Peoples Daily Newspaper, Monday 11, March, 2013

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

VOL. 3 NO. 31

SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

. . . putting the people first

JIMADAL ULA 4, 1434 AH

N150

Boko Haram: How my peace initiative started — Barr. Aisha COVER

North: Collapsing economy, precarious future>> Pages 9,10,&11 WEEKEND.PEOPLESDAILYNG.COM

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

News Bauchi MPs certificate forgery case adjourned to March From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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h e alleged case of certificate forgery against Hon Yakubu Mohammed, a member representing Bauchi constituency at the Bauchi State House of Assembly (BAHA) has been adjourned to March 25.

The presiding Chief Magistrate Court (8), Aminu Illelah adjourned the case for mentioning on the ground that the accused person was absent in court and ordered the accused to appear in person on the next sitting.

Counsel to the plaintiff, B. A Oyafeso want the court to disqualify the defendant as a member of the state House of Assembly following the alleged certificate forgery and should appear in court in person because it was a criminal and not a civil case.

Counsel to the defendant, D M Abejem said his client could not appear in court because of official engagement that took him away to Abuja.

It would be recalled that the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central in the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed, who was sworn in last year after winning his case at the electoion tribunal has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrates' Court IVsitting in Bauchi for allegedly forging his primary school certificate.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator was dragged to the court by the former member of the state Assembly, Alhaji Abdulkarim Mai Angale, of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) who accused him of presenting a forged certificate in the last general election.

Dangaladiman Zazzau is dead

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he Dangaladiman Zazzau, Alhaji Umaru Idris is dead.

He died yesterday night after a brief illness.

Dangaladima, who is an elder brother of the Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Dr Shehu Idris, according to a palace source died at the Multi Clinic in Kaduna. Though details of his death were sketchy as at the time of filing this report, a family source said he would be buried at 10am today.

L-R: Assistant General Secretary of NLC, Comrade Salihu Mohammed Lukman, Former NANS President, Barrister Abdul Aminu Abdul, and Former Chairman, Gwale Local Government Area of Kano, Hon. Kawu Idris Hausawa, during a press briefing by Concern Civil Society Group on lingering Crises over APC, on Friday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Gunmen attack police outpost, bank, kills eight From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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n k n o w n gunmen on Monday night launched multiple attacks in Gwoza local government area of Borno state, killing eight persons.

This came less than 24 hours after a similar incident in which operatives of the Joint Military Task Force, (JTF) repelled an attack on a military barrack, killing 20 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.

Spokesman for the JTF, LtCol. Sagir Musa and the state police command declined comments on the incident.

However residents said over 20 gunmen had reportedly

attacked a Divisional Police Headquarters and a new generation bank in the town, killing a policeman and seven civilians.

The incident was said to have occurred at about 8pm, when the gunmen stormed the town, firing sporadically into the police station and engaged the policemen on duty in a gun duel, killing an inspector on the spot and overpowered others.

It was also learnt that after chasing away the security personnel, the gunmen bombed the police station.

Sources in the town told newsmen that young men, armed with sophisticated

weapons and improvised explosive devices, (IEDs) invaded the town.

The attackers reportedly crept into the town through the famous Gwoza hills and avoided security check points mounted on all the roads leading to the police station.

The seven civilians were said to have been killed by stray bullets, after being caught in the cross fire, leaving several others wounded.

After destroying the police outpost, the gunmen proceeded to a nearby new generation bank and carted away unspecified amount of money, before setting it on fire.

Gwoza, which is located along Nigeria-Cameroon border is about 135 kilometers away from Maiduguri, the capital city.

Residents of the town said they were forced to scamper for safety due to horrifying sounds of multiple explosions and gunshots.

Reports from the area indicated that the attacks have scuttled socio-economic activities as residents stayed indoors, while schools, markets and shops remained closed.

Similarly, hundreds of heavily armed soldiers and riot policemen have taken over the town, patrolling various streets.

Obasanjo, Oyinlola, Oni, Akala shun Tukur's reconciliation meeting From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yrsterday shunned the South West Townhall meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party called by its National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur.

Also, the embattled National Secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the erstwhile Zonal Chairman, Chief Segun Oni, Former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo AlaoAkala, the Minister of State FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide along

with other feuding member failed to attend the reconciliation meeting of the party.

The National chairman of the party who stormed Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State had earlier paid homeage to Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odugade in his palace.

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur urged the waring factions in the zone to embrace dialogue for peace in other to move the party forward.

He appealed to the members of the party in the zone to take ownership of the party to hold and rebuild it for future

challenges.

In his words: reconcile yourself by all ratification, south west is a great region in economy, politics and intellect He urged members to ensure it was the last time the South-west would be under the control of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Earlier in his speech, Chief Ishola Filani, Caretaker Chairman, South-West PDP commended the Chairman of the party on his efforts at reconciling the crisis rocking the party in the zone.

"We are happy that you have come to our zone to encourage us and energise us for the onerous task of rebuilding our party in the zone and re-invigorating our capacity to win elections in the years ahead," he said.

Filani said the party was facing serious challenges since it lost control of government in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states.

The leaders of the party in the zone however passed vote of confidence on the leadership of the visiting team led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

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News FG to quote Centenary City on London, Nigeria stock exchanges

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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h e Federal Government has concluded plans to ensure that the stock of the Centenary City being designed as part of the country's centenary celebrations, is quoted on the Nigeria and London Stock Exchanges.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, disclosed this on Thursday night in his welcome address at a dinner President Goodluck Jonathan had with top Nigerian Chief Executive Officers at the State House Banquet Hall.

"It is the desire of the promoters of the city that in the nearest future, the stock of the city would be quoted on the Nigeria and London Stock Exchanges," the SGF said.

He disclosed that the capital call of $100milion for the city had already been over subscribed.

Anyim said while efforts were being made to commission the production of the city's final masterplan, Price Waterhouse Coopers had been appointed financial consultants, adding that during the flag off ceremony , Messrs DDB, Lagos was appointed the official marketer of the centenary activities.

He said the engagement of the Price Waterhouse Coopers and Starting Partners was intended not only to guarantee transparency at every stage of the city development but also to ensure international best practice.

"The entire celebration is planned to be investment driven such that nobody would put in a kobo without getting value for it," he said.

Jonathan in his address said his administration had a lot of faith in private sector partnership.

This, he explained, was responsible for the government decision that all aspects of the centenary celebration should be private sector-driven.

Apart from the Centenary City which he said would provide all the facilities that Nigerians travel out of the country to go an enjoy abroad, unity squares would also arise in all state capitals to add to their beauty.

Saying that the city was designed to be a national asset that will be one of the best in the world, the President said it would be a profitable venture for the private sector to have investment or equity in the city.

Mark to lead FG delegation to inauguration of Pope Francis I

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has approved that Nigeria be represented by a Federal Government delegation headed by the Senate President, Senator David Mark at the formal installation of Pope Francis on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.

Other members of the delegation are the Minister of

Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Prof. Viola Onwuliri and the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama.

The delegation also includes the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa Chapel, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy

Opara.

According to a statement signed by Presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, "in addition to attending the new Pope’s inauguration mass at the Vatican City, the delegation will also convey a congratulatory letter from President Jonathan to Pope Francis who was elected by the College of Cardinals on Wednesday, March 20 to succeed Pope Benedict XVI."

L-R: Wives of state governors, Nasarawa, Hajia Salamatu Al-makura; Kogi, Hajia Halima Wada; Ebonyi, Mrs. Josephine Elechi; Adamawa, Dr. Halima Nyako and Katsina, Hajia Fatima Shema at The 1st Green Women World Congress In Paris on Friday

Erring engineers get COREN’s hammer

By Miriam Humbe

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o u n c i l for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, dropped its sledge hammer on three registered engineers who were found to have been involved in unethical practices saying the judgments will be published in the official gazette of the nation.

COREN President, Engineer Ibikunle Ogunbayo who chaired the six man disciplinary tribunal which sat at the COREN office in Abuja gave judgement in the three cases.

The first defendant, Engr.

Obajimi Kehinde was said to have forged a Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE certificate to procure his COREN registration and the project report with which he used to procure his COREN registration was allegedly fraudulent contravening paragraph 2(f) of the second schedule to the Engineers (Registration) Act Cap E11 2004.

He pleaded for mercy saying it

was his non-diligence that got him into the mess. He was found guilty of gross misconduct which contravenes paragraph 2(f) of the second schedule to the Engineers Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2002.

The Tribunal held that his purported COREN Certificate fraudulently obtained was null and void and suspended him from engineering practice in Nigeria for one calendar year.

Upon serving his sentence, he could however apply for fresh registration after one year from the date of the judgment.

Mr Martins Oladipo Ojo who was alleged to have used a fake National Association of Technologists in Engineering, NATE, certificate to procure his COREN registration, and also plagiarized his project report in 2011 was acquitted of plagiarism for want of evidence.

The Tribunal held that his registration exercise was cancelled and suspended him both from applying for COREN membership

and the practice of Engineering and matters related therewith for two calendar years for infamous conduct and gross negligence. He may however, after serving his suspension, apply afresh to the Council for membership.

Engr Adebayo Bello was alleged to have stamped and sealed a substandard design in respect of the building plan for plot No. 3786 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja, an act which contravenes paragraph 2 (f) of the second schedule to the Engineers (Registration, etc) Act Cap E11 2004 in 2009.

The tribunal held that stamping and sealing a student’s technical drawing without a proper perusal of the document, amounted to gross professional misconduct.

He was thereby suspended from the practice of Engineering and all other matters related therefore for one calendar year from the date of judgment after which he may be re-admitted back to engineering practice.

Lebanese president’s visits Nigeria Monday for improved economic ties, says envoy

By A’isha Biola Raji

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i g e r i a n Ambassador to Lebanon, Oluwole Idowu has said that the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Lebanon will take a new leap next week as Lebanese President; General Michel Suleiman pays a visit to Nigeria.

