Peoples Daily Newspaper, Wednessday, February 15, 2012

Tension in Kaduna as bomb shatters police expert

Vol. 7 No. 74

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

PAGE 3

Rabiul Awwal 23, 1433 AH

N150

Senate declares . . .

Ministers inflate 2012 budget by N1 trillion

By Richard Ihediwa

T

he Senate Committee on Appropriation yesterday said it has facts showing that some government ministries,

departments and agencies (MDAs) smuggled in some unapproved projects to the tune of over N1 trillion into the N4.7 trillion 2012 budget.

Chairman of the committee,

Senator Ahmed Maccido, who disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja.

He said his committee discovered that over 40 percent of the projects reviewed at the on-

going budget defence sessions with the MDAs were not in the original appropriation bill presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan last year.

According to him, “The

problem is that we are seeing projects that are not in the original version of the budget presented to us by President Goodluck Jonathan and substantial part of Contd on Page 2

Jonathan seeks $8bn foreign loan

L-R: Cultural Counsellor, Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Sham Baoxiany, presenting Chinese Muslim and cultural books to Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, during the donation of the books by the Chinese Embassy to the National Mosque in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Richard Ihediwa

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has written to the National Assembly seeking its permission to borrow a total of US$7.905 billion (N1.264 trillion) from a collection of banks, including the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

However, the Senate in a swift Contd on Page 2

I N S I D E Boko Haram: Kano lifts curfew, restricts Okada movement

Uncertainty over court order for Salami’s trial

Igbo business men refuse to quit Kano

In a bid to protect the lives and properties of the citizenry, the Kano state government has dealt a heavy blow on the activities of commercial motorcycles – Page 2

Confusion yesterday, trailed the purported order obtained from a Bwari High court granting leave for the trial of the former president of the Court of Appeal – Page 3

Igbo business men in the Northern parts of the country have turned down directive by MASSOB to return to their ancestral homes – Page 19

WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

CONTENTS

Book Haram: Kano restricts okada

News

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Motoring

26

For the Record

27

Arts

29

I

n a bid to protect the lives and properties of the citizenry, the Kano state government has dealt a heavy blow on the activities of commercial motorcycles riders popularly referred to as achaba.

They would now ply their trade in the day time starting from 6.am to 6.pm under the new regulation on the review of the dusk to dawn curfew imposed on the state since the members of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents’ unleashed mayhem in the metropolis.

The director of Communication and Public Relation Strategy to the state governor, Baba Dantiye, who announced the measure did not offer any explanation to justify the restriction placed on the motorcyclists.

The new measure may not be unconnected with the continuous use of motorcycles by armed insurgents in launching series of assault on security agents after the deadly attack on Kano metropolis on the 20th of January, this year.

Security operatives had accused the dreaded sect of using motorbikes during the attack of the Sharada police station, Sheka outpost in Shagari quarters and Monday’s attack on the ICPC’s office.

Meanwhile, a police sergeant attached to Kano Command is

facing orderly room trial following the reported loss of his AK47 rifle to gunmen on Monday evening at the local office of the ICPC located around Hotoro GRA in the city.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Musa Magaji Majiya, explained that the affected officer has been taken into custody for investigations.

Majiya said that they are

trying to unravel the circumstances surrounding the loss of the arm, and every lid will be exploited to get to the root of the matter.

Mutallab gets verdict tomorrow

By Abdulwahab Isa

N

igeria’s Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab who is standing trial in United States for attempted bombing of an airline on December 25, 2009 is to know his fate tomorrow, February 16.

Farouk, often referred to as “Underwear Bomber”, is charged with attempting to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear while on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253, en route from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, on December 25, 2009.

He has been charged with eight criminal counts, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder of 289 people. He is in US custody, awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to all counts.

A US District Judge Nancy Edmunds which earlier scheduled the sentencing for January 19, added that the trail was delayed so as to give the self-

proclaimed al-Qaeda operative time to respond to a pre-sentence report even though he faces mandatory life in prison for trying to blow up a Detroitbound airliner on Christmas

Day, 2009.

Farouk has appealed against a life sentence given the foreseen possibility that this might be the outcome of his conviction.

Reps mandate FG to commence dredging of River Benue

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he House of Representatives yesterday mandated the Federal Government to immediately commence the dredging of the River Benue from Lokoja to Jimeta with Ports to be located in Makurdi in Benue state and Ibi/Lau in Taraba.

This came as a result of a motion sponsored by Rep Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed who noted that “the Niger and the Benue are the great rivers with enormous natural endowment

for socio-economic development of Nigeria.”

According to her, the 572kilometers dredging of the lower Niger River from Baro in Niger state to Warri in Delta state has been completed by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIIWA), and put to commercial use.

Ahmed added that the House was aware that the government had assured that the Benue River would also be dredged from Lokoja to Makurdi this year to enhance inland waterways transportation.

Ministers inflate 2012 budget by N1 trillion Security in Adamawa: Nyako’s first hurdle to scale, Page 37

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

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 these projects are being smuggled into the budget by the MDAs and ministers. Over 40 percent of the projects in the budget are not in the original budget”, he reiterated.

“The items so smuggled into the budget amount to over N1trillion. So we are right now comparing the budget as originally presented by the

president and the version presented by the MDAS. “Unless these projects are in their in the originally budget, we are going to scrap them. It is no longer going to be business as usual”, Senator Maccido affirmed.

The recent discovery by the Senate is believed to have sent jitters down the spines of most ministers and heads of government departments and

agencies involved in the unauthorised inclusions.

The alleged smuggled items have over bloated the 2012 fiscal estimates to about N5.7 trillion.

Maccido said though the Senate has resolved to pass the budget before the end of this month, it will subject appropriation bill to rigorous scrutiny to eliminate such fraudulent additions.

Meanwhile, the Senate has given a matching order to its standing committees to submit their reports to the appropriation committee for necessary legislative action.

Spokesman of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said yesterday that the upper house was ready to approve the budget before the end of the month.

Jonathan seeks $8bn foreign loan Contd from Page 1 reaction to the letter said the proposed borrowing does not suggest that the nation was broke.

The President, in a letter to Senate President David Mark, who read it on the floor of the Senate yesterday, said the loan was needed to finance some development projects including the critical pipeline projects, which he said, were aimed at putting the nation’s economy back on track and would create more jobs in the country.

The President listed the banks offering the cumulative facilities to include the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Exim Bank of China and Indian lines of credit.

Jonathan pleaded that the proposed loan which will be spread over three years of US$2.6 billion per year should be included in the 2012-2014 federal External

Borrowing plan.

The letter, dated February 10, 2012 reads in part that: “I write to present the attached list of pipeline projects for the Medium Term (2012-2014) to the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the consideration and inclusion in the 2012-2014 External Borrowing Plan.

“I wish to inform you that a number of special initiatives were designed to put the economy back on track through growth and employment activities geared towards the implementation of the Transformation Agenda. In that regard, a number of projects have been designed to create employment opportunities with the view to growing the economy.

“The pipeline projects are at various stages of finalisation.

Therefore, I present herewith a total of external pipeline

borrowing in the amount of US$7.905, 690,000.00 or US$2.64 billion a year being cumulative facilities offered by the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Exim Bank of China and Indian lines of credit. Details of the pipeline borrowing are attached as Annex 1”, it said.

The letter further stated that: “In this regard the distinguished Senate President is invited to; (i) note that the objective of the project conforms with the Transformation Agenda of our administration and cuts across various sectors of the economy; (ii) Note that the initiatives are meant to put the economy back on track through growth and employment; (iii) approve the list of the pipeline projects for inclusion in the Medium Term

(2012-2014) External Borrowing Plan of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

The President in the letter urged the Senate to give his request an accelerated consideration in the general interest of the country.

However, briefing newsmen after plenary yesterday, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said there were no signs that the nation was broke.

Reacting to the call by some Nigerians for a National Sovereign Conference, Abaribe said such would amount to the duplication of the role of the National Assembly. He urged those demanding for the conference to channel their demands through their elected representatives in the National Assembly.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan’s palliative measures instituted after last month’s partial withdrawal of fuel subsidy have come under scathing criticisms from Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa state. Gov Lamido, who spoke with State House correspondents after a meeting with the President

PAGE 3

Lamido lambasts Jonathan’s palliative measures yesterday, described the provision of palliatives by government in its attempt to lessen the economic problems on the people as counterproductive.

Lamido said the measures were a way of admitting government’s failure to meet its basic responsibilities to the people.

He added that such measures merely perpetuated the sense of helplessness on the people.

Rather than instituting ‘token’ palliatives, he said, what was needed was the strengthening of national institutions to create a feeling of self worth in citizens who should be prepared to pay for the

services they enjoyed.

According to him, “to be honest, when you talk about palliatives, it sounds as if you are trying to support the weak, you are trying to patronise the weak and it induces a feeling of perpetual subordination.

I don’t like it that way.”

He continued: “It should be in

a clearer and more philosophical way. The function of government is to serve the people. When you are talking about palliatives, it means there is something you have not been doing. If you are doing the thing in the last 20 or 25 years, then should be nothing called palliatives.”

Uncertainty over court order for Salami’s trial

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

C

R-L: Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, with his Deputy, Engr. Abubakar D. Ali, during the opening of a two-day workshop on Transparency and Accountability organised for senior government functionaries at WAWA Hall, Government House in Damaturu, yesterday.

Tension in Kaduna as explosion shatters bomb expert From Agaju Madugba and Lawal Sadiq Sanusi, Kaduna

F

ear gripped residents of Kaduna city yesterday following twin explosions which rocked Ungwar Sarki area of the town. The state police command announced a beef up of security in the entire state as the reign of terror continued in the metropolis as the explosive dismembered the body of a

policeman from the Bomb Disposal Squad.

According to eyewitness accounts, the first explosion occurred at about 10.33 am, near the Sultan Bello Central Mosque, a development which led to a stampede in the area as residents, motorists and passersby scrambled for cover.

Our correspondent learnt that it was the second explosion about 15 minutes later within

the same location that hit the policeman, shattering his body into pieces.

One of the eyewitnesses explained that the policeman who was not wearing any protective shield was in the process of scanning an object in a polythene bag placed by the side of the road when the explosive device went off.

Fragments from the explosion were said to have hit two other

persons who are currently receiving treatment at the 44 Army Reference Hospital.

Confirming the explosions, the Kaduna Police Commissioner, Bala Nasarawa, also identified the deceased as Sergeant Sunday Badang.

According to him, “the first Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in a gutter near a parked 15-seater Ford bus and no one was affected while the second explosion occurred when the police Antibomb personnel was about to defuse it and it exploded and he was killed instantly.

…As victim of Govt House shooting remains in coma

T

wenty-four hours after overzealous security personnel attached to the Kaduna state Government House shot Isuwa Kiforo, a senior civil servant, the victim is still lying in coma at the 44 Army Reference Hospital.

Securitymen had shot Isuwa on Monday as he approached the

Government House in his official car. He was apparently mistaken for a Boko Haram suicide bomber as the police claimed that the victim drove his car in a suspicious manner.

Isuwa who is Director of Finance at the Kaduna state Ministry of Information and a pastor at the Living Faith Church,

Barnawa, had planned to travel to his village in the southern part of the state later that Monday.

When our correspondent visited Isuwa’s residence at the Narayi area yesterday, his wife, Charity, a school teacher, said she was shocked to learn that media reports could link her husband with the activities of Boko Haram.

According to her, doctors at the hospital were battling to save the life of her husband of 28 years, after multiple surgery operations on him.

“I just returned from the hospital this morning (Tuesday),” she said, adding that, her husband was in a bad shape, unable to speak or recognise anyone.

onfusion yesterday, trailed the purported order obtained from a Bwari High Court granting leave for the trial of the former president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isah Salami, for alleged perjury.

An Abuja High Court granted leave to former Governor of Ekiti state, Chief Segun Oni to apply for an order of Mandamus to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister, Mr. Mohammed Adoke to commence criminal prosecution of the former President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami for allegedly giving false evidence on oath.

Justice Peter Affen of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Bwari granted the order after listening to Oni’s counsel, Mr. Olusegun Ilori, an Abuja based lawyer who argued that, “It is in the interest of justice, fair-play and the rule of law to prosecute the suspended president of the Court of Appeal, for giving false evidence as the prosecution borders on an issue of national interest, public concern, social justice and equality before the law.”

Counsel to the former governor, in his effort to convince the Judge to grant him the leave cited the case of Fawehinmi Vs Akilu, and Abraham Adesanya Vs President, Federal Republic of Nigeria as authorities to support his application.

Justice Affen in giving the order said even though leave for Mandamus was not, "granted merely for the asking", he exercised his discretion to grant the leave in view of its, “public interest nature", and ordered the AGF to be served with the court process within 14 days and adjourned the matter till March 8, 2012.

Justice Salami has been embroiled in conflict with the former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Katsina Alu (rtd) which culminated in his suspension from the Court of Appeal.

An online publication said the CJN letter dated January 27, 2012 said Salami did nothing wrong to deserve any punishment, and asked President Jonathan to reverse the decision taken during the tenure of his predecessor, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.

Border closure directive in force along Yobe borders, says Immigration From Godswill Uche, Damaturu

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan’s directive to close Nigerian borders with other countries within Yobe state was effected immediately it was given and is vigorously being

enforced in the state by the state Immigration Command.

The Yobe state comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Bagobiri Thomas, stated this in an interview with our reporter in his office in Damaturu. Thomas said ‘to ensure compliance with the border closure

declared by Mr. President, the Comptroller-General also visited Yobe state to ensure that the directives took effect in Yobe on the first of January, 2012’.

After that he said, the Deputy Comptoller-General of Immigration in charge of

Investigations, Intelligence and Enforcement, Alhaji Suleiman Umar has toured the state to sensitise the communities on the importance of the directive and why it should be obeyed.

On logistic support, he said the headquarters at Abuja has

deployed three operational vehicles to the state command which is now being used to patrol the border areas while extra allowances were being given to the officers to enable them stay in the bush areas to ensure full implementation of the directive.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 4

By Jamila Nuhu Musa

T

he Minister for Power, Professor Bart Nnaji has allayed fears that the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), when privatised will end up like the Nigerian Airways and NITEL, even as he said that the workers of the corporation can become shareholders in the new privatisation scheme.

Nnaji, who was speaking at a media session organized by the Nigerian Pilot / Newsworld

PHCN will not die like Nigerian Airways, NITEL, says Nnaji

Leadership Forum in Abuja, said that the Federal Government plans to generate 6,000 megawatts by the end of the year, while 4 new power plants may also be commissioned.

The minister gave the assurance that the workers

Alleged gunrunner gets bail in Kaduna From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

T

he former Petroleum Tanker DriversAssociation (PTD) Chairman, Nuhu Muhammad Marafa and his son Musa Marafa, who were allegedly accused of gun-running and linked with terrorist activities were yesterday granted bail by a Kaduna Magistrate Court at about 5pm.

In his ruling, the Magistrate of Court 1, Ibrahim Taiwo Road Nasiru Lere said the accused has been granted bail on condition of one1million naira bail bond with two sureties in like sum and one of the two sureties must either be a public servant of the rank of a Permanent Secretary or a District Head in Kaduna state.

Counsel to Nuhu, Barrister Muhammad Sani Katung expressed satisfaction with the bail granted. He explained further that the essence of bringing him to court is to ascertain whether he actually committed the offence or not. He further stated that they remain resolute until after all investigation are concluded.

It could be recalled thatthe Kaduna Magistrate Court had last Friday ordered the Nigeria Army to transfer custody of the alleged gun-runner, Marafa and his son Musa Marafa to the

Police, pending the determination of his bail application.

The former Chairman of the PTD, and his son were arrested and subsequently paraded by the Nigerian Army in Kaduna in January, 2012 for being in possession of ammunitions and other items including a bottle with contents described to be explosives and have been in military detention since then.

The family had dragged the Army authorities to the Court last Thursday, seeking for unconditional release of their bread winner.

But his lawyers who addressed journalists shortly after he was paraded said, the paraded ammunitions particularly the gun was licensed, adding that his arrest was politically motivated.

The lawyers, who described the suspect as a law-abiding citizen said they will employ all legal actions in defence of the suspect.

A Kaduna High Court Judge, Justice Lucia Ojukwu had also set tomorrow, Thursday 16th February, 2012 for ruling over the case.

In the meantime, one of the sons of the suspect, Yusuf Marafa was said to have escaped with another weapon and is presently at large; the Army however has declared him wanted.

Northern leaders in disarray, says Atiku

By Muhammad Sada and Muhammad Nasir

F

ormer Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has blamed the recurring problems and instability in northern Nigeria on the lack of cohesion and poor human relationship, sentimentality and lack of cooperation on the part of the political, religious, and traditional leaders in the North.

In an interview with the Hausa service of the BBC after a programme organised by ThisDay newspaper to honour of some distinguished Nigerians yesterday, the former vice president said the problems have existed for a long time.

He attributed the current disaster and loss of lives and properties in the region to improper coordination and lack of mutual understanding on the part of the northern politicians, religious, traditional and community leaders and said it was a major

setback to the North and the country in general .

Atiku cited poverty, unemployment as some basic factors that caused the current situation, saying that injustice also plays a great role in brewing up instability and misunderstanding in the North.

Also commenting on Nigeria, former president of the United States of America, Bill Clinton, who was also at the event said poverty helps to trigger misunderstanding in Nigeria.

He maintained that Nigerians must create room for proper understanding and respect for different tribes, culture religious backgrounds and beliefs as well as welfare of the citizens for a peaceful and stable environment.

He admonished Nigerian leaders to effectively and efficiently utilise the abundant resources in the country to develop the nation and ensure that there was enough creation of job opportunities and for the eradication of poverty.

would be redeployed to the various successor companies and that when the privatisation exercise was completed there would be severance but that a new agreement would be entered for the private sector to take in the workers, saying that more workers may even be needed.

Reiterating that the future is bright for the power industry, Nnaji said government has been able to clear the hurdles hindering private sector investment and that there will

be power projects that would be undertaken by government, adding that those that will be difficult shall be undertaken by the private sector.

He cited as example, the Mambilla hydro power plant, a 2,600 megawatts plant, which he said the Federal Government is in the process of finalising all the study that will lead to its commencement and that it is expected that by next year, it will start construction. He also said the Zungeru hydro power plant is another as well as the

Gurara and coal fire power plant.

He reiterated that the privatisation exercise of the PHCN was intended to help match electricity with the economic growth of the country and to meet the objectives of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to him, the process of reforming the power sector as defined in the Act got stalled, which compelled the Federal Government to accelerate it by developing a Power Road Map that was launched in August 2010.

L-R: Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and Chairman, Fort Oil, Chief Femi Otedola, walking into the Presidential Villa during their visit to President Goodluck Jonathan, in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Attacks on officials: AEPB seals-off Wuse motor park

By Josephine Ella

F

ollowing series of attacks on its officials by traders and hoodlums operating within the vicinity of the Wuse Zone 5 motor park, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) yesterday sealed-off the motor park.

The precinct of the motor park, according to the Head of Monitoring and Enforcement Department of the board, Mr. Uche Agbanusi who confirmed the closure, had been taken over by street hawkers, drug peddlers, miscreants and other hoodlums.

Apart from constituting nuisance to residents of the area, Agbanusi confirmed that the traders and hoodlums operating there illegally had launched series of attack on its officers in the course of their operational

checks.

He explained the most recent attack, saying while officials were on their normal check on the street hawkers who have turned walkways and parts of Wuse Zone 5 into a market, they were pelted and about five operational vehicles of the board including two Hilux vehicles and two buses with one other damaged.

The Head of Enforcement attested that AEPB has raided the area severally, which resulted in confrontation and attack, saying the area has become notorious for nefarious activities of these people.

He maintained that activities in the park including loading of passengers is on hold until further notice as kiosks, tents and some others illegal structures were pulled down and burnt down by his men.

Reacting to the development, the Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for Wuse Mini-Bus town service branch 1, Chief Eze Gift of God described it as unfortunate.

Although he admitted that allegation of rape, extortion and security threat is rampant in the park, he said however that on several occasions, the union reported the activities of hoodlums and drug peddlers to the necessary authorities but to no avail.

The chairman of the motor park union, Prince Paul Omeifa also confirmed that miscreants have turned the park to their hideout, saying that about five drug-peddlers were arrested in a raid conducted by the union early this year and that they were handed over to the State AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) in Abuja.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

NOA set to reposition for optimum impact

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

I

n view of the various social, political and security challenges beclouding the nation, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), is set to address the challenges through public reorientation.

For this, the agency yesterday summoned all its former Chief Executives and serving State Directors to share their experience on how best to run the agency.

A statement issued by the Assistant Director, Press, in the agency, Fidel Agu, revealed that the agency has resolved to partner with the relevant stake holders, including religious and traditional leaders, politicians, MDAs, civil servants, media, private sector operators and all Nigerians.

"Partnering with the people and all the stakeholders would pave way for everyone to contribute towards addressing our challenges in the country. It is expedient for the agency to adopt this strategy so as to enlighten Nigerians about the transformation agenda of the present administration," the statement said.

It also said that the agency would concentrate on reorientation of Nigerians about government policies, while serving as a mediator between the government and the governed.

Senator spends N6.5m on extramural classes for school dropouts

S

enator Joshua Lidani (PDP, Gombe-South) said that he has spent N6.5 million on extramural classes organised for 1,500 school dropouts in his constituency.

Mr. Caleb Ubale, the senior legislative aide to Lidani, said in Gombe yesterday that of the amount, N5 million was spent on salary of staff members employed to teach the students, while N1.5 million was spent on registration of the students for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).

He said the extramural classes were to prepare the students for the SSCE to enable them to secure entry requirements for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions.

Ubale said the students were drawn from Balanga, Billiri, Kaltungo and Shongom Local Government Areas in GombeSouth Constituency.

He said Lidani introduced the programme when he was the deputy governor of the state between 1999 and 2003, adding that it was a permanent scheme.

He said some of the beneficiaries of the programmed had already graduated from universities and other higher institutions of learning in the country.

PAGE 5

Sultan urges Christians, Muslims to pray for peace From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi

T

he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakari Sa’ad III has admonished the two major religions in Nigeria to pray for peace and Harmony.

Sa’ad, who gave this advice yesterday at the flag-off ceremony of Polio Eradication by the 19 Northern Emirs at Jega local government area of the state,

added that the security lapse in the country is becoming worrisome.

He pointed out that both the traditional rulers and government have the responsibility of making the country peaceful and urged the leaders to join hands with the government to ensure peace.

While commending Governor Usman Dakingari for supporting the traditional rulers committee on polio eradication, he assured

him that the committee was working had in ensuring polio free Kebbi state.

Early in his remark, Governor Usman Dakingari of Kebbi said that Nigeria would be polio free like other countries, adding that the state had been polio free over the last four years.

He said that since his administration, 15 General Hospital and other Health clinics

have been constructed to reduce Maternal Mortality cases in the state.

Speaking early the Minister of state for Health, Aliyu Mohammed Pate, said that the present administration has released a lot of funds for fighting polio adding that the Federal government was ready to work with states, local governments and other NGOs, for polio eradication.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar (middle), receiving ThisDay Newspaper Lifetime Achievement Award from former United States President, Mr. Bill Clinton (right), during the award ceremony at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, on Monday night. With them is the wife of former British Prime Minister, Mrs. Cherie Blair (left).

From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

T

he Chief Executive Officer, Jos Electricity Distribution Company, Mrs. Vivian Osuhor, yesterday raised alarm that customers owe the company over N12billion for the electricity consumed over the years and that nonpayment of the amount is militating against the company.

Osuhor, while addressing newsmen in Jos, on the activities of the company, appealed to costumers to pay their debt, saying the amount would improve the operational performance of the company.

She pointed out that monthly

PHCN boss decries N12bn debt load demand of the company stood at 260MW, saying that only 130MW was received from the sources of supply. She regretted the 50% shortfall of the load demand, maintaining that despites the shortfall, the company was able to manage the inadequacy with minimum pains inflicted on the teeming customers.

Osuhor further decried the activities of vandals of the PHCN equipment saying the effect of vandalisation are enormous and

appealed to customers to be vigilant and protect the equipment jealously.

The CEO declared that henceforth any customer that bypasses the PHCN prepaid meter will be charge a penalty of N50, 000 as it would serve as a deterrent to customers who are in the habit of bypassing the new metering system to evade payment of bills.

Osuhor said that the company had started implementing the recent directive from the National

Electricity Regulatory Commission on the removal of meter maintenance service, stressing that currently Customers a r e billed on the actual consumption.

She explained that the proposed increase in electricity tariff was yet get clarifications on the implantation of the policy, stressing that the tune modalities for implementing the new tariff would be made public as soon as all the modalities for the implementation are worked out.

NAICOM releases new guidelines for insurance sector

By Abdulwahab Isa

N

ew guideline with emphasis on risk based supervision of insurance sub-sector and the adoption of International Finance Reporting Standard (IFRS), have been released by the apex regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

A copy of the guidelines obtained by Peoples Daily

yesterday in Abuja sets the minimum standard required from each and every insurer and reinsurer to provide a reasonable assurance to the Commission, policyholders, shareholders and other stakeholders that the risks to which they are exposed are being soundly and prudently managed.

The guideline will be used as tool by NAICOM for conducting ongoing assessment of the risk management systems of all

insurers and reinsurers, will come to effect from 1st July, 2012 and all insurers and reinsurers must on that date comply with all the provisions contained in the guideline.

To ensure prompt risked supervision as well as ensuring that insurers and reinsurers underwrite businesses that comply with risk guidelines, they are mandated to establish and maintain risk management

framework which include among others, documented Risk Management Strategy, documented Risk Management Policies and Procedures.

It would be recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Ciorporation (NDIC) in the wake of economic down turn that assailed the financial sector triggered by insider-abuse, introduced risked based supervision.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Tambuwal donates 20 computers to secondary school

MoU: Minister harps on cotton, job creation

By Mohammed Kandi

T

From Muhammad Abdullah, Sokoto

S

peaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has donated 20 computers to Abdullahi Bara'u Secondary School, Dogon Daji in Tambuwal local government council of Sokoto state.

Presenting the computers to the school in Dogon Daji yesterday, Tambuwal said the gesture was part of his efforts to enhance computer education in the state.

The speaker, who spoke through the lawmaker representing Tambuwal constituency in the Sokoto House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, stated that it would enable the students acquire computer skills.

He said the school was also provided with internet facility to enable the students access information on the cyber space.

L-R: Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, with Chairman/Publisher, Nigerian Newsworld Magazine/ Nigerian Pilot Newspaper, Mr. Dennis Sami, during the 17th session of Nigerian Newsworld Leadership Forum in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo Mahmud Isa

Unlawful dismissal: Judge awards N5.6m against First Bank A From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, presided over by Justice Opeyemi Oke, yesterday awarded N5.586 million in favour of a former staff of First Bank Plc, Mr. Nurudeen Akanji over unlawful termination of his appointment twelve years ago.

The court in its judgment held that there were ample evidence before the court that the applicant was unduly relieved of his appointment 12 years ago.

A breakdown of N4,862,540 for salaries and allowances that he would have collected if not dismissed, N500,000 as general damages and N500,000 as the cost of litigation.

Justice Oke had given a declaration that the purported dismissal was unlawful having violated the principle of fair justice

and had held the dismissal null and void and the staff entitled to his emoluments.

The judge added that, “I am of the view that the principle of natural justice had not been followed in this case.

"The defendant reported an alleged fraud to the police and handed him over to the police from where he appeared before the failed bank tribunal.

"The defendant should have waited for the tribunal to decide the case before dismissing the claimant.”

According to Justice Oke, “From the above principle of law, he is entitled to re-instatement however, this will be impossible as the court will not force a willing employee on an unwilling employer leading to a marriage without love where there will be no Valentine celebration.

“He is however entitled to be

paid his full emolument including leave bonus, salaries until retirement age.”

The court also agreed that Mr. Akanji “was traumatized as a result of the defendant’s action.

"Evidence has been given in court on how his name was broadcast in the media, his stigmatization and his inability to get another job and provide for his family as well as his change in status, moving from a banker to a man that sells pure water.”

Though the court agreed that the First Bank has the right to dismiss its staff on account of gross misconduct, it held that it should be done according to the law especially since the defendant had discovered and foiled instances of fraud for the bank twice on his own volition.

“An employer… must comply with the procedure of the manual of condition of service which serves

as agreement between both parties.

Mr. Akanji, who was in tears while the judgment lasted showed his relief that his travails is finally over having suffered various maltreatment including four months in detention and 28 days at the Ikoyi prisons when the court held that he had a case.

Akanji had through the Writ of Summons dated September 20, 1999 filed through his lawyer, Y.A. Adeniji asked for a court order declaring his dismissal illegal and void while asking for his reinstatement and entitlements if he was not dismissed as well as compensation and damages in the tune of N45million.

First Bank had in their defence claimed that it had a right to dismiss any staff that errs anytime.

Why teething powder killed babies, by court witness From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

T

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday revealed that a major mistake was made when a worker holding no more than a secondary school certificate was charged with the responsibility of purchasing raw materials for the manufacturing of the alleged killer baby teething powder, ‘My Pikin’.

Barewa Pharmaceuticals Limited might have caused the fatality in which many children died in 2008, NDLEA said at yesterday’s prosecution of the three accused persons; Muri Okunola, Adeyemo Abiodun and Egbele Eromosele standing trial for the manufacturing of the alleged

adulterated drug through one of its witnesses, Mrs Hauwa Keri, before Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Giving her testimony before Justice Okeke, Mrs. Keri, who is the NAFDAC’s Director of establishment/Inspection that investigated My Pikin drug scandal which broke out in November 2008, said the manufacturer of the drug, Barewa Pharmaceuticals Limited, flouted a number of mandatory prescriptions legally stipulated for drug productions.

She added that the manufacturer of the drug made use of a school certificate holder to buy a raw material for the production of a “ batch 02008” of the drug, but the worker

mistakenly bought a chemical called “dithylene Glycol” instead of “Propylene Glycol”.

Keri said the agency had evidence that the mistake led to the contamination of the particular batch 02008 of the My Pikin drug which caused the death of many children and grievous injury to many others.

The witness who said the agency conducted numerous laboratory tests at different hospitals including University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan and Lagos University Teaching Hospital LUTH, on samples of “My Pikin” syrup obtained from hospitals where the children died and off-the shelf, added that the “batch 02008” was proven contaminated with “Dithylene Glycol."

Keri further said “Dithylene Glycol” had properties that could cause “renal failure” in human beings as inability to urinate was common to all the victims of the drug admitted at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria where the scandal first opened.

“We also established that the Quality Control Officer did not carry out the mandatory identification tests for all the materials before production as required by law.

"Even worse was the discovery that the Production Manager went ahead to produce batch 02008 with only a verbal clearance for the Quality Control Officer.”

Further hearing of the matter has been adjourned till today.

he Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Ayodeji Adesina, yesterday expressed optimism that the Nigeria’s cotton and textile industry will soon receive a major boost.

Speaking after the signing and presentation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the West African Cotton Company (WACOT), yesterday in Abuja, Dr. Adesina, assured that the pact would not only reverse the decline in cotton production and agriculture at large but reposition the sector to enhance the country’s economy in playing a key role in the global market.

The minister, who declared his support for WACOT through provision of the enabling environment for its goals, said that, under the current arrangement, there would be massive employment and poverty alleviation, especially in the northern part of the country.

He said: “WACOT Ltd has proposed a four year seed multiplication plan covering Kastina, Jigawa, Kano, Zamfara (North West) and Gombe, Adamawa, and Borno (North East)”, which would develop 15.625 hectares in the current season and expand to 25, 000 hectares by 2015.

Presenting some documents to the minister, the Chief Executive Officer of WACOT, Mr. Tembe Ravi, who recalled that the company had existed for over two decades, said it was ready to partake in the revitilisation of the Nigeria’s cotton value chain.

Fire razes female hostel at Katsina health school From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

A

fire outbreak has razed a female’s hostel in the School of Health Technology Kankia, Katsina state destroying the entire students’ personal property.

Conducting newsmen round the affected hostel, the principal of the school, Malam Abubakar Abdullahi Kankia, noted that the fire which started at about 12:00 am Saturday was suspected to have been sparked off by an electric fault in the hostel.

He added some of the students escaped the inferno with the only dresses they wore, adding that the students were now accommodated at the school’s sick bay and common rooms.

The principal, who noted that no life or injuries were recorded from the incident, disclosed that the state government had sent a team of engineers to the school to quantify the level of damages done to the hostel.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 8

We are not running ‘anyhow’ courses, says IBB varsity From Iliya Garba, Minna

T

he Vice Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai Niger state, Prof.

