Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday 15, January, 2013

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 10 No. 12

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Residents stranded as FCT enforces bus ban >> PAGE 3

Kaduna deputy speaker remanded in EFCC custody >> PAGE 5

Safar 29, 1434 AH

N150

PDP dumps Oyinlola, names acting scribe >> PAGE 5

Politicians fuel religious crisis in North, by Sultan

Cardinal Onaiyekan sues for tolerance From Nasiru Mu’azu Isa

T

he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has said that politicians are blowing out of proportion the religious problem in the North because they have contributed to it.

He recalls that several politicians have been arrested in connection with different crimes

in the country but so far nothing has come out of those arrests.

The Sultan made those remarks yesterday during meeting of the Northern Governors’ Peace and Reconciliation Committee at State House, Kaduna.

He said royal and religious fathers, both Christian and Muslim, have been involved in

talks in a bid to find a lasting solution to the nation’s security challenges.

Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar called on the committee to prove naysayers wrong by coming up with recommendations that will not only be implemented by government but also religious and traditional rulers.

He observed that the issues of

security and development were no longer issues affecting ordinary people only but everyone including the leaders.

The committee has been going round all the Northern states to engage stakeholders in discussing issues of peace, reconciliation and security in the region.

The royal father said as fathers of the country, both

traditional and religious leaders have played their part and done a lot through the different recommendations of committees and investigative panels they sat on.

He said in the past they presented to both federal and state governments recommendations on the way forward but nothing Contd on Page 2

Senate insists on sanctions against Oteh, Maina

…Washes hands off 2013 budget delay

By Richard Ihediwa

F

or the embattled Director General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Aruma Oteh and Chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Team (PPRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, trouble is far from over as the Senate yesterday said they must be sanctioned for alleged official misconduct.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Enyinnya Abaribe, told newsmen yesterday in Abuja that there would be no going back on the National Assembly resolution on zero vote for SEC in the 2013 fiscal estimates unless the SEC boss is removed from office.

This is just as it has washed its hands off the delay in the signing of the 2013 budget, saying it has done its duty by passing the budget as early last month.

The upper house which resumes Contd on Page 2

L-R: Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Bishop of Sokoto, Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah, and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, during a meeting of the Northern States Committee on Reconciliation, yesterday in Kaduna.

Photo: NAN

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24-25

Defence

26-27

Agric

28-29

Feature

30

PDP dumps Oyinlola, names acting scribe

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, dumped its embattled national secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and swore-in his deputy, Barrister Onwe Solomon Onwe, in acting capacity.

The party’s national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, in a release he personally signed, stated: “Pursuant to the powers conferred on the National Chairman by Chapter V Section 35 (1), 35 (1)(b) as well as section 36(2) of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, (as amended), the deputy national secretary of the PDP, Barr.

Solomon Onwe is hereby directed to assume duties as the acting national secretary of the PDP. “Barr. Onwe shall by this directive conduct all correspondences of the party, issue notices of meetings of the national

convention, the National Executive Committee, the national caucus and the National Working Committee as stipulated in the constitution of our great party.

“This directive takes immediate effect and is hereby communicated to all the levels and offices of the party.”

Justice Abdul Kafarati of an Abuja High Court had at the weekend sacked Oyinlola from continuing as the PDP national secretary by faulting the process that brought him into the office.

The judge held that the action of PDP and Oyinlola amounted to criminal conduct and liable to be condemned to prison, being a flagrant disobedience to two court orders. He further noted that Oyinlola is not worthy to be recognised as the national secretary of the party and should vacate the office.

…Oyinlola goes on appeal

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he sacked national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has asked the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgement of a Federal High Court in Abuja which sacked him from office on last Friday.

In a notice of appeal filed on his behalf by his counsel, Otumba Kunle Kalejaye, Oyinlola is seeking a stay of execution of the judgment pending the

determination of his appeal for the setting aside of the ruling of the trial court.

Oyinlola contends, among others that the judgment is against the weight of evidence and that the court erred in law when it overruled the preliminary objection to the jurisdiction of the court and assumed jurisdiction and delivered judgment when the 1st defendant/appellant and the 2nd defendant/respondent, against whom the principal reliefs are sought, are individual and a political party who are neither the

Federal Government nor an agency of the Federal Government.

The former Osun state governor also averred that the subject matter of the suit is an intra-party dispute which clearly is not “justiciable”.

He is also urging the Court of Appeal to hold that the entire action was an abuse of court process as it seeks to “cleverly” circumvent the subsisting order of stay of all proceedings/ execution made by the Court of Appeal.

Politicians fuel religious crisis in North, by Sultan

PDP: A party in self- destruct mode, Page 4

Int’l

31-34

Strange World 35 Politics

37-40

Sports

41-46

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Contd from Page 1 was done about those recommendations.

On alleged attempts in certain quarters to Islamise the country, the Sultan said, “if anybody thinks they can Islamise or Christianise the country, they must be dreaming.”

Kaduna state Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, during a courtesy call by the committee, said he would implement the recommendations of the committee where possible.

Governor Yero said the state’s 70-man reconciliation committee was still working and would share its recommendations with those of the governors’ committee.

He also promised to talk to his colleagues in the Northern state Governors Forum to look at the report and implement its recommendations where possible.

The Catholic archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, in his remarks, said the image of the country outside its shores “is

very bad”, lamenting that on many occasions he has been confronted by people asking “why Christians are being persecuted in the nation.”

The Cardinal said there is need to ensure the freedom of religion in the country as well as tolerance for other religions and sects.

Nigeria, he said, should not be facing those challenges considering that there are just two major religions in the country while other countries that have more than two are managing those religions peacefully.

He called on the committee to look at the past where the roots of the current religious intolerance in the North might be found.

Cardinal Onaiyekan said the problem of the north is the problem of the nation as whole.

The chairman of the committee, Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim, lamented the lack of implementation of the recommendations of past committees and investigation panels.

Ambassador Zakari said the committee has been to Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Bauchi, Kano and “is now in Kaduna to engage stakeholders in talks” to find a solution to the problem bedevilling the North.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has expressed concern over the inability of leaders at the three tiers of government to provide purposeful leadership even as he decried the jostle for power by politicians.

Okogie in a statement issued in Lagos lamented that elected political office holders failed to provide Nigerians with the basic needs of life in 2012.

He attributed the spate of kidnappings, corruption and insecurity in the country to the “dearth of purposeful leadership“.

Okogie said, ‘‘Nigeria is in dire state of disrepute. It appears there is no government presence at the three tiers and yet the nation’s political leaders claim that all is well.

“Our youth are already being

led astray, they are like sheep without shepherd and yet they are told that they are the leaders of tomorrow. How can they lead well if they are not given good examples to follow?

“Many of our schools have now become breeding grounds for all sorts of immorality. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Stating that the nation was richly blessed with human and natural resources, the clergyman stressed that there was no justification for government failure to to harness these resources and provide the citizens with the necessary amenities.

“There is no justification for government’s failure to provide its citizens with the basic amenities of life, such as good roads, affordable housing, constant power supply and gainful employment.”

The cleric prayed God to shower His blessings on and offer protection to Nigerians, and for the nation’s lasting peace and unity in 2013.

Senate insists on sanctions against Oteh, Maina Contd from Page 1 plenary on Wednesday resolved that there will be no going back in the decision not to approve any budget for SEC this year as long as Oteh remains the DG of the commission.

It also resolved to pursue the allegation of syphoning of N195 billion pension funds against Maina to its logical end.

The two chambers of the National Assembly had last year resolved not to recognize Oteh as SEC DG following her indictment by the House for abuse and misconduct for which lawmakers demanded President Goodluck Jonathan to sack her.

Senator Abaribe insisted that the decision asking the President to sack Oteh was in the best

interest of the nation’s stock market.

The lawmaker who rose in stout defence of the House of Representatives resolution on Oteh said: “We can only advise and urge the President to take a very good look at the position of the House of Representatives. Beyond that, we also feel in the Senate that anybody that works for Mr. President should as much as possible not put Mr. President at loggerheads with the parliament; it doesn’t happen and I think that is the position that should be taken by anybody who loves this country.

“The House of Representatives and the Senate are the representatives of the people and whenever they collectively take a

position, we assume that such position is in the best interest of the country. We have never taken a position here that was not in the best interest of the country.”

On Maina, Abaribe said the Senate will compel him to answer for his alleged role in the widespread looting of the pension fund.

“On the matter of Maina, let me state equivocally that the Senate cannot be said to be helpless on the matter. On the contrary, the Senate will and I want to underline that word ‘the Senate will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Senate has tacitly blamed the Presidency for the delay in signing the 2013 budget when it said it has kept to

its own schedule in passing the budget early.

Abaribe said the Senate and indeed the National Assembly has no hand in the delay in the implementation of the 2013 fiscal estimates. According to him, the executive would have no reason other than normal bureaucracy for the delay.

On whether the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly has been transmitted to the President for his signature, Abaribe said, “I will have to assume that such has been done because after you have passed the budget, what is left is simply mechanical, you get a clean copy and then, you send it. I am assuming that it must have been passed.”

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 3

Residents stranded as FCT enforces bus ban

By Adeola Tukuru & Lmbert Tyem

… NURTW officials clash in Lugbe

esidents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday were stranded along the Nyaya-Mararaba-Karu axis following the enforcement of the ban on unlicensed commercial buses across the city.

The FCTA Transport Secretariat, had last year said it would not permit unlicensed transport operators in the FCT as from January 14, 2013.

Armed security personnel including soldiers, policemen, Vehicle Inspection Officers and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were deployed to the Abuja-Nyanya route to stop the buses from coming into the city.

Secretary, FCT Transport Secretariat, Engr. Achara Ivoke, described the operations of the

transport operators as illegal, warning that appropriate sanctions would be meted out to them.

“Because your operation is illegal, all you kabukabu transporters, if you are not licensed, we will not allow you to work, because you are operating against the transport policy of the FCT. “The feeder route operations are such that restrict mini and high capacity buses to certain areas within the territory”.

Peoples Daily observed that residents of Mararba, Nyanya and Lugbe, Airport road axis were stranded yesterday, as they trekked very long distances to get vehicles to their various destinations.

Findings showed that the FCT Administration had met with

R

commercial bus drivers several times as part of moves to regulate their operation and restrict their movement outside Abuja.

The bus drivers disagreed with the plan to restrict their operations and this had stalemated all the meetings between the Selfemployed Drivers Association (SECDA) and the Transport Secretariat of the FCT. It was learnt that the FCT had planned to enforce the ban against the drivers since early 2012, but could not do so because it was unable to persuade the drivers to voluntarily obey the order restraining them from entering the city.

SECDA president, Chief Kenneth Eze, told our correspondent yesterday that the

ban would not stand; describing it as a ploy to deny the drivers of their means of livelihood.

"I have over 10,000 members and if the FCT banned them from operating in Abuja, how will they survive? We have had several meetings with the government which ended in a deadlock because the terms were not acceptable to us. SECDA members are holding a meeting now to decide the way forward," he said in a phone chat.

The Transport Secretariat claimed the drivers were aware of the ban, adding that the secretariat held series of meetings with them where it was agreed that they would stop plying Abuja.

In another development, over eight persons suffered various degrees of injury yesterday from

machete cuts as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) branch 2 engaged in free-for-all fight at the Federal Housing Authority FHA Lugbe bus stop.

Eyewitnesses said that the fight ensued between the union members at the FHA Lugbe wearing their reflective jackets bearing “NURTW Branch 2 following alleged encroachment of the Lugbe bus stop Branch by the Branch 2 team from Pyakasa a community along the Yar’Adua expressway.

Officer in-charge of Zone 5 and 8 Lugbe police out station, Superintendent Elisha Lafet intervened and quelled the crises that had lasted over 15 minutes as the loyalists of the Pyakasa and Jabi Park leadership were engaged in fierce argument over who will control the park.

Court convicts Kano bizman over money laundering From Edwin Olofu, Kano

T

NIPOST retirees protesting over 43-month arrears of their benefits, yesterday, at the NIPOST office in Bauchi. Photo: NAN

FG denies plans to spend N60bn on cell phones Why we're providing phones for farmers- Akinwumi

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina yesterday said the provision of mobile phones for farmers in the country would continue to check corruption in the distribution of fertilisers and seeds to poor farmers in the rural areas.

He, however, insisted that there was no plan by his ministry to spend N60 billion on the purchase of mobile phones for farmers, saying that it would be inconsistent for government to start direct procurement and distribution of phones.

Adesina said what government would make available to farmers would be subsidy for the purchase of such phones which would be accessed from the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) USPF is a special fund generated from 2 percent tax paid by mobile telephone operators from their annual profit.

Clarifying the controversy

surrounding the provision of the phone while briefing State House correspondents yesterday, Adesina said though the total amount that would come as subsidy has not been worked out, the mobile phone system would solve a lot of problems particularly corruption in the area of fertiliser and seeds distribution.

Stressing the importance of the cell phones to farmers, Adesina

said: “It is actually the cell phone that has provided us with the tool to directly access each farmer thereby saving them from corrupt middlemen who make their fortune from exploiting the poor”.

The minister said: “some people think that our farmers are uneducated and cannot use cell phones. The evidence does not support that. Under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES),

scheme, we made it possible for farmers to transact business in their own local languages using their cell phones”.

“Let me also state loud and clear, there is no N60 billion anywhere to be used to buy cell phones.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Communications Technology are partnering together to implement this policy,” Adesina said.

Gunmen kill two cops in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano

U

nidentified gunmen yesterday attacked a police check point at Kawo Lambu area of Kano metropolis and killed two police officers, injuring two civilians.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen who were in a tricycle on arriving the check point between Kawo Lambu and Tsamiyya Hotoro area

at about 4.pm, opened fire on the policemen and killed them on the spot, while the civilians were hit by stray bullets.

The account added that some of the policemen engaged the assailants in a gun battle before they fled the scene of the incident.

It added that the members of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) immediately cordoned off the

entire area as residents remained indoors.

Kano state police commissioner, Ibrahim Idris confirmed the incident but said only two police officers were killed and two civilian were hit by stray bullets.

He added that the police have since launched a manhunt for the fleeing gunmen, whom, he said, escaped with gunshot injuries.

he Federal High Court in Kano, has convicted a Kanobased business man, Alhaji Umar Musa Kibiya, for false declaration of $40,000 while traveling to Cairo.

Handing down the judgment the presiding judge Justice Fatu Riman, said Kibiya was found guilty while transporting cash of the sum of US$80,000 from Nigeria to Cairo, Egypt and falsely declared to the Nigeria Customs the sum of US$40,000 only, instead of said sum of US$80,000 as required under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions Act Cap F 34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 .

Justice Riman averred that Kibiya thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and is being convicted – the sentence which will be handed today of either two years imprisonment with an option of extension or the convict forfeits 25 percent of the undeclared total sum.

Kibiya had earlier pleaded guilty during cross-examination, saying he is familiar with charges and admitted he is guilty.

However, his counsel, Barrister Nasiru Maiyaki pleaded that the court tampers justice with mercy, because the convict is a first time offender, noting that apart from having large number of family members, the convict has no fewer than 18 persons working under him.

Barrister Maiyaki further informed the court that the convict having pleaded guilty to the offence saved the court from rigorous hearing.

He then pleaded that the court be lenient while passing the sentence.

Justice Riman then adjourned his sentence ruling till today, but ordered that Kibiya should be remanded in the EFCC custody.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PDP: A party in self- destruct mode

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is obviously up in arm against itself. The crises rocking it have depicted it as a body critically in need of deliverance from itself. At the risk of sounding apocalyptic, the PDP is fast degenerating and its members are acting like political vampires baying for blood. This is evident as its leadership and members seem to have lost control as they flout the party’s constitution with impunity.

At the inception of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s leadership, his main preoccupation, according to the agenda he personally set for himself, was to reconcile the estranged members of the party who had defected. But his determination to readmit the members had struck a negative chord on some critical stakeholders who feel readmitting the decampees would not only diminish their own political fortunes but reduce their influence and clout, particularly at the state level.

Although some clauses, including abolishing the practice of waivers for returnee members, were adopted, most of the stakeholders, especially the governors on the platform of the party, are not on the same page with the National Chairman on his reconciliatory mission. Tukur’s insistence on readmitting those defecting politicians into the PDP has pitched the governors against him.

This and the manner of Tukur’s emergence as the party’s helmsman were partly the cause of the bad blood between the governors and the leadership of the National Working Committee (NWC). The governors, being the major financiers of the party, have refused to fund the party and the party’s leadership has been faced with outstanding financial obligations waiting to be defrayed.

Although provisions were made in the party’s constitution, stipulating party supremacy and discipline, the governors, by virtue of their position and financial capacity, appear to be immune to the law.

Analysts have observed that the composition of the 12 member PDP NWC ab-initio was a disaster waiting to happen. This is because the mode of their emergence was everything but democratic. Tukur emerged the National Chairman of the party at a congress in Abuja after his cocontestants were prevailed upon to step down by the Presidency and a powerful cabal in the party. The National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, apparently was an afterthought because he never indicated interest in the position as it was doubtful whether he actually obtained the mandatory Expression of Interest Form at the stipulated time.

Oyinlola’s emergence as the PDP’s scribe had the backing of all the governors on the platform of the party. Those other candidates, including Chief

PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur Ebenezer Babatope who campaigned for the position were left in the lurch as Oyinlola’s candidature was literarily imposed on them.

Every other member of the NWC was there to represent one interest or the other and observers believe majority of them are doing the bidding of the governors. The absence of internal democracy, which has been the albatross hanging around the party’s neck since 1999, played out again when the new PDP NWC was constituted, and this has been a subject of discourse in political circles.

The dearth of internal democracy, with the quest to ascertain control over party’s state machineries by the governors combined together to expose the inadequacies of the PDP national leadership when the contentious issues of Adamawa State Executive controversy hit the party. The Minjiyiwa Kugama-led executive was dissolved for insubordination by the Tukur-led NWC, but the state governor felt that the party was unfair and fought back. Governor Murtala Nyako appealed to the party’s NWC to allow him handle the matter but a care-taker Committee was constituted to run the affairs of the state. Stakeholders in the state argued that the Kugamaled EXCO had overstayed its tenure and even pointed out that the state PDP chairman is from the same federal constituency with the governor. But, Nyako insisted on having Kugama as the state PDP chairman and therefore prevailed on 10 members of the NWC to rescind a decision earlier taken by the body by disbanding the care-taker committee, declaring the election conducted by the committee null

and void and returning the Kugama- led state EXCO. The controversial reversal of the decision taken on the Adamawa EXCO by 10 members of the NWC without Tukur in attendance has sparked off a fresh round of crises in the party depicting it as one in dire need of discipline even within its leadership. The decision to rescind the NWC decision by the majority of the PDP officials came after the 27 PDP governors, under the auspices of the PDP Governors Forum, threatened to use its enormous power to send all the NWC members packing. This position was

confirmed when the governors met later to commend the faction of the NWC for rescinding the body’s decision on Adamawa.

Although President Goodluck Jonathan made efforts to reconcile the NWC members with their National Chairman, the governors who later met with him are seriously pushing for Tukur’s removal on the account that he no longer enjoys the confidence of his colleagues in the NWC. In addition to this, members of the NWC have severally in hushed tones accused the chairman of not carrying them along in the affairs of the party. Few months after the inauguration of the NWC, the National Secretary openly confronted the National Chairman for usurping his position but the disagreement was settled.

Since then, there has been no love lost between Tukur, Oyinlola and other members of the NWC who have never hidden their disdains for Tukur’s leadership style.

As the embattled National Chairman was making efforts to rein in other members of the NWC after Jonathan’s intervention, a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the selection of the National Secretary at the convention for not following the due process as stipulated by the constitution of the party. Although the PDP in its immediate reaction promised to appeal the ruling and apply for stay of execution, Tukur chose to obey the court order and mandated Oyinlola’s deputy, Onwe Solomon Onwe, to take over his position.

Tukur’s decision to obey the court order when he was expected to fight alongside Oyinlola to appeal and maintain the status quo, of course, is another invitation for crises in the much beleaguered party. Oyinlola, being the candidate of the governors

Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum

with the backing of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, will obviously fight back. The PDP governors, who have begun to move for Tukur’s removal, have called for the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting where a decisive resolution on the continued leadership of the National Chairman is expected to be taken. There are indications however that the stakeholders in the party may shove Tukur’s leadership aside in order to bring sanity and order back into the self-acclaimed biggest party in Africa.

Apart from the leadership of the party, simple task of replacing the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), which plays only advisory roles in the administration of the party has equally generated bad blood among the members. The position which ought not to have attracted much politicization assumed a dangerous turn when gladiators refused to reach consensus. The power tussle between the President and his mentor, the former President Obasanjo on who controls the lever of influence in the party against the 2015 Presidential election came to the fore. While Jonathan wanted Chief Tony Anenih with his legendary reputation as election fixer, as the BoT chairman, Obasanjo, on the other hand, settled for Chief Ahmadu Ali. The inability to reach a consensus among the two gladiators has further increased the heat threatening to torpedo the ruling party out of exisistence.

As the PDP continues to totter, inching towards the cliff, there are indications that the internal wrangling may eventually lead to an implosion of gargantuan proportion that the party may find difficult to manage. This is even more so when frontline political parties in the country are making surreptitious efforts to merge in order to confront the ruling party in 2015. The continued bickering and discontentment that were left unresolved in the 2011 general elections resulted into the loss of so many states especially in the South West. With the continued wrangling in Adamawa and some other states, the electoral fortunes of the part may be heading for the doldrums.

Analysts are unanimous in their submission that Jonathan may find his ambition to run again on the PDP’s platform in 2015 Herculean because of internal opposition against him which are currently manifesting in the crises in his party. They are of the opinion that all disagreements in the party are centred on the politics of 2015 and whatever happens, the party may not prosecute future general elections with a united front. Should all these crises rocking the party remain unresolved, the PDP can as well be passed as a party hanging on a cliff and on self- destruct mode.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 5

Kaduna Deputy Speaker remanded in EFCC custody From Nasiru Mu’azu Isa, Kaduna

T

he Federal High Court in Kaduna yesterday ordered that the Deputy Speaker, Kaduna state House of Assembly, Dr. Mato Dogara, be remanded in EFCC custody while his co-accused were ordered to be remanded in jail pending the trial.

Dogara was arraigned on a joint six-count charge alongside the former interim caretaker

chairman of Lere local government area, Kaduna and five lere local government staff: Kabiru Tahir Malali, Ahmed Yahaya, Yushau I. Aboki, Billy Graham Amos, Mrs. Hannatu Iliya, Eric Alhassan. The pleaded not guilty to the charges of fraud and conspiracy read to them by the clerk.

The Deputy Speaker is alleged to have been involved ina contract scam to renovate

the Government Lodge in Saminaka to the tune of N17 million.

The first charge stated: “That you Kabiru Tahir Malali being the interim, chairman, Lere local government , Kaduna state, Dr. Mato Dogara being the Deputy Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Ahmed Yahaya being the former Director of Finance Lere local government, Billy Graham the

Director of Works Lere local government, Yushau Aboki former Director of Personnel Management Lere local government, Mrs. Hannatu Iliya, Head of Health, Lere local government and Eric Alhassan former acting chairman of Lere local government council, Kaduna state, within jurisdiction of Federal High Court conspired among yourselves to do an illegal act to

wit: Obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offence Act ,2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which the presiding judge, Marcellus Awokulehin, adjourned the case to January 24, 28 and 29 for speedy trial.

Good governance tour resumes tomorrow

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

T

he National Good Governance Tour is set to resume tomorrow, Wednesday, with the tour of projects in the South-east geopolitical zone, expected to last for two weeks.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director Press to the Minister of Information, Joseph Mutah, who confirmed that the first port of call in the tour will be Abia followed by Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states.

The statement further said the tour of the South-east zone which is expected to be rounded off on 1st February, 2013, will proceed to the South-south zone from 7th to 26th February, 2013.

“The tour’s main objective is to entrench good governance by providing a platform for members of the team and citizens to obtain first-hand information about government policies, programmes and projects at the three tiers of government.

The tour, which started in September last year, is comprised of representatives of national and foreign mass media organs, a social media team, civil society organisations, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Radio Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU), National Council of Women’s Societies and representatives of the Presidency and the National Planning Commission.

L-R: Sokoto state Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, with Secretary General, International Islamic Foundation for Education, Sheikh Ali Mukbil Al-Amri, during the latter's visit to the governor on Sunday in Sokoto.

WHO, JAP intensify campaign against polio

By Agaju Madugba

T

he World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Kaduna branch of Journalists Against Polio (JAP) and the Yabani Cultural Troupe have launched the campaign against wild polio virus at the Kurmin-Kogi and Rumi communities of Ikara local government area of Kaduna state.

Children between the ages of 05 years were also administered

VP spokesman denies marrying Villa, Abuja yesterday, Nollywood star Presidential the VP's spokesman said: "The

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Umar Sani, has described as false claims that he has secretly married Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvannus.

It has been rumoured in the online and social media that Sani recently married the actress in a secret location with only few friends present at the ceremony.

In a chat with reporters at the

report is very funny. How can you marry somebody you have not seen for over three months?"

“The last time I saw her was in September so how can a marriage take place when the subject matters have not seen each other?”

Umar said the story is not only "false" but "a figment of the writer's imagination. I have not married Nkiru Sylvanus and if a wedding of such takes place, people should be able to name the place, date and time. It is not true".

with oral polio virus during the two-day programme, with the cultural troupe performing various drama pieces to encourage parents and guardians to submit their children for immunisation.

Addressing parents during the programme, a WHO consultant, Dr. Galadima Abdullahi, described Kaduna as one of the states with high number of wild polio cases arguing that without support from parents, efforts of international agencies towards eradication of the From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he Kwara state government has affirmed its readiness to partner with the International Islamic Foundation of the World Muslim League in Saudi Arabia on the promotion of qualitative education, especially technical and special needs education, in the state.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed who gave this indication when the general secretary of the Foundation, Dr. Ali Magbul AlAmri paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Ilorin, said this was part of his administration’s effort at

disease would be in vain.

A community leader, Malam Garba Musa, pledged to mobilise the people to participate in polio immunisation but also urged government to intervene in other health challenges facing the communities, including diabetes and cancer.

Due to the intensity of the campaign worldwide, the wild polio virus has since been eradicated in virtually all countries except Pakistan,

Afghanistan, Chad and Nigeria.

Nigeria alone has a total of 100 out of the 179 global figure of wild polio virus cases. Kaduna’s figure is third position, after Katsina and Kano which have 28 and 21 cases respectively.

Worried by reported fresh cases of the virus in the state, a cross section of district heads in Kaduna last December advocated legislation which will take punitive measures against parents who refuse their children and wards polio immunisation.

Kwara govt, Saudi foundation to partner on technical education enhancing human capital development.

The governor said the proposed 2013 fiscal budget accorded the biggest vote to the education sector as an indication of the government’s commitment to the development of qualitative education in the state.

“Our decision to put much emphasis and funding on the education sector is because education is one of the most important instruments that mankind can use for growth and

development”.

The state government, Governor said, would be committing about $15million to drive the International Vocational Centre where youths would learn skills and become entrepreneurs.

In his remarks, Dr. Al-Amri said the Foundation’s nine-point agenda includes eradication of illiteracy, evolvement of syllabi that promote human capital resources and creation of access to education for the physically challenged.

PAGE 6

NPA to set up communication, intelligence centre at ports, says MD From Adesoji Oyinlola, Lagos

T

he Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Malam Habib Abdullahi, has said the authority is fully determined to guide and protect the heavy investments of multinational companies in the nation's seaports.

In the light of this, Malam Abdullahi disclosed that the authority will soon establish a command control communication and Intelligence centre in the ports for surveillance of all activities in the ports and to serve as information network centre for security agencies.

The MD said this while receiving a delegation from Smiths Detection Group from France who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Lagos.

Represented by the General Manager, Security, Lt Col. J M Tahir (rtd.), the MD further noted that the issues of security vulnerability in Nigeria is very unfortunate and disturbing and that the authority will continue to collaborate with other agencies to forestall security breaches at the nation's seaports.

In his presentation, the leader of the team and Africa's sales Manager, Mr. Loic Lebret, disclosed that his company is a world leader in security equipment manufacturing and sales, with different products on emergency response, x-ray equipment for small and big cargoes.

According to him, Smiths Detection has 483 Hieman cargo vision cameras installed at ports worldwide. Mr. Lebret said the spate of bombings in Nigeria, will be a thing of the past especially at the ports if the appropriate equipment which could detect nuclear products is installed at the seaports.

