards developing a framework in the sector, adding that the mutual benefit of both countries, would go a long way the sub-region.

N4bn Kwara fund still held by FG, says governor From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

K

wara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed disclosed that if the federal government had settled the state with the balance of N4 billion the administration used to contruct Baruteen local government road, it would have constructed the Kaima/Kisi federal government road.

Governor Ahmed who stated this during a chat with journalists in Ilorin yesterday noted there are other federal government roads that need urgent attention but without fund to commence its construction.

The governor who expressed his administration’s resolve to discharge its duties said there was need for residents to pay tax to jerk up Internally Generated Revenue(IGR).

He noted that apart from PAYE( pay as you earn), government find its difficult to impose taxes on the masses who could not boast of regular income.

The governor said to ensure increment of IGR, the Kwara Diagnostic Centre, Shoprite and other infrastructures on ground would be directed towards increment of land value that would increase the level of IGR of the state.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

NEITI urges NASS to amend Act on sanctions

By Umar Muhammad Puma

N

igeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has urged the National Assembly to urgently start the process of reviewing the Act especially in the area of enforcement of sanctions to avoid losing the gains of the accountability drive in the extractive industry.

National coordinator of Civil Society Organisations under the auspices of Publish What You (PWYP) Nigeria, Faith Nwadishi, made the plea Wednesday in Abuja at a special meeting of the National

Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) on the implementation of Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) in Nigeria.

She said PWYP Nigeria is the country’s chapter of the global campaign across 60 countries which was launched in Nigeria in 2004 following the country’s endorsement and commitment to implement the EITI adding that the CSOs are happy for being represented on NEITI management board.

“It is not enough for NEITI to release reports without the relevant government agencies using the findings to address the gaps, all

identified covered entity must ensure that the remedial issues are addressed and give Nigerians report on the progress made. PWYP calls on the National Assembly to urgently start the process of reviewing the NEITI Act in the area of enforcement of sanctions and should also strengthen her oversight functions on NEITI in line with the provision of the 2007 ACT. “The National Assembly should build capacity where necessary to enable it carry out its oversight function more efficiently on NEITI. This is to enable her perform or carry out her mandates more efficiently and effectively. For effective

implementation of the NEITI, lawmakers must ensure that the public concerns in the provision of petroleum industry bill (PIB) before them are taken into consideration over and above the concerns of the operators who are out to make profit from the sector at the detriment of the country,” she said.

She also urged President Goodluck Jonathan to deliver on his commitment during the opening ceremony of the NEITI board by ensuring that the interministerial task team (IMTT) for the implementation of the remedial issues identified by all the

audits, was implemented.

She added, “this very important team would help to also address the lack of synergy between the various agencies saddled with the responsibility of natural resource revenue such as: Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), office of the Accountant General of the Federation, ministry of mines and steel development, and other such agencies to address the loopholes for revenue losses in the sector.”

Gov Aliyu wants council to regulate teachers From Illya Garba, Minna

N

Members of FCT Agency for the Control of AIDS (FACA), during a road walk to mark the 2012 World AIDS Day celebration, on Wedesday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

ECOWAS court treats human rights cases at Oyo sitting From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

T

he Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) sitting in Ibadan has treated over ten cases involving violation of human rights.

The cases treated by the court involved ECOWAS member countries as well as individuals who filed complaints with the court Countries whose cases were treated so far as at Wednesday

included Togo, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Niger and ECOWAS commission brought by individuals and country against country.

The court treated five cases brought from Togo, two from Cote D'Ivoire, one each from Nigeria, Niger and ECOWAS commission.

One of the cases was between Gnassingbe Kpatcha and others vs.

Republic of Togo.

The court was established as the legal and judicial framework for the economic integration of

FG to spend N3bn on women empowerment in 2013

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

S

ix federal ministries - Agriculture, Communications Technology, Women Affairs, Works, Health and Water Resources, yesterday, signed an agreement in the presence of President Goodluck Jonathan and other Federal Executive Council (FEC) members to create jobs for women as well as empower them.

In keeping with President Goodluck Jonathan's promise in his 2013 budget, the sum of N3 billion has been set aside to implement the agreement.

The Ministry of Water Resources is to provide 240 sanitation facilities across the country to be managed by women and girls.

It would be recalled that President Jonathan in his budget presentation said five million

the West African Region. The mandate of the court is to ensure the observance of law and of the principles of equity and human rights within the ECOWAS region.

The seat of the court is located in Abuja and there is provision for the court to hold external court session within territory of a member state.

President of the court , Justice Awa Nana Daboya accompanied by other justices at the opening ceremony said the sittings at women farmers will get mobile phones in 2013, to enable them to access information on agroinputs through an e-wallet scheme.

He had also said that his administration had worked to improve the position of women in society by empowering them economically.

Speaking at the signing ceremony yesterday, Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina, said this was the first time women and children were the centre of focus of any government in the nation's history.

Ibadan was to bring justice closer to the people.

She also stated that the aim of coming to Oyo state was to create awareness about the court and its judicial activities.

According to her, the court is set up so that aggrieved member countries as well as individuals in those countries could have access to justice.

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Bolajoko Adeniji expressed happiness that the court will be sitting in Ibadan.

iger state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has advocated a new council to regulate the activities of teachers as the present Teachers Registration Council has no power to discipline erring teachers.

Dr. Aliyu who spoke at the opening of the North Central Zone Mandatory Continuing Professional Training organized by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary School (ANCOPSS), on Wednesday said that teaching in Nigeria was still not fully professional as 50 percent or 60 percent of teachers were unregistered.

The governor said the proposed council would have powers to discipline teachers and even stop them from practicing if they run foul of the law like is obtainable in other professional organizations.

Aliyu said, many teachers in the country see the job as a last resort because they do not have the values and emotions required of professional teachers.

The governor emphasized the need for regular training of teachers in order to expose them to equip them with modern trends and skills for meeting the challenges in the global competitive market.

He blamed most of the problems facing the education sector on overpopulation and lack of planning stressing that it was time for Nigeria to adopt proper family planning to check the increasing population of the country.

Edo lawmaker considers 120 students for scholarship From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A

bout 120 students and pupils have been considered for scholarship in Orhionmwon Local Government area of Edo State by Hon. Friday Ogierhiakhi representing Orhionmwon II Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly..

The beneficiaries of the instructional materials grants and school uniforms cut across the six wards in Orhionmwon II

Constituency in Edo State.

Ogierhiakhi who received Edo Boundaries dispute and Scholarship committees report after plenary yesterday, said, six artisans from the constituency would also be empowered with working equipment before the end of the first quarter of 2013.

“The two committees is a consensus among our manifesto where we advocated for at least one University campus and government presence in our area”, he said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

Guidelines to become a professional carpenter How to

T

o become a professional carpenter, there are many career paths you might follow. Because the field of carpentry has so many options within it, very few carpenters achieve their skill levels in exactly the same manner as their coworkers. Your path may depend on the type of educational opportunities combination of the two to learn how to do their job as well as on-the-job training opportunities.

Examine your basic skill *Determine whether you have the strength and stamina to become a carpenter. This is a job that requires heavy lifting. You

can expect to be on your feet most of the day doing active physical labor. You need good eye-hand coordination, as well as a good sense of balance. *Examine your core educational strengths. Carpenters need to be able to solve mathematical problems with ease.

They also need good oral communication and language skills. A good understanding of physical science is also helpful. A successful carpenter can see the big picture and not just the immediate assigned task.

Make use of vocational training programmes *Talk with your guidance

counselor, if you are still in high school, about getting into vocational training programs.

Some schools offer Building Trades classes that show you all the various aspects of how to become a carpenter. *If vocational programs are unavailable, take basic shop classes to learn how to safely operate carpentry equipment such as saws and drills.

Receive post-high school training as a carpenter's apprentice *Enroll in carpentry training classes offered by local community colleges. These classes are usually part of an apprenticeship program that can apply toward receiving your journeyman certificate. You can expect to be in the classroom part of the time learning math, communication and construction skills, as well as general carpentry knowledge. The rest of your day may either be in a shop setting or on the job putting your skills to work. *If classes aren't an option for you, find work as a beginning carpenter. Work with contractors who are willing to give you onthe-job training, which allows you to advance as your skills improve. Work with this contractor to learn the basics including laying out a new build, form building, rough framing and outside and inside finishing.

Along the way, expect to learn about basic electrical wiring and plumbing, as well. *Look for carpentry apprenticeship programs offered by professional organizations such as Associated General Contractors, Associated Builders and Contractors and the National Association of Home Builders. *Receive a certificate as a journeyman at the end of your formal apprenticeship training.

Continue your education Take refresher courses periodically to learn about new pieces of equipment and construction techniques. You can find these courses at local community colleges. Equipment manufacturers often offer training, as well.

Complete college courses toward a degree. With a degree, you can gain the skills to run your own carpentry business or to become a contractor.

Skills required being a good carpenter In order to be a good carpenter there are certain skills required in a person, otherwise there is no use of opting for this career. The job of a carpenter is not easy and can be very demanding and challenging, thus a person should be prepared to face the challenge.

Since carpentry is a creative work, the person should have good strong hands to work with and good eye coordination. It is important for the person to be physically fit for the job and also have a good sense of creativity.

Since this job involves a lot of measurements, it would be beneficial for the person if he has mathematical skills too.

The job of carpentry involves the use of many tools, so the person should know how to use the tools and should be professionally trained in their usage. Also it would be helpful if the person takes a short course in first aid, so that if he gets any injury, he may cure himself.

The job will require a person to stand for long hours and work in extreme heat even at times. The person should be prepared for this, as it is no office job. A lot of concentration is also required along with bundles of patience. It is necessary for a carpenter to have a sense of style as well so that he is able to design the furniture well.

The benefits of weldering as a career

W

elders are metalworking professionals who permanently join pieces of metal by applying heat.

They work in many different industries including construction and car manufacturing.

Becoming a welder allows you to make a substantial living while working with your hands.

Although the manual labour involved in welding can make it a tough job, the career has a lot of benefits.

Compensation A career in welding can mean a steady and substantial paycheck.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, welders made a median hourly wage of $16.71, as of May 2009. Even the lowest 10 percent of welders made $11.26 per hour.

Quote Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations. — Steve Jobs

The highest-paid welders in the industry made more than $25.20 per hour. The hourly wage of welders tends to vary by the industry that they work in, but a decent hourly rate of pay and the potential for overtime makes welding an attractive career choice.

Skill development Although some choose welding as their final career choice, others see welding as one more step along a career path. An article on the Careers in Welding website, which is run by the American Welding Society, notes that welding is a highly technical skill that has a wide range of applications across various industries. For instance, some welders work in construction, but other may work in the oil industry, working on oil rigs and piping systems. Some welders even translate their skills into art, using industrial materials to convey a specific message or portray a particular aesthetic. Those who develop a high level of proficiency in the welding field can translate the skill into other career opportunities at a later time or move into more highly specialized areas of welding.

Variety Since many different manufacturing industries need welders, these workers can enjoy the benefits of job variety. Unlike many manufacturing jobs that require the worker to remain in one place repeating the same process, welding jobs may require the worker to work on one building or project and then move on to another completely different project for the next task. Welders may also switch industries since the welding skill is transferable from one industry to another. For instance, some welders may move from construction to manufacturing and back again if needed.

Advancement Another career benefit of the welding field is the possibility for advancement. Welders who perform their work properly and work hard may advance to become supervisors, instructors, technicians or even inspectors.

Some even go on to establish their own businesses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that some welders become welding engineers by going to school and obtaining bachelor's degrees.

With a high level of proficiency already under their belts, welders can make that transition naturally.

Sources: www.ehow.com http://www.ehow.com, http:// www.wikihow.com/become-afurniture designer

Welders are metal-working professionals who join metal parts.

become a furniture designer

D

esigning furniture is a creative and technical line of work. What exactly does it take to enter this field? Here is information on what you can do to become a furniture designer.

Get a bachelor's degree from a college (or university). This is often a requirement for entry-level jobs in the design field. Consider majoring in visually creative or mathematical subjects such as fine arts or engineering. More technical majors such as graphic design or computer programming may also be acceptable in leading to a career path in furniture design.

Develop a good design portfolio.

Having examples of your work available to show prospective employers or clients can help you get jobs and launch your design career.

Advance your technological and artistic skills. Creating furniture designs often involves using computer-aided design (CAD) software programs to draw the product. Sketching by hand is still a valued part of the job, however. It is also important to have a strong sense of balance and proportion and a technical understanding of how a piece of furniture will function.

Keep up with trends and the public's current tastes in furniture.

Read publications related to the furniture design profession or industry to know what improvements or changes are occurring.

Explore different ways to work as a furniture designer. You can join a design firm or furniture company. You can also work on a contract basis or specialize in a niche market-only designing a specific piece of furniture or working with a specific material.

Tips *Decide if you have the qualities and interests necessary to succeed in the furniture design business. Ask yourself if you are creative and have or would like to obtain the artistic, technical and business knowledge that is used in this job. *Attend workshops to learn how to make furniture from wood, metal, or other materials and use the proper tools. *Take business courses to help you learn how to deal with clients or to run your own furniture design business. *Join a professional association for furniture designers and network with other members. You can ask them how they became furniture designers themselves and possibly find a mentor willing to guide you in your career. *Consider doing an internship in furniture design to gain job experience. A few years of training or experience are needed before career advancement in this field is possible.

Warnings: Be aware that furniture designers are often paid for their work on commission.

Designers working in a niche market can have more difficult time making money and may need to work longer hours as well.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

A

Ghana election: The burden of the victor

part from the normal tempers that flared after the result of the poll was announced, the Ghana election held on December 7 went fairly well. The vote cements this West African nation's reputation as a democratic oasis in a sub-region blighted by contentious election hoopla. Even though Ghana's political stability has not automatically translated into economic empowerment of the majority of the population, Ghanaians seem to have taken seriously the admonition of their independence leader, Osagyefor Kwame Nkrumah, that "seek ye the political kingdom and other things will be added unto you," paraphrasing the Bible. However, the dust of the poll is yet to settle as the main opposition candidate, Nana Akuffo Addo, is contesting the result which gave the incumbent, John Dramani Mahama and his National Democratic Congress (NDC), a slim 50.7 percent victory, barely managing to cross the threshold of 50 percent to avoid a runoff.

Akuffo Addo and his National Patriotic Party (NPP) have said that "we have serious reservations about the country and declaration of result."

They have even raised the critical question of contesting the result. He declared: “The obvious option is to challenge the results in the court. The other option is to forgo it and make your case to the country."

There were lapses in the conduct of the poll, no doubt. Voting was marred

by delays after hundreds of newlyintroduced electronic fingerprint readers failed on voting day in some polling stations. However, Ghana's nonpartisan Coalition of Domestic Observers said the election had been generally free and fair. A day after the result was announced, the coalition which also tabulated its own results

“

newly elected Mahama has immense challenges on his hands. Firstly, he has to move quickly to reconcile a population fractured by divisive campaigns leading up to the elections from its observers, confirmed that the declared results agreed with its own. It declared that "the results of the 2012 presidential poll declared by the electoral commission are generally an accurate reflection of how Ghanaians voted in the December 7 polls."

In spite of the contention over the outcome of the election, we believe that the key players in the presidential poll have demonstrated maturity. Akuffo Addo, who narrowly lost in 2008 - by less than one percent to the then NDC

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

candidate and late President John Atta Mills - has called on his supporters to be calm while he weighs his options.

Ghana, it should be noted, has established a framework for orderly political succession and this has endeared the 25 million Ghanaians to the international community.

United States President Barack Obama's first and single state visit to Africa in his first term began with Ghana where he addressed its parliament, setting out his vision of the continent. It has so far attracted a whopping $3.2 billion in direct foreign investment and aid flows of $1.7 billion. Its new found hydrocarbon will boost its economic profile. Yet, Ghana is not an Eldorado. Unemployment is high and infrastructure especially the famed stable electricity supply in the capital, Accra, is on a downward spiral.

It goes without saying, therefore, that newly elected Mahama has immense challenges on his hands.

Firstly, he has to move quickly to reconcile a population fractured by divisive campaigns leading up to the elections. As for the main opposition candidate Akuffo Addo, we implore him and his party to carefully weigh their options as he had suggested and take a decision that will best serve the interest of the country. Ghana cannot afford to lose its competitive edge and selling point as a deepening democracy.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM EDITOR, DAILY ABDULAZEEZ ABDULLAHI

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND JAMILA NUHU MUSA

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

By Ose Oyamendan

H

e was the kind of man you don’t give a second look to – haggard, sweaty and very informally dressed in mismatched shirt, sweater and cargo pants. He was in a hurry too, flying towards the departure gates of our flight at the Murtala Muhammed airport.

It was what he was saying that got my attention. “I’m never coming back to this country.

Nothing works here. The people are not nice. I’m telling all my friends too,” he kept saying over and over again like a Nigerian pastor extorting the congregation to empty their accounts into his.

I could tell he was from Los Angeles. He looked like a movie type. His dressing hinted that. In the film scene in Los Angeles, the more informal you dress, the more work you get. The executives think if you dress in a suit and tie, you are too comfortable and may not be able to dish out the stuff that would wow people. But, a shirt, torn jeans and a hat and you’re deemed hungry, artistic and an auteur.

Later, in the plane, we were assigned seats on opposite sides of the same row. He kept looking at me as if he knows me. I’m thinking

By Aminu Salihu Yakudima here is an insinuation cum speculation on what we are actually doing and the conduct of our operations here at House No 19 called Victory Democratic Konsult, VDK. However, it is neither prohibited nor abnormal particularly in the Nigerian political environment to generate speculation; after all, many of such are rife even in government today. But what is worrisome to me and my colleagues at VDK is ‘mispresentation’ of our activities and blatant falsehood about us and some issues in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and politics in general, especially in the media.

Therefore, this piece intends to correct, at least for the record, these misrepresentations and other illusions in the publication of Newsdiary online penultimate week and what we disagree with in columnist Mahmud Jega’s last Wednesday’s piece. Even though Jega’s piece was based on the assumption of an attempt to enshrine a new democratic philosophy by a Nigerian politician based in America through a modern approach as is the practice in America but following our analysis of the ”structure meaning” of the article, we came to a conclusion that it creates a mental picture of professor Fred Onyeoziri and Mallam Aliyu Habu Fari’s posture of devoured greed and their bounden love for money. Above all, it portrayed VDK in bad light. Now that Jega himself has explained that there is no harm in what he wrote and has educated the reader about the intent of the article and informed the general Public of the positive responses he received via sms in his subsequent write up, we have no reason to disagree any further.

Since making insinuations is not in our characters.

On the other hand, the story of Newsdiary online captioned ‘2015 intrigues Rock PDP as Habu

T

PAGE 13

Bye, bye Naija its because I was wearing one the prison T-shirts that I collect because this man looks like he’s done time. Once the plane was in the air, he came over and in less than a minute we realized we had mutual friends. That instantly turned him to a radio and I the listener.

His problems started as soon as he set foot in the country. He was held waiting in the long line of customs. I kind of felt for him but the line at customs is the best part of Nigeria for me. It’s where you actually feel happy to be a Nigerian because it’s the one place Nigerian officials give better attention to Nigerians than the foreigners whose butt they kiss and wipe all day in the outside world. The Nigerian line moves faster as it should, as it is everywhere in the world. This man felt the foreign line should move faster.

When it got to time for his luggage and he waits almost two hours to get it. I always wondered why it always takes that long to

get your luggage at the Murtala Mohammed airport. If you’re coming from Ghana for instance, it takes you longer to get your bags than it would take you to fly.

Then our friend got into Nigeria and it got worse. The Third mainland bridge was closed then so his driver decided on a faster route. Somehow, they got stuck in the Mafoluku ghetto. He got to his hotel about five hours later.

In most countries, filmmakers are treated like some sort of egg you handle with care. This man was treated like egg you throw against a wall. The reason is simple. Film attracts tourists to their location like bees flock honey.

But, in Nigeria, the simplest things like film permits became an excursion to pain for my new friend. No one had answers for him except he opened his wallets. And, at the tourism department they wondered why he would come film here.

I remember one of the producers of the “Last King of

Scotland” telling me without the president of Uganda encouragement and support, they could not have shot the film in that country. In Nigeria, my personal experience is that most of the government officials exists to frustrate you, even at the topmost level.

Then, it was time to go and the hell started again. The journey took forever. The check in counter was a nightmare, even though he was a business class elite traveler.

He was in the fast track line at customs but it seemed whoever designed that line had a tortoise in mind. And, a Customs agent harassed him so long he had to bribe him so he won’t miss his flight.

“I’m done with this country.

Never coming back and I’m telling all my friends,” he said.

“It’s not that bad,” I say.

“You mean you’re coming back,” he asked incredulously.

“I have no choice,” I say.” I’m also from here.”

He looked at me with a sad eye

Not in our character

Fari, Sacked Staff of Chairman Emerges DG of Jonathan’s secret campaign office’ posted on the 9th November, 2012 was totally biased, unbalanced and unresearched. It raised a number of issues ranging from false political pedigree of Habu Fari and his appointment as Director General of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s campaign organization and myself as his Deputy, and malicious gossip about the activities of VDK and PDP. In fact, to say with modesty, the whole story, written by Danlami Nmodu, from the first line to the last page, is a veritable heap of falsehood and an embarrassment to us in VDK, the presidency and PDP. In his myopic thinking, the author claimed that in spite of the fact that president Jonathan has not made any open declaration of his intention to run for a second term yet, in a secret moves he has set up a campaign office at Jabi, Abuja. Whereas, time and again, Habu Fari, chairman of VDK has debunked this claim. In a recent media interview with This Day, Fari was quoted as saying that: “As you know, we are a consultancy outfit that is into guidance, and counselling, management and political consultancy…”

Surprisingly, sounding quite hollow in an effort to whip up the political sentiment of Southerners, the story had further claimed that the purported campaign office is populated by Northern politicians as a remedy to counter the president’s main opposition for the 2015 presidential race (the Northern Nigeria elite).

According to him, the combination of Aliyu Habu Fari, Mallam Ibrahim Sidi Bamalli and myself who are of Northern extraction can bring about a workable formula. The reasons he

advanced were quite illogical. He said Habu Fari was former a National Chairman of a political party, Director General of the defunct Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Organization for the presidency, and former Chief of Staff to PDP National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur. He was mute on the pedigree of Sidi Bamalli, but he was cognizance of my credentials as a chieftain of PDP being a pioneer Director in the National Secretariat of the party; former principal secretary to the former National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and former special Assistant political and Research fellow in the defunct National Development Project (NDP), a think tank of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. And not his campaign office.

Against this backdrop, the author believed that our experience and political exposure will bring about the desired needs in terms of mobilization and promotion of the aspiration of Mr. President for second term, at least, in the North. Obviously, one wonders from where he got this strange intelligence and what made him draw this misleading conclusion.

The story insinuated further that following a rift between Aliyu Habu Fari and the incumbent National Secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoya Oyenlola when the former was Chief of staff to National Chairman over approved a salary

structure and other Jumbo allowances to members of PDP’s NEC - a phenomenon that is totally alien to the party. In June this year, NWC approved a salary of N2 million monthly for the National Chairman; N2.8 million for deputy National Chairman; N1.5 million to the National Secretary and N1.2million for each of its members. Fringe benefits covering housing, transport and medical allowances are also being paid separately.