Ibrahim Adamu Kolo has made it clear to parents who attended the sixth matriculation ceremony of the institution that the institution is not running “anyhow courses”.

He stated this yesterday while matriculating 1400 students at the university main campus Lapai, saying they should show much commitment to their studies and shun any act that will jeopardize their future.

Prof. Kolo disclosed that this year’s admission was highly competitive because of increasing demand by students to secure admission.

The Vice Chancellor, applauded the 12 professors of the university for their efforts to make his dream a reality and to move the institution forward, adding that, they helped in the accreditation of some of the faculties of the school.

“For any university to have

accreditation of some of her courses, learning facilities and relevant manpower must be in place to achieve that, I met four faculties on ground and added two more making it six faculties with the help of my hard working professors and doctors from various fields”.

Prof. Kolo stated that for students to gain admission in the university, they must go through the website to register and after which their credentials would be verified to make sure that no students without genuine results are admitted, adding that this year’s cutoff mark is 180 and by next year if you don’t have up to 200 marks you won’t be admitted into IBB university.

“Niger state government has communicated to us that they are ever ready to fund the university to become one of the best universities in Nigeria.

Government has made this promise clear to us and we are paying our staff just like their counterparts in the federal universities”, he asserted.

Prof. Kolo commended one of

the students of the university who made first class in mathematics and confirmed that the university has given him the opportunity to go to Malaysia for his post graduate studies and asked every other students to emulate him.

Niger state Commissioner for

tertiary education, science and technology, Dr. Mustapha Lemu who represented the state governor, advised students to be serious with their studies and work hard to enable them graduate successfully in top class.

Dr. Lemu also told the

students that teachers of the tertiary institution have called off their seven days strike and will go back to the classroom and urged the students to always adhere to the instructions of their teachers so that they would give them their best.

Gombe govt protests staff arrest by police From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

G

ombe state government has protested the arrest of a female staff nurse by the police on her way home after closing from night duty at the Specialist Hospital.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Keneddy Ishaya, said this when he called on the State Commissioner of Police in his office in Gombe to request the release of the Nurse and her motorcycle which was also impounded.

Dr. Ishaya frowned at the situation where medical and health workers on essential duty should be arrested at night by the police despite being in uniform.

While emphasising the need for the security and safety of their staff, he commended the police for providing security at the State Specialist Hospital Gombe during the recent strike by workers.

Responding the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Orubebe Ebikeme directed that henceforth no staff on essential duty should be arrested particularly after properly identifying his or herself.

Shettima tasks LG chairmen on security From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri overnor Kashim Shettima of Borno state yesterday charged the newly appointed local government caretaker committee chairmen to liaise

G

R-L: Kaduna state governor, Mr. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, and Special Adviser to the President on Research and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas, after Yakowa’s meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, at the State House, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Joe Oroye

with security operatives in their areas in order to curtail the increasing wave of insecurity in the state.

Governor Shettima who gave the charge while swearing in 28 local government caretaker chairmen, noted that they are the chief security officers of their respective councils and as such, have the duty to ensure the security of lives and property.

“It is necessary to liaise with security operatives in your local government areas to ensure security of lives and property”, he told them, adding that “I also warn you against mismanagement of public resources, doing so could hamper development and stifle vision for the state”. ”Let me reiterate that this administration will not tolerate mismanagement of public resources and I appeal to you to ensure that the resources are used for the purpose for which they are meant so that we can have development at the grassroots and enhance the living condition of our people,” he said.

The governor further urged the new chairmen to always delegate responsibilities with appropriate authority so that government activities would not be halted while they are away.

Court workers disobey Oshiomhole’s order From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin embers of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, (JUSUN), Edo state chapter yesterday disobeyed Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s no work no pay rule by order.

The workers of the state judicial service last week Monday went on an indefinite strike demanding that unless Oshiomhole leaves up to his promise, they would not return

M

to work.

Specifically, the workers are insisting that the basic salaries of officers on grade level seven to 17 should be at par with those of their counterparts in other public sectors including adjustment of all those that have retired within the period of the non implementation of the approved minimum wage for workers.

A visit by our correspondent

to the High Court complex on Sapele road in Benin, the state capital yesterday, showed that the entrances gates were under lock and key.

State secretary of JUSUN, Comrade Uyi Ogieriakhi, said members of the body have taken steps to tolerate the position of the state government.

Mr. Ogieriakhi dismissed the allegation that the strike was politically motivated,

pointing out that the union members are not political contractors that can be used by any government.

“We expect people to talk; even when the organized labour was discussing this matter we have cause where they said we are contractors. We are not contractors to anybody and we are genuinely and sincerely doing what the mandate from our members said. It was the

congress decision, it was the congress which comprises of the entire work force in the judiciary that took that decision and we re bound by it, he said.”

He added that since the commencement of the strike Officials of the state government were yet to respond with a view to the addressing the issues at hand, stressing that once the request is granted the workers will call off the strike.

PAGE 9

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Crisis in Auchi Poly over re-appointment of Rector T From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

he alleged re-appointment of Mrs. Phillpa Idogho as substantive Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, in Etsako West local government area of Edo State yesterday sparked off protest among youths of a community in Estako West Local Government Area of the State.

The protest under the aegis

of Auchi Youth for Change disrupted academic activities in the institution ahead of her formal letter from the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayyatu Rufa’i.

Peoples Daily reports that the youths stormed the school premises with placards despite attempts by security personnel to stop them.

The youths said the process that led to the recommendation

of her re-appointment was flawed because due process was bypassed. They also said the institution’s host community, Auchi, does not benefit in terms of admission and employment.

A source said lecturers had to quickly stop lectures and ordered students back to their hostels to avert any clash between the students and the youths.

Public Relations Officer of

Jigawa to build more housing estates

the institution, Mr. Mustapha Oshiobugie confirmed the protest but said there was ‘no vacancy’ for the position of a Rector in the institution describing the protests were sponsored.

The PRO said the relationship between the institution and Auchi community was cordial.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command has deployed anti riot policemen to the area.

Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka (middle), newly promoted Deputy Corps Marshals, Hamisu Haruna (left), Eloka Anyaoku (2nd left), Danjuma Aliyu Garba (right) and Adei Abua (2nd right), after their decoration with their new ranks, in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

18 protesting TASUED students cheat death in auto crash From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta ighteen students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode narrowly escaped death yesterday, in the course of their protest against the scrapping of the institution, following an auto crash, just as a carpenter was crushed to death by a truck in Abeokuta.

The students who took off from Ijebu-Ode in their bus were heading towards Abeokuta to seek further audience with the government on the controversial issue, when suddenly the vehicle’s tyres burst and somersaulted severally in Kobape village, afew minutes’ drive to Abeokuta.

Peoples Daily further reports that, the ugly development occurred, just as a 30 year old carpenter, Nureni Makinde was crushed by a truck in Oke-Sokori area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital in the morning hours of yesterday.

The trailer victim was crossing the road under construction, and lost consciousness that a lane was open to trafficl, while the other was closed. The oncoming trailer smashed his head while he tried to cross the road and died on the spot.

Our correspondent reports that, the incident attracted large number of sympathizers in the

E

area who wailed, as they watched the lifeless body of the father of three, in a pool of blood at the scene.

At the time of this report, Peoples Daily reliably gathered that, the remains of the victim had being deposited in the morgue at State Hospital, Sokenu, Abeokuta.

Meanwhile, the university undergraduates who were involved in the auto crash, are currently receiving treatment at Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, from serious injuries they sustained One of the victims, Olatunji Fashina, popularly called Humble T.J, was said to be in a critical condition, while doctors at the emergency ward were trying to save his life.

Other members of the student executive who sustained serious injuries are: 300 level student of Mass Communication, Olayemi Alaka (Vice President), 400 level Telecommunication Students, Oyewole Moshood (Welfare Director) among others.

President of the students’ union, Comrade Oyekanmi Abdullahi, while speaking with journalists said the students were on their way to meet and plead with the state governor, Commissioner for Education as well as the Chief Judge of the state to rescind the decision on the scrapped university.

He said the students were

resolute in their demand to force the state government into rescinding the decision to merge TASUED as an institution under the Faculty of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

However, our correspondent further reports that, colleagues of the victim, marched straight to the state secretariat complex,

Oke Mosan in continuation of their protest after leaving the hospital..

Our correspondent learnt that, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Suraj Adekunbi explained to the protesting students that the decision of the state government over TASUED was taken in the best interest of the state.

Niger SSG’s office to partner with corps members From Iliya Garba, Minna he Niger State Government said it will continue to partner with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to the State in enhancing human development.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Daniel Clifford Shashere made this known yesterday in an interactive session with corps members working in his office.

Mr. Shashere who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Alhaji Adamu Umar, explained that the meeting was aimed at fostering the existing mutual relationship between SSG’s office and corps members serving in the office.

He further stressed that the State would always accord

T

priority to the welfare of Corps members, but urged them to reciprocate the gesture by being committed to their primary assignments.

On lack of potable water, cracked walls and leaking roof at the NYSC lodge in Maitunbi, Mr. Shashare assured them that the office would do everything possible to find a permanent solution to the issues raised before the arrival of the next batch of corps members.

He told the Corps members that any positive contributions made towards uplifting their host community by those who distinguished themselves during the service year, would be rewarded.

In his remarks, leader of the corps members, Mohammed Mahmud Ismail urged the SSG’s office to improve their living standard.

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse he Jigawa State Housing Authority said it will construct additional housing estates in some towns in the state this year.

The General Manager of the Corporation, Alhaji Muhammad Musa Ahmed disclosed this to our reporter in his office.

Alhaji Ahmed explained that the Authority has mapped out a number of programmes this year which include the reconstruction of housing estate in Dutse that would be extended to some urban centres across the state.

He said the construction of houses in the urban centres was aimed at curbing the problem of shelter for civil servants and the public adding that the agency would construct additional drainages and culverts as well as refuse dumps in all its housing estates in Dutse.

T

Kano approves N1bn for new varsity From Edwin Olofu, Kano ano state government has approved the release of N1, 004, 225,180.60 for the construction of two faculty complexes at the permanent site of the proposed Northwest University, the second owned by the state government.

The state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Umar Faruk Jibril who was speaking to newsmen on the outcome of the deliberations of the 34th state executive council meeting stated that the government has already concluded plans for the contractor to move to site immediately.

He also revealed that the state government has approved the upward review of welfare rate of students in its boarding secondary schools from N70.00 to N100.00 per student daily.

The increase, he said, was informed by the inflationary situation occasioned by the recent hike in pump price adding that a report has also been endorsed for the promotion of French language in some secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.

He said the council consented to the release of N50 million as replication funds to support Islamiyya, Quranic and Tsangaya Education Schools (IQTE) for the second set of local government areas of the state as part of a renewed drive to support Islamic education.

Under the water resources sector, Dr. Faruk disclosed that over N218.2 million was approved for the total rehabilitation of 23 tube wells at Nos. 11 and 12 Challawa River Intake stations as a short term measure to improve water supply to the citizenry.

K

PAGE 9

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Crisis in Auchi Poly over re-appointment of Rector T From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

he alleged re-appointment of Mrs. Phillpa Idogho as substantive Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, in Etsako West local government area of Edo State yesterday sparked off protest among youths of a community in Estako West Local Government Area of the State.

The protest under the aegis

of Auchi Youth for Change disrupted academic activities in the institution ahead of her formal letter from the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayyatu Rufa’i.

Peoples Daily reports that the youths stormed the school premises with placards despite attempts by security personnel to stop them.

The youths said the process that led to the recommendation

of her re-appointment was flawed because due process was bypassed. They also said the institution’s host community, Auchi, does not benefit in terms of admission and employment.

A source said lecturers had to quickly stop lectures and ordered students back to their hostels to avert any clash between the students and the youths.

Public Relations Officer of

Jigawa to build more housing estates

the institution, Mr. Mustapha Oshiobugie confirmed the protest but said there was ‘no vacancy’ for the position of a Rector in the institution describing the protests were sponsored.

The PRO said the relationship between the institution and Auchi community was cordial.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command has deployed anti riot policemen to the area.

Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka (middle), newly promoted Deputy Corps Marshals, Hamisu Haruna (left), Eloka Anyaoku (2nd left), Danjuma Aliyu Garba (right) and Adei Abua (2nd right), after their decoration with their new ranks, in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

18 protesting TASUED students cheat death in auto crash From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta ighteen students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode narrowly escaped death yesterday, in the course of their protest against the scrapping of the institution, following an auto crash, just as a carpenter was crushed to death by a truck in Abeokuta.

The students who took off from Ijebu-Ode in their bus were heading towards Abeokuta to seek further audience with the government on the controversial issue, when suddenly the vehicle’s tyres burst and somersaulted severally in Kobape village, afew minutes’ drive to Abeokuta.

Peoples Daily further reports that, the ugly development occurred, just as a 30 year old carpenter, Nureni Makinde was crushed by a truck in Oke-Sokori area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital in the morning hours of yesterday.

The trailer victim was crossing the road under construction, and lost consciousness that a lane was open to trafficl, while the other was closed. The oncoming trailer smashed his head while he tried to cross the road and died on the spot.

Our correspondent reports that, the incident attracted large number of sympathizers in the

E

area who wailed, as they watched the lifeless body of the father of three, in a pool of blood at the scene.

At the time of this report, Peoples Daily reliably gathered that, the remains of the victim had being deposited in the morgue at State Hospital, Sokenu, Abeokuta.

Meanwhile, the university undergraduates who were involved in the auto crash, are currently receiving treatment at Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, from serious injuries they sustained One of the victims, Olatunji Fashina, popularly called Humble T.J, was said to be in a critical condition, while doctors at the emergency ward were trying to save his life.

Other members of the student executive who sustained serious injuries are: 300 level student of Mass Communication, Olayemi Alaka (Vice President), 400 level Telecommunication Students, Oyewole Moshood (Welfare Director) among others.

President of the students’ union, Comrade Oyekanmi Abdullahi, while speaking with journalists said the students were on their way to meet and plead with the state governor, Commissioner for Education as well as the Chief Judge of the state to rescind the decision on the scrapped university.

He said the students were

resolute in their demand to force the state government into rescinding the decision to merge TASUED as an institution under the Faculty of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

However, our correspondent further reports that, colleagues of the victim, marched straight to the state secretariat complex,

Oke Mosan in continuation of their protest after leaving the hospital..

Our correspondent learnt that, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Suraj Adekunbi explained to the protesting students that the decision of the state government over TASUED was taken in the best interest of the state.

Niger SSG’s office to partner with corps members From Iliya Garba, Minna he Niger State Government said it will continue to partner with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to the State in enhancing human development.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Daniel Clifford Shashere made this known yesterday in an interactive session with corps members working in his office.

Mr. Shashere who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Alhaji Adamu Umar, explained that the meeting was aimed at fostering the existing mutual relationship between SSG’s office and corps members serving in the office.

He further stressed that the State would always accord

T

priority to the welfare of Corps members, but urged them to reciprocate the gesture by being committed to their primary assignments.

On lack of potable water, cracked walls and leaking roof at the NYSC lodge in Maitunbi, Mr. Shashare assured them that the office would do everything possible to find a permanent solution to the issues raised before the arrival of the next batch of corps members.

He told the Corps members that any positive contributions made towards uplifting their host community by those who distinguished themselves during the service year, would be rewarded.

In his remarks, leader of the corps members, Mohammed Mahmud Ismail urged the SSG’s office to improve their living standard.

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse he Jigawa State Housing Authority said it will construct additional housing estates in some towns in the state this year.

The General Manager of the Corporation, Alhaji Muhammad Musa Ahmed disclosed this to our reporter in his office.

Alhaji Ahmed explained that the Authority has mapped out a number of programmes this year which include the reconstruction of housing estate in Dutse that would be extended to some urban centres across the state.

He said the construction of houses in the urban centres was aimed at curbing the problem of shelter for civil servants and the public adding that the agency would construct additional drainages and culverts as well as refuse dumps in all its housing estates in Dutse.

T

Kano approves N1bn for new varsity From Edwin Olofu, Kano ano state government has approved the release of N1, 004, 225,180.60 for the construction of two faculty complexes at the permanent site of the proposed Northwest University, the second owned by the state government.

The state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Umar Faruk Jibril who was speaking to newsmen on the outcome of the deliberations of the 34th state executive council meeting stated that the government has already concluded plans for the contractor to move to site immediately.

He also revealed that the state government has approved the upward review of welfare rate of students in its boarding secondary schools from N70.00 to N100.00 per student daily.

The increase, he said, was informed by the inflationary situation occasioned by the recent hike in pump price adding that a report has also been endorsed for the promotion of French language in some secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.

He said the council consented to the release of N50 million as replication funds to support Islamiyya, Quranic and Tsangaya Education Schools (IQTE) for the second set of local government areas of the state as part of a renewed drive to support Islamic education.

Under the water resources sector, Dr. Faruk disclosed that over N218.2 million was approved for the total rehabilitation of 23 tube wells at Nos. 11 and 12 Challawa River Intake stations as a short term measure to improve water supply to the citizenry.

K

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

IPMAN strike: Fuel scarcity hits Kwara From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he strike action embarked upon by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Kogi, Kwara, Osun, Ekiti and Niger states has started hitting harder on residents of Kwara state as motorists cannot get the product in many filling stations in the state.

IPMAN had announced at the weekend that its members would embark on industrial strike due allegation that some suspected oil vandals arrested by its members were set free by the police and Court. The vandals, the alleged,

are in turn, threatening their members.

At the briefing, the state chairman of IPMAN Ilorin Unit, Alhaji Agbolade Bolaji said that about two years ago, they arrested about five people who were sentenced at the Federal High Court to jail for five years but last two weeks another court released them.

Bolaji added that “there is one man that went to court to testify against them, he is one of our members. He has run away for his life now. I do not even know where he is now. They threatened to kill him. He had to run away.

We do not know what will happen to us now when we are even talking to you” Investigation by our correspondent in Ilorin showed that most of the Independent filling station closed their stations while the NNPC mega station along Asa Dam road were full to the capacity with long queues as a result of inability of commuters to get the product in other stations.

At the Maraba area, blackmarketers have started operation openly with the four liter can being sold at the cost of N1,200.

Though the transport fare still remain N50 per drop in Ilorin, majority of taxi cabs had to abandon their routes thereby creating scarcity of commercial cabs along major roads within the state capital.

While reacting to the IPMAN allegation, the Kwara state Police Command through the Deputy Police Public Relation Officer (DPPRO), Mr. Stanley Oyekwelle, said the police did not release the suspected oil vandals.

He explained in an interaction with journalists that once the police has arraigned suspects, the Court was the institution that decided

their fate stressing that the Director of Public Prosecution was responsible for the action and not the police.

Efforts to contact the DPP for comment was proved abortive as the State Commissioner for Justice, Kamal Ajibade was not on seat at the time of filing this report.

But the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Prince Tunji Moronfoye, while reacting to the development, appealed to the IPMAN to call off their strike stressing that their action would inflict suffering on the masses.

Absenteeism: Mass query for Gombe teachers From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

T

o underline the declaration of emergency on the education sector, the Gombe state Commissioner for Education , Hajiya Aishatu Ahmad has directed that 39 teachers of the Community Science Secondary School Dukku be queried for absenteeism.

The commissioner gave the directive during a surprise visit to the collage where she was shocked to find only one teacher present out of the 40 on its pay roll.

The presence of students in classes without their teachers,

compelled Hajiya Aishatu Ahmed who is also a trained teacher, to pick chalk and start teaching .

She however warned that disciplinary action would be taken against the teachers absent , adding that the government would not tolerate such attitude in its resolve to revamp the sector, at the verge of collapse .

The commissioner also visited the Government Day Secondary School, Dukku and Dukku West primary school where she also found most of the teachers absent and directed that all of them to be queried.

Plateau NURTW seeks upgrade of motor park church From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

L-R: Former chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke, Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Malam Yusuf Usman, and representative of Anambra state governor and Commissioner for Information, Chief Maja Umeh, during the exhibition of Nigerian Civil War artefacts at Amichi, Nnewi South local council area of Anambra state, yesterday. Photo: NAN

100 million girls to marry before next decade, says don From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

A

lecturer at the Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ilorin, Professor Alfred Akinbo Adegoke has revealed that some 100 million girls below the age of 18, a vast majority from SubSahara Africa and Asia will be married before the end of the next decade.

Adegoke who made this disclosure while delivering the 99th inaugural lecture of the University, entitled “Adolescents in Africa: The Role of Context and Process in Developmental Trajectories”, warned that girls who marry too early are more likely to suffer from severe emotional, psychological, and mental health problems later in life.

He noted that Africa’s children and youth are growing up in a world that was largely different

from that of the previous generations, adding that young people on the continent were at risk from drought, famine, bad policies, corrupt leaders and civil strife.

The alumnus of University of Ilorin stressed that it was pathetic that families who were unable to meet their basic needs in SubSaharan Africa continue to increase in number saying “average income continues to fall, while population continues to increase, swelling the ranks of the poor .An estimated 300,000 young soldiers, most of who are between the ages of 10 and 24, currently risk their lives in the course of armed conflicts around the continent”.

The university don who noted that most of adolescents today were also sexually active said, “In a cross sectional study on sexual behaviour involving eight hundred and twenty-six

female adolescents aged between 11 and 20 years in Ilorin, the youngest age at first sexual intercourse was 11 years. Among the adolescents aged 15-19, almost half of the females (46.2%) and about a quarter of males (22.1%) have engaged in sexual intercourse”.

While asserting that Africa cannot afford to ignore the younger segment of its population, Adegoke noted that one option open to the continent was to look inwards with the sole purpose of rediscovering the strengths that existed within the traditional African society as it relates to meeting the basic developmental needs of the youth in Africa.

Speaking at the end of the lecture, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Is-haq O. Oloyede, who described the lecture as educative - a special one to mark the speaker’s birthday-commended him for delivering an illuminating.

T

he National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Plateau state chapter has appealed to state body of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to upgrade the church at the Bauchi road motor park in Jos and to provide a chaplain for it.

Speaking at the peace building programme organized by the union over the weekend in Jos, the union Chairman, Comrade Ayuba Yusuf Izang appealed to all and sundry to embrace peace as without which there would be no meaningful development.

According to him, “We are

appealing to the Christian Association of Nigeria, Plateau state chapter to as matter of urgency provide a chaplain and upgrade the status of our Church in the park so as to resume its full activities and regain its lost glory”.

Izang dispelled allegations that people are being killed and that the rumours were rife with the clear intention of causing psychological discomfort to travellers patronizing the park.

"It can be seen clearly in this park that for decades the two places of worship still stand as they were.

No crisis witnessed has done or caused any damage to them. This is because we remain as one entity,” he said.

Gombe moves to fight drugs From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

Y

ouths have been advised to stop abusing drugs because of its harm to their health and society in general.

Caretaker chairman of Akko local government council, Alhaji Baba Sarkin Fulani made the call while presenting a vehicle to the Area Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Sarkin Fulani explained that the vehicle was part of the local government’s contribution towards fighting the drug menace

and to enhance the effective performance of the Agency in the area.

He also urged the area commander and his men to make good use of the vehicle adding that his council’s doors were always open for any assistance towards the progress of the area command.

Responding, the Area Commander of the Agency, Alhaji Muhammad Mu’awuya Alkali expressed happiness for the gesture saying the vehicle would go a long way in addressing their logistics problems.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Gov. Aliyu congratulates Bayelsa governor From Iliya Garba, Minna

T

he governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has congratulated Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson and the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) on the party’s victory in the governorship election held in Bayelsa state over the weekend.

A statement signed by Governor Aliyu's Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, Monday in the state described the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)'s victory as well deserved.

“This victory has reinforced the fact that Bayelsa State is a PDP State and would remain so come rain come sunshine", the statement said.

The statement however advised the newly elected governor to carry everybody along in running the affairs of the state.

Governor Aliyu thanked all PDP supporters in the state for their continued belief in the party and its leadership, urging them to continue to keep faith with the party.

The statement further advised those who lost out in the election to join hands with Governor Dickson in the interest of the party and the development of the state.

PAGE 11

Pregnant mother, 5 others perish in Katsina road accident From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

S

ix persons including a child and a pregnant mother died in a road accident along Katsina-Jibia road on Monday, the state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Alhaji Habu Dauda has disclosed.

The sector commander who made the disclosure while

presenting the sum of N195, 000 recovered from one of the deceased passengers, Malam Ahmad Garba to his family, noted that the accident involved a Volkswagen Jetta car.

Dauda noted that the driver of car carrying nine passengers and heavily loaded lost control while trying to avoid a pothole on the road and the car somersaulted into the bush where three men and a

that led them to recovery the sum of N195, 000 which was later identified to be money belonging to one of the deceased passengers.

He therefore advised motorists and passengers to always check the excesses of reckless drivers while calling on drivers to always ensure the safety of their vehicles before putting them on the road and to exercise patience while on the road.

Inspector-General of Police petitioned over illegal detention

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

A

commercial motorcyclist, Simon Dawa Dominic has asked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar to immediately order his unconditional release from the Zone II Police Command, Onikan in Lagos where he is being detained.

In a petition dated January 31, 2012 addressed to the IGP by his counsel, John Bigwan, Dominic said a Federal High Court in Lagos had variously ordered his unconditional release since 2002 but the immediate past IGP, Hafiz Ringim had

ignored the orders.

“The Court had equally made orders sequel to contempt proceedings commenced by our office asking the former InspectorGeneral of Police to appear before it to show cause why he will not be committed to prison for disobeying its order at the said intervals”, the petition stated.

It said the federal high court in Lagos sitting before Justice J. T. Tsoho had consequentially issued warrant of arrest against the immediate past IGP and all the officers concerned but all to no avail.

The two-page petition reads in part: “We humbly urge you to

Korean cultural centre to organise arts competition for students

By Mohammed Kandi and Abdullahi Yunusa

T

o encourage the study and practice of visual arts especially among students in primary and secondary schools in the country, the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN), Abuja has concluded plans to organise an arts competition for students in primary schools within the territory.

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Abuja on the forthcoming arts competition, the Director of KCCN, Mr SUH Jeong Sun, said the competition which will be supervised by officials of the centre alongside officials of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) would be in two stages.

The first stage according to him “will have a total of 40 students from different

schools competing against themselves after which only 30 of them with the best entries would be selected for the final round”.

He said out of the 30 students with the best entries, an overall winner will emerge; six gold medalists and three bronze medalists would emerge as well.

Mr Sun added that the awardees would also go home with cash prizes, pledging that their various works will be displayed at the Korean Cultural Centre for one year.

The KCCN boss said the competition will begin from the 10th of April to end on the 27th of May, 2012.

According to him, the art competition is intended to promote bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Korean Republic, stressing that both countries have a lot to learn from each other.

PDP thugs attack journalists in Sokoto From Muhammad Abdullah, Sokoto

S

child died on the spot.

He added that the injured from the car with registration number BM 786 ABC were rushed to the Katsina General Hospital where the pregnant mother and one other passenger died while the remaining three passengers were receiving treatment. he said it was a search by his officers at the scene of the accident

ome Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs attacked seven journalists in Silame local government area of Sokoto state on Monday.

The journalists were attacked at Katami village, while covering the campaign rally of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

The miscreants laid ambush in the village and unleashed mayhem on the journalists, who were in the convoy of the ANPP. Our reporter gathered that the PDP thugs laid ambush for the ANPP and as soon as they approached the journalists, they attacked the 18-seater bus and smashed the windscreen.

The driver of the bus sped off immediately and drove into a police station in the area.

Those attacked in the incident include: Abubakar Imam and Musa Lemu of New Nigerian newspapers, Anene Aike of Nigerian Standard, Babangida Kakaki of Blueprint, Nasiru Bello of Aminiya and Hayatu Dallatu of Voice of Nigeria.

Reacting on the incident, Police Public Relations Officer, El- Mustapha Sani, said the police would investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Sokoto state chapter, Alhaji Labaran Lumo, described the incident as unfortunate. He called on journalists in the state to boycott political campaigns.

swing into action by investigating the circumstances of the arrest and detention of Simon Dawa Dominic

by Zone II Police formation and also ensure that the various orders of the court are complied with immediately without further delay”.

It would be recalled that Dominic had, in October last year, approached a Federal High Court in Lagos with a motion exparte asking the court to order the Police to release him from detention and to declare that his continued detention by the Police since 2002 is unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional.

Dominic, who equally asked for

a N500 million as general damages for the unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional arrest and detention by the police, joined the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone II, the IGP, Chairman, Police Service Commission and the Attorney General of Police and Minister of Justice as defendants in the motion.

The court, on November 3, 2010 ordered the police to release Dominic pending the determination of the substantive application or shall, in alternative arraign him forthwith before a court of competent jurisdiction for the determination of his case.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

L

Beyond re-arresting Kabiru Sokoto

ast weekend’s media reports that the escaped Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Umar, has been rearrested came as a welcome relief to many Nigerians. The suspect, also known as Kabiru Sokoto, the alleged mastermind of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, near Abuja, was said to have been re-arrested by a joint team of operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) and the police hiding in a wardrobe somewhere in Taraba state.

Sokoto was first arrested on January 14 at Borno state Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. He, however, reportedly escaped barely 48 hours after his arrest in circumstances that were not only controversial, but which had done further damage to Nigeria’s battered image in the international community. In the wake of his escape, former Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim was forced to resign his post, while Commissioner of Police Zakari Biu from whose custody Sokoto made his escape was suspended and is being investigated.

By re-arresting Kabiru Sokoto, the police in particular have, to

some extent, redeemed their soiled image. But now that they have the suspect back they should not gloat over what may be to them a sweet victory in the fight against the Boko Haram sect, which has cost the Force so much in terms of human and material resources.

Boko Haram, it will be recalled,

“

By re-arresting Kabiru Sokoto, the police in particular have, to some extent, redeemed their soiled image.

But now that they have the suspect back they should not gloat over what may be to them a sweet victory in the fight against the Boko Haram sect bombed the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in June last year, leaving behind deaths, tears and sorrow. Besides, in many other violent incidents perpetrated by the sect such as the bombing of the UN House in Abuja in August, last year, a number of police operatives were among the casualties.

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”

We believe the police and SSS should now fast-track the interrogation of Kabiru Sokoto.

Like the new IGP Mohammed Abubakar emphasized in his recent interactions with the top hierarchy of the Force, no person (s) should be detained beyond the 24-hour period stipulated by the law, no matter the gravity of the alleged crime. The investigation should be thorough and truly professional to avoid any miscarriage of justice. The security operatives interrogating him must therefore avoid the usual torture tactics that often lead to deaths in police custody. The outcome should enable the government to get to the bottom of the monstrous activities of the dreaded Islamic sect.

The police must note that with Sokoto now back in their net, Nigerians are waiting with keen interest to see the logical conclusion of his trial even as they view the latest breakthrough as a huge leap in the efforts to contain the Boko Haram insurgency. By this, therefore, we urge the security agencies to quickly charge the suspect to court where he will be tried, and if found guilty, sentenced appropriately.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE EDITOR, DAILY AHMED I. SHEKARAU

DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND RICHARD IHEDIWA

GM PUBLICATIONS ABDULAZEEZ ABDULLAHI MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA HEAD, SPECIAL PROJECTS ABDU LABARAN MALUMFASHI

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

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

By Olaitan Ladipo

T

he guilty verdicts, to die by hanging, handed down to Major Hamza AlMustapha and his co-defendant Lateef Shofolahan by a Lagos High Court, are yet another indication that Nigeria’s judiciary may yet constitute the biggest danger to our growing democracy. The judgments not only do more damage to the public’s already battered trust in our courts, they also pile insults on the injury previously done to the Abiola family. The injury of state sponsored murders, definitely of their mother and most likely of their father. An added insult in that, going by the utterances of some of those connected at the top, it supposes that the family could be, and are in effect being, compensated for their losses.

It is true that this judgment may have served a kind of justice, considering AlMustapha’s reputation, but you do not go to court to invoke nemesis; that is the prerogative of God and of irate mobs. You go to court to prove a case in law. I am not a legal professional, but just as no one needs a degree in medicine to know that cutting off the head is not a cure for headache we know also that when prosecution brings an accused person before a Nigerian court, it is to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

And in doing so, to use trustworthy evidence and reliable witnesses. Justice Mojisola Dada and co probably fancied that they did a public

PAGE 13

That Al-Mustapha guilty verdict is poetic justice duty by dispensing poetic justice, but that clearly is not the mission of the bench. The last time I checked, the sole assignment of our courts was legal justice.

Even I had criticised the former Aso Rock chief security officer for failing to put up a reasonable legal defence of the charges against him and for choosing instead to distract the court with frivolous antics. Also, nothing has changed my opinion that the Major is an obnoxious character but that is my view and, in any case, the man is not on trial for his bad manners. This judgment is wrong for at least three reasons.