The representative of Edward Green Global Ltd, sponsors of Smiths Detection delegation, Alhaji Aminu Tanko Yakassai remarked that his organisation has been involved in the safety of life and property in Nigeria and wishes to extend its services to the nation's seaports.

From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

T

he spate of insecurity permeating the nation especially Northeast Nigeria has been attributed to series of traffic gridlock often experienced in some areas.

Speaking with newsmen in his office yesterday, the Assistant Corps Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ikeja Unit, Mr. Wale Odekunle, said the advent of insurgency orchestrated by Boko Haram coupled with series of armed banditry calls for proactive action through checks on vehicles and persons along highways, seaports and airports

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

NIPOST pensioners protest death of members, want entitlements A From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

t least six Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) pensioners have died waiting for their entitlements since 2006.

The chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), NIPOST chapter, Bauchi/Gombe territorial area, Comrade Mohammed Yayaya, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday when pensioners from

the area staged a peaceful demonstration in front of NIPOST office in Bauchi yesterday.

During the protest, the retirees shut the two gates leading to the office and prevented normal operations of the agency.

The protesters accused the Post Master General, Alhaji Mori Baba of being responsible for the deaths of the pensioners.

They carried placards some of which read: 'Baba Mori you have

killed 100 of our retirees', 'management are dead woods', 'Mori Baba we are tired of fake promises', 'Mori you have no sympathy and your office is inefficient'.

Yayaya who was among the protesters, said: "We are here to tell the whole world that we have a problem with the management over our entitlements.

"We have been battling with the management since our exit in

2006. We demonstrated two years ago and since them we are still battling with management.

"Our members are suffering. It has affected us a lot and six of our members have died in the struggle.

The chairman called on the management to have a human face and consider their plights by paying their entitlements.

He said: "Our members are in two categories. There are the ones being owed 49 months pension arrears and others are owed 44, and 25 months.

"We were retired prematurely most of us. Let management settle all our arrears".

Security is bedrock of devt - Ajimobi

From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

G

L-R: Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, Dean, Faculty Board of The Initiatives, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, and Executive Director, Finance and Account, NOA, Mr. Kagu Lawan, during NOA’s media briefing on the agency’s score card in the past one year, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Gemade disburses N5m scholarships to indigent students, constituents From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

T

he senator representing Benue North-East senatorial district, Barnabas Gemade, has disbursed scholarships to 21 indigent students as well as extended financial assistance to some members of his constituency amounting to over N5 million.

Disbursing the funds yesterday in Makurdi, Sen. Gemade explained that the essence of the gesture is to

encourage other public office holders to do same.

Represented by Mr. Pius Ukeji, a senior legislative aide, he regretted that hitherto, representatives from the zone had treated the issue of development of both the individual and the society with lip service.

Sen. Gemade maintained that upon becoming a senator and in keeping with his campaign promises, he decided to institute a scholarship scheme for students pursuing various

academic programs as well as release a quarterly financial and material assistance for his constituents in need.

The former PDP chairman also enumerated other interventions to his constituency including: the award of 35 boreholes, provision of 21 transformers, construction of a 3-classroom block with office accommodation in each local government in the district, among others.

overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has described security as the bedrock of development, as without it, no meaningful development can take place.

He stated this while speaking at a send forth organised in honour of the immediate past Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Tambari Yabo Mohammed, who is now an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), in Ibadan.

The governor said it was in realisation of this that his administration, upon inception, courted all the security agencies in the state and had been maintaining harmonious working relationship with them.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Adeolu Akande, in his opening remarks, noted that although Mohammed spent only six months as police commissioner in the state, his stay was eventful and witnessed improved security.

Reacting, Mohammed commended Governor Ajimobi for his friendly disposition and immense support to the police in the state.

Insecurity cause of traffic gridlock in Lagos noting that criminals cash on human traffic to deposit improvised explosive devices (IED) that might not be known to the public.

He attributed the gridlock experienced around Ikeja axis in Lagos to the proximity of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, adding that his men were doing their best to ensure that they discharge their duties responsibly toward ensuring that flashpoints are decongested.

While admonishing Lagosians who use the routes

around Ikeja to observe some restraint, Odekunle called on commuters to always comply with instruction from his men and other sister agencies, urging private individuals to complement efforts of the agency by helping to provide towing vehicles to accelerate the evacuation of vehicles from accident scenes.

Mr. Odekunle called on the government to promulgate laws that will make it mandatory that all vehicles should be fitted with 'speed governor', a device he explained will checkmate excess

speed that is largely responsible for most accidents on major roads.

He also called on car manufacturers to install trackers on vehicles which will expose vehicles that exceed speed limits.

The Assistant Commander stressed that this is what is used in developed countries of the world where neighbours who work in specific areas opt to use one car thus reducing the number of cars on the road.

"Road safety should be seen as everybody's business, therefore should not be left for the FRSC

alone", Odekunle advised.

While expressing optimism that accidents will reduce in 2013, the Assistant Commander pointed out that achieving 30 percent accident reduction in the year is based on the commitment of his men in the discharge of their duties and for the to be seen on all roads across the state and the country in general.

He used the opportunity to advise the general public to desist from giving wrong information while using the 122 toll free numbers.

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Spiritualist escapes death, suspect killed in robbery attack From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

A

popular spiritualist in Katsina, Alhaji AlMustapha Dan Amina, yesterday escaped death when 30 armed robbers invaded his house at Gidan Dawa quarters, in the Katsina metropolis.

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the robbers, Dan Amina noted that the incident occurred yesterday at about 12:00 pm when he was having dinner with some guests in his house.

He added that when the gunmen gained access to his house through the main entrance after overpowering his security guards, they met him with his guests in the sitting room and ordered them to all lie down.

Dan Amina disclosed that when this was going on, he summoned courage and refused to lie down and engaged the one carrying a machine gun in a scuffle and pushed the gunman down before bolting

into his inner room.

The spiritualists stated that, on reaching his inner room, he collected his pump-action rifle and fired shots which scared the assailants from trailing him.

According to him, he immediately put distressed calls to some people who alerted the police; adding that the police promptly responded and succeeded in killing one of the robbers while some of them escaped with bullet wounds.

He also said that the robbers had succeeded in escaping with his handsets worth N2 million, huge sums of money, perfume, clothes and other household items.

When contacted, the Katsina Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji confirmed the incident and added that one of the robbers was killed by the police while a Nigerien was arrested and some items recovered.

NITEL manager, 16 others arrested over N50m cable theft

T

he police in Lagos have arrested a NITEL Manager and 16 others for allegedly stealing NITEL cables worth N50 million from its warehouse in Victoria Island, Lagos.

A very reliable source at Victoria Island Police Station, who disclosed this yesterday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the suspects were arrested at about 12:30a.m. on Sundayat NITEL Warehouse, Saka Tinubu, Victoria Island, Lagos.

"We have been on surveillance for about two months for the suspects-- after we got intelligence report about their activities.

"The ring leader, one Safui, had promised one of the police officers in the station N2 million, so as to assist them to steal the cables.Some officers

were posted to keep watch over the facilities.

"They (suspects) came in with a disguised truck, with NITEL stickers, so as to suggest that they were NITEL staff.

They were about driving out when our men swooped on them. A NITEL Warehouse Manager, one other NITEL staff and 15 others, were arrested on the spot.

"The truck and the cables are currently kept at the police station," the source told NAN. The police source said that the suspects attempted to bribe the police officers with N700,000, after their arrest.

"The suspected ring -leader also threatened to use his influence to post the officers from the station to other areas if they did not co-operate with him,'' the source added. (NAN)

Hypertensive patients urged to check heart, kidney regularly

A

Physician with Premier Specialist Medical Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Dr. Michelle Dania has urged hypertensive patients to carry out regular checks to determine a specific medication.

Dania told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that it was important for the patients to check such organs like the heart, kidney and blood vessels.

She said that the state of the organs would determine the required drug to control the patient's blood pressure.

"Medication is administered to improve the situation and

overtime regulate the blood pressure; a periodic assessment is essential to keep a tab on progress.

"Regular checks also help the patient register any discomfort that may be associated with the use of a particular medication," Dania said.

She stressed that reviewing a patient periodically was absolutely essential to prevent sudden death.

According to her, a periodic re-assessment of the heart, kidney and blood vessels determines the urgency and intensity of anti-hypertensive drug classes. (NAN)

L-R: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji, and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Rueben Abati, briefing State House correspondents on the cell phones for rural farmers, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Army commander lauds media’s role in battle against terrorism From Umar Dankano, Yola

T

he Commander of 23 Armoured Brigade Yola, Major General John Nwaoga, has commended Nigerian journalists for putting the security agents on their toes in the fight against terrorists.

Nwoaga said that criticism by the members of correspondents chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Adamawa state enabled him to assess his performance and made some necessary corrections which enabled him to stand on him feet for the national assignment entrusted on him.

"The nation's security is put

in our hands on trust and the media have put us on our toes in the state and investigative journalism will surely promote this nation as far as media practitioners in the state will adhere to their ethics by being objective".

The commander made the disclosure when state correspondents presented to him a congratulatory card for his promotion over the weekend.

He said, there was need for security agents to cooperate with journalists in bringing the security challenges threatening the unity of the nation to an end.

According to him, the

security agents should not see journalists as enemies whenever they are criticised but should seize the opportunity to assess their performance and make necessary adjustments.

Earlier in his address, Secretary of the correspondents' chapel in the state, Malam Umar Dankano said the chapel was in his office to join thousands of well wishers in congratulating him over his well deserved promotion.

Malam Dankano also stated that the chapel has enjoyed mutual cooperation from the outgoing brigade commander and wished him well in his future endeavour.

WAEC official blames school administrators for exam malpractice

T

he Deputy Registrar, West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mrs. Comfort Agwu has blamed school administrators for examination malpractices.

Agwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that examination malpractice would not succeed in schools without their knowledge.

She said that the council would not hesitate to clamp down on schools that were involved in examination malpractice.

"We shall close down any school involved in malpractice in any form henceforth.That is why we are sparing time to educate school principals and proprietors on the evil effects of the malpractice", she said.

Agwu stressed the need for administrators to educate their students and staff on the ills of malpractice ahead of 2013 May/ June SSCE.

The official also urged principals to desist from registering fake candidates or external candidates for WAEC examinations.

She added that some principals register candidates with defaced photographs with the intent of replacing the photographs after the examinations.

"This has caused delay in the issuance of certificates and the council will not tolerate this any longer", she said.

Agwu also urged administrators to stop advertising their schools with the promise of assisting students to get distinctions in WAEC examinations.

"Great men of today did not make distinctions or credits in all the subjects at one sitting; our individual performance should have at least the normal curve.

"Some teachers go as far as writing the answers on the board

for candidates in the examination hall while some photocopy answers for them.

"We have our spies in all the zones and there will be no escape route this time around for exam cheats," the WAEC official said.

Agwu advised school administrators to report any inspector or supervisor who tried to intimidate or demand bribe from them to the council.

A school proprietor, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that the high cut-off marks by higher institutions was responsible for the malpractice.

"The demand for credits in one sitting in SSCE by higher institutions from students seeking admissions has contributed to examination malpractice "If they allow two or more sittings, the desperation will not be there to get the credits or distinctions in one attempt", he said. (NAN)

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Borno records 116 accidents, 71 deaths From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

N

L-R: Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Sarah Alade, Acting Director, West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), Mr. John Kitcher, Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, representative of the Chairman, West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), Mr. Richard Dolrley, and representative of the ECOWAS Commissioner, Dr. Nelson Magbagbeola, during the 34th meeting of the Technical Committee of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

FG to resolve friction between nomads, farmers From Umar Dankano, Yola

T

he Federal Government has again assured Nigerians of its determination to resolve the lingering crisis between farmers and pastoralists in the country.

Minister of Agriculture and rural development Dr. Akinwumi Adesina disclosed this at a one day sensitization workshop on primary stock route development in Yola at the weekend.

Adesina stated that the government was disturbed with the avoidable conflict between nomads and farmers which is threatening the well being and security of the nation.

“Government has expressed shock over the increased rate of conflicts between nomads and farmers and is now working

restlessly toward bringing lasting solution to the problems”.

Adesina, represented by Mr Tony Ibinola of the National Livestock Development Project (NLDP), Kaduna, said that government had begun demarcation and identifying stock routes all over the country.

“In the North East region, we have so far demarcated over 4,500 kilometers of international stock route and most of them start from northern part of the country to the South, while some move to Cameroun and Chad Republics.

“Within Adamawa and Taraba states, over 500 kilometres of stock routes have already been demarcated and about 200 kilometres in Adamawa are on the pipeline,’’ Adesina said.

The state Director,

Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), Dr. Walia Hamman, said that the objective of the exercise was to prevent clashes between the two groups.

He said that the project was sponsored by the three tiers of government, where the Federal Government sponsored 50 per cent, states and local governments 30 and 20 per cent, respectively.

“The concept of the stock route is aimed at resolving frequent clashes between farmers and pastoralists and also targeted at increasing animal production in the country,’’ Walia said.

The Adamawa Commissioner for livestock production, Alhaji Tijjani Maksha, said that the state government would join hands with the Federal Government in demarcating the routes.

“Disturbed with the frequent clashes between farmers and pastoralists, the state government created a ministry of livestock production to find a permanent solution to the problem.”

The Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo-Aliyu, said that the meeting came at the right time, when reports of conflicts between farmers and pastoralists become rampart.

Lamido, represented by Dan Galadiman Adamawa, Alhaji Lawan Ribadu, said that traditional institutions had a key role to play in resolving the conflicts.

He advised appropriate authorities to include traditional rulers during the demarcation exercise.

VP, governors, others for MDGs acceleration meeting

By Adeola Tukuru

A

s part of its efforts to accelerate progress towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Dr. Precious Gbeneol, has announced that her office is organising a stakeholders’ briefing on the MDGs Acceleration Framework, (MAF).

The stakeholders’ meeting which holds at the Transcorp Hilton Hotels in Abuja on Thursday, 17th January, 2013 will be chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo and will be supported by governors, ministers, heads and members of the international development agencies and civil society organisations.

Vice President Namadi Sambo is expected to deliver a keynote address at the meeting.

Presentations will be made by

Dr. Gbeneol, Mr. Daouda Toure, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Nigeria, and Dr. Ayodele Odusola, MDGs Advisor, UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, New York, who will be delivering a paper on plans to deploy the UN

MDGs Acceleration Framework to fast-track progress against the MDGs in Nigeria.

The MAF briefing is expected to provide national stakeholders with a systematic approach to identifying and analysing bottlenecks that are causing

MDGs to veer off-track or to advance too slowly.

As an immediate plan, the MDGs office is applying the full MAF methodology to the attainment of Goal 5. MAF is expected to be applied to other goals subsequently.

Ajaokuta steel can rival oil -Senator From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

T

he Senator representing the central senatorial district of Kogi state in the National Assembly, Senator Abetemi Usman, has stated that the notion that external forces are working against the full operation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company is responsible for the retardation of the country’s economy.

Calling on the Federal Government not to heed such perception from people who do not

mean well for Nigeria, Senator Abatemi Usman wondered over the yardstick used in the conclusion that Ajaokuta Steel lacks economic viability.

“The fact is that we have always known that they are not interested in seeing the economic growth and development of our country.

Even the World Bank/IMF has never encouraged the advancement of the steel industry in third world countries, especially Nigeria”, he said.

According to the lawmaker, “we cannot be surprised by this erroneous assessment and irrational advice coming the DFID sponsored NIAF team.

He noted that the team was made up of three economists and a meteorologist “who have no single idea of what steel development is all about”.

“How could anyone say that a project that is capable of engaging over two million people is not economically viable?”, Senator Usman asked.

o fewer than 71 persons were killed in 116 ghastly road mishaps that occurred across Borno state in 2012, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), disclosed yesterday.

The state Sector Commander of the corps, Malam Abba Bazza told newsmen that the accidents occurred in various locations across the 27 local government councils.

According to Bazza, close to 433 persons had also survived the auto crash with various degrees of injuries.

Similarly, the FRSC commander pointed out that 144 vehicles were involved in the various accidents in the year under review.

Stating that a total of 144 vehicles were involed in the accidents, with 985 persons affected, Bazza blamed the incidents on over speeding, dangerours driving and overtakings, among others.

He added that the commission had apprehended 689 road traffic offenders who were fined in accordance with road traffic laws.

“Some drivers are fond of reckless driving, under the influence of drugs or alcoholic.

They overtake on high speed without precaution, resulting to ghastly accidents”, he further lamented.

Association wants fire service to enlighten markets

T

he Traders and Artisans Association, Muda Lawal International Market, Bauchi, has urged the state Fire Service to embark on an enlightenment campaign in the market.

Secretary of association, Malam Babayo Gwallaga, made the call yesterday in Bauchi in an interview.

Gwallaga said that the call became necessary because of the danger that fire outbreaks posed, especially during the current harmattan season.

He noted that in previous years, the Fire Service used to send its men to markets to sensitise traders and artisans on how to prevent fire outbreaks.

He appealed to the directorate to take the exercise to the Muda Lawal market so that business owners could be lectured on causes of fire outbreaks and the ways to avoid them.

He added that electricity was also capable of starting fire, if appliances were not switched off after closing for business.

Meanwhile, the state Director of the service, Alhaji Babayo Umar, recently advised the people to always extinguish all fire after use, especially after cooking or warming their bodies.

(NAN)

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY,TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

UNILORIN splits faculties, departments From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he authority of the University of Ilorin has approved three new faculties and four Departments in accordance with Nigeria University Commission (NUC) requilemets Our correspondent learnt that the Senate at its 230th meeting held on January 10, 2013 presided over by the ViceChancellor, Prof.

AbdulGaniyu Ambali gave approval for the new Faculties and department which are expected to kick off in 2013\2014 session.

The new faculties includes Faculty of Environmental Sciences with a Departments of Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Estate Management, Urban and Regional Planning as well as Surveying and GeoInformatics.

The Senate Business

Committee under of Prof. Bayo Lawal, as Chairman approved the splitting of the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences in to Faculty of Management Sciences and Faculty of Social Sciences.

The university also integrated Departments of Accounting and Finance, Business Administration and Marketing under Faculty of Management Sciences while Departments of Economics, Geography and

Environmental Management , Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology would be in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ambali said the institution would now have twelve fa c u l t i e s , a co l l e g e , in s t i t u t e s , sc h o o l s and Centres with a student population of 30,000.

He added that the Senate also approved the splitting of Departments of Arts Education and Social

Sciences Education from Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education.

Department of Science Education has also been split into the Department of Science Education and Department of Education Technology while the Faculty of Veterinary M e d i c i n e is D e p a r t m e n t s were increased to ten in line with the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) rules.

NIALS names top 10 Nigerian law faculties

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

F

ollowing the allegations that the standard of legal education in universities have declined, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) have released the names of top ten law faculties in Nigerian universities.

According to a statement by the institute’s DirectorGeneral, Professor Epiphany Azinge (SAN), the release of the names of the universities was necessary because of the statutory responsibility of NIALS of providing information, supervision, guidance and advice to researchers of any university in the field of law.

The DG in the statement named University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Jos, University of Benin, Lagos State University, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Nigeria, Babcock University, University of Maiduguri and Igbinedion University as the top ten higher institutions.

The institute said the universities were chosen after assiduous research and collation of scientific data on Nigerian law faculties.

“Our duty demands that we undertake a project of this nature to promote standardization and for the mutual benefit of the students and institutions. Thus, the essence of this ranking is to challenge Nigerian law faculties to improve standards in all aspect.

“This ranking is not interminable as law faculties that were not captured in the top ten ranks are encouraged to improve their standards significantly so as to stand a chance in subsequent years, whilst those ranked are encouraged also not to rest on their oars but to work tirelessly to maintain already set standard’, Azinge added.

Students of Iganmu Junior High School, Lagos-badagry Expressway, praying as public schools resumed for new academic session, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NaN

Bauchi acquires 20 community radio licences From Ahmed Kaigama Bauchi

T

he Bauchi state government has acquired 20 community radio licences and frequencies from Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The Chief Press Secretary to the Bauchi State Governor, Ishola Michael Adeyemi disclosed this when he received the leadership of the state National Association of women Journalists (NAWOJ) in his office, saying that NBC granted 20 Community Radios in the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.

According to him, ten of the community radios have already commenced operation in 10 local government areas.

He said that the equipment of the remaining ten have arrived the state and are expected to commence operation by March this year.

The CPS said: “Now we have ten functional community radios, the first in the country, equipment for the remaining ten have arrived and between now

and March they will take-off the air, that shows you that everywhere in Nigeria you will be hearing things about Bauchi”.

He said that when the 20 community radios fully took off, they would disengage from the Bauchi Broadcasting Corporation (BRC) and operate individually.

He explained: “The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission has granted them their own frequencies and given them their licences, each one will have its own frequency and operate independently, they will leave BRC alone and each gets to operate with its own name” Adeyemi counselled the newly elected NAWOJ leadership in the state to unite and carry along its membership especially those that contested and lost elections towards the development of the association.

In her remark, the newly elected NAWOJ Chairperson, Bauchi chapter, Kaltume Abdullahi Shall commended the state government for appointing, Ishola Michael Adeyemi as the Chief Press Secretary whose ambassadorship, she adjudged,

was worthy of emulation.

She noted that the state government has in its efforts to improve the well-being of women and youth, created an agency to cater for their educational, social and other needs which other states in the federation now borrows a leaf from.

Shall revealed that her leadership of the association would soon come up with initiatives aimed at making the impact of government’s efforts effectively felt by adequately educating the womenfolk on its policies and programmes.

Auto crashes claimed 298 in 2012 From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

N

o fewer than 298 deaths were recorded in various auto crashes that happened across Kogi state in 2012.

The Kogi state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)Muhammed Garba who disclosed this to journalists in his office at the weekend said the deaths were recorded from the 548 accident that happened across the state in the year under review.

He said 4,818 passengers were involved in the accidents, adding that 2,245 were injured, 298 lost their lives while others escaped unhurt in accidents that mostly

happened on the Lokoja- Abuja road.

According to him, " 31 died in the month on January, 46 died in February, 26 in March, 28 in April,18 in May and 11 in June.

Also 27 died in July, 28 in August, 19 in September, 15 in October, 21 in November while 28 died in December," he said.

Muhammed said the accidents were as a result of speed limit violation, dangerous driving, as well as tyre bursts among others, calling on motorists to always obey traffic rules while on the road now that citizens have entered the New Year.

The Sector Commander appealed to road users to change their attitude while on the road.

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Beware, wonder banks' victims are too many M

any people have fallen into the hands of fraudsters who call themselves business ventures.

Such victims had lost their monies and had sad stories to tell. The form of operation of these fraudsters comes in the form of extra-ordinary profit, first comer bait, strong promotional drive, and fictitious investments.

Wonder banks promise to give a very high return for the money they collect.

Also, as part of the ploy to convince their customers and achieve their goals, the wonder banks ensure that they pay the stipulated amount to their relatively few initial customers to serve as testimonials to convince and secure the trust of victims.

They make sure that potential investors hear about what their investors have benefited so that they can invest their money too. To achieve this, they could employ the services of agents who would assist them in introducing more people to the investment.

They could even go as far as having branches of their

organisations in other states or areas of the same state. At times, these wonder banks claim to be involved in the oil and gas sector, foreign exchange (forex), or some other bogus activities to convince their customers on how they make so much profit.

How do they operate?

They make payments to their initial investors to serve as testimonials to convince and secure the trust of more victims.

With the spread of the 'good news', many investors would storm the fund managers with deposits amounting to millions with the hope of collecting their incredible interest payment within the stipulated time. After these fund managers have amassed depositors' money, they stop payment and evacuate their premises, leaving their investors to agonise over the loss of their hard-earned money.

How do you respond to wonder banks?

Enquire about the organisation in order to confirm that it is a wonder bank. Get their contact address. Inform the Securities and Exchange

Commission (SEC) and other financial market regulators.

Any evidence?

Recently, at the SEC investor forum held in Onitsha, Anambra State, the activities of wonder banks were made public with many victims saying they rendered them cashless.

Ogochukwu Odunukwe, a victim told BDMoney that he was a victim of wonder bank activities. He said: "One company (name withheld) had through their agents approached us to be making contributions. Most of us were told that we could collect our money after six months, or one year, depending on when we need it.

They claimed that they were registered with the regulatory authorities but surprisingly, within the period they gave us to come and take our money with returns, they closed all their offices. When we started apprehending their agents, we learnt they have moved to Enugu State. That is why we came to complain to SEC to apprehend these people so that we could get back our money. As I speak with

you, all my business capital is gone."

What is SEC saying?

"Investors must be wary of such offer and scams. Investors should go the extra-mile to get

adequate information before investing their funds in any business opportunity as failure to ascertain the credibility of such opportunity could lead to loss of hard-earned monies," SEC said.

Your spending habit is a determinant of how wealthy you are compromise that allows you to meet those long term goals while still enjoying life to the fullest in the short term.

If you often spend more than your needs, you best first step is to focus on a budget, looking for areas that are unnecessary and can be trimmed, and be prepared to have the discipline to stick to your new

budget. If you often spend to your means, your best starting point is look for opportunities to build up your savings, which helps to reduce the risk and impact of unexpected expenses, and allows you to begin saving for the future.

If you often spend below your means, you are in a good position to save to the future and should

focus on savings that are structured to provide for better return on retirement, although, don't forget to still enjoy life in the interim as many people that spend below their needs end up with a full bank account and regrets on missed opportunities and experiences.

Using cheque... don't sign below the sensitive line

I M

ost people fall into three general financial profiles.

They either spends above their means spend just what they have, or they spend less than their means. There have been studies done which show that 90 percent of the world's wealth is held by 10 percent of the population, and that even if this wealth were redistributed equally, it would be back in the hands of the 10 percent within seven years.

This illustrates that most people would find it difficult to

Quote Surviving a failure gives you more self-confidence. Failures are great learning tools... but they must be kept to a minimum - Jeffrey Immelt

change their normal spending habits, but in fact, this is the most important thing to guarantee personal financial health.

What this comes down to is learning what profile you fit in, and then learning how to change those spending, budgeting, and saving habits to meet your goals.

Although many of these strategies will require discipline, the long term goals are clear: once you decide on a path, make the commitment to stick to it and you will find within a few months, you will begin adjusting your lifestyle to your new financial habits, which will, in turn, reinforce these new practices.

Remember, nothing comes for free - long term financial goals require short term sacrifices, the trick is to find the right

f you are used to signing cheques for bank transactions, watch it, you are at the risk of paying a fine of N250.00 or making someone who draws the cheque pay N250, if you do not take cognizance of the sensitive line on the check leaf.

Before now, this error was pardonable as people consciously and unconsciously signed on the sensitive line written 'don not sign below this line', but today any attempt to make such mistake attracts an unpardonable fine of N250.

This development is following a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rule which requires that banks would be made to pay a fine of N250 if they accept cheques that has signatures across the sensitive live.

With this development, the banks are more than ever before conscious of the sensitive line and ready to hack a customer who presents a cheque with such error or it would be rejected.

Julius, customer of is GTBank at Alimosho Local Government area in Lagos presented a third

party cheque and was told by the bank attendant that he must sign an undertaking at the back of the deposit slip that he be charged N250 for presenting a cheque that is signed on the sensitive line.

According to Julius, the cheque was either to be rejected or he sign the paper as, according to the bank staff, it would be passed onto the bank at the point of clearing.

Lucy Newman, managing director, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), says it is important that every person u n d e r g o thoringhfinancial literacy training so that minor errors and mistakes could be avoided.

She said there basic knowledge which people should acquire to help them in financial planning and management of money resources.

A cheque is a document/instrument (usually a piece of paper)

that orders a payment of money from a bank account.

The person writing the cheque, the drawer, usually has a current account, or checking account (US) where their money was previously deposited. The drawer writes the various details including the money amount, date, and a payee on the cheque, and signs it, ordering their bank, known as the drawee, to pay that person or company the amount of money stated.

S o u r c e : www.monyning.com

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

T

Complete Abuja-Lokoja highway

hree weeks ago, the governor of Kogi state, Capt. Idris Wada, was involved in a fatal motor accident on the Ajaokuta-Lokoja road in which his aide de camp (ADC) lost his life and the governor left with a broken thigh bone.

And a week later, the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly was also involved in a motor accident on Okene-Lokoja highway which left a senior security detail badly injured.

Both accidents hugged the headlines because of the personalities involved. Wada’s case was particularly poignant because it occurred few weeks after his Taraba and Kaduna state counterparts had been involved in fatal air crashes which killed the latter’s Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa and Taraba’s Danbaba Suntai in a bad shape.