It is true that Habu had a sharp disagreement with Pprince Oyeniola on negation of office procedures only but that was not the reason his removal from office. The monetary aspect that Fari frowned at is the outrageous N13 million proposed by the national Auditor for entertainment of INEC Auditors who were scheduled to visit the PDP National secretariat and look at the financial book of the party in a single day.

Finally, the author alleged that the president and the PDP National Chairman are suspicious of each other. He buttressed this point by saying that after Mr. president had supported Bamanga Tukur every step of the way to the office of the National Chairman, he was not quite comfortable with him hence the president requested that three of his political loyalists be employed as personal staff in the office of the National Chairman, but

“

Even as I take exception to the issue of the working relationship between the leader of the ruling party who is also the president of this country and the National Chairman, I admit the truism of my incompetence to ascertain the correct position of the author’s claim

as if he’d just seen a corpse and drifted back to his seat.

He’s not alone, sadly. I once had a chat with the executive producer of Amazing Race. We met at a film market and I mentioned I was going to Nigeria to start preliminary work on a project. He spent the better part of an hour trying to convince me not to go. He told me of a time he went to scout Nigeria for a season of his show. He had clearances and assurances all the way up to the ministerial level.

But, as soon as he landed, all his plans went to hell. It seemed everyone expected him to pay for the opportunity to film in Nigeria.

And, this was a show that is a tourism magnet because of its millions of viewers. Frustrated and left on his knees, the man moved his show down the road to a neighbouring country. After the show ran, tourists flocked the neighbouring country.

“You should go to Ghana or Sierra Leone. They are miles ahead in these things,” he counselled.

“I can’t,” I say. “I’m from here”.

He looked at me mournfully and spat out, “sorry”. To such folk, it’s bye-bye Nigeria.

Ose Oyamendan is resident in Los Angeles, Carlifornia, USA. Tukur blatantly rejected the request. This is not the vivid picture of what actually happened.

Even as I take exception to the issue of the working relationship between the leader of the ruling party who is also the president of this country and the National Chairman, I admit the truism of my incompetence to ascertain the correct position of the author’s claim. But on the issue of engagement of Mallam Ibrahim Sidi Bamalli, Professor Fred Ayeoziri and engineer Omeni Sabotie as aides of Bamanga Tukur, I can authoritatively explain that the three politicians had been indeed employed as special Advisers to National Chairman and were dropped after two months in office following the emergence of a new list of personal staff to Tukur from the office of principal secretary to the National Chairman. No reason for their removal was given even to the presidency, the source of their nomination.

It appears this action is still becoming an issue of concern to Bamanga Tukur, particularly the disengagement of Ibrahim Sidi Bamalli, for many reasons.

Soon after this appointment as special Adviser on finance and investment to the National Chairman, Sidi Bamalli gave a resultoriented service and added value to Bamanga Tukur’s leadership within the short period of his stay in office.

In fact, it was Bamalli’s initiative that brought about the new programme of business collaboration between PDP and African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa. That was what informed the meeting between National Chairman Bamanga Tukur and the TreasurerGeneral of ANC, Dr. Mathews Phosa recently in Abuja.

Aminu Salihu Yakudima is a political administrator and a media consultant.

PAGE 14

By Lilian Onajide

T

he hearing that the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions scheduled for Thursday, December 6, could not hold. The absence of two very relevant parties in the petition brought by Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, which necessitated the public hearing – Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, Minister of Finance and Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, Managing Director of Access Bank – forced the House committee to reschedule the hearing to Thursday, December 13.

From information that is available in the public domain, Ubah wants the National Assembly to determine if it is morally in order for the Access Bank Chief Executive to head the presidential panel on the oil subsidy probe, when his bank is an interested party in the exercise, considering the fact that the bank is involved in the payment of subsidy claims by fuel importers.

Ubah says the bank is also an interested party because it funded the fuel importation business that his company and the Coscharis Group jointly executed, which has now become a subject of litigation in Nigerian and United Kingdom courts.

By Amenaghawon Joseph Idahosa

F

ear can sometimes be such that you may feel yourself almost wanting to jump out of your own skin. It can be a very incapacitating scenario when one is faced with a life-threatening situation. The chilling accounts of those who have survived violent situations are such that one can only pray and hope never to experience. Unfortunately, we now live in a country where prayers may not be enough but concerted individual, communities and proactive government efforts (especially by its agencies mandated to provide security) are needed to curb the incidences of violence. The security challenge that the country is battling with is a major source of concern to all well-meaning and law-abiding citizens.

There seems to be no week that the media is not awash with reports of violence attributed to the actions of state actors – joint military operatives in trouble spots of the country and non-state actors – citizens acting out as suspected members of the BokoHaram, criminal gangs and vigilante groups amongst others.

The upscale of violence in recent times and over the years has been attributed to a number of reasons including the socio-economic challenges in many parts of the country, army of unemployed youths who have become ready “converts” of all sorts of criminal gangs, poorly trained and inadequately equipped police force resulting in its inability to provide adequate security for the citizens and the growing extremism and the attendant violent expressions of such groups.

However, it appears that these outcries only seem to beat the security operatives into a retreat and embolden the perpetrators of violence to attack communities and carry out dastardly acts in places that seem not to be within

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

What does Ubah want?

From what transpired at the otherwise of having Aig-Imokhuede proper he makes the cause of his botched public hearing last week, it preside on a panel that handles an grouse very clear? was obvious that the House assignment in which he is an At the hearing that did not hold committee was not properly briefed interested party, the question arises proper, Ubah repeated his on what the Capital Oil chairman as to what business Maduka has with orchestrated allegation of a gangwants. For it was clear that the the House committee, as far as his up for the purpose of taking over his lawmakers business. So, what were trying to is the House discuss a matter committee that is already in expected to court, a point deliberate on? Is it Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text that lawyers t h e messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written representing inappropriateness contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 Mr. Cosmas of having Aigwords, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and M a d u k a , Imokhuede on the a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed chairman and panel? Is it the to: chief executive supposed attempt officer of to take over his The Editor, Coscharis, made business? Is it the Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, current freezing of clear.

They his company’s have asked for all 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. assets, which was the relevant Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com ordered by courts papers on the SMS: 07037756364 of competent tripartite jurisdiction? Is it transactions involving Capital Oil, Coscharis and petition is concerned, to warrant his the fuel shortages being experienced Assess Bank, apparently to guide appearance before it. The Coscharis in the country, which he claims the them in their deliberations on chairman did not set up the continued closure of his company’s Thursday. The same papers are presidential panel, nor did he appoint premises has engendered? Is it the the Access Bank managing director payment of his subsidy claims? currently wsith the courts.

What, really, is Maduka’s If indeed Ubah wants the into the panel. If Ubah has any issues legislative arm of government to with Aig-Imokhuede’s membership interest in all this? Or, put in the determine the appropriateness or and headship of the panel, is it not other way round, who is the

aggrieved party in what has come to be known as the Maduka/Ubah feud, for which the latter wants the intervention of the lawmakers? I thought that if there was one person who should cry blue murder, that person is Maduka. He it was who took a loan to finance a fuel importation business that sailed into troubled waters. He it is who is currently fighting to extricate himself from a debt burden that sees him cough out almost 400 million naira as interest every month, with the debt profile now in the region of 21 billion naira. It is an issue which courts in two countries are trying to resolve. This makes one wonder how far the House Committee can go in the task that Ubah has saddled it with.

It is interesting to note that Ubah has advanced so many reasons to explain his current travails. If it is not that competitors (including his kinsman?) are envious of his soaraway success, it is that he is being hunted because he has broken the barrier of ethnicity to succeed in a foreign and hostile environment, that is, besides the earlier mentioned allegation of attempt to take over his business. The public hearing may not go beyond the propaganda that Ubah seeks.

Lilian Onajide is reachable on thenigerianvoice.com

question is also one to ponder about.

Places of worship it seems have to be consistent in making provisions for security coverage payments in their overhead costs. What is the back-up plan in the event that there is an urgent need for the massive deployment of security operatives out of Abuja, for instance?

The stand that individuals, groups and communities take on and how they choose to engage the critical security concerns that we are faced is vital to securing viable and sustainable solutions. Perhaps most important and foundational of all is getting the narrative around the causative factors right.

Too many opinionated narratives have made it more complex for the designing of viable roadmaps to dealing with the problems. One way to address this could be a timely release of reports of government led inquiries (panels for instance) into incidences of security infractions that have occurred in recent times. There may be contestations about such reports, but they may help to enable people get a more objective view of the security issues within their domains.

Efforts, interventions and initiatives by faith-based institutions/organisations aimed at encouraging inter-faith alliances to promote peacebuilding and mutual co-existence between the different religious groups in our communities are still in their infancy.

These interventions, in my view, have great potential for resolving some of the underlying factors that fuel distrust between the different religious groups. These initiatives seem not to have captured the hearts and minds of those who are perpetuating the “ethnoreligiously” tainted dimensions to the manifestation of violence in the country. There seems to be a lack

of harmony in the understanding of the two parties of the interpretations of the religious texts that are often quoted to advance extremist activities. Additionally there are seems to be no communication channels between the parties and it doesn’t appear there are any know efforts to establish such by any of the sides.

Continued attacks targeting citizens at the worship centres of Christians and Muslims attributed to extremist elements seem to justify these assertions. It is not unlikely that these ethno-religious campaigners are fuelled by their continued belief in the preferred narrative and ideas of their specific groups.

A political solution that may contribute to halting the spate of violence also seems farfetched and it doesn’t seem to be an option that the government has fully explored. nor exploited. Reported attempts at engaging some of the key groups perpetuating the violence in the North-East of the country seem to have yielded nothing. A significant change in the hierarchy of the management of the country’s security sector has equally not produced the expected result despite the pronouncements of the new man at the helms of affairs that he had the telephone contacts of leaders of the Boko Haram group.

Are we are ready to affirm our stand to fight insecurity? As well meaning Nigerians, we must take a common position against all that is unjust and detrimental to the full enjoyment of citizenship rights by all Nigerians. We must not let the fear created by those who perpetuate violence of the most heinous kind to debar us from taking a stand. Let us not be afraid to take a stand.

Amenaghawon Joseph Idahosa can be reached on Twitter.com

WRITE TO US

Don’t be too afraid to take a stand the radar of security and intelligence operatives.

The seemingly intractable security challenge posed by the Boko-Haram especially in Nigeria’s North-East region is one that seems to back this type of analysis and suggests that there is a dip in the capacity of the security operatives to grapple with the tactics and strategies of the sect.

In all of these, we also find that different sections and interest groups in the country that have been affected by these security infractions continue to advance their own narratives and solutions to the problems, some going as far as making outright succession threats.

These narratives, it seems, have been emboldened because of the absence of timely and factual information by agencies of the state responsible for investigating security infractions and the placement of their findings in the public domain.

What stand can anyone truly take in the face of the complexity of the issues that have to be considered and clearly understood, before the contemplation of the designing and development of viable and sustainable solutions to the insecurity challenge? Is there a simplistic understanding of the security situation in Nigeria? What informs the narrative and analysis projected by government, national intelligence and security operatives, the academia, community actors, religious leaders and sometimes selfstyled security-sector experts?

How do ordinary people in the most affected parts of the country view the security challenges that have become an everyday reality of their lives? What stand can they take? Will the stand they take be used against them?

People are certainly taking a stand against the unabated spate of violence in different ways. The reaction of the students of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers

state, to the brutal killing of four of their colleagues by a mob in Aluu easily comes to mind. Was the manner of their reaction which included the razing of houses justified or was it another example of pervading impunity which also sees aggrieved persons or groups taking laws into their hands? Was this possible because of the failure of the law enforcement agencies to be pro-active and anticipate such possible reactions or was it simply that the students wanted to register their lack of confidence in the criminal justice system to bring the killers of their colleagues to book?

Communities are upgrading their security consciousness levels and adopting preventive measures to counter possible security infractions and attacks. For instance, in Abuja metropolis, attending church service on Sunday has become cumbersome as one has to go through security checks – cars searched and metal-detector frisking processes all in a bid to ensure that worship centres are not exposed to possible attacks. Security operatives-Police personnel also take up strategic places in the course of masses held on a given Sunday. It’s important to note that some Catholic parishes now prohibit the parking of vehicles within church premises just as they also discourage women from coming to masses with their handbags.

The key question is that of sustainability, especially as it concerns the continued coverage of these parishes and other places of worship by security operatives. At the moment there are no indications that the security coverage of the Nigeria Police Force is one that all Christian places of worship within and outside the metropolis will continue to benefit from. Is the provision of weekly security coverage to these places of worship a logistically and financially sustainable one? The affordability

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

By Maryam Garba Hassan

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popular adage says “friendship has no colour, age, religion or tribe.” This is the reason friendship comes in different forms. The type of relationship that I shared with late Mrs. Oluremi Osheidu fitted that adage. She was a valuable friend and, to a great extent, a grandmother for that was what she was to me.

Oluremi was a woman who came into my life in the early 90s; she was my mother’s boss in the office and retired from active service in the Customs as an Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) some years ago; since then we had developed a kind of bond that could be likened to a grandmother- grand daughter relationship and it grew from strength to strength over the years until the cold hands of death snatched her away early this month.

In her life time, Oluremi, fondly called “madam” by my family members, adopted many people as her ‘children and grandchildren’, and also made many friends because she believed in friendship and unwavering love.

She was one person from whom I learnt the value a friendship, making it possible for me to be in the midst of people who love me and make me happy all the time.

To many, she was fearsome, strict, a disciplinarian and blunt person. But one thing was certain; she lived her life to the fullest.

Interestingly our relationship blossomed to a point where I could not but help see her as a grandmother and that was what she was to me, that grandmother

PAGE 15

Adieu, grandmother, Oluremi with a HEART OF GOLD. She was exceptionally neat and straight forward as “madam” spoke her mind unmindful of whose ox was gored.

She gave me every reason to reciprocate the love and care she showered my mum, the love she did not hesitate to extend to me and my own kids, especially my late daughter, WALIDATI. She made me one of her family members and was always there for me, she visited me always despite our age gap. For a successful woman who was born into wealth and royalty, a woman who carved a niche for herself and became a force to be reckoned with while she served with the Customs Service and thereafter, her kindness knew no bounds, and as the younger person, I should be the one to pay her visits and call to ask about her welfare but she was the one who, more than I did, kept the flame of our relationship burning by making frequent visits and asking how we were doing. It was quite obvious that she cared so much for me and that her main concern was my welfare. This was evident in the way she felt disturbed whenever she noticed that I had lost weight and would complain that I was working too hard.

She cherished friendship so much that she was always there for other people as well; she attended funerals, weddings and other events she was invited to, regardless of distance or who the organizers were, and she never stopped doing this even as she battled the ailment which eventually claimed her life.

Late Mrs. Oluremi Osheidu

lifestyle of the executive and legislative arms of government?

Has Okonjo-Iweala learnt anything from the present subsidy scam with President Jonathan’s unwillingness to prosecute the likes of Otedola and Co. who financed his campaign?

I sincerely hope by now that Okonjo-Iweala has realized that she is being used by the GEJ administration as a camouflage while confusion and corruption reigns. To truly succeed in helping Nigeria overcome the oil curse and corruption, she must force President Goodluck Jonathan to confront the demons in his (himself) administration. To help her, I came up with ten provocative demands she should confront Jonathan with. Here are they…

1. Okonjo-Iweala should bluntly tell Jonathan that he is not just incompetent but that he is impotent in fighting corruption in Nigeria. She should thus advise him to honorably resign. We know President Jonathan will not resign so, she has to demand a pragmatic approach to tackling corruption with this second demand: 2. Paraphrasing Benjamin Netanyahu, Okonjo-Iweala should bluntly tell Jonathan that the fight against corruption in Nigeria should not be fought with Diezani Alison-Madueke but with a rocket-

propelled grenade between his teeth.

3. She should bluntly tell Jonathan that Diezani must be removed as the Petroleum Minister as a condition for her continued involvement with the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund to manage our oil riches 4. Okonjo-Iweala should then admit to Jonathan that she was wrong with her approach to tackling the endemic corruption in the oil sector through subsidy removal. She should then tell him that all our refineries must be sold out rightly, the management and board of NNPC sacked and restructured as a pre-condition to future subsidy removal 5. She should bluntly tell Dr. Jonathan that the EFCC as currently constituted and empowered is not effective because of the obstructive interference from him, through his Attorney General Adoke. She should therefore go ahead and ask him to sack Adoke and appoint someone that will not only assist EFCC in fighting corruption in Nigeria but one that will ensure that corrupt judges are not rewarded by appointment to Supreme Court and federal high courts.

6. In the words of Achebe, Okonjo-Iweala should bluntly tell Jonathan that he has surrounded himself with corrupt “politicians

She was the first person I knew in my life who never forgot friends and family members’ birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and would send Sallah, Christmas and Valentine greetings to people through text messages and calls of felicitation during the seasons.

What more can I say? Than to say I appreciate her unconditional love and friendship. She was really a role model who added value to the society in which she lived.

Though death is inevitable and Madam lost the battle with the protracted ailment, I remembered how she fought her condition with so much hope in the healing power

of prayers till she lost the battle 10 days to her birthday which would have been on the 14th of December.

Naturally when the going is good for an influential person or a person in position, the person would be surrounded by people but when the going gets tough they desert such a person, while only those who cherish the relationship would remain. In madam’s case despite the fact that she had left the Customs service, she was still surrounded by many this showed the extent to which her personality resonated amongst those that were fortunate to come

across her because she had a heart of love.

At her home, when you visited, it was filled with people; she was surrounded by people where ever she went. When she travelled and lodged in a hotel, her room was always filled with visitors; that was the type of person Oluremi was - a woman of the people.

Madam was indeed a woman who gave so much to people but got little in return, a woman who was full of surprises, and a woman who silently touched the hearts of many, in so many ways than one.

There is no doubt that God will reward her abundantly.

And as if she had premonition of her death or that she knew her days were near, she called me 3 days to her death and said she was calling to greet me and to find out how I was doing. Incidentally, my mum called Madam too, few hours before she died as she had promised to call back in the morning to find out how she was doing, only to hear a different voice on the line telling her that Madam was no more.

It is incumbent on those whose hearts she touched and those who cherished what she stood for to pay their last respect to her in her homeland in Ogori, Kwara state, where she will be laid to rest soon because she deserves it. They should pray for her soul to find peace, and to remember her in their prayers often.

I love you and will miss you dearly. Adiu, my friend, my grandmother.

Maryam Garba Hassan is a staff of Peoples Media Limited.

Ten provocative demands from Okonjo-Iweala

By Churcill Okonkwo

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are good news for Nigerians: two prominent Nigerians made the list of the “100 Top Global Thinkers of 2012”, according to Foreign Policy magazine. They are Prof. Chinua Achebe, for “forcing Africa to confront its demons” and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for “showing Africa how to break the resource curse.”

While the inclusion of Achebe is welcome without hesitation, that of Okonjo-Iweala, vis-a-vis the record of monumental corruption in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, may raise some eyebrows.

While I agree with OkonjoIweala on the concept of oil subsidy removal, I disagree with her on the roadmap. While she believes that our resource curse will be reversed by simply removing subsidy, I believe that corruption and corrupt practices in the Nigerian oil industry remains the main problem and as such, should be the starting point.

Of what use is oil subsidy removal for a government that cannot account for its crude oil production (with a fifth of our crude oil stolen), running an inefficient and oversized NNPC with dilapidated refineries? Of what use is oil subsidy removal in a country that spends over 70% of its budget on recurrent expenditure, servicing bogus and extravagant

with plenty of money and very low IQ.” She should remind Mr. President that money without brains is dangerous. She should ask him what he is doing with secondrate friends including Dr. Doyin Okupe and Tony Anenih. She should remind him that since the start of the oil boom in the 70s, we’ve had all the money, but unfortunately not the brains to take the country in the right direction.

7. With her mouth closed, Okonjo-Iweala should shout to Jonathan’s hearing that the few smart people he appointed to work with him are intellectually lazy (including herself and Dr. Reuben Abati). With her gaze firmly resting on Mr. President’s nostrils, she should tell him that there is little excuse for obviously well paid and well educated professionals to be deceiving themselves and those around them that Nigeria is being moved in the right direction by this administration.

8. Okonjo-Iweala should bluntly tell Jonathan that he is a diet of underdone roasted yam and owner of the trumpet of misery and deceit 9. She should bluntly tell Jonathan that he is an epitome of a school master that cannot read nor write. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala should tell Mr. President that she sometimes wonders how he

managed to engage his students in critical proble -solving in designing research as a professor.

She should then pick a piece of paper, write this down and hand it to Mr. President: ”I’m afraid Mr. President, but you are a model of foolish consistency.”

10. Finally, Okonjo-Iweala should advise Jonathan not to run for office in 2015 if he has ever cared for Nigeria in his adult life.

She should quietly tell him that he is dumb and does not possess the leadership qualities needed to take Nigeria to where we should be heading to. She can simply convince him by reminding him that his administration has been not just one of poor moral level of leadership and competence, but also one with blurred vision. Vision blurred by corruption, intellectual dullness and moral depravity.

Then Okonjo-Iweala should turn in her resignation, tell Jonathan to call her when demands 2 –10 are met, quietly go home and think. Between oil subsidy removal and addressing the oil theft and governmentassisted corruption in the oil sector, she should take time and think about what should come first.

Critical thinking, that’s what “global thinkers” do.

Churchill Okonkwo is reachable onChurchill.okonkwo@gmail.com

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

FCT College of Agriculture bill passes second reading

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Pupils of Famaks International School, performing, during the end of the term Christmas drama presentation, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Abuja residents urged to ensure development of FCT

By Josephine Ella Ejeh

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buja residents have been charged to ensure that they play their parts towards making sure that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) attains the expected level of development.

Founder of the coalition of civil societies under the auspices of Friends of the FCT, Prince Shield Nwanzuruahu, who made the call at the 2012 Federal Capital Advancement Awards, held at the Yar Adua Centre to honour individuals and corporate organization who contributed in one way or the other to make the FCT reach its present state.

He advised them not to be docile in policing the policy of government for the good of their environment through constant check on the administration by ensuring that it remain focused and deliver on all aspects of its social contract to the people for a better territory. ”Abuja cannot make progress if the residents are docile, there is a limit to what the eye of the government can see and act upon.

Residents should be responsible in bringing the attention of government to the lapses observed in any part of the territoryneighbourhood and community that they live,” Nwazuruahu said He maintained that members

of the public remain the most formidable bloc to advance collective interests of the FCT only when they constructively engage the administration with valid information about areas that may need the attention of the administration to effect the necessary action for the development of such places.

Over 60 persons drawn from various aspect of human endeavour were honoured with various categories of awards for their respective role in the development of the FCT. Among the recipients of the award are, the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, Central Bank of Nigeria CBN

Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Gbenga Oruleba.

Speaking to journalists after the award, the FCT Minister Senator Mohammed said the award marked another reminder to his administration to live up to the expectation of the residents who form the center-piece of the FCTA policies.

He said the award also humbled him even as he assured residents of the FCT that the administration would continue to provide the critical services in the areas of education health and infrastructure which forms the critical components for the territory’s advancement.

Polio: Board seeks support of road transport unions, market

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he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board (PHCDB) said it has solicited the support of Road Transport Union and the Market Women Associations in the fight against polio.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the board had concluded plans to establish a surveillance team to control the disease in Abuja.

Mohammed said that the board expected the road transport union to put in place a fixed post at various motor parks so that immunisation could be given to any child coming into the FCT. He also said that the board would pay a courtesy visit to the unions to map out strategies on the best method to adopt in the collaborative effort.