First is the reliability of the witnesses. One can hardly envisage anywhere in the sane world where statements of witnesses like Sergeant Barnabas Mshelia aka Sgt Rogers and co, rebuffed, recanted and re-recanted severally, will be considered reliable. On an occasion in another court, these witnesses reportedly begged the accused for forgiveness, for making ‘false’ statements against them.

Civilised courts would deem such witnesses unreliable at the least. In other judiciaries, they would receive long jail sentences for their perjury and

perversion, after the cases against the accused would have collapsed. Had the defendant not been Al-Mustapha but another average Nigerian, I doubt if anybody would have given much for the integrity of the evidence of odious and shifty characters as Sgt Rogers and co. There is also the curious case of a Commissioner of Police failing to appear as a defence witness, citing official duties. If that is typical of the way they conducted the whole trial, can we truly say that the defendants had all the opportunities available to defend themselves?

The country paid a huge human and material price to overthrow military dictatorship and the likes of AlMustapha, but fair justice comes with democratic territory and it is unconditional.

Secondly, it is obvious that this is verdict by public opinion, as we all know that probably most Nigerians believe that AlMustapha, carrying out orders or not, instructed the murder of Mrs Kudirat Abiola. However, if public opinion is all that counted, there would have been no need to drag him to court, detain him for thirteen years and spend enormous amounts

on the process, when he could as well have been handed over to Lagos crowds that bore the greater brunt of the Major’s and his master Sani Abacha’s wickedness. They could do in five minutes, what we are attempting with thirteen years of what has now turned out to be a legal charade. However, this trial is less about Al Mustapha than the country’s ability to do fair justice in a democratic environment, including when the atmosphere is tense politically and charged emotionally.

Thirdly, I consider the indulgence allowed of confessed killers Sergeant Rogers and co. is too high a price to pay to get a conviction. Not even in America where plea bargain custom is rampant would someone who admits pulling the trigger in a murder be allowed to go scot free as they did Sgt Rogers, not to talk of reinstate him to do even more ‘official’ homicide. It gives weight to AlMustapha’s defence that some people in high places want him dead not only by all means, but also at any cost. The question is why, as soon as Sgt Rogers and co. recanted their incriminating statements, the police did not arraign them immediately alongside Al-

Mustapha and Shofolahan.

Those miscreants surely made a mockery of our justice. If this is what they mean by the law being an ass, then lawyers themselves are stupid donkeys.

My heart goes out to the late Kudirat Abiola’s family. The rest of us can imagine it but only they know what it is, to have your mother assaulted and killed on the streets by the same people that denied your father his democratic mandate and put him in jail in an unspeakable condition.

A condition that is so shocking that Archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the very few allowed access to the prisoner, was horrified to exclaim that even white apartheid masters, world-renowned for their wickedness and for their Robben Island, would not deem to subject their black prisoners.

Two wrongs do not make a right. We must not allow our outrage to turn a whole country into a lynch mob. While AlMustapha’s mistakes were those of an individual, a wrong court verdict is the mistake of a whole country. We should leave divine retribution to God, and concern ourselves with dispensing temporal but fair justice.

Olaitan Ladipo is reachable at olaitanladipo@aol.com

The charity bank of Nigeria

By Chamberlain Chinaike

N

o doubt, the security situation of our dear country, Nigeria, has been weakened immensely in the last couple of months, due to the incessant bombings by the dreaded Boko Haram group. These have received condemnations from both the international community, Diasporan Nigerians and in a host of media agencies. The government, in its wisdom, has responded by strengthening the security apparatus of the nation, appropriating a large chunk of the 2012 budget proposal to security and recently, replaced the Inspector-General of Police.

While we all sympathize with victims of the bomb attacks and urge the government to do more in ensuring the security of Nigerians irrespective of the parts of the country where they reside, it will be morally wrong to turn deaf ears to activities which are considered inimical to the continued existence of the Nigeria union. One such activity was a donation of 100 million Naira to the Kano state government by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) this month. I am personally not against making cash donations to victims of bomb attacks or

any of such magnanimous donations. I am particularly worried at the manner in which the central Bank of Nigeria, an institution saddled with the responsibility of managing the country’s economy and safeguarding the taxpayer’s money, is gradually turning into a charity organisation. Let me elaborate.

During the 2009 banking sector reform, the CBN through its governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, announced the approval of a whopping 600 billion Naira in taxpayer’s money to bail out distressed banks. This was done without proper legislative processes and international best practices on bank bailout. If the CBN could bail the banks, an institution solely owned by private investors who are in business to either make profit or bear the burden of loss, without legislative approval, it therefore follows that the Central Bank Governor could equally print our money in whatever quantity he wants and give out to whoever he wants. I am still struggling to know where the 600b naira bailout fund has gone to.

Sometime in May, last year, it was reported that the CBN was considering venturing into real estate business, starting

with the construction of a conference centre and a five start hotel. The report reads in part: ‘’Revelling in the success of its economic reform and monetary policies that have engendered confidence in the financial system, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has begun moves to consolidate its hold in the real estate sector by proposing the construction of an International Conference Centre and a five star hotel in Abuja.’’

Why this may be a laudable project if championed by the private sector or the ministry of tourism, I personally consider it a misplaced priority for the apex bank. Where did the CBN get the expertise to run a hotel effectively and does it have a history of successful real estate operations? Also, whose money was the CBN going to use to build the projects, the taxpayer’s money or would it come from other sources?

What I think the CBN should have done in this regard was to make cheap funds available to private investors who have the required expertise to operate real estate businesses rather than being the sole initiator.

Will these real estate investments by the central bank of Nigeria be profit

oriented or operated as a charity? Even as the country struggles to curtail the high inflation and unemployment rates, which are the core responsibilities of the central bank of Nigeria, the CBN considers it a necessity to build hotels and conference centres!

What can be baffling as this!

As if that was not enough, the CBN again last week gave a cash donation of 100million Naira to the Kano State government ‘’to commiserate with them and people of the state” over the January 20 multiple bomb blasts in the city that killed over 185 people.

There is nothing wrong in giving cash donations to victims of disasters but there is something wrong in the CBN doing so, especially when the Boko Haram menace affected many other parts of the country. If this report is true, then the question is, why Kano state in particular? From whose money is the CBN making this donation? Does the CBN have an intervention fund? What of the victims of the bomb attacks in Mubi, on the UN building in Abuja, Borno etc? Is the CBN trying to take over the responsibilities of the federal government of Nigeria?

Or is it a mere coincidence that the CBN governor happens to

come from Kano state, the state hit by the recent terrorist attacks?

According to the CBN Act, seen on its website, its mandate is derived from the 1958 Act of Parliament, as amended in 1991, 1993,1997,1998,1999 and 2007. The CBN Act of 2007 charges thebank with the overall control and administration of the monetary and financial sector policies of the federal government.

Consequently, the bank is charged with the responsibility of administering the Banks and other financial institutions (BOFI) Act (1991) to ensure high standards of banking practice and financial stability through its surveillance activity, as well as the promotion of an efficient payment system.

In addition to its core functions, the CBN has over the years performed major developmental functions, focussed on all the key sectors of the Nigerian economy (financial, agricultural and industrial sectors). Overall, these mandates are carried out by the bank through its various departments.

Nowhere in the CBN Act was it stated that the apex Continued from page 15

PAGE 14

By Choice Ekpekurede

A

s I continue to follow President Goodluck Jonathan, my emotion seamlessly switches between rage and pity. The very few happy moments were occasioned by the appointments of Attahiru Jega, Reuben Abati, and, just recently, Nuhu Ribadu as chairman of the Petroleum Task Force. I was also happy to note that Olisa Agbakoba is a member of the task force.

Reuben Abati has already developed an about-face and thrown his good name into the gutter. How Jega turned out is now public knowledge – we had some of the world most expensive elections in 2011, yet as fraught with fraud and rigging as any other bad elections Nigeria has had (the Delta rerun and April election are ready examples).

Certainly, I am happy that Ribadu was picked as chairman of the Petroleum Task Force. But as a progressive, I know we must ask the tough questions that are begging for answers. First, it is obvious that the task force is not the product of serious deliberation. It is not a commission established by law. It is not the EFCC, which was created by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment act (2004). It is a whimsical design that can be easily erased or crushed by another capricious move by the Federal Executive Council. It is a knee jerk contraption, whose powers and reach are yet unclear.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Ribadu, Agbakoba I know but tell me about this task force This is not how corruption is and meandering to issues that can Ribadu is the chairman. Now fought. The battle against wait a while. Insecurity of lives what? What should I and my Nigeria’s corruption must be and property is unprecedented people in Nairaland expect? Has deliberate, well thought out, all- (the mindless murders of the fight against corruption southerners in the north begun? Methinks not so fast. out, and relentless.

How will the task force be This sort of half-hazard design continues unabated; MEND has is characteristic of Jonathan’s worn its cloak of terrorism and funded and what will be the every move – whether it is the begun bombing), our electoral remunerations of its members? removal of oil subsidy, the system remains as broken as ever, There does not appear to be any announcement to build new corruption is more blatant and provision for the task force in the federal universities, the nebulous refractory, the lack of constant 2012 budget. What powers does SURE (Subsidy Reinvestment and power is more real than ever, the the task force have? Can it arrest and put people Empowerment on trial? There program), the is nothing of guns-for-money such in its e x c h a n g e terms of program (a.k.a.

Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text reference.

A m n e s t y messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written Can it Program), the contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 t e r m i n a t e continuation of words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and questionable the despicable a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed contracts and and corrupt to: revoke licenses security votes or oil blocks that are never The Editor, that have accounted for, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, been given you name it. Not 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. away without one of his following due programs or Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com process? There policies is the SMS: 07037756364 is no such product of serious, thing in its r i g o r o u s deliberation and firmly call for a sovereign national terms of reference. What would be conference is still very deafening; the relationship between the Task established in good laws.

Furthermore, Jonathan has yet Jonathan continues to pursue Force, the Minister for Petroleum Resources, the Attorney General, shown a consistency in avoiding a different set of priorities.

Anyway, the Petroleum Task and the Inspector General of the very burning issues that cannot be swept under the carpet Force has been created and Nuhu Police? There is no indication of this

WRITE TO US

in its terms of reference. Or is the task force going to be an advisory body merely that would gather information and submit said information to the Federal Executive Council, which will never act on the report/ recommendation?

It seems to me, as I read the terms of reference of the task force, that it has no real teeth. I am doubtful even about its ability to bark. The task force appears to be nothing other than a group of people tasked with the responsibility of oil debt collection for the federal government. While I am excited about Ribadu and Agbakoba, I’m afraid that some of Nigeria’s finest are merely being made to walk in the footsteps of Reuben Abati. I hope this is not the case; I really do.

Having said this, I wish the task force well; I wish the members success. But we will be watching and we will hold the members to the same standards that we hold Goodluck Jonathan to. Nigeria’s progressives will be unsparing and relentless in the fight against corruption and the insanity in government. This will be true for the Petroleum Task Force.

Choice Ekpekurede can be reached at www.nigeriavillagesquare.com

The cold dish in Diezani’s kitchen

By Banjo Odutola

A

fter watching Arnold Wesker’s classic ensemble, The Kitchen, at the National Theatre, London, in a production which celebrated drudgery and toil of the work-place, there is a penchant to relate two of its underlining metaphors: character and effects of frustrated dreams as reasons for this screed.

Additionally, there is an attractive temptation not to be defined by this piece; its aim is to afford readers imports suitable for their own interpretations and conclusion. This is an invitation to a debate.

Several innuendoes have been raced into the offer of an appointment to Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, a retired police officer and past Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to chair of a newly created Petroleum Task Force. He says it is an opportunity to serve his fatherland in mode of his father’s distinguished service.

That is somewhat noble. Others say that he is being set up by the present administration; and he is on his own. These forms of reaction depict how unserious we are as a people. Merits of his qualifications; access to superb assets to succeed in the appointment; and quality of his character seem nonessential to those agonised by his acceptance of the appointment. To them, there is always a sub-text to decisions of those in authority – even when we had gone on a strike

to make demands which are now granted. Interestingly, besides the hysteria of Grub Street, reaction of erstwhile handlers at the Action Congress Party of Nigeria (ACN) necessitating a Press Statement is so infantile and quite frankly, a disgrace. Often, statements from that political party beg the question, if they are collective responses of its leadership. Where its General Secretary ought to announce positions of the party, what comes across are personal whims of its Publicity Secretary which is approved by the party’s leader.

Someone needs to advise the party that oftentimes, there is dignity in silence.

As for Mr. Ribadu, highlights of his career include a footnote of a disastrous presidential ambition.

He dined on a harvest of goodwill where he had not sowed. A faulty strength of character and ACN, a mainstream political party, made him forget basic tenets of politics which require ideology and herding with others of like minds.

If during the presidential elections, he had a mind, he was to find out that its quality and strength were different to the leadership of his party. Two lessons from that venture: never pursue a political ambition which is of the head; follow an ideal from the heart. But then, the enterprise may have offered him no lessons.

He may not be much different from the leaders of the pack whose political machinations he championed in public service and

partisan politics. May be they are more adept in recognising character defects than the rest of us. The new retired police officer was to them what he was not to the rest of us. A Yoruba adage rings truer: Ole lo mo ese Ole to ni ori apata; roughly translated: Thieves know how to identify footprints of their cohorts upon a hill. There is no evidence that he is a thief; his blinding ambition overpowered his reasoning. We were just as gullible as he turned out to be. Now, that is in his past.

After realising that a political machine built by someone else could not be taken over, in May 2011, he became an independent member of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (UNAMA MEC). He was soon to show his classic preference for trial by media whilst in that country.

This soon led to frosty relationship with the Office of Afghanistan Attorney General and the High Office of Oversight (HOO) – so much so that there was a threat to abandon the assignment. Does that not sound familiar of the antecedents from EFCC? The need for a reaction against the backdrop of monumental corruption in war torn Afghanistan and unwillingness of the authority to prosecute may be appropriate in the circumstance. I shall revert, below, to these issues herein raised.

Before that appointment, he

cut a pitiable sight. His reaction to the loss of his presidential ambition was to “leave everything to Allah.” Then, as like now, involving Allah without ensuring that a path is of a divine ordination may be low level foolhardiness – even for a zealot.

But then, unrealised ambitions make people vulnerable. This is another metaphor drawn from the production at the National Theatre. The susceptibility of Mr. Ribadu as a damaged article foreknown to his erstwhile political handlers shall crystallise in this appointment. The exposure of the Chairman of the Task Force may finally be described as what that imbecilic and alleged war criminal, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, former U.S. Secretary of Defence said about “known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don’t know”.

A dish served cold. Since defeat of his presidential ambition, he has maintained a commendable and dignified silence. His attitude should serve as a lesson to too many other ambitious partisan politicians in our country. So, is this appointment a vindication from Allah? Not so fast, buddy.

Even, if this rings true for his ACN handlers – what of this present government? Is this appointment intended as revenge from Diezani’s kitchen? Is this a

revenge safely stored in a deep freezer waiting to be served on the corruption czar? The level of corruption in the oil industry and complex technicalities create ambivalence whether he is the right man for the job. What if he fails? That is unlikely with the steady hands of Mr. Steve Oransanye. What if he is ridiculed? So what? What if this government is not serious about tackling corruption?

Contributions from the Task Force shall not be diminished. None of these resolves our difficulties, though. This is why Mr. Ribadu’s courage is exemplary. I am somewhat impressed.

His willingness to serve our country suffices for me. This is a decision from the heart and not a blind ambition. It follows an eminent ideology and for that reason, he has my vote.

Nonetheless, a perturbance of the mind niggles that technical adroitness required in upstream oil business and economics of downstream may be overwhelming for him. Though, it is fair to submit that he is one of seventeen people. He can rely on the judgment of others and he does not need to be an expert in Petroleum Engineering. What he and other members require are good and skilful advisers. Their problem shall be in the quality of available advisers. If quality reliance is like what he had at his the EFCC where a serving Continued on page 15

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 15

Aso Rock media high command: From dream to nightmare

By Taju Tijani

H

aving watched several media debates during and after the subsidy palaver, I must confess that the verdict of most commentators should be a source of worry and discomfort for the office of Aso Rock media high command which counts Dr. Reuben Abati as a player. From the intellectually polished Max Gbanite to the wannabe television studio huggers with all their pretentious gibberish, the verdict on Abati and his co-travellers was damning. There is the consensus that all the media hands were a huge disappointment.

The fanfare that greeted his appointment as a spin doctor is turning into a nightmare.

Hedemonstrated all the complacent shortcomings of an illprepared spin doctor at a critical moment when his paymaster was most vulnerable and under ambush. As head of the Aso Rock media high command and undoubtedly its fugleman in the black arts of spin doctoring, Abati failed woefully in the way he communicated with the public during Jonathan’s worst and fractious week in government.

Before and during the nearrevolution of the subsidy debacle, he was unseen, unheard and unreachable. He missed the media jewel reserved for his head if he had performed well during the subsidy removal backlash. He did not come out with any great and grand strategy to enlighten the public and stem the rising tsunami of editorial poisons written and broadcast about Jonathan’s oily effrontery. There

was a discernible dithery, weakness and timidity in his handling of the subsidy fiasco. He fluffed his chance to put the best possible spin on the subsidy tugof-war and thus failed to offer any guidance to information hungry Nigerians.

Rather than surprise the public with daring, audacious and unpredictable coup of memorable, media liners, Abati taunted the media about his justification for remaining silent on Jonathan’s subsidy plan. Abati is unravelling and demonstrating a crass lack of experience in media wizardry that would have favoured and served the interest of a poodle-like president like Goodluck Jonathan. Nearly a year into his appointment, he is yet to disengage from the old mentality of editorial boardroom grandstanding where members roll in the luxury of personal opinions. In less than a year, Abati has transformed Jonathan’s acres of promising goodwill into a spiralling media narrative of confusion, half-truth and disarray almost all of it down to failure of refined political communication.

He cannot go on enjoying the office of media adviser to the president without putting enough grit into his job.

As I write, Abati is yet to put in a shift in gear in the handling of the president’s critical public communication unit. His new job description should have been clear enough. A motherfucker nononsense media hawk, moderator, proactive press officer, lobbyist, political journalist, damage reduction strategist, enfant terrible, provocateur, devil’s

advocate, challenger, cross carrier, propagandist, public relations expert, polemicist and to add a bit of brashness to the pedigree, a formidable mischief maker.

It is really annoying to put the once combative journalistic intelligence of Abati under scrutiny but since he draws his salary and fat allowances from the public purse, he must be ready to receive some punches. He failed to demonstrate the essential attributes of a real media adviser to the president of a nation. What are the attributes? Aside from his job description above, he is expected to be an omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent media match maker before and during the heat wave of the subsidy warfare. His mission is akin to that of a media missionary who dedicates his talent to winning souls for God and foretelling the gains of heaven.

Prior to the sudden but ill-advised timeline of the subsidy removal, Abati should have been publishing consultation papers in reputable papers, social media like Facebook and blogs and even in the ‘Rubbish Dailies’ like.....

The idea of trailing stories like this cannot fail in the hands of a savvy practitioner. By planting exclusives in reputable newspapers, online blogs and engaging editors in debates, government plans on subsidy initiatives would have been properly gauged by the viewing and reading publics. His omnipresent streak should have been seen in virtually all television studios and far ahead of every breaking news. It boggles

the mind that at that moment when we all desired to see Abati straddling talk show emporiums and performing his role as a media missionary, he was out of our sight. He had waited too long and Labour decidedly problematised and seized the centre ground of the protests. In a rapidly mediating political culture, perceived opponents should not be allowed to set the agenda.

Realizing that he was out of the way, combustible comments began to colour the airwaves and bang, the government briefing initiative was hijacked and Nigeria seized by organised labour, NGO’s, hard-bitten political opponents, Occupy activists and the chanting, disenchanted Nigerian masses.

Where was the man who had the job of coordinating government presentations for all the press hounds? Where was the man who was to explain the difference between subsidy and ‘shopu sidi’?

Months before the subsidy removal, one of the escape routes for the president, at least in terms of media management was to throw a red meat on which journalists, editors, programmers, pundits and analysts could gorge themselves.

Goodluck Jonathan is eternally aware of the divisive policy of subsidy removal and the need for public goodwill.

Here, Abati would have handled all the negative innuendoes months ahead by doing rounds in television studios reminding Nigerians of the big picture, of better infrastructure like schools, hospitals, roads,

electricity, jobs and industry which the gains of subsidy removal would introduce. We would all have seen Abati as engaging, principled and a man of the moment. Abati’s media plan should not send us back to the era predating the advent of digital revolution when media makers and consumers were relatively powerless in their inability to feed back, to intervene and shape mainstream media processes or become part of the process.

Or could Abati have been a victim of his own glorified editorial and punditing escapades? Or has Aso Rock proved to be a giant Goodluckratic gridlock where Abati is now in the firm grip of a Houdini’s handcuffs? Has wealth and the smell of influence disfigured the old warring journalism of Abati to render him grovelling in a grotesque Aso Rock world of high featherbedding?

Abati is unable to move, unable to act and unable to ride freely in the open highway of information freedom. Today, Abati stand accused of sacrificing his personal popularity and integrity on the altar of incompetence, timidity and the rejection of radical media agenda for a president who needs a radicalised media space. Today, the president needs a team of rapid, responsive, proactive, blustering and highly focused spin doctors as opposed to a wannabe theatre artist and former editorial board chair who has no vibrant presence in the info-democratic community of YouTube, twitter and the freeloading Facebook sites.

Taju Tijani is reachable at tajutijani@hotmail.com

The cold dish in Diezani’s kitchen Continued from page 14

policeman behaved like an Outlaw, this appointment shall expose insincerity.

In addition to the above is the legal frame work for the Task Force. On checking the enabling legislation for the creation and operation of Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the remit of the Task Force is a duplication.

Added to the backdrop of reporting to the Minister, Mr.

Ribadu needs to have clarified what is expected this Task Force.

This is no reflection on him – it betrays the level of those in charge of our affairs.

It is arguable that the retired policemen recent experience makes him nonpareil to access more sophisticated assistance for the work ahead. This task force does not have access to the presidency; there is no guarantee that its reports will be acted upon, expeditiously. Consider this:

The charity bank of Nigeria Continued from page 13

bank is required to use taxpayers money for humanitarian activities, neither was it written that the CBN will have to adopt a unilateral policy in the discharge of its statutory obligations. If the CBN governor in his magnanimity and from his personal purse decides to donate cash to his state to ameliorate the plight of the bomb victims then his action is justified. The CBN

governor does have a moral right to give cash donations from his personal savings. But if he uses the public fund in his care to win cheap political favour then i will be forced to conclude that the CBN is now a charity organisation. In order not to set a bad precedent this unfortunate incident must be stopped now else it becomes a tradition.

Chamberlain Chinaike can be reached at www.nigeriavillagesquare.com

after reporting to the Petroleum Minister, the report goes to the office of the Attorney-General for decisions to prosecute or litigate.

Remember the level of “romance” between Mr. Michael Aondoakaa who was alleged to be the country’s most corrupt Attorney General? If the next Attorney General is in the mode of Mr. Aondoakaa, toss a coin, this task force enters a bet at its peril. Heads or tails, it loses.

As for the earlier submission

of the pattern of Mr. Ribadu’s modus operandi previously at EFCC and latterly, Afghanistan, he should retain the same posture, maturely and with good legal advice. There are other advices. He should ensure that when this administration serves its own revenge, it falls on its own sword.

It is for this reason that he needs to cultivate a culture of keeping a diary of events during his tenure; use available

“

His willingness to serve our country suffices for me. This is a decision from the heart and not a blind ambition. It follows an eminent ideology and for that reason, he has my vote.

Nonetheless, a perturbance of the mind niggles that technical adroitness required in upstream oil business and economics of downstream may be overwhelming for him

technology to keep contemporaneous attendant notes of meetings and interactions with others and be less loquacious. Recollection of engagements with the former American Ambassador should serve as a lesson. Keep a diary which at the end of his engagement shall in turn keep him till the end of his days. When considering publication, he should avoid labelling his account as a “front row account”.

In addition, facts are better provided to the public than sensational briefings which are unsustainable in courts of law. As a lawyer, respect the rights of others. They remain innocent until proven guilty not on the pages of newspapers, news websites or social media but in a court of law.

For his sake and the rest of us, I wish him and this government well, in what appears as a marriage of self inflicted inconvenience.

Banjo Odutola is a solicitor of the Supreme Court, England and Wales.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Teenager docked for theft

By Josephine Ella

A

teenager, who allegedly lured a fellow to an isolated area and robbed him of his Samsung handset, is now facing charges in court.

Facing charges of theft and causing grievous hurt, Julius Daniel, 18, and his accomplice allegedly took the victim to the secluded area, forcefully snatched his handset and causing injuries to his arm with a sharp object The police charge sheet read out before the Chief Magistrate’s Court where the suspect was arraigned has it that the victim, Murtala Hassan of No. 24, Sakode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja lodged the complaint against Daniel on February 8 at the Utako Police station.

Police Prosecutor, Christopher Roko said the accused conspired with his partner, Ability, now at large to convince Hassan who was already sleeping in front of Mr. Biggs, Wuse II, to follow them to the hidden place.

On getting there, the accused robbed Hassan of his Samsung GSM phone valued at N20,000 and also used the broken sharp object to injure his arm,

resulting to the complainant being conveyed to Wuse General Hospital where he was treated at the cost of N10,000.

Daniel of no fixed address claimed that because of his homelessness, he sleeps at Wuse Zone 5 garage. He pleaded not guilty to the offence which according to the police

contravenes Sections 79 and 247 of the Penal Code.

Chief Magistrate, Munirat Folashade granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 and two sureties in like sum, ordering that the sureties must have a definite home address and must swear an affidavit of oath, promising to bring the accused

to court when needed.

She equally ordered that the sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the court, adding that should the accused fail to meet the bail requirement, he be remanded in police custody.

February 28, 2012 was slated for further hearing of the case.

Police arraign panel beater for breach of trust

T

Wife of Kogi state Governor, Mrs. Farida Wada makes a throw during a Valentine basket ball fiesta organised for youths at Area 1 in Abuja on Monday.

Photo: Miriam Humbe

Kuje residents lament prolonged power outage

By Adeola Tukuru

R

esidents of Anguwan Gade and Anguwan Tiv communities in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) have called on the Chairman of the council, Hon. Danladi Etsu Zhin to come to their aid over the prolonged power blackout in the communities.

A resident of Anguwan Gade, Aziz Alhassan lamented that for more than three months the community has not been in darkness and that nothing is being done concerning the problem.

“We have complained to the council leadership to come to the aide of the community, but the way they are going about the whole thing, it is as if this community is not among the communities in Kuje Area Council. I have seen the council handling electricity problems in other communities “ he said.

Another resident of Anguwan Tiv Community, Danlami Shokwodiza said that the people in the community have done what they could to make the council chairman come to the aide of the people, saying that the leadership of the council promised long ago to settle the electricity

problem in the community but that they are still waiting for that promise to be fulfilled.

“We are tired of this problem of electricity in this community, the leadership of council is not helping us, I must confess.

Imagine, we have been living in darkness in this community for a very long time now. We voted for this council chairman, he should give us what he promised. The council should come the rescue of our community so that we too can be enjoying the dividends of democracy like other communities,” he said.

A staff at the Power Holdings

Company of Nigeria, PHNC, in Kuje who pleaded anonymity said that the communities without electricity supply are facing the problem because of lack of transformers.

“If you go to these communities that you mentioned, they are very large,, and the transformers that used to supply them electricity has become too small and there are not enough transformers to make the electricity supply effective in the communities. If the council can assist the communities by donating transformers to them, it will go a long way in solving the electricity problem,” he said.

Abuja drivers task FG on palliative buses

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he FCT Chairman of the Drivers Welfare Club of Abuja (DWC) Chinedu Ogene has called on the Federal Government to fulfill its promise of offering them some of the palliative buses, saying that such provision to

Dear reader, Metro welcomes human interest stories in your neighbourhood. Please call or send SMS to 08065327178 or e-mail jomarch4@yahoo.com to inform us about happenings in your area. Share your experiences or those of your friends and neighbours with fellow readers.

his members could go a long way in providing additional employment opportunity to drivers who have no means of livelihood.

The Chairman noted this yesterday at the Valentine party organized for its members in the FCT to showcase love to members and

prospective members.

He further called on its members to be united, stressing that such would help to foster unity among drivers in the territory.

Mr. Ogene however warned the drivers particularly his members in the territory against drunk driving

pledging that any driver found wanting in the area would be sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others.

On the essence of the party to his members, the vice chairman of the club Emeka Ofor stated that it was a way of unwinding as all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

he police on Thursday arraigned a 32-year-old panel beater, Abdullahi Mohammed, before an Abuja Senior Magistrate Court for breach of trust and cheating.

The accused, a resident of Gidan Zakara, Keffi, Nassarawa state, was alleged to have committed the crime in 2011.

The police prosecutor, Cpl. Silas Nanpan, told the court that the crime was reported to the Nyanya Police Station in FCT on Feb. 11, by one Temitope Edem of Plot 56, Phase IV, Nyanya.

Nanpan said that the complainant had entrusted her Nissan Premier Car marked BF 306 YAB to the accused for panel-beat and painting of the vehicle.

He said that the accused demanded for N50,000 from the complainant, out of which he paid N35,000 as part payment to enable him begin work on the car.

He said after collecting the money, the accused refused to carry out the work and removed some items from the car, including the radiator valued at N20,000.

Nanpan disclosed further that during investigation, the accused confessed to receiving N35,000 from the complaint.

Also the car’s bumper was also recovered from him.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code but the accused pleaded not guilty.

He was subsequently granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with a reasonable surety in like sum by Senior Magistrate Celestine Odo. The magistrate directed that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned to March 14, for further hearing. (NAN)

FCT HOTELS GUIDE POLICE HOTLINES IN FCT Abuja Sheraton Hotel & Towers Ladi Kwali Way, Transcorp Hilton Hotel P.M.N 143, Abuja Maitama District, Tel: 09-5230225-224 P.O. Box 51, Abuja, Fax: 09-5231570-1 Tel: 09-5231811-40 Chelsea Hotels Plt 389, Cadastral Zone A Central Area, P.M.B 487, Garki, Abuja.

Tel: 09-2349080-98 Fax: 09-2349074

Maitama - 08038485123 Central Police Station - 08033568389 Lugbe - 08077657371; 08037882321 Wuse - 08053088102 National Assembly - 08065777706; 08045317637 Asokoro - 07028134449 Nyanya - 08046115181 Utako - 07055888119; 07038621264 Karshi - 08023565354

Wuye Karu Gwarimpa Karmo Garki Life Camp Kubwa Gwagwa Zuba Dutse Alhaji Bwari Kuje

- 08023314440 - 08036249825 - 08059113555 - 08033773129 - 08033560903 - 08058036613 - 08036134478 - 08035537989 - 08075804475 - 08053089999 - 08075804475 - 07030800531

Kwali Ruboci Gwagwalada Abaji

- 080 33062496 - 08060568342 - 08057467369 - 08037209328

FCT HOTLINE AEPB 09 - 4603600-9

08065560315

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 17

Man, 20, docked for theft

O

ne Shaibu Abasi, 20, of Wuse Zone 5 Motor Park Abuja on Tuesday, appeared before an Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court on a twocount charge of and theft.

The Police Prosecutor, Christopher Roko, told the court that on Feb.1, one Abdul Yusuf of Mpape Village, Abuja reported the matter at the Utako Police Station.

He said the accused stole two Nokia phones, valued at N12, 000 belonging to the complainant.

The prosecutor said the accused was in the process of giving the phone to his friend, now at large, at the Berger Recreational Park Zone 6, but was caught in the process of doing so.

He said the accused was charged with joint act and theft which contravened sections 79 and 289 of the Penal Code.

Abasi, however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Fatima Malo, remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case to March 7 for further hearing. (NAN)

2 docked for conspiracy, breach of trust

A

businessman, Nelson Poopola (32) and a student, Kelvin Ekamah(36) were on Monday arraigned before an Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and breach of trust.

Police prosecutor, G.C Ijeoma, told the court that on November 2011, Mr Kenneth Aniegbo informed the Inpector General of Police that in August 2011, he entrusted the sum of N2.2m to Poopola to process five Visas for five International Passports.

Ijeoma said that the complainant claimed that Poopola conspired with Ekamah and converted the money to their personal use and gave him five fake photocopies of the visas The prosecutor said the offences were contrary to Sections 97(i) and 311 of the Penal Code.

The accused both pleaded not guilty and the prosecutor asked for a date for hearing.

Counsel to the accused persons, C.I Nnemeka applied for bail, saying that they were innocent till proven otherwise, adding that they would provide reliable sureties if granted bail.