The Kogi governor’s accident was just one of several on the Ajaokuta-Lokoja and the OkeneLokoja highways. Hardly a day passes without an accident, often fatal, occurring. The statistics of accidents released over the weekend by the Kogi state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Muhammed Garba, showed that

298 travellers lost their lives in 548 accidents in the state last year.

This averages about one and three quarters accidents per day in 2012.

And according to the FRSC, most of the accidents occurred on the Lokoja- Abuja road.

“

Now that the rains have stopped and we are well into the dry season, we implore the contractors handling the job and the government ministry supervising the work to ensure it is not only completed before this year’s rainy season sets in but it is done to specifications As the major link between the northern and southern parts of the country, the Lokoja- Abuja road is, therefore, one of the most important in the country. Sadly, it is also one of the worst roads. The harvest of fatal accidents underscores the road’s state of

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”

neglect, and the need for an urgent action to address the situation, which is, in any case, replicated all over the country. As with other sectors of the nation’s economy, the deterioration of the nation’s road network is a reflection of the endemic corruption that is threatening to bring the nation on its knees.

Now that even the mighty ones among us are falling victims of leadership’s ineptness and the nauseating corruption suffocating the country, one hopes that something will be done soon about the state of the roads, specially the Lokoja- Abuja highway that has been under reconstruction since 2003.

The speed of the work that has been scandalously slow, however, came to a virtual standstill following last year’s floods, the country’s worst ever in 50 years. Now that the rains have stopped and we are well into the dry season, we implore the contractors handling the job and the government ministry supervising the work to ensure it is not only completed before this year’s rainy season sets in but it is done to specifications.

It is high time we put a stop to the carnage on this road, year in year out.

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, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

By OdimegwuOnwumere

I

t is good for the residents of a given society to pay their taxes, but the authorities concerned with the management of the people must make sure that the people's taxes are promptly and judiciously utilized.

I am not sure that the Rivers State Government found an alternate word when news reports had it that Governor ChibuikeAmaechi said that his administration would be "ruthless" in the collection of taxes in 2013.

Except that Amaechi was speaking in idiom, the word "ruthless" is known of the military. And I do not think that he is a soldier, except if he had undergone military training, and we don't know.

As a democratically elected governor, it was known that democrats were meek and kind.

They always apply due process in their business of governance.

They also do not use certain words, which instill fear and altercation in the lives of those that they govern. If Amaechi made such statement that he would "ensure that tax defaulters were prosecuted and jailed if found guilty" what do we make of his government that, I do not think, had met in whole the residents' expectations.

At least, in an area like Oyigbo,

PAGE 13

Amaechi's ruthless tax the place was an eyesore and impassable during the rainy season. This was applicable to some areas in the state. Did anybody use any deprecating statements like 'we will cause anarchy in the state if the Amaechi administration does not see to the plight of the affected areas'? I think we must learn how to use words properly, while expressing our views, because we have those who are looking upto us as their role models. Even if we do not have followership, our kiths and kins are watching us, and might put the type of words that come out of our mouths into action by tommorrow. This is how serene society turns to an unruly one, and people will begin to shout: when did we get to this stage.

I will not rule out the fact that there are pressures that are associated with office positions.

These can put unwanted statements into the mouths of the office holders, but what makes a man is not the size of his portfolio, but the content in the portfolio. It is as a result of this that my Igbo people would say that a man is not known for frivolous words, but women are known.

It was against this influence that Ram was killed in those days at the burial rituals of a full-aged man, because Ram does not make much noise, but Goat does. Goat was killed at the burial rituals of women, because she makes a lot of noise. However, I would not know from where men learn to talk and gossip more than women these days. Doubting Thomases who might say that Amaechi couldn't have said such, they might read the following lines in Amaechi's own words: "We will be ruthless in tax collection in the coming year; everybody must pay their tax, we will amend the law to ensure that those who don't pay taxes will go to jail, that's the way the law will be."

Does Amaechi think that jailing persons can make them better persons in the society? It is obvious that there are movements to develop Rivers State, but the state is struggling with development. This could have not been yet achieved, because of the mindset that the present crop of leaders came to power with. How can anybody be using words as if Rivers State is a military cantonment? And even if there

were developments, does a man sing his own praise? Despite that, I must commend Amaechi for saying that Rivers people who are known to be collecting taxes on the road will be stopped and that of any forms of multiple-taxation.

While the taxation bill is with the Rivers State House of Assembly and being expected to be passed into law, the authorities concerned with this taxation bill should not be brutish like its proponent, in carrying out their people-given functions. They should have it at the back of their heart that we are not in the military era, when people were harassed physically or with debasing words such as "ruthless" and people didn't dare challenge.

Amaechi should borrow a leaf from his admonishment to the judiciary: the profession needed a change of attitude. I strongly believe that as individuals or group, a change in attitude should be a recurring decimal. As individuals or group, we need attitudinal change that will not instill tensions and anxieties in the environment. There are other better ways to emphasize authority without sounding like

Unfortunately, we as a people have become accustomed to mediocrity and peddlers of lies. We accommodate in positions of authority the mortgagers of our collective futures, killers of dreams and marauders of aspirations.

Those in power know this fact and continue to take us for a ride; else the populace should have revolted. But not all of us have amnesia and not all of us can be fooled; Nigeria has been synonymous with corruption from yore and it predates the current regime. Corruption has become so endemic to the extent of being considered part of our ethos. The whole world knows it is our problem and constantly chide us to confront corruption head on.

According to Transparency International, Nigeria is ranked the 35th most corrupt nation in the world. The 2012 Corruption Perception Index revealed Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks to land the 139th position out of the 176 countries and territories surveyed in the report, based on perceived levels of public sector corruption. Nigeria was ranked alongside Azerbaijan, Kenya, Nepal and Pakistan.

According to a report by Sahara Reporters New York, June 7th 2012: "The United States has again dismissed Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts as mere talk, describing the Goodluck Jonathan era as one in which the government is not implementing the law, and officials engage in corrupt practices with impunity."

Also, during the visit of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Nigeria, she blamed failings by Nigerian leaders for the country's woes and emphasized the prevalence of "unbelievable corruption."

We recently read reports of how about $400 billion has been lost by

our successive regimes over time and how most of that money ended up overseas. Even the nation's anticorruption agency, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, blamed infrastructural decay in Nigeria on corruption.

In view of these publicly known facts, I wonder why the President would make such a boorish statement as corruption not being the cause of our problems in Nigeria.

Paradoxically, some have argued that a credible head does not necessarily translate to an effective overhaul of a corrupt system.

But we should also consider the countries that scored better on the Corruption Perception Index must have had issues of corruption, with adequate steps taken to mitigate the situation. So we can't continue to allow the deterioration of our society based on these excuses.

Drastic and effective measures must be taken to combat the menace.

For example, in 2009 there was an Expenses Scandal that rocked the United Kingdom Parliament, though the figures the Members of Parliament were accused of is a modicum compared to the whopping amounts our public servants embezzle, the United Kingdom didn't treat the matter with levity.

The accused members of Parliament faced criminal charges that lead to many resignations, suspensions, arrests and prosecution with sentences varying between 9 - 18 months imprisonment.

In Nigeria, it's our hope to see a replica of such virtuous actions. We genuinely accept the process of eradicating corruption would be gradual, as the deterioration to our current state of socio-economic inertia too was gradual. Sadly, corruption and kleptomania is as rife as it is alarming, some have termed it 'LOOTING' for unborn generations, and the figures emanating from fraud investigations are as staggering as they are depressing.

The President must realise Nigerians can't be hoodwinked any longer. The public hearing about a scandal being unearthed isn't enough; we want to see arrests leading to actual indictments and prosecutions. I was once quizzed by a friend, who sarcastically asked, how many key government officials or top politicians have you seen arrested and jailed and how much has been refunded into the nations treasury? This was a critical question that made me ruminate on all the publicity stunts machinated by the government, aimed at not only boosting the

one Adolph Hitler.

Amaechi should understand that there is what is known as leadership discipline.

This translates to followership or unfollowership. I don't think he expected the judiciary to be "ruthless" with its dispensation of cases in its courts of law, when he said that there had been delayed cases in the courts. Being "ruthless" in collecting taxes in the state is not the same as telling a judge to make sure that he or she sits in the court punctually.

Punishing people for the wrongs caused by the authorities, I do not think, has ever created a chastised world; it has only bred fears and hate. But when you politely address the people without aequivocation, they tend to pay heed. Can Amaechi send the taxation bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly and at the same time tell the House what laws it should or not infuse in the bill?

Rivers residents are not animals, even if they are seen as animals, there are certain words or statements that are avoided in sanctified societies on animals.

OdimegwuOnwumereis the Coordinator, Concerned NonIndigenes in Rivers State (CONIRIV) and Founder, Poet Against Child Abuse (PACA), Rivers State, Nigeria. apoet_25@yahoo.com

A president and the corruption conundrum

By M.B.O Owolowo

T

he corruption conundrum continues as some incredu lous statements were recently attributed to the President during the burial service of the late General Andrew Azazi. He was responding to a factual and frank homily by Bishop Hyacinth Ogbebor blaming corruption for the helicopter crash, amongst other issues in the country.

The President said, "Corruption is not the cause of our problems.

Nigeria has more institutions that fight corruption. Most of the issues we talk about are not corruption.

If we do things properly, if we change our attitude of doing things, most of the things we think are caused by corruption are not.

If Nigerians would change their attitude, you will realise that most of these issues being attributed to corruption are not caused by corruption. If we change our attitude to life, if all Nigerians do what is right, Nigeria will change".

Pondering over these statements, the president should be reminded he too is part of "all Nigerians" he has referred and his "attitude" must change as well. His attitude towards corruption must be taken into cognisance; he says "Corruption is not the cause of our problems". Considering he previously made a statement rating Nigeria's commitment to fighting corruption as secondary to only that of the United States, one might be excused for wondering if he is inhaling air and operating from the stratosphere above the public's atmospheric level.

I have always believed a people that tolerate drivel will accept gibberish; with these sort of statements it becomes apparent why corruption has been initiated, perpetrated and perpetuated for decades in our polity.

“

The President must realise Nigerians can't be hoodwinked any longer. The public hearing about a scandal being unearthed isn't enough; we want to see arrests leading to actual indictments and prosecutions

President's image but also massaging his ego; witch-hunting opposition and critics or the settling of political scores against perceived adversaries isn't fighting corruption.

Charity begins at home, so the attitudinal change must start from the Presidency. Budgeting obscene amounts of money for executive frivolities and unwarranted expenses isn't fighting corruption. There are many aspects of the budget that are simply wasteful. Just because previous regimes embarked on such squandering doesn't make it right; why not set a precedence of curbing expenditure?

Borrowing recklessly and not investing in infrastructural development or capital projects aimed at boosting economic growth isn't fighting corruption. It is according to the CBN Governor, SanusiLamidoSanusi "accumulating debts for future generations."

For the President to be taken seriously, he must use his executive powers to ensure the arrests of culprits and that priority is given to such cases within the Judicial process to expedite prosecution.

The President must enforce the forfeiture of assets from those indicted and the reimbursements of retrieved funds to the nation's coffers.

Surely with purposeful leadership change can be effected, else the change of a purposeless leadership would be initiated. Change must start from the Presidency! His offices' ineffective reputation can only be ameliorated by effective and sincere actions aimed at tackling corruption.

The concomitant melancholy this administration exudes and forlorn felt by majority of the populace can only be changed with drastic implementation of progressive mass oriented policies.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Nigeria's presidential campaign has started — two years early

By John Campbell

N

igeria's presidential elections are over two years away. Elite politics are already focusing in on them, however. Opposition parties are negotiating a possible united front against President Goodluck Jonathan's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while the president's intentions remain the stuff of political gossip. Up to now, Jonathan has refused to say whether he will run in 2015.

On New Year's Day 2013, however, campaign posters supporting a second term for Jonathan mysteriously appeared in many prominent places around Abuja. The president has denied any knowledge of them and reiterated his refusal to declare whether he will run again. His spokesmen are saying the posters are the work of those who want to embarrass the president.

The Nigerian newspaper Leadership "gathered that the president is seriously upset with the

development because he felt it running. Some of them are calling on the security services was a ploy by mischief makers taking the poster episode as a to launch an investigation.

T w o to make it look c o n t r a r y as if it was hypotheses a n o t h e r suggested shocker from Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text themselves. t h e messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written One is that Presidency, contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 Jonathan's just the way words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and supporters the fuel a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed were, indeed, s u b s i d y to: trying to press e p i s o d e the president emerged in The Editor, to run and J a n u a r y Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, b u i l d i n g 2012.”

35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. support for Opposition Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com him. Another f i g u r e s , SMS: 07037756364 is that it was a however, are deliberate saying that the posters are designed to hook to criticize the president. effort to embarrass the Jonathan supporters are president.

Jonathan's "draft" the president into

WRITE TO US

“

Two contrary hypotheses suggested themselves. One is that Jonathan's supporters were, indeed, trying to press the president to run and building support for him. Another is that it was a deliberate effort to embarrass the president. Jonathan's opponents appear to support the first, while his allies support the second

opponents appear to support the first, while his allies support the second.

Nigerians are politically outspoken and freedom of speech is usually respected. So why is this a tempest in a teapot? At least part of the answer may be the power any incumbent president has to shape the Nigerian political agenda, and the virtual certainty that he will be reelected if he chooses to run again. But, Jonathan is widely unpopular in many circles, and may wish to announce his candidacy (which as of now I think is virtually assured) at an optimal time of his own choosing.

John Campbell, a former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, is a senior fellow for Africa policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. He served as political counsellor at the U.S. embassy in Pretoria during the end of apartheid.

He blogs at Africa in Transition.

North: Poverty amidst wealth

By Ahmed B. Kaita (MHR)

N

o doubt, the next few days would see attempts made to discredit the recent human capital index released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which punctured many claims of purposeful leadership in majority states of Northern Nigeria. From unscientific analysis to outright condemnation by sycophants, it would be an irritating period of denial. Whatever, one incontrovertible fact is that the poverty is self- created, the handiwork of the "infallible" leaders forcibly imposed on the region.

The NBS report, coming at the same time with figures released to prove the quantum of wastage that has been perpetrated in the region, which stood at about N8.3trn from 2009 to date, left no one in doubt about the total disconnect between leaders and citizens of the region.

According to the report, Sokoto state is the worst hit with 81.2% poverty rating, followed

by Katsina state with 74.5%. It is confusing how, for instance, a state like Katsina which, according to the report collected N564bn during the period covered by the report ended up at the bottom of the development index.

In an attempt to discredit the report, the Special Adviser to the Katsina state governor on Poverty Alleviation, Bature Masari queried NBS for not consulting the state government and its agencies before arriving at their results.

He described the NBS report as mischievous.

He was convinced the one bag of fertiliser shared among five farmers in Katsina state was enough to support his theory of "Katsina is more than 90% farmers" and discredit the report.

Without doubt, N8.3trn is a princely sum by any nation’s standard. The amount is enough to transform lives of the mostly poor people of the region, but endemic corruption, poor economic management, self agrandisement and general ineptitude have ensured that it is not to be. Nobody will argue that we are now paying for our docile attitude to the process of ‘selection’ of our leaders. We are saddled with leaders whose definition of public service begins and ends with choice mansions around the globe, fat foreign bank accounts, spoilt kids globetrotting and rubbishing the good name of hard working Nigerians.

At the last count, three governors have relocated to

foreign hospitals to access decent healthcare services when they have supposedly “spent” billions of Naira in the name of healthcare services in their localities. There is no way hospitals would be less than the "mere consulting clinics" that late General Abacha called them back in the 80s, with the amount of money claimed to have been spent on them by successive governments.

Without demanding for the system adopted by National Bureau of Statistics as to how they arrived at their figures, I found such figures agreeable to my conscience as a public office holder, even without recourse to the stark reality of the deadly poverty that is strangling life out of majority of Nigerians most of whom live below poverty line. Education, a basic responsibility of any responsible government worldwide has suddenly turned into a luxury.

Primary and secondary school classes that used to accommodate 25 - 30 students now average 150 - 200 with students hardly aware of people next to them due to congestion.

Such unfriendly learning atmosphere has turned the profession of teaching into a living hell. For all the impact they are making on the students, the teachers may as well be teaching Quadratic equations or Einstein's theory

of relativity to a herd of cows under such atmosphere.

However, our leaders now patronise foreign schools in Asia and Europe for the educational needs of their kids. This insensitivity is even more glaring considering the irritating jingles and daily advertorials in newspapers about imaginary achievements in turning around fortunes of our educational institutions. A certain governor of a border state who always harpes on his success in the education sector was completely oblivious of the fallacy of his claims by the simple fact that his son was a student in a popular private institution within his state capital all the time he was busy "improving" public schools with billions of Naira.

Such is the hopeless situation from which we imagine to extricate Nigeria without any evidence of sincerity in our actions and thought. When leaders lay claim to imaginary development, it is our duty to sober them up from their selfinduced power drunkenness. As they say, a blind man needs to be touched to know he is being watched. Nowhere in the world, except perhaps in Nigeria, do leaders shy away from patronising schools, hospitals and services they claim to have built and rendered to perfection.

Leadership

assessment has been reduced to the number of purchased honorary awards that are as worthless as the paper they were written on. Yet we keep celebrating such "honours" as if we don't know the deceits behind them.

It so ridiculous that, for instance a university in Raleigh, Virginia would come all the way to Nigeria to celebrate a non performing governor (as was the case not long ago) which by the way, has just been proven for the farce it was. The governor (honours and all) has only 70.5% poverty rating, 10% WAEC/NECO score on his score card to support the "Honour" Raleigh university found him worthy of while forgetting to honour former President Bill Clinton, President Barrack Obama, Apples's late Steve Jobs and the 27 year old Facebook's Mike Zuckembergs who built a $141bn empire.

Truly amazing! We are being raped, destroyed and ridiculed at the same time. How long we remain blinded to the machinations of these false claimants will determine our corporate existence as a country.

Kaita is a member of the House of Representatives representing Kankia/ Kusada/Ingawa Federal Constituency of Katsina state.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

By Tundun Adeyemo

T

he brutal rape of a young woman in India and her death in Singapore last week sparked rage, riots and a series of questions about how women are treated in Third World countries.

Delhi is the world's capital of gang rape and indecent treatment of women. The brutalization of women appears to be cultural and religious as well.

The BBC reports about the country that 'female foetuses are aborted and baby girls killed after birth leading to an appallingly skewed sex ration'. Many of India's women face discrimination, prejudice and violence as single or married women. In the United Kingdom, it is typical for class teachers to complain that young boys of Indian origin find it difficult to accept the authority of female teachers. The idea that a woman's place is in the bedroom and kitchen as taught to girls by their mothers who led inconsequential lives themselves have done Nigerian women a disservice. In the United Kingdom, women have liberated themselves from the shackles of the kitchen and bedroom. They choose as and when they want to have sex.

Marriage is not regarded as an accomplishment as it is in Nigeria. The laws of Great Britain protect women from forced sex.

Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against the other` without that person's

PAGE 15

Rape and Nigerian society: Lessons from India consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated or below the legal age of consent. The legal age of consent is 16 in the United Kingdom. According to the American Medical Association (1995), sexual violence and rape in particular is considered the most under reported violent crime.

Rape by strangers is usually less common than rape by persons the victims know. Many girls and women are raped routinely by people they know. There have been cases of brothers/ step brothers raping their sisters, uncles raping their nieces and nephews and family friends raping girls in their common sphere of influence. In India, most disturbingly, according to police records, the offenders were known to their victims in more than 94% of the cases. Neighbors accounted for a third of the offenders.

Across the world, policies that promote gender equality, safeguards against violence and access to health care make Canada the best place to be a woman. This is according to a poll by Reuters.

Predictably, infanticide, child marriage and slavery make India the worst, the same poll conducted.

Nigeria did not feature in the seventeen countries that were polled.

Germany, Britain, Australia and France rounded out the top five countries out of the Group of 20 in a perceptions poll of 370 gender specialists conducted

by Trust Law, a legal news service run by Thomson Reuters Foundation. At the other end of the scale is Saudi Arabia - where women are well educated but are banned from driving and only won the right to vote in 2011-polled second worst after India, followed

by Indonesia, South Africa and Mexico. Whilst Nigeria admittedly does not treat its women as horribly as India, we have our issues also.

For example, widows are often left at the mercy of in laws, single women suffer terrible emotional damage from the hands of superior colleagues only because they are trendy females. In institutions across the nation, females are made to conform to a dress code to prevent them from being viewed as sex objects by men. In cultures across Nigeria, wives experience terrible agony and bullying when they fail to produce male children. We may

never know if the scale of the gang rape which killed the nameless 23 year old young medical student in Delhi and seriously injured her male counterpart can ever take place in Nigeria, but we know that unless we consciously talk about the issues women face, many women will keep suffering in silence.

Whilst it is hard to find statistics on rape in Nigeria, long distance travelers in Nigeria (especially in the Eastern parts) have often been attacked by hoodlums who have with machetes, clubs and AK 47s (machine guns) raped women indiscriminately. The Senate and National Assembly seem more preoccupied with same sex marriage and money sharing than in enacting laws which would make sure rapists are deterred by punitive castration.

The latest viral story is that of a final year student of the Federal University of Minna who chopped the head of his girlfriend after prolonged abusive sex. With the circumstances of the case hazy, what remains clear is that the viciousness of the Delhi attack could be replayed in the streets of our country. Our women from

Ilesha to Gombe ought to understand that they must now do all within their power to make sure they are safe for tragically, Nigeria has lost its conscience and voice unlike Delhi.

What can Nigeria learn from Delhi? The swift response of the leaders in making sure the perpetrators of the crime received justice show that India's leadership is on top of the situation unlike NIgeria where the political elite seem deluded and detached. It is Nigeria after all life does not count for much. We are months after the brutal death of the Aluu four, the Mubi massacres, it is unclear if the dead have been vindicated and the perpetrators of the crimes brought to justice. We know that the killers of the Facebook girl Cynthia were brought to justice because her father was influential.

Unlike India where a societal transformation is slowly taking place Nigeria is still yet to wake up and deal with its social issues. The Federal Government is at a loss to handling the prevalent insecurity and enslaving poverty.

Preventing a Delhi from happening in Nigeria requires a people with a conscience and a leadership on top of things.

Bozize's humiliation: Lessons thereof for African leaders

By Anthony Okosun

F

rancois Bozize is the selfimposed President of the Central African Republic.

Bozize is a coup plotting and coup execution veteran. He has been involved in virtually all the coups and all the regimes or administrations in the Central African Republic. At various times he was either the Minister of Defense or the Chief of Army Staff in the Central African Republic.

Francois Bozize's foray into the sphere of power started with his elevation to the rank of Brigadier General by Emperor JeanBĂŠdelBokassa in 1978, from the rank of Captain; after he dealt with a French non-commissioned officer who had "disrespected" Emperor Jean-BĂŠdelBokassa.

In 2003, Bozize stormed into power, via a coup. Since he violently seized power, Bozize has conducted at least two elections that he was "destined" to win.

Francois Bozize's humongous love for power cut him out as a monster whose hands are full of the blood of the very many CAR souls who have lost their lives over many years due to Bozize's insatiable lust for power, the cosmetics of power and the intoxicating aroma that hangs over the corridors of power Recently a motley crowd of rag tag mutineers and rebels, numbering about two thousand, calling themselves the Seleka Coalition, threw a challenge to Francois Bozize. Seleka means an alliance in the local Sango language spoken in the CAR. Francois Bozize's army numbers about three thousand and five hundred ill equipped and very poorly motivated men. It is

reported that the Seleka Coalition are better equipped and better motivated than Francois Bozize's army. The Seleka Coalition contends that Bozize breached an earlier pact that they entered with Bozize in the past. Now the Bozize Coalition is marching on Bangui to dethrone Francois Bozize.

What is amazing is the speed with which the strong man of Bangui has cracked. Bozize is so shaken that he is suddenly offering to meet with the rebels in Gabon.

Bozize has offered to form a government of national unity.

Bozize has called on the international community, especially France and America to intervene and protect his government. The rebels have almost arrived in the capital city Bangui. What has now slowed the rebels advance is the intervention of the African Union in its effort to promote a government of national unity, based on Francois Bozize's promise to step down in 2016 and not to attempt to return to power after that date.

The crisis in the CAR and the helplessness of Francois Bozize has thrown very many pertinent issues into the limelight. The First duty of any responsible and capable national leadership is the protection of lives and properties.

A state that has no complete and total control over every instrumentality of violence in its geo-political space is a failed state.

Based on the aforesaid, there is no question that CAR under Bozize is a failed state. Should Bozize as the self-imposed failed ruler of the failed CAR state not step down and hand over power to a more capable person[ without calling on the international community, especially France and America to

shed foreign blood to protect his rogue regime?

Why should the blood of soldiers from France, America or even Nigeria be shed to help keep Francois Bozize in power? Bozize has been involved in virtually every CAR administration since the time of Jean BedelBokassa. In 2003, he forcefully grabbed power and he has remained in power since then till date. Just like many African leaders Francois Bozize was so deeply engaged in the enjoyment of power that he forgot to build an army that could resist a rag tag rebel force of merely two thousand men. Why should a man who has been in power for as long as Bozize has been in power or the corridors of power be calling on France, America or any other country to help protect him from a rag tag mutineers of only two thousand men? Francois Bozize was at one time, the Chief of Army Staff of the CAR, at another time, he was the Minister of Defense of the CAR and for the past ten years, he has been the President of the CAR. If Francois Bozize despite all the opportunities he has had to build a formidable army that can at least defeat a rebel force of two thousand men; has failed to build same, he has no one to blame but himself.

Francois Bozize's avarice, stupidity and consequent predicament is the story of many African leaders. Many African despots have been in power for almost all their lives. They happily preside over the plundering and exploitation of their natural resources rich countries. However, in the event of a crisis, the world would suddenly discover that the strongman has completely forgotten to build an army that can

repel even a rag tag army of two thousand men. The Central African Republic is blessed with so many resources. Among these resources are copper, diamond, graphite, gold, kaolin, iron ore, manganese, limestone, lignite, uranium, tin, salt, quartz, rutile, monazite, manganese, kyanite and ilmenite. The CAR is also blessed with an abundance of timber. This is where leadership failure in Africa gets very troubling.

All African countries are abundantly blessed with an overabundance of natural resources. Despots violently seize power and start to waste the proceeds from the exploitation of the natural resources on buying loyalty and building their personal fortunes. African despots have been known to stash away huge funds in foreign bank accounts in Europe and the Americas, while their countries suffer abject poverty.

Some very classy and choice properties in some of the world's most prominent cities belong to many African despots. These unpatriotic illegal power grabbers have successfully kept Africa stagnant.

Whereas, Dictator Francois Bozize has ruthlessly and brutally inflicted untold suffering, backwardness, degradation, torture and socio-politico and economic retardation on the good people of CAR in pursuit of his extremely selfish ambition to permanently lord it over the good people of CAR; he forgot to build an army that can repel a rag tag rebel force of two thousand men. Today, many citizens of CAR who dared to express opposing political opinions not compatible with Bozize's "divine" political

commandments are currently scattered all over Africa, Europe and the Americas as they struggle to keep a safe distance from Bozize and his desperate and blood thirsty apparatchiks; having escaped from Bozize's CAR gulag.

It is interesting to observe that Francois Bozize expected France as the former colonial overlord of the CAR to spill the blood of young Frenchmen and women to protect his rogue regime and help perpetuate his dictatorship. Since the end of the cold war, the great western powers just like the defunct Eastern Soviet Union have stopped keeping allies. This is the true reason for the stoppage of the long war in Angola. France will only now be involved in external crisis if French citizens, interests and assets are threatened. Yes, France and other western powers still get involved once in a while in political quagmires involving their former colonies; however, this is usually done on moral grounds like the case in the Ivory Coast, where a guy who lost the election stubbornly refused to step out of office. In Libya, France again intervened and called in other NATO brothers to assist to get rid of the global bad boy, Muammar Ghaddafi who was notorious for being the financier and sponsor of virtually all the trouble makers in virtually every African country.

To help to perpetuate the ignoble regime of Francois Bozize would be immoral and unjustifiable. The chips are down and Francois Bozize is now alone.

The strong man should thank his lucky stars that France and the United States are not helping to train and equip the rebels.

TonyOsun@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 16

‘Show love for less privileged’

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Bishop in charge of Anglican Diocese of Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bishop Tanimu Samari Aduda, has called on Nigerian leaders to always exhibit a strong bond of love and concern for the less privileged ones in the society.

He also noted that if love and concern exist among the riches and the poor, the world would be a better place for all of us live peacefully.

Bishop Aduda, who made the call in an interview with Peoples Daily during the one year Anniversary celebration of his late wife in Gwagwalada, calling on Nigerians to love one another irrespective of their religious and tribal differences.