“We want to visit the transport workers and women associations to solicit their support on creating posts where any child that comes to the market can be immunised,”

he said.

Mohammed said that there was the need to strengthen routine immunisation, and that such approach was the key to disease prevention.

He advised parents to ensure that their children received the complete dose of the immunisation, adding that a child that received uncompleted dosage would be vulnerable to infection.

Mohammed appealed to the public, especially communities where polio had been reported, to avail their children the opportunity to be immunised.

He also expressed the concern over the increasing cases of polio in Nigeria, stressing that type-three polio was now causing paralysis because of its resistance nature.

Mohammed assured the public that the vaccine had no health implications, and that the Southern part of the country had been able to eradicate the disease because of their compliance.

He said that on December

17, 2012 the board would carry out routine immunisation and sensitisation campaign on the importance of the exercise.

“It is a local immunisation

day, so we are not going into house to house till in January when we will have the first Immunisation Plus Days (IPD).

(NAN)

Association of resident doctors honours medical personnel

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Association of Resident Doctors at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has honoured medical personnel of different categories in the hospital with meritorious awards.

Speaking to newsmen in an interview during the occasion the, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the UATH, Dr. Peter Alabi said that the awards were conferred on the medical personnel for their outstanding performances in the hospital.

He called on the resident doctors to partner with him for

the progress of the hospital and urged them to remain committed to humanitarian services.

Alibi said that his administration would do everything possible to support the resident doctors financially by sponsoring them to oversee for training.

On her part, the Chairperson of the occasion, Prof. Esther E. Ojuluchukwu advised the resident doctors to give adequate attention to the patients while on sick beds.

Speaking in the vein, the President of the resident doctors at the UATH, Comrade Lukman Abdulkareem said the award would spur the doctors put in their best in the hospital.

bill for an Act to establish a Federal Capital Territory College of Agriculture on Wednesday passed its second reading at the House of Representatives.

Leading debate on the merits of the bill, Rep. Emmanuel Jime (PDP-Benue), said that the establishment of the college would further create an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive in the country.

Jime said that the importance of agriculture could not be overemphasised, noting that agriculture was one of the best ways to generate food security and employment in the country.

“I believe that any thing we do in this house, agriculture should be given a place of pride and should be encouraged,’’ he stressed.

He said that the establishment of the college would enable farmers to dump primitive farming method and embrace mechanised farming.

According to him, the teachings in the proposed college will enable people to be equipped in agriculture in the commercial sense.

The lawmaker urged members to support the bill, saying: “an intervention in agriculture will provide a high sense of service delivery to the people’’.

Rep. Raphael Igbokwe (PDPImo) said that the establishment of the school of agriculture in the FCT would further promote agricultural sciences through researches and studies.

“We are experiencing an influx of people in the FCT, hence the need to establish a school that will see the Federal Capital meeting the educational needs of the people,’’ Igbokwe stressed.

In his contribution, Rep. Ifeoluwa Arowosoge (ACNEkiti), expressed his support for the bill, saying: “FCT belongs to all of us. We need an institution where Agriculture will be taught’’.

In his remarks, Rep. Jisalo Zephaniah (PDP-FCT), aligned himself with the submission of Arowosoge that “ the proposed institution was not only for residents of the Federal capital, but for the generality of Nigerians”.

The bill passed its second reading as the lawmakers were unanimous in their votes.

The Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, referred the bill to the Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for further legislative action.

The Medical Professional Indemnity bill, the National Economics Intelligence Committee bill and the National Institute for Labour Studies amendment bills scaled through the second reading.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 17

INSIDE FCT Man, 33, charged with intimidation, theft COURTS

Man jailed eight months for producing fake currency

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33-year-old-man, Kelechi Aluka of Dagiri in Gwagwalada, Abuja, was on Wednesday arraigned on a four count-charge of criminal conspiracy, assault, intimidation and theft at an Upper Area Court in

Gwagwalada.

The Prosecutor, Mr Modupe Musa, told the court that the accused conspired with six others and assaulted one Jude Obi at Emmassion Petrol Station in Gwagwalada.

Musa said the accused and his

accomplices, now at large, stole N130,000 from the complainant and threatened to come back for him.

The prosecutor said the matter was reported to the police in Gwagwalada by the complainant.

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n Upper Area Court sitting in Gwagwalada, Abuja has sentenced one Michael Olayinka to eight months imprisonment for producing fake money.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Modupe Musa, told the court that Olayinka was arrested at the Abaji Roundabout in the FCT on July 3 and charged with producing fake N1,000 notes.

Olayinka pleaded guilty to the charge, explaining that one of his friends, now at large, introduced him to the business.

He said that having spent six months in prison, he was ready to admit the crime and begged the court for leniency.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Babaginda Hassan, sentenced him to eight months imprisonment with N7,000 fine.

Hassan said the convict would now spend two more months in addition to the six months earlier spent in prison. (NAN)

Police arraign three men for constituting public nuisance

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Guard in prison over theft of burglary proof, others

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n Abuja Senior Magistrates Court on Wednesday, sentenced a security man, Monday Yatai, 25, of Sun City Estate, Abuja, to one month in prison for joint act and theft.

Senior Magistrate Binta Dogonyaro said that the sentence was without an option of fine.

The convict who was arraigned with another security man, Saleh Adamu, 28, of the same address, however, pleaded not guilty to the crime.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Paul Anigbo, told the court that on December 3, 2012 one Bukumi Adesominu of Kubwa, Abuja, reported Yatai and Adamu at the Lugbe Police Station.

Anigbo said that Adesominu reported that about three weeks ago,Yatai, Adamu and two others, now at large, stole some items from his building site in the estate.

He told the court that the items stolen include a burglary-proof, gate, tiles and building materials valued at N669,000.

The prosecutor said that during police investigation, Yatai confessed to stealing the burglaryproof gate which was later recovered from him.

Adamu, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Anigbo told the court that the offence of joint act and theft were contrary to Sections 79 and 288 of the Penal Code.

Dogonyaro granted Adamu bail in the sum of N20,000 and a reasonable surety in like sum who must reside within the FCT. She adjourned the case to January 29, 2012 for further hearing. (NAN)

The prosecutor told the court not to grant bail to the accused, saying that “the offences are not ordinarily bailabe’’.

Aluka pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His counsel, Mr Ifeanyi Okaro, urged the court to grant his client bail, promising that he would not run away or interfere with police investigation.

The Judge, Mr Babaginda Hassan, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison and adjourned the case to February 20, 2013 for hearing. (NAN)

A young boy hawking groundnut, yesterday in Bwari, Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Man seeks to divorce wife for refusing to quit job A

46-year-old man, Isa Bayero of Airport Road, Abuja has asked the Grade 1 Area Court in Lugbe, to dissolve his five-year-old marriage because of his wife’s refusal to resign her teaching job.

Bayero also urged the court to grant him custody of their two children, adding that his wife was disrespectful and that she was planning to take his life.

He also claimed that his wife was taking advantage of being in employment to go out of the house at will and that she had refused to comply with his directive on the issue.

“I told her to quit her teaching job, which was conflicting with her family responsibilities, but she refused. She has become increasingly aggressive and disrespectful towards me and once threatened my life.

“When I took away our two children from the house where she now lives, she came in my absence and took them back to her place,’’ Bayero said.

The wife, Hannatu Bayero, 35, however, told the court that she wanted her husband’s divorce wish granted, but requested custody of their two kids, aged three years and 11 months each.

She vowed never to quit her teaching job with an Islamic school, adding that she would rather quit the marriage than leave the job.

“I am his third wife and since he married his fourth wife, there has not been peace in the house. He has ever since been insisting that I should resign for no justifiable reason, but I told him I would rather be divorced than leave my teaching job.

“I told him that he had 21 children from the three other

wives and I have been using my monthly stipends to take care of my own kids without disturbing him so I should not resign,’’ she said.

Hannatu denied her husband’s claim that she wanted to take his life.

She explained that Bayero had threatened to kill anybody who came near her even after they were divorced.

Presiding Judge, Haruna Masanawa asked how much Bayero could afford to give his wife monthly for the upkeep of his children, to which he said he could only afford N3,000.

He said he could not give his wife more than N3,000 monthly because he was a polygamist with more than 20 persons to cater for, apart from his aged parents.

Masanawa adjourned the case to Monday, December 17, 2012 for ruling. (NAN)

he Police in Mararaba, Nasarawa state have arraigned three men before an Upper Area Court in Nasarawa for alleged constituting themselves into public nuisance.

The accused are two brothers, Emmanuel Djagide, 35, and Kokou Djagide, 30, both residents of Masaka and Talkop Tanko, 25, residing at Area 1, Garki in Abuja.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Stephen Kwaza, told the court that on December 11, 2012, one Sergeant Isah Ibrahim attached to the Sani Abacha Police Station in Mararaba, arrested the three accused persons for fighting in public, thereby, constituting nuisance.

Kwaza said that the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 113 of the Penal Code.

The Djagide brothers Koku pleaded not guilty to the offence but Tanko pleaded guilty to the charge.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Nnamani Ogbonna prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing Tanko and to also admit the two brothers to bail.

Presiding Judge, Victor Gwahemba in his ruling sentenced Tanko to six months imprisonment or an option of N3,000 fine, describing him as a “first offender”.

He granted the two other accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with one surety in like sum.

He said that the sureties must be responsible persons, residing within the court’s jurisdiction and that the sureties must deposit their passport photographs with the court.

Gwahemba said that if the conditions for the bail were not met, the accused persons should be remanded in prison and adjourned the case to December 20, 2012 for hearing. (NAN)

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

An overloaded truck with empty baskets, along Zuba-Kaduna road, yesterday.

Keke cars and other vehicles on fuel queue at Gwarimpa, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Gbagyi troupe entertaining guests at a public function, yesterday in Abuja. Photo:

A teenager hawking sachet water, yesterday in Bwari, Abuja.

Photos: Mahmud Isa, Justin Imo-owo, NAN

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

FG trains master bakers on cassava bread production

Mob: 08033644990

FirstBank assures customers of service excellence, specialised products

By Aminu Imam

F

irst Bank of Nigeria Limited has held a customer forum in Lagos in its bid to ensure enhanced service excellence across its touch points and unveil bespoke products and services for various customer segments.

This is coming barely two months after a successful hosting

of a similar programme in Abuja last October as the bank continues to seek innovative ways of delivering ultimate service experience to its teeming customers across the nation.

During the event, the bank’s customers heard presentations which highlighted the Bank’s new products and services, including ebusiness services, alternative

UBA donate books to Unilorin Secondary school From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he United Bank of Africa (UBA) has donated English Literature books to the University of Ilorin Secondary School (USS) has worth several thousands of naira.

Donating the books, Weep Not Child written by Ngugi Wa Thiong ‘O, at the African Hall of the School located at the University’s mini campus, the Regional Head of the Bank, Mr. Femi Ajibade, said that the essence of the donation was to promote and encourage reading culture and attitude among students of the school. ”We have discovered that the reading culture is going down gradually due to electronic, internet, and handsets

Electricity revenues may hit N1.2tr postprivatisation

By Udenna Orji with agency report

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he revenues generated in the power sector postprivatisation may hit N1.2 trillion per annum in three years with improved efficiency and output, available data from Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN) shows.

Analysts say the electricity revenues have the potential to dwarf revenues and profitability of the earlier deregulated telecommunications industry, making the power sector a goldmine for investors able to get exposure to the sector.

PHCN electricity revenues currently average N22 billion a month, at an efficiency (collection) ratio of 46 percent and power output of 4,000 MW. “Without increasing power, and just by doubling efficiency, you could generate N44 billion a month next year, and as we gradually get close to 10,000 MW in three years, I see the number hitting N100 billion a month,” said a source at the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Nigeria is in the process of privatising its state-owned power assets, which comprise eleven distribution companies (Discos) and five generating companies (Gencos).

intervention among others. UBA decided to offer the books free of charge with the aim of boosting reading culture”, Mr. Ajibade said.

Speaking at the occasion, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, represented by the Director, Institute of Education, Prof.

(Mrs) Nike Ijaiya, commended the Bank for the kind gesture, saying that lack of reading culture is affecting the educational development in the country adversely.

The Vice-Chancellor added that some students are too lazy to do assignments but prefer to play on the internet and electronic gadgets. He then urged other stakeholders to emulate the UBA by contributing their own quota to the development of education in the country.

Receiving the books, the Principal of the School, Alhaji AbdulRauf Ajala, commended the UBA for the gift, promising that the students will use the books judiciously.

channels, and the various transformational initiatives of the bank over the past one year. There was also a mini exhibition of various products.

Speaking at the forum, FirstBank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Bisi Onasanya said as a pan Nigerian financial institution, FirstBank recognizes the need for periodic interaction with its customers to foster efficient service delivery.

“We believe every business is as strong as the value it places on its customers. We are very passionate about our customers and

see this forum as a platform to receive feedback from our customers and further position the Bank to delight our customers and partner with them on sundry financial advisory services and business growth initiatives,” he said.

Onasanya said the Bank had since deployed an operating model that realigned its market facing business units from a geographic focus to a customer segmented approach to deepen its understanding of each customer segment.

Also speaking, the Group Head, Business Service Group, Eyitope

St. Matthew-Daniel thanked the customers for their unwavering support and loyalty over the years.

St. Matthew-Daniel said the Bank’s products and services have been designed to support cashless transactions through Point of Sale machines, ATMs, mobile phones, the Internet as well as financial inclusion for the under-banked and unbanked.

She assured customers of instant access to the FirstBank’s products and services through FirstContact, its upgraded contact centre that offers 24/7 interactive and multilingual customer service.

L-R: Country Manager, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, Emmanuel Onyeje, Vice-President, Corporate Relations Middle East and Africa Nokia, Jussi Hinkkanen, and Minister of Communications, and Technology, Omobolaji Johnson, during the Nigeria Vision 20: 2020 Innovation Forum, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

FG, states, LG share N572bn in Nov.

By Abdulwahab Isa

O

ver N572.9 billion is to be shared as November allocation in the month of December by the three tiers of government as statutory revenue from the Federation Account.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) announced the figure on Wednesday night in Abuja. The amount, is about N2.0 billion lower than what was shared in the preceding month.

The accruals to the Excess Crude Account rose slightly to

about $9.66 billion, up from the about $9.5 billion dollars that accrued to the Account in October. The AccountantGeneral of the Federation(AGF), Jonah Otunla confirmed the figures.

According to breakdown made available , total accruals from the Statutory Revenue source during the month under review was N569.459 billion as against the N640.766 billion grossed in the preceding month. This indicated a deficit variance of N71.307, a development that necessitated the augmentation of the

distributions with N59.138 billion.

The budgeted distribution for the month, inclusive of cost of collection to revenue agencies stood at N574.402 billion, an amount higher than the distributions by about N1.51 billion.

The Federal Government got N190.3billion from the statutory, which represents 52%, states 96.5billion (26%), local governments 74.4billion (20%) while the oil producing states shared 41.8billion as the 13% derivation.

The AGF said the shortfall in

Management Tip of the Day

Don’t sacrifice long-term growth just to hit your forecast

W

hen you realise the forecasts you set for the quarter or year are simply not attainable, it’s tempting to act drastically. But be careful how you meet your targets. Here are three tips for taking action without losing track of your long-term goals: · Maintain your capacity to grow. Your first instinct may be

to slash investments that offer no near-term payoff. Cuts can boost short-term profits, but they can also inhibit a company’s ability to hit longer-term growth objectives. · Don’t rush ideas.

Accelerating early-stage innovative ideas to plug a nearterm gap can lead to an even bigger gap if those ideas collapse.

Avoid trying to cover operational issues with notready-for-prime-time ideas. · Do more with less. The short-term pressure likely means less investment in innovation. But remember that scarcity can sometimes force helpful creativity.

Source: Harvard Business Review

revenue during the month was occasioned by several disruptions in crude oil production and lifting operations during the period as a result of Force Majeure declared

by Exxon Mobil, leakage and fire outbreaks at Trans Niger as well as Crude oil theft and maintenance work and Qua Iboe, Brass and Forcados Terminals.

A breakdown of the shared revenues showed that distribution from Statutory Revenue stood at N407.86 billion while VAT accounted for N62.73 billion.

Others are SURE-P N35.55 billion, Refund by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) N7.62 billion.

Otunla explained that “the distributable statutory revenue for the month is N407.868 billion.

There is augmentation of N59.138 billion as a result of the shortfall in revenue for the month.” Also distributed is the N7.617 billion refunded by NNPC. “In addition, the sum of N35.549 billion is proposed for distribution under the SURE-P Programme. The total revenue distributable for the current month (including VAT) is N572.895 billion” he added.

PEOPLES DAILY,FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Zaria Industries

E

xcept for the timely intervention of the Federal Government and the Kaduna state government, the Zaria Industries Limited, might collapse due to lack of patronage, the Managing Director, Iliya Saleh has warned.

Sounding the warning at a news conference in Kaduna on Monday, Saleh expressed fears that should the trend continue unabated, the industries in which Kaduna State Government had about 16 percent share, would in no distant future, become extinct.

He said the federal and state governments should rescue the company at least for the sake of the workers and their families.

Edo Board of Internal Revenue

F

ourteen banks have been sealed off in Edo State by the Board of Internal Revenue over tax default in the past four years.

Adams Oshiomhole, Edo state governor, made this known at a stakeholders meeting with tax payers in Benin City on Monday, saying several federal government owned institutions and parastatals had also been clamped down by the board, for the same offence.

Oshiomhole listed the establishments as including the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Auchi Polytechnic, and University of Benin.

FGN Bond

T

here was a slight dip in benchmark Federal Government (FGN) bond yields last week as investors continued to bid for FGN fixed income securities.

The yield on Nigeria’s 3 year domestic bonds due 2014 fell to 12.29 percent from 12.47 percent last week, according to data on the Financial Markets Dealers Association (FMDA) website.

The yield on the 4.0 percent FGN APR 2015 fell to 13.44 per cent last Friday, compared with 13.70 per cent a week earlier, while the yields on the longer dated 10 year, 16.39 percent FGN JAN 2022 fell to 12.19 percent, compared to 12.38 percent a week ago.

Aganga urges French investors to invest in real sector of the economy Stories by Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

M

inister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga has urged French investors to invest in real sector of the Nigeria economy.

He made the call over dinner at the Franco-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fund raising at the Sky Restaurant, Eko Hotel & Suite, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Minister said that Federal government is focusing on value addition and investment in the real sector of the economy that

will create jobs for Nigerians in the country.

“It is important to understand that we want investment in the real sector of the economy. We want to deepening investment in the real sector anareas that will create jobs in the country” “This is a new Nigeria; both countries can do a lot together.

The Chamber has a big role to play in trade relationship and attracting investment to Nigeria.

We want to work with you to facilitate trade and investment.

That is my job, if there are obstacles in your way, come to

me, my job is to take them away and create right environment for investors”.

In his remarks, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Jacques Champagne Labriolle pointed out that France has a strategic relationship with Nigeria and intends to develop it into political partnership. He said his country is one hundred per cent behind the effort of the Chamber to open new chapter in the trade and investment relationship between both countries.

Earlier, The President of the

Chamber and Country President Schneider Electric Nigeria Limited, Mr. Marcel Hochel stated that the Chamber has facilitated bilateral relationship between both countries and regularly organized international seminars, exhibition, networking businesses for people in both countries and used the opportunity to solicit for the support of the Ministry and members to improve on the business relations between both countries as well as increase the 210 members of the chamber.

Nigeria spends N11 bn on tomatoes importation yearly

T

he Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Peter Onwualu says Nigeria is spending over N11 billion yearly on the importation of tomatoes.

Onwualu disclosed this at the opening of a workshop on tomato juice processing and marketing in Gusau, Zamfara state.

He said the country’s overdependence on the importation of tomatoes costs the huge sum and that the trend would continue until adequate domestic food processing and storage facilities are put in place.

He said tomato could be processed into sauce, ketchup, paste, jam, among others, likewise onion and pepper, which could also be canned or dried.

He said using locally developed technologies at lower cost would enhance the production and value-addition to the primary and secondary raw materials to meet the needs of the nation’s industries.

The RMRDC, according to him, has adopted a strategy to encourage value-addition to local resources, such as fruits and vegetables.

People inspecting an exhibition stand at the National Exhibition and Techmart on Agro-allied section, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

FG trains master bakers on cassava bread production

N

o fewer than 60 members of the Master Bakers and Caterers Association of Nigeria have been trained on cassava bread production, Dr. Uche Nwafor, the South-East Regional Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, said in Umuahia on

Tuesday.

He said the trainees were drawn from Abia and Kogi states.

“The emphasis here is to encourage farmers to grow more cassava so that the high quality cassava flour will be available to Master Bakers,” he said.

BOI partners Bayelsa, to create 200,000 jobs

T

he Bank of Industry (BOI) and Bayelsa State Government has enter into partnership on job creation in the state targeting about 200,000 jobs.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Ms.Evelyn Oputu disclosed this when the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson presented the state N1billion counterpart funding contribution draft for the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

The BOI, she said had approved 12 projects worth N72

million for the development of Small and Medium Scale businesses in the state.

She, therefore, assured the state government that the confidence reposed in the bank would not be misplaced, adding that she foresees a positive synergy between the bank and the government.

Responding, the state governor, Seriake Dickson said the N1 billion equity contributions would be utilized for the purpose of building entrepreneurial skills with emphasis on the training of youths and women.

According to the governor, the empowerment programme is geared towards creating capacity, wealth and job opportunities that would make beneficiaries self-sustaining rather than depend on government and other individuals for their livelihood.

Dickson expressed concern that Bayelsans do not play active role in the local economy and expressed the hope that the partnership between government and BOI would translate into the improvement of the quality of lives of the people and reverse the trend.

Nwafor said the training was successful as those trained had learnt the art of cassava bread production.

“The bread is already in the market but it may be difficult for one to identify it.

“One problem with Nigerians is that when you say cassava bread, they will think that the product is entirely cassava.

“They are blended with wheat without the people knowing it,” he said.

Nwafor said the Federal Government was looking into some recommendations by the trainees.

“The Master Bakers requested the government to mandate the flour millers to incorporate the 20 per cent cassava at the point of manufacture of the flour.

“The recommendation has been sent and the Federal Government is working on that possibility,” he said.

Nwafor appealed to farmers to embrace the government’s cassava transformation agenda to have the cassava flour readily available.

“It is necessary for farmers to take advantage of the initiatives of the government to not only better themselves but also assist this policy drive,” Nwafor said. (NAN)

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

Tax law: Optimising revenue yield of stamp duties collection through enforcement (II) Deadline for payment of stamp duty and penalty

capital of companies 2) Promissory notes 3) Contract notes 4) Mortgage and debentures 5) Property valuation 6) Policy of life insurance.

I

n Section 23, the law states that unless provisions are made in the Stamp Duties Act, (such as documents that must be stamped before execution e.g. insurance policies) any unstamped or insufficiently stamped instrument may be stamped within 40 days from its first execution. One exception to this rule is the case of instruments chargeable by ad valorem duty which has a time limit of 30 days.

However, where an Instrument is not duly stamped within the time limit stated above, the person liable to a penalty shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to payment of the unpaid duty and a fine of N20 and where the unpaid duty exceeds N20 there is a further penalty or interest on such duty at the rate of ten percent per annum from the day on which the document was first executed up to the time when the amount of interest is equal to the unpaid duty.