Chief Magistrate, Muyiwa Oyeyipo granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 each and a surety each in like sum, who must be Civil Servants not below GL 10 living within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case to March 8 for hearing. (NAN)

Passengers in this vehicle narrowly escaped death when the driver lost control along Piakasa Airport road in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Joe Oroye

AEPB takes tough line on Abuja sanitation

By Josephine Ella

R

esidents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been advised to corporate with sanitary inspectors, who will from the 25 th of this month, commence intensive house to house inspection.

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), warned in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, that residents must ensure that both the exterior and interior

of their houses are kept clean because if found wanting, defaulters would be fined on the spot.

According to the statement by the Environmental Health and Safety Department of the AEPB through the board’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Samuel Musa, “The Management of Abuja Environmental Protection Board has observed with concern the laxity of some residents towards the

cleaning of their premises and basic hygiene principles”.

To this effect, residents are advised to: “Keep all facilities clean and in good state of repairs, keep both their interior and exterior premises clean and tidy including their kitchen, stairways, Pantries, Cooking utensils, etc,” It further advised residents to clear blocked drains and stagnant water within and around their premises, control rats and vermin infestation by calling

upon the AEPB for routine fumigation of their premises.

The statement warned residents to “stop some habits which include among others; hanging of clothes at the front of their balconies, hedges and sidewalks, the use of firewood to cook openly within premises, parking of disused cars and household properties within premises or under stairways, rearing of Animals/Birds/Fish within residential premises and other acts constituting environmental nuisances

Police effect ban on commercial motorcyclists in FCT

T

he FCT police Command say they have begun the enforcement of the existing ministerial ban on the activities of commercial motorcyclists in all highways in the territory.

A statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Mr

Jimoh Moshood, the FCT Public Relations Officer, said the enforcement would be carried out in conjunction with other security agencies.

According to the statement, the ban prohibits commercial motorcyclists from operating on airport road, the metropolis and

other areas.

“Henceforth, anybody arrested on the airport road or other restricted areas by the joint enforcement team will be prosecuted and their motorcycles impounded,’’ it said.

The statement, however,

said that uniformed personnel on duty and who have private motorcycles would be exempted but they must wear their crash helmet.

It warned operators of commercial motorcycles to stay away from prohibited areas.

(NAN)

Salary delay: AMAC staff threaten to embark strike

By Adeola Tukuru

S

taff of the Abuja Municipal Area council (AMAC) have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike over none payment of their salaries by the council.

An anonymous member of

Staff in the council who did not want his name in print said that t h e d e l a y i n t h e payment of their salaries was having negative impacts on their families.

According to him, though the delay in payment of salaries unusual in the

council, the worrisome aspect is that nothing nobody was talking as to the reason for the delay and when the salaries will be paid.

“We have waited for these salaries to be paid and yet nothing has been done about

it.

“The council is suppose to understand that the partial removal of fuel subsidy is serious and taking it’s toll on most of us coming from satellite towns like Kubwa, Suleja, Massaka ,amongst others”, he lamented .

PAGE 18

By Umaru A. Pate

I

t affords the media the opportunity to provide an open forum for “legitimated interest groups” to participate in public affairs. Indeed, as Nimmo and Combs (1992) put it, “historically, the mass media were heralded as the ultimate instruments of democracy… (They) were destined to unite, educate, and as a result, improve the actions and decisions of the polity”.

Furthermore, if we operationally consider the functions of the media in the country, we may realize that they are very important in conveying the messages of politicians and political office holders in their bid to capture and retain power particularly during electioneering periods.

In the words of the one time Director General of the FRCN and later NTA, Mohammed Ibrahim, “the objective of politics on radio and television is essentially to sensitize the public to the significant nature of their decision, so that they can make the right choice in giving the country the government it desires”. In a simplified form, the media supply the electorate with the right information for sound political judgment.

Equally, the media, depending on how they use their powers, can “order and structure political reality, allotting events greater or lesser significance according to their presence or absence on the media agenda (McNair, 2000). This is where the issue of opinion polling or vox populi comes in. Through such mechanisms, the media too can play significant role in determining the agenda for elections and other policy issues.

PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE NIGERIAN MEDIA The believability of media messages largely depend on their credibility rating by the public which in a way is a function of individual and collective perception of the content, behaviour and quality of these outlets.

Credibility is at the heart of message believability and by implication media believability and action and reaction.

In communication, credibility has four components that include truth, competence, relevance and dynamism.

Without the feeling that the source is truthful, one can hardly believe the messages from such a source. It is equally true that individuals rate their perception of messages based on competent packaging, clarity, and skilful delivery. Furthermore, people are far more likely to believe messages that are cognitively consonant to their realities particularly when they feel involved or affected than those that contradict their common understanding or appear far removed from them. In addition, believability of messages on the media is higher when the audiences perceive that such messages are dynamic and reflect the changing issues in the society as accurately as possible.

Thus, from the foregoing, one can easily, even if none empirically hazard some guesses on the general perceptions of the Nigerian media among Nigerians into the following. First, broadcast media stations particularly those owned by the state government are hardly objective in matters that involve their states and their ruling political parties.

Secondly, foreign broadcast stations are seen as more reliable in providing credible information about events and personalities in the country. Thirdly, the resource poor, the rural majority and the female gender are peripherally involved in the media. They are treated merely as receivers than partners in the entire process.

And, fourthly the current commercialization of society has deeply eaten into the media thereby severely restricting access by the public and subverting the ideals of news, killing the spirit of investigative journalism, and devaluing the content of programmes and news on radio and television stations. Equally, the newspapers and magazines are easily associated with sectional, commercial and other discriminate interests to the extent that such colorations becloud their professional sense of judgement. And lastly, ethics and professionalism are commonly violated because the institution is constrained to sanction violators, hence the misguided conduct of many quacks who masquerade as Journalists all over the country. These observations, contentious as they may sound, have implications on the ability of the country’s media to meaningfully influence the democratic agenda in the nation.

Based on the above premises, one can then conclude that our media houses, particularly public owned media need to do far more than what they are doing now for them to be positively perceived as involving all segments of society, based on the principles of inclusivity, diversity, transparency, autonomy and accountability in their desire to build a broad based national democratic process.

MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY AND THE PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE YEARS AHEAD The current democratization process is expected to be sustained to the point that it guarantees peace, prosperity

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Media and the process of democratisation in Nigeria (II) and sense of justice and equity to every citizen. To this of the engagement should be able to reveal to us if the end, all the stakeholders have their individual as well as amount of goodwill invested by Nigerians in the media is collective roles to play. At this point, it is important to yielding commensurate results.

SPECIFIC ACTIONS understand that the media is part of the political structure First, the media has the huge task of working on the of the society and operate within some economic and political parameters; thus, any discussion on what the various mindsets of Nigerians about politics, elections, media can do to further facilitate and strengthen the resource allocation, etc. I believe that we need a new process should be viewed within the context of the mindset in the country on how we perceive leadership seriousness of the political leadership in the country to and politics in the country. I share the view that the enthrone sustainable peace, accountable leadership and media should champion and advocate a new approach to general development in the nation. With that the subject to deviate from the emphasis on moneyunderstanding, it may be possible to appreciate the sharing to be approached from the point of view of being behaviour, performance, limitations and even interest performance, competence, tolerance and equal justice for all in the country. The media should treat such issues of the media in the whole process.

But that notwithstanding, it is obvious that there are as Nigerian problem by highlighting more on the specific responsibilities that are most appropriately miserable conditions of all Nigerians as opposed to the discharged by the media in consolidating the process. behaviour of the leadership at all levels. I believe that the Obviously, the media institution widens the frontiers of media may have to focus increasing attention on leaders the public sphere for good governance and development. in public institutions, political offices and how they It does this by legitimising, criticising and questioning discharge their responsibilities, lead their people and the legitimacy as well as the operations of the acquit public trust. In other words, the leadership and stakeholders. In doing so, the media aids in shaping the our institutions should be far more monitored to ensure public sphere, a major source of public opinion needed to that public resources are judiciously utilized to address ‘’legitimate authority in any functioning democracy’’ genuine concerns of the people.

Closely related to the above is the need for the media to (Rutherford, 2000).

Media responsibility connotes four things. The first focus extra attention on building institutions in the responsibility is the answerability of the media to the country instead of building some strong individuals.

Institutions building have various constituencies more advantages than that depend on it for strengthening of information, education individuals. Functional and direction on the institutions enhance the functioning of the system. performance of the system In other words, to what and protect the society extent can the various from the deviant sections of the media behaviour of the few that sufficiently and ethically try to injure the majority. answer the queries of the This is what can sustain public on the progress and the interest of the challenges of democracy majority to feel obligated based on their role as watchdogs in the society? to the extent of even Secondly, the media is sacrificing their lives if expected to strengthen its they have to. role as mediating agents CHALLENGES through increased While the media in interactions between the Nigeria may want to play various clients and their constructive role in consumers in the Nigerian instituting democratic society. Stated differently, values and strengthening the media is expected to the democratic process, interact more we must also acknowledge increasingly with all the some of the major parties and the Information Minister, Labaran Maku challenges confronting stakeholders so that no one them both individually feels that the media is and collectively. Some of isolating his important opinion. Thirdly, the media has a the weaknesses are internally generated while others are responsibility to stamp some element of legitimacy on beyond their borders. the democratic credentials of the constituent stakeholders The greatest challenge to the effective performance of by publicly justifying their actions or inactions that are the media and indeed Nigeria in its bid to strengthen the positive or injurious to the democratization process in the democratic process is the behaviour of politicians country. For instance, the media has the responsibility especially those in government and particularly at state to engage the parties on the extent to which they are levels irrespective of political party affiliation. The non abiding with the spirit of the democracy in their internal tolerant behaviour of politicians to alternative views or affairs. options in the present dispensation is frightening and The fourth responsibility relates to ensuring that the threatening to democratic values. In fact, one can argue conduct of each of the stakeholders is in conformity with that while we have happily embraced democracy, our public interest, because, after all, the media’s objective is politicians have shown that they are unwilling or at all times expected to be for public good. Any action incapable of imbibing the tenets of democratization, two that deviates from that should, ethically, attract the of which are tolerance and allowance of freedom to dissent. critical eye of the media, partly because of the moral Unfortunately, what we see today is the crude pedestal upon which it rides. emasculation and physical strangulation of the The ability of the media to be able to fulfil the above alternative voice by ruling politicians. There are hardly responsibilities creditably depends on a number of any exceptions. The media find it difficult to effectively internal as well as external contingencies like ownership perform in such a climate. Instead, sycophancy and praise patterns, the openness of the communication system, the singing dominate the airwaves and pages of our freedom of the media and the right of the audience to newspapers. receive and impart mediated messages. Perhaps, one Being text of a paper presented at a should also add the behaviour of the political elite as well as the performance of the economy.

Workshop on The Media and Democracy With these definitive responsibilities which are, of in Nigeria organized by the INEC Press course, derived from the constitutional, structural and psychological clout of the media, one can proceed to Corps in Kaduna, December 15-17, 2011, interrogate the extent to which the institution has been

by Umaru A. Pate, Professor and Head, able to creditably engage the democratic process. Such Department of Mass Communication, total engagement may not necessarily mean the right engagement. It is possible to be busy doing nothing, or University of Maiduguri more commonly, to be busy doing harm. The intensity

PAGE 18

By Umaru A. Pate

I

t affords the media the opportunity to provide an open forum for “legitimated interest groups” to participate in public affairs. Indeed, as Nimmo and Combs (1992) put it, “historically, the mass media were heralded as the ultimate instruments of democracy… (They) were destined to unite, educate, and as a result, improve the actions and decisions of the polity”.

Furthermore, if we operationally consider the functions of the media in the country, we may realize that they are very important in conveying the messages of politicians and political office holders in their bid to capture and retain power particularly during electioneering periods.

In the words of the one time Director General of the FRCN and later NTA, Mohammed Ibrahim, “the objective of politics on radio and television is essentially to sensitize the public to the significant nature of their decision, so that they can make the right choice in giving the country the government it desires”. In a simplified form, the media supply the electorate with the right information for sound political judgment.

Equally, the media, depending on how they use their powers, can “order and structure political reality, allotting events greater or lesser significance according to their presence or absence on the media agenda (McNair, 2000). This is where the issue of opinion polling or vox populi comes in. Through such mechanisms, the media too can play significant role in determining the agenda for elections and other policy issues.

PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE NIGERIAN MEDIA The believability of media messages largely depend on their credibility rating by the public which in a way is a function of individual and collective perception of the content, behaviour and quality of these outlets.

Credibility is at the heart of message believability and by implication media believability and action and reaction.

In communication, credibility has four components that include truth, competence, relevance and dynamism.

Without the feeling that the source is truthful, one can hardly believe the messages from such a source. It is equally true that individuals rate their perception of messages based on competent packaging, clarity, and skilful delivery. Furthermore, people are far more likely to believe messages that are cognitively consonant to their realities particularly when they feel involved or affected than those that contradict their common understanding or appear far removed from them. In addition, believability of messages on the media is higher when the audiences perceive that such messages are dynamic and reflect the changing issues in the society as accurately as possible.

Thus, from the foregoing, one can easily, even if none empirically hazard some guesses on the general perceptions of the Nigerian media among Nigerians into the following. First, broadcast media stations particularly those owned by the state government are hardly objective in matters that involve their states and their ruling political parties.

Secondly, foreign broadcast stations are seen as more reliable in providing credible information about events and personalities in the country. Thirdly, the resource poor, the rural majority and the female gender are peripherally involved in the media. They are treated merely as receivers than partners in the entire process.

And, fourthly the current commercialization of society has deeply eaten into the media thereby severely restricting access by the public and subverting the ideals of news, killing the spirit of investigative journalism, and devaluing the content of programmes and news on radio and television stations. Equally, the newspapers and magazines are easily associated with sectional, commercial and other discriminate interests to the extent that such colorations becloud their professional sense of judgement. And lastly, ethics and professionalism are commonly violated because the institution is constrained to sanction violators, hence the misguided conduct of many quacks who masquerade as Journalists all over the country. These observations, contentious as they may sound, have implications on the ability of the country’s media to meaningfully influence the democratic agenda in the nation.

Based on the above premises, one can then conclude that our media houses, particularly public owned media need to do far more than what they are doing now for them to be positively perceived as involving all segments of society, based on the principles of inclusivity, diversity, transparency, autonomy and accountability in their desire to build a broad based national democratic process.

MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY AND THE PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE YEARS AHEAD The current democratization process is expected to be sustained to the point that it guarantees peace, prosperity

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Media and the process of democratisation in Nigeria (II) and sense of justice and equity to every citizen. To this of the engagement should be able to reveal to us if the end, all the stakeholders have their individual as well as amount of goodwill invested by Nigerians in the media is collective roles to play. At this point, it is important to yielding commensurate results.

SPECIFIC ACTIONS understand that the media is part of the political structure First, the media has the huge task of working on the of the society and operate within some economic and political parameters; thus, any discussion on what the various mindsets of Nigerians about politics, elections, media can do to further facilitate and strengthen the resource allocation, etc. I believe that we need a new process should be viewed within the context of the mindset in the country on how we perceive leadership seriousness of the political leadership in the country to and politics in the country. I share the view that the enthrone sustainable peace, accountable leadership and media should champion and advocate a new approach to general development in the nation. With that the subject to deviate from the emphasis on moneyunderstanding, it may be possible to appreciate the sharing to be approached from the point of view of being behaviour, performance, limitations and even interest performance, competence, tolerance and equal justice for all in the country. The media should treat such issues of the media in the whole process.

But that notwithstanding, it is obvious that there are as Nigerian problem by highlighting more on the specific responsibilities that are most appropriately miserable conditions of all Nigerians as opposed to the discharged by the media in consolidating the process. behaviour of the leadership at all levels. I believe that the Obviously, the media institution widens the frontiers of media may have to focus increasing attention on leaders the public sphere for good governance and development. in public institutions, political offices and how they It does this by legitimising, criticising and questioning discharge their responsibilities, lead their people and the legitimacy as well as the operations of the acquit public trust. In other words, the leadership and stakeholders. In doing so, the media aids in shaping the our institutions should be far more monitored to ensure public sphere, a major source of public opinion needed to that public resources are judiciously utilized to address ‘’legitimate authority in any functioning democracy’’ genuine concerns of the people.

Closely related to the above is the need for the media to (Rutherford, 2000).

Media responsibility connotes four things. The first focus extra attention on building institutions in the responsibility is the answerability of the media to the country instead of building some strong individuals.

Institutions building have various constituencies more advantages than that depend on it for strengthening of information, education individuals. Functional and direction on the institutions enhance the functioning of the system. performance of the system In other words, to what and protect the society extent can the various from the deviant sections of the media behaviour of the few that sufficiently and ethically try to injure the majority. answer the queries of the This is what can sustain public on the progress and the interest of the challenges of democracy majority to feel obligated based on their role as watchdogs in the society? to the extent of even Secondly, the media is sacrificing their lives if expected to strengthen its they have to. role as mediating agents CHALLENGES through increased While the media in interactions between the Nigeria may want to play various clients and their constructive role in consumers in the Nigerian instituting democratic society. Stated differently, values and strengthening the media is expected to the democratic process, interact more we must also acknowledge increasingly with all the some of the major parties and the Information Minister, Labaran Maku challenges confronting stakeholders so that no one them both individually feels that the media is and collectively. Some of isolating his important opinion. Thirdly, the media has a the weaknesses are internally generated while others are responsibility to stamp some element of legitimacy on beyond their borders. the democratic credentials of the constituent stakeholders The greatest challenge to the effective performance of by publicly justifying their actions or inactions that are the media and indeed Nigeria in its bid to strengthen the positive or injurious to the democratization process in the democratic process is the behaviour of politicians country. For instance, the media has the responsibility especially those in government and particularly at state to engage the parties on the extent to which they are levels irrespective of political party affiliation. The non abiding with the spirit of the democracy in their internal tolerant behaviour of politicians to alternative views or affairs. options in the present dispensation is frightening and The fourth responsibility relates to ensuring that the threatening to democratic values. In fact, one can argue conduct of each of the stakeholders is in conformity with that while we have happily embraced democracy, our public interest, because, after all, the media’s objective is politicians have shown that they are unwilling or at all times expected to be for public good. Any action incapable of imbibing the tenets of democratization, two that deviates from that should, ethically, attract the of which are tolerance and allowance of freedom to dissent. critical eye of the media, partly because of the moral Unfortunately, what we see today is the crude pedestal upon which it rides. emasculation and physical strangulation of the The ability of the media to be able to fulfil the above alternative voice by ruling politicians. There are hardly responsibilities creditably depends on a number of any exceptions. The media find it difficult to effectively internal as well as external contingencies like ownership perform in such a climate. Instead, sycophancy and praise patterns, the openness of the communication system, the singing dominate the airwaves and pages of our freedom of the media and the right of the audience to newspapers. receive and impart mediated messages. Perhaps, one Being text of a paper presented at a should also add the behaviour of the political elite as well as the performance of the economy.

Workshop on The Media and Democracy With these definitive responsibilities which are, of in Nigeria organized by the INEC Press course, derived from the constitutional, structural and psychological clout of the media, one can proceed to Corps in Kaduna, December 15-17, 2011, interrogate the extent to which the institution has been

by Umaru A. Pate, Professor and Head, able to creditably engage the democratic process. Such Department of Mass Communication, total engagement may not necessarily mean the right engagement. It is possible to be busy doing nothing, or University of Maiduguri more commonly, to be busy doing harm. The intensity

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 19

amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk 08033644990

New fertiliser coy to invest N15.5bn in Nigeria

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

A

new fertiliser production outfit, First Premium Fertiliser Company is set to commence the production, sale and distribution of fertiliser in Calabar, Cross River state.

The Managing Director of the company, Paul Kaizer, who lead a management team on a courtesy

to call to the Minister of state for Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom, yesterday said that the company was willing to put $100 million ( about N15.5 bn) into the plant in the next 18 months.

According to Kaizer, the company was ready to partner with the ministry and other relevant agencies of government

NSE market indicators grow by 0.41%

T

rading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) was on the upbeat yesterday after days of persistent slide in share prices.

The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reports that the All-Share Index grew by 83.39 points or 0.41 per cent to close at 20,667.00 against the 20,583.61 posted on Monday.

Also, the market capitalisation, which opened at N6.487 trillion, appreciated by N26 billion or 0.41 per cent to close at N6.513 trillion.

FBN gained 50k to close at N10.50 per share, Glaxosmithkline increased by 43k to close at N22, while GTB grew by 36k to close at N14.06 per share.

Cement Construction of

Flight schedule AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY) LOS-A BJ: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30.

ABJ-LOS: 07.00, 09.30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35

Northern Nigerian (CCNN) rose by 20k to close at N4.71per share.

Conversely, Total depreciated

by N9.50 to close at N180.50, while Julius Berger lost N1.21 to close at N23.16 per share.

The banking sub-sector remained the toast of investors with 783.1 million shares worth N1.9 billion traded in 2,026 deals.

UBA drove activity in the subsector with 647.3 million shares valued at N1.1 billion exchanged in 252 deals.

FBN trailed with 28.9 million shares worth N301.1 million traded in 612 deals.

The conglomerates sub-sector came second on the activity chart with 15.9 million shares worth N73.4 million traded in 246 deals.

Transcorp was the toast of investors in the sub-sector as investors staked N6.8 million on 13.6 million shares in 85 deals.

Unilever sold 1.1 million shares worth N32.4 million in 73 deals.

(NAN)

ABJ -SOK (MON): 09.35 ABJ-SOK (FRI): 10.10 ABJ-SOK (WED/SUN): 11.20 SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35 SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00 SOK-ABJ (WED/SUN): 13.20

AEROCONTRACTORS (MON - SUN) LOS-ABJ: 06.50, 13.30, 19.45 LOS-ABJ (SUN): 12.30 LOS-ABJ (SAT): 16.45 ABU-L OS: 07.30, 13.00, 14.00, 19.00 ABU-LOS (SUN): 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 ABU-LOS (SAT): 18.30

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN) LOS-ABJ: 07.02, 08.10, 12.06, 15.30, 17.10 ABJ-LOS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40 ABJ-LOS (SAT/SUN): 13.05, 18.00 LOS-KANO : 08.10 KANO-LOS: 11.25 KANO -ABUJA: 11.25 ABUJA-KANO : 10.08

IRS AIRLINES

By Abdulwahab Isa with agency reports

I

gbo business men in the Northern parts of the country have turned down directive by the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to return to their ancestral homes in the wake of attack by Islamic sect.

An on–line publication, Economic Confidential reported that in Kano, where it met with some Igbo leaders have disassociated themselves from the campaign by the Ohaneze Ndigbo of Kano, saying that with about a million population of Igbos in the city and investments of over N20 billion, they have no EXCHANGE RATES

CBN CFA • £ RIYAL $

LOS -ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board, Mr. Ernest Nwakpa, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, and chairman, Ladol Oil & Gas free zone, Mr. Ladi Jadesimi, during a facility tour of the zone by the minister, in Lagos, on Monday. Photo: NAN

• £ RIYAL $

reason to run away.

An Igbo community leader and businessman who has lived in Kano for several years with interest in hotels and electronics but craved for identity protection said that, apart from ignoring the MASSOB’s directive , some of them had cautioned the chairman of Ohaneze in Kano to desist from using the name of Igbos to cause disaffection in Kano state where they had witnessed peacefully coexistence with the local people in the last eight years before the recent attacks by Boko Haram against security agencies.

The Igbo leader said: “There is adequate security provided in the state to protect non-indigenes just as the traditional and religious leaders have assured us of maximum support and protection in the state.”

SELLING 0.3137 207.4564 247.2387 41.7278 156.5

BUYING 210 255 42 158

SELLING 212 257 44 160

The leader said: “We have warned the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Kano state Chapter, Chief Tobias Michael Idika to stop using the name of Igbo to create enmity with our hosts and foment troubles for us. It is unfortunate that the chief and MASSOB leaders ignore the huge investment of Igbo business men and women who control large chunk of businesses in Kano ranging from hospitality industry, electronics items, spare parts dealership, transportation business, housing projects, road construction, drugs and medical consumables.

“With more than one million Igbos and our over N20 billion investments in Kano, this is our home away from home. And no one can force us to return home where there lands are scarce and expensive for setting up new

businesses.”

The Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazruike who is struggling by all means to be crowned ‘the new Igbo leader’ after the death of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, has ordered Igbos in the North to get out and return to their home states in the East following incessant attacks by the Boko Haram in the region.

Recently after a closed door meeting, governors of southeastern states announced that they had been in constant touch with the various state governments to ensure the security of lives and property of Igbos and that they would continue to dialogue with political and religious leaders as well as security agencies for a peaceful and united country.

Management Tip of the Day

10th Feb, 2012 BUYING 0.2937 206.1308 245.6589 41.4611 155.5

PARALLEL RATES

ABJ-LOS: 11.30, 3.45, 4.45 LOS-KANO: 6.15 LOS-KANO (SAT/SUN): 16.30 KANO-LOS: 07.30 KANO-LOS (SUN/SUN): 10.30

here, the huge market is here and the favourable economic climate too. This is our way of keying into the transformation agenda of the present administration.”

Kaizer however sought the assistance of the Federal Government in the dredging of the Calabar Port to enable the importation of big vessels.

Another challenge his company may face, he said, was the cumbersome process of clearing of goods at the ports since 13 agencies have to be passed

through.

Responding, the minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kigbu informed the visitors that the issue of dredging the Calabar Port would be handled alongside the ministry of transport.

On the issue of delay in the clearance of goods, the minister said the issue had been resolved by the Federal Government. He added that the timeline for clearing goods was recently reduced from 35 days to 5 days even though government was working on how to reduce it further.

Igbo businessmen refuse to relocate from North

ABJ-KANO: 18.40 KANO-ABJ: 08.35

to bring down the prices of fertiliser, create jobs for Nigerians and enhance the productive capacity of Nigerian farmers.

“You know agriculture employs about sixty percent of the country’s population but we also know that the sector needs a lot of support especially in the area of having easy access to fertiliser at cheaper rates” He continued: “We are building a pan African brand that will serve the entire West African sub region. The raw materials are

INSIDE - Pg 22 Port-Harcourt Airport to accommodate....

In tough situations, unplug and wait

W

hen a project or meeting gets difficult, it can be tempting to power through to try to get it over with. But it’s better to do the same you might do for a slow-moving computer: shut it off and wait a minute.

Give yourself the opportunity to regain your composure. In a meeting that’s going nowhere? Take a break.

Not making headway on that proposal you need to write?

Take a walk. During the break, don’t think of new strategies or arguments.

By taking yourself out of the situation, you allow your brain to rest so that when you return—with a fresh perspective and a calm mind— you are more likely to find a new solution.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PAGE 20

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 21

Do you know what your bank charges you?

Of the numerous challenges facing the banking industry regulators today, one that remains under the spotlight is tackling arbitrary and unfair charges banks usually deducted from their customers’ accounts without notification of such charges to the account holders. Aminu Imam and Muhammad Sada investigates and report that many supposedly informed Nigerians are unaware of being potential victims of such unannounced bank charges.

A

t a recent customers’ forum in Lagos, organised by a group of banks’ customers, it was revealed that past and on-going litigations instituted against many banks in the country by aggrieved customers who have been victims of such unfair and secret charges, if accurately calculated, could run into millions of Naira.

People’s Daily investigation of some banks in Abuja showed that among the unannounced charges banks normally deduct from customers accounts include: 5 per cent VAT on every current account; Commission on Turnover (CoT), usually N5 on every N1,000 withdrawn or transferred from current account; Cell phone/E-mail alert charges; penalty fee for loan default; searching fee, usually N5,000 paid to a credit agency to establish the credit worthy status of those seeking loans.

Others are: N200 monthly maintenance fee for every current account, N5 inter-state commission for every N1,000 transferred into or withdrawn from savings accounts in a state different from where the savings account is opened or domiciled, etc.

Some customers at the Lagos forum had complained that some banks, instead of charging the usual N9, which all GSM providers charge for a text message, impose an amount sometimes as high as N20 per text message sent to alert their

A typical Nigerian banking hall

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi customers of transactions in their accounts.

According to another customer of one of the banks based in Abuja, Mr. Kola Wale said his account was arbitrarily charged N10,000 per month (not a part of the agreed interest) for N500,000 facility he secured from it. He said the charges only got to his knowledge when he decided to liquidate the loan at maturity and that when he confronted the bank about it, he was told that he was debited N10,000 per

month for his failure to lodge money into the account in three months.

“I could not lodge money into the account for the three months because the company that gave me the contract that I used the facility to finance did not pay me on time. Moreover, I did not bother to lodge money into the account because the maturity date for the loan was not yet due.

But I was surprised when the bank slammed a N30,000 arbitrary fine on me for failure to lodge money into the account for three months without notifying me,” Wale said.

Wale’s case is one of several similar others in the banking industry in Nigeria. Whereas, victims who are enlightened and have means to pursue their cases have dragged their bankers to court over such unfair and unexplained charges, many others who do not know what to do have simply bore their anguish in silence.

Also, narrating his recent experience on arbitrary charges by banks to our reporter, a driver with Peace Microfinance bank in Abuja, Marcus John said, “I operate my account with Guaranty Trust Bank. Yes, I am aware that the bank charges N150 on my transactions but I am not aware of the rate that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said the bank should charge on my transactions and I have never bothered to find out.

I am not satisfied with the charges as I am a low income

earner and I need every single kobo to survive. 150 naira is just too much”.

Also, a commercial driver, Abubakar Goga, who operates an account with Keystone bank said he is not familiar with the applicable rate that should be charged on his account by his bank as he only goes to the bank, transact his business and proceed to his other activities. “I have heard from different people that there is a certain rate set by the CBN to be charged but I never bothered to know,” he said.

items relating to customers bank accounts, as agreed by banks and the CBN, designed to protect the banking public, who may be less than adequately informed in our environment and to obviously ensure some market sanity.

The tariff is revised from time to time, to reflect the changing dictates of a dynamic market environment, however, the version currently in operation was released in 2004.

“The Bankers’ Tariff does not relate to bank charges only. It also extends to some credit items

“

This is the reason he said every bank customer is required to obtain his or her bank statement to check and verify every transaction stated in it.

Officials who spoke to Peoples Daily however, defended their bank’s alleged action arguing that they do not impose charges on customers’ account outside what the CBN stipulates.

A banker in one of the newly acquired banks, Mr. Femi Afolabi, who spoke to our reporter, but on condition of anonymity, said many Nigerians do not receive bank statements and when they do, they do not read it closely and raise objections to charges that do not form part of their contract with their bank. Failure to raise any objections to any disputed entry in your bank statement is an implied consent to the entry.

He said in other claimes much litigation abound in several courts over unfair charges on loans, noting that banks can charge millions of account holders arbitrarily without their permission and through such, raise a lot of money. This is the reason he said every bank customer is required to obtain his or her bank statement to check and verify every transaction stated in it.

“If you do not scrutinise the charges made to your account, how would you know if you have been charged for a service you didn’t use or overcharged for a service you used?” he queried.

He therefore enjoined the discerning customers to pay sufficient attention to the various charges to their accounts as stipulated by the CBN Bankers Tariff, because, according to him, “If you have ever had cause to complain about any charge before now, someone in the bank would probably have referred to the bankers’ tariff as the basis for their charge.

The Bankers’ Tariff is a chart of fees, charges and some income

like interest payment on your account, indicating how the credit interest rate on major account types should be determined. Whether it is the Commission on Turnover (COT), charges on letters of credit, interest on credit facilities or foreign exchange transaction fees and more, the bankers’ tariff has some guide which, as a bank customer, you ought to be familiar with,” Afolabi said.

He said that it’s only the knowledgeable customer that makes a case who gets an adjustment on any inappropriate charges on one’s bank transactions. According to him, “I see it as a responsibility to see where I can shave off a few percent points that can, over time, aggregate to a lot of saving”.

An official of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), while commenting on the issue to Peoples Daily said that the primary rule in all banking transactions is that the relationship between a bank and its customer is regulated by the written contract between the bank and the customer at the time of the opening of the bank account or granting a facility and such subsequent terms that may be agreed upon in the cause of normal day-to-day banking business.

He said that whereas in developed countries, law and websites abound which bank customers who feel cheated can use to seek redress, in Nigeria, the Nigerian Consumer Protection Council (CPC) is by law required to protect the interest of all consumers in all areas of products and services by providing speedy redress to consumer complaints.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Port-Harcourt Airport to accommodate 1,500 passengers Stories from Suleiman Idris, Lagos he arrival and departure halls of the Port Harcourt International Airport are expected to accommodate over 1,000 passengers at

T

the end of the current remodelling work.