He further said that if we tolerate one another, there would be no Boko Haram kidnapping or any other social vices in the society today, saying that love is the answer to our problems.

He appealed to the religious leaders to cultivate the habit of loving their followers, urged the highly placed individuals to take care of the poor, so as to make them feel happy in our society.

Commenting on the attitude of his late wife, the Bishop described his late wife, Mrs Jummai Tanimu Aduda as a loving mother whose benevolence had inspired the family and prayed to God to grant her eternal rest.

While answering a question on the activities of the elected politicians in Nigeria, Aduda urged the elected politicians and political appointees to put smiles on the faces of the needy in their domains.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Danladi Etsu Zhin, and his counterpart in Bwari Area Council, Hon. Peter Yohanna Ushafa, had said that late Jummai Tanimu Aduda was a mother who had love for every politicians in the FCT and they prayed to God to forgive her sins.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

FCT residents demand improved sanitary condition S

ome residents of the Federal Capital Territory have urged the authorities to improve the physical face of the metropolis and its environs.

The respondents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja decried the sanitary conditions of areas used by food vendors, abattoirs and markets, among others.

Mr. Pius Idowu, a taxi driver said:’’In the course of our taxi business, I have discovered that some places used by food vendors are very untidy.

“Such places are capable of spreading diseases to their patronisers; I am pleading with the sanitary agency to go round

these places for proper inspection.’’

Mr Daniel Taiye, another taxi driver, cited the back of Conoil filling station, opposite NNPC Towers, as another fithy area.

Taiye told NAN that the place had become more of a dump site as bags of refuse are dumped on the undeveloped plot of land while the uncleared weeds and grasses made the place home for unscrupulous persons.

Mr Basil Nwosu, a legal practitioner, said: ‘’I am surprised seeing the metropolis looking as dirty as the suburbs. ‘’The environment is littered

with cellophane bags, empty drink cans and heaps of refuse, among other trash.’’

Also commenting, Mrs Maureen Adewale, a hair dresser in Jikwoyi, said: ‘’You can see for yourself. ``The streets are littered with filth; in some cases, people just select a dump site for themselves, because whether we like it or not, as humans, we must generate waste.

“It starts with the dumping of a bag of trash, then another and before you know it the dirt piles up and it continues to build if nothing is done about it.

“Mrs Adewale, a laboratory

Commuters waiting to board the only available El-rufai buses, yesterday at Wuse, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Abaji council lauds FCT MDGs office on water project

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Chairman of Abaji area council, Hon. Yahaya Musa Muhammad has commended the FCT Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

office on the water project sited in Abaji.

During his tour to the project site, the Chairman explained that this will go to reduce the sufferings of the people of Abaji.

According to him,the

project which is in 75% completion will reduce the water scarcity within Abaji town and will be circulated to the nearby villages like Kekeshi, Nuku, Naharati, Mandaregi and Agyana respectively.

Arewa chief donates mosquito nets to fulani herdsmen in Gwagwalada

By Usman Shuaibu

F

ollowing the recent clash between Gwaris and the Fulani cattle breeders at Gwako in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Chief of Arewa in Abuja, Mohammed Bello Saidu has donated the treated mosquito nets to

technologist, appealed to the authorities to do something drastic about the collection and management of waste especially in the FCT. “The FCT is supposed to serve as a model to other states of the federation; ``If our federal capital wears such a poor look continually, what will become of the other states?’’ she asked.

Mrs Amarachi Aniegwunam, a housewife, noted that location of the Nyanya Market had worsened the situation in the area.

“There is always refuse there; even when the authorities make effort to pack it, in no time, it fills up again and the annoying thing is that a General Hospital is close to the area.

“In some households, you see open sewage systems which is very dangerous; a child can fall into it, even an adult that is not familiar with such environment can.

“In Passo village in Gwagwalada, there is an open sewage flowing to the road for sometime without the intervention of the authorities.’’

Mr Raymond Karshi, a Gwagwalada resident, said that the odour emanating from the sewage made life unbearable for residents of the area.

“It’s not just here; go to the abattoir and you will wonder if the animals slaughtered there are fit for human consumption”, he said.

NAN reports that all the respondents were of the view that the administration should step up efforts toward ensuring that the FCT lived up to its status, especially in the area of sanitation. (NAN )

Fulani cattle breeders relocated to the permanent site of the University of Abuja.

Presenting the mosquito nets to Fulani herdsmen, Saidu said that he donated the mosquito nets in order to prevent the children from mosquito bite at the site.

He said that his leadership would continue to

assist the Fulani herdsmen whenever the need arises and warned them against any further dispute in the area.

He further called on Fulani cattle breeders to continue to live in peace with the people of the FC T and urged them to leave behind whatever had happened between them.

The Sarkin Arewa Abuja, however, commended the

FCT Minister Senator Bala Mohammed and other philanthropists for donating food stuff to the Fulani herdsmen at their camp.

On his part, the chairman of Mayetti Allah Association in the FCT, Mallam Abdullahi Adamu thanked the spirited individuals who donated materials to the fulani cattle rearers.

Yahaya said the project is a deliberate intervention by FCT in collaboration with Area Council to address water problem and will continue to support FCT project initiated by the Hon. Minister to alleviate sufferings of the people.

He called on the residence to be patient as project of this magnitude need professionals to carry out the job accordingly. He said the present boreholes will soon relax when Abaji water scheme is commissioned for use.

The chairman further requested the FCT MDG office to site more meaningful projects in Abaji as his administration is ready to partner with them.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 17

INSIDE FCT COURTS Man, 22, docked for phone theft T

he police have arraigned one Joseph Simon, 22, of Mararaba, Nasarawa State at the Karu Senior Magistrates Court for alleged theft of a blackberry cell phone.

The Prosecutor Cpl. Francis Udofia told the court that one Anna Sarki of Railway Jaji, Kaduna State reported the matter at the Karu Police Station on Jan 5, 2013.

“Simon snatched the blackberry cell phone worth N80,000 and jumped down from the bus they were travelling in.

“People around apprehended him. Simon threw the phone into the bush and the phone was not found.’’

The Magistrate, Omolola Oladipo granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000 and a surety in the like sum.

She said that the surety must have a reasonable means of livelihood and a traceable address within the jurisdiction of the court.

Oladipo adjourned the case to Jan 21,2013 for hearing.

Man bags 2 years imprisonment for burglary

O

ne Abba Mohammed of Mpape Village has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by an Abuja Magistrates’ Court for burglary.

The Magistrate, Mr Musa Jobbo, who handed Mohammed the sentence after he pleaded guilty, said it would serve as a deterrent to others who might want to engage in stealing.

Police Prosecutor Musa Abdulahi had told the court that Mrs Tayo Afolabi of Berger Quarry, Mpape, Abuja, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station on Nov. 3, 2012. Abdullahi said the convict broke into the complainant’s house in her absence and stole some of her property.

He listed the stolen items as one television, a DVD player, a refrigerator, iron, blender, standing fan, mattress and a collapsible wardrobe.

He said the convict sold all the items for N8, 500 but was arrested days later by the police.

The prosecutor said that during investigation, the convict confessed to have committed the crime. (NAN)

Gridlock on Abuja-Zuba outer-Northern Express Way, yesterday.

Photo: NAN

Ecobank security guard, 28, in court for alleged theft

By Beauty Amaike and Enekole Enokela

O

ne Titus Ashikabasanag attached to Ecobank, central area, Abuja, 28 and also a resident of No 45 old Pension board ,Wuse Zone 3, Abuja has been charged before an Abuja Chief Magistrates Court for alleged theft and cheating.

Police Prosecutor,Ogunge Fidelis told the court that on the January 4,2013 that one Mr.Ogwuru Christaina of Eco bank Nigeria limited , Head of Service of the Federation, central

Area Abuja branch came to the police station and reported that on the December, 28,2012 one Victoria Sule came to the said bank and reported that she noticed via message alert fraudulent withdrawal of N 87,000 from her account in Eco bank.

Fidelis further explained that during police investigation it was discovered that the accused stole her Automated Teller Machine (ATM) with Oceanic silver number 4999 0821 0583 7200 bearing Victoria Sule and made the said withdrawal.

He said that offence

contravened the provisions to Sections 289 and 176 of the penal Code.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

When he was asked why he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The accused explained that the said that the ATM was not found with him.

In his words: “I am a security guard in Eco bank and there was this customer that wanted to withdraw money but he pretended as if he cannot access the ATM machine”.

“So our duty is to put any customer who cannot operate the ATM machine through and on the process of helping he, it was my image that appear on the ATM screen so that is why I was accused.”

Chief magistrate Abubakar Babashani, granted the accused bail with the sum of N100, 000 and one surety.

He added that the surety must be a civil servant must bring his letters of promotion which the court must verify.

Babashani adjourned the case to January 25, 2013 for further hearing.

Security man, 26, charged with stealing tyres

T

he police on Friday arraigned Sirajo Sule, 26, of Tipper Garage, Jabi, Abuja, before a Wuse Zone 6 Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing two tyres valued at N200,000. Police prosecutor Abdullahi Alhassan told the court that Alhaji

Mohammed Sadis of Zone 1, No 1, Duste Alhaji, Abuja, reported the matter at the Mabushi Police Station on Jan. 3,2013.

Alhassan said the complainant employed the accused as a security guard in his yard at Ushafa in Bwari Area Council, Abuja.

“The accused stole two tyres valued at N200,000 from a truck parked inside the yard.

Alhassan said that during police investigation, the accused admitted that he committed the crime, but the accused pleaded not guilty in court.

Magistrate Musa Jobbo granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with a surety in like sum.

He said the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and adjourned the case to Jan 28, 2013 for hearing. (NAN)

Two men arraigned for alleged cheating

T

he police in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, on Friday arraigned two men in a Senior Magistrates’ Court for alleged cheating, criminal conspiracy and breach of trust.

They are Saddam Hassan, 22, and David Ayuba, 21, both residents of Ruga Market in Mararaba.

Police prosecutor Samuel Okoro told the court that the matter was reported by one Binta Sunusi at

Sani Abacha Police Station in Mararaba on Jan 10,2013.

Okoro said Sunusi entrusted her Bajaj motorcycle to Hassan in September 2012, to use for commercial purpose.

“After three weeks, Hassan came to the complainant’s residence to inform her that he gave the motorcycle to his friend Ayuba to use on his behalf for half a day.

“Later, he came back to say

that the motorcycle had been stolen at Kings and Queens Nursery/Primary School area, Mararaba.

The prosecutor prayed the court not to grant the accused bail, saying that they would interfere with investigation.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, and Senior Magistrate H. A. Abundaga granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 each with one surety

in like sum.

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

Abundaga said that if the bail condition was not met, the accused should be remanded in prison.

He adjourned the case to Jan 21,2013 for further hearing.

(NAN)

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Fulani community appeals to police to stop arrest of members

By Adeola Tukuru

F

ulani community in Gwako village has appealed to police to stop further arrest of Fulanis over the December 29, 2012 clash between Gbagyis and Fulanis in the area.

The Secretary, FCT chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Aliyu Saleh, made the appeal in Gwako village during a reconciliation meeting of the two communities called by a committee inaugurated by the FCT Minister.

Saleh, who commended the reconciliation efforts of FCT Minister over the clash, said the appeal was to strengthen the peace agreement reached at the meeting.

“As you can see the communities are happy and we have agreed to continue to live together in peace and since there is already peace in the village, we are calling on police authority to stop every arrest in connection to the clash.

“For those in detention we call on the police to temper justice with mercy and for our people that we lost in the clash we assumed that is how Allah wanted it.

“We have called on everybody to forgive and the move by the FCTA to return our people back to our original settlement is a welcome development since the two

communities have agreed to live in peace,” he said.

In his remark, Alhaji Alkali Ibrahim, the Village Head of Gwako who commended the FCT Minister for his quick intervention into the clash expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Reconciliation Committee.

“As we have agreed upon in the meeting, we will continue to educate our subjects to ensure that the peace arrangement was strictly adhere to and most importantly, to ensure that peace is not only restored but also sustained,” he said.

The chairman of the

committee, Alhaji Yahaya Gwagwa, commended the two communities for supporting the reconciliation efforts of the FCT Minister.

He expressed optimism that the reconciliation efforts of the FCT would no doubt yield expected results.

Fulani women and children in temporary camp after they were displaced by communal clash between them and the Gbagyis, at the University of Abuja permanent site in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

AEPB clamps down on over 1000 hawkers

By Josephine Ella Ejeh

T

he Federal Capital T e r r i t o r y Administration (FCTA) at the weekend commenced sanitization of Wuse Market and its surroundings, ejecting no fewer than 1,000 hawkers, street traders and other unlawful operators.

The exercise which was coordinated by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), also saw to the closure of Total service station along Herbert Macaulay Way, near Berger Junction over alleged

...Seals-off total service station

environmental infractions.

Saturday’s exercise kicked off at about 04.00 hours on Saturday morning with the board sealing off the station for harbouring unauthorized business activities within its premises such as production and sale of sachet water, hawking of used motor tyres, battery charging and others.

In addition to this, the entire service station premises were so filthy that the AEPB team had to compel the station’s attendants to

promptly clean up the place under his watch.

Addressing newsmen during the exercise, Director of AEPB, Mr. Isa Shuaibu said that through the exercise over 1,000 hawkers, street traders and illegal elements operating in Wuse market, Berger junction, Zone two junction and other adjoining streets to the market.

The director assured that the operation would be sustained and warned hawkers, street traders and other illegal operators to steer

off the market and its precincts or face arrest and prosecution.

He warned banks and other businesses bordering the market against condoning hawkers in front or around their offices stressing that AEPB would be left with no option than to seal off the office of any company found guilty of such illegal acts.

According to him, the sealing off of the TOTAL Service station should serve as a deterrent for other big companies condoning hawkers and street traders.

ASUU group cautions against pre-empting panel report on Uni Abuja

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Integrity Group of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja Chapter has cautioned against pre-emptness of the outcome of Visitation Panel Report on the university.

A statement signed by Dr Ya’u Damagun, the Group’s Chairman in Gwagwalada condemned insuations on the outcome of the report by Dr Clement Chup led

ASUU in the institution.

It could be recalled that the Federal Government had constituted a Special Visitation Panel to the University followed demand made by Chup led ASUU. The statement said petitions against the incumbent Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. James Adelabu by Chup led ASUU was not in the interest of peace and progress of the university.

It identified appointment of the group’s chairman as Deputy Vice

Chancellor, appointment of clique members of the groups into various lucrative positions as well as influencing promotions of members of the group as demands made by the group.

The statement said the failure of the VC to meet the demands had resulted to incessant mongering of falsehood and petition writing against the incumbent administration.

According the statement, the insinuations, pre-emptness of the

panel report as well as petitions against the incumbent administration of the university on frivolous matters is an attempt to remove the VC. “We wish to put a caveat that the same group is unfortunately going about insinuating and preempting outcomes of the visitation panel’s report and white paper. To us it is prejudicial, premature, unbelievable and unexpected of members of the academia,” it said.

Residents groan as security agencies clamp down on motorcyclists

R

esidents of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) quarters at Lugbe, Airport Road, Abuja, have been subjected to transportation trauma as a result of the ban placed on commercial motorcyclists by security agencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the combine team of the Nigeria Police Force and soldiers between Wednesday and Friday stormed the estate to enforce the ban on motorcyclists.

The security agencies impounded hundreds of motorcycles, popularly known as “okada”, which however, caught the residents unaware.

Mrs Titilayo Ogunlana, a civil servant and resident of FHA in Lugbe at the weekend , decried the sudden ban of the motorcycles, describing it as uncalled for.

Ogunlana said that trekking a long distance was not only harrowing, but a colossal waste of man-hours. “The ban is totally unacceptable, and the Minister of the FCT should please do something immediately because there is no other means of transportation in the estate except motorcycle,’’ she said.

Mr Ibrahim Lado, also a resident, said that the law enforcement agents should have given the residents sufficient information on the planned ban rather than adopting “a shocking strategy’’.

He said that it was a rude shock to him when he came back from work and alighted at the popular Car Wash bus stop only to discover that the whole place had been deserted by the okada people.

Lado said: “I have to trek a long distance before reaching my house and I did not find it funny at all as all my body aches”.

NAN reports that taxi drivers have taken advantage of the ban and are making brisk business as they increased their fare. Places like Tudun Wada, Total, Kapua and CBN, among others, now attract up to N100 from the N50 hitherto charged by the motorcyclists.

A woman, who simply identified herself as Halimat, was seen arguing with a driver for charging a N100, which used to go for N50, while the driver insisted she must pay N100.

NAN also reports the AMAC market located at the FHA, which used to be a beehive of activities, was largely deserted due to the ban.

Most of the people who came to buy goods in the market had to trek home.

The residents appealed to the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, to provide alternative means of transportation before the situation would become a social security problem. (NAN)

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

Nigeria receives 65 mmscf/d of gas – NPDC

Mob: 08033644990

BOI wants adequate funding for gender sensitive programmes

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BOI), Ms Evelyn Oputu has harped on the need to pay adequate attention to women empowerment to ensure sustainable development in the country.

Oputu who stated this in Abuja over the weekend, said, “Women empowerment is vital to economic development,” noting that the country be

better for it, if women are empowered through capacity building and allowed to access fund when due.

She stressed that women should not be handicapped because handicapping women was to handicap oneself.

Oputu said the gender issue is very important and has been taken to the fore front she assumed office in 2005, noting that at that time women empowerment and finance is always relegated to the

background.

The paradigm shift on women empowerment she said was introduced to take care of women because most banks were not lending or granting loans to the women due to the best reason known to them.

To achieve this, the bank according to her introduced a policy that 85 percent of its fund would be geared towards developing SMEs. Consequently the bank introduced SMEs desk in order

to facilitate assess to loan especially women, knowing very that this is the major area where they are operating.

With the introduction, the banks and other financial institutions have also introduced the SMEs desk to take care of women empowerment Oputu said her passion about the paradigm shift was borne out of the fact that there is more poverty among the women who she said form the

fifty percent of the population.

She noted with concern that women form the majority of people living in poverty because of a lot of factors which included lack of access to bank loan, discrimination among others.

She urged women to cultivate the habit of pulling one another up, noting through that they could overcome the problem of being left behind in the developmental process.

World Bank restates commits to job creativity, poverty reduction in Nigeria

By Abdulwahab Isa

W

orld Bank Vice President for Africa, Makhtar Diop has pledged the bank’s commitment to partner with Nigeria to reduce the poverty level by promoting projects that would create job opportunities.

Diop, on official visit to Nigeria gave the commitment yesterday at a meeting with Economy Coordinating Minister/ Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. He described Nigeria a very strategic important country in the continent of Africa stressing that support giving to Nigeria impacts on the overall benefits of the continent.

Diop said the bank had studied government’s macroeconomic policy tailored in direction of job creation, and pledged World Bank will partner federal government to realize the target.

“The fight for job creation is very important. We would engage government and work in same direction because the Bank is taking a new direction in the fight against poverty”.

In a brief remark earlier, Economy Coordinating Minister/ Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala applauded the Bank over its several projects and programs scattered all over the country .

She listed some of the Banks’ interventions in the country to include, water supply, education, health, agriculture and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) initiatives which she notes are geared towards employment generation and poverty reduction.

L-R: Head, Media and External Relations, Marketing and Corporate Communications, First Bank Nigeria Plc, Mr. Babatunde Lasaki, Head, Consumer Banking Products, FBN, Mrs. Funke Smith, past winner of Peugeot 307, Colonel Ferdinand Ekpo-Mbang, Official, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Nasiru Sifawa, and Manager, Risk Consulting, KPMG, Mr. Odalo Aimufia, during the bank's 'Save and Excel Promo' grand finale, recently in Calabar.

Single currency for West Africa in jeopardy

By Abdulwahab Isa

N

o West African country is able to meet the four prescribed convergence criteria earmarked for the takeoff of single currency programme of the West African Monetary Zone, it merged yesterday.

Nigeria’s Minister of state for finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama and Acting Director General, West African Monetary Institute Mr. Tei Kitcher, confirmed yesterday in Abuja at the 34th Technical committee meeting of the WAMZ.

• Countries fail on criteria The development has led to another major setback in the quest by West Africa countries to evolve a single common currency to facilitate regional trade among member countries.

The Heads of State and Government of the WAMZ had met in Abuja on June 22, 2009 where it took a decision to postpone the commencement date of the monetary union to on or before January 1, 2015 WAMZ had outlined for its member countries, four primary

criteria that must be met for the effective take off of the project.

These include, attaining a single digit interest rate for member countries, reduction in fiscal deficit, robust gross external reserves that will cover three months of imports and the central bank’s ability to finance fiscal deficit.

Of the four criteria, Nigeria satisfied three in 2012; Gambia met three criteria; Ghana met one; Guinea satisfied three; Liberia slipped from four to three

Management Tip of the Day

“

Stop regretting your career decisions

I should have never chosen this field.” “I should have left my job long ago.” It’s no fun to lament over decisions you’ve made in your career. Instead of letting remorse suffocate you, face it head on: · Get input. Ask some trusted friends to brainstorm ways to think differently about your regrets.

Choose confidants who are imaginative and positive — not cynical and snarky.· A s k “what if” questions. Using the input you got, formulate questions that help you view your career from a fresh angle.

For example, if you regret going into PR, you might ask yourself: What if I did PR for a cause I

believed in?· Explore ideas to act on. Look deeper into a few of your “what ifs.” If you find yourself getting excited about one possibility, keep working on it until it pays off.

Source: Harvard Business Review

while Sierra Leone satisfied two criteria as against one in 2011.

Ngama said, “The rate of inflation in WAMZ rose to 12.6 per cent in June 2012 from 11.6 per cent in June 2011.

The minister said the growth rate in GDP was driven by increased activities in the agricultural, services and industrial sectors in most member states.

He identified inflationary pressures as the greatest obstacle saying it picked up slightly during the review period as the consumer price index went above the trend line.

He called on member states to “explore innovative ways of enhancing domestic revenue and rationalize expenditures.”

Kitcher said following the lifting of the suspension of disbursement by the African Development Bank, the payment system project would resume this year in all the four beneficiary countries.

He said, “AfDB has agreed to extend for the last time the completion date of the payment system development project from December 2012 to June 2014.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Diamond Bank

I

n continuation of its support for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, Diamond Bank in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan African University is set to unveil the five successful entrepreneurs for the final phase of the ‘Building Entrepreneurs Today’ series (BET 2). This is the second edition of the capacity building initiative.

According to Mrs. Ayona Trimnell, Head, Corporate Communications of Diamond Bank, Building Entrepreneurs Today is a programme that teaches budding entrepreneurs various skills for running profitable businesses.

The unveiling ceremony will hold at Terra Kouture on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 in Lagos.

Noah’s Ark

I

n furtherance of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to give back to the society which it started last year, one of the nation’s new generation creative advertising agencies, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, recently organised a three-day workshop on Creative Photography and Makeup for students of Wasimi Community Senior School, Maryland, a neighbourhood school to the agency’s office.

This also included an introduction to Entrepreneurship session The CSR initiative was carried out in partnership with an online group of Nigerian makeup artists known as Nigerian MUA’s.

Some of its members were present and others made donations of makeup products and supplies to the school.

National Institute of Marketing

T

he new graduates of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) have charged the institute to ensure professionalism among practitioners so as to enhance the practice in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating students at the 2012 National Marketing Day celebration, held in Lagos, recently, the best graduating student for the year, Ifunanya Uchenna Ugoka noted that there is the need for the present council of the institute to ensure that standards and professionalism are maintained to enable the practice enjoy its pride of place among other professions in the country.

NNPC is aiding and abetting pipeline vandals – Amosun Stories by Muhammad Nasir

O

gun state Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has on Sunday said the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, must be blamed for the continuous incidents of pipeline vandalism in the country.

Amosun stated this when he visited the scene of an explosion in Arepo, Ogun state.

The incident, which resulted to the death of many vandals, occurred on Sunday.

A furious Amosun while speaking said: “It has come to a stage where we have to tell ourselves the home truth; this shows that we are our own problem in this nation; we are our own enemies because this is clearly a failure of governance.”

“We have NNPC there indeed I have to say it here and am saying it with all sense of responsibility that, NNPC by their inaction is aiding and abetting the vandals.”

“Indeed, I want to believe that

they are part of this pipeline vandalisation with their inaction because you can’t have somebody there as GMD, NNPC or what have you and they will allow this to be happening.”

“How can some vandals put everybody in this nation into problem? Just look at dead bodies littering the place,” he added.

He said the NNPC has failed to fully secure its facilities, saying that was why vandals often tamper with it.

“How can we not spend token to maintain it? That is why I said NNPC with their inaction are part of this problem. I want to believe that they are the people aiding and abetting these vandals.”

“Even the security people here, are risking their lives. Look at the canoe NNPC is using in this age and time. Even when they say the place is combustible, they can use solar power canoe. If they support, I will get all these place cleared before the end of March. I need swamp

buggies. I will clear this place and we will erect platform. ”Look at where they said is security watchtower is. Who will go and stay there to watch anything? This is not good for us as a nation, we are our own enemies.

Any public thing, nobody look after it. We should do the right thing.

This is multi billion naira investment,” he said.

“There is no access to go there and these are the people with sophisticated weapons. I even understand that, that was the same spot where the NNPC engineers were killed; so which officer will want to risk his life? If we have this type of investment, of course we should do ourselves some good.

“I will be responsible, if they are ready to partner with us. We’ll clear this place, by end of March 2013.

You will not see anything here again. We would have started erecting the platform, they will put CCTV there and there will be control room”.

L-R: Assistant General Manager, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Chioma Nkechika, President, MasterCard Worldwide, Mr. Ajay Banga, and Country Manager, West Africa, MasterCard Worldwide, Mrs. Omokhinde Ojomuyide, during the CEOs Cashless Conversation with President Master Card Worldwide, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Nigeria receives 65 mmscf/d of gas

T

he Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited has started the delivery of 65 million standard cubic feet per day of gas into the domestic market, in a bid to boost power generation and meet the high demand for natural gas in the country.

The NPDC is the exploration and production subsidiary company of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The company currently produces about 130,000 barrels of oil per day and 400mmscf/d of gas from its various operated assets.

The 65mmscf/d supply is capable of generating about 260 megawatts of electricity, and is sourced from Oredo field in OML 111, the firm said in a statement on

Friday.

The Oredo Integrated Gas Handling Facility project is currently being executed by an indigenous contractor, Network Oil & Gas Company Limited.

The overall project completion is about 65 per cent and is expected to be ready for commissioning in 2013, according to NPDC. The GHF is located in Oredo Field (OML 111) approximately 35 kilometers south of Benin City in Edo State.

The Oredo gas project is a 100mmscf/d capacity gas plant with fractionation and LPG dispensing units.

When the plant is completed by the third quarter of 2013, it will produce 100mmscg/d Lean gas (West African Gas Pipeline

specification) and 330 tonnes per day of LPG, according to the statement.

This is expected to increase power generation and LPG utilisation in the country, which will reduce firewood and kerosene consumption, thereby contributing to a cleaner environment.

In addition to the existing Gas Handling Facility, NPDC said it had commenced another project, which would deliver 100mmscf/d of raw gas to Pan Ocean Oil Corporation to utilise its spare capacity available in the Ovade Ogharefe gas plant.

With these projects, gas flaring at NPDC Oredo fields will be eliminated in line with the flare out directives of the Federal Government, it noted.

He added that: “NNPC has been going front and back. If they want to stop vandalisation in Ogun State – I don’t know of any other state – they should come and we’ll rob minds because I don’t want Ogun State to be on the front pages of newspapers for wrong reasons.”

“I will write again to the appropriate authority and I have been doing that. This is not good for us as a nation. Every time, they will say that vandals have done this and that, what have they (NNPC) done? Some people will be in Abuja blowing big grammars and doing nothing; very ineffective,” the governor retorted.

….as NNPC expresses shock at fresh attact on pipeline at Arepo

T

he management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has expressed shock at the renewed attack on the System 2B Pipeline at Arepo barely a month after it was fixed following a fire caused by products thieves who had ruptured the pipeline in August 2012.

The Acting Group General Manager Group Public Affairs of the Corporation, Ms Tumini Green, in a statement made available to journalist disclosed that product thieves hacked at the pipeline again yesterday causing fire that reportedly killed 3 persons.

“The corporation is appalled by the repeated attacks on the pipeline at the same spot in Arepo in Ogun state. A similar attack on the pipeline in August last year and the difficulties the Corporation had in effecting repairs as a result of security issues caused a lot of hardship in product distribution which was responsible for the emergence of long queues at fuel stations across the country in the last quarter of 2012”, Green stated.