Judicial interpretations Tax Appeal Tribunal The Tax Appeal Tribunal has the power to adjudicate on disputes, controversies arising from the Stamp Duties Law. Aggrieved persons and the FIRS may appeal against a decision or assessment demand notice or non-compliance by a person (in case of the Service) within 30 days from the date on

Acting Chairman, FIRS, Alhaji Kabiru Mashi sign a case, setting forth the question upon which his opinion was required, and the assessment made by him.

2) The Commissioner shall thereupon state and sign a case and deliver the same to the person by whom it is required, and the case may, within seven days thereafter but not later, be filed by him in the High Court and thereafter be heard by the said court.

of charge and fall into two categories; a.

Fixed Duties which comprise fixed sums payable on certain instruments.

Instruments that are subject to fixed duties include the following; 1) Memorandum and Articles of Association 2) Payment receipts of money amounting to N4 or upwards 3) Guarantor forms 4) Proxy forms 5) Admission as a barrister or solicitor b.

An ad-valorem duty is calculated by reference to value; usually the value of the consideration recorded in the instrument.

Instruments that are assessed under ad-valorem include; 1) Nominal share capital amounts or increase in share

which a copy of the order or decision which is being appealed against is made.

State High Court 1) Any person who is dissatisfied with the assessment of a Commissioner may, within 21 days after the date of the assessment, and on payment of duty in conformity therewith, appeal against the assessment to the High Court of the State in which the assessment was made and may for that purpose require the Commissioner to state and

3) Upon the hearing of the case, the court shall determine the question submitted, and, if the instrument in question is in the opinion of the court chargeable with any duty, shall assess the duty with which it is chargeable.

4) If it is decided by the court that the assessment of the Commissioner is wrong, the court shall assess the correct amount of duty.

Rates of stamp duties Any charge not prescribed by the Act remains illegal. Rates of duty are prescribed for each head

Exemptions in the stamp duty Act Section 513 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act provides for exemptions from payment of Stamp Duty. Some instruments relating to a company under liquidation. Liquidation involving a compulsory winding up backed by a court order or voluntary winding up. The instruments exempted by this section include but not limited to mortgage charge or other encumbrance on property or forming part of the asset was of the company to be liquidated.

Other instruments include any power of attorney, proxy paper, writ or order in respect of the company's property. A property sold by a liquidator should therefore enjoy this exemption.

Treaties/Agreements made wither between the Federal Government and foreign private corporations, international organizations or other foreign governments are exempt from stamp duty. Also exempted by the stamp duty act are company reconstructions and amalgamations.

Other exceptions include; 1.

Admission as a military advocate 2. Bill or Note issued by CBN 3.

Letter of credit granted a Nigerian authorizing draft to be drawn in Nigeria for payment not in Nigeria.

4.

Transfer of shares in the Government or legislative stocks or funds of Nigeria.

5. All instruments on which the duty would be payable locally by Government.

6.

All instruments relating to the transfer of shares (Gains are now charged under CITA/PITA) 7. All instruments on which the duty would be payable by

“

In the face of increased government spending and low revenue income, there is need for all tax leakages to be plugged to enhance the revenue collection profile both at the state and federal level.

Government.

8. Bond given by public officer for the execution of his duties.

9.

Treaties and agreement entered into between the Federal Government and other foreign governments are exempted from stamp duties based on reciprocity of relations.

Optimising revenue yield from stamp duty (1) Enforcement of the rule/ law that Federal Government should impose, charge and collect duties on instruments relating to matters executed between a company and an individual, group or body of individuals, while, State Governments should do the same in respect of instruments between persons and individuals. Each authority should ensure it keeps to its jurisdiction.

(2) Failure to stamp through imposition of penalties and offences should be enforced.

(3) Postage stamps not meant for stamp duties cannot be used.

The use of postage stamps by individuals for agreement is not a stamp duties document in law.

There is an urgent need to communicate to concerned stakeholders and increase awareness in this regard.

(4) If an instrument falls within two heads of charge the Government can only levy on the duty, but may choose the higher (Speyer Bros V. CIR HL, (1908) AC92) (5) The organization of the stamp duty office should elicit efficiency and effectiveness.

(6) Imposition of penalty for late stamping must be imposed accordingly. I.e. pay the unpaid duty, Penalty of N20.

(7) If the unpaid duty is more than N20, there will be an interest on such duty of 10% per annum until this is equal to the unpaid duty. The amount of interest is equal to or less than the unpaid duty.

(8) Rates appear to be too low.

There is need for increase in amount of duty and therefore, amendment of the law should be proposed.

(9) There is an urgent need for publicity on the law and administration of Stamp Duties for awareness, thereby increasing the tax base and revenue to government.

(10) On Self- Assessment, should there be an amendment to the law to reflect it?

Stamp Duty is an old tax type that was created a long time ago.

In the face of increased government spending and low revenue income, there is need for all tax leakages to be plugged to enhance the revenue collection profile both at the state and federal level. Therefore, all documents of a contractual nature must be stamped to ensure the legality of such instruments, while increasing government revenue concurrently.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 22

Report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, Nov 2012 (VIII) Utilization of Domestic Crude 4.4.2. Findings 4.4.2.1.

Single point accountability required The Task Force observed that there is no single point accountability for the income and expenditure streams of upstream petroleum operations. This is also compounded by the current structure of the NNPC and its agencies, as detailed below: o The joint operating agreements and contracts with oil companies in petroleum operations are entered into by NNPC. o The responsibility for monitoring costs and the investments of the FGN in oil and gas upstream operations rests with the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a strategic business unit of NNPC not a limited liability company. o The responsibility for verifying the FGN's share of crude oil production rests mainly with the Crude Oil Stock Management Unit (COSM), a unit of the Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) of the NNPC, with cost considerations based on information provided by NAPIMS. o The responsibility for marketing and sale of crude oil (equity and unutilized domestic crude) is with the COMD. o Remittances of sales proceeds are made directly by customers into the CBN correspondent bank accounts with JP Morgan Chase, which are subsequently swept into the Federation account. This is monitored and tracked by Group Finance, NNPC. o Revenues from equity crude and costs incurred in upstream operations are recorded in the books of NAPIMS, which is separate

Country production, government entitlement, government revenues and market prices of crude oil. from NNPC's books of account.

The reconciliation process amongst the various groups listed above is not clearly defined which makes it difficult and almost impossible to have a single and holistic view of investments and the returns thereto at any point in time.

4.4.2.2.

Decline in national investment in the upstream sector The trend observed is that crude oil production has been in a decline over the 10 year review period. This can be directly linked to the fact that the nation has not made the necessary investments that would increase the nation's proven reserves.

The preparation and presentation of Financial Accounts for NAPIMS are presented as if NAPIMS was a single operating business entity or profit centre as opposed to a cost centre. This

Country production of crude oil (Source: NNPC).

grossly contradicts the reality and its implications that there is no strategic single point perspective of FGN's investment and returns in the Petroleum sector.

Very little impact has been recorded from variations in crude oil production. Despite the increase in crude oil production in Nigeria over the years, the nation's entitlement has decreased as a result of various alternative funding arrangements for its upstream investments.

4.4.2.3.

Legislation in the Petroleum Industry Legislation governing the industry and agreements with third parties are outdated and do not reflect current economic or legal realities. This legislation includes: o Petroleum Act L.F.N 1990 L.F.N 2004

o Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act L.F.N 2004 o Petroleum profits tax Act L.F.N 1990 L.F.N 2004 etc In addition, some legislation include clauses that are ambiguous in current economic terms. Examples are applicable rates for calculation of royalties at offshore locations, determination of realizable prices to be used in Royalty and PPT calculations, timing of capital allowances etc. This creates various controversies between the NNPC, DPR and the oil companies as to the amount of royalties and invariably cost, tax and profit oil. We found that there is need for certainty in the law as to calculation of royalties as a way to avoid existing lingering disputes.

Furthermore, there are some provisions within the legislation that could significantly improve government's revenue that the government is yet to take advantage of. These include Section 16 of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Act which provides that: o The provisions of this Act shall be subject to review, to ensure that if the price of crude oil at any time exceeds $20 per barrel, real terms, the share of the Government of the Federation in the additional revenue shall be adjusted under the Production Sharing Contracts to such extent that the Production Sharing Contracts shall be economically beneficial to the Government of the Federation. o Notwithstanding the provisions of (1) above, the

provisions of this Act shall be liable to review after a period of 15 years from the date of commencement and every 5 years thereafter.

Provisions of major enabling legislation governing the petroleum sector confer powers on the Minister to delegate the power of regulation and supervision for effective performance of revenues. The Task Force observed that these provisions have not been utilised to vary the fiscal terms for production sharing contracts. The price of crude oil has long since exceeded $20. It seems that past administrations may have been worried about discouraging investment in deep offshore as a reason for lack of will to invoke the provisions of the Act. But the fact today is that the initial reason for generous PSC terms which was risk of investment in an unproven basin no longer exists as Nigerian deep offshore has been proven to contain vast reserves.

It is perhaps appropriate for the present administration to take advantage of the Act to vary the terms of the PSCs so as to increase government take and enable the administration achieve its transformation agenda.

Sections of the Petroleum Act and the Associated Gas Reinjection Act relating to prescription of fines and other revenues can be delegated as such by the Minister in this regard5.

The impact of these observations is a lack of clarity in determination of government revenues and the lack of periodic reviews of legislation to ensure optimization of FGN revenues.

PEOSPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

Report as at Thursday, December 13, 2012

PAGE 23

PAGE 24

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

A

s the only nut which grows beneath the earth.

Groundnut is believed to contain many health benefits.

It takes only two months for the seeds of groundnut to turn yellow, meaning it has matured and therefore ready for consumption.

Peanut, as it is also called, has been described by the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary as a protein-rich plant seed, which can be eaten in raw or roasted, and can be used to make peanut butter, or used as a source of oil for cooking, margarine, soap etc.

Health experts say groundnut is particularly valued for its protein content, which is of high biological value.

According to Wikipedia, groundnut, known to originate in the species of legume or “bean” family (Fabaceae), contains more protein than meat, two and half more than eggs and more than any other vegetable food. It is said that the proteins in groundnut are well balanced.

Groundnut is one of the most nourishing foods available in the world. It contains five important nutrients: food energy, protein, phosphorous, thiamin and niacin. The nut also has a considerable medicinal value, as they contain a good deal of oil, which is very easily digested, and for this reason they are useful consumptives.

However, despite these seemingly rich values of groundnuts; it may well surprise many that the mass consumption of the groundnut by most workers in Abuja was not informed by its health advantages. Civil servants, marketers, labourers and even commercial drivers with their conductors have been found to be faithful customers of groundnut, especially during

A young man pricing groungnut

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 25

Abuja workers: Now that groundnut is receding what will you have as snack? personality, with a view to protecting the acclaimed social status enjoyed back home.

Some people whom I met either buying groundnut or found eating bared their minds about the reasons for their resort to taking it instead of food.

Nearly all of those interviewed attributed their decision to the relatively cheap price, easily accessible, and its ability to sustain one to a relatively long time.

A wheelbarrow labourer, seen buying the nut around Utako, cheerfully said: “I always buy groundnut whenever it is the period. You know it has time, so I like eating it, especially this boiled one. I prefer the boiled groundnut than the roasted, though I also eat even the roasted

the season of mass harvest of the nut.

The resort to the consumption of groundnut by mostly the low-income earners in Abuja, and sometimes even the civil servants has been attributed to the nature of life in the city, and largely owing to the cost of a plate of food, which is beyond the strength of a larger percentage of those taking groundnut.

Unarguably, life in Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of political power, may be seen by those living in other parts of the country as a privilege, one that automatically turn anybody who finds his way into the capital city to be seen as a rich.

No surprise that figures given out from the FCT administration of the daily influx to Abuja were scaring, more so that to the majority of those coming into the city, it’s a dream come true opportunity.

Hence the unapologetic resolve of making money by all and sundry in the city.

The place of groundnut as a daily lunch by the said category of Abuja residents is only one out of the countless challenges and hardships which they have had to be contend with, and further speaks volume of economicallymindful “living in Abuja”

...and eating it

one.”

While some eat groundnut just for the purpose of its nourishment value, as discussed earlier, it is of course not the reason to many people, especially those earning salary and the likes.

A civil servant, who prefers anonymity, told Peoples Daily that he cannot afford to be going to restaurant for his daily launch. “The reason why I buy groundnut is due to its cost effective nature, and it is everywhere. You don’t need to travel anywhere before you can get it. That is my reason, to be honest.” But when asked why he chose the boiled over the roasted, he continued “I like it (boiled) because I enjoyed it better than the other one and

it is now more common and easy to get.”

Sellers of this nut usually come from the suburbs of FCT, with a loaded sack of boiled groundnut. One can only imagine how workers substantially patronise this commodity when you encounter them while struggling with loads of groundnut trouping into Abuja every morning.

A curious inquiry on these sellers indicated that almost all of those selling the commodity are either young ladies or aged women, largely of Gbagy tribe coming into the city from as far as Suleja, Gwagwalada, Lugbe, Nyanya or Karu of Nasarawa state.

Some of these women sellers

who agreed to talk to Peoples Daily revealed that they sell two cups of groundnuts at N50, and attested to the fact that most of their customers are government workers, commercial drivers, labourers, and of course the general public.

“I always come from Suleja in the morning, because most of our customers want to eat warm groundnut. They don’t buy the one that is dry or cold.

That is why we put it in a sack,” affirmed one of the sellers found around the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

While some of these sellers trek round the city and to inner government agencies and departments, some stay in one place, mostly in group in hub

areas, housing a lot of government workers and business people. This is evident when one visits places like Federal Secretariat, Area 1, Garki or Wuse market.

A groundnut seller at Area 1, Garki also stated what consumers preferred, which was salted half boiled groundnut. “Most of customers that come to buy have to test it first before they buy. And they want to confirm whether it is half boiled, with a little salt in it or not.”

It is apparent that, even though everybody buys the nut, workers or civil servants constitute the larger customers of groundnut, and majority of them eat not due to its stated content and nutritional values,

but for the purpose of being the daily lunch.

It is instructive to point out however that groundnut is not the only makeshift of lunch patronised by the said category of people, almost same number of people equally make places of fried yam, fish, plantain and akara their usual destination in the evening. Unlike in buying groundnut though, people have to join queue in buying such food.

However, as the season of fresh groundnut is coming to an end, signalling the evident subsequent dearth of it around the public places, and of course government offices, the big question is what will these daily customers turn to, to assuage the lost groundnut?

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

Another new year and endless repetition (IV) A

llah says: “The number of months In the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year)- so ordained by Him the Day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is the straight usage. so wrong not yourselves therein, and Fight the Pagans all together As They Fight you all Together. but know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves”.

[Taubah: 36] In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All Praise is due to Allah! We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our evils and bad deeds.

Anyone who is guided by Allah, is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and final messenger to mankind. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon His last and final Apostle, his Household, his companions and all his followers until the end of time.

Today, with the help of Allah, we will be concluding this series.

Hence, I try to be as precise and short as possible. The next month after Sha'aban is the most popular and blessed month. It is a month in which the Satan and its parliament, surrender to their Creator and worship Him along with the rest of the faithful! That month, all Muslims, including the nominal, the supposed, the titular, the counterfeits and the fakes become inter-mingled and compete in their devotion to Allah.

That month is Ramadan; the 9th month in the sequence of the Muslim Lunar calendar!

Ramadhan: Allah says: “Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong).” ( alBaqarah:185) Ramadan means "scorched" or "arid". It is derived from "ramadha" which literally means "intense heat" or "barren". Where the temperature is not perched, the heat within the stomach increases as a result of the combination of hungar and thirst. That reaction could mean another reason behind the name. The other reason for that name was said to be one of the names of Allah for the simple reason that He burns the sins of His servants! Whatever is the meaning, it will continue to the most venerated month of the Hijri Lunar calendar.

In fact, it is not only fasting that is peculiar to Ramadan. There various important events that happened in this holy month.

Allah says: “H. M. By the book that makes things clear. We sent it down on a blessed night (the Night of Al-Qadr) in the month of Ramadan. For We (ever) wish to warn (against evil).

In that (night) is made distinct every affair of wisdom, by command, from Our Presence. For We (ever) send (revelations), as a mercy from Thy Lord for He hears and knows

(all things).” (ad-Dukhan:1-6) the Prophet, Hamza, in the battle One more distinctive form of of Badr where he was fortunate to worship in this month is "Itikaaf". get martyrdom. Also, Ruqayyah, It is a devotion in which one gives the daughter of the Prophet passed up all his personal activities, his on on the 23rd of the second year affection, relationship and routines to live for a given period in exclusion devoting his heart and soul to

By Husain Zakariyya Allah (SWT), Yawale alone.

There is also the "Taraweeh" +234-8052952900 (sms only) prayers which islamexplained35@yahoo.com only performed in no other month but Ramadan. after the Hijra. She was also There is also the practice of fortunate to have witnessed the special sessions in various mosques decisive battle of Badr! around the world where Islamic In fact the of all the sad events scholars offer lesson on Qur'an for that took place in this month, the people to have better most grave one was the demise of understanding of the messages first wife of the Holy prophet (SAW) therein!

Khadijah (RA), which took place There is also the "Zakatul Fitr" on the 11th of Ramadan in Makkah or alms of fitr in which certain in the tenth year of the

departed from this world, in the year 58 after Hijra.

Shawwal means "raised". The connotation probably was because she-camels were observed to begin raising their tails during this time of the year, after giving birth.

It also may mean uplift or breakage likely due to the superstition of the pre-Islam Arabs believed that any marriage that took place in Shawwal would always turn out to be unsuccessful.

In Islam, Shawwal is the first of the three months of Hajj, also known as Ashhur al-Hajj (month of Hajj). The first day of Shawwal marked the end of Ramadan fasting and the beginning of the festival of Eid-Ul-Fitr.

It is Sunnah to fast for six days in Shawwal, as narrated in the

measure of foods is given out to the needy by every Muslim throughout the world.

However, during the first days of Islam, many events of considerable significance took place. Some of them are: During the third year of the Hijra, precisely on the 15th of this month, Hassan (RA), the grandson of the Holy Prophet (SAW), was born into the family of the Ahlul Bait, may Allah bless them!

The first battle that served as the acid test to Islam was fought in this month. The Battle of Badr, took place on the 12th of Ramadan in the second year of the Hijra. The victory of Islam over kufr was manifested from that battle till eternity. Another victory that was recorded in this month was the Opening of Makkah on the 18th of the 8th year after Hijra. it was also in this month that the Apostle of Allah married two of his wives; Zainab bint Khuzaimah and Saudah, in third and tenth year respectively.

It has always been the case with human race to be born, and to die at their fixed times by Allah (SWT). So, the first to die in this month after Hijra was the uncle of

following hadith by Abu Ayyub Ansaru (RA) that the Holy Prophet (SAW) has said: “If one throughout his life keeps the fasts of Ramadan and keeps six consecutive fasts in Shawwal it will be as though he has kept a whole life time of fasts, and if one fast for six consecutive days in Shawwal it will be as though he has fasted all year round.” [Muslim] The mother of the faithful, A'ishah (RA) was born in Shawwal, 4 years after Prophethood and 9 years before Hijra. She was said to be married to the Messenger of Allah, in the month of Shawwal, during the Meccan period. The age at which she was married, remain controversial.

Many battles took place in this month. There was the battles of Banu Qaynaqaa in the second year of the Hijra and the battle of Uhud in the third year.

The grandson of the Prophet, Hussain (RA),) was born in the month of Shawwal, 4th of the Hijra, while, Ummu Salamah (RA) was married to Prophet in the fourth year of the Hijra.

Imam Bukhari (RA) was said to be born on a Friday of Shawwal in the year 194 after Hijra.

ISLAM EXPLAINED

prophethood. That year was called the year of "huzn" or exasperation.

The next sad event was the death of the most beloved daughter of the Prophet at the youthful age of just 29! Fatimah (RA) was the wife of fourth Caliph, Ali bin Abi Talib. The sad event took place precisely on Tuesday the 3rd of Ramadan in the 11th year after Hijra just six months after the death of the Holy Prophet (SAW)!

Her husband, the son in-law of the Apostle of Allah, Caliph Ali (RA), the departed from this world to meet his beloved wife on Friday the 27th of Ramadan, 29 years after, at the age of 57 in the year 40 after the Hijra.

Of the major losses recorded during this blessed month in the early reign of Islam, was the death of Abbas (RA), the uncle of the Prophet (SAW), who passed away at the age of 88 on Friday, the 12th of Ramadan 32 years after Hijra.

The next one of the biggest loss was the demise the mother of believers, Saffiyah (RA), which took place in the year 50th year of the Hijra at the age of 60! Eight years after her, the most beloved of the Prophet's wives, A'ishah (RA) was 65 years old when she

Dhu al-Qa’ada means "the one of truce". It is the second month during which war was banned. it is one of the sacred months of Islam.

The word "qa'ada" means to sit signifying the time when people would stop their businesses to start preparing for the Pilgrimage.

Like all the rest of the months, many events happened, such as the Battle of 'Khandaq, the trench or Ahzab' took place in the year 5th tear. The oath of allegiance called 'Bay'at-e-Rizwaan' in the 6th year and the Truce of Hudaubiyah in the year 6th of the Hijra.

Dhu al-hijja "the one of pilgrimage", referring to the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj. It means the month of pilgrimage and this is the last of the sacred months.

The Qur'an and the Sunnah both testify to the sacredness and significance of the these ten days, thus: “By the dawn; By the ten nights (ie. the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah), and by the even and the odd (of all the creations of Allah) and by night when it departs. There is indeed in them (the above oaths) sufficient proofs for men of understanding (and that they should avoid all kinds of sins and disbelief).”

(Al-Fajr 89:1-5) Abu Haraira (RA) reported from the Holy Prophet (SAW): “Amongst all days there are none better to engage in sole worship of Allah than in the ten days of ZulHijjah, To observe a fast on any of these days is equivalent to fasting throughout the year, to actively engage in prayer and worship throughout any of these nights holds such rewarding values levelling with the ‘night of power’ (Laylatul-Qadr).”

[Tirmidh] It is the month in which fifth pillar of Islam is being undertaken in the holy city of Makkah every year.

The 9th of Dhul-Hijjah is the day of Arafat, while the 10th is Eid ul-Adha. It continues till the 13th day. This festivity is observed to venerate the enthusiasm of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) when he was asked to surrender his own son Prophet Isma'iI (AS).

The Prophet (SAW) performed the farewell Hajj and gave the historic sermon known as the "Farewell Sermon" Also, Misr was conquered by the army under the command of Amr bin As during the caliphate of Umar (RA). Uthman bin affan (RA) was appointed the third Caliph.

In the same month Umar bin al-Khattab (RA) won his martyrdom on the 27th of DhulHijjah in the year 26 and Uthman bin Affan (RA) was martyred on the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah in the year 35 after Hijra.

No doubt there were many equally important events and happenings that happened in the last 1434 years after Hijra. In fact, my concluding article on this topic is published on the 30th of this month; Dhul-Hijjah, the 1434 after the hijra of the Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, from Makkah to Madinah!

Walhamdu lillah!

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 27

The roots of global anti-Americanism ANALYSIS

By Murtaza Hussain

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he incongruity of it seemed to be nothing short of a betrayal. After lightheartedly dancing his way into the hearts of Americans and gaining entrance to the inner sanctum of their cherished cult of celebrity, the Korean rapper, Psy, whose song "Gangam Style" became the most watched video in the history of YouTube and made him a pop culture sensation, has been revealed to have a politically active past which places him directly at odds with the American mainstream worldview and which violently decries its most basic articles of faith.