The Ambassador who is currently in Nigeria in preparation for the visit said in Abuja on Thursday that the visit was meant at improving the already existing economic relationship between the two countries.

“The scheduled two-day state visit, being the first of its kind by any Lebanese president, will go a long way in improving the agelong close business ties between the two nations,” the ambassador said.

According to Ambassador Idowu, records of the Nigerian immigration service in 2008 put the population of Lebanese in Nigeria at 30,000, many of whom are third generation LebaneseNigerians who now hold the Nigerian passport. ‘’The high-powered delegation of the Lebanese top-ranking cabinet ministers and prominent businessmen expected on the entourage of General Suleiman underscores the “high-level’’ diplomatic classification of the visit,’’ said the Nigerian Ambassador in Lebanon.

He said that, for the purpose of this visit, more than 90 Lebanese businessmen, technocrats and financial experts have recently obtained Nigerian visas in Beirut.

Wassim Ibrahim, the Charge d’affaires in the Embassy of Lebanon, Abuja described the visit as crucial to greater economic collaboration between citizens and governments of the two nations.

He said that the Lebanese community in Nigeria was mobilising fully to accord President Suleiman a rousing and befitting welcome in Nigeria from next Monday.

The Chairman of Manimpex Holdings Ltd., Mr. Nasrat Mansour, said that Nigerian and Lebanese flags had been produced in thousands for use by the Lebanese community in Abuja during the visit. Mansour, whose company built the famous magnificent Ilorin Central Mosque about 30 years ago, described the growing bilateral relations between Nigeria and Lebanon as phenomenal.

Sources in the Nigerian Foreign Affairs ministry said that the key areas of engagement during the visit are the agriculture and food manufacturing, air services, security and political collaboration toward Nigeria’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nation’s Security Council.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Photo News

Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide,(2nd Right) Presenting a key of a new Bus to the Director, Greenhorse Academy, Coach Bala Misau while FCT Director of Sports, Mohammed Alim Musa (Right) and Welfarer, Greenhorse Academy, Abuja, Hajia Hafsat Umar (first left) and other members of the team, during the presentation on Friday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

L-R: PDP South West National Vice Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani; National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and House of Reps. Majority Leader, Adeola Akande at the PDP South West Town Hall meeting in Ibadan on Friday

L-R: Director-General Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; NUJ National President Malam Garba Mohammad and NUJ Deputy President, Mr Rotimi Obamuwagun, inspecting NUJ permanent complex as part of activities to mark Founder's Day in Abuja on Friday

L-R: Gov. Murtala Nyako of Adamawa (l), welcoming the GOC 3 Div., Maj-Gen. Ebibona Awala, to Government House,Yola, during his visit on Friday

Vice President Namadi Sambo (right), being received by Gov. Ramalan Yero of Kaduna state, at Kaduna Airport while arriving for maiden convocation of Kaduna State University ceremony on Friday

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Crime Cycle Court jails man nine months for attempting to burn girlfriend alive

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Zuba Grade One Area Court, on Friday sentenced one Chinedu Okafor, of Yimi-Zuba, Abuja, to nine months' imprisonment for attempting to burn his girlfriend alive.

Judge Alhassan Kusherki sentenced Okafor after he pleaded guilty to the five-count charge of criminal trespass, criminal force

and assault, criminal intimidation, attempt to commit an offence and mischief.

Kusherki, who refused to give an option of a fine, said: “the court will not give you an option to pay a fine because it is on record that you were convicted for a similar offence and you were given an option of N40, 000 fine.

“You have proved to the court that you do not know the importance of being a free man and have no respect for the lives of others; and it’s my hope that after serving your jail term, you will cherish what life has to offer you”.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Momoh Ibrahim, told the court that Okafor attempted to cause bodily

harm on his girlfriend, Miss Alice Michael, also of Zuba.

According to the prosecutor, a slight argument ensued between the accused and his girlfriend; and Okafor then turned hostile and beat her up.

The prosecutor said: “Okafor, then brought in petrol in a jerry can and attempted to burn her alive; but for the quick

intervention of some of Alice's neighbours, who subdued him, stopped him from burning her alive”.

He said during police investigation, a litre of petrol and matches were recovered from the accused.

Ibrahim also said the accused resisted arrest and attempted to escape. (NAN)

Robbery scare: Banks reopen 24,376 prostitutes operating in FCT area after 38 days of closure councils —Survey

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c o n o m i c activities in Omu-Aran, Kwara state, received a boost as commercial banks reopened for business on Friday, after 38 days of closure to customers following fears of robbery, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The banks shut their doors to customers 38 days ago following a text message received by a bank manager that a gang of robbers planned to invade banks in the town.

NAN learnt that the banks reopened for business following arrest of robbery suspect at Ayedun, a nearby community.

The suspect was alleged to specialise in terrorising residents through text messages of impending robbery attacks.

Following the reopening of the banks excited residents trooped to the banks as early as 8.30 am for banking services.

The Divisional Police Officer in Omu-Aran, Mr. Razak Adebayo, who confirmed that the suspect had been transferred to the Kwara State Police Command in Ilorin for further investigation, also disclosed that the command had evolved effective strategies to stop further threat to security in the area.

Adebayo also urged the residents to go about their normal businesses and shun any act capable of disrupting the peace in the town.

Reacting to the development, the secretary, Omu-Aran Development Association, Bidemi Olawuyi, commended the police

and management of the banks for reopening to customers as it had eased tension generated by the closure of the banks.

On his part, Emmanuel Ilesanmi, the PHCN Business Manager in Omu-Aran, described the re-opening as a welcome development because it would give opportunity to consumers to pay their bills promptly.

Similarly, a spare-parts dealer, Mr. Ikechukwu Nwosu, who lamented how the closure almost ruined his business, said that he could not lodge money in his bank account at Omu-Aran and pick the money in Lagos while the strike lasted.

NAN reports that most of the banks, located on Aperan Way, had remained.

Police smash car snatching syndicate in Niger

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he Police Command in Niger on Thursday, smashed a three-man car-snatching syndicate, who allegedly specialise in snatching cars between Niger state and Abuja, the Commissioner of Police, Desire Nsirim, has said.

Nsirim who disclosed this to newsmen in Minna, also narrated how the police operatives traced a notorious robber, Abdullahi Musa, to a hotel in Chanchaga area of Minna.

According to the commissioner,

the suspect was arrested with one Toyota Avensis car with registration number, Lagos CF 714KSF at the hotel.

She said that Musa confessed to have snatched the car at gun-point at Kubwa in Abuja.

The police commissioner further explained that further investigation led to the arrest of two other members of the syndicate, Ifeanyi Madu and Sunday Fagbohun.

Furthermore, she said the suspects also confessed to other robbery activities and that one

Berretta pistol was recovered from them, explaining that efforts were being made to recover four vehicles stolen by the suspects.

Nsirim said the police command would hand over the suspects to the Abuja Command for prosecution after investigation.

She however urged members of the public not to hesitate to inform the command about the activities of hoodlums in their locations, saying the police depended on information from members of the public to fight crime. (NAN)

By Josephine Ella Ejeh

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local HIV/AIDS epidemic appraisal conducted by the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Agency for the Control of AIDS (FACA) has indicated that no fewer than 24,376 female commercial sex workers are presently carrying out their illicit business across the six area councils of the FCT. Of the figure, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Gwagwalada Area Council topped the chart with the highest concentration of the female commercial sex workers.

Presenting a report of the appraisal when a team from the World Bank visited the FCT Health and Human Services, the Project Manager, Dr. Uche Okoro disclosed that out of the 24,376 female sex workers identified and captured, the two area councils topped the chart, while Abaji and Kwali area councils have the lowest concentration.

According to him, out of the number, 25 per cent were in night clubs and bars while 30 per cent were in hotels.

He explained that the appraisal which was carried out in 2012, over a period of five months was to help the agency in mapping of most at risk populations (MARPs) and venue profiling so that interventions can be taken directly to them.

Dr Okoro also revealed that out of the over 1000 nongovernmental organisations, civil society organisations and faith based organisations offering HIV/ AIDS services in the territory, none was found to be offering services in Abaji Area Council.

He noted that there are presently 66 HIV testing centres, 45 prevention of mother to child transmission and 20 comprehensive anti-retroviral therapy sites in the territory,adding that last year, 131,036 were tested for HIV and about 56,000 were enrolled for FCT HIV/AIDS services.

Earlier, the country Representative of the World Bank, Marie MarieNelly who led the delegation, said the visit was to understand firsthand what the FCT administration was doing in the area of health, especially in the area of HIV/AIDS, understand the challenges and see how they can support.

On his part, the Secretary of the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Demola Onakomaiya commended the World Bank delegation for the visit.

He noted that such collaborative efforts are required with various stakeholders to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic, pledging the commitment of the FCT administration towards prevention new HIV infections in the territory.

Stakeholders hail passage of bill prohibiting violence

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t a k e h o l d e r s on Friday commended the House of Representatives for passing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Bill.

The stakeholders expressed their satisfaction while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on the development.

Dr. Ejike Oji, the Country Director of IPAS, an NGO, said the development was gladdening as issues of violence, especially against women would be effectively

addressed.

He urged the Senate to concur to enable President Goodluck Jonathan sign the bill into law.

“We commend the House of Representatives for its passage; we are now waiting for the Senate to pass theirs for concurrence; by so doing, it will enable the President assent to it to become law”, he said.

According to him, the bill seeks to eradicate violence in the public and private spheres by providing compensation to victims and the protection of their rights.

He said that the bill would also make it easy for a woman to prove allegations of rape, saying that when proven, the punishment would range between 14 and 16 years imprisonment.

The Women Rights Manager of ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs. Patience Ekeoba, told NAN that the act by members of the House of Representatives showed that they were true representatives of the people.

“By this singular act, they have rekindled hope of the people in the

parliament as the hope of the poor.

“They have also written their names in history, many people will not forget this 7th National Assembly for this act”.