The capacity of the halls which at present, barely take four hundred passengers on arrival of an international flight will be re-modelled to take about 1,500

passengers. Work is already in progress to ensure that the re-modelling will be completed in the next four months to provide a befitting airport for the people of the region.

According to regional

Arik Air reviews safety, security measures …To deploy counter-terrorism experts in Lagos, Abuja

A

s safety and security become burning issues in international aviation due to renewed threat against aviation and airport security globally, Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest commercial airline said it would start the New Year by undertaking series of enhanced measures in response to the growing security threat in the country.

The airline said new aviation security experts, with previous experience in Iraq and Afghanistan and are fully trained in counter-terrorism, will be deployed in Abuja and Lagos to assist local staff in ensuring that the airline’s staff continue to operate at the very highest security level on an ongoing basis.

Currently, the domestic Chief Security Officer (CSO) and Standards & Training Manager are trained to the highest European standards and endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

“Apart from employing the very best personnel in the aviation security industry, Arik Air has also brought in new equipment to assist security officers in their jobs. It currently uses its own X-ray equipment in addition to its own explosive and narcotic equipment.

Speaking on the new measures, president of Arik Air, Michael Arumemi-Ikhidesaid, “Safety and security are the two foremost principles upon which we built Arik Air. Today, there is undoubtedly an everincreasing and marked threat to the general public from a number of groups and it is, therefore, incumbent upon all members of the public to be vigilant toward this threat and inform security personnel of any suspicious activity.

“All industries,

including ours, are applying their best endeavours to ensure that the public is secured against any potential threats. While we appreciate that enacting these measures may potentially cause some disruption and inconvenience, we ask the public to remember that this is being done in the best interests of their safety.”

In the past, Arik Air has been recognised for its commitment to safety and security and continues to put a premium on all issues relating to the security of its passengers. Only recently, it was awarded the “Best Security & Safety Conscious Airline in West Africa” by the Security Watch Africa’s Board of Trustees. It already has one of the largest security departments in the civil airline industry but is strengthening the security department overall with the recruitment of local and expatriate staff.

Arik Air is West and Central Africa’s largest domestic airline and

operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. It operates a fleet of 23 state-of-the art regional, medium haul and long haul aircraft including two Airbus A340-500 making the airline the first operator of the wide-bodied aircraft in Africa.

The airline currently serves 21 destinations across Nigeria as well as Accra (Ghana), Banjul (Gambia), Dakar (Senegal), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Monrovia (Liberia), Cotonou (Benin), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Bamako (Mali), Luanda (Angola) and London Heathrow (UK), Johannesburg (South Africa) and New York JFK (USA).

The airline operates a combined number of over 120 daily flights from its hubs in Lagos and Abuja, and has been Africa’s fastest growing airline for the last two years.

general manager at the airport, Henry Anyanwu, the contractor has fully moved to site and work has commenced in earnest to ensure that the project was completed as scheduled.

Anyanwu, who explained that the sizes of both the arrival and departure halls would be expanded, said the exercise

would be done in phases in order not to affect businesses at the airport.”At the end of the exercise, the terminal will look like a new one,” Anyanwu hinted.

According to the regional general manager, when completed, the terminal building will attract more screening points from its current one

Subsidy removal: Comparative prices of goods/Services’ changes Below are the price changes that have taken place on consumer goods and items since the fuel price increase from N65 to N97.

More flight connections for travellers as SAA strengthens network in Central Africa

I

n line with its strategy of expanding its presence in Central Africa, South African Airways (SAA) started flying to Pointe Noire in Congo recently.

This addition to the airline’s ever-expanding route network on the continent offers its customers further access into Central Africa.

SAA will be operating to 21 cities on the continent with the commencement of this service. Pointe Noire, the economic capital of the Congo is SAA’s fourth new destination on the continent for the 2011/12 financial year, joining Ndola (Zambia), Kigali (Rwanda) and Bujumbura (Burundi) as the airline’s most recent additions to its expansive route network in Africa.

Pointe Noire is also the second largest city in the Congo, after the capital, Brazzaville and the main commercial centre of the country. Pointe Noire is the centre of the oil industry in the Congo, which is one of the main oil producers in Central Africa.

Pointe Noire will be served twice a week, with a narrow body A319 aircraft, offering 120 seats 95 economy and 25 in business class.

SAA is the leading carrier in Africa, serving 20 destinations across the continent, as well as major destinations within South Africa, from its hub, Johannesburg. It is a member of the largest international airline network, Star Alliance.

point and will also accommodate more shops, lounges, offices, banking halls and increase commercial activities at the airport.

Anyanwu also explained that additional passengers’ check-in counters would be increased to twenty from the current seven operational now.

Source: Proshare Nigeria

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Uncertainty raises Nigeria growth fears

President Goodluck Jonathan

C

omputer Warehouse Group (CWG), a large IT company in Nigeria, spent nine months trying to sell a 30 per cent stake to a European company seeking a foothold in Africa’s most populous nation.

The company was close to a deal. “We were on the verge of a big investment,” says the chief executive and founder of CWG, Austin Okere, which has annual revenues of $120m. “Then, suddenly, the investor requested an extension. They said they wanted to see normalisation in Nigeria.”

This was early January and Nigeria was far from normal. Boko Haram, an Islamist group, had scaled up its insurgency, killing 37 people on Christmas day at a church near Abuja, the capital, where CWG has a large office.

At the same time, the government’s removal of fuel subsidies – a centrepiece of the economic reform policy meant to attract investors – pushed petrol prices higher and sparked a week-long nationwide strike, estimated

to have cost at least $1.3bn.

The outcry forced the government partially to reinstate the subsidy.

“I am sure that our deal

SEC DG, Arunma Oteh

was not the only one put on hold at that time,” says Mr Okere.

The mass action – which raised questions about the

Stock Exchange complex

government’s ability to deliver reform – and the escalating insecurity have combined to cast a shadow over what has been seen as one of Africa’s most attractive frontier economies.

Already some analysts have downgraded their 2012 growth forecasts. Bismarck Rewane, of Financial Derivatives, a consultancy, says: “If the government resolves the issues (oil sector reform and insecurity) quickly, we could still see growth of around 8 per cent.

But if not, it could be as low as 6 per cent.”

It’s a chastening development for Nigeria’s business elite, who have seen their country talked up as an investment destination thanks to its enormous market, vast energy reserves and largely untapped economic potential.

The election of President Goodluck Jonathan was seen as another step towards entrenching democracy, and his pledge of sweeping reforms

raised hopes that the country was on the way up.

Provisional figures released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) suggest that GDP may have reached 8.68 per cent for the last quarter of 2011.

Inflation in December was 10.3 per cent, the lowest year-end figure since 2008, while the stock market rose nearly 4 per cent the same month.

But in January, the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index was flat, with volumes and values traded cut by half.

In a briefing note last week, Renaissance Capital estimated that 2012 growth will be 6.8 per cent – down 0.2 per cent from its January forecast, and the lowest figure since 2008. The 50 per cent rise in fuel prices plus a similar rise in power prices will cause inflation to rise by 2 to 3 per cent, analysts say.

“I was so bullish last year,” says Opeyemi Agbaje, senior consultant at Resources and Trust Company, an advisory

firm. Now, political risk has reached a level “that questions the country’s unity and stability”, he told a recent meeting organised by the Lagos Business School.

The most damaging part of the fuel saga were the nonfinancial costs, says Mr Rewane. It raised doubts about the reform process, damaged market confidence and Nigeria’s reputation.

Not everyone is gloomy.

Kayode Akindele, a partner at 46 Parallels, an Africa-focused fund, in Lagos, says that by

trying to remove the fuel subsidy idespite opposition, the government showed it was serious about reform.

“From a business point of view, it was encouraging,” he says.

Chief executive of ARM Investment Managers, in Lagos, which has nearly $2bn under management, Deji Alli says the street protests have pressed Mr Jonathan into promising to tackle wasteful expenditure and graft, especially, in the oil sector.

“

If the government resolves the issues (oil sector reform and insecurity) quickly, we could still see growth of around 8 per cent.

But if not, it could be as low as 6 per cent

“This was a classic example of a ‘good crisis’,” Mr. Alli says. “It has forced the government to act, and become more transparent.”

He adds that, since foreign investors “already had an acceptance of Nigerian risk”, recent events, including the northern insurgency, have not affected confidence much.

The appetite for participation in public-private infrastructure projects, remains strong, he says.

But a business lecturer who requested anonymity because he also does government work, says he knew of local companies that had abandoned investment plans for northern Nigeria because of the insurgency.

Some wealthy Nigerians are considering selling real estate assets in Abuja, because of the Islamist attacks there in 2011, the lecturer says. “I’d say that if business confidence was 70 per cent last year, then it’s 50 per cent now,” he adds.

(Source: Financial Times)

Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

PAGE 26

T

he 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid isn't the first environmentally friendly family sedan on the market. It is, however, a solid first effort from the Korean automaker, with stylish good looks, a long list of standard features and several technological firsts lurking beneath its hood. The fact that it manages to return EPAestimated fuel economy of 40 mpg on the highway only sweetens the deal.

As for those power train innovations, the Hyundai-designed hybrid system uses a lithiumpolymer battery pack that's both lighter and more compact than the nickel-metal hydride batteries powering comparable models from other carmakers. The electric motor has also been placed between the four-cylinder gasoline engine and a

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid comes with stylish good looks traditional six-speed automatic transmission, which makes for a more familiar driving experience compared to the droning engine note of competitors using a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

This all sounds good in theory.

But in practice, Hyundai's hybrid system falls short of expectations.

First and foremost, we've found that it falls far short of those lofty EPA mpg estimates. It's thrifty to be sure, but not as much as is promised. The Sonata Hybrid also leaves something to be desired in terms of refinement,

with acceleration at low speeds marred by mild shuddering and lurching. Brake feel is also a bit odd.

Competitors like the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid do not suffer in such ways. The $6,000 price difference between the Sonata Hybrid and the entry-level Sonata -which is rated at a very impressive 35 mpg on the highway -- also makes the Hybrid a tough sell from a bottom-line-oriented point of view.

In total, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a decent choice in a fuel-sipping family sedan, but it needs some work before it receives

the sort of recommendation we give the non-hybrid Sonata.

The 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a midsize sedan that's offered in a single well-equipped trim level.

Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, LED running lights, foglamps, heated mirrors, keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat, cruise control, a tilt-andtelescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, Hyundai's BlueLink emergency communications, and a

six-speaker sound system with CD player, satellite radio, an iPod/USB audio interface and an auxiliary audio jack.

There are just two option packages available. The Leather package bundles leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, a leatherwrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Ultimate package starts with everything from the Leather package and adds 17inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a touchscreen navigation system, a rearview camera and a nine-speaker Infinity sound system with HD radio.

The 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is powered by a 2.4-liter fourcylinder gasoline engine generating 166 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque that is paired with an electric motor making 40 hp and 151 lb-ft. Combined, the two power units are good for 206 hp and 193 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic with manual shift control is the only transmission offered.

In Edmunds performance testing, the Sonata Hybrid accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, which is reasonably quick for a hybrid. The EPA estimates Sonata Hybrid fuel economy at 35 mpg city/40 mpg highway and 37 combined.

However, in Edmunds fuel economy testing of both the Sonata Hybrid and the mechanically similar Kia Optima Hybrid, we found that both fall a few miles per gallon short of these estimates.

Standard safety features on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid include antilock brakes, stability control, traction control, front sideimpact airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. Hyundai's BlueLink emergency communications system is also standard.

In government safety tests, the Sonata Hybrid earned a top five-star rating for overall crash protection, with four out of five stars given for overall frontal protection and five stars for overall side protection. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata earned a top rating of "Good" for frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength protection.

In Edmunds brake testing, the Sonata Hybrid came to a stop from 60 mph in 126 feet, an average result for the class.

Not surprisingly, the Sonata Hybrid's passenger cabin looks and feels very similar to its traditionally powered sibling. The interior is equally handsome and controls are straightforward and intuitive, both with and without the touchscreen interface that comes as part of the Ultimate option package. The gauge cluster, which is one of the most notable things that sets the interior apart from that of the non-hybrid model, includes a separate LCD display meant to encourage more fuel-efficient driving.

Front seats are comfortable and supportive. The backseat offers plenty of room for two adults, though taller passengers will find headroom in short supply. All hybrid sedans lose a good bit of trunk space to the hybrid system's battery pack, and the Sonata Hybrid is no exception, with just 10.7 cubic feet of cargo room. The regular Sonata, for comparison, has 16.4 cubic feet.

Source: Edmunds.com

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 27

FOR THE RECORD The Nigeria poverty profile 2010 report 1.

PROTOCOL PREAMBLE 2 . It is with great pleasure that I present to you today, highlights of the “Nigeria Poverty Profile Report 2010", a report which emerged from the recently concluded Harmonised Nigeria Living Standard Survey (HNLSS) conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) with support from the World Bank, DFID (UK) and UNICEF. 3 . As part of its functions to produce statistics for evidencebased policy-making and as the authoritative source and custodian of all official statistics, NBS periodically conducts the Harmonized Nigeria Living Standard Survey which is used, amongst other things, to determine poverty and inequality trends in Nigeria. The data collected by NBS through our regular surveys and via our system of administrative statistics around the country present a vital source of evidence, as they provide us with clear, objective, numerical data on all aspects of our lives and the state of our country.

NBS has presence in every state of the federation with staff who collect data on various socio economic indicators on a regular basis to fulfill our mandate. This way we are able to monitor various trends across the country at a disaggregated level.

To demonstrate that NBS remains committed to improving statistical development in Nigeria, the institutional capacity to deliver on its mandate is being strengthened regularly with increased levels of collaboration between NBS and our partners in the public and private sectors, including the press.

4 . In recognition of the fact that it is impossible, given limited financial resources, to collect data on every area of life, we are ensuring that the data collected by NBS is demanddriven and user-specific.

Concomitantly, we are expanding our scope to include more aspects of socio-economic life, deepening our analytical competence and enhancing the professionalism of staff. A recent innovation is to announce, in advance, the expected dates of publication of survey results and data releases, which can be found on the official website. For example, a visit to our website www.nigerianstat.gov.ng at would reveal that we plan to publish inflation data for January 2012, the first since the partial removal of fuel subsidy, next Monday. The planned dates of release for other types of data can be found on the website.

5 . As you may have observed our data releases have been mixed: some positive and others negative. We would therefore continue to publish accurate and timely data regardless of whether it is positive or negative because the

information we provide is useful as a guide for government policy, business investors, as well as a veritable tool for the public to evaluate the performance of government and the progress of our society in the interest of growth and development in Nigeria.

PART I: OVERVIEW OF THE HNLSS 2009/2010 SURVEY 6 . Nigeria’s efforts at monitoring and evaluation of national programmes and policies started with the analysis of a series of National Consumer Expenditure Surveys which led to the assessment of poverty in Nigeria over a period of sixteen years from 1980 - 1996, and the publication of the report on poverty trend in Nigeria in 1999.

7 . The Harmonized Nigeria Living Standard Survey (HNLSS) 2009/2010 is an enlarged scope of previous National Consumer Surveys and also a follow-up to the Nigeria Living Standard Survey (NLSS) 2003/2004. The scope of the HNLSS 2009/2010 was enlarged to include: Demography; Health; and Fertility behaviour, Education and Skills/Training; Employment and Time-use; Housing and Housing Condition; Social Capital, Agriculture; Household Income & consumption, and Expenditure.

Two statistical reports (Nigeria Living Standard Survey Report 2010 and the Poverty profile of 2010 will be produced to assist various levels of government to evaluate and monitor their social and economic programmes.

O B J E C T I V E S , JUSTIFICATION, SCOPE AND COVERAGE OF THE SURVEY 8. In a broad sense, the concern of the study was to generate detailed, multi-sector and policy relevant data using welfare and expenditure approaches. More specifically, the HNLSS was aimed at providing information on the conditions and trends of poverty, households’ income & consumption expenditure, and unemployment at a greater level of disaggregation. It was also to provide valid and reliable data for the development of effective intervention and provision of important tools for designing, implementing and monitoring of economic growth and poverty reduction.

9.

It is widely acknowledged that data needed to drive government antipoverty programmes is often not available or inadequate at such disaggregated levels as to inform policymakers and business decisions takers. Therefore, the HNLSS is a worthwhile effort because the information gathered would generally aid decision makers in the formulation of economic and social policies, by identifying target groups for government

intervention.

METHODOLOGY AND SAMPLE DESIGN 10. The HNLSS used four different approaches in the computation of poverty indicators: Relative Poverty i) Measurement: Relative poverty is defined by reference to the living standards of majority in a given society and separates the poor from the nonpoor.

Households with expenditure greater than twothirds of the Total Household Per Capita expenditure are NONPOOR whereas those below it are POOR. Further desegregation showed that households with less than one-third of total Household Per Capita expenditure are CORE-POOR (EXTREME POOR) while those Households greater than one-third of total expenditure but less than twothirds of the total expenditure are MODERATE POOR. Accordingly, the poor category is sub-divided into those in extreme poverty and those in moderate poverty, where extreme poverty is more severe than moderate poverty. Those in moderate poverty constitute a greater portion of the growing middle class in Nigeria who are at the point of crossing over to the non-poor category.

Similarly, the non-poor is divided into the fairly rich and the very rich. iii.) Absolute poverty measurement approach: Here, Poverty is defined in terms of the minimal requirements necessary to afford minimal standards of food, clothing, healthcare and shelter. This method considers both food expenditure and non- food expenditure using the per capita expenditure approach. This method is otherwise known as Food Energy Intake measure of poverty. First you obtain the food basket of the poorest 40 percent of the population. Then compute the food expenditure that can give 3000 calorie per day based on the national food basket for the poorest 40 percent.

Dollar per day iii. measurement approach: refers to the World Bank’s Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) index, which defines poverty as the proportion of those living on less than US$1 per day poverty line. iv.) Subjective Poverty Measurement approach, is based on self-assessment and “sentiments” from respondents interviewed. Unlike the other three statistical measurements of poverty, it considers the respondents’ opinion on whether or not they consider themselves to be poor.

1 1 . In addition, NBS computes the Gini Coefficient as a measure of inequality and income distribution in a country. The Gini-coefficient is a number between 0 and 1, where corresponds with perfect equality (in which case everyone earns the same income); and 1 corresponds with

perfect inequality (where only one person earns all the income and all others have zero income).

1 2 . Different countries use any one or more of these measures to calculate poverty.

NBS however adopts the relative poverty method as Nigeria’s official measure of poverty.

PART II: HNLSS 2010 SURVEY RESULTS 13. The 26-page report provides details of the conditions of poverty and income distribution across the country, as well as technical notes regarding the various definitions and methodologies employed for the survey. The full report can be found on our website later this afternoon. The attached tables, however, provide detailed breakdown of the survey results. The major findings from the survey are as follows: i. Relative poverty is defined by reference to the living standards of majority in a given society. In 2004, Nigeria’s relative poverty measurement stood at 54,4%, but increased to 69% (or 112,518,507 Nigerians) in 2010. The NorthWest and North-East geopolitical zones recorded the highest poverty rates in the country with 77.7% and 76.3% respectively in 2010, while the South-West geo-political zone recorded the lowest at 59.1%.

Among States, Sokoto had the highest poverty rate at 86.4% while Niger had the lowest at 43.6% in the year under review. ii. Absolute Poverty is defined in terms of the minimal requirements necessary to afford minimal standards of food, clothing, healthcare and shelter.

Using this measure, 54.7% of Nigerians were living in poverty in 2004 but this increased to 60.9% (or 99,284,512 Nigerians) in 2010. Among the geo-political zones, the NorthWest and North-East recorded the highest rates at 70% and 69% respectively, while the South-West had the least at 49.8%. At the State level, Sokoto had the highest at 81.2% while Niger had the least at 33.8% during the review period. iii. The-Dollar-per-day measure refers to the proportion of those living on less than US$1 per day poverty line.

Applying this approach, 51.6% of Nigerians were living below US$1 per day in 2004, but this increased to 61.2% in 2010.

Although the World Bank standard is now US$1.25, the old reference of US$1 was the

standard used in Nigeria at the time that the survey was conducted. The North-West geo-political zone recorded the highest percentage at 70.4%, while the South-West geopolitical zone had the least at 50.1%. Sokoto had the highest rate among States at 81.9%, while Niger had the least at 33.9%. iv. Subjective Poverty is based on self-assessment and “sentiments” from respondents.

In this regard, 75.5% of Nigerians considered themselves to be poor in 2004, and in 2010 the number went up to 93.9%. FCT recorded the most number of people who considered themselves to be poor at 97.9%.

Kaduna recorded the least number of people who considered themselves poor at 90.5%. v. 2011 Poverty level estimates: For completeness and to guide policy, NBS has also forecast the poverty rate for 2011 using various economic models. It is important to stress at this point that these estimates are constrained by the assumption that the status quo in 2010 was maintained in 2011. Accordingly, it ignores the potential positive impact various poverty alleviation strategies implemented since 2011 may have had on reversing the poverty trend.

This will become clearer once the 2011 Annual Socio-Economic Survey is completed later in the year. Thus, using the relative, absolute and dollar-per-day poverty measures, NBS estimates that poverty may have further risen slightly to about 71.5%, 61.9% and 62.8% respectively in 2011. vi. Income inequality: The survey suggests rising income inequality in the country as measured by the Ginicoefficient. By this measure, income inequality rose from 0.429 in 2004 to 0.447 in 2010, indicating greater income inequality during the period.

Consumption viiExpenditure Distribution.

Lastly, analysis of consumption expenditure distribution indicates that the top 10% income earners was responsible tor about 43% of total consumption expenditure, the top 20% was responsible for about 59% of total consumption expenditure while the top 40% was responsible for about 80% of total consumption expenditure in the year under review.

FURTHER ANALYSIS OF RELATIVE POVERTY 14. As earlier stated, NBS adopts the relative poverty Continued on page 28

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

FOR THE RECORD The Nigeria poverty profile 2010 report Continued from page 27

measurement for monitoring poverty trends in the country.

It remains a paradox however, that despite the fact that the Nigerian economy is growing, the proportion of Nigerians living in poverty is increasing every year, although it declined between 1985 and 1992, and between 1996 and 2004.

Accordingly it is important to take a closer look at poverty trends using this approach.

Distributing the population into extremely poor, moderately poor and non-poor, the proportion of the extremely poor increased from 6.2 percent in 1980 to 29.3 percent in 1996 and then came down to 22.0 percent in 2004 before reaching 38.7% in 2010. For the moderately poor, the picture was quite different as the proportion rose between 1980 and 1985 from 21.0 percent to 34.2 percent. It went down between

Table 1 Relative Poverty Headcount from 1980-2010 Year 1980 1985 1992 1996 2004 2010

Poverty Incidence (%) 27.2 46.3 42.7 65.6 54.4 69.0

Estimated Population (Million) 65 75 91.5 102.3 126.3 163

Population in poverty (Million) 17.1 34.7 39.2 67.1 68.7 112.47

Source: National Bureau of Statistics. HNLSS 2010

1996 and 2004, from 36.3 percent to 32.4 percent, and even further in 2010 to 30.3 percent. On the other hand, the proportion of non-poor was much higher in the country in 1980 (72.8 percent) compared to 1992 (57.3 percent). It dropped significantly in 1996 to 34.4percent, falling further in 2010 to 31 percent.

CONCLUSION 1 5 . The results of the HNLSS 2010 as contained in the Nigeria Poverty Profile 2010 Report indicate that poverty and income inequality in Nigeria have increased since 2003/ 2004.

In addition, NBS estimates that this trend may have increased further in 2011 if the potential positive impacts of several anti-poverty and employment generation intervention programmes are not taken into account, but this can only be ascertained at the conclusion of the 2011 survey

later this year.

1 6 . Ladies and gentlemen, it is my expectation that the Nigeria Poverty Profile 2010 Report will serve as a useful tool for candid and constructive

public discourse to enable all stakeholders in the Nigerian economy make informed decisions for the good of our dear country. I thank you for your attention.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics. HNLSS 2010

Table 5: 2011 Poverty forecast (%)

Table 4: 2010 Poverty rates for Absolute, Relative, Dollar/day and Food Poverty measures (%) Source: National Bureau of Statistics. HNLSS 2010 Table 6: Income Inequalities at National and State Level for 2004 & 2010

Source: National Bureau of Statistics. HNLSS 2010

Source: National Bureau of Statistics. HNLSS 2010

Being a press briefing by the Statistician-General of the Federation/Chief Executive Officer, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr. Yemi Kale, held at the conference room, 5th floor, NBS headquarters, Central Business District, Abuja on Monday, 13thFebruary, 2012.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

BOOK REVIEW Tekena N. Tamuno, Oil Wars in the Niger Delta, 1849-2009 (Ibadan: Stirling-Horden Publishers, 2011) Review by Eghosa E. Osaghae, Vice Chancellor Igbinedion University Okada

I

t is a great honour and privilege to be asked to review this latest book by Professor Tekena Tamuno, the first Vice Chancellor I ever knew, a leading light of the famous Ibadan School of History and the Dike Vanguard, God-fearing statesman, unassuming gentleman, and a true academic icon and mentor whose academic productivity and output have increased exponentially with age. It is fitting that on his 80th birthday, an age at which most scholars who have worked hard as Baba Tamuno has done over the past six decades would be celebrating past accomplishments, he is giving us two books which look set to provoke new debates and reviews of extant knowledge on the subjects. I salute a true icon of the humanities in Nigeria on this occasion and pray God to grant our Professor of Professors long life to enable him give us the other books I know he is working on.

Happy birthday sir!

The book Oil Wars in the Niger Delta deals with one of the most acknowledged but nonetheless complex challenges that the Nigerian state has had to deal with: the Niger Delta Question.

When the challenge is made a challenge for the state, which is the way most so-called subnational, micro-nationalistic and contending mobilizations including those of the Niger Delta minorities are often analyzed, we face the danger of one-sided analysis, the kind that tends to subjugate the perspectives of claimant non-state groups to the supposedly overarching, if not superior, interests of the state. But when we approach the challenge from the point of view of the groups and join issues with the state as it were, we then are able to analyze the issues in a more balanced manner. This is especially true of wars and conflicts which by definition involve at least two sides.

I think the first major point Emeritus Professor Tamuno scores in this book is the methodological strength of two-sided analysis, although one that dwells more on the narratives (read as the just cause) of the oppressed and aggrieved groups. Being a prominent Niger Deltan himself, the author is definitely aware of the danger of possible bias in presenting the story of his people.

In fact, it has been said that one of the shortcomings of writing native histories is the assumption that only omo’nile or sons and daughters of the soil can write authentic history, meaning history that is justificatory and sympathetic to the group and its

PAGE 29

Reviewing Oil Wars in the Niger Delta, 1849-2009 (II) relations with others, including the state. This danger looms larger in cases where the groups concerned allege domination, marginalization, deprivation and injustice as the Niger Delta groups have done, and where the historical narratives are set in the activist mode. To what extent can such history be objective?

Tamuno recognizes this danger, and has made deliberate efforts to ensure the scientific validity of the narratives. The key point here is the methodological multiplicity which enables balance and even-handedness.

One aspect of this is the creative use of talking through key actors and opinion leaders of various persuasions from within and outside the Niger Delta. The cue for this comes from the analytical wisdom of Baba Tamuno’s dear father who sensitized him to the exaggerated size of the snake seen by only one person which is always large; the snake gets smaller and more realistic when seen by many people! This is complemented with the content analysis of perspectives articulated in and by the media, including editorials, interviews and feature articles. Tamuno also makes elaborate use of short biographies that provide psychoanalytical frames for understanding the main dramatis personae in the Niger Delta struggles (Asari Dokubo, Edwin Clarke, Dappa Biriye, Isaac Boro).

Let me now turn to the more substantive issues in the book. The focus is on the oil wars in the Niger Delta, which are not only as old as the region, dating back to precolonial and colonial times, but have actually helped to shape and define the region’s identity, social formations and political economy.

Although the oil wars took on greater significance in the later part of the 20th Century with against-state resource control struggles, they have been well entrenched in the region which at a time was known as the Oil Rivers Protectorate. The initial oil was oil palm which from 1937 and more forcefully 1956 gave way to crude oil. This involved a transition from the ‘oil protectorate’ to the ‘protectorate of oil’. As brilliantly analyzed by Tamuno, the oil wars present an incredible history of persistence and continuity, landmarked as they have been by the Akassa wars of 1895, the 12-day revolution led by Isaac Boro, and the militia wars of the 2000s. The wars have been mostly against the state and in some instances other groups within and outside the region.

Secondly, they have involved resistance to subjugation, alien rule and control of resources, struggles for political autonomy, self-determination, justice and equity (the initial struggles date back to the heroic wars waged by Jaja of Opobo, Ovoranmwen of Benin, Nana of Itsekiri). The scale

Emeritus Professor Tekena Tamuno, the author and intensity of the wars of course depended on the gravity of exclusion, dispossession, deprivation and injustice, and it is not surprising that there was an escalation from the late 1990s.

Thirdly, traditional frames have featured prominently in the struggles, a key frame being the Egbesu juju. Fourth, the Niger Delta struggles have been set back by intrigues and subterfuge especially those involving opportunists who have exploited and hijacked the militant movements to pursue selfish, including criminal, interests.

Such activities have broken the ranks of the nationalists as in the case of the Ogonis and sellout warlords.

Fifth, the wars have taken place within larger state and global formations. Specifically, they have been intricately enmeshed in state politics that somehow set the region against the central government and the rest of the country. In addition, state terrorism and repression have been major factors. Partisan politics has also been a key factor in the escalation of violent conflicts and militia activities, as was evidently the case in the rise of militants and warlords in the period from 1999 when powerful politicians made them leaders of their violent electoral machines.

Sixth, following the maxim that the strong will always attack the weak, the state seems to have had its way all the time, though the scale and intensity of the crude oil wars forced the adoption of the

compromise option that included the Amnesty programme. While this suggests the possibility of continued wars, Tamuno nevertheless argues in the concluding chapter that the entrenchment of governance variables and practices like rule of law, accountability, participation, consultation and consent, performance rather than promissory notes and stop-gap palliatives, equity and education hold the key to comprehensively addressing the issues in the wars.

This book of over 350 pages, 13 chapters and three appendices provides refreshingly new and critical insights that not only further our understanding of the Niger Delta Question, but brings us closer to a realistic consideration of how the triggers of the wars may be addressed. It is able to do this because it approaches the issues from the perspective of the Niger Delta nationalists and their engagements with the state and other fellow travelers in the Nigerian federation. It shows that the wars have essentially been about access to and control of the resources available in the region, which have been critical to the economic health and viability of the Nigerian state since colonial times. While the people have demanded equity, justice, control and welfare, the state’s primary interest, as well as that of most other Nigerians, multinationals and global powers who depend on the sweet crude, has been economic profit and stability at

whatever cost. The opposing pulls of defence of oil and defence of the people have been at the core of the oil wars. Tamuno analyzes this fundamental contention as one between economics and ethics, and makes the strong argument, with strong and well articulated Christian and Anglican convictions, that the categorical imperatives of defending the people provide a more assured way out of the perennial conflicts.

However, because ethics and morals are known to be weapons of the weak – for the strong, power is might – the question will always be how do you persuade the strong whose lifeline depends on what the weak has to behave well other than through counterattack and robust social action?

Oil Wars in the Niger Delta has a few engaging points – of wellknown controversies and disagreements that should be highlighted because they are not resolved in the book. The major one for me concerns the definition and delimitation of the Niger Delta. Tamuno introduces the concept of ‘oxygen states’, being Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta, to represent the core of the “Oil Republic”– as opposed to the periphery – of the Niger Delta.

There is even a suggestion that the Ijaw (Ijo, Izon) constitute the core of the Niger Delta, that they have borne the brunt of the sufferings and deprivations suffered by the people over the years, and that they have been the major group in the struggles for emancipation.

And yet, there are references to past and present heroes of the struggles from the Urhobo, Itsekiri, and Benin, and the fact that inter-group hostilities have been an impediment to the Niger Delta struggles. I would also touch briefly on another small matter.

Historians like periodization, which is a critical tool of historiography. Nevertheless, writing on ‘live’ histories like that of the Niger Delta reduces the value of strict periodization. This is very much in evidence in Oil Wars whose coverage extends beyond 2009, the outer limit of the period (1849-2009) specified in the title of the book in many significant respects especially those that pertain to the good fortune of President Goodluck Jonathan.

All told, Baba Tamuno should be congratulated for this great outing. It has definitely extended the frontiers of scholarship on the Niger Delta Question and suggested pathways for new tools of analysis. It is sophisticated and critical without being difficult to read, follow and understand. The passion and intellectual convictions that have gone into the positions held are the kind that the country needs at this time of unparalleled turbulence and conflict. Happy Birthday once again Baba. God bless you.