The man whom they enjoyed as an unthreatening, comically lighthearted foreigner dancing for their enjoyment was revealed to have only years earlier been a vociferous public critic of American policies and the country's role in the world.

In a 2004 performance, the rapper famous for his "invisible horse dance" denounced the United States in a song called "Hey American": "Kill those f---ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives Kill those f---ing Yankees who ordered them to torture Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers Kill them all slowly and painfully" For an American public conditioned to the type of unquestionable worship of the military embodied in the phrase "Support the Troops", Psy's words represent nothing less than sacrilege.

This song however was not his only offence.

In a previous performance, he had come on stage to protest the presence of 37,000 US troops in South Korea and smashed a miniature American tank in protest over the killing of two South Korean schoolgirls

by American forces stationed in the country.

As it turned out, the Asian popstar whom Americans had enthusiastically embraced, arguably the first entertainer to bridge the continental divide so successfully, brought with him not just a culturally unique style of song and dance, but also a worldview which is threateningly alien to most Americans.

If even an innocuous pop singer from a country perceived as benign could espouse views the typical American would attribute to menacing terrorists such as al-Qaeda, it begs serious questions about the pervasiveness of global antiAmericanism as well as to what informs it.

While the stories of American brutality in places such as Korea are unknown or ignored by the overwhelming majority of Americans, they are less quickly forgotten by the citizens of the countries which have suffered and continue to suffer horrific atrocities at the hands of US troops.

During the Korean War, American troops were believed to have been responsible for hundreds of instances of mass-killings of civilians, including the infamous No Gun Ri massacre in which members of the US 7th Cavalry Regiment

Anti-America protests in Lebanon massacred hundreds of Korean civilians under a railway underpass over the course of three days.

A 2009 investigative film revisiting the massacre documented the words of one Korean survivor who recalled how US troops had indiscriminately murdered men, women and children: "Children were screaming in fear and the adults were praying for their lives… they never stopped shooting."

Another Korean War survivor described the common American tactic of firebombing villages with napalm in a scorched-earth campaign which killed countless civilians: "When the napalm hit our village, many people were still sleeping in their homes…. Those who survived the flames ran…. We were trying to show the American pilots that we were civilians. But they strafed us, women and children."

The wanton disregard to Korean lives during America's global campaign against Communism continues to extend to the present day in the form of rape and murder directed towards Korean civilians by US soldiers stationed at bases throughout the country.

In one 2011 incident, emblematic of long-documented practices by US troops in the country, a 21-year-old soldier, Kevin Flippin, broke into a Korean woman's hotel room and raped and tortured her for several hours before robbing her of the equivalent of roughly US $5 and fleeing back to his base.

Sexual violence and murder has been a recurrent theme throughout the decades of American military presence in Korea and reflects

longstanding behaviour in countless other countries across the world subject to US military basing and occupation.

While the virulent undercurrent of anti-Americanism which was briefly glimpsed in the revelations surrounding Psy's political history have their basis in incidents such as these, Korea is far from being the most anti-American country in the world.

Polls of regions such as Latin America have shown anti-American sentiment to be even more rife; a legacy of US military interventionism in the continent which has been most vividly expressed in the form of torture, murder and the subversion of democratically elected leaders over the past several decades.

However, a 2012 Pew Research poll showed the least favourable perceptions of the US today to be in countries within the Arab and Muslim worlds; negative views which are thought to have briefly abated upon the election of Barack Obama but which can now be seen to have returned to their historic lows during the George W Bush era.

Among countries polled the bottom echelon are exclusively countries with Muslim majority populations. Even those such as Turkey and Jordan whose governments are traditionally allied with the US showed overwhelmingly negative attitudes towards America, with the latter polling at a mere 12 per cent favourability.

Tellingly, Jordan also happens to be home to a massive population of refugees from the American invasion of Iraq, the civilian victims of a war who have been forgotten by

“

Americans but continue to live on in desperation and misery in many countries scattered throughout the region.

While an incredible amount of research has gone into formulating complex theories to explain this widespread disdain for the US, Occam's Razor, the logical principle that the simplest explanation is most often the correct one suggests that the American militarism which once ravaged Korea and which has now been set upon the Muslim world is the cause of this growing antipathy.

Pakistan, which polled at roughly 9 per cent favourability towards the US in a 2010 BBC World poll, once had a vibrantly proAmerican polity where Jacquelyn Kennedy was mobbed in the streets with flower garlands by thousands of admirers during a state visit and where American popular culture was once widely revered and emulated.

In recent decades however, all of this has changed, as Pakistanis have been left to witness the staggering human cost of US warfare in neighbouring Afghanistan as well as to deal with the millions of refugees that conflict has sent into Pakistan.

Pakistanis themselves have also increasingly become the direct target of American violence; being gunned down in the streets by rogue CIA officers, murdered by remote operated drones and renditioned for torture atclandestine "black-sites" throughout the world.

By starting a massive war and occupation in Afghanistan which caused widespread destabilisation and social chaos in Pakistan, a

For Americans who are commonly feted with reassurances of their country's benevolent role in the world, it may come as a surprise that half of all refugees on the planet today are running from American wars.

country which shares deep ethnic and religious bonds with its neighbour, the US has helped turn a once reasonably benign relationship into an increasingly dangerous one which has fuelled virulent antiAmericanism even among liberal and secular Pakistanis.

The degeneration of American popularity in Pakistan is however only one illustration of a broader trend where wanton militarism has generated negative popular perceptions towards the US. For Americans who are commonly feted with reassurances of their country's benevolent role in the world, it may come as a surprise that half of all refugees on the planet today are running from American wars.

The wanton, industrial-scale violence, which the US has unleashed upon the civilians of countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia has naturally generated a tidal wave of negative feeling within these countries which many Americans utterly fail to grasp.

Episodes such as the gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and her family by US troops are emblematic of the fundamental sadism of American policy towards the region. However, in a type of bizarre dark comedy, popularly elected American leaders continue to question the lack of gratitude among the populations upon whom they have let loose this violence.

What this appears to represent is a type of brazen ignorance and egotism which has come to represent mainstream government policy; the type of myopia under which a country can launch a full-scale war, invasion and occupation of another sovereign nation under entirely false pretences, kill hundreds of thousands in the process and createmillions of refugees and still at the end sincerely ask the question "Why they do hate us?".

While the US military, whom the American public puts forth as the unquestioned heroes and proud symbols of the apex of their society, finds new and innovative ways to inflict violence upon the populations of Arab and Muslim countries including wanton, lawless and often completely anonymous target killings, and even recently the sanctioning of killing so-called "hostile children" in Afghanistan, the popular reputation of America as a country naturally sinks to new depths among the countries in the Middle East and around the world.

An illustrative example of the essentially self-destructive arrogance of US policy in the region pertains to that of Afghanistan; where the US in 2001 categorically refused to negotiate with the Taliban when the latter expressed a desire to co-operate with the full spectrum of US objectives and hand over Osama bin Laden, on the rhetorical grounds of "refusing to talk to evil".

Fast forward 11 years - with tens of thousands of lives lost, trillions of dollars wasted, and America is doing exactly this, negotiating with the Taliban exactly as it could have done a decade earlier were it not for flagrantly irrational government policymaking informed by a mixture of arrogance and bloodlust.

Source: aljazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 28

South Africa’s Jacob Zuma to face Kgalema Motlanthe Deposed Madagascar President out of 2013 Poll race

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usted Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana will not run for office in elections scheduled for May next year as recommended by SADC to allow restoration of peace and stability in his country.

Mr Ravalomanana, who resigned under pressure in March 2009 in what was largely viewed as a coup d'etat and was forced to live in exile in South Africa since then, announced the decision in Dar es Salaam after consultations with the Chairman of the SADC's Troika on Peace, Defence and Security, President Jakaya Kikwete.

He told journalists that he respected SADC and Troika and that his decision was made with national interests at heart. Mr Ravalomanana expressed hope that his opponent, President Andry Rajoelina, would also agree with SADC's recommendations provided in the Malagasy Roadmap, for the good of their country and its people.

The former president said he was ready to return home and rejoin his family he sorely missed and partake in the revival of his country's ailing economy as well as be part of efforts to restore peace and stability. "I have agreed not to contest. I am doing this for my country and people.

I have decided to go back home in peace to work with the people to reconstruct our country and the economy," he said while calling for help to enable him return home and live there in peace. He said Madagascar was in a very difficult situation - economically and security wise and urged the international community and the world at large to come forward to save the country. "It is time for us to work together for the betterment of our country," he said.

Former president Marc Ravalomanana

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outh Africa's President Jacob Zuma will face a challenge for the leadership of the ANC next week from his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe.

Mr Motlanthe's spokesman Thabo Masebe said that Mr Motlanthe had accepted his nomination to stand as ANC leader.

Mr Zuma has received most nominations, but his critics say he has failed to tackle South Africa's

problems.

The African National Congress leader will be overwhelming favourite to win elections due in 2014.

The ANC has gained more than 60% of the vote in each of the national elections held since the end of white minority rule in 1994.

But it is facing increasing accusations that it is not doing enough to boost economic growth, or to combat corruption.

Mr Masebe said Mr Motlanthe had agreed to run for the ANC leadership after being nominated by the most branches in three of South Africa's nine provinces.

"He's always said branches must be given a chance to express their free will," Mr Masebe said.

Mr Motlanthe was also available to continue serving as deputy president, or as a member of the party's national executive committee, he

Jacob Zuma (l) and Kgalema Motlanthe (r) have been close allies

said.

Although there has been months of speculation that Mr Motlanthe would run against Mr Zuma, this is the first confirmation that he would accept his nomination.

He previously said he was "agonizing" over the decision.

'Poisoned atmosphere' The ANC, which is marking its centenary, will hold leadership elections at its conference in Mangaung which starts on Sunday.

Analysts say Mr Zuma is likely to be re-elected, having majority support in the remaining six provinces.

Mr Zuma was elected ANC leader at its last conference in 2007 following a bruising battle with then-President Thabo Mbeki.

Mr Motlanthe backed Mr Zuma, and became his deputy in the ANC and the government.

Mr Zuma's allies were hoping that Mr Motlanthe would step back from challenging him at the last minute in order to avoid worsening divisions in the party, analysts say.

Mr Masebe said Mr Motlanthe did not believe his candidature was divisive.

"The ANC is a democratic organisation... He [Mr Motlanthe] wants to avail himself to serve the organisation in any capacity the conference decides," Mr Masebe added.

Congo rebels return to negotiating table

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he African Union has welcomed the ongoing peace talks between DRC and the M23 rebels in Uganda under the auspices of the 12nation International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

The AU Security Council pledged support towards the deployment of the proposed Neutral International Force in eastern Congo and called on member states and the international community to "extend necessary support" to the

ICGLR's roadmap to peace in the neighbouring country, according to a statement.

On Monday, negotiations between the DRC government and M23 rebels stalled again after the latter's delegation refused to turn up at a venue in Kampala to listen to the DRC government's rebuttal to the rebel allegations.

The Council requested the AU Commission to support the dialogue between the DRC Government and M23, in close cooperation with the chair of the

ICGLR (President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda).

The M23 rebels in the eastern DRC started withdrew from the territory they seized a couple of weeks back, including the strategic North Kivu provincial capital of Goma and Sake.

M23 pulled back from the areas to pave way for political negotiations in accordance with a regional deal under which Kinshasa agreed to a political settlement on the condition rebels retreated from their newly captured locations.

The rebels took control of Goma and Sake more than two weeks ago after humiliating UN-backed government troops, who were accused of committing rapes and looting from civilians as they retreated south of Goma.

M23 is led by mutinying soldiers who broke ranks with the army eight months ago, contending that Kinshasa had violated a 2009 peace deal under which a previous rebellion had been dismantled.

Egypt court jails blogger for blasphemy

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court in Egypt has sentenced a blogger to three years in prison for blasphemy and contempt of religion.

Alber Saber was arrested in September after neighbours accused him of posting links to a film mocking Islam that led to protests across the Muslim world.

Mr Saber, an atheist from a Coptic Christian family, can appeal against the ruling if he pays $167 (ÂŁ100) bail.

The case raises concerns over freedom of expression just as Egyptians are set to vote on a draft constitution.

Liberals, secularists and the Coptic Church have complained that the document fails to protect basic rights, and that the constituent assembly which approved the charter last month was dominated by Islamists.

Mr Saber was initially

accused of circulating links to a 14-minute trailer for the film, Innocence of Muslims, which denigrates the Prophet Muhammad.

But he denied promoting the video and later faced charges relating to other statements critical of Islam and Christianity which police investigators allegedly found online and on his computer at his home.

Human rights groups have called for Mr Saber's release.

There has been a proliferation of prosecutions for blasphemy in Egypt in the nearly two years since Hosni Mubarak was overthrown. Many of those targeted are Copts, who make up about 10% of the population.

Although blasphemy has long been a criminal offence, Article 44 of the draft constitution contains a specific article prohibiting insulting

prophets.

Human rights activists have warned that it is inherently contradictory to Articles 43 and 45, which guarantee freedom of belief and freedom of thought and opinion.

"Expect to see many more blasphemy prosecutions in the future now that it's embedded as a crime in the constitution," Heba Morayef, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, told the New York Times.

Human rights groups have called for the release of Alber Saber (left)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

Asia and Middle East

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Russian official has said for the first time that the Syrian government may be defeated by opposition forces.

President Bashar al-Assad's forces are "losing more and more control and territory", deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on yesterday.

Russia was also making plans for a possible evacuation of thousands of its citizens in Syria,

PAGE 29

Syria government ‘losing control’ – Russia Mr Bogdanov said.

Russia has been one of the staunchest international allies of Mr Assad's government.

"Unfortunately, we cannot rule out the victory of the Syrian opposition," Mr Bogdanov said.

Russia, along with China, has used its veto at the UN Security

Council to block resolutions condemning the Syrian government's use of violence.

Later on Thursday, Nato's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the organisation believed the Syrian government was approaching collapse.

'Unacceptable price'

Mr Bogdanov repeated Russia's call for dialogue between the two sides, predicting that the fighting would grow more intense.

He said tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of people would be killed if that happened.

"If such a price for ousting the president seems acceptable to

you, then what can we do? We consider it unacceptable," he said.

Mr Bogdanov said plans were being drawn up for a possible evacuation of Russian citizens.

"We have mobilisation plans and are clarifying where our citizens are located," he said.

Mr Bogdanov also raised concerns about "extremists" seizing chemical weapons arsenals, according to the Interfax news agency.

Clashes in Hebron over Palestinian killing

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Russia deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov

ive people have been injured in clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Hebron, after a Palestinian teenager was shot by Israeli soldiers on Wednesday.

Dozens of Palestinian youths were reported to have thrown stones and bottles at the soldiers early on Thursday morning, while Associated Press news agency reported that the Israeli soldiers had responded by firing tear gas on the youths.

Five Palestinians were hospitalised after the clashes, reported Ma'an News Agency.

Thursday's clashes came ahead of the funeral for 17-year-old Palestinian, Muhammad Ziad Awad Salaymah, who was shot dead by an Israeli policewoman at a checkpoint in the city on Wednesday, for allegedly carrying a gun which later turned out to be

"fake".

Some news agencies reported that Salaymah had been shot up to six times.

Micky Rosenfeld, a spokesman for Israeli police, said on Wednesday that an initial investigation indicated "[Salaymah] pulled a fake pistol. They [troops at the scene] thought it was real."

Palestinians, however, said Salaymah was unarmed, and had failed to heed orders to halt at a military checkpoint because he was hard of hearing.

Protests against the shooting broke out in the Old City on Wednesday night, with Israeli forces using tear gas and live ammunition to quell the demonstrations.

"They have orders to shoot with live bullets now," a resident of Hebron told Al Jazeera on Wednesday.

Tensions were still high on Thursday in the southern West Bank city.

Former Thai PM charged to guard the building, as with murder deployed about 20 supporters carrying roses

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Tensions were high in Hebron during the funeral of Muhammad Ziad Awad Salaymah, killed by Israeli forces.

bhisit Vejjajiva, the former prime minister of Thailand, has been charged with murder over the death of a civilian during a crackdown on antigovernment rallies two years ago, his party says.

Abhisit, along with then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, was formally charged at Bangkok's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Thursday.

They are the first officials to face a court over Thailand's worst political violence in decades.

"The DSI has charged Abhisit and Suthep on section 288, which is murder. They both denied the charge," Thavorn Senniem, a senior Democrat Party lawmaker, told AFP. Hundreds of riot police were

and dozens of protesters holding pictures of those killed during the crisis watched the former leader arrive.

At least 90 people were killed and nearly 1,900 wounded in a series of street clashes between "Red Shirt" protesters and security forces.

The crisis culminated in a deadly army operation in 2010 to break up the demonstrations.

The charge against Abhisit, who was prime minister at the time, relates to the fatal shooting of taxi driver Phan Kamkong.

Tarit Pengdith, the chief of the DSI, announced the move last Thursday, saying that it was prompted by a court ruling in September that Phan was shot by troops. That ruling was the first completed inquest into the 2010 bloodshed.

Japan accuses China of airspace intrusion over islands

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Abhisit Vejjajiva has insisted that he was innocent.

apan has accused China of violating its airspace for the first time after a Chinese government plane flew near disputed East China Sea islands.

Fighter jets were scrambled after the plane was seen around 11:00 local time (02:00 GMT) near one of the islands, spokesman Osamu Fujimura said.

Japan lodged an immediate protest with Beijing, he said.

The islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, have been a long-standing source of tension.

A total of eight F-15 fighters were sent after reports of the presence of the plane, which belong to China's State Oceanic Administration - a state body tasked with law enforcement in Chinese waters.

Japan's defence ministry said it was the first intrusion into Japan's air space by a Chinese government aircraft since the military began keeping records in 1958.

Last year, Japan said two Chinese military planes flew near the area, but did not enter the country's airspace.

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas Argentina sees protests after Marita Veron verdict

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

Hugo Chavez faces tough cancer recovery

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ngry demonstrators in Argentina have clashed with police a day after the acquittal of 13 people accused of kidnapping and forcing a young woman into prostitution 10 years ago.

Marita Veron, who is still missing, was one of many victims abducted by sex rings that cater for powerful clients in Argentina, campaigners say.

Protests turned violent in the capital, Buenos Aires.

The judges said there was no evidence linking the defendants to Marita Veron.

"We could not establish what really happened," said chief judge Alberto Piedrabuena.

"But it was not a case of people trafficking," he added.

Marita Veron's mother Susana Trimarco has rescued hundreds of women from sex slavery during her campaign to find her daughter.

President Cristina Fernandez, who gave was Ms Trimarco a human rights award on Sunday, telephoned her to offer support after the verdict.

"I thought I would find her destroyed, but I found her more together than ever, more committed to keep fighting," the president said.

"I told her, 'Susana you can always count on me,' and she told me 'President, don't worry, I'm going to keep fighting'."

Rescued women A day after the verdict, demonstrators gathered in were held in Buenos Aires and other parts of the country.

The accused, seven men and six women, had all insisted on their innocence and argued that the case brought against them was politically motivated.

They had been on trial since February, in Tucuman province, in north-west Argentina, accused of kidnapping Ms Veron and selling her to traffickers who forced her into prostitution.

The trial heard more than 130 witnesses, including a dozen women rescued from brothels by Susana Trimarco.

After Marita disappeared in April 2002, aged 23, Ms Trimarco launched a campaign to find her.

Ms Trimarco infiltrated herself into human-trafficking gangs pretending to be interested in "buying" women. The information she gathered led to police raids which rescued dozens of women who were being sexually exploited.

She also launched a foundation which since 2007 has helped to rescue hundreds of victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Her efforts led to the passage of legislation in Argentina making human trafficking a crime.

UK pays £2.2m to settle Libyan rendition claim

Venezuelans turned out to show their support for Hugo Chavez in Caracas.

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enezuelan President Hugo Chavez faces a "complex and difficult" recovery from cancer, his vicepresident has said.

Nicolas Maduro, Mr Chavez's preferred successor, said the president's latest surgery in Cuba had been "complex, difficult, delicate".

He urged Venezuelans to pray for the 58-year-old president, and to face the "hard days" ahead calmly.

Mr Chavez is in stable condition after his fourth operation, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said.

Mr Maduro was speaking alongside National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello and Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez, who had both joined Mr Chavez on his trip to Cuba. The president's children and grandchildren were also with him in Havana.

A solemn Mr Maduro, his voice cracking, said: "It was a complex, difficult, delicate

operation," which meant that "the post-operative process is also going to be a complex and hard process".

Before Mr Maduro spoke, state television showed footage of Venezuelans praying for the president at a Mass.

Mr Chavez remains in Cuba and there has been no indication when he will return.

Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa, who had also flown to Havana to be with Mr Chavez, said it had been a "very delicate operation", adding: "He gives us all strength."

Mr Maduro, 50, had earlier described the surgery to remove cancerous tissue, which lasted more than six hours, as a "complete success".

Mr Chavez ha d returned from cancer-related treatment in Cuba last Friday but left again for surgery early on Monday.

The illness was first detected during an initial surgery for a pelvic abscess in June 2011.

During the weekend, Mr Chavez himself acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.

"There are risks. Who can deny it?" he said in a televised speech.

Mr Chavez added that if his health failed and new elections had to be held, people should vote for Mr Maduro, a former bus driver and one of the president's closest advisers.

"He is a complete revolutionary, a man of great experience despite his youth, with great dedication and capacity for work," Mr Chavez said.

Mr Chavez, who was re-elected in October for a fourth term as president, is due to begin his new six-year term in office on 10 January.

The constitution states that should the president leave office in the first four years of his term, an election must be held within 30 days.

financial products have been frozen in Spanish banks.

Other assets include properties in the capital Madrid and the resort of Marbella, and seven luxury cars.

The two buildings in Madrid's wealthy Moraleja district are worth a combined 7m euros while the seven properties in Marbella are worth more than

3m euros.

"The assets could be the proceeds of crimes such as the embezzlement of public funds, corruption or the illegal enrichment committed during his mandate," police said.

Mubarak was overthrown on 11 February last year after nearly three weeks of mass unrest in which nearly 900 people died and more than 6,000 were injured.

He was jailed for life this summer for his role in ordering the killings.

Reports that Mubarak and his inner circle had stolen tens of billions of dollars helped fuel the revolt against his rule.

Switzerland has frozen some $441m in assets linked to Mubarak.

In the UK, at least £85m ($135m) of assets have been frozen, though there are fears that some property and companies may have been overlooked.

Spain seizes Hosni Mubarak's assets

P

olice in Spain say they have seized assets linked to former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak worth some 28m euros (£23m; $34m).

They took action after the new Egyptian authorities made an international request to block the assets of 130 people associated with his rule.

Some 18.4m euros in

Hosni Mubarak

he UK government has agreed to pay £2.2m to a Libyan dissident and his family who say MI6 was involved in their illegal rendition.

Sami al-Saadi and his family say they were forcibly transferred to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's Libya in 2004.

Their lawyers say the pay-out ends the family's legal action against the UK, in which they were arguing MI6 was instrumental in their kidnap.

The UK still faces a further allegation of rendition from another Libyan.

Mr al-Saadi was a leading Gaddafi opponent and says that he was forced on board a plane in Hong Kong, along with his wife and four children, in a joint UK-US-Libyan operation. The family were flown to Libya.

Mr al-Saadi was subsequently held and tortured.