She also appealed to the Senate to follow suit and make a concurrent passage of the bill.

“We call on the Senate chamber to make the necessary concurrent passage of this bill,” Ekeoba said.

Ms Hauwa Shekarau, the national president, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), said all over the world,

attention was being focused on violence against women.

Shekarau said that Nigerians must take a cue and tackle the upsurge of domestic violence.

NAN reports that the VAPP Bill seeks to eliminate violence and punish perpetrators of gender-based violence in Nigeria.

NAN also recalls that FIDA and other NGOs had set up a coalition called Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women with a view to ensuring speedy passage of the bill. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

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Interview We are trying to rescue 12 year old girl who is pregnant, says Osagie Mrs. Bridget Osagie is the founder and coordinator of Bell and Bridge Crystal Foundation, an NGO whose concern is to rescue girls made pregnant as well as embark on enlightenment campaigns in the FCT and Nasarawa states. In this interview with Jamila Nuhu Musa, Stanley Onyekwere and Zainab Kandi, said how they plans to counsel young girls on sex education and dangers of early pregnancy to their education. Excerpts: Tell us about your foundation's activities We have a seminal/ enlightenment tour, to visit secondary schools in the FCT and Nasarawa state, and talk to them on girl child and teenage pregnancy because the rate of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria is spiraling upward and if we don't talk to these children or fight this issue now, it would be a serious problem in future.

So in order for these children to be useful to themselves and the society, we intend to educate and enlighten them accordingly.

Tell us about some of the cases you are handling One of the cases, is on the issue of a girl who is barely 12years old, but who is eight months pregnant, she will be 12 years in September; so you can imagine when she got pregnant, at age 10. When I tried to interrogate her, she was crying and told me there is this uncle that lives in their neighbourhood, whenever she has a problem or there is an issue, it is to the uncle she goes to, and then on this day he started touching her here and there, and it happened.

We want to make provision for these children to have thorough counseling where their self-esteem can be built, their psyche can be worked on and see how we could get them back to school again because when a child is pregnant, she is suspended from school, and this stigma, shame, and the disgrace does not allow the child to go back to school. What happens to the destiny of that child? It is ruined and destroyed; so we want to create an opportunity where the children will be thoroughly counseled when they are pregnant or after delivery, to go back to school and get back their future. We have to make the children understand a new phase of life they are in now and help them to put their future in order. So that is the seminal programme we shall have starting from April 24 to May 3.

Are there cases of teacher-

involvement in child pregnancy?

No I have not had of a case like that, I know we have victims, but the children sometimes are not bold enough to tell you what actually happened. They are so ashamed that they don't want to mention the 'uncle' or the person that is involved in it, but I know we have a lot of victims that are 11, 12 or 13 years as the case may be.

How many victims have you identified so far?

We have about 15 victims.

Were all the victims molested or raped?

No, they are different cases!

Some are not raped, and majority of cases are as a result of ignorance. A lot of them are ignorant not knowing what to do that is why we want to incorporate the sex education thing.

How do you think children should be counseled, educated, on the films they watch and magazines, novels they read which pollute their minds?

At this point, I think it's the duty of parents to watch and observe what their children do.

That's why when we are through with the children, we will go on air and talk to the parents. Over 90% of the job should be done by parents like monitoring what children watch and read. Sex education has to be incorporated in every home, when you have a female child you don't have to wait for the child to turn 20 before you talk to her about sex. When a child is 10 years as a matter of fact, that child is an adult and she should be enlightened on this.

There is the culture of silence where parents find it difficult to talk to their children about sex. How can one deal with this problem?

I understand that a lot of families or cultures have different orientations but we have to rely on what is important for the children. If you say: 'this is a child, she is too little to hear things like this, as little as she is she gets into something bigger than she can

Mrs. Bridget Osagie handle, and gets pregnant. So if she is expected to marry and have sex, she should hear it before time. That's why we have to talk to the parents and before you know it, their ideas about things like that will begin to change.

What is the health situation of the pregnant child, and are her parents involved in this?

According to her, she left home after she discovered she was pregnant. her parents don't know where she is. I was able to talk to her on phone because she called me from a call centre after she heard about my programme. I convinced her that our foundation would help her, take her to the hospital for ante natal, her delivery, as well as rehabilitate her. But she is so afraid, so ashamed.

She has been crying and asking, "what if my mum hears about it"? I am still trying to talk to her. She has not been going to the hospital, no proper care, no good food, and no roof over her head.

She sleeps wherever she thinks is safe. I told her, how do I help you when you are still hiding? There are many of such girls who can't come

out and tell you what their problems are.

How are you going to encourage her to go back to school?

She is not in school and may not be educated unless something is done to help her because when I asked her if she intended to go back to school, she said no! That she can't bear the shame. But this is a new phase in her life and she has to understand the situation she is in. Others too have same perception - a lot of them when they call, they say, 'No I won't go back to school, what will I do in school again? My friends, how will I face them? Teachers are also not helping the situation as they use such girls as an example. You have to work on their psyche because they are emotionally drained. So counseling is the first thing; without it you can't get them to know how to deal with their problems.

How are you going to 'unveil' the 'uncle' who got the girl pregnant in the mentioned case?

Unveiling the 'uncle' is not an easy task. It has to be through the child, we have to be able to make her talk and

reveal who and what actually happened. To her, he is still a good uncle after what he did to her, because this uncle has given her a lot of gifts, made her feel like, whatever your problem is I will solve it for you.

And he did this in her neighbourhood, under the roof of her mother. So we have to be able to make her speak, for now she still sees him as a "good uncle" and since he is a good uncle she will not want to implicate him that is the challenge How do you get funds to run the foundation?

I have written to government agencies for assistance but yet to get any response, still, with the problems on our hands we have to forge ahead; work must go on. We can't leave these girls to their fate.

The most important challenge we face is funding.

We want government agencies to support us financially and partner with us to see how we could make this project a success and impact positively in the lives of these children.

We have to all sit up and make it our assignment, not only that of Bell and Bridge Crystal Foundation.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

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Cover

Boko Haram: How my peace initiative started —Barr. Aisha Wakili

Barrister Aisha Alkali Wakil is a legal practitioner and a staff of North-east zonal office of the National Human Rights Commission office in Maiduguri. Recently, she reached out to members of a factional group of the Boko Haram sect led by Abu Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Aziz, and succeeded in persuading them to dialogue with the Borno state government, before the group consequently declared a ceasefire. In this interview with our Correspondent, Mustapher Isah Kwaru, she disclosed how she prevailed on the slain leader of the sect, late Mohammed Yusuf to shelve planned attacks on security forces in Maiduguri in 2009, and the continued attempts to broker peace in the state. Excerpt.

W

hat motivated you to initiate dialogue between the sect and government, which resulted in the insurgent group declaring ceasefire?

First of all I actually did so for the sake of Almighty Allah alone, because the Islamic religion, which I belong to and believe in, always promotes peace and harmony. I would not see blood of our people being shed unnecessary in Borno, Yobe and other states of the north. I’m not happy with the way children are being orphaned and women being widowed. So that was the major reason why I resolved to do all I could to reach out to

the insurgents, to find a lasting peace.

Many Nigerians wondered how as a woman, you derived the courage and against all odds took the risk to engage in the dialogue drive. How did you do it?

Well, I did it because I’m the type of person who does not like to see people being oppressed or killed unnecessary, for these I can go out of my way to help people as much as I can. Then coming to this particular issue, I reside in Shehuri north Ward, the epicenter of the insurgency and I know majority of the insurgents, so I sat down and made up my mind, that how could I just watch them

continue like that?

Did you have any contact with the members of the sect before now, which made it easier for you to reach out to them for them to consider dialogue?

Well, I started the dialogue process since 2009, even before the major crisis erupted, because I knew their slain spiritual leader, Muhammad Yusuf. His father in-law, late Alhaji Baa Fugu Mohammed was my spiritual father in Islam, and I used to visit his home. In fact, Mohammed Yusuf almost married my younger sister Amina, but Almighty Allah did not make it possible.

So that was how I got closer to the duo, it

went even to the extent that I was cooking food and taking it to the house of late Alhaji Fugu, to the pupils of the Qur’anic school, (almajirai). And because I am from the southern part of the country, I normally prepared southern dishes, which Yusuf had always come to eat, in fact he liked my egusi soup very much and we became very close when his father in-law told him that I was the one who cooked the food. So anytime we met he expressed delight and prayed that Almighty Allah would reward me, for he was eating from my pot and that was how I Contd on Page 9

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‘How my peace initiative started’ Contd from Page 8 established a strong relationship with him.

Though I did not know where he lived at that time, but whenever I visited Fugu’s house I saw many people trooping to the area and they would later gather behind a particular compound, so I asked Fugu who these people were, he replied that they were the followers of his son in-law and that they had come for a preaching session conducted by the late Boko Haram leader. When they finish the preaching and were offering closing prayers, I would sometimes walk across to get the blessings of the prayers.

You said Mohammed Yusuf was known to you even before his group launched the first violent attack in 2009, at that time did you attempt to initiate any dialogue to stem it in the bud?

You see when this thing was about starting in 2009, late Yusuf had been detained severally and sometimes he will be released, so when he came out after one of the detentions, I went to his house to greet him, but his followers refused to allow me access to him, may be because I went there with a police escort. For that I was angry and said I would never go to greet him again, on hearing that, he rushed to his father inlaw and asked him to plead with me that I should forgive him, saying he was not around when I came. I then said there was no problem, so the relationship continued and since then I had been listening to his preaching. But three weeks to this problem, I started hearing rumors that they would launch deadly attacks. So I called him, (Yusuf) to my house and when he came I learnt that Abubakar Shekau and other followers had escorted him, but they stayed outside. When he entered my house he didn’t even look directly at my face, he put his two hands behind him and I said to him, my son I’m hearing something, this rumors I’m hearing, I beg you in the name of Allah, don’t do it. He said that he was betrayed; I said by whom, he said by government, I said can I come into it, he said alright, if you can intervene and settle it, we are ready.