Concluded

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Strange passages to Harare North BOOK REVIEW

By Ikhide R. Ikheloa Nnamdi

T

here is this thing called the Caine Prize for African Literature, whatever that means. People compete for it and someone invariably wins. There is a lot of noise making and jollification for a deserved win and the poor winner is expected to write a book.

The poor fellow always obliges and dutifully produces a thoroughly wretched book. It hardly ever fails.

There have been notable exceptions but one would argue that the writer wrote a good book despite winning the Caine Prize. One such wretched book is Harare North, written by the brilliant, perhaps gifted Brian Chikwava. He is destined to write a good book - once he finds his voice. It is just that right now, his toes are flirting with crickets while Africa is carrying elephants on her head.

There are few books that have frustrated me more than Harare North. It is like staring in anger at a rich pot of soup ruined by an impish but talented cook.

Harare North is a meandering journey undertaken by an unnamed main character fleeing imaginary trouble back home in Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe (you get the story already, sorry!). He heads for London (aka Harare North) and proceeds to lead a wretched meaningless existence.

Saddled with a not-so-bright friend named Shingi he immerses himself in the under belly of the immigrant community in London building tricks to stay above water. It is not a pretty book but this is not just because of the wretched lives these people live in the grimy underbelly of grimy London. This is an unfortunate book for reasons that are the fault of Chikwava and publishers eager to publish and sell reams of Africa’s dignity to a willing and gullible Western audience.

What is it with African writers and stereotyping? In the 21st century many of them are still scheming their way into the pockets of gullible Westerners who truly believe that Africans are exotic lovable dolts to be watched like animals in a zoo. I am not amused.

On one level, Harare North is a brilliant book, written by a brilliant, sensitive author with the potential of shining a compassionate light into the lives of immigrants of color living desperate, furtive lives in the shadows of London. And sometimes it works. Chikwava lays bare the tricks that immigrants turn to somehow survive in London.

But then, what’s with the contrived English? Harare North is engaging and heart-warming, but the contrived English gets in the way, each time. It is like finding your favorite meal infested with tiny obnoxious stones. The book offers evidence of formerly elegant prose poetry ruined by reckless experimentation with contrived English. There is no linguistic structure to it because the language simply doesn’t exist. Profound thoughts become distressed babble under the weight of dysfunction.

Not convincing, the contrived result. Chikwava has dissipated vigorous energy to write nonsense.

The book cover It is funny but it is nonsense.

This is too bad because there is all this brilliance peeking furtively out of the contrived fortress of a pretend-language.

There is something phony about contrived language, because it is, well, phony.

I didn’t like it when Uzodinma Iweala used it in Beasts of No Nation, and I certainly am dismayed that it ruined a brilliant opportunity in Harare North. Read this beauty of a sentence, reconstruct it in real prose and tell me why I shouldn’t mourn the loss of a dream novel: “Harare township is full of them stories about the misfortunes that people meet; they carry bags full of things and heads that is full of wonders of new life, hustle some passage to Harare North, turn up without notice at some relative’s door, only to have they dreams thrown back into they faces.” (p 5) Chikwava taps brilliantly into the lode of indignities and humiliation that Africans endure inside Western embassies and then promptly loses it in the fog of contrived language: “…the British High Commission don’t just give visa to any native who think he can flag down jet plane jump on it and fly to Harare North, especially when they notice that people get them visitors’ visa and then on landing in London they do this style of claim asylum. So people is no getting that old consulate treatment: the person behind the counter window give you the severe look and ask you to bring more of this and that and throw back your papers, and before you even gather them together he have call up the next person.” (p 6) What is the purpose of this exercise?

Through the fog of artificial language, a picture emerges, of Chikwava deconstructing the method of African immigrants’ shame, and self-loathing. He explores social class stratification and tensions between the newly arrived (“native” Africans) and the veteran exiles (“lapsed” Africans) albeit in derogatory, stereotypical terms. The resulting self-loathing is emotionally violent as African immigrants recoil from

anything that reminds them of their roots. The main character just coming in from Zimbabwe complains of rejection thus. “I have bring Paul and Sekai small bag of groundnuts from Zimbabwe; groundnuts that my aunt bring from she rural home. Sekai give the small bag one look and bin it right in front of me. She say I should never have been allow to bring them nuts into the country because maybe they carry disease. Then she go out and buy us some McDonald’s supper.” P (7) It is refreshing, the candor, he even touches upon gay life in Africa’s prisons, a subject that African writers have been loath to touch or explore even in the 21st century.

Chikwava documents in exquisite detail the African immigrant’s willful determination to erase his or her African identity. The character Sekai, the “lapsed” African is always embarrassed by anything African. “I go out and sit at the doorstep and start to use screwdriver to pick off the mud that have cake under my boots from walking around outside. But Sekai follow me and ask me to look down on our street and tell she if I see anyone sitting on they doorstep? Me I don’t get the score what this is all about until she tell me that this is not township; I should stop embarrass them and start behaving like I am in England.” (p14) Life in Zimbabwe and within the Zimbabwean immigrant community is the theatre of the absurd and Chikwava captures it in harrowing and comic detail. It is a tragicomedy and one never knows whether to laugh or to cry at this dark, intense, brilliant canvas: “Mother, she die of overdose. They carry she to hospital in wheelbarrow and she don’t come back. Then they take she body from the township and bury she in rural house under heap of red earth and rock. Now the spirit is still wandering in the wilderness because family squabbles end up preventing umbuyiso and this has not been done for years now.” (p16) There is more where that came from: “Shingi sleeps in the lounge; he share the room with Farayi. Two mattresses is on rotting floorboards, blankets all over, small heaps of things telling one story of big journey that is caused by them dreams that start far away in them townships. I can sniff sniff them natives’ lives squatting under the low damp ceiling like thieves that have just been catch.” (p30) If I seem to obsess mostly about the language, it is because I was distracted, distracted to drink, especially by sentences that Chikwava almost forgot to engineer into nonsense. “And then me I hear that people in the village where Mother is buried will be moved

somewhere because government want to take over the area since emeralds have now been discovered there.” (p 17) The language gets in the way in a subversive manner and it as a result the book is torpedoed by an inane contrivance.

Wise profound sayings, parables and proverbs become trite under the weight of linguistic engineering.

And haunting prose is defaced by bad marketing decisions. But I must say, he is good, Chikwava, he can describe despair with a few deft strokes of the pen. “She take me to the kitchen and the air smell of bad cooking and the sink have one heap of dirty dishes and all. It’s like they lie there for donkey years. The ceiling on one corner is growing mushrooms and things.” (p 30) Interestingly enough, as I read the book, I kept thinking of Ike Oguine’s A Squatter’s Tale, plotting how to rescue Chikwava’s tale from prose abuse. There is pretty prose in there, trapped in needless experimentation: “The glass slip off my hand and come crashing on the edge of the sink bowl; it break and fill the kitchen with the kind of fright that fill the room when you have break your mother’s bestest teapot.” (p 31) Nice. Almost.

Sometimes however it dissolves into malarial gibberish and you wonder: What is the purpose of this prattle: “You always know more than you believe in over what you know because what you know can be so big that sometimes it is useless weapon, you cannot wield it proper and, when you try, it can get your head out of gear and stop you focusing.” (p 43) The book provides ample proof of autobiographical musings. It was probably not Chikwava’s intention to ridicule his heritage in which case it is a weakness of the narrative that he could be accused of creating racist stereotypes and spinning bigoted tales. A sensitive soul reading the book would balk at all these literary Sambos in black face and recoil from a Stepin Fetchit story that appears to have little redeeming value. I concede and celebrate Chikwava’s right of self expression but for me, the question is this: If this was written by a white person, would I be offended? The answer is a resounding yes. There are all these traces of bigotry and prejudice some aimed at gays and lesbians. We see the immigrant of color as a shiftless aimless buffoon.

This is just one aspect of the immigrant life. Who tells the others? In addition, the story appears to be ridiculing, and making caricatures out of African traditional customs and values.

The book succumbs to too much cynicism like too much stew on white rice. The result is aimless and purposeless, a story that goes nowhere. But then some would argue that Chikwava’s Zimbabwe is not going anywhere fast.

Regardless, this is not the Zimbabwe of Petina Gappah’s elegant stories (Elegy for Easterly), or even of Dambudzo Marechera’s brilliant angst-ridden anthems.

Should you read this book? Yes, read it, it is fun despite itself. I do miss Oguine’s A Squatter’s Tale. It is a better book. By far.

Source: African writers .com

PEOPLES POEM OF THE WEEK Title: The arrival of education

By Abigail George One day I lost my eyes and I could not see Then I realised I had to reach out, reach within Here, was our future that always came, a clean seed Relevant and thrilling, promising new beginnings Amongst the undergrowth it was gold, like golden yellow fields Its spinning brightness was lightly tangled, shining and blazing Our speech was once silver but silence gives us a sanctuary.

Asking, ‘Woman what is your choice?’

Africa is like a locked box with no key – it is dangerous.

There is no exit side only a source of corrupt lunatics, maniacs.

With a hand in the dark to feel my way around, to reach your heart, I imagine the night sky is moonlit, Dreamy and the stars butterfly spirit sparkling as my call crosses the bewildered universe ‘It is not yet done, do not dream it is over.

I am calling out your name.’

Who will flee?

It is only non-believers since the beginning of time Who will flee believing that emancipation Is only temporary.

QUO TE UOTE “it is beta to be silent and be considered a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

– Abraham Lincoln

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Can Obama avert war with Iran?

ANALYSIS The contradictions of Obama's policy toward Iran went unnoticed in the US, but not in Iran and Israel, writes Porter.

W

ashington, DC President Barack Obama has finally begun in recent months to signal to Israel that the United States would not get involved in a war started by Binyamin Netanyahu without US approval. If it is pursued firmly and consistently through 2012, the approach stands a very good chance of averting war altogether. If Obama falters, however, the temptation for Netanyahu to launch an attack on Iran, indulging in what one close Israeli observer calls his “messianism” toward the issue of Iran.

Netanyahu, like every previous Israeli prime minister, understands that an Israeli strike against Iran depends not only on US tolerance, but direct involvement against Iran, at least after the initial attack. In May 2008, his predecessor, Ehud Olmert, had requested the approval of George W Bush for an air attack on Iran, only to be refused by Bush.

Netanyahu apparently feels, however, that he can manipulate right-wing Israeli influence on American politics to make it impossible for Obama to stay out of an Israeli war on Iran.

He has defied the Obama administration by refusing to assure Washington that he would consult them before making any decision on war with Iran.

The Obama administration’s warning signal on the danger of an Israeli attack began flashing red after Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta came back emptyhanded from a trip to Israel in September.

US officials then came up with a new strategy for pulling Israel back from the precipice of war by letting Netanyahu know that, if the US were denied a full role in coordinating military policy toward Iran, it would not come to Israel’s aid in such a war.The first step in the strategy came when Panetta was answering questions after a talk at the Saban Centre of Brookings Institution on December 2. He not only expressed clear disapproval of an Israeli attack as counter-productive something the administration had avoided in 2009 and 2010 but went on to indicate that the US was concerned that it “could possibly be the target of retaliation from Iran, striking our ships, striking our military bases”.

Initial hint by the US Without saying so directly, that remark hinted that the US would take steps to avoid that situation, if necessary. It was evidently aimed at planting the

L-R: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barrack Obama in a file photo: Obama has been hesitant to publicly warn the Israeli prime minister against attacking Iran [GALLO/GETTY] seed of doubt in Netanyahu’s mind that Obama would be willing to respond to Iranian retaliation against Israel in the event of an Israeli strike.

The next move came five weeks later, when Panetta, on CBS news “Face the Nation”, made the initial hint even clearer. Panetta was then asked what the US would do if Israel were to strike Iran, despite the refusal to consult the US in advance. Panetta said, “If the Israelis made that decision, we would have to be prepared to protect our forces in that situation. And that’s what we’d be concerned about.”

The Israelis could easily discern that Panetta really saying the US would not retaliate against Iran unless its own bases or ships in the region were hit by Iran. Given Panetta’s statement a month earlier suggesting concern that Iran might retaliate against US forces, that answer could also be regarded as a signal to Iran that the US was prepared to decouple from an Israeli war with Iran.

Although publicly there was studied silence from Jerusalem, that Panetta hint elicited a formal diplomatic protestfrom Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren. And Israel still showed no sign of softening its defiant policy of unilateralism on Iran.

Then Obama approved an explicit expression of the same message to the Israelis.

According to the account circulating among senior officers close the Joint Chiefs, on January 20 the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, told Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak that the US would not defend Israel if it launched an attack on Iran that had been coordinated with the US. But Netanyahu had already put into effect his own counterstrategy, which is to use the influence of the Israeli lobby in Congress help the Republicans against Obama in the presidential election and to maximise the pressure on Obama to support an Israeli attack on Iran.

Last December, Netanyahu’s supporters in the US lobbied the US Congress to pass economic sanctions against Iran focused squarely on Iran’s crude oil exports and Central Bank. The Obama administration strongly opposed the legislation. Obama’s Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner wrote a letter to the Senate warning that the proposed sanctions would cause a spike in world oil prices, thus risking further deterioration of the global economy. In the end, the Obama administration was forced by Congressional action to adopt the sanctions.

But the sanctions on Iran’s crude oil sector would only go into effect six months later, as would the EU cutoff of its imports

“

of Iranian oil adopted in January.

So the Obama administration had a six-month window for negotiations with Iran on its nuclear programme.

How could it maximise the pressure on the Iranians to reach an agreement within six months? The obvious answer was to bring back an old theme in Obama policy - using the threat of an Israeli attack to gain diplomatic leverage on Tehran.

In order to maximise that leverage, the Obama administration sought to portray Israel as poised to attack sometime between April and end of June.

‘Zone of immunity’ That time frame for an Israeli attack was created entirely by the Obama administration.

Ehud Barak had not suggested that the attack would come before the end of June. On the contrary, discussing in a CNN interviewlast November when Iran would reach a “zone of immunity” - the point at which it would have so much of its uranium enrichment programme protected in wellprotected facilities that it couldn’t be destroyed by an attack - he had said, “It’s true that it wouldn’t take three years… probably three-quarters, before no one can do anything practically about it…”

A story leaked by Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta to Washington Post columnist

The Israelis could easily discern that Panetta really saying the US would not retaliate against Iran unless its own bases or ships in the region were hit by Iran

David Ignatius last week said Panetta believing there was a “strong likelihood” that Israel would attack sometime between April and the end of June. What appeared on the surface to be an expression of US alarm about a strike coming so soon was actually an effort to put pressure on Tehran to make new concessions on its nuclear programme before the sanctions take effect.

Instead of characterising Netanyahu’s posture as irrational and reckless, Ignatius chose to depict the official view of a short and relatively painless war with Iran without the slightest hint that it is rejected out of hand by Israeli intelligence and military leaders.

Ignatius was presumably prompted by Panetta to characterise it in a way that would make the Israeli threat more credible to Iran.

What really gave away Panetta’s intention to pressure Iran, however, was the fact that he used Ignatius to warn Iran that, if it retaliated against Israeli population centres, the US “could feel obligated to come to Israel’s defence”.

That warning clearly undercut the painstaking efforts the Obama administration had made over the previous two months to signal to Netanyahu that Israel would be on its own if it attacked Iran without prior US agreement. The sudden reversal in Obama’s policy dramatically illuminated the deep contradictions built into its policy.

On one hand, Obama has been pursuing a course aimed at avoiding being drawn into an Israeli war with Iran, which both Obama and the military leadership consider as against vital US interests. On the other hand, Obama believes he needs a deal with Iran to demonstrate both to Israel and to the US public that he is succeeding in inducing Iran to retreat from its present stance on its nuclear programme.

The belief was supported by the conventional wisdom in the US national security state that Iran can only be brought to the table with an acceptable position through pressure. It is also in line with bit of conventional wisdom: that no Democratic President can afford to openly decouple the US from Israeli security especially in relation to Iran.

The contradiction between the two elements of Obama’s policy toward Iran went unnoticed in the US. But the real meaning of the leak was certainly understood in Iran as well as in Israel.

There is still time for Obama to repair the damage and to return to the policy he had begun developing in December. But unless Obama warns Netanyahu publicly that an attack against US wishes would indeed mean he is on his own, the chances of deterring him and avoiding war with Iran will be sharply reduced. Source: Aljazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 32

At least 3 killed in eastern Ivorian clashes A

t least three people were killed and about twenty others were injured during two days of clashes in Ivory Coast’s eastern region of Arrah, an official and residents said yesterday.

The violence was sparked by frustrations over the continued policing of the area by former northern rebels and degenerated into ethnic clashes, underscoring security challenges faced by President Alassane Ouattara, almost a year after taking office.

“Calm returned last night and it stayed calm thanks to reinforcements from the United Nations soldiers,” said Jean Bouadou, mayor of the town of Arrah, about 210 km (130 miles) from Abidjan.

“There are three dead - two from bullet wounds and one from machetes - and about twenty injured,” he added.

Locals were protesting against former rebel FRCI soldiers - who helped bring Ouattara, a northerner, to power during last year’s post-

election conflict - rather than gendarmes providing security in the region.

Residents said violence then broke out between Agni, an ethnic group from the area, and

northern Malinke people.

Bouadou said that houses and shops were ransacked and people had fled the town in fear.

Defence minister Paul Koffi

Koffi was due to travel to the area on Tuesday.

“The situation has calmed down but there are lots of dead and injured,” said Seraphin Bony, a resident.

T

Residents said violence then broke out between Agni, an ethnic group from the area

Sierra Leone president forced out UN envoy: letter

T

he United Nations was pressured by the president of Sierra Leone to cut short the tour of its mission chief ahead of an election later this year, the envoy said in a letter seen by Reuters yesterday.

Michael von der Schulenburg, who had been expected to stay until next year but has just left, told his headquarters in a December 22 letter that the United Nations’ credibility and success story in the West African state risked

being undermined if it caved in to “unreasonable and unjustified pressures”.

A spokesman for the United Nations would not comment on the letter while a spokesman for President Ernest Bai Koroma denied he had ever called for the United Nations to withdraw the mission chief.

The election, slated for November, will be a test of what the United Nations has touted as a success story for a reconstruction effort following 11 years of war that ended in

2002.

The removal of the outspoken Schulenburg risks disrupting international oversight of the vote as his replacement will have little time to become established in the local political scene.

“There can be little doubt, that the decision by the President to force my early departure will be seen - rightly or wrongly - by virtually every Sierra Leonean as an effort to remove a potential obstacle to his re-election and as opening the door to manipulating

the election outcome in his favor,” Schulenburg wrote in the letter.

“I also feel that we should engage the President directly over his sudden flair of hostility towards me before giving in to his request for my departure,” he added in the letter to Lynn Pascoe, U.N. undersecretary-general for political affairs.

Schulenburg was expected to run the U.N.’s Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone until after November’s elections, but left this month.

Former PM says Libyans need election awareness

L

ibyans could shy away from the country’s first free elections later this year if more is not done to educate them about the vote, wartime rebel prime minister Mahmoud Jibril said.

Four months after he stepped down from his post, Jibril said it was premature to talk about his own political ambitions and that for now he was travelling around the North African country to raise awareness ahead of the June election for a national assembly, which will have the

Mahmoud Jibril speaks with the Security Council during a meeting on the Situation in Libya

task of drawing up a constitution.

“An awareness process is very much needed so when a Libyan person goes to the ballot, he can make a free conscious decision of what he wants,” he told Reuters in an interview.

“But right now we are going have one of two possibilities either people will shy away from going to election day simply because they don’t know what is required of them or they will be ready to sell their vote to whoever has the money,” he said.

Egypt releases Australian journalist, US student

E

gyptian authorities have released an Australian journalist and an American student who were detained on suspicion they had distributed cash to workers and incited them to take part in a strike, a judicial source said.

Prosecutors in the industrial city of al-Mahalla al-Kubra, north of Cairo said the two, who were

Tunisia says it cracks Islamist “terrorist” unit

detained on Saturday along with their Egyptian translator and a labour activist, would be released pending further investigations, the source said.

The state news agency had identified the American student as Derek Ludovici and the Australian journalist as Austin Mackell. The labour activist was named as Kamal el-Fayoumi.

A lawyer for the Australian journalist later confirmed his client’s release to a private Egyptian television channel.

Activists had called for a nationwide strike on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the toppling of former President Hosni Mubarak from power and to press demands for a faster end to the rule of the military council that

replaced him.

Accusations of alleged foreign meddling in Egyptian politics have started to gain pace in recent weeks.

The authorities in Cairo are prosecuting 43 foreign and Egyptian activists, including around 20 Americans, who had worked for pro-democracy groups including U.S.-based organisations.

unisia has broken up a “terrorist organisation” with links to al Qaeda and arrested 12 members, some of whom had received military training in Libya and were seeking to set up an Islamic state, Interior Minister Ali Larayed said yesterday.

Larayed, a senior member of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party that now leads Tunisia’s government, said that a further nine members of the group were on the run inside Libya.

“Those accused in this case had previously mostly been in prison (in Tunisia) on terrorism charges and a number of them received training in Libya during the Libyan revolution,” he told reporters.

“We have confiscated several weapons including 25 Kalashnikov rifles and 2,500 bullets ... They were intending to establish an Islamist state.”

“The investigation showed that they have relationships with groups close to al Qaeda in Libya and perhaps with members of al Qaeda in Algeria,” he said.

It was not immediately clear whether the group were plotting any specific attacks but Larayed said they were connected to a handful of fighters who clashed with Tunisian security forces in the eastern port city of Sfax this month. Tunisian forces killed two gunmen and captured a third.

Elections in October ushered in a new parliament in which Ennahda won the largest share of seats. Ennahda has since formed a government in coalition with two secular partners.

Tunisia’s internal security forces were shaken by the revolt that ousted Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and brought down his police state a year ago and secularist groups have accused Ennahda of being too soft on religious extremists.

Islamists of all stripes faced severe repression under Ben Ali, and Larayed himself was incarcerated for years — making Ennahda wary of cracking down on more hardline Islamists.

Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring protests that swept the region in 2011, has made a relatively smooth transition to an elected assembly that will draft a new constitution.

However, protests and strikes have continued in the centre of the country, where unemployment has remained high.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 33

Maldives leader pledges 'peace and order'

M

o h a m e d Waheed, the new president of the Maldives, has pledged to restore "peace and order" in the country, as it faces swelling political unrest following allegations of a military-backed coup.

Waheed's representatives said yesterday that he assured a visiting European delegation that he would form a "fully inclusive" cabinet, including members of former president Mohamed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

"He would offer appropriate representation [in cabinet] to all political parties, including the MDP," Waheed's office said in a statement.

Nasheed, the Indian Ocean island nation's first first democratically elected leader who came to power in 2008, resigned a week ago but subsequently said he had been deposed in a coup, and is now leading protests against his successor.

An arrest warrant was issued for his arrest last week, although he has so far not been detained.

Yesterday, authorities asked Nasheed to issue a police statement on his controversial order to the military to arrest a senior judge. The move could be a prelude to criminal charges against Nasheed.

The latest development came after Waheed told a visiting senior US diplomat that he would be willing to co-operate with a probe into the circumstances of the country's transition of power.

Waheed says that his ascension to power was entirely legal, but a series of clashes between Nasheed's supporters and police have occurred over the coup accusation.

The former president has demanded fresh elections and called for mass street protests if the new government does not relent, raising the prospect of a protracted political crisis.

China warms to euro rescue efforts

C

h i n a has so far stopped short of buying European bonds to help bailout debt-stricken countries [Getty] China is ready to increase its participation in efforts to resolved the eurozone's debt crisis, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has told European leaders at summit talks in Beijing.

Wen said yesterday that China was "full of confidence in its own future" and hoped to see Europe "maintain stability and prosperity" as well.

But Wen stopped short of saying whether China would buy bonds in a bailout fund designed to rescue debtstricken EU countries.

Al Jazeera's Melissa Chang, reporting from Beijing, said that China had the potential to purchase a large amount of European bonds to help fight off the financial crisis, but had not done so due to doubts over whether its investment would generate sufficient returns.

"We have seen plenty of European delegates and envoys in the past few months come through here asking for assistance. And so far all that we have

seen from China is a lot of words, but very little action," she said.

"The Chinese are not entirely confident that they will get their money's worth if they assist the Europeans."

Earlier yesterday, Wen told EU leaders that the two sides were strategic partners and that it was in their basic interests to work together.

"We need to work together to send a positive, beneficial message to make necessary contributions toward pushing China-EU and even global unity and co-operation," Wen said.

Herman Van Rompuy, the European Union's top official, said the economies of the two sides were "so interdependent that change in the growth rate in one of the two strategic partners has a direct and palpable impact on the other one."

The summit came hours after USbased credit ratings agency Moody's downgraded its credit ratings on Italy, Portugal, Spain and three other eurozone economies. France, Britain and Austria kept their top ratings but had their outlooks dropped to "negative" from "stable".

Nasheed has blamed police for beating his supporters after 'the military-backed coup' [Reuters]

China has so far stopped short of buying European bonds to help bailout debt-stricken countries [Getty]

Clashes in Bahrain on protests anniversary

S

e c u r i t y forces in Bahrain have fired tear gas at protesters attempting to march to the landmark Pearl roundabout in the capital, Manama, on the one-year anniversary of the beginning of antigovernment demonstrations at the site.

Activists reported yesterday that security forces had used stun grenades and shotguns to scatter hundreds of protesters attempting to occupy the roundabout which became the epicentre of weeks of protests last year by the Gulf island's Shia majority against the ruling Sunni dynasty.

Protesters marched from Sanabis, Deih and Jidhafs, which lie a few kilometres to the west of Manama, despite police warnings that protests would be dispersed, witnesses said.

"Down with (King) Hamad!" they chanted.

The Coalition of the Youth of February 14th Revolution, a group that operates separate from the main Shia bloc led by Al-Wefaq, declared yesterday that they planned to return to the central roundabout.

"All of us are returning", read a call for protest posted on its Facebook page, designating 6:40am local time (0340 GMT) as the starting time.

Bahrain News Agency quoted interior ministry's appeal that cautioned against what it called "dubious TV channels that may attempt to mislead the public".

Yesterday's confrontations came just hours after clashes on Monday might between security forces and protesters.

Thousands of opposition supporters marched through Manama's streets in the largest protest against the government in months.

Bahraini police have dispersed protesters who tried to march towards Pearl roundabout [Reuters]

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

India probes Israeli diplomatic car bombing

UN rights chief slams 'failure' on Syria

I

ndia 's home minister says the country will track down the perpetrators of a bomb attack on an Israeli diplomatic vehicle in New Delhi, but refused to be drawn into a war of words between Israel and Iran over the incident.

P Chidambaram, the country's home minister, said yesterday that the bomb blast a day earlier that badly wounded an Israeli diplomat and three other people appeared to have been a terrorist attack.

"The explosion, according to eyewitnesses, happened within seconds of the device being planted," Chidambaram told reporters in Delhi.

"It is quite clear that a very welltrained person carried out this attack."

"One has to progress on the basis that it was a terrorist attack," he said, adding "We are not pointing our finger at any group or organisation."

The attack in the Indian capital coincided with the attempted bombing of an Israeli embassy vehicle in the Georgian capital Tbilisi that was thwarted by the police.

Georgia also said it would investigate the attempted bombing attack.

"The investigation of this case is of the utmost priority for Georgia's law enforcement agencies," said a spokeswoman for Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Israel on Monday accused Iran and its ally Hezbollah, Lebanon's Shia movement, of being behind the two incidents on its diplomatic vehicles.

"Iran is behind these attacks. It is the biggest exporter of terror in the world," Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, told members of his right-wing Likud party in Jerusalem.

He said there had been a number of attempts to harm Israelis and Jews in recent months, in places such as Thailand and Azerbaijan, in a series of attacks co-ordinated by Tehran and Hezbollah.

But an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said Israel had carried out the attacks as part of a campaign of psychological warfare against Iran.

"It seems that these suspicious incidents are designed by the Zionist regime and carried out with the aim of harming Iran's reputation," the official news agency IRNA quoted Ramin Mehmanparast as saying.

T

Police strikes, in which several people died, stoked concerns about Brazil's ability to host football World Cup [Reuters]

Rio police end strike in time for carnival

P

olice officers and firefighters in Rio de Janeiro have ended their pay strike, days before the annual carnival.

Union officials in the Brazilian state said a vote on Monday had agreed to stop the demonstration over pay. The decision came just two days after a similar strike ended in the northeastern state of Bahia, which saw the murder rate double in its capital, Salvador, during the stoppage.

The strikes, and the threat of similar action in other Brazilian states, had increased concerns about Brazil's security forces before its hosting of the 2014 football World Cup and Rio's hosting the 2016 Olympics.

Fernando Bandeira, Sinpol's president, one of the unions representing police, said officers and firefighters jointly decided to

end the strike because "we don't want to harm our Rio, especially during carnival".

He said, however, that officers would take up their grievances once the party was over.

"What we were given were crumbs, and not even close to what we asked for," he said. "After carnival we're going to talk again to renew our demands. The movement is alive."

The work stoppage began with a large rally in Rio's centre late on Thursday, on the same day the state legislature voted to give officers a 39 per cent raise spread throughout this year and the next. This, however, did not meet the demands of the officers who had requested twice this amount.

While the current base pay for police starts at $964 per month in Rio state, it can go to $1,169

for a starting officer willing to participate in available training courses, the department said.

Additional to the base pay, the 39 per cent raise will only go into effect in 2013.

The government made no new concessions to officers to end the strike.

Through labour negotiations, officers in Bahia received a 6.5 per cent pay raise, rights to some bonus payments and also amnesty against punishment against any striking officers as long as they did not commit any crimes during the stoppage.

During the strike in Salvador, several people were killed and order was only restored after 3,600 soldiers and federal police were forced to patrol the metropolitan area and some regions around the state.

h e UN Security Council's inability to pass a resolution on Syria has encouraged the government to step up its assault on the opposition and launch an "indiscriminate attack" on civilians in the city of Homs, the UN human rights chief has said.

Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said President Bashar al-Assad's violent crackdown on dissidents indicated crimes against humanity had taken place since March 2011 and were continuing.

"The failure of the Security Council to agree on firm collective action appears to have emboldened the Syrian government to launch an all-out assault in an effort to crush dissent with overwhelming force," Pillay told the UN General Assembly yesterday.

Russia and China vetoed a second UN Security Council resolution on Syria on February 4, the same day a military assault on the central city of Homs began.

Pillay expressed serious concern that the deliberate stirring of sectarian tensions could plunge Syria into civil war and appealed for Assad's government to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

Pillay also said that "credible reports indicate that Syrian security forces killed well above 5,400 people last year, including civilians as well as military personnel who refused to shoot civilians".

Bashar al-Jaafari, Syria's permanent representative to the UN, said Pillay's comments were unprincipled and insisted Syria was coming under attack by terrorist organisations.

Addressing the General Assembly, Jaafari said: "After today how can we trust the High Commissioner for Human Rights on issues related to defending and promoting human rights?"

He called on "all those who host, support, fund, indeed arm terrorist groups to cease forthwith in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy".

The government in Damascus blames "armed terrorists" for the unrest in Syria that began after protests calling for freedom erupted across the country more than 11 months ago.

Moody's sees bleak prospects for Europe

C

redit ratings agency Moody's has downgraded the debt ratings of six European countries including Italy, Portugal and Spain, and revised outlooks on the triple-A ratings of France, the United Kingdom and Austria to negative over eurozone debt fears.

The rating agency said on Monday it was making the changes "in order to reflect their susceptibility to the growing financial and macroeconomic risks emanating from the euro area crisis."

The rating outlook of the nine

countries was set to negative "given the continuing uncertainty over financing conditions over the next few quarters and its corresponding impact on creditworthiness", New York-based Moody's said in a statement.

The credit ratings of Slovakia, Slovenia and Malta were also downgraded. With the exception of the UK, all of the countries listed use the euro single currency.

However, Moody's said that Germany's top-tier rating remained "appropriate", and affirmed its tripleA rating on the eurozone's bailout

fund, the European Financial Stability Fund.

It said the negative outlooks for France, the UK and Austria were due to "a number of specific credit pressures that would exacerbate the susceptibility of these sovereigns' balance sheets".

The move follows a similar one

by Standard & Poor's last month, when France and Austria lost their triple-A status, while Italy, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia were downgraded.

The credit agency said it was

worried about the European Union's ability to undertake the kind of reforms needed to address the crisis and the amount of funds available to fight it.

It also said the region's weak economy could undermine austerity drives by governments to fix their finances.