The allegations came to light during the overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi, when documents relating to the alleged agreement to transport the family were found in Libya.

There has been no comment so far from the Foreign Office. In a statement issued by his solicitors, Mr al-Saadi said: "My family suffered enough when they were kidnapped and flown to Gaddafi's Libya.

"They will now have the chance to complete their education in the new, free Libya. I will be able to afford the medical care I need because of the injuries I suffered in prison.

"I started this process believing that a British trial would get to the truth in my case. But today, with the government trying to push through secret courts, I feel that to proceed is not best for my family.

"I went through a secret trial once before, in Gaddafi's Libya. In many ways, it was as bad as the torture. It is not an experience I care to repeat.

Even now, the British government has never given an answer to the simple question: 'Were you involved in the kidnap of me, my wife and my children?'"

Sapna Malik, solicitor for the alSaadi family at law firm Leigh Day, said: "The sheer terror experienced by the al-Saadi family when they were bundled on to their rendition flight and delivered up to their nemesis clearly lives with them all to this day.

"Having concluded one part of their quest for justice, they now look to the British criminal courts to hold those responsible for their ordeal to account and await the judge-led inquiry they have been promised."

Sami al-Saadi

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 31

Human Barbie’s Twin: Olga ‘Dominica’ Oleynik, Valeria Lukyanova

I

s there room in Barbie's dream house for another bleach-blond, plastic wannabe? Valeria Lukyanova, better known as the human Barbie doll, thinks so. The Ukranian model and Internet sensation has found herself a playmate in Olga 'Dominica' Oleynik, according to The Daily Mail.The 24-year-old could almost pass as Lukyanova's twin, as both women boast terrifyingly tiny waists, busts seemingly larger than their heads, flaxen hair extensions and large, wide, dead-looking eyes. The two met online five years ago and both hail from the Ukrainian city of Odessa.

"We were curious about our similarities. We had the same hairstyle, make-up, and even dressed in a similar way. Our friends were sure that we were blood sisters," Lukyanova told the U.K. outlet. "We are really sisters - but only in spiritual way. We have the same outlook and lifestyle."

Lukyanova has garnered plenty of buzz this past year for her doll-like looks, though some claim her plastic appearance is fake , and she owes her Mattelinspired looks to photoshop.

Naysayers be damned, however, as Lukyanova and her near-twin plan on taking America by a storm -- with lectures on spirituality.

"We are planning to move to America soon. Dominica's

Siobhan Meow paints with her cats' poop, urine and fur

boyfriend is living in the US and my husband wants to start a business there too," Lukyanova revealed. '"I am not going to be bored abroad, I'm often invited to photo-shoots and parties."

This woman's art is a bunch of cat crap.

B

ut that's all right with Siobhan Meow, a New York City artist who uses her cats' feces, urine and fur in some of her artwork.

Meow sat down with The Local East Village blog to chat about how paintings of the 20 cats in her apartment went from the color of pewter to the color of poo.

"I put a canvass down where [one of my cats] was going outside of the litter box, and he took to it, and started pooping and peeing on different parts of it. I threw some cat hair that I had swept up off the floor on it, and he pushed that around into different patterns," she said.

Meow also uses normal techniques for many of her $1,500-and-up paintings. But she was already somewhat of a celebrity before the fecal felines.

The self-proclaimed

Valeria Lukyanova and her twin

transgender woman was a regular on The Howard Stern Show,according to her Myspace page. It's unclear what her role was, but her Facebook page appears to show her flashing her breasts on The Howard Stern Show set.

Now she spends most of her time with her artwork and her cats -- of which she used to have 100. They act as her muse, and she calls the kitties her "family."

Works from pop, urine

Belgian Hotel CasAnus lets you spend the night in a uman colon H

otel CasAnus has all the elements of a great weekend getaway and more. It's cozy, familiar looking--and shaped like a giant human colon.

On a small island, nestled between Antwerp and Ghent in Flanders, Belgium, this quaint structure is designed

Anus-like hotel

like a humongous intestinal tract, complete with an anus replica.

Originally an art sculpture created by the Dutch designer Joep Van Lieshout, CasAnus is now a part of the Verbeke Foundation art park, one of Western Europe's edgiest art

venues.

For a recession-proof price of •120 ($150), the hotel includes heating, double beds and showers, according to OddityCentral.com.

CasAnus is run by Belgian art collectors, Geert and Carla Verbeke-Lens, who purchased the anatomical

masterpiece to add to their 30-acre Verbeke Foundation sculpture park.

It's become one of western Europe's edgiest art destinations. More than 20,000 tourists visit the Verbeke Foundation each year, often opting to spend the night inside the colon

and revel in the positive experience.

"I asked how people take to the experience - apparently it is universally positive. If the novelty of staying in a giant polyester intestine wears off then there's always the thrill of spending the night quite alone in an artwork," Tom Hall described his experience.

When visitors first arrive they are invited to stroll around the grounds flittered with a collage of international artists' works.

The onsite bar-cum-café o f fers patrons a chance to mingle with resident artists and unearth what to expect their first night sleeping inside the colon.

"It is utterly silent and pitch black at night, so bring a torch if you want to creep around at night. It is as normal as sleeping in a slug-like space can be," travel blogger Tom Hall wrote on Lonely Planet.

According to Verbeke-Lens, the venue owner who lives onsite, "guests are really happy to sleep undisturbed in a place surrounded by nature. They can see black swans and frogs and discover the stars in the night sky, as well as visiting all our different exhibitions. More and more travelers are coming to us from all over the world to explore w h a t t h e y c a l l a 'unique place'."

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 With Tobias Lengnan Dapam 07036990957

Amina to premier in London October 17 The much anticipated movie ‘Amina’ is set for its world première at the Empire Cinema in Leicester Square on the 17th October, 2012, Pulse.com has revealed.

The movie which is a British/ Nigerian production, is a psychological human drama, featuring Nollywood top shots like; Omotola Jalade – Ekeinde and Van

Vicker, alongside top British movie stars like; Wil Johnson, Vincent Regan and Alison Carroll, aka Lara Croft.

Pulse.com further said that Amina could be best described as a British film with Nollywood

sensibilities.

The film which was Written, produced and directed by Christian Ashaiku, an innovative Nigerian born London based filmmaker; Amina tells a deeply emotional and dramatic story dealing with the

themes of love, loss and redemption.

Amina is told in flashback and tells the life story of a gifted young woman (OmotolaJalade-Ekeinde) who, devastated by a series of life changing events suffered a total breakdown and finds herself

Doha Film Institute hires new CEO

Olu Maintain dumps US lover for Mochedda

D

oha Film Institute, the independent cultural organisation that brings Qatar’s film initiatives under one banner, has appointed Abdulaziz AlKhater as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Hollywood reporter has said.

Al-Khater will now take over from acting CEO and DFI board member, Mansour Ibrahim AlMahmoud.

DFI chairperson and founder, her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani said that “The all-encompassing approach of DFI to promote a robust film industry in Qatar has helped us to create a distinct identity not only in the region but also globally.

The appointment of Mr Abdulaziz Al-Khater, who has a wealth of management expertise, will be strong value addition in driving the future growth of the Institute.”

She also thanked Al-Mahmoud for his work during what she described as DFI’s Boredom and the feeling that everything was a waste of time, an illusion that nothing was good.

On his part, Al-Mahmoud said the incoming CEO “brings with him extensive experience in leadership and business management, with a strong local and regional focus.”

Al-Khater, has wealth of experience in management, banking, information technology, operations, finance, and logistics.

He joined DFI from Al Khalij Commercial Bank, now established as one of the key financial institutions in the region.

Speaking about the prospects of the industry, Al-Khater said: “I am looking forward to being part of a growing cultural organisation that had established itself both within the region and internationally as an Institute dedicated to developing Arab talent and creativity.”

He added that the DFI is poised for an era of growth “as it continues to evolve and foster the development of local and regional film industries.”

The new CEO of DFI, Abdulaziz Al-Khater

incarcerated in a mental hospital, but only one person could help; her doctor (Wil Johnson), but he must overcome his own demons before he could help Amina confront her past.

Expectedly, UK movie practitioners have described Amina as the ace card that would place Nollywood more firmly in the international movie scene and grant it more recognition than it currently has.

S

ensational Nigerian musician, Olu Maintain, has dumped his United State lover, Natalie, for a Nigerian singer, Mochedda, Nigeriafilms.com has revealed.

Sources close to the Yahoo zee crooner told Nigeriafilms.com that Olu was recently spotted getting fond of Mocheddah, whom he vowed to some friends to go down low with.

It was also learnt that both Olu and Mochedda are presently planning to do a duet together.

The sources furthr said that Natalie was not aware of the recent romance between Olu and the singer, as she was always been told

by Olu and his friends that Mochedda is just a colleague.

Ice Prince releases Aboki album Mikel launches music label, signs four artists

S

uper Eagles and Chelsea FC midfielder, John Mikel Obi has never hidden his love for music as it is practically seen whenever the footballer is not on the field of play for both his country and club, he listens to music from his devices with his headphone.

Nigeriafilm.com gathered that the Jos, Plateau State-bred footballer has taken his love for music to another level by floating his own music label named Matured Money Minds (MMM).

The label which was recently established is fully under the control of his

younger brother, Patrick.

MMM already has about four artistes. They are; Splash, Kido, Edgar and Charass.

Sources also revealed that the artists who already have their own songs were working assiduously to shoulder with the biggest artists in the music industry in Nigeria.

C

hocolate City artiste, Ice Prince Zamani drops the much anticipated video for his latest single “Aboki”, Pulse.com has revealed.

This was his first single after his much acclaimed E.L.I album.

The song was produced by Chopstix of the Grip Boiz City, and was directed by the talented Phil Lee in Los Angeles. Ice Prince looks to be preparing for another album, as we look forward to more singles.

Hollywood film Awards to honour Argo casts

T

he Hollywood Reporter has learned that the cast of Argo, the Ben Affleck-directed drama about the 1979-81 Iranian hostage crisis, will receive the Hollywood Ensemble Acting Award at the 16th annual Hollywood Film It said that the first awards show of the 2012 Oscar season and its gala ceremony will hold on the 22nd October, 2012, at the Beverly Hilton.

Representatives of the cast who are expected to attend the event include Affleck, Oscar winner Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston and John Goodman.

The Hollywood Film Awards, which were determined by Hollywood Film Festival founder and executive director Carlos de Abreu and his advisory team, recognize individuals for both career achievement and work released within the calendar year.

Previous recipients of the

Hollywood Ensemble Acting Award include Crash (2005), which went on to win the best Oscar picture as well as Bobby (2006), Hairspray (2007), The Secret Life of Bees (2008) and best picture Oscar nominees, the Social Network (2010) and the Help (2011).

Similarly, De Abreu tells THR that “We are very proud to recognize the actors who form the cast of Argo for their outstanding performances in this special film.”

Argo, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in early September was one of the best received films at the Toronto International Film Festival and will later this month be released nationwide by Warner Bros, on the 22nd October, 2012.

THR recently revealed the identities of several other films and people to be honored at this year’s Hollywood Film Awards, including

the recipients of the Hollywood Director Award, Hollywood Actress Award, Hollywood Supporting Actor Award, Hollywood Supporting Actress Award, Hollywood Producer Award, Hollywood Animation Award, Hollywood Comedy Award,

Casts from the Argo movie

New Hollywood Award, Hollywood Breakout Performance Award, Hollywood Cinematographer Award, Hollywood Editor Award, Hollywood Production Designer Award, and Hollywood Visual Effects Award.

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012 With Tobias Lengnan Dapam 07036990957

8yr old wins "Nigeria's Got Talent" grand finale T

he grand finale of "Nigeria's Got Talent" held amidst excitement from the guest and tension on the part of the contestants, was won by 8 year old Amarachi, Pulse.com has said.

It added that the journey that started a month ago and built up to a crescendo ended with tears of joy when the 8 year old was

picked among other three finalists The judges congratulated the young talents for their display, which they said was highly challenging for them to pick the winner.

At event, there were guest performances from E.M.E team mates Skales and Niyola.

Dammy Krane who thrilled the crowd with hit track 'My Dear'.

Iyanya dumps Vyonne Nelson for Emma Nyra

C

ontrary to news making the rounds that Iyanya, the Kukere crooner has dumped Vyonne Nelson for Tonto Dike, www.nigeriafilms.com has gathered that Iyanya actually dumped the Ghanian actress, Yvonne for the upcoming songstress, who is making waves in Nigerian music industry, Emma Nyra. At the moment, they both seem to be having a swell time and nice outing.

According to rumour mongers, there must be more to their relationship than meets the eye as they are too close for comfort. Though insiders close to them disclosed that they are not dating but the general believe is that the duo are more than just friends.

The rumour emanated when

Iyanya and Emma Nyra have been spotted together at several events that people are beginning to wonder if the two showbiz stars have found love in the arms of each other. And the fact that Emma Nyra often frequent Lekki, Lagos, where Iyanya resides, further fuelled the speculation that they are no doubt in a relationship.

Iyanya who is single recently denied having a love affair with Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson.

However, industry watchers say he will be a good match with Emma Nyra who is also single.

Nigeriafilms.com further learnt that the duo are currently in Manchester, UK for the video shoot of "Everything I Do" a sizzling song from the sexy Emma Nyra.

Organisers of the event presentig ten million naira cheque to the 8 year old Amarachi

Third Korean film festival fascinates friends in Abuja

By Mohammed Kandi

T

here was a mesmerising film show penultimate week at the grand Abuja Silverbird Cinema Towers, when shoppers were thrilled with a superlative cultural exchange which brought together Nigerians and a few foreigners to dine and wine at the centre.

At the event which marked Korea's third annual film festival in Nigeria, the guest carted home with scintillating prizes of sports ware smart phones and a 42 inches flat screen TV alongside the scrumptious Korean drinks and cocktail of cuisines that kept cheering the guests throughout the show.

Although the occasion was devoid of formal speeches and business as usual, the Korean Ambassador in Nigeria, HE Mr. Choi Jong-hyun, expressed gratitude to friends of Korea and members of the diplomatic corps, who came to identify with his country.

While applauding Nigerian Nollyhood for its track records in film production and achieving second largest market beside the Bollyhood and Hollywood, Jong-hyun said his

country was committed to stimulating its ties with Nigeria by constantly engaging cultural activities aimed at bringing the people of the two countries closer.

In his remarks, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) Mr. Kwon, Yon-ik said the Center would continue to organize the annual film exhibition following the success stories

of the previous editions.

Meanwhile, guests were ushered into the theatre for the viewing of the epic film about a Korean businessman who went to East Timor to trade in sports ware but ended up coaching a youth football team that brought together children from different backgrounds with deep emotional fissures and only poverty in common.

Participants at the Korean film festival

Rita Dominic scores big again, wins Kalasha Awards in Kenya

T

Iyanya and Emma Nyra

his year has been an amazing one for Nollywood actressand Uniport graduate, Rita Dominic. Barely a week after winning the Most Stylish Actress in the FAB Awards, she has yet again taken home another prestigious award, Nigeriafilms.com has said. it added that Rita won the award based on her acting in a Kenyan movie 'Shattered'.

Earlier in the year, she won AMAA Award for Best Actress in Leading Role and a few months later, she premièred her first

movie, 'The Meeting', which has been described as one of the best movies in 2012. She will also be featuring in another movie set to première in December 2012.

In her acceptance speech, she said, "I dedicate this award to God for his mercies, the media for their immense support, my team for their continuous sustenance, and making me believe that the sky is just a starting point. My special thanks to my Kenyan friends for voting me. And also to the Kenyan Film Commission for this award".

Rita Dominic

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 33

'Age of the Hobbits' is now 'Clash of the Empires'

A

ge of the Hobbits", which a federal judge enjoined Monday from release in the U.S. under that title, has a new name; as indicated on producer,"The Asylum's website", the movie is now called Clash of the Empires.

Though, it was not enough to stop the court case, however. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, a Warner Bros. spokesman said, "we are moving forward for a preliminary injunction", adding that hearing on that matter is set for January 28. Meanwhile, a temporary restraining order remains in effect, prohibiting release of the film under the "Age of the

Hobbits" title.

In Cambodia, the new title is "The History of Mankind," as THRpreviously reported.

The title tiff raises an interesting question: what was the original name of the movie?

According to the film's screenwriter, Eric Forsberg, the original title of the script was "X." In essence, the screenplay was untitled. Forsberg said he had nothing to do with the "Age of the Hobbits" title.

However, Forsberg toldTHR, the"Hobbits" appellation was attached "relatively early on."

Forsberg described himself as a veteran of the mock buster genre, and noted that he wrote

the 2006"Snakes on a Train",not to be confused with 2006's "Snakes on a Plane", a Samuel L. Jackson vehicle that could just as well be described as a snake vehicle, saying, numerous were the reptilian interlopers.

He said Jackson had above the title billing, only the snakes and the plane appear in the movie poster, while there was no connection between "The Hobbit" and Forsberg's script about a real-life species of hominids that archeologists nicknamed "Hobbits" because of their short stature, there is an indirect connection which might be call missing link.

ABC Family is looking for a story about starcrossed lovers, Hollywood reporter has said.

I

t added that the youthskewing network has put a pair of "Romeo and Juliet" themed projects into development based on two young-adult novels.

Recovery Road, based on the 2011 book by Blake Nelson, centers on a high school girl who finds love at rehab, where she's seeking treatment for a drinking and tempers problem, and what

happens to the couple once they leave recovery.

The project hails from Pilgrim Studios (Lifetime's Whisper of Fear), and a search is underway for a writer to pen the script.

Juliet Immortal, meanwhile, is based on the 2012 book by Stacey Jay and is described as a paranormal love story revolving around "Romeo

and Juliet", who met again -- as enemies.

Jay will write and produce the adaptation of her book in which Juliet was murdered by her new husband, Romeo, as a sacrifice to ensure his immortality. What he didn't anticipate, however, is that Juliet would be granted eternity and spend her days fighting her former beloved to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent.

Hollywood reporter further said ABC Family is searching for a studio to package the project.

Recovery Road and Juliet Immortal mark the second and third "Romeo and Juliet" themed dramas set up at the cable network that is home to Pretty Little Liars and Switched at Birth. ABC Family also has "The Falls" author Nicholas Sparks' modern reimagining of William Shakespeare's literary classic, in development.

Tiwa Banks stabbed by landlord's son

N

igeriafilms.com has said that upcoming actress, Tiwa Banks, was found in the pool of her own blood, after being stabbed by her landlord's son.

Banks who sang a track called 'Olen le', according to unnamed sources, had been approached several times by her landlord's son who had a keen interest in being intimately involved with her, but she refused.

The attacker identified as Tobi Obadina had approached her on several occasions to make his feelings known. However on this fateful day, they had argued earlier when he accosted her on her way to the ladies. however, that night, Tobi barged into Tiwa's home and attacked her severally with a bottle. He was said to have broken the bottle on her head and stabbed her repeatedly with the broken bottle. He was caught at the scene by her brother and a neighbour where he promptly fled leaving Tiwa in a pool of her own blood.

Stella Damasus marries again

P

resently, Nollywood diva, Stella Damasus who is obviously living on past glory may be saying her third or fourth 'I Do'. www.nigeriafilms.com gathered that the mother of two recently displayed an engagement ring at the 2012 Mode Men of the Year Awards and she said if it looked like engagement ring, then it's, when she was asked about.

"It is a simple thing; I am refusing to talk about, my private life".She later said "If it looks like it then it is. It does right? Then it is.

For me to boldly wear this, I know what it would cause, so I am saying let them talk" Whether it is for real or it is just a stylish accessory, she agreed that she was wearing an engagement ring. "Yes I am wearing an engagement ring, whether it is for fashion or for real nobody knows. It is left for you to decide whether it is for real or I am wearing it for fashion or I am simply

looking for trouble".

Stella once married Jaiye Aboderin, the promising dude died mysteriously. She dated other men before she got married to Nzeribe, the wedding didn't last six months before it got dissolved. Now, it's another one for this delectable actress.

Stella Damasus with her new lover

Fred Amata in hot romance with single mother of two

N

ollywood actor and prolific director, Fred Amata seems to have found love again but this time with a single mother of two, Nigeriafilms.com has revealed.

Tiwa Banks recieving treatment from doctors

Fred Amata

It added that Amata who was once married to TV talk show host of "Inside Out",Agatha Amata; could not hold on despite being blessed with two children.

He was said to have dated Ibinabo Fiberesima (current AGN president) and they had a daughter together.

But now, the Nollywood actor has been spotted on several occasions with one lady popularly referred as Mor Okonkwo. The two lovebirds, www.nigeriafilms.com gathered, met in the United States of America about a year ago, one thing led to the other and just a few months back they have been dating, seeing at special places together.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 34

By Sani Adamu

A

recent UNICEF report reveals that no fewer than 40 million Nigerians are illiterate, implying that nearly half of the adult population in the country can neither read nor write.

Observers say the report is worrisome in spite of the huge investment in the education sector by successive administrations at federal, state and local levels.

A 2005 report by the National Empowerment Development Strategy puts Nigeria’s literacy rate at 57 per cent.

The report reveals that the country’s literacy declined from the 64.1 per cent in 1999 and the 71.9 per cent in 1991.

Besides, a 2006 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that 46.7 per cent of Nigerians are purely illiterate while 53.3 per cent are literate in the use of the English language.

A breakdown of the study, which used 15 years as “adult age,” shows that 61.3 per cent of the literate population is male and 45.3 per cent is female.

The study shows that the highest literacy level is in the South East geopolitical zone with adult literacy figure of 73.5 per cent.

The South West and SouthSouth geo-political zones share second position with 70.4 per cent; the North-Central literacy level is put at 53.5 per cent, while the North West is the lowest with only 23.2 per cent of literate adult population.

According to the survey, Nigeria’s adult male literacy is 31.0 per cent with 15.4 per cent female literacy.

Yet, another report by UNICEF shows that more than 10 million Nigerian children of school age are not in school.

The report indicates that most of them are either hawking or doing some menial jobs to make ends meet, stating that 6.2 million of the out-ofschool children are girls while 3.8 million are boys.

Dr Joseph Ngu, UNESCO Country Representative, corroborates these figures at a roundtable to mark the 2012 International Literacy Day held recently in Abuja.

He holds the view that Nigeria is one of the countries among the E9 countries where education is a problem and the only one in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.

However, a recent survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics has put the adult literacy rate in the country at 56.9 per cent.

The report ranks Lagos State as having the highest literacy rate of 88 per cent with Yobe having the lowest of 14 per cent.

Giving further breakdown of the figure, the report puts the urban literacy rate at 75 per cent and 48 per cent for the rural areas.

Nonetheless, statistics from the Federal Ministry of Education indicates that more than 500,000 of the 40 million adult illiterates had been enrolled in adult education classes.

It reveals that only 450,000 out of the 3.4 million nomadic school age children have access to formal education in the country and school enrolment in some states is as low as 12 per cent.

To reverse this, the UN Office in Nigeria says it is rolling out a threeyear project tagged “Revitalising

Striving to raise Nigeria’s literacy level

An adult literacy class Adult and Youth Literacy’’.

The project hopes to reduce the number of illiterate population in Nigeria “even if it is only four to six million people’’.

Besides, the Federal Government says it is setting aside more than N1 billion to revitalise adult and youth literacy education in the country.

Daouda Toure, the Resident Coordinator, UN System in Nigeria, said that the funds would be selfbenefitting funds-in- trust to be domiciled with UNESCO. He said that the project aimed to accelerate national efforts to achieve Education For All (EFA) Goals 3 and 4 with emphasis on skills development to empower individual and communities to reduce poverty.