So did you intervene?

I was unable to do so due to the protocol involved in government, especially when it entails meeting governors, you hardly see them unless you booked an appointment.

But I tried all I could to get to the former governor, Ali Modu Sheriff for us to discuss the issue, but wasn’t able to get to him. But I later spoke to late Yusuf’s in-law, telling him that I was not comfortable with these rumors I was hearing but he said there was

“

When he entered my house he didn’t even look directly at my face, he put his two hands behind him and I said to him, my son I’m hearing something, this rumors I’m hearing, I beg you in the name of Allah, don’t do it. He said that he was betrayed; I said by whom, he said by government, I said can I come into it, he said alright, if you can intervene and settle it, we are ready.

nothing he could do, as he was a man of over 70 years and that he had written a letter to the government but he didn’t tell me precisely the content of the said letter. I continued talking to Yusuf and he kept giving me instances of the betrayal as his followers were shot over the use of crash helmet for instance. Then when they carried their dead bodies for burial they shot them again despite the fact that there was an agreement between them, they were betrayed. In fact he had seriously lamented this betrayal as I’m talking to you now I don’t know the betrayal he was referring to and nobody has told me about it up till now. And another issue is, I didn’t know the problem will Contd on Page 10

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‘How my peace initiative started’ Contd from Page 9 degenerate into mayhem like we have seen, otherwise I would have contacted some of the elders in the state so that they can come into the matter with a view to finding a solution to it.

So how were you able to convince some of the members of the group that have accepted to cease fire so far?

As I told you earlier, I live in Shehuri north Ward of Maiduguri metropolis, the epicenter of the insurgency and know quite a number of the insurgents, before they suddenly went into hiding. I started looking for the ones I know but was told that so and so person had fought the war and fled, if I asked where mallam A or B was the answer was that they were on the run because they had engaged in the 2009 battle with security forces. But later I succeeded in getting telephone numbers of some of them and that was how we started the peace talks even before we met physically. That was how I got them, sometimes one person would lead me to another.

How did you succeed in persuading them to attend a meeting physically despite the risk involved?

My brother it was not easy, it was hell, it was horrifying, scary, because when I spoke with one of them, he directed me to come to a particular place, when I reached the location, I found him with an AK 47 rifle and improvised explosive devices, (IEDs). Afterwards he said, “mama, why did you risk your life to come here?, I said because we are killing ourselves and I want to put a stop to the bloodshed. He said “you know I’m not alone”, I replied him that yes, I knew and I said but you can talk to others and that was how the whole thing started. I was able to persuade them to come out from their hide-outs in the forest and show their faces, promising that they will not be harmed or arrested. I was able to do so because I’m fully involved in the dialogue procedure. After succeeding in convincing some of the insurgents to show up as their safety was guaranteed, I was linked with someone and I contacted the Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima who welcomed the development and facilitated several meetings between myself and the insurgents who accepted the dialogue on one hand with the top officials of the state government as well as the Borno Elders Forum, after which the dialogue process was mapped out resulting in the present ceasefire.

When you approached the sect for dialogue, did they give any conditions?

Of course they listed some conditions which indicated the need for absolute confidence from government that they would not be arrested, all their members in detention should be freed, compensation should be paid to the families and relations of all those killed in the violence. Others were, rebuilding of the enclave of their leader and houses of some members destroyed in the conflicts, they should also be empowered to be self-

reliant, and that all those involved in the extra-judicial killing of late Yusuf should be prosecuted.

The ceasefire agreement you brokered with the sect has been disputed by the other faction led by the spiritual leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau as leaflets were circulated within Maiduguri metropolis, purportedly written by Shekau, and denied that such an agreement was reached. Similarly of recent, unknown person who claimed to be Shekau, appeared in video footage posted on the internet, dismissing the issue.

Does this mean that the dialogue initiated or peace agreement was entered with the wrong group?

Well, I like that question, but it should be noted that the leaflets didn’t emanate from Shekau, because he was in support of the truce, in fact he was the one who directed Ibn Abdul-Aziz to represent the sect in the agreement.

Moreover, why did it take long before the purported Shekau deny the ceasefire? You could recall that before the ceasefire was reached, Shekau was always hasty to react on any particular issue that didn’t emanate from him. I also want to dismiss the recent video footage of the person who claimed to be Shekau, because the insurgents’ spiritual leader does not cover his face in all his appearances as that man did. But even with the ceasefire killings and bombings have continued. Actually all these attacks were the handiwork of some faceless enemies of peace and progress of the state.

Whether they are politicians or ordinary citizens, all I know is that there are some individuals who are not at all happy with the ongoing peace process that the state has started enjoying.

President Goodluck Jonathan in his recent visits to Borno and Yobe states rejected calls by eminent Nigerians, urging the Federal Government to grant amnesty to the sect, saying Boko Haram members are ghosts. Do you see this position of the President scuttling the peace process that seems to be gaining ground?

Well, it is quite unfortunate that the president made this statement at a time when dialogue is still going on, Boko Harm is not a faceless group because we have seen them and sat with them. The president’s position will not in any way jeopardize our peace initiative because we are doing it for the benefit of women, children and elderly people who are at the receiving end.

But Mr. President had argued that even the amnesty granted the Niger Delta militants did not work properly as it is bedeviled by some challenges. What is your opinion?

If the President claimed that amnesty did not work in Niger Delta to some extent, and presumed it is not going to work here, then if he knows the strategy or the one that is going to work here, let him present it to us.

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Jonathan visited Maiduguri to intimidate them, not for peace —Tsav R e c e n t l y , President Goodluck Jonathan said government will not grant amnesty to faceless people when he visited Borno state and Yobe, do you agree with him that the insurgents are ghosts?

I wouldn't say that Boko Haram are faceless, you remember they killed their leader. Again the President himself said he had some Boko Haram members in his cabinet. If they are ghost, who does he have in his government? And let me ask this question, people who are arrested and detained by security agents who are they?

People who have been killed by soldiers, who are they? Are they not Boko Haram people?

If he said they are ghosts it means they have been arresting ghosts and keeping them in their custody, they have killed some ghosts.

It means he knows them, as far as I'm concerned he is just talking what he feels like saying. If you said they are ghosts then you have not arrested any of them?, you have not killed any of them?. But we used to hear that Boko Haram people had an encounter with the military and they will say some numbers have been killed and some arms recovered from them. And you are telling me that this people are ghosts?, they are not ghosts.

What about the argument of the government that, the leadership of the Sect is faceless for now?

I'm not speaking for them because I'm not capable of speaking for them, but they are not ghosts. The elders in Borno are championing the cause of this dialogue between them and the government. But the government is not helping matters, what we are saying is that you give them amnesty before you discuss, because if you do not and these people come out for any negotiation they will be arrested. And detained or even killed this is what their leaders are saying grant them amnesty first and they will come and discuss. That was what late Umaru Musa Yar'adua did. He granted the Niger/ Delta militants amnesty they came and laid down their arms. But in this case you are saying no, we should discuss before amnesty.

You just want them to come and arrest them, kill them or detain them and then there will be no amnesty. You see I only hope that the man will be sincere, that is our President.

There is this worldwide notion about terrorism that is not a common practice to discuss with terrorists.

Some Nigerians are saying it is wrong in the first place to discuss with terrorists, what is your take on this?

How do you place the militants in Niger/ Delta region? Are they not terrorists? They were doing exactly what the Boko Haram people are doing? They attacked oil wells killed soldiers and kidnapped people, are they not terrorists? He just wants to give the other one a bad name just to hang it while he is praising the other one. Praising the Niger/ Delta militant that they are fighting for their right, but you don't fight for your right by killing people, kidnapping or by blowing up oil wells.

In your view, what do you think the government should do to end this crisis?

I believe most sincerely that a lot of people are benefiting from this crisis. Who even knows whether the people setting these bombs here and there are not security agents themselves? And that is why a lot of them are opposing dialogue and amnesty because they are benefiting immensely from the crisis. Because it happened during Abacha's time when NADECO were accused of planting bombs in Lagos state, when the life of General Buba Marwa was under threat.

Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, is a retired Police officer and one time Police Commissioner of Lagos state, in this encounter with Edwin Olofu in his residence in Kano, the retired Police officer, who is known for talking tough on issues that relate to security, points fingers at the security agents for fueling Boko Haram crisis for their own selfish interest, and sundry security matters.

Alhaji Abubakar Tsav It was not NADECO, it was the military themselves who were doing this thing in order to deceive Abacha and get money from him, and we could be in the same situation because the government is spending a lot of money in paying allowances of the security men and buying equipment. And people who are benefiting from this wouldn't want the situation to end; they would want it to continue so that they will get money to build houses, send their wives and girlfriends overseas for shopping, so that is my belief.

But unfortunately our government is looking at only one way, they should look at both ways let them check on these allegations and find out who and who are doing what they are doing. I believe what is happening may be sponsored; people may just want to do things to cause confusion and earn money.

After all, government used to vote a lot of money for security, government should investigate who are the people planting some of the bombs.

For instance, soon after President Jonathan left Maiduguri there were many bombs that exploded. Why did these bomb blasts not happen when he was there? It means that the security was not tight because if it were tight they would have flooded the whole city with security men.

And the JTF said they discovered antiaircraft guns, why is it that the Boko Haram people didn't use it when the President was there? If you look at the whole thing critically, you will agree with me that the

security agents are the ones who are doing it in order to make money. Or you look at it from the political perspective because with what is happening in Maiduguri now, during election anybody who comes out to vote will be tagged Boko Haram. But anybody who comes with an umbrella would be allowed to vote, this may be a tactics just to scare away the opposition because Jonathan wants to win election and rule this country by all means.

There is this school of thought that views the whole crisis as targeted to destroy the economy of the north; do you share the same view?