Austria's finance ministry said Moody's decision failed to take into adequate account its budget consolidation plan and efforts by banks to strengthen capital.

Cristobal Montoro, Spain's finance minister, said the downgrades

were "contradictory", given that Moody's positive assessment of economic reforms introduced by the Spanish government.

But the UK's finance minister said the threat to the country's triple-A rating vindicated the government's promise to reduce the country's budget deficit through severe cuts on public spending.

"This is proof that, in the current global situation, Britain cannot waiver from dealing with its debts," George Osborne, the finance minister, said.

PAGE 35

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Meet the world's fattest man: 58-stone Keith is so huge he needs 18 carers to keep him alive

A

Briton who devours eight hotdogs for breakfast has won the dubious accolade of being named the world’s fattest man.

Keith Martin, 42, tips the scales at 58 stone, and is so large that he is bed-ridden.

His needs are putting an extra drain on NHS resources and costing the taxpayer thousands of pounds as he requires an army of 18 medical professionals to look after him, including ambulance staff, carers and nurses.

Eight ambulance workers must be on hand to help hoist his giant frame to a reinforced vehicle for frequent hospital visits close to his home in Harlesden, NorthWest London.

Trips for health checks are the only occasions in the past ten years on which he has left his bed. He also requires four carers to visit him twice a day and four nurses

Trimmed down: Manuel Uribe’s weight has dropped from 90st to 31st after going on a diet three times a week to wash him and monitor his health as his staggering weight is putting massive strain on his heart and other internal organs.

Medics say he would need to shed half his bulk before he could even be considered for a gastric band to aid his weight loss.

Mr Martin took the crown of heaviest man on the planet after the previous title-holder – a 90stone Mexican – went on a crash diet. Manuel Uribe, 44, is still listed as the heaviest man in the Guinness Book of Records but is believed to have shrunk to a relatively svelte 31st 6lb. Mr Martin has also overtaken another former world’s heaviest man, fellow Brit Paul Mason.

Record breaker: Mr Martin, pictured, has taken the crown of heaviest man on the planet from a 90-stone Mexican who went on a diet and slimmed down to 31st 6lb Mr Mason, a 51-year-old

former postman from Ipswich, slimmed down from 70st to 49st after being warned he was dangerously close to death.

At the height of his bingeeating, Mr Mason would consume in excess of 20,000 calories per day and would be wheeled to local takeaways daily by his carers.

By 2002, he was so big that a 5ft window at his former home had to be removed and a forklift truck brought in to lift him when he needed to go to hospital for a hernia operation.

Heavy: Mr Martin says his life of excess was triggered by the death of his mother when he was a teenager Larger than life: Specialist ambulance crews are called to care for Mr Martin, who is too big to look after himself But the subsequent fitting of a gastric band coupled with a healthy diet finally saw him reach a manageable weight.

HIS TYPICAL DAILY MENU · Breakfast: Keith Martin typically starts the day with eight hot dogs and four slices of bread, or a pile of ham sandwiches followed by coffee with sugar. · Lunch: A selection of chocolate bars, cakes, a packet of biscuits plus more coffees with sugar. · Dinner: Two whole roast dinners with all the trimmings, or 16 sausages plus a family-sized bag of oven chips washed down with coffee.

Super-sized Mr Martin seems to have no plans to follow Mr Mason’s lead, and tells a Channel 5 documentary, due to be aired next week, that his life of excess was triggered by the death of his mother when he was a teenager.

‘My mother died when I was 16 and I didn’t care about anything after that and I couldn’t care less about what happened to me – I ate anything and everything,’ he said.

‘I blame myself. It was my fault and I hate what I have done to myself.’

Mr Martin has not had a girlfriend for 20 years and can no longer find clothes that fit him, as he is 5ft 9in with a six- foot waist.

He relies on round-theclock support from carers and relatives with his two sisters taking it in turn to carry out house visits. He spends his days watching television and gorging on sweets, cakes, biscuits and sausages.

Mr Martin is one of several morbidly obese Brits to appear in the TV programme Big Body Squad, which aims to raise awareness of the plight of more than a million similarly overweight people who cost taxpayers millions of pounds in home help costs every year.

Weighty problem: Keith Martin, who eats eight hotdogs for breakfast, is putting extra strain on the NHS

Incapacitated: Eight ambulance workers are needed to lift him into a reinforced vehicle for regular hospital visits

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Why love really is a drug I

t is often said that love is a drug. But romance really does work in a similar way to addiction to illegal substances – it triggers a reaction in the same part of the brain, scientists have revealed.

Those smitten will produce an emotional response in the part of the grey matter normally involved with motivation and reward.

Our brains have been hardwired to choose a mate, and we become so motivated to win them over that we are sometimes willing to go to extreme lengths.

The reward comes from recognising that something feels good and is worth the effort.

‘You can feel happy when you’re in love, but you can also feel anxious,’ said Lucy Brown, a neuroscientist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

Professor Brown said that the reward part of the brain – or pleasure centre - is an essential to our survival as this drives the need to have sex.

Co-author Arthur Aron, a psychologist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, said: ‘Intense passionate

Addictive: Love produces the same pleasure and anxiety as drugs

Pleasure centre: The same part of the brain responds to romance and drugs

love uses the same system in the brain that gets activated when a person is addicted to drugs.’

Their study looked at magnetic resonance images of the brains of 10 women and seven men who claimed to be deeply in love.

The length of their relationships ranged from one month to less than two years.

Participants were shown photographs of their beloved, and photos of a similar-looking person.

It revealed that romantic

love is one of the most powerful emotions a person can have.

They also found that the length of time couples were together made little difference to the intensity of their feelings.

The researchers discovered that in each of these long-term lovers, brain regions were also activated when they looked at photos of their partners.

Long-term love showed activity in the regions linked with attachment and liking a reward.

‘For most people, the standard

pattern is a slow decline in passionate love but a growth in bonding,’ Dr Aron said.

That bonding allows for the partners to stay together long enough to have and raise children.

But with the decline in passionate means a decrease in anxiety.

‘As long as love remains, we get used to the relationship, and we’re not afraid our partner will leave us, so we’re not as focused on the craving,’ Dr Aron said.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

16-year-olds ‘only need seven hours sleep’

D

espite long-maintained claims that teenagers require more rest, there has always been a lingering suspicion among parents that yougsters are wasting their time by spending half their day in bed.

Now, according to new research, mothers and fathers may indeed be right after scientists suggested the optimum amount of sleep for a typical 16-year-old is just seven hours a night.

Current health recommendations advise teens get nine or more hours.

But this could be two hours too much and – crucially – may lead to poorer exam results.

Scientists from Brigham Young University in Utah examined 1,724 primary and secondary pupils’ performances and compared them with the amount of sleep they got.

Reporting the findings in the Eastern Economics Journal, they said the right amount of sleep decreases with age.

HOW MUCH SLEEP IS OK? Most studies suggest teenagers need at least nine

hours sleep. And previous studies suggest that children between age seven and 12 need 11 hours in bed.

But, according to this latest research by Brigham Young University, the right amount in terms of testing best in exams - is as follows: Aged 10: nine to 9.5 hours Aged 12: Eight to 8.5 hours Aged 16: Seven hours Nevertheless, sleep studies

have recorded a variety of results with differing optimal amounts, so you may want to see for yourself which suits your child or teenager best.

The optimum amount of sleep in nine to 9.5 hours, for 12-year-olds it is eight or 8.5 hours and for 16-year-olds it is seven hours.

Study author Eric Eide said: ‘We’re not talking about sleep deprivation. The data simply says that seven hours is optimal at that age.’

Harming school performance: Tests showed that 16-year-olds did best in exams when they slept for seven hours - two hours less than is recommended

It is the first in a series of studies which examined sleep and its impact on our health and education.

Dr Eide said: ‘If a child is only getting 5.5 hours of sleep a night because he’s too busy, he would perform better if he got 90 minutes more each night.’

The size of the effect on test scores depends on a number of factors, but an 80-minute shift toward the optimum is comparable to the child’s parents completing about one more year of schooling.

Economics professor Mark Showalter, who co-wrote the study, added: ‘Most of our students at BYU, especially those that took early-morning seminary classes in high school, are going to realize that 9 hours of sleep isn’t what the top students do.’

The study also showed that those with regular patterns of sleep performed better than those who don’t.

The effect of sleep has been studied over a wide range of subjects.

Among the latest research include suggestions that too little will kill male sex drive and that exercise – combined with a minimum of seven hours sleep – can ward off

cancer.

According to researchers at the University of Chicago, those who sleep for less than five hours a night for periods of longer than a week have significantly lower levels of testosterone than those who get a full night’s rest.

And with testosterone affecting men’s libido and energy levels, those who miss out on sleep are much more likely to be put off sex.

The affect is so drastic it reduces the hormone to levels more akin to someone 15 years older, they reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Meanwhile, A 10-yearstudy of thousands of women found significantly fewer cases of cancer, including breast cancer, among those who were the most physically active.

But sleeping less than seven hours a night wiped out the benefits of exercise and increased the risk of cancer.

The researchers, from the U.S. government-funded National Cancer Institute, asked almost 6,000 women about their exercise and sleep routines before tracking their health for ten years.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 37

Security in Adamawa: Nyako’s first Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state escaped hurdle to scale Governor re-election defeat by the whiskers as killings of Igbo ANALYSIS

T

he killings of some Igbo community members in Mubi, Adamawa state, which nearly sparked an ethnic and sectarian war in the state in the month of January, nearly cost Governor Murtala Nyako his re-election bid. Curfew was imposed on the state, election campaigns suspended and election dates shifted twice.

What was initially thought to be an attack by the dreaded Boko Haram was later proven to be just a business deal went sour.

When the nation is tensed up, due to utterances of religious leaders urging their followers to arm themselves and be ready, killings of 12 people in a day, especially people from same ethnic group, is definitely bound to evoke emotions and possibly reprisal attacks.

That was what happened.

When the news of the Igbo people killings broke, anarchy spread across seven local governments of the state, leaving 52 Muslims dead, mosques, houses and farms including livestock set ablaze.

It all started on the 5 th of January when two people were gunned down at a house close to the main market in Mubi town.

One of them was an aspirant for a Secretary position in one of the Igbo associations in Mubi.

Later at night, same day, at a bar along Maiha road, two other men were gunned down. These men were business associates of one of the men killed in the afternoon.

The next day, January 6, the gunmen stormed the residence of the one of the deceased, while sympathizers were condoling with the family, and killed his bank manager and other business associates.

Without verifying the facts the media attributed the killings to Boko Haram, saying Igbo people were attacked at a town hall meeting in Mubi of Adamawa state, even quoting fictitious sources saying that “the attackers were chanting, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.”

This version was eventually taken up by all the media organs and gave the incident its ethnoreligious coloration.

The entire state was thrown into confusion; and the state government imposed curfew on the state. Mubi wore the toga of a war zone, with armed soldiers patrolling every street. Okada motorcyclists were banned even after lifting the curfew, because the gunmen always used motorcycles.

So, between 6 th and 7 th January almost the entire state

was on fire. In about seven local governments, raids were carried out in the wee hours of nights by a large number of armed men chanting war songs, setting mosques and houses ablaze and killing Muslims. Only to find out later, when it was too late, that what happened in Mubi was a business rivalry taken too far.

The business squabble started from the Mubi Cattle Market, which is regarded as international cattle market and the economic hub of the town.

Cattles from Cameroun, Niger Republic, Central Africa and Chad are bought and sold in the market; and the market union leaders are feeding very fat through commission. It is said that each of the leaders involved in the deals make no less than a million naira every week.

As it was election time for the bigger politicians in the state, so it was election time for the Mubi Cattle Market leaders; and some contesters at the Igbo section of the association decided to eliminate their rivals. The big four gunned down were the aspirant for the position of Secretary of the association, the main Commission Agent for the Igbo cattle dealers, the Chief Transporter of the market and their banker, Manager of Diamond Bank, Mubi branch.

The rest were those very close to them.

The operations appeared to be carried out by professionals who, thought attacking the victims in crowded places, were able to eliminate their targets with precision and minimal collateral damage.

When Peoples Daily visited Mubi, all effort to speak with the Emir, Dr. Abubakar Isa Ahmad, were not successful. For, due to the tension in the town, the emir said he did not want to say anything that might be misinterpreted and turned into a political issue. Equally, the Eze Igbo of Mubi, Igwe Malachy Agbazue, hide behind the emir’s excuse and told our reporter, “Since the Emir did not talk to you; I have no authority to talk you. Talking to you will be an

people in Mubi brought the state to a standstill. He was just lucky that the opposition did not have enough time to use it against him. With the election over, it is time for the governor to look into the issue very deeply. Ali Alkali, who visited Yola and Mubi, before the election looks into the security issue.

Governor Murtala Nyako insubordination. That’s how we do things here.”

That day, the Eze Igbo of Mubi was just coming back from the East where they took bodies of their slain brothers; and the Adamawa state government had donated one million naira to each of the victim’s family.

But taking to some Igbo people in the town gave another insight of the whole saga, especially the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Kingsley, the Diamond Bank manager.

Chukwu Emeka, a vehicle spare part dealer, told Peoples

“

The operations appeared to be carried out by professionals who, thought attacking the victims in crowded places, were able to eliminate their targets with precision and minimal collateral damage

Daily that “Kingsley was suspected of helping some of the aspirants destroy the chances of their rivals by sending his armed robbery gang after them whenever they withdrew large sum of money from the bank.”

Emeka added that “even before this time, many people were suspecting the bank manager of having a hand in many armed robberies that took place after they have withdrawn money from his bank.”

Other people, especially the none-Igbo in Mubi town, wonder why the assassins were also after the Eze Igbo to the extent that he had to take refuge at the Emir’s palace for days after the event, with armed military personnel guarding him? What did he know that the public doesn’t?

When People Daily visited his house, there were 20 armed military men guarding the house. His cars’ parking space was converted into a temporary camp with curtains and camp beds.

According to Alhaji Bappari Umar Kem, Chief Imam of Jama’atu Nasril Islam Headquarters, Yola, “What

happened in Mubi and Yola have nothing to do with religion. Even what happened here in Yola was entirely a Church affair. Not something between Christians and Muslims.

“What happened, as we gathered, was that certain young man was seen with a gun.

People reported him to police station; he was arrested and released latter after he confessed that he got the gun from his church. The police raided the church and found guns and ammunitions.

Leadership newspaper carried the story; and the church did not deny it until after three weeks when Mubi crisis started. Instead, they planted stories that the church was attacked and 12 worshipers were killed.”

After the attacks on Muslim communities in various local governments of the state, the Adamawa state Muslim Council set up a five-man committee to go round the areas affected for fact finding.

The committee, under the chairmanship of Alhaji Bappari Umar visited eight places, namely: Yola South, Yola North, Numan, Lamurde, Guyuk, Shelleng, Demsa and Girei.

According to the recorded video interview with victims, made available to Peoples Daily, at Lamurde, one Alhaji Sallau Idi, an officer with Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board told the committee that on the 6th of January, his neighbor Malam Adamu knocked and woke him up to inform him that some people were setting their houses ablaze. They run for their lives; and the burning of their property continued the following night. By the end of it, 23 houses and 2 mosques were razed down.

And leaders of the youths who conducted the attack were identified as Jintino, a clerk at Lamurde LG secretariat and Nzonzo, a staff of the LG. At Gyewana, Lamurde LG, according to Imam HammaAdama of Izala mosque, on the 7th of January, he was preparing to go to the mosque at 4:30am when a woman who sells Akara came to warn him not to go to the mosque because the mosque

Continued on page 38

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PDP National Organising Secretary: How far can Kaoje go?

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he burning issues in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aside the re-run governorship elections in some states of the federation is the forth coming convention of the party slated for March this year.

The convention is special in a way since elections will be held to all the positions in the executive council.

Party stalwarts have started strategising on how they can directly fill these positions by standing for elections themselves or have one of their proxies occupy the position.The party can boast of the best politicians in the land jostling for various offices, due largely to its strength as the largest political party with the highest number of followers in the whole of Africa.One of such office up for grab is that of the organising secretary where Hon. Bala Kaoje seem to be the candidate to beat. His resume shows that this former sport minister in the last dispensation is a founding member of the PDP and has remained relevant in the party since the formation of the party in 1998. He boasts of a high profile standing in his native Kebbi state due largely to his ability to associate with people at the grass root. His house in his home town is

always a beehive of activities whether he is at home or far away in Abuja attending to his business.

He is reputed to be one of the strong forces behind most of the politicians success in the state and other neighbouring states around Kebbi. His stringent adherence to the rules matched with a disciplined life style which he claimed to have being imbibed in him by his parents have seen him remain in the party since he opted for the party. This runs contrary to the antics of many politicians who are in the habit of jumping from one political party to another at the slightest excuse.

With many in the land ascribing anything shady to the ruling PDP, what the party needs at this point in time is a man both party faithful and non party members can look up to for guidance and whom they can trust.PDP at this time need leaders who command respect among its members nationwide and can make them follow the party faithfully and bring back the much sought party discipline that is lacking presently. This is a man who understands human and political psychology that he can without failing galvanize support, goodwill, understanding and acceptance by the public.

Hon. Bala Kaoje’s profile fits

Hon. Bala Kaoje all of the above and more.

Though he is a trained engineer, he fits into any situation he finds himself, no wonder he was able to turn around the fortunes of the sports ministry when he was in charge. This is a man who has built a reputation as a leader who cares about people and whose belief is that the only

way development can reach the ordinary people is to involve them directly in governance. Since he is well versed in current international and political developments both in the country and abroad, one is of the opinion that if given the opportunity to serve as National Organising Secretary

of the party he can help organise the party and fashion it one after great parties in civilized climes that will be a thing of pride to both party adherents and the nation at large.

What the country needs presently is a party than the entire nation can be proud of and ready to associate with.

The security challenges facing the nation presently stems from general apathy by the people to governance, as there is a general belief that government has failed the people and can no longer be trusted. Since government constitute of people in a particular party that won an election as is the case with Nigeria, there is a need to start the organisation of the country from the party level hence there is a need to have people of character and integrity at the helm of affairs in the party.

With the right people managing the PDP especially the all important office of organising secretary, the guess is that the party may be able to gain the confidence of Nigerians and rule for the next 60 years as once boasted by a former party secretary and chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbuluafor. This is the time for PDP members to look inward and vote in men like Hon. Bala Kaoje who can be counted upon based on past records to deliver.

Security in Adamawa: Nyako’s first hurdle to scale Continued from page 37 will be attacked.

“Our Mu’azzin came out to call for prayer when the youth attacked him and start destroying the mosque. They heard a call for prayer from another mosque; so left for that mosque, saying no more calling for prayers. They set the mosques and our houses ablaze.”

The Imam said, about eight houses and five mosques were destroyed at Gyewana; and five houses and two mosques at Domange.

At Tingo village, Lamurde LG, Alhaji Abubakar Bello said they were told to close their shops at 5:00pm, on the 7th of January, because Bachama youths attacked and killed a man and a woman at Anguwan Waja.

“Also, the Bachama youths attacked and killed some Fulani men at Suwa. We reported the matter to the police at Tingo; but the police said Suwa is not in their jurisdiction. When we learnt that dead bodies at Suwa were being mutilated by dogs, we decided to go and pick the bodies for burial.

But the youths we sent were also attacked, and two of them killed.”

According to Imam Usman Kawu, an Imam at Suwa, “To the

best of my knowledge, the number of Fulani people killed at Suwa is more than 30.”

Those who gave testimony over the murder at Suwa all identified the gang leader as Bitrus Kobwa, a former councilor, and his lieutenants Danladi Ezekiel, Samanja Sale Rege Lissafi and Midu – all from the Suwa ruling class.

At Nyibango ward, Yola North LG, one Aliyu Muhammad was killed by a soldier. An eye witness to the incident, Malam Umaru Painter, told the committee that on the 7 th of January around 5pm the deceased came to his house along Gibson Jalo Road and requested to stay for a while, because he saw soldiers patrolling the area.

“We were in the house when we heard the army following some people who were running away. Suddenly, the soldiers broke into my house and shot Aliyu. They turned and left him in the pool of his blood,” said Umaru Painter.

At Wuro Hausa ward, Yola South LG, another person was shot by unknown gunmen.

Alhaji Mustafa Sani, head of the family of the deceased narrated that “the deceased, Aminu, left home after Magrib prayer, and

around 7:15pm I was told that he was shot by unknown persons.

He was taken to the Federal Medical Center and died there that night.”

At Kwata ward, Numan LG, a resident Muhammad A. Bello lamented that though there were no killing or destruction in the ward, they are still living in great fear and need the intervention of relevant authorities. He said, “Whenever there is any crisis in any part of the state, the Jukum people would dress in black, carrying different type of weapons, chanting war songs and harassing and intimidating the Muslims in the ward.”

At Ngbalang, Numan LG, eye witnesses said between 12th and 13th of January, the Christians of Bachama with the assistance of Bilachi leaders and Sabon Fegi communities, attacked the Muslims and killed nine people, burnt six mosques and 25 houses.

At Boshikiri Dumna District of Guyuk LG, the witnesses said “the Muslims of Boshikiri are living peacefully with Christians in the area, adding that “the crisis was between Lunguda people and Fulani from Kola district, which prompted the Lunguda people to come to

Boshikiri and attack the Fulani people who were returning from Lafiya market on the 7 th of January.”

The Lunguda people came on horses and armed to the teeth.

During that attack, 12 people were killed and burnt to ashes.

The leaders of the Fulani told the committee that Lunguda people from Kerau even followed them to Kem, in Shelleng LG, killed four more people and set their huts ablaze, taking away 40 cattle, 27 goats, 45 sheep and 10 donkeys.

At Koh village, Girei LG, the victims said they were very surprised when attacked on the the 10 th of January by some youths and set their houses on fire, because they have been living together peacefully for about 40 years.

In Jauro Barkindo ward, Demsa LG, Imam Umar Usman said on 7th January some youths came and warned Muslims not to call for prayers again. “Later they came back and destroyed the public address system in the mosque and other valuables.

Then they proceeded to burn business stalls and shops of Muslims in the ward.”

Speaking with Peoples Daily, the Chairman of committee set

up by the Adamawa State Muslim Council, Alhaji Bappari Umar who is also deputy secretary of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Yola, said “Going by our findings in all the local government areas visited, there were a lot of killings of innocent people. Over 50 Muslims were killed. This is apart from destruction of houses, farm produce and other property worth hundreds of millions of naira.

“We therefore urge the state government, as a matter of urgency to set a judicial panel of enquiry to investigate the matter and bring all the perpetrators to book, in order to serve as deterrent to others in future.

“Government should also, at all levels, hasten to give assistance to the victims of the destructions, as many of them are still taking refuge at various places.

“We also want government to appoint a committee to ascertain the extent of destructions, damage and killings to compensate the victims.

“Government should also provide grazing areas for cattle owners, so as to stop the lingering crises between cattle owners and farmers.”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 39

I’m overwhelmed by mandate — Dickson

B

ayelsa Governor-elect, Rep. Seriake Dickson, has said he was humbled by the overwhelming mandate given to him and his running mate by the electorate at Saturday’s election.

Dickson, who won the election on the platform of PDP, said this shortly after receiving his Certificate of Return from Dr Ishmael Igbani, the INEC Commissioner in-charge of Edo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states.

The governor-elect was accompanied to the INEC office

by his running mate, Rear Admiral Jonah John (Rtd) in Yenagoa on Monday evening.

“I feel elated at our victory, but more than anything else, I feel humbled at this overwhelming mandate that our people have freely, voluntarily bestowed on our party and on myself and my running mate.”

The Governor-elect said the people of the state had voted rightly, adding that they had voted for restoration.

He therefore promised to fulfill his campaign promises to

the citizenry.

Dickson promised to work with other political parties that believed in what his restoration team wanted to offer, hoping that together they could join hands to build a better, safer and more prosperous Bayelsa for her people.

Earlier, Dr Ishmael Igbani, the INEC Commissioner in charge of Edo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states, who presented the certificate to Dickson, said that the election was free and fair.

”This election was not controversial at all. It was evident in the fact that the agents of other political parties were falling on top of each other to sign the result sheet before the declaration.”

Igbani said agents of more than 23 political parties signed the result sheet, adding that he has always been in Bayelsa since he joined the commission, because “this is my state.”

“This election has been proved to be fair, transparent and most credible and there is

no question of any rigmaroling about but unfortunately we had an incident where a boat capsized and the papers were lost.’’

He, however, said that the development did not actually affect the result of the Saturday’s election.

T h e d i g n i t a r i e s who accompanied Dickson to the INEC office included the acting speaker of the Bayelsa house of assembly, state assembly members, former commissioners, chiefs and PDP stalwarts.

Sokoto governorship poll: INEC endorses 21 observer groups

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved 21 observer groups to participate in the Sokoto governorship election scheduled for Saturday.

The Secretary to the commission, Mr Abdullahi Kaugama, said in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja that the approval was sequel to the submission of applications and final assessment by INEC. Laugama directed the groups to report to the Election Monitoring and Observation Unit at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. up to Friday to obtain and complete EMOC 002 Form.

“In order to ensure prompt and efficient processing of identification cards, all the accredited observer groups are enjoined to compile the photographs of their members for deployment in Sokoto.”

He said the photographs, accompanied by the names, should be submitted in hard and soft copies to the Election Monitoring and Observation Unit.

The secretary, however, said that observer groups not approved would be reprimanded if they were found in Sokoto during the election.

He directed the approved groups to direct any enquiries to the head of the observation unit.

The approved groups are the Centre for Strategic Conflict Management, Human Rights Monitor, Nigeria Police Service Commission, Women’s Right to Education and Cleen Foundation.

They include the Transition Monitoring Group, Rights Monitoring Group, Reclaim Naija and Independent Election Monitoring Group, Centre for Grass Roots Development and Crime Prevention as well as the Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership Development.

Others are the Alliance for Credible Elections, Nigerian Bar Association, Federation of Muslim Lawyers, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Organisation of Justice for Equity and the Centre for Peace Building and Socio Economic Resource Development The Society for the Protection of Human Rights, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NEPAD Nigeria, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms and PLAC also make the list.

L-R: Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and President Goodluck Jonathan, chatting during the flag-off of the Sokoto Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship candidate, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko in Sokoto, recently.

Yobe SEIC obtains updated voter register for local council poll

T

he Yobe state Independent Electoral Commission (YSIEC) said it has obtained an updated version of voter register to ensure that no eligible voter was disenfranchised in the next local council poll.

Alhaji Jauro Abdu, the Chairman of the commission, disclosed this in Damaturu on Tuesday “The commission is taking every necessary step to ensure that we do not only improve on the last exercise, but we come up with a generally acceptable election.” recalled that Gov. Ibrahim

Gaidam, while swearing in new electoral commissioners, said the local government election would be conducted in 2012 to replace the caretaker committees. the caretaker committees were appointed into office in 2011, following the expiration of tenure of the elected council officials.

The chairman gave assurance that the commission would provide a level playing ground “to all political parties and their candidates for a credible, free and fair election.”

Jauro explained that the

commission was scored high by local and internal observers who monitored the last election.

“We are highly committed to surpass our last achievement as the commission enjoys free hands from the state government.

“We are working hard to ensure that the commission conducts an open and transparent election in the state. The commission will give citizens and politicians their right to vote and contest election respectively, in a transparent manner,” he said.

Jauro said that a time-table

would be produced “with every detail that gives everyone a true sense of belonging.

“The commission had in the past arranged dialogue with all political parties as well as massive enlightenment campaign ahead of the election. ‘’We will improve on that to carry everybody along for the election to be a huge success,” the chairman noted.

He appealed to politicians, the public and nongovernmental organisations to support the commission “in conducting a credible, free, fair and acceptable election into the 17 Local Government Areas.”

CPC guber candidate congratulates PDP’s Dickson

T

he CPC candidate in last Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa, Mr. Famous Daunemigha, has congratulated the winner Seriake Dickson of the PDP. Daunemigha stated this in Yenagoa on Tuesday.

The CPC flagbearer said he would not challenge Dickson’s elections at the tribunal.

He advised Dickson to be “purposeful” in administering the state ”to give Bayelsans the needed development and transformation as well as a sense of direction.”

He also wished Dickson well in piloting the affairs of the state, which, he said, had been “yearning for serious development.”

Daunemigha said he and his running mate, Mr Alaowei Opukeme were grateful to their

teeming supporters and urged them to remain steadfast.

He said politics was a game and therefore urged them to imbibe the spirit of good sportsmanship.

The CPC placed fourth in the election.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Kogi Assembly’s Chief Whip, Deputy removed From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

T

he Kogi state House of Assembly’s Chief whip and his deputy have been removed in a minor leadership reshufflement of the House at yesterday plenary.

This is consequent upon a “vote of no confidence” signed by seventeen members of the House opposing the continuos stay of the two members as chief whip and deputy chief whip of the House.

In the statement read on the floor of the House, made available to newsmen the House said “the activities and the conduct of the chief whip Hon Suleiman

Babadoko of Lokoja 1 constituency and the deputy chief whip Hon. Habibat Mohammed Deen of Ankpa 1 constituency in recent times calls for attention”.

It further said that “the two officers have been working at cross-purposes with the overall goals and objectives of the Honourable House as well as our collective resolve”.

Moving the motion, the member representing Mopa/ Muro constituency, Honourable Michael Folunsho said that the two officers were no longer qualify to be principal officers of the House, seconded by Hon

Haruna Idoko of Idah constituency.

In a unanimous adoption of the motion to remove the two officers, the majority leader, Hon Yakubu Yunisa announced that Hon Saidu Akawu of Kogi/ KK constituency, Chief Whip and Hon Damian Adejo of Olamaboro constituency, deputy chief whip Briefing the press shortly after plenary, the chairman House committee on information, Hon (Chief) Saidu Akawu of Kogi/KK said that the removal was sequel to the realisation that very serious leadership issues are being

peddled around hotels He added that such situation does not speak well on the confidentiality being reposed on the leaders, stressing that it would have nothing to do with the governor Capt. Idris Wada but to reposition the House for good governance and interdependency of all the organs of government.

Reassuring the Kogites of the readiness of the House of Assembly of quality representation, Akawu noted that the House would cooperate fully with Capt Wada with respect and principle of separation of power.

Adamawa Assembly reconvenes sitting From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

T

he protracted crisis that rocked the Adamawa state House of Assembly for weeks culminating to its shut down seems to be over with the return of the embattled Speaker Umar Ahmad Fintri who served as the state’s acting governor for two weeks.

The Assembly complex was opened for the first time in seven weeks two weeks ago when a Supreme Court sacked Governor Murtala Nyako and four other PDP governors, instructing Speakers of the state assemblies to take over governorship of the affected states pending when election would hold.

It may be recalled the complex was closed by youths of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who besieged the complex chanting proNyako slogans “Bamu so, Bamu so, Adamawa, Sai Nyako, Speaker sai Barrister” threatening to burn it down following the change of leadership from Barr Sadiq Dasin and his deputy Mrs. Wale Fwa to Umar Fintri and Barr. Kwamoti Laori.

The development had led to closure of the complex ever since, with stern looking security personnel keeping everyone away from the complex while the youths on their part positioned themselves under a tree opposite the complex keeping watch.

The melee took a new twist with the impeached speaker Barr. Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin filing a suit against the Fintri, his deputy and the state Assembly claiming the said votes passed were less than the two thirds majority of the members as mandatory required under section 92(2) (C) of the constitution.

However the deputy speaker told Peoples Daily on phone that the plaintiffs failed to turn out on the adjourned date which compelled the presiding Judge, Barthimawus Lawi to further adjourn the case for hearing sometime in March.

L-R: Bayelsa governor-elect, Mr Henry Dickson, being congratulated by Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Adiri, after taking his oath of office as governor in Yenagoa, yesterday.

Photo: NAN

Subsidy probe: We won't disappoint Nigerians, says Tambuwal From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

S

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu WaziriTambuwal has assured Nigerians that the ongoing fuel subsidy probe will yield the desired result as mechanism to make it effective have been put in place.

He noted that the people should keep faith with the House and to shun pessimism over the probe of some oil companies in their roles in the

raging subsidy saga.

The Speaker made the comment weekend while answering questions from newsmen during the wedding Fatiha of Honourable Buba Jibril's daughter in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.

He said the lower house was only waiting for the outcome of the committee report for the House to commence immediate action, stressing that until then the House will not issue any categorical statement.

Asked if the subsidy probe report will not go the same way as others in the past, Tambuwal reiterated his call on the citizenry not to be pessimistic, saying the report of the House committee will not be swept under the carpet.

"I will not agree with you that past probes did not yielded results. All I can say is that the people should not be pessimistic about this. I promised that this ongoing subsidy probe will yield result", he said.