She said the corporation is further shocked by the statement credited to the governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, alleging that the incident was as result of negligence on the part of NNPC. “It is sad that the Governor of Ogun state who should know the importance of national assets like pipelines and do everything in his power to protect them is engaging in a blame game when every responsible Nigerian citizen is wondering why Arepo which is in his domain has become such an attractive spot for oil thieves and pipeline vandals,” she stated.

She urged Governor Amosun to emulate his Abia state counterpart who has mobilized security to protect the pipelines in his domain to sustain product supply to the state rather than engage in unnecessary rhetorics.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Cheap smartphone global market grows A sha, the budget smartphone line from Nokia, is outselling its premium handset offering, the Windows-run Lumia, by over two to one.

The firm’s quarterly results, published on Thursday, revealed the total number of both Asha and Lumia devices sold in the last three months of 2012 was 14 million.

Only 4.4 million were Lumias.

There have also been rumours that Apple may offer a lowerpriced iPhone model.

Reports that a senior Apple executive denied this have been withdrawn.

“We forecast that by 2016, 31% of the global overall handset market will be low-end smartphone,” Ian Fogg, principal analyst at IHS, told the BBC. “An entry-level smartphone is very different from a high-end

smartphone,” he said.

“Smaller, cheaper devices have processors from two or three years ago, they have small screens with low resolution, and weaker cameras. They can all do email and the web but gaming and browsing is a much better experience on the higher end phones.”

However the difference in cost to the consumer is significant - in the UK a basic smartphone can cost as little as £29.99, he said, while the iPhone 5 currently retails for £529 on the Apple UK website.

Premium phones “Apple still play out at the premium end of the market,” said Mr Fogg.

“Can they remain profitable and successful being in a small part of the handset market or do they need to be a bigger player to

get the economies of scale right?”

According to analysts ComScore, by the end of 2012 only 28% of smartphone owners in the UK had iPhone handsets.

“Apple makes high quality products, it doesn’t make cheap products,” Mr Fogg added.

The iPhone 5 retails for £529 in the UK “That doesn’t rule out Apple creating a cheaper iPhone that still has high quality components. Look at the iPod range - they started with a premium price product, then they added the mini, the nano, the shuffle - they went to a range of products hitting different price points.”

Mr Fogg pointed out that there are currently variations of the iPhone 4, 4S and 5 available at different prices.

“Their strategy has been to

reuse previous generation model rather than build a new model,” he said.

“Apple, I’m sure, is evaluating that strategy. Is it better to use a tried and trusted design that they know how to manufacture and that the consumer understands, or is it better to design a new model that hits that price point?”

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this month, Chinese phone manufacturer ZTE

Set-up-boxes for digital transmission will be manufactured in Nigeria – NBC Boss

Nigeria hosts 2013 Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition

FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Muhammed

N

igeria, Africa's most populous country and the largest telecom market in the continent, has been chosen as the host country of the inaugural Digital Conference & Exhibition, slated for April 23-25, 2013.

The three-day ICT event will be held at Nicon Luxury Hotel, in Abuja, the capital city. Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja Sheraton Hotel, Bolingo Hotel, Protea Hotel Asokoro, Chelsea Hotel, Rockview Hotel, and Hampton Suites have been designated as official accommodation hotels for guests expected from around Nigeria, African countries, and the rest of the world.

First Bank of Nigeria Plc, one of Nigeria's biggest financial institutions with operations throughout the country, as well as in South Africa, United Kingdom, France and China, has signed up as the Official Banker of

the pan-African ICT event.

Speaking during the Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting held in Abuja last weekend for the forthcoming confab, Dr. Evans Woherem, MD/ CEO of Compumetrics Solutions Limited, the organizer of the event, said, "Departing from the usual gathering of ICT people talking to other ICT people, Digital Africa 2013 deliberately targets sectors of the society that are major consumers of ICT such as government ministries and agencies, agriculture, education, health and national security organizations".

Dr. Woherem explained thus: "The aim of this continental technology conference is to promote a better integrated Africa, using modern ICT tools.

The event is an important platform to network, share knowledge on the latest

Chairman, Digital Africa, Dr. Evans Woherem developments in the ICT world, do business, and sign deals. The conference program which comprises plenary and breakout sessions is complemented by a parallel exhibition of various ICT products, devices, services, solutions and innovations".

"The conference is open to delegates, sponsors and exhibitors from the 54 countries in Africa, as well as from the rest of the world. The event has been designed to add value to the leading global computer and telecom brands targeting the virgin and juicy African markets, ICT investors from Europe, the Americas and Asia, seeking fresh markets, and ICT industry regulators and agencies across African countries wishing to showcase their potentials to the world".

Also expected at Digital Africa 2013 are major African telephone

service providers, major African broadband service providers, top telecom and IT hardware makers, assemblers and suppliers, top software and solutions providers, and Africa's leading banks at the forefront of unleashing the untapped opportunities of mobile money across the continent.

The conference also targets ICT professionals from Africa's military and para-military organizations, universities and research institutes, hospitals, clinics, and various organizations that promote better health, and African technology 'whiz kids' who have great products to showcase to the continent and the rest of the world.

Dr. Evans Woherem, the convener of Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition, has described the continent as the last frontier for global ICT companies seeking fresh markets.

announced plans to launch a lower-end smartphone running on Mozilla’s Firefox operating software in Europe this year.

“I think Apple should be more aggressive with its smartphone range,” said Mr Fogg.

“I think the strategy they have had of reusing previous year’s models has been quite smart, but there is also an opportunity to design a new product that hits that low price point.”

Stories by Chris Alu

T

he Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Engr.

Yomi Bolarinwa has said that the transition from analogue to digital transmission is imminent.

According to the NBC boss, to that effect the Set-up-boxes that will give signal support for the transmission of the digital broadcasting are going to be manufactured in the country and will be made available before the final switch over date which will soon be fixed by the Digiteam Nigeria.

Speaking to journalist during a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, Bolarinwa said that the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting is on course; He said to achieve that, the presidency is collaborating with technical expatriates that would bring all the necessary equipments to manufacture the Set-up-boxes in the country before the final switch over date, so that it will be made available and affordable for everyone just like hand phones.

Bolarinwa explained that the transition from analogue to digital transmission is a global practice and Nigeria would not be left out , to that effect the switch-over date has to be reviewed in order to avoid mistakes and also give the citizens quality service that they desire as practice globally.

According to him, the Digiteam Nigeria, which was inaugurated last year December is collaborating with the commission towards achieving a final date for the final switchover date and has core responsibility mandate, to establish and implement a comprehensive public awareness and programme in consultation with stakeholders and regulators.

He said at the moment NTA and StarTimes are the only licensed stations operating on NBC network and that no other station has been giving the license to operate digital transmission network.

He said that the problem with the network is the last mile deployment which the Digiteam Nigeria will look into and also said the commission’s aim this year is to focus on awareness campaign of the digital broadcasting and as well encourage operators to invest in the industry.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 22

NCAA cautions pilots, airlines on danger of harmattan clouds From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday alerted airline operators and pilots on the need to adhere strictly to weather report to avoid any incident of dangers inherent in the current harmattan haze being experienced across Nigeria.

An advisory circular made available to both operators and pilots and obtained by journalists which was signed by the Director General of the agency, Dr. Harold Demuren said the circular is intended to alert all pilots to the

hazards of harmattan haze and offers guidance to help prevent accidents caused by the weather phenomenon.

According to the statement, hazards and operational problems associated with harmattan is comparable to that of heavy fog. Thus, air-toground visibility is considerably reduced.

Other factors the agency said could result to accident if pilots are not properly briefed include poor aerodrome visibility which might fall below the prescribed minima and in severe conditions, dust haze can blot out runways and

markers over wide areas making visual navigation impossible.

Its reiterated where terminal visibility falls below the prescribed weather minima, airlines and pilots should flights be delayed, diverted or cancelled while it’s further advised pilots to recognize harmattan haze as a hazard and exercise maximum restraint when the condition is observed or forecast.

“It is therefore mandatory for all pilots to obtain weather briefing from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) including

L-R: World Bank Vice-President, Africa Region, Makhtar Diop, being welcomed by Director, International Economic Relation Department, Federal Ministry of Finance, Haruna Mohammed, on Sunday in Abuja.

With them is the country Director, World Bank, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly.

Photo: NAN

Dangote sugar refinery crashes sugar price by 25%

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he nation’s foremost sugar refinery, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (DSR) has announced a 25 per cent reduction in the price of its product in response to the price of sugar at the International Commodity market.

With the new price regime, Dangote crashed the price of its 50kg bag from N8, 900 to N6, 660.

Managing Director of the company, Engr. Abdullahi Sule attributed the development to the recent reduction in the price of raw sugar at the international market.

The reduction, according to Engr. Sule reflects the trends in the international market where the prices of raw sugar have dropped from about $0.26 cents to the current $0.19 cents. He said the company has a policy of passing the benefits of price reductions to the customers.

Already, with the price reduction rocking the market and some other sugar refineries alleging that DSR reduced the Sugar prices to a level where it makes it difficult for competition to survive, Eng. Sule explained that Nigeria is not a sugar producing nation, hence all Raw Sugar that are refined locally are imported from Brazil by all industry players and that there was nothing to hide.

The DSR Chief Executive explained that raw sugar is traded openly on the International Commodities Market with the prices available for all and sundry to see and/or verify.

“DSR only reacted to a reduction in the international price of sugar in the last one year for the benefit of its customers.

As a responsible corporate citizen, we are committed to the socio –economic growth of the nation’s economy and there is no need for this horrendous

accusation” he said According to him; Raw Sugar is traded openly on the International Commodities Market with the prices available for all to verify. All existing sugar refineries in Nigeria import their Raw Sugar from the same country in South America.

“When prices of sugar shot up internationally, we increased our prices and charged consumers as much as N9,600 per bag. In the last one year the International Prices of Raw Sugar have dropped from about $0.26cents to the current price of about $0.19cents per pound.

“Therefore, in line with DSR Plc’s strategy of passing the benefits of price reduction to our customers we reduced the prices of our 50kg sugar bags from N8,900.00 to N6,600.00 (VAT inclusive) with effect from December 16, 2012 All other sugar refineries in Nigeria are enjoying five years tax holiday at the moment.

departure, en-route and destination weather information prior to flight operations. The airlines and their flight crews should keep passengers informed of the

situation and of the potential for flight delays and possible cancellations.

Safety considerations must always be the highest priority’’, Dr. Demuren said.

Dana to complete compensation for crashed victims in two months From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA yesterday said all families of victims aboard the ill-fated Dana aircraft MD 83 will collect their outstanding balance of compensation from the airline when all the processes to enable them receive the payment must have been completed.

Giving a breakdown on the development so far recorded, the Director General of the agency, Dr. Harold Demuren told reporters that the agency is working assiduously with the Lagos state government to facilitate the collection of letters of administration needed to receive the said claims.

Dr. Demuren, who was represented by the Director of Aero-Medics in the agency, Dr. Theresa Bassey said of the 153 souls on board the crashed aircraft, 131 have submitted documents for payment of compensation while two families are yet to do same for their lost loved ones.

He said “families of 12 victims are yet to submit any documentation, 53 families have gone to court (inclusive of families of 23 victims who had collected the initial payment of USD30, 000.

Documentation for 24 victims

is awaiting authentication by the insurers while letters of administration for families of 48 victims are still being awaited.”

He said while issues of multiple claims are equally being handle by the agency, the DG disclosed that only families of 14 victims have so far pocketed the balance of USD70, 000 being the outstanding payment of the USD100, 000 approve by law.

The NCAA helmsman further said the agency has held several meetings with families of the victims and their lawyers, alongside the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and sought the assistance of the Lagos state government in order to fast track the processes of issuing the LOA. Other avenues explored to fasten the processes of completing the payment he told reporters include a visit to the Chief Judge of Lagos state while letters were also written to the Governor and the Attorney General of the state.

“We are happy to inform you that the Lagos state government has approved our request to fast track the process and waive some the charges, we believe that within two months the process will be completed and the USD100, 000 compensation will be paid, he reiterated.

Microsoft rolls out Skype on March, dumps Windows Live Messenger

E

ffective March 15, 2013, Microsoft will no longer be using Windows Live Messenger and instead advised users to log in using Skype.

The network however will remain available to users for another 12 months before Microsoft eventually phases it off.

Microsoft had sent an email earlier this week to its Messenger users, announcing the eventual exit from the existing Messenger service and that users would be migrated over to Skype.

“Update to Skype and sign in using a Microsoft Account (same as your Messenger ID) and all your Messenger contacts will be at your fingertips; You’ll be able to instant message and video chat with them just like before, and also discover new ways of staying in touch with Skype on your mobile and tablet”, the email stated.

In November 2012, the Redmond, Washington-based technology giant Microsoft

announced its desire to forego the use of Windows Live Messenger as it focuses on “making things simpler for our users while continuously improving the overall experience,” Tony Bates, Skype’s president, wrote in a blog post.

He said users stand to receive several benefits from Skype, including support for more devices, including iPad and Android tablets, screen sharing, the ability to place calls to landline phones, and group video conferencing.

To aid users for the transition, Microsoft added an upgrade button to its desktop Messenger. When clicked, it uninstalls Messenger and puts Skype in its place.

Created by a team of Estonian software developers, Skype was released in 2003. It went on to gain more than 600 million users before Microsoft bought it for $US8.5 billion ($A8.06 billion) in 2011.

PAGE 24

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANAURY 15, 2013

Nigeria: Four months after devastating floods, farmers are at their wits' end Last August through October, Nigeria suffered its worst flooding in 50 years.

Four months on, small farmers in Kogi state, the worst affected zone in the centre of the country, are struggling to rebuild a normal life after their harvest was destroyed. France 24, an international news channel, reports on the alarming state of the agricultural sector there.

A

ccording to the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, 1.2 million metric tonnes of foodstuffs

Steve Crabtree

Destroyed cassava plants in Kogi state following floods in 2012.

were destroyed and 40 million hectares of farmland were flooded.

Several farmers have asked the government for new seeds and machines in order to recover their losses.

At the end of November, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated around 30 million euros worth of humanitarian aid is needed following the floods, and expressed food insecurity issues in several areas. The country was flooded during the rainy season that began in July - the downpours lasted until October; 363 people died and more than two million have been displaced.

In Nigeria, the most populated African country

with 162 million people, the agricultural sector employs 70% of the population and contributes to 33% of GDP. Crops most affected by the floods were cassava, plantain, yam, maize and papaya.

Steve Crabtree is a volunteer for ShelterBox, a disaster relief charity that has, since the end of October, constructed temporary shelters and helped flood victims rebuild their homes. He went on his third mission on January 2.

"At the moment I'm in Kogi state, in the small village of Eroko where, almost four months after the disaster, the situation is still very worrying for villagers and fishermen. Most of them have lost everything, not

Four months after the floods, some residents haven't been able to rebuild their homes and are sleeping in temporary shelters.

Since September, farmers have lost their harvest and have not been able to rebuild their homes.

only their harvest but also their homes. Some don't even have grains to plant.

Since they have to start from scratch, they are forced to ask for help from the authorities, he said."

"I met six families of farmers in this village who had their homes completely destroyed. Parts of their harvest that they had stocked away in attics were found in the middle of the rubble, and were thus irretrievable. The rest, along with livestock, were washed away by the floodwaters.

Most of the villagers haven't had time to rebuild their homes. Their priority is to work the fields in order to feed their families and friends. Before we arrived, some of them slept outside, others were packed into shared dwellings.

By providing them temporary shelter, we allow them to concentrate fully on their

fields, and try to give them back some dignity.

But it's impossible to help everyone. Their machines have been broken or washed away, and they need to do everything by hand. Some crops will take up to 18 months before they produce again. On the scale of disasters, I'd say it's massive.

The organisation Kowen [editor's note: founded by the wife of the governor of Kogi state] has done all it can to help us in terms of logistics and getting us to isolated zones. A lot of villagers lost everything because they had not been informed about what was going to happen, and didn't have enough time to put away and store their harvests.

One idea to develop is to use modern technologies to give them warnings [editor's note: the government plans to distribute 10,000 mobile phones to send future flood warnings to villagers by SMS].

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANAURY 15, 2013

PAGE 25

Ones to watch: Samuel James

Samuel James has been selected as one of BJP's 20 photographers to watch in 2013

N

igeria has fascinated Samuel James ever since he read an article in The New Yorker about how the country was helplessly intertwined with the US oil economy. It inspired him to travel to Lagos as a student to explore the sprawling metropolis and experience the complexities of Nigerian life.

James, who is now a professor in the Narrative and Documentary Practice

programme at Tufts University, grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where, he says, "from a young age, I was confronted with the sharp disparities that define the city's social landscape, particularly tensions regarding race and class that extend through much of America's post-industrial Rust Belt".

He turned to photography as a means to explore and understand the

inequality he was experiencing in his own city.

James began his work in Nigeria by documenting Lagos's Area Boys - unemployed youths forced on to the streets, who refer to themselves as "Born Troways" - Nigerian Pidgin for "born and thrown away". He has spent the past few years living among them on and off as "they have provided a unique lens into the ruthless contradictions

wrought in the post-colonial petro-state that is Nigeria".

James has since expanded his long-term project to look at the Niger Delta area and "the interactions between the multibillion dollar oil industry based there and the Delta's riverine communities, where most of the population survives on less than a dollar a day".

His work depicts the Delta's inhabitants living precariously on a land saturated with oil. People of all ages work day and night, trading, burning and refining the toxic crude oil. The area has also been marred by violence instigated by local militias trying to take control of the oil fields. Despite an amnesty in 2009 that saw the militias trade arms for cash, little has been done to alleviate the decades-long suffering.

The area is not new to journalistic and photographic scrutiny but James's commitment to a place that can be so readily overlooked by the news agenda is what proves its worth. The story has been published by Harper's Magazine but James also has other ambitions for the project.

"I am hoping to inspire audiences on both sides of the

Atlantic and elsewhere to become more active participants in the conversation regarding global dependence on oil and our collective relationship to the environment and each other. I intend to address the complexities of this story through a variety of platforms, including a documentary film and a book."

James's work will eventually lead him to other regions of Nigeria, where he hopes to look at issues surrounding religion, the emerging middle class and the lasting legacy of colonialism. "I tend to focus on questions regarding how historically ingrained global political and economic forces affect the lives of the socially vulnerable. I am interested in crossroads: the space where disparate paths and worlds converge."

The search will also take him back to where his own story began, because James is "embarking on a long-awaited journey back home to Ohio" in search of the issues that first inspired him to take up photography.

Source: British Journal of Photography

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 26

The Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, Ustaz Musa Mohammed, leading Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration 2013 Juma'at prayers, last Friday at the National Mosque, in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Remembering the fallen heroes Stories by Joy Baba

T

he Armed Forces and Remembrance Day celebration is an annual event organised to honor members of the Nigerian Armed Forces who fought in the First and Second World Wars, and those who served or are still serving in various peace support operations worldwide as well as those who fought in the Nigerian Civil War. The day is to celebrate both the dead and the living heroes including all those who suffered various deprivations as a result of wars. The day was initially marked on the 11th of November every year to coincide with the Remembrance Day popularity known as “Poppy Day” or “11 – 11” for the First and Second World War veterans in all commonwealth countries.

However, in Nigeria, in view of some significant historical developments, it is celebrated on the 15th of January every year.

Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War I in 1918.

Hostilities formally ended “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” in accordance with the Armistice, signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. (“At the 11th hour” refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or

11:00 a.m.) World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.

This is symbolic as it is on this date in 1966 that the first shot was fired to commence the Nigerian Civil War and the quest to keep the nation one.

As the nation marks the Day today, it is important to note that the dead as well as the living heroes have children and other dependants to cater for. While some ex-servicemen are well off, majority of them find it difficult to make ends meet. The celebration is therefore, a unique occasion for the government and the society to soberly reflect on the plight of the dead and the living heroes with a resolve to find a lasting solution to their predicament. Some of these heroes served right from the

time of the Lagos Constabulary, Royal West African Frontiers Force, Southern and Northern Regiments, the Royal Nigerian Army and now the Nigerian Armed Forces. As the day is being celebrated an important event killed to take place is the launch of the emblem and appeal fund.

A major event to commemorate this day is the launch of Emblem and Appeal Fund which provides Nigerians opportunity of giving financial and material support to the families of our fallen heroes as well as the veterans who survived various military operations. Not forgetting that some sustained degrees of injuries that had rendered them handicapped.

Another objective is to raise funds for the dependants of

those who died in active service, and for the survival of the Nigerian Legion, which is the umbrella body for the veterans.

This would go a long way in alleviating the suffering of the dependants left behind by these fallen heroes.

In the same vein, state governments should encourage the program by donating lands to the legionaries for business and farming activities. Also a better system should be put in place to solve the perennial problems associated with their pensions.

It would also be worth the while to include the Biafra soldiers who fought in the Nigerian Civil War in the military pension scheme, especially as the nation is seeking ways of achieving lasting unity and harmony.

Another area of concern should be that of the pledges made during the emblem and appeal fund launch across the country. Statistics show that majority of the pledges have not been redeemed. Nigerians should truly be their brother’s keeper by fulfilling their promises and paying the pledges. It would be a step in the right direction for the Federal government to allocate some funds to the Nigerian Legion yearly to assist the members to live decent lives.

Nigerians are urged to donate generously as we celebrate this year’s Armed Forces and Remembrance Day, to support family members and dependants of the fallen heroes as well as the ones still alive as they gave their lives so that we could live in peace today.

ECOWAS commends Nigerian Armed Forces

T

he President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, has commended members of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their immense contribution to peace and stability in the region.

Ouédraogo also thanked the Nigerian Legion for the services being rendered by its members to the ECOWAS Commission and other Community Institutions based in country.

He stated this when a delegation from Nigerian Armed Forces paid him a courtesy call in his office as part of the activities to mark the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration “On behalf of our Community Institutions and myself, I want to pay a special tribute to the Nigerian Armed Forces for their support to ECOWAS’ peacekeeping efforts through the then ECOMOG, and now in Guinea Bissau and

the proposed peace mission in Mali,” Ouédraogo said.

He also paid tribute to Nigeria’s fallen military heroes and expressed solitary with their families.

The leader of the delegation, Major-General Salihu Uba, Director, Veteran Affairs Division of the Ministry of Defence expressed his gratitude to ECOWAS for supporting the legionnaires. Uba highlighted the importance of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, marked on 15th January

annually to acknowledge the services of the Nigerian Armed Forces and in honour of the departed military heroes.

Major-General Uba was accompanied on the visit to the Commission by the National Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Colonel Micah Gayya (retired) and Commander Yinka Sogbesan, a Staff Officer in the Ministry of Defence.

He later decorated the ECOWAS Chief with the 2013 Nigerian Armed Forces emblem.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 27

Jonathan urges Nigerians to condemn calls for disintegration Stories by Joy Baba

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday in Abuja urged all Nigerians to stand up and condemn those calling for the for the disintegration of the country noting that the nation would continue to remain a united nation.

Jonathan stated this at the Inter-Denominational Church Service to mark the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the National Christian Centre.

According to the President, “some people talk about disintegration of Nigeria, even at the political level some people take it as weapon of entity when they want to discuss politics, my conviction and I believe that of everybody here is that Nigeria will continue to remain a united nation.

“But if our leaders at all level political leaders, community leaders, religious leaders talk more about those things that divide us instead of those things that brings us together.

“Then we will be encouraging the younger ones who know little or nothing about the history of this country to do things differently and sometime conducts themselves in a way that is clearly anti-social, ‘’ he said .

Jonathan said “Nigeria will not disintegrate and anybody who is doing any research in psychology or sociology or political science can do his or her work but Nigeria will continue to remain one.

The president also said the best gift Nigerians can give to the armed forces and the sister organisations is for us in our daily utterances and activates emphasis the need for us to live in peace , love ourselves and unite .

“As a country made up of great citizens, when we work together, when after the government play their role and the citizens also play their roles surely we will get to where we want to go.

“Today as we remember our fallen heroes and the work of our armed forces and other security services have been doing, the only thing I believe as the best gift we can give to them as a people is to pray for them.

President Nigeria Baptist Convention, Rev Supo Ayokunle, in his sermon titled “Embracing the legacies of a worthy officer” said it was one thing to be given an opportunity to serve but it was another thing to serve very well and also accused some soldiers of sabotaging the war against terrorism.

Supo urged men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to know that though they have the power of gun but they do not have all the power in the world as power belongs to God and at best what man should do is seek it.

Gov. Peter Obi (left) of Anambra state, with the out-going GOC of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Oshinowo (right) at the Governor’s Lodge, on Wednesday

Gov Obi seeks upgrade of military formations facilities

G

overnor Peter Obi of Anambra state has called for proper maintenance of infrastructure in Army Barracks to provide conducive environment for soldiers to operate.

The governor stated this when the out-going General Officer commanding (GOC) of 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major General Olowaseun Oshinowo paid him a farewell visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.

Obi said national infrastructure should not be allowed to deteriorate and collapse and further decried the poor condition of internal roads

and facilities in Onitsha Army Barracks.

He assured them that the state government will intervene and reconstruct some of the roads to save them from further dilapidation while he will bring the situation to the attention of relevant authorities at the federal level.

The governor commended the contributions of the military in strengthening internal security and extolled the performance of the out-going GOC which he noted impacted positively on the state and the South East.

The out-going GOC of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army,

Major General Oshinowo said he was retiring from the Army after 34 years of service and attaining the mandatory age of retirement.

He expressed gratitude to the

governor for his various support and assistance to the Army which he noted enhanced efficiency and recalled that the state and South East did not record any crime or kidnap throughout the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Oshinowo further urged the governor to extend the same support and cooperation to his successor to sustain the cordial relationship.

President eulogises fallen heroes

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has eulogised Nigerian soldiers who paid the supreme price to keep the country together and called on the citizens to pray for them so that God will grant them Aljana Firdauz, a place in paradise.

The President who was represented by his Vice, Arc

Members of the Nigerian Legion at an Inter-denominational church service to mark the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, on Sunday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Namadi Sambo at the Special Juma’t Service in honor of the falling heroes on Friday said there is no better reward for the soul willingly rendered for the peace, unity and stability of the nation.

According to him, “it’s our belief that God in his infinite mercy will forgive these gallant and braved Nigerians as we keep praying for God’s repose of their souls, grant them with ‘Aljana Firdauz’ and bless the family they left behind.”

Earlier, the Chief Imam of the National Mosque Abuja, Alhaji Mohammed Musa prayed for both the departed souls and the leaving ones in the Armed forces of Nigeria, as well as for the peace and vast restoration of security situation in the country.

Musa in his ‘Khutuba’ (Sermon) delivered before the prayer urged those in authority to equip our security agencies for efficient performance, fair to the electorate and be just in their general conducts.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim (CFR), Muslim Members of the Federal Executive Council, Senior Military Officers and Men serving and retired in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs participated in the service.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 28

FG moves to resolve farmers/ pastolarists crisis

W

orried by the lingering crisis between farmers and pastoralists in parts of the country, the Federal Government said that measures had been taken to resolve the problem.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed this at a one-day sensitisation meeting on Primary Stock Route Development in Yola, the Adamawa State capital recently.

Adesina, who said that government was disturbed on the manner the conflict between the two groups was spreading, threatening the security of the nation, added that, “Government has expressed shock over the increased rate of conflicts between farmers and nomads and it is now working restlessly toward bringing lasting solution to the problem.”

Represented by Mr. Tony Ibinola of the National Livestock Development Project (NLDP), Kaduna, the minister said that government had begun demarcation and identifying stock routes all over the country.

“In the North East region, we have so far demarcated over 4,500 kilometers of international stock route and most of them start from northern part of the country to the South, while some move to Cameroun and Chad Republics.

“Within Adamawa and Taraba states, over 500 kilometres of stock routes have already been demarcated and about 200 kilometres in Adamawa are on the pipeline,’’ Adesina said.

The state Director, Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), Dr. Walia Hamman, said that the objective of the exercise was to prevent clashes between the two groups.

He said that the project was sponsored by the three tiers of government, where the Federal Government sponsored 50 per cent, states and local governments 30 and 20 per cent, respectively.

“The concept of the stock route is aimed at resolving frequent clashes between farmers and pastoralists and also targeted at increasing animal production in the country,” Walia said.

The Adamawa Commissioner for livestock production, Alhaji Tijjani Maksha, said that the state government would join hands with the Federal Government in demarcating the routes.

“Disturbed with the frequent clashes between farmers and pastoralists, the state government created a ministry of livestock production to find a permanent solution to the problem.”

The Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu BarkindoAliyu, said that the meeting came at the right time, when reports of conflicts between farmers and pastoralists become rampart.

Lamido, who was represented

by Dan Galadima Adamawa, Alhaji Lawan Ribadu, said that traditional institutions had a key role to play in resolving the conflicts. (NAN)

2013 budget: Zamfara Govt. to boost cotton production

Woman harvesting cotton

By Mohammed Kandi

T

he Zamfara State Government has revealed its plans to develop policies that would boost cotton production in the state.

While defending the 2013 budget proposals, Chairman, Zamfara State Cotton Development

Agency, Alhaji Hassan Moriki, told the state House of Assembly in Gusau that the agency was ready to encourage cotton farmers in the state.

He said the Agency would assist the farmers by providing them with seeds, organising workshops as well as buying their produce at reasonable price at the

end of harvest period.

According to him, the state government had earmarked N1 billion for the purchase of the produce from the farmers at reasonable price this year.

Moriki therefore informed that as part of the state government’s effort to encourage cotton farming, the state

government would establish Local Buying Centres (LBC) in each local government area for the agency to be buying the produce directly from farmers.

He assured the people of the state that government would do everything possible to assist cotton farmers to derive maximum benefit from their labour.

Stakeholders urge FG to strengthen agric sector

S

ome agriculture stakeholders have advised the Federal Government to strengthen the sector to enable it contribute as much to the economy as oil.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the stakeholders applauded some milestones recorded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development so far, but pointed out that some of the government policies should be reviewed.

The Head of Aquatic Resources

Department, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services, Mrs Foluke Areola, said that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture had been positioned and ready to take over the economy of the country from oil.

According to Areola, Nigeria had resources and favourable climate to achieve the targets of the ministry.

“We are more than ready. The ministry has put into place structures that will position us to take over from oil because we have the resource, we have the land, the human resources, the financial resources; the climate is

favourable to us. So there is nothing stopping us from developing our agricultural sector.

“And more importantly we have a minister who is committed; who has helped other countries develop their agriculture and it’s on record that those countries that could not even feed themselves before are now net exporters,” she said.

Similarly, Managing Director, Bama Farm Foods Nigeria Limited, Mr Wale Oyekoya, informed that agriculture will

increase the nation’s GDP saying depending on agriculture for revenue generation would boost the country’s export values.

“Definitely it is going to increase our GDP and the workforce in agriculture far outweighs that found in the oil sector that all of them are running into.

“Our Government just has to wake up to the task and do the right thing. The government has no business distributing money or distributing inputs or distributing cell phones. (NAN)

Kano govt. to convert agric stores to sewing centres

K

ano State Government is to convert stores belonging to the state Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO) in the 44 local government areas of the state to tailoring centres.

In a statement issued by the state Director of Press, Alhaji Halilu Dantiye, Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso announced the plan in Abuja while exchanging views with the Managing Director of the Bank

of Industry (BOI), Ms Evelyn Oputu.

The statement quoted the governor as saying that architects had already been assigned to remodel the stores to make them convenient for tailoring and related businesses.

Kwankwaso said he planned to visit India to see how facilities could be procured for the commencement of the project.

He said the choice of India was informed by their expertise in tailoring and embroidery, adding that “once the tailoring centres become operational, many people would be engaged in the production of school uniforms and general clothing for the public.”

The governor reiterates his administration’s readiness to work with the Bank to establish more small and medium enterprises in the state.

In her remarks, Oputu called for a strategic development partnership with the Kano state government saying the bank was ready to collaborate with the 37 new Micro Finance Banks in the state.

The collaboration, Oputu said, would help to build the capacities of local SMEs in addition to investing in the huge agricultural potential of the state, especially vegetables and leather. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 29

2012: Agriculture in retrospect

By Salisu Na’inna Dambatta

T

he Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku addressed his last Press Conference for 2012 on Monday, December 31, 2012.

The conference focused on the achievements and activities of the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012.

One of the key areas that featured prominently at the Press Conference by the Honourable Minister of Information, unsurprisingly, is the agricultural sector. This is simply because the sector is vital to Nigeria’s economy, its social stability and central in the Administration’s drive to transform the lives of Nigerians.

The Minister listed several contributions made by the Agricultural sector, which generates around 44 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to the overall achievements of the Administration of President Good Luck Jonathan last year.

The contributions by the sector, the Minister said, include the reduction of wheat import bill by N200 billion as a result of the introduction of High Quality Cassava Flour in the baking industry, with cassava bread gaining acceptance and popularity in Nigeria and outside our shores.

The creation of 2, 000, 000 jobs, the export of dried cassava chips worth US$118 million for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the introduction of the Growth Enhancement Support scheme (GES) or e-Wallet, for delivering subsidised critical agro-inputs to small-holder farmers were additional areas through which the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development made contributions to the achievements of the Administration in 2012.

The Growth Enhancement Support scheme is designed to facilitate easy access to agro-inputs by 20 million farmers in four years.

So far 1.1 million farmers have benefited from the scheme. It will cost the Federal Government N400 billion in subsidies, but will generate income in the region of N680 billion for Nigerian farmers.

“The programme is worthwhile as the benefit/cost ratio is 16:1,” a document on the programme released by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural

Minister of State for Agriculture (holding a hoe) Bukar Tijani and the Chief Servant of Niger State at the launching of dry season farming Development said.

Mr. Labaran Maku also listed the development of Stable Crops Processing Zones, the termination of corruption in the procurement of fertilisers and the determination to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production as part of the contributions to Nigeria’s economic growth from the Agricultural sector in 2012.

The Minister of Information said that the initiative to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production is yielding results: “Through the initiative high quality local rice is now being processed in the country in commercial quantity. They include the Ebony rice, Ashi rice, Sarauniya rice, Mikap rice, Umza rice and Ofada rice. The new commercial rice processing mills in the country produce the best rice in the world, far better than any imported rice.”

The on-going dry season intensified rice production in ten states, namely Kano, Sokoto, Kogi, Niger, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Katsina and Kebbi for which the Federal Government has registered 178, 490 farmers to plant rice on 232, 609 hectres of land is designed to consolidate the

achievement recorded in the rice sub-sector as highlighted by the Honourable Minister of Information.

To drive the programme, the Federal Government is providing incentives to the farmers: three bags of subsidised fertilisers, free improved rice seeds, a Guaranteed Minimum Price for the commodity and extension services. The various state governments are giving additional incentives to the farmers.

These achievements became possible because the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan mustered sufficient political will to formulate and introduce the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), which isre-defining the purpose and thrust of the sector. The ATA is being implemented under the guidance of the duo of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Bukar Tijani, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development. The two are driving the sector to achieve the clear goals set by the President, who chairs the Agricultural Transformation Implementation

Council (ATIC).

In addition to the successes recorded by aggressive implementation of the Agenda as catalogued by the Minister of Information, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has also created an awareness of the necessity to reorientagriculture from its largely subsistence outlook in which farmers are struggling to feed themselves, to a businessventure, which can make farmers rich, materially comfortable andempower them to live the poverty line.

The ATA is also designed to encourage women and youth to embrace agriculture to not only replace the aging corps of Nigerian farmers, but also to deploy their energy toward increasing food production, providing raw materials for agro-allied industries and contributing in steering the country away from avoidable food importation by attaining selfsufficiency.

The Agricultural Transformation Agenda is unlocking the sector’s potentials by focusing on the development of the Value Chains of key commodities

in which Nigeria has comparative advantage: Nigeria is working in an organised, deliberate and scientific manner to retake its position as the leading Cocoa producing nation in Africa; it is reviving Cotton production for the Nigerian textile industry; it is revitalising the Oil Palm sub-sector by introducing millions of high-yielding palm species to new and old palm estates and it is also turning around the Aquaculture sub-sector in order to achieve self-sufficiency in fish production.

Indeed the Agricultural Transformation Agenda is moving Nigeria steadily toward ending the wastage of N360 billion annually on the importation of foreign rice.

The Agenda is equally a strong platform for minimising unemployment and combating poverty. The Agenda has raised the consciousness of Nigerians regarding the multi-uses of cassava, which Nigeria produces more than any other country in the world.

Salisu Na’inna Dambatta is the Director of Information in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

FG distributes free seeds, fertilisers to rice farmers in Niger

By Mohammed Kandi

A

s part of the incentives toward achieving selfsufficiency in rice production in the country, the Federal Government in collaboration with the Niger State Government are giving free 50 kilogramme of improved rice seeds and three bags of fertilisers.

The exercise, which was launched recentlyat Majin Gari in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State, was part of the rolling out of agro-inputs to farmers for accelerated dry season rice

production.

The package, according to a statement issued by Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Salisu Na’inna Dambatta, was jointly unfolded by the Minister of State, Bukar Tijani and the Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

“While the Federal Government subsidised the cost of three bags of fertilsers by 50% and gives a 50-kg bag of improved rice seeds free of charge to the farmers, the Niger State government will

pay the balance of 50 % cost of the three bags of fertilisers for each of the 2,000 farmers who were registered to participate in the programme,” it said.

The statement also quoted the minister as saying “the intensified rice production programme in the dry season was initiated by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in order to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, curb theimportation of foreign rice, and create jobs for farmers, rice millers and marketers in the country.”

“The rice seeds given to you is

of Caroline long grain which can compete favourably with the rice imported from anywhere in the world,” Bukar Tijani said.

The Minister assured that, “the Federal Government will establish three additional rice processing mills in the state and added that Nigerians should be patriotic by growing, processing and consuming rice locally instead of importing foreign rice.”

In his remarks, Babangida Aliyu said that Niger state was blessed with sufficient land and experienced farmers who could produce sufficient rice to feed the

country and end its importation.

The Governor explained that his government had subsidised the three bags of fertilisers for the 2, 000 farmers by 50% to encourage them to produce rice which they can sell and make money for themselves.

“We want lift as many of our people as possible out of poverty,” he said and added that the recent report by National Bureau of Statistics which said Niger State has the least poverty ratio in its population is proof that the poverty alleviation measures of his government were effective.

PEOPLES DAILY,TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

By Razak Owolab,

H

arvestPlus is an i n t e r n a t i o n a l a g r i c u l t u r e organisation which specialises in funding researches resulting in bio-fortification of crops, especially in countries with limited access to nutritious diet. When Dr Howart Bouis, Director-General of HarvestPlus International visited Nigeria in 2012, he said the country was the first in Africa to have access to fortified Vitamin A. Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) lowers immunity and impairs vision especially among children, and can lead to blindness and even death.

Available records show that in Nigeria, Vitamin A Deficiency afflicts about 30 per cent of children under five years, almost 20 per cent of pregnant women, and 13 per cent of nursing mothers. The organisation funded the research carried out by International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, which used biofortification process to produce the Vitamin A cassava, also known as ``yellow cassava'' because of its colour.

Bouis who visited a pilot Vitamin A cassava farm at Lagaye community, Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State, said the breeding of the variety was the outcome of many years of research. Bouis said he was delighted to be in Nigeria on inspection visit to see the result of the organisation's global initiative.

The head of the community, Chief Peter Adeyemo said the task of developing rural communities should not be perceived by the developed countries as a burden. Adeyemo said it should be seen as "an exciting experience to share in the wealth, knowledge and skill with those who also have, but have not discovered themselves." Adeyemo thanked HarvestPlus for providing effective and inspiring leadership which encouraged the "rich to share with the poor, experts to share with the ignorant." Adeyemo, a former senator, urged Nigerian legislators to propagate the cultivation of yellow cassava in their various constituencies.

The organisation also funded the fortification of Vitamin A maize in the country.

Mr Paul Ilona, Country Manager of HarvestPlus, said about 1.8 million Nigerian households would have access to fortified Vitamin A by 2016.

Ilona said that the maize fortification programme targeted 25,000 households in the first year. He said that the plan was to multiply intensively the bio-fortified maize crop so that by 2014, as many households as possible would be reached. ``Before the end of Phase II of our bio-fortification programme which will continue till 2018, we want to reach out to about eight million Nigerians who should be planting biofortified crops. ``For now, our

PAGE 30

Cultivating bio-fortified crops for improved health

Bio-fortified maize farm

areas of focus in Nigeria are cassava and maize, but in the near future, we will bring fortified millet,'' Ilona said.

He said the fortified Vitamin A maize in Nigeria would greatly complement the nutrients in the diet of the rural poor. On the level of penetration in the distribution of fortified cassava, Ilona said great progress had been made. ``For cassava, we have about 500 hectares planted now.

Starting from March 2013, we shall be disseminating planting materials to about 100,000 households in Nigeria.'' The Vitamin A fortified maize hybrids were released on July 4, 2012 by the National Variety Release Committee of Nigeria as Ife maizehyb 3 and Ife maizehyb 4. They are also recognized as IITA hybrids A0905-28 and A0905-32.

Speaking on the biofortified maize, a maize breeder at IITA, Dr Abebe Menkir, who led the development of the new maize hybrids, said they were a product of nearly a decade of breeding for enhanced levels of pro-vitamin A. ``The hybrids outperformed local varieties with yields ranging from six to nine tonnes per hectare, compared with two tonnes per

hectare recorded on local variety. Researchers said the hybrids could supply enhanced levels of Vitamin A in the diets.

According to Menkir, maize is the most frequently consumed staple in Nigeria, with about 20 per cent of households consuming it at different times within a week. ``These hybrids will provide not only increased amounts of pro-vitamin A but also improve productivity in farming communities". Mr Samuel Olakoju, another maize breeder, said areas where maize consumption was high was targeted to ``help address the

problem of Vitamin A Deficiency in Nigeria.''

To achieve maximum level of acceptance of bio-fortified crops, Ilona suggested that biofortification should be built into the national health policy. The HarvestPlus country manager said there was the need to communicate both the health and nutritional benefits of Vitamin A cassava to adopters for easy acceptance. He urged disseminators to focus more on youths engaged in agriculture, as they are the ones who usually embrace newly improved crop varieties than the ``old

“

The farmers should be convinced that adopting fortified Vitamin A crops would provide not only food for their households, but income for sustenance as well. The researcher said past studies had shown that whenever an improved variety was introduced, its adoption usually suffered setback even when given free to farmers.

conservative farmers.'' Ilona said the farmers should be convinced that adopting fortified Vitamin A crops would provide not only food for their households, but income for sustenance as well. The researcher said past studies had shown that whenever an improved variety was introduced, its adoption usually suffered setback even when given free to farmers.

Commenting on HarvestPlus and its biofortification projects in Nigeria, Mr Emmanuel Elegbede, Oyo State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said the organisation's effort would assist the government greatly in achieving its target in food security and agricultural transformation. He appealed to HarvestPlus not to relent in its effort in Nigeria and other developing countries. Experts and stakeholders want HarvestPlus to sustain its activities in Nigeria and other developing countries. They want the government to sensitise the people to the importance of embracing biofortified crops not only to enhance their health but to also to boost their income.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 35

New island appears off coast of Germany

A new island has emerged from the waters of the North Sea off the German coast.

D

espite its youthful age the sickle-shaped island lying 16 miles off the coast of the German state of Schleswig Holstein is already home to around 50 different plant speci e s a n d p r o v e d popular with sea birds such as herring gulls and oyster catchers, eager to take

advantage of its unspoilt and pristine environment.

Formed over just 10 years, the rapid appearance of the island has surprised scientists familiar with the strong winds and shifting shifts that characterise Germany's North Sea

coast.

"The fact that in just a few years a new island is formed is very impressive," said Detlef Hansen, who works at the neighbouring Wadden Sea National Park.

"For conservationists this is anything but ordinary."

The formation of new

sandbanks in the shallow w a t e r s o f t h e W a d d en Sea park are not uncommon but scientist said it is rare for one to survive the winter storms and establish itself as an island.

The new land mass now boast dunes as high as four metres, and the grasses and other plants emerging from its windswept

surface have provided it with a certain resilience to the eroding hand of nature.

Given the name Norderoogsand, the island has also benefited from lying in a position sheltered by other islands and from the fact that over the past decade there have been few high storm surges.

Home has flammable tap water

I

f you can't take the heat... don't turn on the water?

A few weeks ago, one Ohio family was shocked when their tap water caught on fire, NBC News reported Friday.

Debby Kline told the station that lighting a candle near the

running faucet set off "a huge explosion -- the entire sink up to the ceiling."

The Portage County woman said she had previously noticed the water "fizzing."

Dangerously high levels of

Fish catches man in Florida

B

e careful what you fish for.An angler in Florida nearly became the day's catch when he dangled his arm at the edge of a jetty.

Footage posted to YouTube shows a fisherman -- identified as Ryan Reynolds --

A man in Florida had to wrestle with a giant fish and his pal caught it on video.

struggling to free the better part of his arm from the clamped jaws of an overzealous tarpon, The Sun reports.

The fish is eventually pried off and released.

The video is somewhat similar to the noodling YouTube clips that have surfaced from the depths of the Internet.

In the clips, fishermen try, often with great success, to catch giant catfish using their hands.

But while noodlers are expecting to get their hands swallowed by their prey, Reynolds seems surprised a fish contemplated devouring him. He's just lucky the fish thought better of it.

methane -- a highly flammable gas -- in the water appear to be the culprit. A natural gas company began drilling near the home six months ago, NBC 4 reported, and the Klines suspect the company may be responsible for their flammable water.

Methane gas occurs naturally in the ground, and can seep into wells when the ground is disturbed. A Duke University study linked natural gas drilling to high methane levels in well water in 2011.

Prior to the drilling, the methane levels detected in the Klines' tap water -- which comes from a well -- were 9 milligrams per liter (mg/L), which is considered safe. Now, the levels have spiked to 22 mg/L. According to a methane fact sheet from the Water Systems Council, "Wells with levels between 10 and 28 mg/L should be regularly monitored, and well owners may wish to consider treatment to lower the methane level."

The Klines said that because

One Ohio family has found that their drinking water is now flammable due to high levels of methane gas. purchasing a methane filter would cost around $8,000. For now, they're drinking bottled water, but they're still bathing in the water straight of the tap.

"We don't know the consequences of sitting in gas water," Debby told TODAY. "We just don't have a choice."

Methane in drinking water is not "usually" considered a health threat, according to the Water Systems Council. The

real danger occurs when the gas escapes from the water and builds up in the air, especially in "poorly ventilated or confined areas."

The Council's fact sheet states that in addition to presenting explosion hazards, methane in the air "acts as an asphyxiate," which means it can "displace air and can cause breathing and other health problems."

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Teas up! How four cups a day can slash the risk of a stroke

By Pat Hagan

D

rinking four cups of tea a day can reduce the risk of a stroke by more than a fifth, according to new research.

Scientists who studied how consumption of black tea - the kind mostly drunk in the UK related to strokes found downing at least four cups every day lowered the chances of a brain blood clot by 21 per cent.

But drinking any less than that did not seem to have a beneficial effect.

The findings, by scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, come from a population study involving

nearly 75,000 men and women.

Strokes kill around 200 people every day in the UK. Many more are left disabled and living in fear that a second or even third attack could kill them.

It's estimated to cost the NHS £2.3 billion a year to treat and look after the 100,000 people annually struck down by the life-threatening condition. Only cancer and heart disease kill more people.

Around 85 per cent of victims are affected by ischaemic strokes, where a clot travels to the brain and shuts off its blood supply.

The rest are called haemorrhagic strokes, where a blood vessel bursts in the brain, causing potentially fatal bleeding.

Tealeaves: Britons drink an estimated 165million cups of tea a day

Although numerous studies have highlighted the protective effects of green tea on the brain, the evidence on black tea has been less conclusive.

The Swedish team studied 74,961 Swedish adults who were in good health when they signed up to a long-term health study in 1997.

Over the next ten years, just over 4,000 of the volunteers suffered a stroke, mostly ischaemic.

As part of the study, researchers monitored tea drinking habits.

Once they allowed for other factors that might determine stroke risk - such as whether volunteers smoked or had high blood pressure - they found that four cups or more a day had a significant effect.

British consumers get through an estimated 165 million cups every day of mostly black tea.

It is packed with components c a l l e d flavonoids that are thought to be good for the heart and brain.

In a report on t h e i r findings the researchers said: 'Tea is thought to h a v e beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk because of its flavonoid content.

'Daily consumption of one to

A calming cuppa: Tea is packed with components called flavonoids that are thought to be good for the heart and brain three cups a day was not associated with stroke risk. But men and women who consumed four cups or more a day had a 21 per cent lower risk compared with those who never drank tea.'

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Link between concussion, dementia is complex - study

By Genevra Pittman

I

n a new study of National Football League (NFL) veterans, former players with thinking and memory problems also had more lesions in their brains than healthy players and non-athletes in a comparison group.

But cognitive difficulties weren't directly related to the number of concussions a player had suffered in his career complicating the controversy over long-term effects of head injuries.

"Not everyone gets this problem," said Dr. John Hart, Jr. from the University of Texas at Dallas, who worked on the study. "It's a more complex issue than has just sort of been thrown out there."

The topic of concussions in the NFL and other sports leagues has been thrust into the spotlight after reports of players suffering from depression or memory trouble long after retiring. Last year, former San Diego Chargers star Junior Seau committed

suicide after what some believe were years of depression related to concussions he may have suffered as a player.

Hart hopes the new findings will encourage more NFL players to get their brains checked out.

Ideally, he said, all players would be evaluated before, during and after their careers to check for brain changes. That would help doctors learn more about how head trauma is related to mental decline and dementia - and hopefully avert those problems in future athletes.

Hart has been evaluating former football players for years, both in Baltimore and Dallas.

"Starting a long time ago… guys would come in with these problems, and they'd look somewhat different than the typical types of degenerative diseases and cognitive diseases that you see from folks," he said.

For their new study, he and his colleagues evaluated the thinking and memory skills of 34 retired NFL players and also took brain scans of 26 of them.

The men were between 41 and 79 years old and had spent an average of 10 years in the league. Hart's team compared their results with those from non-football players who were similar to the original group in terms of age, education and IQ. Of the retired players, all but two had sustained at least one concussion, with one player reporting up to 13.

Twenty of the men were cognitively normal, according to thinking and memory tests.

Two formers players had dementia and the rest had mild or fixed (non-progressing) mental impairment.

The players with those problems were more likely to also show changes in their white matter on brain scans, the research team reported Monday in the journal JAMA Neurology.

White matter contains nerve fibers responsible for sending signals from the brain to the rest of the body.

Eight of the former players were depressed - a slightly higher percentage than would be

expected in a normal group of men.

Hart said there are a couple of explanations for why more concussions didn't mean a higher risk of cognitive problems in his group of NFL veterans.

"Sub-concussive injuries, all the wear and tear… may be playing a role in this" - not just concussions, he said.

Second of all, "I think there are predisposing factors that if you do get an injury, some people respond differently than others," Hart added. His team has started examining whether genetic differences may influence the effect of concussions on players' mental status.

An NFL representative said the league would be sharing the report with members of its Head, Neck and Spine Committee.

"The NFL, both directly and in partnership with the CDC, NIH, and other leading organizations, is committed to supporting a wide range of medical and scientific research that will promote player safety in the long term," the

representative wrote in an email to Reuters Health.

In an editorial published with the study, Dr. Ramon DiazArrastia and Dr. Daniel Perl from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, write, "If confirmed, the findings of studies such as these would support the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)… for monitoring the cumulative burden of concussions in athletes and others who have experienced multiple mild traumatic brain injuries."

Hart pointed to the importance of further research to determine how head injuries, thinking and memory skills and physical changes in the brain are related. Researchers will need players' help for that, he said.

"I think a lot of players because of all the press are a little nervous to come in and be checked out, and if you look at the study, more than half of the guys were normal," he said.

Source: Reuters.com

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Nigerian troops for Mali this week •••Extremism no longer tolerated, Jonathan warns

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that the Nigerian troop will be deployed this week to Mali to help restore peace in that country.

Jonathan disclosed this when he hosted members of the diplomatic corps resident in Nigeria to cocktail yesterday evening.

According to him, all hands must be on deck to fight extremism as no country knows when it will be her turn.

"We are confronted presently with a situation in Mali; let me assure you and the global community that as a nation we will work with other nations to make sure that the problem in Mali is solved. Already our technical team are already in Mali so definitely the Nigeria troop will be in Mali before next week.

"Of course we members of ECOWAS are meeting this weekend. Our expectation is that by next week most other ECOWAS countries that pledged troops would have sent them so that our men will be on ground to assist Mali to liberate the country.

"We can no longer surrender any part of the globe to extremism, because it doesn't pay and we don't know the next victim. We must collectively discourage individuals or group of individuals that will take laws in to their hands and make the world a place that is not safe for all of us".

President Jonathan expressed his appreciation to all the heads of governments that stood by Nigeria during her trying times of floods, Dana and Helicopter crashes, terrorism attacks, the death of his younger brother and other tragedies.

"I want to through you thank your heads of governments for standing with us at our various challenges and difficult moments.

During the floods, the terrorism attacks, the air mishaps of Dana and the helicopter crashes and when I lost my brother.

"I also want to thank them for the support and goodwill for my administration last year and I look forward to work for our mutual benefits.

"I am aware that building a strong economy will lead to a stronger country and we are committed to do just that.

"I'm not one to diminish the challenges my country faces and that is why we are strengthening democratic institutions.

"We have our challenges but we will continue to play her international role to restore peace", he said.

PAGE 37

Security, bedrock of devt. – Ajimobi

G

ov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has described security as the bedrock of development.

He stated this in Ibadan while speaking at a send forth organised in honour of the immediate past Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Tambari Yabo Mohammed, who

is now an Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police (AIG).

The governor said that it was in realisation of this that his administration, upon inception, courted all the security agencies in the state and had been maintaining harmonious working relationship with them.

This, he said, had paid off with the peace and tranquility as well as security of lives and property currently reigning in the state.

Ajimobi added that the entrenchment of a peaceful atmosphere had given room for all the developmental projects which his administration had

Chairman, Mubi North Local Government Council, Adamawa state, Alhaji Sahabo Jauro (right) and officials of the Local Government Works Department, inspecting one of the dilapidated rural roads, yesterday in Mubi, Adamawa state.

Photo: NAN

been able to execute in the last 19 months.

He said that his administration would continue to support all the security agencies in the state so that the peace and tranquility currently being enjoyed would continue unabated.

The governor described the former police commissioner as a committed, dedicated and disciplined officer, saying that he exhibited high level professionalism in the discharge of his duties while in the state.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Adeolu Akande, in his opening remarks, noted that although Mohammed spent only six months as police commissioner in the state, his stay was eventful and witnessed improved security.

Responding, Mohammed commended Ajimobi for his friendly disposition and immense support to the police in the state.

“Even though I have served in different capacities in several states, I have never seen a governor who has been so friendly to and supportive of the police as Governor Ajimobi. “ Throughout my stay here, he made sure that the state command did not lack anything,’’ he said.(NAN)

Kaduna governor is Godfearing, says political adviser From Muhammad Adamu, Kaduna

T

he newly appointed Political Adviser to the Governor of Kaduna state, Hon. Madami Garba Madami, has pleaded with members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the entire people of the state to be patient with the new administration of Governor

Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.

Speaking at an interactive session with reporters yesterday, Madami said that, "God has given us the governor who has the fear of God and you should expect justice from anyone who has the fear of God. "So, what I want to plead with the people to exercise patience and see what this government or the governor is

going to do.

"The governor is a man who has the fear of God. He listens to people and he does not entertain."

On allegations that the people of southern Kaduna are planning to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following political developments after the death of Governor Patrick Ibrahim

Yakowa, Madami said that, "in fact, we will not be just to him if by now, we start complaining of dumping PDP and so on because just last week, he decided to give some appointments to some of us."

The new Political Adviser was at a time, Chairman of Chikun local government area as well as Commissioner of Economic Planning.

Independence of judiciary will enhance accountability, transparency, says ex-AIG

R

etired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr Felix Ogbaudu, said yesterday in Abuja that an independent judiciary would enhance accountability and transparency.

Ogbaudu, who stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said corruption in the judiciary was prevalent because of interference.

He said to have accountability

and transparency, all Nigerians must be given fair hearing irrespective of their social background or position in the society.

He also called for prompt and proper dispensation of justice. “ The third arm of government should be independent.

Independence does not mean they should live in isolation. Interfering should not be there.

“You can imagine a matter is in court but you never see the end.

Somebody steals a crate of mineral, within three four months the case is concluded and the person is thrown in prison.

“Yet we have some other people out there whose cases have been dragging on for years and what is the reason, because they are connected but in other political climes it is not like that irrespective of who you are.

Ogbaudu, who is also a legal practitioner, called on the Chief

Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to ensure that judges were made to undergo frequent training programmes to enable them to be abreast of developments in the profession.