I share this view absolutely; because I have been to some of these places. Here in Kano for instance, commercial activities have been destroyed, people no longer visit here. As early as 4.pm people have gone to their houses, Achaba has been banned, and movement has become extremely difficult for the common man. The economy of these places has been destroyed. Business men have run away, social life has been destroyed.

You see the situation is very bad, and if nothing is done the devastation can be greater than what we can envisage. That is why people are clamoring for amnesty, because if there is amnesty may be this people may not be afraid to come out and discuss.

But one thing President Jonathan has done that I like and quite agree with him is refusing to remove soldiers. Because if you

remove soldiers away from the streets the Police would not be capable of holding these places and anarchy will come to play and the general insecurity will worsen. I support him on that line that the Joint Task Force (JTF) remains until normalcy returns. Even here, you know in the night you can hardly see a uniform police man outside, when a police man is going from point A to B, he prefers to remove his uniform because they themselves are afraid they have become endangered species. I think people who love this country and the north in particular especially our leaders in the north should think about the economy and social life because it has been destroyed. And you see government should not foreclose the issue of amnesty they should grant amnesty to those who have offered to lay down their arms and use those people against the stubborn Boko Haram. But when you say no, that is not good at all.

What do you make out of the visit of President Jonathan to Borno and Yobe after APC governors visited Maiduguri?

He went to Borno to intimidate the people of the state, he didn't go there for peace, didn't you hear him telling the elders that they are playing to the gallery, and they must go and bring out those people that are disturbing them. Are they policemen? Have they got guns? I believe that what is happening in the north is an advantage to the President that is why he wants it to continue. After granting amnesty to the people of Niger/Delta militants they are still agitating. I read from the papers recently that about 200 militants are being sent to study to be pilots. Why can't they do same thing to this our unfortunate brothers who are revolting because the police killed their leader Mohammed Yusuf and nothing happened to these policemen?

President Jonathan granted former governor of Bayelsa state, Alamieyeseigha presidential pardon, with this action do you think the government is sincere in fighting corruption?

The President is not sincere at all; he did that and brought the names of other people with the intention of giving that pardon because the man was his boss. He wants at least to grant him amnesty so that supporters of Alamieyeseigha will support him. Because he wants Alamieyeseigha pardoned he brought other people so that it will not look like a tribal agenda, but the man is a tribal President. Because you say you grant amnesties to people that are dead, what will they gain? The man (Jonathan) is not sincere and he is encouraging corruption. The man and his wife are greedy and encouraging corruption in this country.

But unfortunately we have no leaders that will tell them the truth. Everybody will just close his or her mouth as long as that person is benefiting from him. If Jonathan is sincere he would have granted Al-Mustpher state pardon because he has been in prison for fifteen years, and the allegations against him as far as I'm concerned, are all lies. He didn't physically kill anybody, people only smeared his image and that is all. What has state pardon got to do with people who are dead? They are dead and they are only waiting for God's judgment not Jonathan's pardon.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Feature Amnesty: A tale of two insurgent groups

By A'isha Biola Raji

M

ilitancy and violent regional agitations are not new in Nigeria. It is part of the endemic rot in the Nigerian system. It is also a pointer to just how close the country is to Somalia.

Even though people at the helm of affairs will want us to believe otherwise, the fact that anytime Nigeria manages to get out of a particular crisis, another uglier one surfaces in other parts of the country is something that shows just how much of a failed state Nigeria is having suffered from long years of uninspiring leadership.

At the risk of being labeled a prophet of doom, if the present Boko Haram insurgency is not handled carefully, may be Oodua People's Congress too will bare it's fangs immediately Boko Haram gets out of the limelight.

This is because the agitation for true federalism has been there for a long time but care needs to be taken to avoid it snowballing into a major security c h a l l e n g e i n t he nearest future just like an agitation for resource control was responsible for the militancy in the Niger Delta.

Recently, President Goodluck Jonathan embarked on a historic debut visit to the den of the Boko Haram militants amidst the call for an amnesty to be granted to the militants.

The President however disappointed the agitators for amnesty, insisting that the sect members were ghosts.

According to Jonathan: "You cannot declare amnesty for ghosts. Boko Haram still operates like ghosts. So, you can't talk about amnesty for Boko Haram now until you see the people you are discussing with".

Making a comparison to the amnesty granted to Niger Delta militants, the President said it was possible for former President Umaru Yar'Adua to do it because the militants surfaced and came to see the

President Goodluck Jonathan

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar

President when invited, but that no leader of Boko Haram has made himself visible for talks to hold.

"When you call the Niger Delta militants, they will come; but nobody has agreed that he is a Boko Haram member; no one has come forward. If amnesty can solve the situation, then no problem. But nobody has come forward to make himself visible", said Jonathan.

Typical of Nigerians, while southerners applauded the statement since they never wanted amnesty to be granted to Boko Haram members, the President has come under intense criticism from northerners who now think the Federal Government is being unfair to the region since it is the part of the country that suffers the brunt of Boko Haram activities.

Their contention is that what is good for Niger Delta militants should also be good for Boko Haram members.

While the President's point

is in identifying them.

It is now amazing in the eye of discerning minds that this same set of people are now ghosts that cannot be discussed with.

Some amnesty agitators have also posited that since the militancy in the Niger Delta was solved by Late Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, there is no reason why President Jonathan should not end the Boko Haram menace. So, when the Sultan mentioned the amnesty option, Nigerians were expecting the President to toe that line but he dashed the hopes of many by raising the 'ghost' argument.

What this means is that for now, there is no amnesty for Boko Haram and the problem may persist. Most observers from the north now doubt the sincerity of the President on the amnesty issue. It is even being said in some quarters that Mr President was never interested in the amnesty option for reasons best known to him, he only flew the 'ghost' kite to hoodwink people.

This is coming at a time more and more thousands Niger Deltans are being sent to the best countries abroad for studies and are being paid heavily under the amnesty regime established by Late Yar'Adua.

The President's reluctance to do same for Boko Haram militants is already sending bad signals to most people in the north. Some people now think the President cares less for the region. This is dangerous to national unity

“

Some amnesty agitators have also posited that since the militancy in the Niger Delta was solved by Late Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, there is no reason why President Jonathan should not end the Boko Haram menace.

sounds reasonable on the surface, the questions on the lips of observers are that how come the President rushed to call them ghosts without officially declaring the amnesty to see if the militants will come forward or not.

Secondly, observers have every reason to doubt the sincerity of the President on the issue because he had last year through his spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, claimed that the government was involved in back channel talks with sect.

Abati had said : "the form of the dialogue is that backroom channels are being used to reach across with the sole objective of understanding what exactly the grievances of these persons are. What exactly can be done to resolve the crisis, in the overall best interest of ensuring peace and stability in Nigeria and the security of lives and property?"

Though the President himself denied this in a media chat weeks later, such inconsistencies are not expected from a focused government.

The President had also during a church service in the early days of his administration said that he was aware that there were Boko Haram elements in the security services and the Federal Government. This gave many Nigerians the hope that government was close to ending the Boko Haram scourge since a proverb says that the first step in finishing one's enemies

and something needs to be done about it urgently.

It is worth recalling at this juncture that in the years before the Niger Delta submitted their arms, they wrecked so much havoc in the region and on Federal Government business interests in the area. The proliferation of arms caused by their activities made the region a no-go area and led to loss of lives. Yet, when the Federal Government saw that all efforts to solve the problem had failed, it resorted to the amnesty option and since then relative peace now reigns in the region.

Some people argue that the sins of Boko Haram sect are weightier than that of the Niger Delta militants and that the former deserves no amnesty. This group forgets that taking up arms against the state under whatever guise and causing destruction to government properties are serious offenses everyday every time, irrespective of the agitations.

There is a lot of precedents to justify the call for amnesty to be granted to the Boko Haram sect. Aside the fact that similar gesture had been extended to Niger Delta militants, this same country also granted pardon to Late Biafran warlord, Emeka Ojukwu and also gave the honour of a state burial. All these were done in the spirit of national unity and reconciliation.

What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

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Cover Interview

Sultan's call was borne out of genuine concern —NACOMYO Kamal'ddin Akintunde is the National President, National Council of Muslim Youth Organization (NACOMYO) in this interview with our Lagos Correspondent Ayodele Samuel in Abeokuta Ogun State capital, Akintunde said President Goodluck Jonathan knows members of the Boko Haram Sect. because he had once claimed they are in his cabinet.

W

h a t is your reaction to President Goodluck Jonathan's visit to Borno and Yobe states?

My first reaction is that the President can visit any state as many times as he would want, however, the visit to the two states was long overdue as demonstration of concern over the deteriorating security (situation), occasioned by the violence perpetrated by some sects . The visit itself was amidst tight security, implying that all hands must be on deck to address the menace.

However, hope of improved security situation in the two states may be soon achieved with the visit of Mr. President as it afforded opportunity for deliberations with the leaders of the two states to finding lasting solutions.

Do you agree that Boko Haram is faceless or ghost as described by the President?

Boko Haram could not be faceless or ghost as being claimed in some quarters.

Yes, they have not come out boldly and embraced the dialogue initiative, but they exist. Mr. President once said that Boko Haram was in his cabinet. Recently, a faction of the sect addressed a press conference and I think working closely with the leadership of states and religious leaders, the Federal Government can get them to a round table.

Many leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto are calling for Amnesty for Boko Haram , can amnesty be the road path to peace in the Northern Region?

Peace is the bedrock of development, just as it is also fundamental to growth and stability and therefore, no effort or initiative that is geared towards the five letter-word-PEACE should be spared.