ACN calls Bayelsa governorship poll a charade, slams PDP, INEC From Adesoji Oyinlola, Lagos, and Tobias Lengnan, Abuja

T

he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has dismissed last Saturday's governorship election in Bayelsa state as a choreographed charade, while slamming INEC for being part of the sham.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also criticized the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan for acting out a prepared script that has done more to thwart democracy than further it.

It wondered why INEC would not have just raised up the hand of PDP candidate Seriake Dickson as the affirmed winner, instead of wasting huge public resources to conduct what has now turned out to be a blight on the country's democratic process and a travesty of fairness and justice.

ACN warned that if the role of INEC in the Bayelsa 'election' is a pointer to the new direction of the electoral body, then it may well be throttling down the road to the abyss sooner than anyone had expected under its present leadership. ''First, as always, the PDP - the largest conglomeration of strangest bedfellows in the world, masquerading as a political party thwarted its own constitution in shamelessly dancing to the discordant and deceptive tunes of a vengeance-seeking President. ''Then, the President of the largest black nation on earth failed to rise above personal anger and base considerations, even when bombarded with entreaties by many, including his predecessors in office, to allow the democratic process to take its course instead of decreeing who will and who will not be governor. ''Finally, an agency funded from the public treasury and mandated to rise above partisanship lent itself to be used in the show of shame, in which one candidate won over 400,000 votes and the closest rival barely managed to cobble 20,000 votes together. Never in the history of elections in these climes, even with our warped standards, have we seen such a farce,'' ACN said.

The party said the unfortunate fallout of the Bayelsa mess is the fact that it did a lot to hurt the standing of the President, and further diminished him in the eyes of the citizens.

Two new Bauchi Assembly members sworn in From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

wo members of the Bauchi state House of Assembly after court of Appeal declared them as winners of the last 28th April House of Assembly election.

The new members Alhaji Hamza Gawo of the Action Congress of Nigeria from warji constituency and Alhaji

Ahmed Mohammed Bayo Rosi of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP representing from Bauchi Central state constituencies.

The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed Miya has sworn them in at the Houses of assembly chambers yesterday Miya urged the newly sworn in members of the

Parliament to consider their victory as an act of God and cooperate with other members of the assembly for the development of Bauchi state.

The Speaker advised the members to take Bauchi state as their constituency and contribute their quota through meaningful contributions that will make good laws for the well being of the electorates.

It could be recalled that Court of Appeal declared them as winners of the last 28th April state Assembly elections held in Warji and Bauchi Central constituencies which nullified the elections of Idi Shehu Tiyin of PDP and Abdulkarim Angale of the Congress for Progressive Change CPC for violating the electoral act 2010.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 41

Dolphins to fine Ajagun

Minister inaugurates 18-man C’ttee

T

Stories by Albert Akota

T

he Minister of the National Sports Commission, (NSC) Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi has inaugurated 18 man committee to saddle the responsibilities of the forthcoming National Sports Festival, (NSF) in Lagos between 27th of November to December 7th 2012.

While inaugurating the committee yesterday in Abuja, charged the Main Organizing Committee, (MOC) to work in line with the NSF, Lagos state government and the NSC. “I am aware that the State has made elaborate plans and put all machineries in place to ensure that the date approved for the games is sacrosanct, I have no doubt in my mind that with the commitment of the energetic, active and amiable Governor of the State, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, (SAN) to the successful hosting of the Games,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the committee Dr Patrick Ekeji commended the minister for the confidence reposed on the committee.

He maintained that the Council have endorsed the continuation of the MOC of the last edition of the NSF and also expanded the body to include the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association.

“The composition of this Committee is basically the same as that of the 17 th National Sports Festival “Garden City Games 2011, the success of that Festival was the result of the collective efforts of the various stakeholders who worked tirelessly to deliver the Games and therefore wish to appeal to the LOC and all other stakeholders for maximum support in our quest to Minister of Sport, continuously improve Bolaji Abdullahi the standard of the Games,” he said.

NFL reads clubs riot act

T

he Nigeria Football League has directed clubs yet to submit their management team lists to do so on or before February 17 or face sanctions.

The acting executive secretary of the NFL, Tunji Babalola that clubs who fail to comply with the directive would be fined N1million.

The NFL board recently directed clubs without properly constituted management boards to do so in line with the statutes governing the Nigerian league.

About 12 clubs are yet to submit the lists of their management teams to the league board.

Meanwhile, clubs and players indicted for various unsporting conducts by the league’s organising and disciplinary committee have been issued final warnings to behave right or risk more severe sanctions.

The affected clubs and players are, however, reminded to pay up their various fines without further delay in their own interest.

Stephen Keshi

I’m not Zambia coach, says Keshi

T

he head coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi has said he does not want to be compared with his Zambian counterpart, Herve Renard.

Renard led the Chipolopolo of Zambia to their first Africa Cup of Nations title, and Keshi does want to be put in direct comparison with the Frenchman or his achievement. “No, I’m Stephen Keshi, I’m no Herve Renard,” began Keshi “Zambia’s achievement is big and I must say it comes on the back of a lot of planning and hard work by that country as well as patience from their fans.

“That (Zambian) team has been together for about three to four years. We are in the process of building here and it will be out of place to start comparing myself or this team to Zambia or their coach,” he noted.

Keshi, 50, also pointed out that Nigeria have a penchant of producing talents which has led to having a huge base of players in Europe and other parts of the world. He added that the Zambians, unlike Nigeria, relied on their best men on the continent to win their first African title against all odds. “For Nigeria, it’s a different ball game because you have a large pool of players to pick from within and outside of the country. The 1994 team, which I was part of, became a hit because it was built over a period of four to five years. Honestly, we can no longer succeed through shortcuts, as we need a longterm plan to build a formidable team for this nation.

“When you compare the number of players abroad between Nigeria and Zambia you will realize the huge disparity between both. Zambia decided to stick to a plan by bringing together their best players on the continent and it paid off in the long run.

“Seriously if we need to achieve something as a team and a nation we will have to approach it on the long-term and definitely it will pay off. Look at the Ivoriens and the Ghanaians, they are regarded as the best on the continent before Zambia’s achievement because they built over a period of time and their fans showed a lot of patience during those periods,” he said.

But the former Mali and Togo manager rounded off that the results of his team’s friendly matches should not be used as yardsticks to judge the side.

“No team will go into a match, be it a friendly or competitive match, with the intention to lose. At the same time, it is called friendly matches because we want to use them to prepare the team in this process of building and at the same time look at as many players at our disposal as possible,” Keshi said.

Nigeria face Liberia in an international friendly on Wednesday at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia with a team made up of players from the country’s top flight. It will be Keshi’s third international friendly since he took charge of the Super Eagles as head coach last year.

he Nigeria Premier League (NPL) champions, Dolphins will fine their attacking midfielder, Abduljeleel Ajagun for un-ruling behavior.

Ajagun, 19, will forfeit a month’s salary at Dolphins for being absent without leave for three weeks this season.

The former Nigeria Under17 and Under20 player will not be paid his January salary which is believed to be around N80,000 (about $500) as a fine for his truancy for the period of three weeks.

Ajagun returned to Port Harcourt last week from attending trials in Norway and trained with the Dolphins’ squad.

The teenager made the starting line-up against Akwa United in Sunday’s 2-1 and scored the opening goal.

But the attacking midfielder’s straight inclusion into the squad by troubled head coach, Stanley E g u m a infuriated some of his teammates who did not hesitate to raise eyebrows.

It was however the displeasure of some players that led to the head coach slamming a fine of a month’s salary deduction from Ajagun.

Dolphins are currently top of the NPL standings after seven games with 15 points Abduljeleel Ajagun two more than second place Gombe United.

NFF satisfied with Falconets training ... Lines up friendly

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has so far expressed satisfaction with the training of the U-20 women national team.

NFF Chief Technical Officer, Siji Olagunju who has been watching the team’s training session since they reported to camp on January 16, extolled the players for responding to instructions.

“The federation is very encouraged with the way the girls have conducting themselves particularly in training. We want them to keep it up,” he said.

The U-20 team otherwise known as the Super Falconets would have traveled this week to Sierra Leone for the first leg, first round FIFA U-20 Women World Cup qualifier billed on Saturday, February 18.

But the trip had to be cancelled a fortnight ago following the withdrawal of their opponents.

However, friendly matches have been lined up to keep the team busy.

The team which is handled by Edwin Okon will play an Abuja based U-15 boys side yesterday evening and today will confront the U-17 women national team.

Both matches are scheduled for the artificial pitch of the FIFA Goal Project Centre inside the Abuja National Stadium.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Chipolopolo receives Zambia face Ghana, $59,000 as cash bonus Sudan again

T

he Zambian government has given $59,000 to each player in the national side which won the country’s first Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday, the sports minister said yesterday.

The government has given each one of you $59 000, and that is beside what the corporate organisations might decide to give. The award is a princely sum in a nation where, per capita, the gross domestic product is less than $1 500.

Zambia defeated hot favourites Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties after 120 goalless minutes in Sunday’s final, which had emotional overtones for Zambia.

The final was staged in the Gabonese capital Libreville, off whose coast a military aircraft carrying the 1993 Zambian national squad plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 30 players, officials and crew on board.

The victorious national team returned home on Monday, sparking a near stampede at the Lusaka show grounds where 200000 people gathered to celebrate the Chipolopolo Boys (Copper Bullets).

Players and government officials had to be whisked away amid chaotic scenes after fans became unruly.

But the win was also greeted with sombre prayers at the burial site of the 1993 squad, where President Michael Sata is expected to lay a wreath later Tuesday to honour the team whose spirits are widely credited with ensuring Christopher Kotongo Zambia’s victory.

F

airytale Africa Cup of Nations champions Zambia will return to competitive action in June with 2014 World Cup qualifiers against recent rivals Sudan and Ghana.

The Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) defeated the Sudanese Jediane Falcons and the Ghanaian Black Stars in the knockout stages of the African tournament this month before a shootout triumph over favourites Ivory Coast in the final.

The pre-tournament favourites, a Zambian team coached by Frenchman Herve Renard and containing just one player with a European first division club won four matches and drew two for a first title.

Stoppila Sunzu, Captain Christopher Katongo and James Chamanga scored in a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan while Kennedy Mweene saved a Asamoah Gyan spot kick before Emmanuel Mayuka snatched the late semifinal winner against Ghana.

Zambia, Sudan and Ghana are in Group D with little Lesotho and only the winners of the six-round mini-league advance to the final qualifying phase for the global football showcase in Brazil.

It looks the toughest of the 10 groups with Zambia and Sudan trying to reach the finals for the first time and Ghana for the third consecutive time after a first round departure in 2006 and a quarterfinals exit two years ago.

The African champions are assured of a hot reception in Khartoum early June with temperatures often topping 40 degrees centigrade, and a comment

by Renard that Sudan play sleepinducing football can only spice up the occasion.

Zambia came closest to reaching the World Cup 19 years ago when they travelled to Morocco needing a draw but lost narrowly with a team hastily built after a crash off the Gabonese coast killed most of the national stars.

United “not far away” from Barca – Ferguson

S

ir Alex Ferguson still insists his team is not far away” from the quality of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

United have reached the final of Europe’s flagship competition three times in the past four seasons but surprisingly went out at the group stage this term after two damaging results a draw and a defeat against Swiss side Basel.

However, Ferguson is convinced that were merely a blip and his side can soon get back to the level of the top European sides.

“I feel we had the ability to go all the way to the final,” Ferguson told FIFA.com. “Luck wasn’t on our side, but I think we’ve got the ambition to compete with Barcelona and Real Madrid, and I don’t feel we’re that far away from them.

I’m sure we’ll show that soon.’’

Although United have suffered in Europe this season, the Premier League champions are just two points behind leaders Manchester City domestically and temporarily topped the table after beating Liverpool on Saturday.

Ferguson is determined to push neighbours City all the way to the title this season to help compensate for being dumped out of the Champions League, despite having to do so without key members of his squad.

“We’ve had our ups and downs and we’ve been unlucky with injuries. We’ve had a lot of them, which you don’t expect, and we’ve got people like Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher out for the whole season,” Ferguson said.

“You can replace your best players for a game or two, but you really notice the difference over a longer period, and that’s what’s happened to us.

“Even so, we’re fighting hard to win the Premiership again and there’s a lot of merit in that. Obviously I’m optimistic about our chances.’’

United have a high-profile fixture against Ajax at the Amsterdam ArenA on Thursday to kick-off their Europa League campaign and Ferguson has said he will play his strongest team.

Gunners nothing to fear, says Boateng

A

rsenal often looks clueless because they lack experience in their squad, according to AC Milan attacker Kevin Prince Boateng, who had a spell with Tottenham Hotspur.

The Gunners face AC Milan in the Champions League last-16 tie today, with the first leg taking place at the San Siro. And

Kevin Prince Boateng

ahead of that clash, Boateng has cranked up the heat on Arsenal, who may need to win the competition in order to compete in it again next season.

Arsene Wenger’s men have been nowhere near the title picture in the current campaign and, although they currently lie fourth, their form has been inconsistent: three losses in their last five Premier League fixtures.

The problem with Arsenal is one day they play amazing football and then they play really badly. In the end they don’t have balance. They either play unbelievable football or they don’t know what they’re doing.

“It comes down to inexperience. Arsenal doesn’t know what you have to do to win titles they’re always close but they break down. The players are young, hungry, but don’t know how to break this target. Without the experience it’s difficult. “There’s always something missing at Arsenal. That bit is the experience - we have so much of that at Milan and that is what they need.”

Andre Villas-Boas

Cole injury blow for Chelsea C

helsea defender Ashley Cole could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a calf injury, but skipper John Terry is in line to return for Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie with Birmingham.

Left-back Cole hobbled off late in the second half of Chelsea’s disappointing 2-0 defeat at Everton on Saturday, and under-fire manager Andre VillasBoas admits the England international could be missing for some time.

There was better news for Chelsea, after skipper Terry rejoined training following a knee problem, with the 31-year-old in contention to make his first appearance since being stripped of the England captaincy for a second time.

Chelsea said on their website: “John Terry took part in today’s training session for the first 30 minutes and then continued work in the gym. He’ll be looking to increase his workload on a daily basis.”

Terry has not featured for Chelsea since the 1-0 FA Cup fourth round win at QPR on January 28, having originally injured his knee in the third round against Portsmouth on January 8.

Chelsea’s defence looked decidedly shaky at Goodison park last weekend and the return of captain Terry would provide a huge boost for the Blues, who are 17 points adrift of Premier League leaders Manchester City.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

B

ritain will travel to Sweden in April’s World Group II play-offs after missing out on a home draw.

Captain Judy Murray led the team of Elena Baltacha, Anne Keothavong, Heather Watson and Laura Robson through Euro/Africa Zone Group I two weeks ago.

Their reward is a trip to Sweden, seeded third of the four possible opponents for Britain, on 21-22 April.

The winners will earn promotion into World Group II - the second tier of the Fed Cup. Sweden have two top-100 players in Johanna Larsson (62) and Sofia Arvidsson (74), but no-one else inside the world’s top 500, while Baltacha (61) and Keothavong (89) are top-100 players, with Watson (109) and Robson (120) close behind.

In five previous meetings between the nations, Britain lead 3-2 overall, but Sweden have won on the last two

PAGE 43

Britain against Sweden in play-off occasions in 2007 and 2001.

Britain’s women last played a home tie in 1993, when the team of Clare Wood, Julie Salmon, Monique Javer and Amanda Grunfeld defeated Turkey 3-0 in Nottingham.

For the last eight years they have competed in the gruelling Euro/Africa Zone Group I - a 15-team event played in a single location over four days with only two qualifying spots.

Victories over Portugal, Netherlands, hosts Israel and Austria in Eilat earlier this month gave Murray the perfect start to her Fed Cup captaincy.

Speaking afterwards, she told BBC Sport: “There are obviously some that we would rather play than others. I hope we get a home tie but I won’t be too worried about the draw.”

Judy Murray

Cook starts Ospreys expects good result without coach on good note O

E

ngland captain Alastair Cook was delighted to put a “frustrating” Test series whitewash to Pakistan behind them with a 130-run win in the first one-day international in Abu Dhabi.

Cook led the way with 137, while there were also good performances from Ravi Bopara (50) and Steven Finn (434).

The way Ravi played, coming in after we lost two quick wickets, was a good knock. He took the pressure off me and I just batted as long as I could.

Despite their Test series tormentorin-chief Saeed Ajmal taking 5-43, England managed to post 260-7 thanks in main to a third-wicket partnership of 131 between Essex duo Cook, who won the man-of-the-match award for his third one-day century, and Bopara.

And, once Finn ripped out Pakistan’s top four inside nine overs with a devastating new ball spell, the tourists were always on course for victory.

It put the smiles back on England faces, after they were humiliated in the five-day format - losing all three matches by heavy margins.

Asked what had made the difference after such a disappointing showing in the Tests, Cook said: “I don’t know. It’s a different format. The pressure of men around the bat is gone.

Pakistan captain Misbah Ul-Haq laid the blame for defeat at the feet of his batsmen, who failed to deal with England’s seam attack before spinner Samit Patel (3-26) finished the job.

Alastair Cook

spreys already have to plan for a future without director of coaching Scott Johnson who is joining Scotland at the end of the season.

Holley was assistant to former Ospreys boss Lyn Jones when the region was formed in 2003. Ospreys have not commented on the increasing speculation about Holley’s future.

Holley, who has two and a half years to run on his contract, did not rule out bidding to succeed Johnson, whose departure for a senior assistant coaching role with Scotland was announced in December.

At the time, Ospreys chief operating

officer Andrew Hore said the Ospreys would consider seeking a direct replacement or appointing from within.

Holley took charge of Ospreys with exWales captain Jonathan Humphreys as his assistant for the 2008-09 seasons, in the wake of Jones’ exit from the Ospreys in May 2008.

Sean Holley and Scott Johnson celebrate Magners League success in 2010. Humphreys has continued to oversee the Ospreys forwards alongside Holley and Johnson.

In 2009-10, the three-man partnership took the team to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals where

they lost 29-28 to Biarritz.

That disappointment spurred them on to a Magners League-winning effort with victory in the competition’s inaugural play-off final against Leinster in Dublin .

However, hopes that the Ospreys could move beyond the Heineken Cup quarter-finals were not realised in subsequent seasons. The Swansea-based region did not reach the 2010-11 knockout stages and a 36-5 defeat by Biarritz in this season’s final Pool Five clash ended their hopes, after they had also twice lost to Saracens and drawn at Treviso.

Chisora chasing eighthround win over Klitschko B

ritain’s Dereck Chisora has reiterated that he plans to knock Vitali Klitschko out in the eighth round and claim the Ukrainian’s WBC heavyweight crown.

The Zimbabwe-born fighter takes on his 40-year-old Ukrainian opponent in Frankfurt on Saturday.

Chisora, 28, is widely regarded as the underdog in the WBC heavyweight championship fight, but he is promising to silence his doubters.

“I will end the Klitschko reign and cause a massive upset,” he pledged.

Klitschko is yet to be knocked down in any professional fight, or lose on points but Chisora, who stands six inches shorter than his opponent at 6ft, professes to be undaunted.

“Vitali has been around a long time. He’s the king of the sport but it is time someone came in who is young and fresh,” said Chisora.

“It is the end for Vitali, I promise you. I will end the Klitschko reign and cause a massive upset in my magic eighth round. It will be felt around the world.

“A lot of people have tried to do it but they do not have the swagger and the passion to go in there and do the business. I have got it.”

Dereck Chisora

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Football has changed enormously – Ferguson S

The most successful British manager of all time, Ferguson has accumulated a scarcely believable 48 trophies, including two UEFA C h a m p i o n s League crowns, 12 Premier League titles and five FA Cups. In this, the second part of an exclusive interview with FIFA.com, the 70-year-old Glaswegian touches on issues including the biggest changes in the game and the most memorable moment of his glittering career.

Ferguson

ir Alex, you’ve been at Manchester United for 25 years now, which makes you the club’s longest-serving manager.

What’s been the key to your success?

It has a lot to do with the club. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a more long-term view and change direction towards where I think it should go. I can plan two or three years ahead, which is something that happens hardly anywhere else. This is a results industry and if a manager loses four or five games in a row then his job is under threat.

But at United that scenario simply isn’t possible. I’m in charge of all footballing matters, including our scouting network and youth teams.

In that sense I’m very fortunate, because I can make quick decisions on who to bring in next to strengthen the squad and where to get them from.

A few years ago United’s success was based around players brought through the club’s youth system, whereas nowadays few make that leap. What has changed?

It has to do with a change in the legislation. A few years ago the requirement was brought in that you could only sign young players that lived within an hour-and-a-half radius of the club’s headquarters.

It wasn’t like that before, which was how we were able to sign such fantastic young lads. But since it became physically impossible to find six or seven players a year so close by, we decided to change the priorities of our scouting system. As a result, we started to bring in very talented players from abroad and we’ve had success that way. But it’s true, in terms of developing players from within the club; it’s been a long time since we produced a player of David Beckham’s calibre. But the legislation changed again a short while back and it’ll be like it was 15 year ago once more, so I’m very optimistic we’ll be able to get the production line we had in the past going again.

What part do you play in signing players from abroad?

Let me use Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez as an example. Our chief scout had a contact in Mexico who mentioned the lad’s name, which was the first step. He got hold of some videos of Chivas’ matches and showed me them. When we watched them we thought, “This lad’s got promise”, but you can’t decide to sign someone just by watching them on a screen. So I sent my chief scout over to Mexico for a month, with a view to seeing what the player was like on and off the pitch. And that’s how we discovered that his father and his grandfather had both played at World Cups and that the lad was on the verge of national-team selection. After all that, it was a pretty easy decision. We carried out all the necessary steps and managed to sign him before South Africa 2010, which was important as his value would have increased afterwards.

How much do you think football has changed over the time you’ve spent in the game?

Enormously to begin with, when I first started out in management 37 years ago there were no agents. Imagine that! There was no freedom of contract either, so players were totally tied to their clubs. A change in that sense was inevitable, though I think that now the scales tipped completely in the other direction and I’m not sure it’s good for the game. Of course the way the media works has changed too, there’s a lot of pressure on journalists to publish huge news stories not just about sport but about everything – and that’s had an impact on us, no doubt about it.

And how about the players and what happens out on the pitch?

In that sense, I think the biggest change over the last decade has been the improvement in playing surfaces. They’re fantastic now and, given the technological advances in that area, playing on a poor pitch has become very unusual. And the other big change has been in sports science, which has progressed at an astonishing rate. For example, when I started out at Manchester United my entire coaching staff consisted of just eight people, and that included my assistant coaches, fitness trainers and scouts. Now I’ve got ten sport scientists! It’s a radical change.

Do you think that the pace of the game has become quicker as a result?

That’s inevitable, as progress and increased speed go hand-in-hand.

Cars are faster now, trains are faster, everyday life moves faster, and players in other sports are also quicker now. And well, given all that speed, it’s only logical that the pace of the game of football also increases. That’s also meant an equivalent

increase in the risk of serious injuries. For example, 30 years ago we’d never see cruciate knee ligament injuries and now they’re very common.

If you could pick just one moment from your long and illustrious career, what would it be?

Winning that Champions League final against Bayern Munich in Barcelona [in 1999], no doubt about it. It was a feat I’d never achieved before personally and the last time the club had done it was in 1968, so it really was long overdue. Nor must we forget, of course, that it was a brilliant game!

Finally, having already changed your mind once about retirement, how long do you see yourself continuing in the game?

My philosophy is that, for as long as I’m enjoying my job and I’m in good health, I’m going to carry on here. I don’t think you can set yourself limits, but nor can you plan too far ahead because you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. The time will come (for me to retire), obviously, but right now it’s not something I’m thinking about.

FIFA extends worldwide sanction to 26 football participants

T

he prevalence of matchfixing around the globe means that currently there are up to 50 active national investigations. In accordance with article 136 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, in the case of serious infringements, including unlawfully influencing match results, member associations, confederations and other organising sports bodies are obligated to contact FIFA to request the extension of the sanctions they have imposed, so as to have a worldwide effect.

In accordance with article 78 paragraph 1(c) and article 136ff of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, upon request of the respective associations, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Marcel Mathier (Switzerland), has decided to extend the sanctions worldwide, based on the content of current decisions of two member associations. (Article 140 paragraph 2).

Turkey Since the conclusion of last season’s championship, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has opened a vast investigation into alleged match-fixing and betting on matches played in the Turkish national championship. These cases are currently pending in front of the TFF’s Disciplinary Committee.

Furthermore, following the ‘Bochum case’, the TFF’s Disciplinary Committee and Appeal Committee found numerous individuals, including amateur and

FIFA president , Sepp Blatter

professional players, coaches, club and match officials guilty, imposing a range of sanctions from a one-year suspension to a lifetime ban.

At present, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has already extended to have worldwide effect 24 sanctions for match-fixing and betting as follows: six lifetime bans; four bans of three years; two bans of two-and-a-half years; six bans of two years; and six further bans of one year.

Finland FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, also at present, has extended two sanctions imposed by the Football Association of Finland (FAF) to have worldwide effect. The FAF undertook an important investigation into match-fixing and imposed numerous sanctions on players and officials. The FAF suspended two players from all national football activities for two years as of 6 April 2011, on 31 January 2012.

Following the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke today said: “FIFA’s commitment to tackling match-fixing is unwavering. The decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee demonstrate our determination to protect the foundation of sport and fair play, showing zero tolerance to those who do not share FIFA’s ethos.

We hope these decisions send a clear message around the world. If you do not play by the rules, you will be punished.”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012

PAGE 45

g

e

f

Pictorial Pix a: Zambia brought proceedings at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, with a dramatic penalty shootout climax to an exciting and eventful tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Pix b: England captain, Alastair Cook, is pleased to get over a “frustrating” Test series whitewash with a 130-run one-day international over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

Pix c: Ollie Williams meets cycling world champion Mark Cavendish in the Qatari desert.

Pix d: Chelsea defender Ashley Cole could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a calf injury, but skipper John Terry is in line to return for Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie with Birmingham.

Pix e: Britain will travel to Sweden in April’s Fed Cup World Group II play-offs after missing out on a home draw.

Pix f: Britain’s Dereck Chisora reiterates that he plans to knock Vitali Klitschko out in the eighth round and claim the Ukrainian’s WBC heavyweight crown.

Pix g: Wales understands that Ospreys are to Part Company with head coach Sean Holley.

c

d

b

a

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse — Anne-Sophie Swetchine

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Scholes retired too early, says Giggs

I

M

anchester United player Ryan Giggs has insisted he won't make the same mistake as teammate Paul Scholes by retiring too soon.

Scholes quit after helping United win a record 19th English title last season and started to coach the reserve side at Old Trafford. However, he has shown he still has what it takes after being summoned back into first-team action by Sir Alex Ferguson in January to help ease United's injury crisis in midfield.

Giggs though recently signed a one-year contract extension and the 38-year-old, who has only ever played professionally for United, is set to take part in a 22nd season at Old Trafford, having made his debut in 1991 Since midfielder Giggs has scored 162 goals and won 12 Premier League titles, two UEFA Champions Leagues, four FA Cups and three League Cups.

The player set to make 900 appearances for United when they play Ajax in the UEFA Europa League tomorrow.

"He (Scholes) was missing it and it's no secret that I, Gary (Neville) and a few other people felt that he had finished too early, but who were we to know?

We wanted him to carry on but he'd made his decision quite early and it was probably too early, which I think he accepts now. Who knows? Maybe he'll carry on next year," the former Wales international added.

Giggs said switching to central midfield after starting out as a left winger had helped prolong his career.

Ryan Giggs

ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

Listen, is anyone paying attention to Rochas?

0803 0805 0803 0805 0803

t is a joy to write about the rare positive contributions of our politicians at a time when there is a dearth of good examples.

Indeed if the current deplorable security challenge in the country has thrown up any surprises, it is surely the political aptitude and correctness of the new Imo state Governor, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha.

Nigeria’s current leaders are not showing any risk-taking attitude or innovativeness in the approach to the violence racking the land, forcing men, women and children to pack up their belongings to return to the North from the South and vice-versa. It is refreshing that Rochas Okorocha has picked up the nation-building role long abandoned by the other leaders. The Imo Governor has picked up the proverbial olive branch criss-crossing the troubled Northern states doing two things.

One, he has been taking a message of Igbo/South-east solidarity to the governors and the people of particularly the North-east and the North-west over the unwanted situation of being hosts to Boko Haram violence in which they have found themselves. Two, he has taken the message of hope to Igbo kinsmen who, as it is known, are the most widely distributed settlers in the federation. It is common knowledge that they are found in nearly every village and hamlet and are accepted in several Northern communities as agents of modernization.

Of course, in some of the communities, their sale of alcoholic beverages and such stuff is a vexing problem. Rochas has been telling them to stay put where they are but be mindful of their security. The song of the divisive elements, on the other hand, is to go into the gutter with the Boko Haram by asking the Igbo in the North to “come home, Nigeria will divide; this is what the pre-civil war period just looked like”.

There is nothing here to suggest that this individual nation-building and pacifist effort is a game changer. It is just that the prime mover of this innovative idea needs to be given every encouragement because this effort at bridge-building is what the country needs at this time. Given encouragement, Rochas’ effort could presage winds

311 689 606 327 454

7458 1765 3308 1969 0344

MUSINGS By

Garba Shehu garshehu@yahoo.co.in

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of change blowing over Nigeria.

Those who remember our early politicians say this is the way the late Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan Sokoto, the leader of the North; Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the leader of the West and the leader of the East, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe used to conduct themselves at early signs of national crises. They took off early to visit trouble spots to douse the tension wherever it was found for the nation to continue in peace.

For Rochas Okorocha, few people who are familiar with his cosmopolitan background will be surprised that he has engaged himself in this effort. Although an Easterner by his native origin, Rochas grew up in the North. Jos

is still his home, a city in which he achieved wealth and fame. His Hausa is as impeccable as his Igbo.

He has in addition, lived and traded in the West and the East.

His emergence as a major political player, not only in the South-East but in the larger arena of national politics is significant in more ways than one.

Rochas has a profound historical attachment to the country’s poor through philanthropy and to many who know, what he is doing today is only an extension of what he had been doing before he became a governor. He has achieved fame for assisting charitable causes across the land and promoted education as the basis of empowering the poor. He has built schools, offering free education in many cities, including my own town, Kano. This school in Kano has become a metaphor for education without tears.

Since he became governor, he has held himself up as the nation’s apostle of non-violence. In the general ambience for change engendered by his defeat of the incumbent to assume the seat of governor, Rochas has been doing a good job so far. He met an overbloated expenditure of N6.5 billion

“

No doubt, Governor Rochas is an incurable optimist, who despite the current challenges to our unity brought on by Boko Haram, remains faithful to the unity of Nigeria. The bottom-line of his exhortation is that we should not succumb to fear and let our unity go up in flames because of the current challenges of security. His message of peace and unity is a significant inspiration to millions who believe in the resilience and viability of Nigeria, despite temporary challenges of security

his predecessor spent as security vote. He reduced this to a bare N2.5 billion and ploughed the N4b billion saving into education.

Even at the risk of sounding pedantic, it is difficult to ignore Rochas’ education policy of free primary and secondary education complemented by a lunch allowance for the students; massive on-going rehabilitation of schools in the 27 council areas and the return of mission schools to religious organizations.

Rochas is also doing many road and other infrastructural projects including a first-ever bye-pass in Owerri to decongest the city centre. Imolites must be held spellbound by Rochas’ magic reality, and the enormous PR the new governor is doing for their state – a PR far more effective than the tonnes of advertising newsprint his predecessor bought with little or no effect at all for the state and its highly educated people.

Governor Rochas has resuscitated the abandoned Ceramics Tiles Industry in Ehime – Mbano Local Government Area initiated by late Gov. Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe.

It is instructive that Rochas, unlike the average Nigerian politician left the project where Mbakwe originally sited it, which coincidentally is the home town of his political opponent, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, who never paid attention to the project throughout his four - year tenure.

If these heartening processes of change continue, the decaying political culture of Imo and that of the country as a whole, long stigmatized for its backwardness, corruption and greed could be in for a makeover.

As a reporter and a Nigerian citizen, I feel immensely proud about a new generation of leaders who are conscious about the flaws in the country and are doing their part to clear the rot. No doubt, Governor Rochas is an incurable optimist, who despite the current challenges to our unity brought on by Boko Haram, remains faithful to the unity of Nigeria. The bottom-line of his exhortation is that we should not succumb to fear and let our unity go up in flames because of the current challenges of security. His message of peace and unity is a significant inspiration to millions who believe in the resilience and viability of Nigeria, despite temporary challenges of security.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com ISSN: 2141– 6141