He also called on the CJN to ensure improved welfare package for judges to discourage them from indulging in corrupt practices.

According to him, until these measures are put in place, it will be difficult for the judiciary to be totally independent. (NAN)

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Oyo lawmaker empowers 300 From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

A

member of Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, has given some motorcycles, refrigerators, grinding machine, to some members of his constituency, as part of measures to eradicate poverty in the communities.

Speaking at a programme

yesterday at the Methodist Primary School, Arowomole in Ogbomoso, Ogunwuyi who represents Ogbomoso South Constituency also donated free school uniforms to some less privileged children and also announced the construction of three classroom blocks each at Methodist and Kajola primary schools.

He urged governments at

all levels to embark on empowerment programmes for teeming unemployed youth in various parts of the country adding that, "politicians should teach the people how to fish and not necessarily giving them fish to eat."

Also speaking at the programme, the House Minority Leader of the, Hon.

Rafiu Adekunle, described Ogunwuyi as a vibrant politician who cares for the welfare of his people and commended his initiative in giving out the items.

Adekunle warned beneficiaries against the temptation of selling the items and urged them to take advantage of to improve their standard of living.

Three parties adopt Yamawo as consensus candidate for AMAC chair

By Adeola Tukuru

T

hree political parties, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) have adopted Hon. Ishaku Tanko Yamawo, from the ANPP as their joint chairmanship candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) during the forthcoming local council elections.

The parties explained that the move was part of measures to ensure defeat for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the polls.

About 36 chairmen from the three political parties from 12 wards attended the endorsement meeting in Abuja at the weekend.

Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Yamawo expressed his gratitude to the ward chairmen and other chairmanship candidates for adopting him as their consensus candidate for the elections scheduled to hold on March 16, 2012 and urged AMAC residents to give him the needed support.

ALGON canvasses support for local govt autonomy L-R: Public Relations Oficer, Soba Development Association, Alhaji Dayyabu Yusuf, Chairman, Soba Development Association, Dr Haliru Musa, and His Vice, Abdul Soba, during a News Conference on alleged certificate forgery of newly elected chairman of Soba local government, on Sunday in Kaduna.

Photo: NAN

Lawmaker faults INEC over request for autonomy

A

member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Peter Edeh ( ANPP-Ebonyi), yesterday in Abuja faulted INEC over request for full autonomy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC had proposed amendments to the Electoral Act to enable it disqualify candidates and political parties with flawed primaries from contesting elections.

Edeh said in an interview with NAN that there was the need for caution in trying to empower the commission.

“I do not share the opinion to allow INEC to have power to disqualify candidates in elections,” he said.

According to him, if such powers are given to the commission, it will be abused by some chairmen with dictatorial tendencies.

He said that it was out of place for the commission to request for sweeping powers in carrying out its constitutional mandate.

“There is no authority in this country that is not subject to the

supervision of any authority,” he said.

He said the proposed request for amendments of the Electoral Act by INEC would be considered on its merit if it was brought to the House.

The legislator said that in spite of the achievements of the current chairman, certain powers should not be given to the commission.

Edeh described the nullification of election of 10 members of the National Assembly by a Federal High Court as democracy in action.

NAN recalls that a Federal High Court on Jan. 11, nullified the Certificate of Return issued to 10 lawmakers, members of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) representing Katsina State in the National Assembly.

He urged political parties to imbibe the culture of fair play by adopting internal democracy where every member would be given equal opportunity during primaries.

The legislator enjoined the members involved to accept the verdict and allow the country’s democracy to grow. (NAN)

Orji extols military contributions to national unity

G

ov. Theodore Orji of Abia has commended the armed forces for their contributions toward the unity and development of the country.

Orji made the commendation at the celebration of this year’s Armed Forces and Remembrance Day at Wesley Cathedral, Umuahia, on Sunday.

He remarked that the military personnel had continued to pay the supreme price by sacrificing their life in defence of the country.

He said that to be a soldier needed a lot of sacrifice, patience and tolerance

and paid special tribute to the military for maintaining the nation’s territorial integrity.

The governor further commended the military for being instrumental to the stamping out of kidnapping and other violent crimes in Abia, in league with other security agencies.

He called on the Federal Government to declare a special day to celebrate civilians that played prominent roles toward the unity and development of Nigeria.

In a sermon during the service, the Methodist Archbishop of

Umuahia, Most Rev. Sunday Agwu, urged the leaders to render selfless service like the biblical Nehemiah.

Agwu charged the federal and state governments to cater for the wellbeing of the families of the exservicemen, noting that the fallen heroes sacrificed their lives for others to live.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the service was attended by service chiefs in the state, the wife of the governor, Odochi, government functionaries and members of the state chapter of the Nigerian Legion. (NAN)

T

he National President, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr Nwabueze Okafor, yesterday called for support for the autonomy of local governments in the country.

Okafor made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that there was the need for stakeholders to give voice to the autonomy of the council areas, which he described as an arm of government that was easily accessed by the people.

Okafor also advocated for proper enlightenment of those against the council’s autonomy so that they would see the benefits of “an autonomous local government system in the country.”

He, however, called on the councils to be accountable to the people, saying that accountability would convince antagonists that the move would boost the local councils’ efforts to serve the people effectively.

According to him, the autonomy, if allowed to see the light of the day, will assist the local governments to achieve the goal of vision 20-20-20, the MDG 2015 target and the Sure-Programme.

He added that, with autonomy in place, “the democraticallyelected council members for all the 774 local government councils will bring about rapid development at the grassroots. “ (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 39

No vacuum in Government House, says Kogi Information Commissioner From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

I

n spite of the temporary absence of Governor Idris Wada from the Government House in Lokoja, the Kogi state government has assured that there is no vacuum.

"In order not to create any vacuum with its attendant problems as a result of the incapacitation of the governor, he has directed that we meet and carry on with activities of governance unhindered," the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yabagi Bologi, told reporters yesterday after an expanded executive council meeting chaired by the Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi.

He pledged government's commitment to what he described as aggressive development that will impact positively on the lives of the people.

According to Bologi, the 2013 budget as passed by the House of Assembly will be implemented to the letter for the progress and accelerated growth of the state.

The commissioner maintained that the government has already taken steps to ensure sustainable agricultural development and that state television will soon begin transmission.

"The Governor is recovering fast and he will return office sooner than people expect, to continue with the task of transforming the state," Bologi said.

Anambra govt. warns community against protest over land

A

nambra state Government has warned Ezinano community in Awka not to take laws into their hands over alleged illegal purchase of their communal land situated at Ngozika Housing Estate Layout.

The state Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Mr Okoli Akirika, gave the warning in Awka yesterday while reacting to a protest staged by some members of the community at the weekend.

Akirika said: “If anybody or group is aggrieved, such group should address its grievances to the proper and right channel.”

He reminded the community that every land in Anambra belonged to the state government and wondered why they should take the laws into their hands.

“Fundamentally, they should know that every land in the state is vested on the governor who loves due process.

“Carrying placards on a nonworking day may not help them achieve anything from government.

L-R: Chairman, Niger PDP, Dr. Mahmud Enagi, Chairman, Plateau PDP, Dr. Haruna Dabin, and National Youth Leader of PDP, Alhaji Garba Chiza,during the visit of a delegation of Niger PDP Working Committee to Jos, yesterday.

Photo: NAN

Airhiavbere is discredited politician, says Oshiomole

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

S

till basking in the euphoria of his recent Supreme Court's victory over his main challenger in the July 14, 2012 gubernatorial election, Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole has described Gen Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a dishonest politician who lacks the moral standing to challenge the academic qualification of anyone.

Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, Oshiomole took his closest challenger to the cleaners, adding that for a man that lost his polling booth, ward and local government, the case was a matter of wasting the

precious time of the court.

Oshiomole reserved special praises for the judiciary, saying however that he wasn't surprised as there were several attempts to send him out of circulation in the days of labour activitism but from which he was saved by the members of the bench.

He described Airhiavbere as a political orphan who bought his way through the PDP hierarchy to clinch its gubernatorial ticket and thought he could also pay his way to the Government House.

"For a man who went to Auchi Polytechnic to challenge an Oxford product was shocking to me.

He attended NIPSS 21 years after I attended the same institution and I made a B+. So, what is he talking about?"

Oshiomole continued: "This is

a man who was dismissed from the Army in questionable circumstances. This is a man who was asked to refund billions of naira to the Army, having misappropriated some funds meant for a military hospital.

And after his dismissal, he quickly became a PDP candidate even though he was not a member of the party for up to two years in line with its rules.

He bought his way through."

I am not a first term governor. I am a second term governor, so I wonder how the same certificate that qualified me for my first election should not qualify me for a return."

He added: "Anyway, my people have even been saying if a man who didn't attend school can think and act the way I do, then, may be we should abolish

education."

"He complained in 52 units out of about 2,600. So, even if he takes all the units where he complained of malpractices, he won't go anywhere. It is like a bucket out of an ocean. I won in all the local government areas."

The governor reiterated his commitment to the Edo project, adding that since his people gave him overwhelming support in the last election, he was ready to continue to serve them to the best of his ability.

The Supreme Court had on Friday thrown out an application filed against Oshiomole. The apex court had adjourned till Friday to rule on whether it was proper to compel Oshiomole to prove the authenticity of his educational qualifications before the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in the state.

APGA says party ready for FCT council polls

T

he Director of Publicity, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Ifeanacho Oguejiofor, yesterday in Abuja expressed the party’s readiness for the April FCT council polls.

Oguejiofor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that candidates for the FCT elections had emerged in various council areas. “ We are going to contest elections where we have strong base, areas like Abuja Municipal, Kuje, Bwari and Gwagwalada area councils. “ We do not want our votes to be scattered, so we decided to

concentrate in areas where we are sure we will emerge victorious,” he said.

He said the party had the wherewithal to contest the elections, adding that it was already campaigning. “ The problem is that most people look at the Federal Government as if it is the only government in power.

“We want a situation where by if voted into power, we will be able to bring the government closer to the people. “ We should be able to know the yearnings of the people and be ready to embark on programmes that have direct bearing on their

lives “ As you can see, items in the market are very expensive, this is because there are no access roads to bring those goods to the city centre,” Oguejiofor said.

According to him, “we are going to sink bore holes, construct access roads in order to enable the indigenes to transport their farm produce to the cities without going through any stress”.

He said corruption was the major factor militating against meaningful development within the FCT and promised that if voted into office, the party would tackle it headlong.

Oguejiofor promised the people

that the party would use all revenues and other funds to execute projects with transparency and accountability.

“Look at the wonderful works our party is doing in Anambra and Imo, we promised to do same in the FCT, if voted into power, “ he said.

He described the party as massoriented and progressive, adding that it had the interest of the people at heart and Nigerians in general.

He, however, urged the Federal Government to create a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of the elections to guarantee free, fair and credible results. (NAN)

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Dabiri-Erewa wants FG to show greater concern for Diaspora population

R

L-R: Delta state Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Anambra state Governor, Mr Peter Obi, and Abia state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, after their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

PDP S/W reinstates commitment to all inclusive party structure, to honour Obasanjo From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

T

he National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] South-West, Chief Olusegun Oni, yesterday reinstated commitment to all inclusive party structure at the end of ongoing reconciliation process.

Oni also disclosed that the party is set to honour the former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo after his voluntary retirement as PDP BoT Chairman.

The PDP National Vice Chairman dropped these hints while speaking at a press conference held at the Oyo NUJ Press centre in Ibadan to highlight activities lined up by the South West PDP on the civic reception planned for the former President

on his retirement as the PDP BoT Chairman.

According to him "our reconciliation has started with a remarkable success, it is an ongoing process, we are committed to all inclusive party structure at the end of the exercise, we are taking the bull by the horn."

He disclosed that significant percentage of all aggrieved members in the zone have returned to the party through reconciliation process just as he assured that in the next three months, the party would be strong enough to win any battle.

Speaking on the civic reception, the Organising Committee Chairman for the reception, Prince Yemi Adefulu declared that it is billed for Abeokuta in Ogun state this Friday and Saturday(January 18 and 19).

Adefulu stressed that the reception is in recognition of the voluntary retirement from office of Chief Obasabnjo as the PDP BoT Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ,saying, ''we consider this step quite significant for many reasons. For the past 50 years, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has bestridden the Nigerian landscape like a colossus.

"It gives us a great pleasure to invite you to this press conference with a view to briefing the Nigerian nation through your media of the intention of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South West to honour and celebrate a living icon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo with some ceremonies this week in Abeokuta in Ogun state spanning the 18th and 19th January 2013,''he said.

Prince Adefulu stressed further

that the ''immediate reason for the honour and celebration was his voluntary retirement from office as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party.

According to him, ''Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has not only been an outstanding defender of the unity of Nigeria, he has stood for the dignity of the black man and the human race at every fora in which he found himself''.

The Committee Chairman declared that Ghana's former President, John Kuffor, President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Maitama Sule ,Governors Sule Lamido, Uduanghan and other serving governors across the country are expected to be at the grand finale of the civic reception coming up this Saturday at Ake Palace ground in Abeokuta.

Imo APGA vows to resist Okorocha’s removal

T

he Imo chapter of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has vowed to resist any attempt by any individual or group to remove Gov. Rochas Okorocha as the governor of the state.

In a statement from the state Chairman, Mr Marshal OkaforAnyanwu, in Owerri on Sunday, the party warned against any further attempt to either distract the governor or tarnish his image.

It noted that the arrest of Mr Chike Okafor, the state’s Commissioner for Finance, and Mr George Eche, its Accountant General, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

(EFCC), was meant to discredit the governor.

The party alleged that the EFCC that hurriedly swooped on the functionaries had footdragged in arresting a former governor of the state in spite of available records that the said loan was secured to fund his failed re-election bid.

It also said some serving politicians in the state were enemies of the APGA-led government.

The party enumerated the achievements of Okorocha in his two years in office to include free education at all levels, construction of 27 new general hospitals, 305 model schools and

more than 1000 kilometres of urban and rural roads.

Others are the transformation of Orlu and Okigwe towns, construction of Imo College of Advanced Professional Studies and Young Scientist School, Imo Concorde apartments, and the Heroes Square.

Also included in the governor’s achievements are the revival of Imo Palm Plantation, construction of Ikemba Ojukwu Centre and other people-oriented projects.

The party pointed out that the governor had paid all loans collected by the past administration, including the N6.4 billion obtained from one

of the first generation banks at the twilight of his administration.

It urged the governor to remain focused and committed in the ongoing transformation of the state.

“APGA wishes to warn against any further attempt to either distract the governor or tarnish the image he painstakingly built many years ago.

“This wicked plan to whittle down the image of Gov. Rochas Okorocha and possibly remove him as governor of Imo before 2015 will be resisted by APGA and the good people of Imo State,” it stated. (NAN)

ep. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has stressed the need for the Nigerian government to show more concern about its citizens in Diaspora.

She said there were great opportunities and benefits from tapping into the knowledge and skills of her rising Diaspora population as India did.

Dabiri-Erewa, who is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, made the remarks in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Kochi, India on Sunday.

She led the Nigerian delegation to the 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2013 (India in the Diaspora Convention).

Dabiri-Erewa said the government of India recently introduced a bill in the Parliament to bring amendments in the Citizenship Act, which would give recognition to the spouses of Indians living overseas.

“This among other incentives can be applied back in Nigeria by the Federal Government with the necessary support from the Parliament as well as the cooperation of Nigerians in the Diaspora,’’ she said.

The lawmaker, who was the first non Indian invited to deliver a paper at the Convention, said the occasion was an eye-opener to Nigerians in the Diaspora.

“This is an eye opener for Nigeria parliament to ensure the establishment of Nigeria Diaspora Commission, “that will be a one-stop agency to take care of all the welfare and needs of our people living abroad.’’

She said that with the commission in place, Nigeria would have a semblance of Indian convention in addition to the opportunity of harnessing its Diaspora potential.

According to Dabiri-Erewa, India’s diaspora remittance is the highest globally.

She said in India, the government had put in a place a lot of incentives including an Indian Community Welfare Fund for its Diaspora community.

Dabiri-Erewa expressed Nigeria’s desire to learn from Indian example by tapping into the knowledge and skills of her rising diaspora population.

NAN reports that the annual congregation of Non-Resident Indians (NRI) and Persons of Indian Origin drew more than 2,500 delegates from 50 countries to the event.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag addressed the participants.

The 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2013 has as its theme: “ Engaging Diaspora: The Indian Growth Story’’. (NAN)

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Medical expert task coaches on first aid treatment

D

r. Emmanuel Ekeoha, a medical expert with St. John Ambulance Nigeria, has tasked coaches to have a bit of knowledge on how to prevent athletes from minor injuries.

Ekeoha said in Lagos over the weekend

that inability of coaches to show any inclination to this critical requirement had led to abrupt end of the career of many athletes.

He explained that First Aid was an emergency treatment usually applied to

Federer begins Aussie Open campaign today as Murray faces Haase

R

oger Federer begins his Aussie Open campaign today as he faces world number 46 Benoit Paire of France in Rod Laver Arena where the secondseeded Swiss’s lack of match practice will come under scrutiny.

The Swiss maestro eschewed all warmup tournaments in

favour of working on the practice court, but has assured his legion of tennis fans he remains as motivated as ever in his bid for a fifth title at Melbourne Park.

Also, Andy Murray’s campaign for a second straight grand slam title gets underway when he takes centre stage against Robin Haase in the first round of

the Australian Open.

Big things are expected of the 25year-old Briton in 2013 after he finally shook the grand slam monkey from his back with his US Open triumph in his fifth major final.

The 53rd-ranked Haase is unlikely to be a pushover, however, having taken Murray to five sets at the 2011

US Open and beaten the Scot in their only other match at Rotterdam in 2008.

It is also likely to be a tough day for Romanian tennis fans, with two of their players taking on the women’s top seed Victoria Azarenka and favourite Serena Williams.

Williams opens her campaign for a third consecutive grand slam title against Edina Gallovits-Hall at Hisense Arena, while defending c h a m p i o n Azarenka meets Monica Niculescu.

a person afflicted with injuries, pending a detailed attention by a doctor.

The expert added that no injury should be treated as minor; stressing that instant attention given to such injuries might save athletes from bigger future problems.

According to him, coaches must be taught the rudiments of “First Aid Treatment’’ during their pupilage years which would be useful when they become full time coaches.

“First Aid Treatment’’ is a very vital safety measures in all ramification, not sports alone because it can help to rescue someone who sustained injuries.

“Coaches are the closest to their athletes during training and if they have a bit of knowledge of First Aid, they can help safeguard their athlete’s future.

“Coaches should be taught the “First Aid Treatment’’ during their coaching clinics in order to expand their horizon’’, ‘’ he said.

He cited improper handling of ankle injuries and wrist injuries as instances, which could blight the athlete’s career.

Ekeoha also urged organisers of competitions to always ensure that ambulances and medical officials are always present at competition venues to forestall a potentially dangerous injury.

An injured athlete receiving first aid

Idoko describes Keshi’s inclusion NPL players as a morale booster

M

ike Idoko, t h e Executive Director, Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), has hailed Stephen Keshi’s inclusion of six domestic league players in his squad for the AFCON, and described it as heartwarming.

Idoko said in Akure

yesterday on telephone chat with a a news agency that the development would spur domestic league players to step up their performances in the league.

“I would give Keshi the credit for taking six players from the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) to the AFCON

in South Africa, because it is a rare occurrence.

“I believe it will serve as a morale booster for the players playing in the NPL, and I believe this is what we have been clamouring for all this while.

“Keshi started 90 percent of home

based Eagles in the game against Catalonia, and they did brilliantly well, I believe they will give him results in South Africa,” he said.

Idoko added that ODSFA was particularly happy with the inclusion of Sunshine Stars’ Captain; Godfrey Oboabona in the list

of AFCON bound players.

“Of course, we are proud of his achievements as a player, he started from the state owned academy and he is a hardworking player. He has a bright future ahead of him as a defender,’’Idoko added.

Corporate bodies urge to assist disabled athletes

S

amuel Ekeoma, the Technical Director, ParaPower lifting Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) on Sunday called on both the government and the private sector to throw their weight behind special

Roger Federer

athletes.

Ekeoma told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that sports had gone beyond recreation, and described it as a tool for economic empowerment.

“The society has

not come to understand the essence of these special sports in the lives of the disabled person that is why they concentrate more on sports like football and Athletic.

“Sports has gone beyond recreation,

Administrator wants schools to embrace traditional sports

D

r Ademola Adiatu, a traditional s p o r t s administrator, has advocated the inclusion of the discipline in the curricular of schools in the state to popularise it.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, that by so doing the

sport would gradually gain acceptance at the grassroots.

Adiatu, who was the state’s coordinator for traditional sports at the last 18th National Sports Festival (NSF), said that sports like Langa, Dambe and Kokowa needed to grow.

“The student would engender new and modern ideas into the sport that would make it acceptable to other climes,” he said.

However, he said that innovations were being injected to enhance the profile of the sport internationally, and cited Dambe as

an example with the introduction of gloves.

Also, the traditional sports administrator revealed that the federation had s e c u r e d continental approval to introduce Langa and Dambe at the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo

Brazzaville.

He added that its debut in the itinerary of the AAG would serve as a stepping stone to global events like the Olympic Games. “Hence the need for us to polish and make traditional sports more popular than it is” he said.

He appealed to

s c h o o l s management in the state, to assist in facilitating the introduction of the sport in their curricular.

It would be recalled that Langa, Dambe and Kokowa were some of the traditional sports that were showcased at the last NSF held in Lagos.

especially disabled sports has become a veritable tool for e c o n o m i c empowerment.

“Disabled athletes derives joy from sports because it makes them meaningful in the society, they have something to reckon with besides begging in the streets,’’ he said.

Ekeoma also decried the lack of regular competitions which he blamed on lack of sponsorship.

“Lack of championships makes athletes redundant but where there is regular support and competitions, an athlete will be s o c i a l l y , economically and

educationally balanced because of exposure,’’ he said.

He also recalled the country’s performance at the 2012 Paralympics Games, saying the special athletes has been an instrument of international politics and social development.

“If you recall our performance at international competitions to some extent has redeemed the image of the country at the international level.

“For instance, Nigeria is rated first when it comes to special sports unlike able-bodied sports whose rating is nothing to write home about,’’ Ekeoma he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

IC P

TO

IA R

PAGE 45

L

1

2 4

3

5

1/ Mark Kiptoo wins the men’s race at the Amorebieta XC (Unai Sasuátegi).

2/ Goalkeeper Petr Cech has joined the growing list of sympathisers who are still holding onto the hope that team-mate Frank Lampard will remain at Stamford Bridge beyond this season.

3/ Frank Lampard will leave Chelsea at the end of the season, his agent Steve Kutner has confirmed less than a week after denying exit rumours.(Djokovic) Novak Djokovic made a commanding start to his quest for a hat-trick of Australian Open titles yesterday. The Serbian world No 1 was in imperious form as he tossed aside Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 in just 1hr 42min on Rod Laver Arena to waltz into the second round of the year’s first Grand Slam event.

4/ Defending champion Simon Gerrans will lead the Australian challenge at cycling’s Tour Down Under when the first event of the 2013 ProTour begins Sunday.

5/ The new golf season gets into full swing in Abu Dhabi this week with the top two ranking players - Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods - opening their accounts.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

2013 Nations Cup finals

Bafana Bafana under pressure to replicate 1996 feat

F

ormer Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Andre Arendse, has admitted that the hosts and 1996 champions are under intense pressure to repeat their 1996 performance.

“It is huge, huge! Let’s not kid ourselves, the pressure is huge,” says 1996 African Cup

of Nations winner stressing that the pressure on the current South African squad to replicate the glory days of 13 years ago has been huge.

The current Bidvest Wits assistant coach is currently undergoing preparations with his club team to do battle against Morocco on Tuesday in

a warm-up match for the North African side.

Taking time out to discuss Bafana and their ambitions of lifting the continental silverware, in the hope of replicating the class of ‘96 Arendse explains that it is a tough task that comes with a mountain of pressure, and the

Emenike could be new Yekini, Oboabana myself, says Keshi

T

he last time Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations was back in 1994 and they also wowed the world at the World Cup same year. The team’s captain was Stephen Keshi and he is now in charge of the Super Eagles at South Africa 2013 In an exclusive chat with supersport.com at the team’s Faro, Portugal camp Keshi believes that the potential in this team is good enough to match that of the country’s last winners of the competition.

“Many Nigerians don’t know how good this team is, I see great potentials in them and they can go places”. He then added with a clear glint in his eyes that “In Emenike I see a player who can be like Rashidi Yekini and Godfrey Obaobona will grow in his position”.

Stephen Keshi as a Player and captain of Nigeria played in 5 tournaments reaching the finals in 3 of them. These experiences should come in handy.

“Maybe I might be able to help them handle the expectations.

My playing will give me the insight in how to handle the younger players - those just starting out and making their way in the national team” In the build-up to the camping and even during it Nigerians have been quite critical, as usual and in their views on the team and the squad make up. You wonder how Keshi handles the

“

Many Nigerians don’t know how good this team is, I see great potentials in them and they can go places

pressure of coaching a country where millions feel they can do a better job than the man employed for it.

“I just make sure I concentrate on the players and make sure they understand and buy into what we want to do. Nigeria is a place that you can never satisfy every person so we just make sure we do our best”.

However, it would appear that the team is better prepared unlike previous tournaments lately, and Keshi agrees “we have had no distractions. The NFF have been very supportive and we are just focused on the job at hand” Since that famous 1994 victory, the team then lost on penalties to Cameroon in the 2000 finals at home, Nigeria has really not come close to winning the competition again. Is there pressure from within the group on the players to win this competition?

“I would not put any pressure on my players; my duty is to make them relaxed but with high concentration levels so that they can carry out the tactical plans we have during matches.”

As a player Keshi exhibited high levels of patriotism when it came to playing for Nigeria but he is aware that things have changed amongst the players who play for Nigeria.

“I loved the attitude of the late Rashidi Yekini when it came to playing for Nigeria - he was always the first to arrive and was willing to do anything for the National team, I loved the man” “The current players are different and it is also the fault of the media who hype players to all levels because of what they do at their clubs when they have played probably 4 or 5 matches

Tunisia seething in Psychological weight Emmanuel Emenike

Godfrey Oboabana

for Nigeria. You need to have played consistently for the national team for at least 5 years before you can be called a star”.

The build-up to the camp was slightly over shadowed by the absences of the likes of Martins, Odemwegie in the original list.

Later Shola Ameobi and Danny Shittu were pulled out for different reasons. It has not derailed his plans Keshi says. He however admits he dearly would have loved to have Shola Ameobi

in there “He would have brought a lot of good things and experience because when he played with us in Miami for the friendly against Venezuela he was a brilliant influence on the pitch and in the dressing room; encouraging the players and saying a lot of the things I would have said and I was so impressed I let him continue. So this young side could have done with that”.

Tactically, the Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi will play in his natural holding role for Nigeria but he would have license to move forward when he sees fit. The former Super Eagles captain and now coach of the team wants Nigerians “to be patient” with his team.

The players all seemed quite relaxed and a few of them were playing pool after dinner while club mates Moses and Mikel took turns to crack jokes with supersport.com on their way out.

“

I loved the attitude of the late Rashidi Yekini when it came to playing for Nigeria he was always the first to arrive and was willing to do anything for the National team, I loved the man

T

unisian player Aymen Abdennour has revealed that his team has Psychological problems before the start of AFCON this week.

He made the announcement after Tunisia lost their friendly match to Ghana 2-4 at their camp in Abu Dhabi.

“We played the first half very well but in the second half we lost our composure and fell apart. Let me say that our team has Psychological problems and many of our players are mentally drained, and I hope we can fix this before the tournament,”Abdennour said.

Sami Trabelsi had expressed similar thoughts after their friendly match against Gabon and assured their fans that they can’t play Afcon in this form.

The Carthage Eagles will play in group D along side Algeria, Ivory Coast and Togo.

Their first match will be against Algeria on January 22 at the Royal Bafokeng stadium.

Sunzu quits Zambia to complete EPL move

Z

Eagles-praying in Faro, Portugal before training session begins

fact that Gordon Igesund’s men have failed to pick up a win in their last two preparations matches only adds to the toll.

“Our minister of sport has come out and said that we should accept nothing less than winning that title on our home soil that is massive pressure, but it does help that it is on home soil,” says the Wits assistant coach.

“So, the pressure is unbelievably huge and I say that because this, more than anything, is going to give us the one and only time where we can replicate ’96 because it is on home soil. And if we can’t do it here we are going to struggle to do it away from home.”

ambia star defender Stopilla Sunzu has been excused from AFCON training in Nelspruit to attend a medical at EPL side Reading.