Prior to the Sultan's clamour, there had been similar call from some leaders, including the late NSCIA SecretaryGeneral, Dr. Lateef Adegbite (CON). I began to wonder the outrage to Sultan's

“

As Amnesty could be said to be the last resort, it is no less important if it is applied, whilst, urging the President to eschew sentiment being insinuated in some quarters and apply the wisdom behind the amnesty option.

suggestion, a genuine and patriotic concern perceived by His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President -General of NSCIA as an option or a way out of the quagmire. Is it that people don't want peace or some people are living fat on this recurrent decimal? As Amnesty could be said to be the last resort, it is no less important if it is applied, whilst, urging the President to eschew sentiment being insinuated in some quarters and apply the wisdom behind the amnesty option. Government has a duty in securing lives and property, asides welfare, therefore, it (Govt) should be magnanimous at doing the right thing, at least in the overall interest of the people and the nation. "The need to exercise caution and restraint by the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Afeniere, a pan Yoruba group and other religious and socialpolitical groups in the country and presidency over sultan Muhammad Abubakar's call for amnesty for BokoHaram has been stressed. I urged all these groups and individuals to eschew all forms of sentiments in the quest for peace in the country. The sultanate's comment was in good fate, borne out of genuine concern for the growing insecurity in the country. The insurgence group's notorious activities cut across the strata of the society, including religious institutions, press, military formations, financial and economic establishments a n d therefore I saw C A N a n d Afenifere's comments a s parochial, unpatriotic a n d uncharitable.

How best do y o u t hi nk insecurity in the North could be tackled?

It is unfortunate that security in Nigeria and not just the North has defied possible solution and it is having its toll on socio- economic and political wellbeing of the nation. In this connection, it shows that Boko Haram issue is more than it meets the ordinary eye; there are other dimensions such as political, poverty, unemployment, deprivation, ignorance, disease and underdevelopment. Since security goes

beyond welfare and protection per se, governments at all levels and key stakeholders must cooperate and collaborate to provide job opportunities for the teeming youths aimlessly roaming about the streets.

People say, "An idle hand is a devil's workshop." Poverty must be addressed and government must provide opportunities for all and sundry in their chosen profession or field, as this w o u l d a d d r e s s salient and fundamental issues that are germane to security and peace and for sustainable growth and development. if amnesty had

Kamal'ddin Akintunde performed the magic in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, why not for the sect, the olive branch, if extended to members of the dreaded sect, will ginger, motivate and spur their colleagues to come out of their shell and denounce their membership for restoration of normalcy in the socio, economic and political facets of our dear nation, Nigeria.

Boko Haram issue seems to have defied possible solution and therefore granting amnesty as has been advocated by Sultan

is peace driven and restoring. I see no reason why peace loving Nigerians will oppose any move that will guarantee lasting and sustainable solution to peace in the country.

President Jonathan should embrace the laudable idea of the religious and traditional ruler and as being complimentary to some previously taken initiatives and better still; it is also a demonstration of magnanimity on the part of government.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

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Interview

Borno visit: We expected more from Jonathan –Spokesman W

hen Governor Shettima was sworn-in in 2011, his first statement was a call on Boko Haram members to lay down their arms and engage government in dialogue. What had informed the governor's choice?

From his days as a banker, those who knew Kashim Shettima whether in Kaduna or Maiduguri with the banks he worked knew him as someone that always believed in mutual coexistence. He always believed in live and let's live, he is very passionate about peaceful co-existence; he has always been an optimist. From the time he was a branch manager up to the time he became a General Manager … all through his career, customers and friends nicknamed Shettima 'No Problem!' because he was always ready to solve the problems of those who came in contact with him. He was also known as a peace advocate and conflict solver in his work environment. So I wasn't surprised that he pioneered the call for dialogue which I am happy that a lot of Nigerians have joined in advocating.

The governor has always noted that guerilla warfare is not something you can easily solve through conventional war and even if you do, the casualty will be too painfully massive because innocent citizens are bound to be caught in cross fires. Governor Shettima has been vindicated by the fact that deaths are still being recorded with wanton destructions in states affected by the crisis and I think at the end of the day Insha Allah, everyone including the Presidency will key in to dialogue.

President Goodluck Jonathan recently visited Borno for the first time since the beginning Boko Haram insurgency. How did the government feel and that what were its expectations prior to the visit?

Governor Shettima and the good people of Borno state were naturally anxious in anticipation of the President. I will be right to say the governor was happy to receive him more so that the President came with the ministers of works, water, education, finance and agriculture amongst others; and the most of Borno's problems centre around these ministries. If you x-ray the “master speech”, I must call it, delivered

by Governor Shettima before the President, the critical issues raised were on need for dialogue to end the insurgency, request for assistance to fix federal roads in Borno, rehabilitated burnt schools, reassured commitment on recharging the Lake Chad to boost irrigation agriculture, and help in

Malam Isa Umar Gusau is the Special Adviser to the Borno state governor, Alahji Kashim Shettima on Communications. In this interview with Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Gusau explains why government insists that dialogue with Boko Haram insurgents is the only option to end the security challenges confronting the state and the North in general.

Excerpts:

Malam Isa Umar Gusau almajiri education etc.

Honestly, many of us thought the President came with the ministers so he could decisively say for instance, minister of works, hold a meeting with Borno's commissioner of works and come up with a submission on issues of roads looking at the 2013 budgetary provisions or need for supplementary budget or even delay till 2014 after taking account of priorities, maybe people expected the President was going to direct the minister of education to work with our commissioner of education on the burnt schools and almajiri education. They probably thought he would ask the ministers of water and agriculture to meet our commissioners in respective ministries and officials of the Chad Basin Development Authority to at least show some practical commitment or find new approach.

We even expected that the President would visit the Chad Basin where the Federal Government has 57,000 hectares of irrigation land out of which Governor Shettima facilitated the cultivation of 5,000 hectares of wheat that has created

jobs for over 20,000 farmers so far before the harvest, bagging and processing stages that will create more jobs. That basin is likely the largest farm area in Nigeria.

Many may have expected a visit given the jobs that it can create to keep youths off the streets. I expected a visit to see the receding Lake Chad but all these didn't happen. I wouldn't say Governor Shettima was disappointed, no, I will rather say that maybe the President is delaying the goodies for Borno State ahead of his state visit in May or June like he repeatedly said.

But then, Borno is in urgent need of recovery. It needs all the help it can get from the Federal Government to compliment so much that is being done by Shettima's government.

I however know that sometimes there are functional conflicts between personalities and security details, in some cases, even if a VIP wants to go somewhere, security can stop him or her and of course, you know that security details always

have exaggerated fears by their training, they always presume worst scenarios and think of how to avert them. I wouldn't be surprised if the President attempted some of these visits but was prevented. But then, a leader must drive a team with courage, there are many times Governor Shettima takes us to otherwise volatile areas to inspect, commission or lay foundation for projects and we follow him because he leads.

I remember sometime back he dropped from his car and was walking from house to house in Lawan Bukar Ward in the metropolis which was a volatile area then, but we followed him.

Courage is important, sometimes it is better to die for something than live for nothing, I believe in this saying. But I hopefully think the President means well and he will eventually come up with key steps to re-engineer Borno and other states affected by the insurgency.

He promised setting up a committee to come and assess our burnt schools, we are waiting with high hopes; he promised taking other measures we all await him.

I don't think he would want a situation where Borno benefits nothing from his visit. His visit was reassuring, confidence building but reconstruction of the state is critical and the Federal Government has to play the fatherly role.

The FG is putting N3billion into Nollywood, which is the Nigeria film industry; their work is entertainment but people must first be alive to be entertained. Ours in Borno is matter of life and death, the state needs help, people have lost bread winners; Borno state is spending so much on compensation and rehabilitation. The President has also noted this; I am sure he will help in no distant time.

During his visit, President Jonathan rejected calls by prominent elders from the North, including the Sultan of Sokoto, that the Federal Government should grant amnesty to Boko Haram. The president even described the group as ghosts who can only be pardoned if they come out in the open. What is the government’s reaction to this?

I think Governor Shettima had handled that with tact. There are theories that the best approach to crisis is the application of the three Ds - diplomacy, defence and dialogue. Governor Shettima has regularly upheld in particular diplomacy and dialogue because like the soldiers also say, their guns are not meant for fellow Nigerians but enemies of Nigeria.

“

Honestly, many of us thought the President came with the ministers so he could decisively say for instance, minister of works, hold a meeting with Borno's commissioner of works and come up with a submission on issues of roads

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 15

Focus

Conference of Soil Science Society and matters arising

By Ali Abare Abubakar

O

n March 12th, 2013, precisely Tuesday, all roads led to Taal Conference Hotel in Lafia, Nasarawa state capital.

It was the 37th Annual Conference of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN), jointly hosted by the Nasarawa state Government and the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK).

The conference afforded experts on soil from across the country, the opportunity to deliberate on the problems of environmental pollution, degradation.

Also brought to the fore, were ways to sustain the attention achieved in fighting food insecurity aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals 1 and 7 on Poverty/Hunger Alleviation and Environmental Protection respectively.

The theme of the conference "Soil Science, Environment Management and Food Security", was apt considering the level of devastation of farmlands recorded last year.

Occasioned by series of floods across the country, farmers were subjected to harrowing experiences, unquantifiable loss as several farms were destroyed.

This is even more so as another planting season is fast approaching and the need to evolve ways of curtailing the devastating effect of environmental degradation, particularly floods, remain paramount, in order to ensure food security.

In his speech at the occasion, Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura, underscored the role of soil science in environmental management and food security, stressing that Nasarawa is an agrarian state, with agriculture forming the main source of income for majority of the rural dwellers.

Therefore, he harped on need to propagate appropriate best farming practices that could increase soil productivity and conserve same for future generations.

He implored participants at the conference to come up with practical solutions that will mitigate the negative effect of climate change on rural farming communities, adding that lands/ soils in the state require comprehensive and detailed study that could lead to classification of its resources for sustainable agricultural production and reduction in rural poverty.

While disclosing that the SSSN has already produced the digital soil maps of the state, the governor called for a synergy between researchers and the state agricultural development programme to make these soil maps available for the use of farmers, as well as the discovery of more hidden treasures such as solid

Bukar Tijjani, Minister of state, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development minerals.