Toure urged the Federal Government to work with other stakeholders in the implementation of literacy project.

He said that such would be a prelude to the creation of a prosperous and peaceful Nigeria to enhance development.

Mr Rashid Aderinoye, Deputy Executive Secretary with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), urged education authorities to create machineries that would integrate peace education in schools’ curricula.

Aderinoye said the integration of peace education in the curricula would help to reduce the number of violence in the country.

He called on teachers to be exposed to orientation that would empower them to promote peaceful relationship in schools as well as outside the school.

However, stakeholders believe that raising the literacy level in the country will remain a mirage unless concrete measures are put in place

to produce adequate and qualified teachers in the country.

Prof. Muhammed Junaid, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education, shares similar sentiments.

He says Nigeria requires 1.3 million teachers to bridge the

Education Minister, Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i

shortage of teachers in the country and it will take the country 20 years to do that.

However, Imam Ibrahim Aminu, an Islamic cleric in Dutse, Jigawa, holds a contrary opinion on the literacy rating.

He argues that the rating is misleading as majority of Nigerians are literate in Arabic and local languages.

“In the pre-colonial era, we have well established educational structures in place; schools were set up providing education to the people.

“The schools were teaching various disciplines ranging from theology, philosophy, medicine, literature, astronomy, among others.

“And in our present day societies, more than 99 per cent of Muslims know how to read and write in their mother tongue and Arabic language.

So, it a misrepresentation to conclude that there is high illiteracy rate in Nigeria.

Also Alhaji Kabiru Hambali, a special education lecturer at the Jigawa School for Special Education, says the literacy statistics is exaggerated.

Nonetheless, observers say that no society can develop without education; a constitutional right of every citizen.

They say the bottom line is to raise literacy level, and it is the responsibility of government, parents, non-governmental organisations and development partners to play their roles Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 40

08050639900 wallybabe2010@gmail.com

‘Addressing gender, reproductive issues in Kano, my biggest challenge’ C

an you give us a brief history of your life?

I was born and brought up in Kano. I went to Gidan Makama Primary Boarding School and was later transferred to Shekara Girls Boarding Primary School still in Kano. For my secondary school education, I went to Government Girls Secondary School, Dala in Kano.

From there, I went to School of Technology where I studied Arts and Design, after my graduation, I worked for some years with Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA). I later joined the development work in 1999, starting with the John University, centre for communication programme under the DFID project and since then I have been doing quite a lot. Presently, I am about completing my Masters programme in Public Health.

I started as a journalist and was a onetime Chairperson of National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Kano state chapter. For some time I have been active in development work, working around women and children issues, promoting women empowerment and women’s rights in Islam. I have been married for 29 years and I have seven children and four grandchildren.

What influenced your decision to become an activist?

Two things influenced that decision. One, when I started working with KNARDA, I was working with rural women farmers and whenever I am interacting with them, I see the need for them to have information and to be able to make choices about their reproductive health and rights. Secondly, as a communicator, I feel I should do something to champion this course through advocacy works, training etc.

Domestic violence, rape and child rape is on the increase. What is your take on that?

There are a lot of issues responsible for that. Number one, the punishment or penalty for this offence is not stringent and the law guiding it is not respected and the issue of victims not coming out to report or voice out that they have been raped contribute greatly to this problem. Domestic violence is not the issue of women and girls been raped because there are instances where men are also raped by women though it is on rare occasions. So, the judiciary cannot prosecute in trying to protect the survivor if such cases are not reported. I am using the word survivor because people who are raped only become victims if they die during the incidence. A lot needs to be done in that aspect. We also need to begin to make the survivors talk by hiding their identity to protect

Halima Ben Umar is an activist and communicator, presently working with DFID Project Partnership for Revival Routine Immunisation and Maternal and Child Health Programme, as a Communicator Adviser.

In this interview with Maryam Garba Hassan in Nasarawa, she bares her mind on the role the media can play in balancing gender report, addressing issue of violence against women and men, her life as woman activist in a Northern state, the challenges gender issues face in Nigeria among others. them against stigmatisation. The media needs to hide the true identity of the survivors when reporting such cases and lawyers can represent them in court without the survivor appearing in court. For violence against women, now it is domestic violence, because there is an argument now that even women violate the rights of their partners. Some time it is difficult to come out and talk about it. It still comes back to the media and the judiciary for people to know what is going on.

What are the challenges you face as an activist in a place like Kano especially, on addressing issues like early marriage and child spacing that are often opposed to by the Muslim clerics and the community?

It has never been easy which was why I had to seek the consent of some clerics in the state to guide me properly before embarking on that. There were times people were calling me a Jew because I was working with the Americans to promote girl child education, reduce early marriage and educating women on the need for child spacing, to them; I was trying to bring alien culture to the people of the state. It was not easy to penetrate a place like Kano which is a Muslim and Islam predominantly state.

What is the most challenging task you have ever been saddled with?

The time I first started working towards child spacing, was the most challenging task I was assigned to carry out and working with religious leaders was a big issue too. When I started I was quite familiar with some of the religious leaders but the perception I had of them based on what I heard from people that “they are conservative, not open to new issues and that they don’t want to understand” made me jittery. So, from the beginning it was really a big issue; I was scared of meeting them because I didn’t know how my meeting with them is going to turn out, in as much as I needed their support there was also the need for me to do my work but as the same time another big challenge was that I don’t want to do my job without their guidance because for me, my first identity is the Muslim woman and so I want to work within the context of Islam.

I summoned the courage to meet the late Malam Umar Kabo and his wife and I told him that I want to work on child spacing the Islamic perspective but I need the

Halima Ben Umar support of the clerics in the state so, he took me to the Council.

Another challenge I faced was when I was working with the state Population Commission and my task was to work in reducing early marriage and promoting Girl child education. When I started, my view was, this is what my religion says, how can we change it? But then I went back to the religious leaders because they have answers to all my assignments and I sat with them and told them that my assignment is to work around reduction in early marriage so that we can improve Girl Child education. The late Malam Kabo put me through

on how Prophet Muhammad (SAW) married Nana Aisha at the age of 8, he said it is not part of religion but a culture because if it was a religion the Prophet would have married off his beloved daughter Nana Fatima at a young age too and he said I can do it and with their help we did it.

Another thing was working with people living with HIV/Aids and not showing sympathy towards them. In the beginning I was sacred but when we started working I realised that they are people like any normal person and can live a normal life if they take their drugs and eat healthy.

My interaction with them further

“

There were times people were calling me a Jew because I was working with the Americans to promote girl child education, reduce early marriage and educating women on child spacing, to them; I was trying to bring alien culture to the people of the state. It was not easy to penetrate a place like Kano which is a Muslim and Islam predominantly state

made me realised that being HIV positive is not a big deal.

What can you say is your biggest achievement?

This is difficult to say. But one passion I have which I can say is an achievement is through the little things I do to impact on the lives of people, especially the young ones which also help them in becoming successful in their chosen careers and those areas they thought they could not venture. It is recently that I started to see such things as achievements. I trained many women in reproductive issues and for HIV/ Aids services and drugs adherence.

What role do you think the media can play in balancing their reportage on gender issues?

The media has to be objective in their reportage; they should give equal opportunities to all not just women or girl child when it comes to reporting gender issues, as gender issues covers men and women, girls and boys. They can play an important role in this regard because people listen to the media and believe in them. Once the media agree to challenge or address an issue, they do it to a logical conclusion. For them to mainstream gender they need to begin to look at issues, where women and men are lacking and begin to work towards putting things right to ensure that all parties have equal opportunities in terms of training, development and political participation.

How do you juggle the demands of your work and that of the home front?

It is very tasking and the difficult part is trying to balance the two but then if you have a supportive husband and family it becomes easy. My children who are all grownups also help me a great deal. There is a lot of travelling in my work but there are times I cut down the trips to give time to my family. Once I close from work on Fridays, I stay in doors and the children ensure that I don’t work while I am home. If you are not strong you can lose focus in your work and the home front because even when I am at work, I am also running my house on phone to ensure that I don’t lose track of what is happening at home.

Who gave you the most support in life?

My husband of course, and my children also give me the most support because they made my job very easy by understanding and respecting what I do as well as giving their unconditional support.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 35

Moringa Oleifera: The miracle tree that purifies water

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

W

ater-borne diseases are one of the main problems confronting developing countries in the world, including Nigeria.

For instance, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that 80 per cent of Nigerians do not have access to safe drinking water.

Water experts note that in many Nigerian communities, water purification methods like flocculation, coagulation and sedimentation are often inappropriate because of the low availability of chemical coagulants such as alum (Aluminus Sulphate).

These water purification techniques cause dirt, salt and other impurities in the treated water to stick together, gain weight and settle at the bottom.

However, since potable water is a dependent variable in human existence, access to drinkable water is, therefore, considered to be of paramount importance to the people, particularly those in rural communities.

That partly explains the huge amount of money being spent by the government on the importation of alum every year.

The Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Ita Ewa, conceded that the Federal Government spent millions of naira annually on the importation of alum when he inaugurated a Moringa Oleifera water treatment plant at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria recently.

Ewa stressed that the use of natural coagulants such as Moringa Oleifera to clarify water was not a new idea, adding that it had been in practice for many centuries.

“Among all the natural coagulants that have been tested over the years, the seed of Moringa Oleifera has proven to be the most effective as a primary coagulant for water treatment and it can be compared to that of alum.

“It has been investigated and found that Moringa Oleifera can readily provide the substitute for imported chemicals such as alum, which the government spent about N354.5 million on its importation between 2001 and 2005,” Ewa said.

The minister expatiated that Moringa Oleifera functioned effectively as a coagulant because of its ability to positively charge water soluble proteins, which bond the negatively charged particles like salt, clay, bacteria and toxins, causing them to become heavy and sink to the bottom.

Ewa stressed that going by its importance to water treatment; it had become somewhat expedient to construct the Moringa Oleifera water plant in Zaria, which had the capacity of refining about 10,000 litres of water per day.

Due to the confirmed efficacy of Moringa Oleifera as a water treatment agent, many observers tend to wonder about the potential of the shrub widely described as “the miracle plant’’.

Prof. Peter Onwualu, Director-

General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), described Moringa Oleifera as an exceptionally nutritious vegetable tree with a variety of potential uses.

“It is a single-genus family with 14 known species, which thus far, are indigenous to Africa, Madagascar, Arabia and India.

“The tree itself is rather slender, with drooping branches that grow to approximately 10 metres in height, with pods and leaves usually within arm’s reach,” he said.

Onwualu said that Moringa Oleifera had some natural coagulant properties that were efficacious as water purifiers.

He stressed that coagulants were generally used for the physical and chemical purification of turbid raw water, particularly when water filter processes were inadequate to purify the water.

Onwualu said that coagulants were usually applied to transform water constituents into forms that can be separated out physically, adding that alum was often used in large water treatment plants.

“As an alternative to conventional coagulants, Moringa Oleifera seeds can be used as a natural coagulant (primary coagulant) in household water treatment as well as in community water treatment systems,” he said.

Going from the general to the specifics, Onwualu said: “The seed of Moringa Oleifera contains significant quantities of low molecular-weight (water-soluble proteins) which carry a positive charge.

“When the crushed seeds are added to water, the proteins produce positive charge, acting like magnets

and attracting the predominantly negatively charged particles such as clay, silk, bacteria and other toxic particles in water.

“The coagulation process occurs when the protein binds the negative charges through the aggregation of particles which are present in the water, causing them to become heavy (flocculate).

“The particles are easy to remove by settling or filtration: the material can clarify not only highly turbid muddy water but also water of medium and low turbidity.

“The flocculation process occurs when the proteins bind the negative charges, forming flocs through the aggregation of particles which are present in the water.’’

Onwualu said that water purification process was akin to the one carried out via the use of alum.

The director-general then expressed the hope that the newly installed Moringa Oleifera water plant would be replicated across the country, so as to expand the rural communities’ access to potable water.

“We are already working toward getting contractors to handle more of such water plants, while convincing the decision makers that there is an alternative to alum.

“Some of them are responding; we also hope that we will get to a point where there would be a national policy on the use of the powdery form of Moringa Oleifera seeds, so that people will know that these things are available for use,” he added.

The benefits of Moringa Oleifera appear inexhaustible, as experts say that the edible plant also has several medicinal properties.

Onwualu stressed that the oil

extracted from Moringa Oleifera seeds could be used for skin maintenance.

“Moringa Oleifera is biological in nature and it, therefore, does not contain the side effects that are usually associated with chemicals.

“Being biological, it has its own way of detoxification which chemicals do not have; it is also renewable such that you can cultivate as much of the plant as you want,” he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mrs Ngozi Obi, a Senior Scientific Officer of the RMRDC, said that Moringa Oleifera was used in pharmaceuticals, health, food and nutrition, and of course, water purification.

She stressed that the long-term objective of using Moringa Oleifera seeds as a coagulant was to stop the importation of alum as water treatment chemical.

She said that this was because the coagulant from Moringa seeds had no side effects since it was natural.

The scientific officer stressed that Moringa Oleifera was an anti-toxin, adding that it also had about 47 antioxidants that could prevent cancer, “Moringa possesses about 18 vitamins and 8 minerals, nine times the protein of yoghurt, 15 times the Vitamin C of orange and 17 times the iron of spinach.

“Moringa Oleifera has been identified as one of the best immune boosting plants: people that have HIV or always fall sick can rely on the use of Moringa Oleifera, as it boosts their immunity.

“Moringa as an anti-toxin is capable of cleansing the human body because the plant can remove bad cholesterol; it is useful in treating

arthritis and it has anti-inflammatory properties.

“It is capable of preventing over 300 diseases; it also reduces blood sugar and it does not have any known side effect,” she said.

Obi said that the plant could heal persistent malaria, ulcer and burns, adding that it could also improve fertility and reduce fibroid in women, while stabilising blood sugar and removing skin tumour, among others.

She underscored the need to harness the myriad attributes of Moringa Oleifera, saying that if effectively harnessed, the plant could turn out to become a veritable revenue earner for the country.

Prof. Asuquo Thomas, the Director-General, Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), also corroborated the numerous claims on the uses of Moringa Oleifera.

He said that the SHESTCO Complex was already carrying out research on how to produce an organic-based fertiliser from the seed of Moringa Oleifera.

He said that people were already assuming that the seed was a kind of organic manure, adding, however, that his agency would go beyond mere assumptions to ascertain the veracity of such claims and field test its applications.

The director-general also said that Moringa Oleifera seeds could also be used as water purifier, lubrication oil and plant growth hormone.

It is, therefore, little wonder then that Gov. Rab’íu Kwankwanso of Kano State pledged, during the swearing-in of some of his special advisers, that his administration would encourage the production of Moringa Oleifera, among others.

The governor said that project was part of the administration’s efforts to boost agriculture, enhance food production and improve the farmers’ earnings.

“People will be coming from other places to buy these produce from our farmers, thereby, enhancing their economic status,’’ Kwankwanso said.

Moringa Oleifera is even becoming increasingly popular in tree planting campaigns as the tree has been identified as a useful tool in erosion control and other environment conservation efforts.

For instance, Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State embarked on the planting on 100,000 teak and Moringa Oleifera trees in 2010, as part of his administration’s afforestation programme.

In spite of the multi-faceted benefits of Moringa Oleifera, observers insist that tangible efforts should be made to fully explore the water purification properties of the plant, particularly in rural areas where access to potable water is still limited.

“The use of Moringa as water purifiers will definitely promote healthy living in the rural areas, as the people’s access to drinkable water will be significantly enhanced,’’ some of the observers add.

Source: NAN

PAGE 36

S

alty snacks could be fueling childhood obesity as they encourage youngsters to guzzle sweetened drinks to quench their thirst, say researchers.

A study of 4,200 children in Australia found those who consumed high amounts of salt were also the most likely to reach for high-calorie beverages. This put them at risk of unhealthy weight gain, according to the research from Deakin University.

Lead author, Ms Carley Grimes, said: ‘Reducing salt in children’s diets may help to reduce the amount of sugary drinks they consume and therefore help with efforts to reduce the high rates of overweight and obesity.’

For the study the researchers analysed data from the 2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. The survey collected diet and physical activity information from 4,283 children aged two to 16 years.

The Deakin researchers looked at the children’s consumption of dietary salt, fluids and sugar sweetened drinks.

They found 62 per cent

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

Is salt making children fat?

reported consuming sugar sweetened drinks. In this group, children who consumed more salt consumed more fluid and in particular more sugar-

sweetened drinks. The children who consumed more than one sugary drink per day were 34 per cent more likely to be overweight or obese.

The researchers also found that for every one gram of salt consumed per day, the children drank 46 grams more fluid, with those who reported consuming

sugar sweetened drinks drinking 17 grams more for every one gram of salt. There are 177grams in one fluid ounce of water.

Previous Deakin research has shown that children are eating around six grams of salt a day or four times more than is recommended.

Ms Grimes said that together with the results of this new study, it is becoming even more clear that there is a need to keep a closer eye on how much salt our children eat to help ensure they lead long and healthy lives.

‘High salt diets not only put children at risk of serious longterm health problems, such as developing high blood pressure later in life which is a major cause of stroke and heart disease, they are likely to be contributing to the rates of overweight and obesity,’ she said.

The results of this study will be published in the January 2013 issue of the journal Pediatrics.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Iron may prevent behavioral issues in small babies

I

ron supplements may help boost brain development and ward off behavioral problems in babies who are born a bit on the small side, a new study from Sweden suggests.

Low birth-weight babies are more likely to end up iron deficient, researchers said. They need more of the nutrient for catch-up growth and haven’t stored as much as other babies if they’re also born premature.

For that reason, very earlyterm and very small babies are often put on iron - but less research has looked at babies born just shy of normal weight, to see if they are also at risk.

“I think this further solidifies the evidence that it’s a very good idea to give these (marginally low birth-weight) children iron supplements,” said Dr. Magnus Domellof, from Umea University, who worked on the study.

The research was led by his colleague, Dr. Staffan Berglund.

Their team followed 285 infants born between 4 pounds, 7 ounces and 5 pounds, 8 ounces.

When the babies were six weeks old, the researchers randomly assigned them to get iron drops - either one or two milligrams per kilogram of body weight - or iron-free placebo drops each day until their six-month birthday.

Then at age three and a half, Domellof’s team brought the kids back for IQ tests and surveyed parents about their behavioral issues. The researchers compared kids in the iron- and placebo-drop study groups with another 95 children who were born at normal weight.

There were no IQ differences based on whether the smallerthan-average babies had been

put on an iron regimen. All three low birth-weight groups had average scores between 104 and 105. (“Cognitive impairment” in this study was considered an IQ under 85.)

However, significantly more babies given placebo drops had behavioral problems, as reported by their parents. The issues included problems managing emotional reactions, anxiety and depression, as well as sleep and attention problems.

Almost 13 percent of the placebo-group babies scored above the cutoff for clinical behavior problems, versus about 3 percent of kids who’d taken iron drops and kids from the normalweight comparison group.

That suggests iron deficiency in infancy may be a direct cause of behavioral problems later in childhood, the researchers wrote Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

They are continuing to

monitor the same group of kids as they get older, to see if new cognitive or behavioral problems develop or old ones get better as the children head into grade school.

Domellof said he and his colleagues didn’t see any extra stomach problems in kids or delayed growth linked to the use of iron drops. Some research has suggested giving excessive iron to young kids who aren’t deficient may stunt their

Sweetened: Those who consumed high amounts of salt were also the most likely to reach for sugary drinks

development.

But, “I would not be afraid of recommending this to all children (born) below 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces) at this dose,” Domellof told Reuters Health.

“Here’s where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said Dr. Michael Georgieff, a child development researcher at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis who had reviewed the study as part of Berglund’s dissertation committee.

He told Reuters Health that it’s important for all parents to know their baby’s iron requirements when they leave the hospital.

“The issue with these marginally low birth-weight infants is, people really haven’t paid a lot of attention to them, but the evidence is accumulating that they are at risk for behavioral problems and less than ideal cognitive function,” said Dr. Betsy Lozoff, who studies the effects of iron deficiency in infants at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

For most babies in the United States, extra iron is recommended starting at four to six months, either through supplements if the mother is breastfeeding or through formula.

Very small or premature babies typically have their iron monitored from birth.

But Lozoff, who wasn’t involved in the new research, said that in many places, there are no recommendations for how to treat babies who are just below a normal birth weight.

“This would suggest that it should just be a routine supplementation, and it can be at a low level of iron,” she told Reuters Health.

Source: Reuters.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 37

Court strikes out case against INEC, interim leadership of CPC Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

A

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, his Deputy, Hon. Victor Ogene, and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Capital Market, Hon. Haruna Manu, during the media briefing, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Middle Belt leaders cry out against marginalisation

By Lawrence Olaoye

L

eaders and elders of the Middle Belt region of the country yesterday cried out against marginalization by the Federal Government and the prevalence of poverty in the region.

Speaking at the 3rd Middle Belt Leaders' Conference held in Abuja, the Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Professor Jerry Gana lamented that most of the infrastructure and projects that are supposed to bring development to the region are being neglected by government.

He however called on thegovernment to complete Ajaokuta steel complex and not to carry over the project to the next administration, adding that if it were in other region it would have long be completed.

Gana said "We want more states in the Middle Belt. If the will of the people is for more states to be created, then the National Assembly should ensure that more states are created.

Infrastructural problem especially roads in the Middle Belt are terrible.

Ajaokuta steel should be completed and should not be carry over by this administration. Why the complex is not completed is because is in the Middle Belt, if it were in other region it would have long be

completed. We should apply every political pressure to ensure this project is completed.

Nigeria has enough resources to complete Ajaokuta now.

"Middle Belt is so well endowed with massive land and mineral resources that our people should have no business with poverty. Yet, we have very serious situations of tragic poverty and marginalisation. How can our region be so rich but our people so poor?"

He ascribed the problem in the region to poor agricultural productivity, weak industrial base, very poor infrastructure, weak and corrupt institutions, devastating security problems and conflicts, poor leadership with poor vision and very weak access to financial resources for development.

Gana said that the only way of proferring solution to the lingering problems is for the leaders and elders of the Middle Belt to resolve and set in motion very powerful forces of development in the region, adding, "we cannot continue to have such a rich region, yet remain so poor.

We must seek to understand the nature of our crisis and find effective solutions."

The former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Audu Ogbe, who spoke on the topic 'creating wealth through agricultural transformation of the Middle Belt,' noted that inspite of the progress made in the professions and politics generally by the Middle Belt, the people cannot be counted among Nigerian industrialists, bank owners, big traders, importers,

exporters among others.

"We have not done badly in politics, but by now it should be clear to us that wherever politics and participation in government become the only industry, there cannot be much progress and peace," he said.

Ogbe noted that the region has good soil and climate, lamenting that government $20 billion on food importation annually. The region he said can supply 25 percent of the foods if given the necessary assistance.

He said: "In this agriculture credit is near impossible and I am speaking from experience.

A combination of genuine economic and financial considerations, dirty ugly politics and prejudice stand between us and the realisation of our lofty dreams."

Abaji PDP chairmanship aspirant sues for peace

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PD)P chairmanship aspirant for 2013 Local Government Election in Abaji Area Council, Hon. Yahaya Garba, has sued for peace during his address to supporters after submission of his aspiration form to the party state office in Wuse, Abuja.

He further explained that only when law and order is maintained in society can peace reign.He further called

on his supporters to be lawabiding citizens so that government projects can be achieved.