Sunzu’s club TP Mazembe of DR Congo confirmed on their official website that Sunzu will be away for four days at the English Premier League side to seal a prospective £3 million deal.

“Indeed, Sunzu is in Reading for tests after an agreement between TP Mazembe and the Zambia Federation,” Mazembe president Moses Katumbi stated on the club’s website. He (Sunzu) just sent us a message in which he thanked the club.”

The 23-year-old defender, whose first adventure in Europe

with a French club was short lived, did not travel with the team to Nelspruit on Sunday but instead flew to straight to England.

He is expected to join the team in Nelspruit on January 19 just two days before Zambia’s opening Group C game against Ethiopia.

Sunzu, who scored Zambia’s winning post-match penalty at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations final in Gabon, was man of the match in Chipolopolo’s final pre2013 AFCON friendly 0-0 draw against Norway in Ndola at the weekend.

After his exploits last year, he was linked with a move to European champions Chelsea.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 43

UEFA Champions League: It’s 50-50 chance for Real Madrid versus Man United, says Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the biggest stars on Planet Football, boasting the kind of prolific record that puts him among the finest attackers ever to play the game.

His phenomenal goalscoring tally and presence on the field is a guarantee of the spectacular.

Chosen among the world’s top three players on four occasions between 2007 and 2011, the 2008 winner was back in Zurich for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012, where he came second to Lionel Messi. He spoke to FIFA.com shortly before the prestigious Gala on 7 January.

C

ristiano, over recent years you have become a regular fixture at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala. How does it feel to be part of the global elite once more?

Very good. It’s a great honour to be nominated and it makes me very happy. It proves that I’ve maintained very high standards over my career and that can only be something to be happy about. What’s changed since the first time? I’m virtually the same guy, I’ve got a bit more experience than a few years ago but I’ve still got the same level of ambition. In general, though, I’m the same person and the same player.

Back then you were playing for Manchester United and now you’re at Real Madrid. How do the two clubs differ?

They’re the best two clubs in the world and that’s why it’s always difficult to be successful with them. They’ve got positive things and less positive things. I think there’s more pressure at Madrid than at United. I’ve been here for three-and-a-half years now and I think that’s the case because everyone involved in totally focused on winning the club’s tenth European Cup. That creates a certain amount of anxiety, which can be felt at all times.

Do you think the level of expectation sometimes adversely affects on-pitch performances?

I think that, yes, the pressure is too great and that sometimes it can affect us. But we have to try and rise above it and not let what people say get to us, particularly the media, as Real Madrid get spoken about every day. At the end of the day it comes down to an individual decision, whether you want to read the papers or not. I don’t think what the papers say matters too much, so there’s no need to overdramatise the issue.

Do you think the team’s inconsistent start to this season’s La Liga has cranked up the pressure on the club?

We haven’t started the championship very well for sure. We know that La Liga’s an uphill struggle for us now, but nothing’s impossible in football. We’re going to work hard, win games and see what happens.

And of course, there’s the Champions League and the Copa del Rey too.

There’s plenty for us to win this season.

Under the circumstances, is winning the UEFA Champions League Madrid’s main priority for this campaign?

Yes, of course.

Every Madridista wants that tenth European Cup – we’re more than aware of that. Last season we fell just short, which was very frustrating. Fortunately we’ve got the opportunity to set the record straight this year, though the fact we face Manchester United next makes it more difficult. It’s not going to be easy and I reckon the odds are about 50-50, but I’m still very confident.

If Real Madrid can rediscover their best

“

Ronaldo

I’m able to respect those who criticise me, because I know they’ve got the wrong idea about me.

You just have to learn to live with it because criticism is part of life for every footballer, for everybody in fact.

form, do you think they’ll be favourites to go through?

No team’s unbeatable, but when we’re at our best we’re a really good side. Manchester United have started the English championship race very well and are a long way ahead of the rest, but still, if we play the way we’re capable of, we can beat them. To do that we need to pull together and play as a team, like we’ve done in so many matches before.

Madrid’s league form has also led to protests against coach Jose Mourinho from sections of the Bernabeu faithful.

What’s your opinion on that?

People do protest and you have to respect that, though I think they should be a bit patient with him. To me it’s very clear that Mourinho always wants what’s best for the club and will fight to the death to defend it.

All of us who work alongside him know that, but you’ve still got to show respect for the fans’ opinion. In my view he’s the best coach in the world, he’s got loads of experience and has won everything there is to win.

It’s also not unknown for spectators to take issue with you as well. Why do you think controversy sometimes surrounds you?

I don’t know. I can’t answer that question with total certainty, because it’s something I’ve asked myself too. People who know me and those who’ve played alongside me know what kind of a guy I am.

Those who don’t know me can say and think whatever they want.

I’m able to respect those who criticise me, because I know they’ve got the wrong idea about me. You just have to learn to live with it because criticism is part of life for every footballer, for everybody in fact.

There’s been discussion recently over whether you might be changing clubs. Is that something you can see happening in the future?

I want to see out my contract at Real Madrid: I’m very clear about that. After that, well, I don’t know what’ll happen in the future.

On an individual note, why do you think you’ve been so successful during your career to date?

I think that it’s down to talent and the fact I’ve worked incredibly hard to achieve my objectives. You need to be humble enough to know what’s missing from your game and work towards it.

Throughout my whole career I’ve always tried to learn, evolve and win trophies. I’m very ambitious, I always want to win and I’ll stay that way until I hang up my boots.

What’s more, you’ve also had some major highlights off the pitch, such as when your son was born, right?

That was the best moment of my life, it makes you really proud.

He makes me feel very happy and fulfilled.

Would you like him to be a footballer?

He’ll do what he wants to do. Of course it’s something I’d like and I will give him a bit of a nudge towards football, but what he does will be his decision and I’ll support him in whatever he decides.

What sort of things do you enjoy doing away from football?

I like to do the things I’m not able to do while I’m working, such as spending time with my family, travelling, going for walks, watching basketball, tennis and being with my son. Once I leave the pitch I put football to one side. Off the field I’d rather just be a normal guy.

Does fame get too much for you sometimes? Do you ever miss having a lower public profile?

Being a footballer has good things and other aspects that aren’t so good. You miss out on doing normal things and on certain situations that you’d experience if you weren’t well-known. But this is the profession I chose and all that’s part of the package. I don’t regret my choice in the slightest.

Finally, would you say you were happy at this point in your career?

Honestly, yes. I’m doing something I like, something that I enjoy. I know how fortunate I am and I feel very fulfilled.

“

You need to be humble enough to know what’s missing from your game and work towards it.

Throughout my whole career I’ve always tried to learn, evolve and win trophies. I’m very ambitious, I always want to win and I’ll stay that way until I hang up my boots.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

2012 a positive year for sports in FCT, says Director

F

CT Director of Sports, Alim Muhammed Musa, said yesterday that 2012 was a positive sporting year for the Territory judging by its performance at the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Lagos.

Musa said that the Territory’s performance had improved compared to the previous years. The Territory placed 12th over all to record an improved outing from the Garden City Games where it fell short of its best performance as hosts in 2004.

“I think we have done the best in the past year; you

use a yardstick to evaluate your performance; and if we use the festival as a yardstick for evaluating our performance, I don’t think we have done badly, because, I think our performance has improved.

“All the progammes and activities that we have explored have been very rewarding. All we need to do now is to see how we can improve on some of those strategies that we adopted in the year with a view to improving further in subsequent competitions.

“But, over and above all, we have placed Abuja, that

is, FCT where it has never been; we came 12th out of 36 competitors, coming first from all the states north of the River Niger.

“I wouldn’t want to cap it with whatever superlative qualification, but I think we have done our best. If today I leave here, I think I have made my mark.”

Musa disclosed that the Territory’s programme for 2013 would depend on the availability of funds that would accrue from the budgetary allocations that would be made to it.

Onigbinde urges NFF’s strict monitoring of academies

A

degboye Onigbinde, a former Head Coach of the Super Eagles and CAF Instructor, has urged the country’s football regulating body to closely monitor the activities of the football academies.

Onigbinde, who asserted that some proprietors of such institutions have deviated from what

football academies ought to be, stressed the need for their strict monitoring, to ensure compliance with laid down guidelines for academies.

“This is one of the things we are getting wrong; our academies are not guided by regulations, they act as they please, which is detrimental for our grassroots development

programme.

“There are no monitoring measures put in place; there are some people that should not be allowed to watch a football match, much less a football academy.

“A carpenter can wake up one morning and decide to build an academy; it is appalling. This is possible because there is no

regulation in place,’’ Onigbinde said.

He called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to wake up to its primary responsibilities by paying more attention to d e v e l o p m e n t a l programmers, rather than focus on competitions.

“How credible is their knowledge, not to talk of what they impart?

Football administrators need to come up with policies that will checkmate the activities of these academies.

“We have to ensure that our academies are on the right track, most of them don’t know the elementary things about football. This probably explains why the boys don’t seem to know much,’’ the former coach added.

Musa Amadu, NFF Scribe

Maude defends CAF, says referees selection based on laid-down rules

T

he President, Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Ahmed Maude, has rose in stout defense of CAF’s list of referees for the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Maude, who was reacting to the condemnation of CAF over the exclusion of Nigerian referees in the fiesta, said the selection principles adopted in the exercise was based on sub-zoning procedures.

According to him, the CAF Referees Committee carried out the exercise through its laid down procedures and therefore should not be faulted. Normally, the continent will be divided into sub-zones, the number of countries that qualified will be divided with the number that did not.

“Also, the countries that qualified will have fewer numbers of referees, compared to those that did not qualify. “If it turns out that all the countries that qualified have representatives, it would create a problem because there won’t be anybody to handle the matches credibly,’’ the NRA president said.

He explained that if such a scenario had arisen, the country’s sole representative would lose out.

“Even Peter Edibe, the Nigerian selected as an Assistant Referee by CAF, will have to leave after the preliminaries if Nigeria passes the group stage, so it is not just about picking the best in Nigeria, Ghana or any other country.

“I am sure it is not all the countries that qualified that have referees at the event, because we have 55 countries in Africa. It is not the issue of having Nigerians there, since Nigeria is participating and that is why we have only one,” ’Maude added. He urged those who had been raising dust over the alleged snub of Nigeria in the list to understand the dynamics before making their submissions on the issue.

“If you look at the list, those that qualified have fewer numbers there, like one or zero, for example, look at

Cameroon, they have one referee and two Assistant referees because they did not qualify. “ So, there are lots of criteria and it is not all about Nigeria, if we had not qualified, we could have gotten more chances for our referees.

“Besides, the referees must be selected from all the countries in Africa, not Nigeria alone, since it is not a Nigerian league affair,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) Referees’ Committee, Suleiman Muazu, has said that the committee was not to be blamed for having only one referee at the tournament.

Muazu, who was reacting to reports that the committee did not do enough to forestall the “flawed selection process,’’ refuted the allegation in its entirety.

“It is the duty of the CAF Referees’ Committee to do the selection and not the NFF’s. Ours is to oversee the leagues we have in Nigeria.

“But the truth of the matter is that they invited Bunmi Ogunkolade and Peter Edibe to be part of the competition, but they discovered that Ogunkolade is hypertensive, so, he was dropped.

“For the 2012 edition, Solomon Wokoma was invited but was also found not to be healthy; he is hypertensive. So, what do you expect us to do?” he asked.

He added that the referees in question were the best the country could offer.

“The two of them are our elite referees. Wokoma is number one and Ogunkolade number two, and both of them are hypertensive, so FIFA or CAF cannot pick them for any competition. ‘Are we the ones that put the health-related problems in them? We inherited the referees committee barely three years ago and two years in a row now, this is happening,’’ he recalled.

Muazu added that the committee had briefed the NFF’s media committee about the development. “ Already, we have reported to the medical committee of the NFF that we are having problems with the health status of our referees and they said they will work on that.

“So, anybody that is blaming the referees committee is doing that over nothing,’’ he added.

CHANGE OF NAME

Peter Edibe, the only Nigerian that will be on duty at AFCON 2013 as Assistant Referee

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MARIA HAJARA BRAIMAH NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. MARIA EBENEZAR WILLIAMS FAGBEMI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC, PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

New salary scale for El Kanemi players

T

he Borno State government says it has approved an enhanced salary for players of the El Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri, ahead of next month’s commencement of the Nigeria Premier League.

Isa Buratai, Commissioner for Sports, disclosed this yesterday while addressing players and officials of the club at the El Kanemi Warriors Sports Centre, Maiduguri.

However, Buratai, declined to disclose the size of the new salary, stressing instead that the package was aimed at boosting the morale of the team ahead of the forthcoming new league season.

“I want to inform you that Gov. Kashim Shettima has approved an enhanced salary for the players of the club with effect from last December. The governor has also approved the

purchase of two new buses for the club to provide comfort for the players and officials during the season,” he said.

Buratai assured that government was making efforts to pay the players their sign-on fees before the commencement of the league.

“I want you to note that the governor is personally interested in the success of the club, especially now

that we have gained promotion into the elite premier league,” he said.

The commissioner commended the performance of the team in its numerous pre-season friendly matches.

“I am highly impressed by the performance of the club in all the friendly matches played so far. But I will like to add that to whom much is given, much is expected,” he said.

Also speaking, the new

Technical Adviser of the club, Coach Zakari Baraje, thanked the commissioner for the visit.

Baraje, who had earlier handled the club in 1987, expressed optimism that the team would live up to expectation in the coming season.

“I believe that the most essential element in a team’s success is discipline.

That is something the present crop of players in the team have,” he added.

Malam Kashim Shettima, Governor of Borno State

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 41

AFCON teevee blackout looms as BON, LC2 talks stall

By Patrick Andrew with agency report

T

alks between the B r o a d c a s t i n g Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and LC2 over broadcast rights fees for the 29th Africa Cup of Nations ended in a deadlock yesterday as both parties failed to agree on price for the rights.

BON had last Wednesday said its members might not be broadcasting matches of the 2013 AFCON live in view of a tussle over the appropriate payment for the rights.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles is one of the 16 teams participating in the competition which will hold in South Africa from January 19 to February 10.

BON Chairman, Abubakar Jijiwa, pointedly told the media after the meeting that they were unable to come to agreeement on what amount Nigeria should pay to enjoy the broadcast rights of the continental fiesta.

“The meeting was a follow-up to our press conference of last week. However, the situation remains the same as I regretfully say that we are unfortunately at a deadlock,’’ he said.

Jijiwa said while BON was desirous of shifting grounds to ensure that Nigeria’s interest was taken care of, the other party at the meeting had refused to budge.

“Our position remains the same, even as we are desirous of ensuring that all Nigerians at every corner of the country watch the competition.

“That’s why we are in business in the first instance. But then we can’t cut off our nose to spite our face, because the price on offer is not good at all.

“LC2 has, to their credit, came here to negotiate, and for two hours we had discussed without a tangible result being achieved,’’ he said.

The BON chairman said while the organisation increased its

offer to $2.5 million, LC2 had also reduced its asking price to 4.5 million euros.

“This is a development quite alright, but it is not the desirable one. Their offer is not just right for us, especially as the competition is branded already and we now have just about five days to its kick-off,’’ he said.

BON had earlier said it started negotiations since November 1, 2012 with an offer of $1.2m to JCM-African Sports Consulting after a letter from it on October 19.

After JCM-African Sports Consulting rejected that offer about two weeks later, BON increased it to 1.5 million dollars, insisting on its asking price of eight million euros.

BON was to repeat the offer on Nov. 27 after it learnt from LC2 it owned the rights, only for the company to on Dec. 5 direct it to CCFOOT Ltd. For negotiations.

On Dec. 12, it offered to pay CCFOOT either 1million dollars for all the 32 matches or 300,000 dollars for selected matches, with the company rejecting this on Dec. 21.

“BON can’t offer beyond the 2.5 million dollars, because we know the market we are operating in, and this is after taking into consideration all limitations.

“The rights owners, as well as our competitors, have already gone to the same advertising market we have, so it’s going to be tough.

“Moreover, the major spenders in our advertising market have also been excluded in view of the kind of sponsors the competition already has,’’ Jijiwa said.

However, he said BON remained open to negotiations and other discussions on the matter, saying it was ready to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a reversal of the situation.

The Super Eagles are drawn in Group C alongside defending champions, the Chipolopolo of Zambia, the Stallions of Burkina

Faso and the Walyas Antelopes of Ethiopia. The Eagles are to play the opening match against the Stallions on January 21 in Nelspruit.

Their other group first round games are against Zambia and Ethiopia, and they will be held on Jan. 25 and Jan. 29, respectively.

Isah Hayatou, CAF president

Ejide resumes light training

I

njured goalkeeper Austin Ejide resumed light training yesterday even as the Super Eagles intensified final preparations for the Nations Cup duel this weekend.

Ejide, who medics gave a minimum of 14 days to return to physical fitness following a ham-string injury he sustained in Nigeria versus Cape Verde friendly game in Faro, Portugal, took part in yesterday’s morning training.

Team’s Media Officer, Ben Alaiya disclosed that the light training regime for the Isrealbased goalkeeper began on Sunday, even as the technical crew insists on Daniel Akpeyi being on stand-by.

Though Alaiya said Ejide was “fit as a fiddle” he was quick to recall the observation and fears of the medics, who had cautioned against rushing him back to training in the hope of using him at the tournament.

Any rush to serious training could lead to a relapse to the injury and the medical crew wants Head Coach Stephen Keshi to lay little hope on him.

Nonetheless, Ejide was seen in training with keeper’s trainer, Ike Shorunmu and Physiotherapist, Olawale Oladejo, while the technical seem optimistic of his quick recuperation.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will play its last training match

today against Portuguese second division side, Farense in Faro, Portuguese, before departing Faro, for South Africa on Wednesday. The match earlier scheduled for 12noon Portuguese time, which is 1pm Nigerian time has been pushed forward a bit due to logistics.

The game will now kick off 2:30pm Portuguese time, which will be 3:30pm Nigerian time due to some logistics. Head Coach Stephen Keshi declared on Monday, that the team on ground is well prepared for action at the 2013 Nations Cup and again urged Nigerians to line up behind the team in a bid to bring greater glory to the country at the tourney.

Austin Ejide

SA police assure of top class security for teams

T

he South African Police Service (SAPS) has said that it would adopt the same security it applied during the 2010 World Cup for the upcoming 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Brig. Sally de Beer, SAPS spokeswoman, told newsmen that all arms of the country’s security services would be engaged in the task.

She added that the operation which would commence on Thursday, would entail 24-hour surveillance until the departure

of all the participating teams in February.

“This include Natjoints members deployed at the port of entry and those deployed for crowd management purposes, should it become necessary,’’ De Beer said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Natjoints consists of the Police, Department of Trade and Industry and the South Africa Revenue Services (SARS).

The ad hoc body also consists of: the Independent

Communication Authority of South Africa, the South Africa National Defence Force and the Metro Police.

“Our goal is to ensure that football fans and visitors to South Africa can enjoy the games, engage in sightseeing and have fun, while we provide world class security,’’ De Beer said.

Meanwhile, Sipho Sithole, LOC spokesman, disclosed that 4,400 security guards, volunteers, as well as disaster management personnel, would be deployed to tame unruly fans

during the tournament.

He added that more than 70,000 tickets have been sold for the opening match between South Africa and Cape Verde on Jan. 19.

“We are ready but there is a sudden spike in tickets sales, more than 350,000 tickets have been sold already,’’ Sithole said.

The Department of Justice spokesman, Mthunzi Mhaga, said that special courts will not be set up for AFCON, saying that, “the existing criminal justice system infrastructure is adequate to deal with any

eventualities.’’

He said courts in the host cities will prioritise cases emanating from the tournament.

“They will use modified definition of the 2010 World Cup offences to assist them in prioritising such cases.

“Courts will also activate the data bases of their own language interpreters in order to expedite the cases,’’ Mhaga said.

The 29th edition of AFCON would kick-off in five centres across South Africa between Jan. 19 and Feb. 10.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

PAGE 47

Say what?

Some Interesting Facts UNBELIEVABLE BUT TRUE FACTS • If you dug a well to the centre of the Earth, and dropped a brick in it, it would take 45 minutes to get to the bottom - 4,000 miles down.

• Your body sheds 10 billion flakes of skin every day.

• The Earth weighs 6,500 million million million tons.

• Honey is the only food consumed by humans that doesn't go off.

• The Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters.

• A donkey can sink into quicksand but a mule can't.

• Every time you sneeze your heart stops a second.

• There are 22 miles more canals in Birmingham UK than in Venice.

• Potato crisps were invented by a Mr Crumm.

• Facetious and abstemious contain all the vowels in their correct order.

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.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Yesterday’s solution

A A member member of of the the Nihang, Nihang, aa traditional traditional armed armed Sikh Sikh order order wears wears 300 300 metre metre turban turban during during aa festival festival in in Amritsar, Amritsar, India.

India.

Source: Source: Dailymail.co.uk Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

. . . putting the people first

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE Our leaders should refrain from statements that are capable of further worsening the peace of the country.

— Gov. Gabriel Suswam

SPORTS Adesina's "s"ell phones and LA TEST LATEST immoral echo of project 2015

Ronaldo wants to see out his Real Madrid contract

C

ristiano Ronaldo says he wants to stay at Real Madrid until his current contract runs out, but admits he is unsure what will happen beyond then.

The former Manchester United forward's deal at the Bernabeu expires in 2015, but he has been linked with a move away from the Spanish giants.

"I want to see out my contract at Real Madrid - I'm very clear about that," the 27year-old told Fifa's website.

"After that, well, I don't know what'll happen in the future."

Speaking in an interview at the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony that was published on Fifa's official website on Monday, Ronaldo revealed his plan to stay for at least another two years at Real Madrid.

It comes after he admitted in September that he was "sad" at the reigning La Liga champions.

The Portuguese forward joined Madrid in 2009 in a world record £80m deal from Manchester United.

Ronaldo will face his former side for the first time since his move when Madrid take on United in the last-16 of the Champions League in February.

With Jose Mourinho's side 18 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, their main focus will now be Europe's elite competition.

"Every Madridista wants that 10th European Cup - we're more than aware of that," Ronaldo said.

"It's not going to be easy and I reckon the odds are about 5050, but I'm still very confident.

"Manchester United have started the English championship race very well and are a long way ahead of the rest, but still, if we play the way we're capable of, we can beat them."

Cristiano Ronaldo ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

0803 0805 0803 0805 0803

T

he recent contemplation by the minister of Agriculture, Mr. AkinwumiAdesina, to spend 60 billion naira to buy "cell" phones for about 10 million Nigerian peasant farmers has riled many Nigerians. The objections and shock of Nigerians are understandable. Why? I think Nigerians are shocked probably because Dr. Adesina is a technocrat in government. Is the shock of Nigerians misplaced? Yes and No. No, because as rational humans, we tend to, without qualification, associate technocracy in governance with efficiency. Yes the objections are misplaced because we instantly but wrongly associate technocracy in governance with morality.

In the Nigerian situation we even add some "class" and "foreign touch" to it by importing them from the Diaspora! Just do a name check of President Jonathan's cabinet and you will see the "technocratic" and "Diaspora" configuration I am talking about!

Given such "Diaspora" touch, it seems the false analogy is: If other diasporas-Jewish, European, Asian etc-help their countries to develop, why can't Nigerian Diaspora do the same!

But populating a cabinet with "technocrats" with "Diaspora" touch without the moral law to perform is a classic example of borrowing "ideas" from other nations while leaving out the environment - especially the moral environment with which other nations build their countries. This is why we are yet to see the added value to governance of our technocrats- both Diaspora and home! The immorality of our middle class and political and ruling class is so anti-science they believe fishes will live outside water!

Unfortunately, technocratswhether home or Diaspora- are not moral agents in governance who normatively will evoke sanction on themselves if and when they offend public ethics long before society's sanctions. So under an immoral condition, they are well prepared to serve the interests of members of their own class-the immoral Nigerian middle, political and ruling class.

We do not need to go too far to show this. The issue is that there is a point at which public ethics and morality trump technocracy in governance. The point is not whether the technocrats know their field or not. Of course most of them do. But while the latter is a professional issue, the former is an ethical issue, which stands at the

311 689 606 327 454

7458 1765 3308 1969 0344

GUEST COLUMNIST Adeolu Ademoyo aaa54@cornell.edu,

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture core of governance in modern and civilized societies. Public ethics is everything and everything in governance. It is that threshold between "being civilized and modern" and "being uncivilized and being of pre-stone age."

Apply this to the phoney "s"ell phones, which the Nigerian state intends to buy for Nigerian farmers. No one will doubt the technical need and relevance of effective communication in the 21st century. So no one will doubt the relevance of a phone as a technical tool of communication.

But the questions are: how does the owning of mobile phones by Nigerian peasant farmers enhance productivity?

Second if hypothetically speaking mobile phones enhance productivity, should Nigerian state be the one buying mobile phones for each Nigerian peasant farmer?

In this regard, one must introspect. In the 70s and 80s, with other patriotic then-young Nigerians we ran vast large scale farms side by side working and toiling with Nigerian peasant farmers for the good of our society.

So on the basis of that experience as young public intellectuals and professionals who looked the challenges of our people straight in the face and who dirtied their hands in the nitty gritty of the

daily sojourning, ploughing and toiling of Nigerian peasant farmers on the farms, with due respect to the office of the minister of agriculture a mobile phone or "s"ell phone for each Nigerian farmer is the least of the priorities of the Nigerian peasant farmer in the 21st century.

Rather, the major problem of Nigerian peasant farmers and Nigerian agricultural production is the social, political, economic and natural disempowerment and the aging of the primary labour -the peasantry-in that sector. "S"ell phones will not solve such fundamental problem of crisis proportion. Nigerian farm labour, the peasant farmers are aging, we are not growing younger farmers, and those who are still standing though with bent, crooked and aging backs and waists do not have control over the means of production, nature and marketing.

Hence, they are alienated from the same land they love to work with. You do not need big grammar or some exotic "Diaspora" technocrat to know this.

If Mr. Adesinais seriously looking into how to take Nigerian agriculture into the 21st century, it is not too difficult to seek out highly regarded and respected Nigerians who work honestly with Nigerian peasant farmers and who are best placed to advise the minister for agriculture. If Mr. Adesina will not throw away their views just as Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke and President Jonathan have thrown away the Ribadu Oil Panel report, I will suggest two Nigerians with decent sense of public ethics who will not ask the minster for a kobo on the help they will render.

Names of two Nigerians- who I apologize to upfront for putting on the spot for the public good of our society- ring immediate bell. One is the highly respected former Governor of Kaduna state-Mr. Balarabe Musa. One of our public heroes and no armchair critic, Mr. Balarabe Musa, is a grassroots farmer who moved from the farm gate to being governor and back to the farm gate to toil with our

farmers. Another is a professor of medicine, a highly regarded neuro-scientist who I learn advises the Osun state governor on agriculture. The gentle man I am talking about is Dr. SeindeArigbede.

An unsung genius, (who deliberately avoids the public), Mr. SeindeArigbede is a farmer who has quietly toiled and worked with Nigerian farmers for more than 30 years. He lives a private and quiet life in Osun state.

Our minster of agriculture, Mr. Adesina must go after these highly moral men and call on their rich knowledge if we are serious about transforming our agricultural sector and helping our country.

Mr. Adesina should please put politics aside (for they are not looking for jobs) and contact Mr. Balarabe Musa through the Kaduna state governor and Mr. Arigbede through the Osun state governor.

So our suggestion is completely ethical and free of pecuniary consideration. If the agriculture minister ever needs frank and honest advice on how and where to take Nigerian farming, food production and agriculture to in the 21st century and beyond, I will advise him very strongly to contact these gentlemen, farmers associations, and seek out other honest and highly moral grassroots farming Nigerians who are embedded with Nigerian farmers for honest advice. He does not need to go outside Nigeria. The people and ideas that will make Nigeria work are right there within the borders of our dear country. What he needs to do is to put ethics first and remove politics and economic calculations.

But as it is and without doing this, Mr.Adesina's mobile phone project looks more like a "S"ell Phone Project for Project 2015- a devious 2015 elections campaign strategy. In other words since the campaign has started, all that needs to be done is to give 10 million peasant farmers 10 million "S"ell phones now with pomp and pageantry and ask for a pay back in 2015 because a good turn deserves another. But this is an immoral act for these Greek gifts do not define a 21st century Nigerian agricultural sector. They do not touch the fundamental needs of Nigerian peasant farmers and the future of food production in Nigeria. On the contrary, we need to begin to make Nigeria work by putting ethics first. "S"ell phones will sell Nigeria once again and perpetuate the mediocrity and immorality in the land.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 805 727 9862. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141