On his part, Vice-Chancellor of the state university, Professor Shamsudeen Amali, while appreciating the Society for choosing the faculty of agriculture of the institution and the state's Ministry of Agriculture as co-hosts for the conference, observed that the multifarious soil types in Nigeria have been poorly managed and allowed to become victims of all kinds of natural disasters.

These, he listed to include flooding, erosion, strong winds, overgrazing, desertification, deforestation, soil pollution, continuous cropping without continuous nourishment, misuse by land users and other degrading forces.

Prof. Amali maintained that with the country's clement weather and untapped vast agricultural land resources, "Nigeria should be liberated from being a foodimporter to a formidable food exporter", with the production of arable crops especially rice, cassava, sorghum, maize and cotton, upgraded from the present subsistence level into dominant world rate economic crops that could lead to poverty reduction.

He observed that environmental management has remained topical worldwide especially in Nigeria which is currently confronted with the consequences of climate change depicted by harsh weather, desertification, flooding, siltation of lakes and river channels.

The VC called for the establishment of a national commission on climate change, to comprise of experts in land and soil resources, to be charged with the

responsibility of integrating and coordinating researches dealing with soils, forestry and water resources, predictions on carrying capacities of soils in food fibre production, predictions and aversive measures against devastating effects of climate change.

For Professor V.O Chude, President, Soil Science Society of Nigeria, the conference provided an opportunity to highlight major issues relating to land management.

Chude noted that land, being the most significant nonrenewable geo-resources, is continuously suffering degradation, with an estimated 24 billion tons of fertile soil being lost each year.

According to him, arable land loss is estimated at 30 to 35 times the historical rate, with land degradation directly affecting 1.5 billion people globally.

While describing land as a finite resources, Prof. Chude, observed that land degradation depletes the resources base for the country's common food security.

He stressed that in dry lands, due to drought and desertification, 12 million hectares of land are transformed into new man-made deserts each year, an area with the potential to produce 20 million tons of grain each year.

He described Nigeria as one of the countries in Africa most vulnerable to desertification, adding that for the country to protect its environment in order that future generations will not suffer, there is the need to apply

acquired knowledge and skills to save the land and its soils from further damage.

In addition, he emphasised the need to ensure improved and maintain soil productivity on cultivated lands, improve the efficiency of fertiliser application and management of plant residues on farms, reclaim degraded lands, recycle organic wastes of urban origin back to the land and combat soil pollution by hydrocarbons among the myriad of maninduced land management problems of the present day.

On the way forward, Prof.

Chude, among other solutions, called for the adequate funding for the implementation of the road map to Vision 20:20:20 in Nigeria, so that the country will retain its enviable position in the comity of nations as a giant and food basket of Africa.

Key issues raised by the president of the SSSN includes among others; reviewing the country-level implementation of the African Soil Information Services (AfSIS), with countries in Africa pushing forward with developing the Phase 2 of the project.

This, he said will involve the transformation of AfSIS into a reliable and demand-driven research and information service provider, where soil and landscape information systems will continue to be developed, with emphasis on the delivery of relevant data, information, statistical methods and knowledge to people who will use such findings for evidencebased management of soil and landscape resources.

He then highlighted the major objectives of AfSIS to include; making nearly real-time soil and landscape information more widely available and useful to the African public (i.e to governments, national research, development and extension organisations, civil society and industry); developing decision analysis and ICT applications to guide agricultural management decisions taken at the sub-national, landscape and farm.

Applications he said, will reduce financial and environmental downside risks; and proactively providing national and sub-national policy makers with scientific evidence and new technology options that will reduce risks associated with soil and landscape management decisions.

In a chat with journalists shortly after the occasion, Bukar Tijani, Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, thanked the SSSN for organising the conference annually, saying that the society is better poised to address the issues of climate change and its impact on agriculture.

"The Society has been working seriously on the development of agriculture in the country. Now that climate change has become a major issue and a challenge, we have to focus more on climate, so that we can support Mr. President's agricultural transformational agenda," he said.

Tijani disclosed that the SSSN has contributed immensely in the areas of soil mapping, looking at different uses of fertilisers and suiting crops to soils, will help a lot toward mitigating some of the challenges brought about by climate change.

On the recent predictions by NIMET on further floods, the minister advised farmers across the country to cultivate on lands that are not prone to flooding, as well as not to plant crops that could not withstand flooding.

He advised against the dumping of debris that will hinder the smooth flow of surface water that could result in flooding.

The minister made a case for embarking on controlled irrigation farming so that the flow of water can be directed and controlled, while urging farmers to take to dry season farming.

He disclosed that as part of its preparation for the coming planting season, his ministry has embarked on the registration of more farmers for its Growth Enhancement Scheme, where farmers get direct supply of farming inputs.

Although, the ministry was only able to register about 1.7 million farmers last year, he said efforts were on top gear to attain the 5 million farmers target set initially for the scheme.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Tourism Rivers State-Treasure Base of the Nation

L

ocated in south-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria, Rivers State was created out of the old Eastern Region in 1967 with its capital in Port Harcourt. The state is divided into twenty three local government areas which include Abua/Odual, AhoadaEast, Ahoada-West, AkukuTori, Andoni, Asari-Toru, Bonny, Degema, Eleme, Emuoha, Etche, Gonaka, Ikwerre, Khana, Obia/Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogu/ Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Opobo/ Nkoro, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt and Tai. Rivers State was created out of the old Eastern Region of Nigeria on May 27, 1967 before Bayelsa State was later carved out of it in 1996. Rivers state which is named after the many rivers that border its territory, was part of the Oil Rivers Protectorate from 1885 till 1893, when it became part of the Niger Coast Protectorate.

In 1900 the region was merged with the chartered territories of the Royal Niger Company to form the colony of Southern Nigeria.

The state has a population of about 5 million people who have a rich and unique cultural heritage. Usually known to be friendly and hospitable, these people come from various ethnic nationalities namely; Abua, Andoni, Ekpeye, Engenni, Etche, lbani , lkwerre, Kalabari, Ndoni, Okrika, Ogoni etc. These ethnic groups have existed together for centuries, long before the creation of the state and are currently distributed in twenty three Local Government Areas. Port Harcourt - the state capital, is Nigeria's second largest commercial and agricultural centre and has the second busiest seaport in Nigeria.

• Geography • Attractions • Eating Out • Shopping • Hotels • Gallery Covering a total of 11,077km land area, Rivers State is bounded in the south by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north by Anambra, Imo and Abia States, in the east by Akwa Ibom state and in the west by Bayelsa and Delta States. The state is located in the southern part of Nigeria in which the inland part of Rivers State consists of tropical rainforest, towards the coast. The typical river delta environment features many mangrove swamps. The state accounts for more than 40% of the crude oil •

Weather/Climate Rainfall in Rivers State is seasonal, variable and heavy.

Generally, rain occurs, on the average, every month of the year, but with varying duration.

The state is characterised by high rainfall, which decreases from south to

north. Total annual rainfall decreases from about 4,700 mm on the coast to about 1,700 mm in extreme north of the state. It is 4,698 mm at Bonny along the coast and 1,862 mm at Deqema. For Port Harcourt, the rainy days are about 182 with mean maximum monthly temperatures that range from 28°C to 33°C, while the mean minimum monthly temperatures are in the range of 17°C to 24°C. The mean monthly temperature is in the range of 25°C to 28°C. The mean annual temperature for the state is 26°C. The hottest months are February to May. The difference between the dry season and wet season temperatures is only about 2°C. Relative humidity is high in the state throughout the year and decreases slightly in the dry season.

•

Cities & Towns Other important cities and towns include Port Harcourt, Bonny, Deema, Ahoada, Okrika, Opobo, Gokana

Port-Harcourt Beach

A scenic view of Port-Harcourt

A sight from Rivers state carnival popularly called Carniriv

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 17 With Sonde Abbah 0803-2159-249 (SMS only) asonde@yahoo.com

Akpabio: Profilgacy as art of governance

I Anenih failed in Edo, can he‌ "Mr Fix It" Is back. Chief Tony Anenih, that is. Officials of the ruling party, PDP, have not stopped lavishing encomiums on the party's new Board of Trustees chairman since his emergence.

This mind you is the same Anenih that was floored spectacularly in the recent governorship poll in his home state, Edo. Despite the yeoman effort to swing the pendulum of victory in the way of his party's governorship candidate, PDP lost woefully. So much for your socalled "Mr Fix It".

Poser: "If Mr. Fix It" couldn't "fix" the Edo governorship poll for PDP, can he perform the Herculean task at the Federal level come the 2015 general elections? Time shall tell.

m a g i n e this: A daughter of the soil is about to wed. You are the Chief Executive of the state. So what would you do, given that the husband-to-be is a popular musician?

Answer: "Dash" her and her bridegroom two brand new jeeps. Then dash to her village and reconstruct the road which has been abandoned by successive administrations- including your own administration-since 1925.

Is that the script of a Nollywood or Kannywood movie? No sir. That's for real. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the ethereal world of Godswill Akpabio, the Chief Executive of Akwa Ibrom state.

To "celebrate" the marriage of the music star, Tuface Idibia, to a daughter of Akwa Ibom, Akpabio went haywire, showering the expensive wonders-on-wheel on the couple.

That, in many people's view, is not all that bad. After all, to quote a certain Yakubu Gowon, money is not our problem but how to spend it. If you doubt Gowon, go to Akwa Ibom and behold the sort of profligacy on parade.

Gov. Godswill Akpabio

Behold Nasarawa's new female SSG

A

l h a j i Umaru Tanko AlMakura, the governor of Nasarawa state, certainly knows how to make eye-catching political appointments. The other time, it was Mohammed Idris-Apa, the physically challenged gentleman whose appointment as SolicitorGeneral and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, caught the imagination of all and sundry.

This time, it's the turn of Hajia Zainab Abdulmumin to emerge as Nasarawa's Secretary to the State Government (SSG) . Arguably the first woman to occupy this strategic post in Nasarawa and far beyond.