Yahaya, who highlighted areas to focus and build upon what is in existence by the incumbent Chairman promised that if voted into power, he would continue with the good work of Hon. Yahaya Musa Muhammed in the areas of education, human and infrastructural development, staff wlfare, road construction, provide portable water and improvement

internally generated revenue of the Council.

"I want to assure the good people of Abaji of good leadership and holistic governance for continuous transformation in education, agriculture, health, rural road network and portable water supply" ,he said.

Yahaya is the only candidate under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abaji for March 2013 election, and primary election of the party is schedule for December 2012.

suit against Independent Electoral Commission INEC and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) filed by Alhaji Shehu Barau Ningi and 18 others against in Bauchi state chapter of the party was struck out by The Federal High Court sitting in Bauchi The complainant Alhaji Shehu Barau Ningi sue the defendants and obtained a valid court order that stops the electoral body or anybody from recognizing any leadership of CPC in Bauchi state except him because he claimed that he was the one duly elected and sworn-in according to the rules and regulations of the party.

In his ruling, the Presiding judge, Justice Mohammed T Salihu, struck out the case for lack of jurisdiction. He said in the suit the plaintiffs and respondent are unable to show any steps they have taken to have exhausted the conflict resolution mechanism inherent in the party's constitution thereby rendering it incompetent before the court. He said "In the interest of justice I hold this court lacks jurisdiction."

Meanwhile, counsel to Ningi, Barrister Kuleve J.T, filed a notice of appeal asking the court to set aside the ruling of the judge and to allow the suit to proceed to hearing before another judge.

Ironically the Chairman, Care taker committee of the party in the state, Ali Saidu, was nominated by the National leadership of the party to oversee the affairs of the party in Bauchi State.

The National headquarters of the party did not recognize the election of Barau Ningi and sacked him from the party but he had already obtained a valid court order that stopped the party from removing him from office.

But defendants filed preliminary objections and alleged that Ningi led executives violated the constitution of the party because he did not exhaust all the mechanism within the party to resolve his grievances before going to court.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

Tambuwal tasks NASS staff, aides on need to diversify

By Lawrence Olaoye

S

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has urged staff of the National Assembly (Nass) and their legislative aides counterparts to diversify their knowledge of legislative processes in order to make themselves relevant in the present democratic dispensation.

Speaking while receiving members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) and the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum in his office yesterday, Tambuwal said legislative process is a wide field which full import is yet to be fully grasped by all Nigerians.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, quotes the Speaker as saying that with the experience they will acquire on their jobs, their services would be needed at all times He urged members of the two associations to dedicate themselves to the ethics of their callings, adding that the role they are playing is critical for the development of democracy in the country.

Tambuwal said as a former legislative aide himself, he knows the importance of their jobs and how best they can benefit from its opportunities.

"If I wasn't a good aide, perhaps my colleagues would not have voted for me to be the Speaker of the House of

Representatives," he said.

"You are all part and parcel of the National Assembly. Your services are essential to the development of democracy anywhere in the world. In fact, the quality of any legislator can be gauged from the quality of advices he receives from his aides. You should at all times diversify your knowledge base

because your experience would always be needed. If you don't get jobs as legislative aides, you can serve here as consultants and lobbyists. I therefore urge you to be hardworking and dedicated to your responsibilities," the Speaker added.

In their separate remarks, leaders of the two associations appealed to the Speaker to assist

in the improvement of the welfare of their members.

President of the Legislative Aides' Forum, Comrade Mahmud A. Mahmud and his PASAN counterpart, Muhammed Bawa, pledged the cooperation of their members to ensuring a vibrant legislature that would be a pride to all Nigerians.

A

T

Nnobi, near Onitsha.

He said that the introduction of free education by the government would reduce the burden of parents in educating their children and wards.

Odedo also called for the reduction of tuition fees in the Anambra State University to N20, 000 per annum per student to make education affordable. ``I want to note sadly that

the cost of education in Anambra State is the highest in the whole country," he said.

The lawmaker commended some State Governments, including Imo, Sokoto and Rivers for introducing free education at some levels of education. ``The heavy burden of education for the government today will be the prosperity and security it will enjoy years to come," he stated.

Some of the educational

materials donated by the lawmaker include a library and a computer centre.

Odedo also donated three school buses and N50 million for the Idemili scholarship fund for students at all levels.

He said the gesture was in fulfilment of his campaign promises to the people.

Odedo also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a community secondary school in Nnobi. (NAN)

he Imo Government has embarked on personal biodata capturing exercise for physically-challenged persons in all the 27 Local Government Areas in the state.

The consultant, Imo Data Bank for the physicallychallenged persons, Mr Renox Williams, said this on Thursday at Afor-Oru, AhiazuMbaise, one of the centres designated for the exercise.

He said the exercise was aimed at ascertaining the employment abilities of the persons with disabilities.

William also said that the capturing exercise was to ascertain their disabilities and educational status with the aim of empowering and engaging them meaningfully.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Government had earlier announced plans to employ five physicallychallenged persons in each ministry in the state.

The consultant commended Gov. Rochas Okorocha, for taking steps to mitigate the plights of the person with disabilities in the state.

The Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Chairman of the physically challenged persons, Mr Steve Anyanwu, said the governor's initiative would greatly reduce the rate of hardships in the state. ``Street begging and attendant crimes occasioned by idleness, u n e m p l o y m e n t , acute poverty, hunger and helplessness will also be reduced,'' Anyanwu said.

Anyanwu appealed for the establishment of school for the blind in the state and urged parents, guardians and relatives not to abandon children with disabilities but assist them to develop their God-given potential.

No fewer than 60 disabled persons had their bio-data captured during the exercise. (NAN)

life of Jesus was that of humility, love and sacrifice for humanity, adding that this served as a character that would move any society forward in the search for salvation.

The bishop pointed out that love for people in spite of their shortcomings was the ultimate value to be leant by modern man in the quest to overcome darkness and evil.

Taking his homily from the book of St. Luke verse 10, Elue said that Christmas was a time for rejoicing as Emmanuel (God with us) was shown to man even

as his birth had been predicted. ``Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.''

The bishop further charged Christians to spare a thought for the needy and the poor by showing concern during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

He said that concern for those in need would engender brotherliness, good neighbourliness and peace, adding that God's love bring ultimate happiness to man.

He also said that Christmas

was a time to give gifts, but urged that gift given should be reciprocated and not onesided.

In his remarks, Utuama, urged the people to remain humble in celebration and to reflect on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

He, however, assured parishioners that the 2013 edition of the festival would be held inside a conducive structure and shelter, as ''it was necessary to give God a befitting shelter''.

Earlier in an address, the

priest in charge of the parish, Rev. Fr. Charles Okeke, said that the gathering was to celebrate ''the mystery of our saviour, who is to be honoured not as something that happened years ago, but as ever present''.

He said that while the act itself was past, its effects were very present.

He, therefore, urged parishioners to meditate on and celebrate the Christmas mystery as happening presently and embrace its mystical effects with open hearts. (NAN)

Members of Adamawa State House of Assembly going through some documents, during the Commencement of 2013 Budget Defence by Ministries and Parastatals, yesterday in Yola.

Photo: NAN

Legislator tasks Anambra on free education member of the House of Representatives, Mr Charles Odedo, has told the Anambra Government to introduce free education in primary and secondary schools in the state.

The legislator, who represents Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, made the call on Thursday while donating some educational materials to the people of his constituency in

Imo Govt. captures bio-data of physically challenged

Clergy calls for culture of humility for national progress

T

he Catholic Bishop of Issele-Uku Diocese in Delta, Most Rev. Michael Elue, has charged Christians in the country to imbibe the culture of humility as exemplified by Jesus Christ in order to achieve individual and national progress.

Elue spoke last night in Asaba at the Emmanuel the Saviour Catholic Church Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols hosted by the Delta Deputy Governor, Prof.

Amos Utuama.

He said that the birth and

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PDP chieftain canvasses for internal democracy

By Sonde Abbah

A

chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Silvanus Itodo has said that enthroning internal democracy in Nigeria's political parties would not only fortify democracy but water the seeds of good governance.

Itodo while addressing newsmen recently pointed out that lack of internal democracy is the main root of crises that have been rocking many a political party in recent times.

He also advocated fairness, justice and respect for the people's choice during primaries and general elections, alike as indispensable ingredients via- a-vis the enthronement of internal

democracy.

"The will of the people, they say, is supreme, and we as a nation must act accordingly in the affairs of our political parties;internal democracy is the bedrock of democracy and the earlier we start to embrace this noble concept, the better for all of us," he stressed.

Speaking on the prestigious honor bestowed on him by the Och'Idoma, the P D P chieftain said he felt humbled by such recognition. "It is heart warming to note that one's contribution to the progress and development of my home base is being accorded such recognition; this will act as a spur for me to redouble my efforts and keep giving back to the society as much as I can"

Zamfara legislators move to save Maradun water scheme

T

he Zamfara State House of Assembly on Thursday directed the state Ministry of Water Resources to ensure that the contractor handling the Maradun Water Project returned to site or face sanctions.

This according to the lawmakers, followed complaints from the people of the area over the failure of the contractor to release water to the communities.

Speaker of the House, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, who gave the directive during a session in Gusau, expressed disappointment at the way water supply was being handled in the state.

The situation led to the house summoning the commissioner, Abdulkarim Ahman, during which the legislators said that water

supply must be improved in the state.

Rikiji said the house would not accept partial water supply as in the case of Maradun Local Government area where half of the communities were not connected to the scheme.

The speaker directed the ministry to ensure that the contractor completed the project by the end of December.

He also urged the ministry to ensure that all on-going water projects were on course, to end the shortages in parts of the state.

The commissioner explained that the problems were inherited from the immediate past administration of the state ``because some of the projects were not property handled''.

(NAN)

PAGE 39

PDP BoT: Inwuanyanwu joins race, lauds Jega on party de-registration P

ublisher of the Champion Newspapers and business mogul yesterday formally declared his interest in the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s Board of Trustees (BoT) This is coming as he lauded the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)'s to deregister 28 political parties recently.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja of his intention to contest the position, Iwuanyanwu said that the PDP zoning principle adopted by the ruling party makes the South East region the legitimate zone expected to fill the position.

He disclosed that the political leaders of his zone have resolved to present him as the candidate to fill the position from the South East at a meeting held recently in Enugu.

Iwuanyanwu who pointed out that the principle of zoning is constitutional as same was referred to as Federal Character in the constitution also warned that jettisoning the practice by the party

could spell doom for the country.

He said ``In our party we believe in zoning, on Nov. 16, the South East members of this party met in Enugu and party leaders from the zone were all there. At that meeting they debated and said that by the party`s principle of zoning, the position of the party`s BoT chairman should come to South East.''

According to him, the PDP BoT's Secretary hails from the North, the President from the South South while the South East had yet to occupy any key position in the party. He rated himself as the most qualified for the position from the South East having employed his resources for the development of the party.

He stressed ``I feel I am the best qualified to take up this job, others are qualified too but I think I should be the best choice of the party. I have spent all my wealth on the party and on the people. Before I joined politics I was a rich man. But in the process of my political career, I became poorer than I was unlike some people who came to politics and became rich.

``I have not built any house and I have not bought any. Everything I had got, I had them before I joined politics. I had two aircrafts but today I have none but am still fighting for the youth and the poor people of this country,'' Iwuanyanwu said.

He urged the people of the South East and Igbos generally to continue to speak with one voice in order to ensure that they get the PDP BoT chairmanship slot. He however said that the job of the PDP BoT is not meant for just anybody but for somebody who had in Nigeria and understood the youth.

He added that the job is not meant for urban politicians who never went home except during festive periods and therefore did not understand the plight of their people.

Commenting on the deregistration of the parties, Iwuanyanwu said the decision was long overdue because people have taken the advantage of the lacuna in the law to register frivolous parties. He noted that several parties have lost their relevancies in the polity.

Oyo committed to rescuing Rotimi’s wife – Ajimobi

G

ov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State says all hands are on deck toward ensuring the rescue of the wife of the former governor of the Western Region, retired BrigGen. Oluwole Rotimi.

He made this known on Thursday in a release signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo.

Rotimi’s wife, Titilayo, was kidnapped on Monday evening in Ibadan by some unidentified persons.

Ajimobi expressed sadness that kidnapping for ransom, which hitherto was strange to the South West, was now being embraced by some undesirable elements.

He said that his administration was committed to ensuring that the incident did not repeat itself in the state.

The governor said he was in constant touch with the state Commissioner of Police and other security operatives in the quest to ensure that victim was

rescued without any harm brought to her.

“The state government is committed to this rescue effort, not only because Mrs Rotimi is a senior citizen in the state, but we are committed to ensuring that crime of whatever kind is not committed in Oyo State against any citizen of the state,” he said.

The governor also said that the state government had put in place adequate security measures toward ensuring that Nigerians living in the state observed crime-free Yuletide and New Year festivities.

He commended the state’s anti-crime outfit, `` Operation Burst,’’ for having successfully brought to a tolerable level the crime statistics of the state.

The governor advised residents of the state to be security-conscious in all their engagements and endeavor to report all suspicious movements or persons to security operatives.(NAN)

L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, receiving copies of proposal from Chairman, Mary-Elika Foundation and former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, on Wednesday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Muslim Congress urges leaders to emulate Gov. Aliyu's courage

By Sonde Abbah

P

olitical, traditional and religious leaders across Nigeria have been admonished to emulate the uncommon courage which hallmarks the action and utterances of the Niger state governor, Babangida Muazu Aliyu.

Making this clarion call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, Benue State chairman of

Young Mulims Congress of Nigeria, Dr.Mohammed S. Baba, said Aliyu's frankness, fairness and courage should be emulated via- a-vis the critical challenges facing the North in particular and Nigeria in general.

He said "At a time like this when sundry critical challenges confront us here in the North and throughout Nigeria, leaders like Governor Babangida Aliyu, who say things as they are, no matter whose ox is gored, are worthy of

emulation."

"Be it as Governor of his state or in his role as chairman of Northern Governor s' Forum (NGF), Aliyu has always been forthright and fearless while xraying issues that affect us as a region and as a nation. In my view, we need such forthrightness from our leaders, be it political, religious, traditional and business leaders, in order to move this nation forward".

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

PAGE 47

Quick CrossWord (90)

Say what?

ACROSS 1 Pretty British girl with a fair complexion (7,4) 9 One who uses oars (5) 10 Popular flower (7) 11 Set apart from others (7) 12 Nasal tone (5) 13 __ call, signal to take action (4-2) 15 Seasoned sausage often flavoured with garlic (6) 18 Heraldry’s word for black (5) 20 Extreme pain or misery (7) 22 Head part that can become perforated (7) 23 Never Say Never __, Bond film (5) 24 And not after (2,3,6)

SUDOKU Getting Started Each sudoku puzzle is a 9 by 9 grid of horizontal and vertical rows, evenly separated into 9 squares with 9 spaces each.

Instead of word clues, each puzzle’s solution is determined by the pattern of the numbers already filled in you. You solve the puzzle by filling in the missing digits so that, when completed, each row and each square will have all the number from 1 to 9; each number will appear in exactly nine spaces within each puzzle.

Yesterday’s answer

DOWN 2 City with Central Park (3,4) 3 Insect stage (5) 4 Advanced (wages) (6) 5 Boating occassion (7) 6 __ Ana, Mexican general at the Alamo (5) 7 Indoctrinates (11) 8 Pining (11) 14 Bring to light (7) 16 My Family and Other __, book by Gerald Durrell (7) 17 Creature whose young are suckled (6) 19 Exploded (5) 21 Cary __, Hollywood star born Archibald Leach in Bristol (5)

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Yesterday’s solution

A Burmese monk flies through the air on a piece of bamboo in Mruak U. Source: Daily.co.uk

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

. . . putting the people first

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

I want to end my career at Manchester City, says Toure

M

anchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has expressed his desire to see out the remainder of his career at the club.

The Ivorian international has become a hugely influential figure in Roberto Mancini's side since arriving from Barcelona in the summer of 2010.

He may not yet have reproduced his scintillating form of last season but the 29-year-old stressed he still has more improvements to make.

“I would love to end my career here," said Toure.

"Nobody knows what the next step is in football and I believe that if you stop dreaming, you should stop playing football, but this is where I want to be.

“When I first arrived at City every time I went to sleep I would dream about us winning something and about us being the best team in whatever competition we take part in. I believe I have to work harder all the time to improve and stay at the top level with this club.

“I will give my all every time I play and I will never forget how the fans have treated me here so nothing would give me greater pleasure than to finish my career as a Manchester City player. There is no other place I would rather finish with and I want to continue winning titles and trophies with City.

City won their first topflight championship for 44 years in a dramatic end to last season but Toure believes that will be just the beginning of a new golden era for the club.

“I'm really enjoying my football here and I'm playing in front of the most amazing fans I've ever come across. Ending my playing career at City would be unbelievable, but I know it won't be easy because we want to win everything and the club is always looking to improve.

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Two words that describe Oluwafunmilayo are determined and passionate. At the young age of 20, she is a graduating senior at the University of Colorado- Boulder with a double major in Environmental studies and Geography.

Appalled by the little attention given to environmental issues in Nigeria, she founded Bailiff Africa: a platform that provides environmental sustainability initiatives, and serves to promote environmental consciousness among Nigerian youths, and eventually, Africa.

This week, she writes about a Nigeria that sadly models its

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE It is not true that we have a particular figure (for political parties) that we want to deregister... As more political parties violate the requirements of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, we will deregister them.

— Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman

YOUNG VOICES NASIR EL-R UF AI EL-RUF UFAI ON FRID AY FRIDA elrufai@aol.com

fundamentals around more developed nations, but is not mindful of the fact that these nations themselves have begun to collapse.

She warns that if we blind our eyes to the failures of these more established nations, we are bound to repeat the same mistakes they made.

It is with pleasure that I introduce another young person Oluwafunmilayo Oyatogun. She follows in the footsteps of Jude Egbas, Yemi Adamolekun, Auwal S. Anwar, Elnathan John, Japheth Omojuwa, Zainab Usman, and Ogunyemi Bukola - all young people with a passion to leave Nigeria a little better than they met it.

Green, white, hoax N

igeria, in recent history, has become a callous imitator: of so-called democracy, of so-called enlightenment and of so-called development. What is most unsettling is the failure of Nigeria to learn from the flaws of those nations which have gone ahead of her in her quest for development.

In the formulation of the Nigerian Dream by the Nigerian state and in the minds of Nigerians, little work has gone into creating a strategic and sustainable model. Instead, the models of foregone nations - along with their dents, holes and inadequacies - have been copied and pasted into the Nigerian context.

In fact, the conventional Nigerian Dream is not a dream at all; it is a plagiarized piece which offers an inadequate image of an already substantially warped phenomenon.

In primary school, we distinguished growth from development very easily because growth meant quantitative expansion while development meant qualitative expansion. This definition, like everything else in primary school, is simplistic, nonencompassing and narrow.

However, like everything else in primary school, it is basic, fundamental and indispensable.

But in Nigeria, capitalistic growth formulas have replaced those of development and a recurring, selfinhibiting cycle has formed. If the Nigerian Dream, whatever it may be, is modeled after the "American Dream", that is its first and biggest flaw.

In order for Nigeria to thrust itself out of the stronghold of corruption, and before it goes far along the road of blind, goalless and hollow development, the citizens must identify what development means and what this development is worth.

The Nigerian flag is a symbol of the country. It is twice as green as it is white; symbolizing twice as much agricultural viability as it is conflict-free and twice as much environmental sustainability as it is harmonious. Yet, in Nigeria today, harmony, peace, agriculture and environmental

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sustainability are nearly alien concepts. Perhaps because they do not fit too well within our facade of a dream, the one we copied and attempted to present as our own.

Nigeria, the land of contradictions, has become more than just a literary and artistic land of contradictions; it has become a pitiful paradox. Therefore, the Nigerian Dream of Development must undergo a thorough overhaul and must pass the test of sustainability before the youth propagate it in its current selfdestructing form.Our first capital base of development is the natural environment (the land, air, water, flora and fauna). Of course, humans are just as much a part of this natural environment as the smallest seed pollinator. We, humans, feature again in the second capital base: our social environment. We hold the capacity of investment, of intelligence and of wealth creation. Yet, humans are the only species which in the quest for survival, desecrate and destroy our very capital base for survival.

In Nigeria, our measures of 'Nigerian Development' are the very things that often hinder actual Nigerian Development. Our economic strategies encourage short-term boom for few but longterm doom for the masses. These include ridiculous debt-incurring plans, importation of foreign and multi-national corporations to suffocate the local ones which retain capital and investments in the country, etc. Worst of all is the importation of corporations which

exploit local resources for the benefit of everyone but the host communities.

In developing fossil-fuels, companies devastate the environment because they do not have to account for pollution in their upfront costs. By doing so, they externalize the costs to people who have little or no contribution to the production of pollution but have to pay for them in various forms including disease and death. But we must curse the indiscretions of oil companies with slight reservation since they produce what we consume, they supply as we demand.

In January 2012, the Occupy Nigeria / Subsidy protests were as successful as they were partly because fuel was the middle ground that brought the poor and the rich together. The rich man must fuel his Mercedes; the poor man must pay for a truck ride for his oranges to the market. Put simply, everyone and everything depends on oil fuel.

And yet, in a country such as Nigeria where we produce and export oil, there is nothing to show for it. Well...nothing but thick, dense, black clouds over Lagos, rivers of more plastic than water or sea life, desert encroachment and the Niger Delta curse. And that exactly is the problem with the current 'development model.'

It poisons the base which could enable further investment; the land that feeds us, the water that feeds the land that feeds us, the air we breathe and the people who make these investments.

Unfortunately, many still argue ignorantly for the socioeconomic inputs these corporations make to their host communities: schools, hospitals, community centers and scholarships. These are treatments of symptoms, instead of treatments of diseases. Before another school is built, it must be questioned why previous schools have not survived. It must be questioned why there is no school in the first place.

More so, development projects of organizations which dance around the problems created by them are not beneficial to the

general development of the community, or state, or country.

A corporation that has a chronic history of oil spills in a community only seeks to blind the conscience of that community by building schools, hospitals and doing everything but cleaning up the spills which contribute to stunted economic growth in those communities.

If this is right, how about other nations? How about the ones we look up to; our impeccable models of truth? The sad reality is that development in the West, the kind Nigeria now copies, albeit woefully, has begun to collapse on itself. It is a shame for a nation like Nigeria to blind its eyes to the failures of older, more established nations.

Some argue that in developing, we will innovate our way out of the challenges that environmental destruction, climate change and pollution will offer. It is quite foolhardy to assume so.

Even though we may learn to live through floods, storms, extreme temperatures and droughts, at what cost will we adapt to humancentered, human-caused changes?

And who exactly will be capable of adapting? The answers are clear: only those at the top of the food chain will be able to adapt as we have seen that poorer societies live with majority of the environmental impacts which they do not contribute to.

Also, the costs of adaptation, some of which are diseases, do not render it adaptation at all. There are other moral, spiritual, philosophical and cultural reasons why people advocate against the destruction of the environment but the simplest, most general reason is that we are tampering with our very own chance of survival as humans in the world as we know it today.

In the end, Nigeria's size in people or gross GDP will not be sufficient for her to retain the title of 'Giant of Africa'. Right now, she is dangling from the thin rope that separates giant from 'agbaya' . If Nigeria does not develop in a sustainable manner, she would be just as much a failure as if she did not develop at all.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141