Indeed Hajia Zainab Abdulmumin was the cynosure of all eyes as she received her appointment letter from Governor Al-Makura last Monday.

Here is hoping that her tenure would be fruitful for all concerned.

The new Nasarasa SSG, Hajiya Zainab (left)

Time for Ferguson to go?

Ferguson

N

o t a few fans of Manchester United Football Club of England were disgusted with their beloved team's dreadful performance last weekend.

In that crucial FA Cup match against Chelsea, United raced to a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes, only to gradually fade away.

No sooner had their second goal been scored than the Red Devils became criminally sloppy, gifting their opponents possession with reckless abandon. Not surprisingly, this encouraged Chelsea to roar back and score two quick goals. In fact, the London side came close to snatch the winner in the match's dying minutes.

Had United lost that match, few

would have been shocked. The reason is simple: Complacency -particularly the sort exhibited by Man U last Sunday usually proves costly. Even if a team gallops to a 4-0 lead, only to go to sleep and see their opponents score a similar number of goals or even defeat them.

In the view of many of a Man U fan, it's about time Coach Alex Ferguson left the club. He has performed brilliantly over the years, leading United to countless triumphs in all competitions.

But the fact remains that diminishing return appears to have crept in. Otherwise how do we explain the sort of waywardness exhibited against Chelsea last Sunday?

Go, Alex, go!

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 18

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

Let's share your love story.

Are you dating a divorcee?

T

o all of his friends, Andy is considered a great friend: he is intelligent, articulate, financially successful and someone who knows how to have fun. To their wives, Andy is considered a great catch, except for one thing: He's been divorced three times already.

Having recently entered his forties, Andy is quite aware that his inability to sustain a primary relationship has kept him from experiencing parenthood and other important life events now being enjoyed by many of his closest friends.

"In hindsight, I'm sure I've found 'Ms. Right' a number of times but either I didn't recognize it, or didn't want to admit it to myself," Andy explains with a somewhat uneasy laugh. "My friends call me 'the terminator'.

No matter how good the

relationship is, I'll find a way to screw it up."

Relationship sabotage has many forms, for example, a significant other will make hurtful statements, or withhold information to his girlfriend in order to send the message that he "doesn't have to report back" to her. Or, he flirts with another woman in front of his wife; worse yet, he may initiate an affair, despite the fact he truly loves his wife and has no real feelings for the other woman.

What makes a man back off from a committed relationship?

All men have a need for emotional intimacy but sometimes an event in one's life will trigger a psychic disconnection from this very important need. It might be a reaction to a lack of adult intimacy he witnessed as a child.

Then again, it may be due to an emotional loss he experienced in childhood or adolescence.

Gregory S. Smith, a licensed independent social worker and counselor who specializes in relationship conflicts, acknowledges that such urges to sabotage a good thing may be manifested in one of many fears.

"Some men fear losing their independence," says Smith.

"Then again, a "terminator' might be afraid that he is unworthy of a successful relationship. He might also be afraid that, should the relationship end, he would be the one to get hurt." As a terminator's feelings for his partner intensifies, explains Smith, he then panics.

"This man thinks, 'I'm giving up by being too committed'.

Or perhaps, 'I'm doing things only because she wants me to.' In other words, his biggest fear is that things just won't work out."

To avoid this pain, says Smith, a man will steel himself with indifference toward his partner.

It feels safer to want less, to feel less. That way, if she decides she doesn't want him, then it doesn't hurt so much." A terminator will also initiate behavior that is guaranteed to sabotage the relationship. This of course, radically increases the likelihood that it will fail.

Are women as likely to go into terminator mode? Yes, says Smith, but this behavior is more overt in men because, unfortunately, it is tolerated in our society. "Men are more likely to think, 'I can go it alone.' "For Telltale signs that he is a relationship terminator: 1. He's a flirt and a player with every girl that walks by.

2. He comes on hot and heavy, then cools down quick, for no obvious reason.

3. He's broken a long string of hearts.

4. He doesn't have any gal pals at all. www.naij,com

“

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

I don't understand my feelings anymore

I

´m married happily, with all the ups and downs. I have children and my life was working out fine.

My husband was my best friend since childhood; we married young and had our first child early. We didn't have much time for us as couple or as individuals but we just thought it was normal, and carried on for over twenty years.

My mom has Alzheimer's disease and came to live with us a few years ago. My mother- inlaw died recently, causing us grief because apart from being my husband's mom, she was like my second mom and helped me raise my children and looked after my mom.

I muddled on until December then I became sad, cried for no reason, c o u l d n ' t concentrate...

I stumbled on an online chat and made friends with a younger man, also eager to talk to someone.

The thing is we or at least I never thought I could be attracted to another man, thought it was a sign of weakness

and here I find myself infatuated by this cute guy who lives on the other side of the world and who is also similarly attracted to me, it seems.

Of course, our contact is just online and there is no way we're going to meet at any time.

Anyway, it's impossible to go any farther than this friendship. We are both aware of that and communicate less but still I have the feeling that if I´d met this person at another moment it might have been different. Am I doing the right thing?

—Anonymous

Re - My in-laws want me to have an abortion in exchange for a bank job

Y

o u r story sounds pathetic; I wonder what your in-laws are thinking about, have they thought of possibility of not securing the job despite having an abortion?

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't trade my unborn child for a job even if the offer is certain.

Let your in-laws stop meddling in your affair; it is not healthy for such a young union. Try on your part to see what you can do to support your family. Apply for other jobs; teaching job will not frown at your pregnancy or marital status.

Before then, see what you can do with your hands in terms of buying and selling or handiwork. I pray that God will see you through.

—Madam Sarah

Andy explains with a somewhat uneasy laugh. "My friends Re - Her friend keeps coming call me 'the terminator'. No between us matter how good f you are really interested in the girl, nobody should come between you, maybe Amina is only jealous, find a way of the relationship is, I'll meeting her alone and tell her what you feel. You can even find a way to screw tell her what you think about her friend. If she is interested as you are, she will not let her friend stop her but is she is not; you can as it up."

I

well go for another girl.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 19

Beauty Tips

Kate's beauty secret K

ate Middleton, wife of Prince William has been topping beauty superlative lists everywhere lately, from being dubbed Best Celebrity Hair of 2012 to having the most requested nose in plastic surgery. It's no secret that the Duchess of Cambridge is a classic beauty, and people everywhere love not only her flowing hair, and friendly beauty, but also her endearing personality. Here are some of the beauty secrets of the mom-to-be, the products in her beauty routine that keep her looking royally gorgeous. We may not be British royalty, but with the help of these beauty tips, we can get one step closer to Kate's much sought-after look.

For luscious locks, Kate uses products from the Kerastase line. In salons, she'll get a Kerastase ritual treatment. This one is unique because there's a certain treatment for every type of hair, so you can customize this to fit your own hair style. At home, Kate uses Kerastase shampoo and conditioner for dry hair.

If her hair is good enough to win Best Celebrity Hair, she's got to be doing something right.

To keep her skin in tip-top shape, the Duchess uses Karin Herzog Vita-A-

Kombi with AHA. It's a face cream that works on all skin types, plus it can be used day and night. For someone who is constantly in the public eye, Kate's skin needs to be in great condition. This face cream is oxygenizing and exfoliating, keeping her looking fresh. For best results, use it in combination with Karin Herzog Face Cleansing Gel. Her makeup routine mostly comes from a Bobbi Brown makeup kit. Her signature smile is highlighted by Bobbi Brown Creamy Matte Lip Color, which is long-lasting and moisturizing. If you are a celebrity, a good lip color like Kate's can stand you up to the paparazzi.

A fresh, neutral nail color is Kate's go to shade, along with a short oval nail. On her wedding day, Kate's manicurist custom mixed a pale pink color, combining Bourjois No. 28 Rose Lounge and Essie Allure for a manicure seen by millions when Prince Williams slipped on the Duchess' wedding ring on her finger. Its recommended that you experiment with mixing colors to create your own custom shade to compliment your skin tone, whether you are royalty, celebrity or just you.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 20

Learning Book Review

With Emmanuel Eko 08165618872 junioremma419@gmail.com

The Underground

L

ife as alpha of a werewolf pack is anything but predictable. But even Parker Berenson is surprised by the latest twist: he's fallen in love with a space alien.

Problem is, he suspects Melera, his sexy new flame, might be the serial killer terrorizing Seattle.

Or maybe she isn't. After all, just because she's an interstellar assassin doesn't mean she's guilty.

Others aren't so sure.

Seattle's vampire Master Kurt and the powerful mage Garrett Larkin don't think it's a coincidence the murders

stopped after Melera showed up on Parker's arm. Of course, they could be biased.

They're determined to keep Parker trapped in their bitter love triangle long enough to use him in a magick spell to take control of the city. It's two against two as Parker and Melera race to prove her innocence while Kurt and Garrett connive to prove her guilt. But suspicions and magickal power plays no longer matter when the four confront the real killer. For them-and the citizens of Seattle-all that matters now is survival.

Mature content.

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives Iya Segi--the bride of

W

hen Baba Segi awoke with a bellyache for the sixth day in a row, he knew it was time to do something drastic about his fourth wife's childlessness.

A plump, vain, and prosperous middle-aged man of robust appetites, Baba Segi is the patriarch of a large household that includes a quartet of wives and seven children. But his desire to possess more just might be his undoing.

Baba Segi's youth, a powerful, vindictive woman who will stop at nothing to protect her favored position as ruler of her husband's home.

Iya Tope--Baba Segi's second wife, a shy, timid woman whose decency and lust for life are overshadowed by fear.

Iya Femi--the third wife, a scheming woman with crimson lips and expensive tastes who is determined to attain all that she desires, no matter what the cost.

M

• The most commonly used letter in the alphabet is E • The least used letter in the alphabet is Q • Dreamt is the only word that ends in mt • The first letters of the months July through to November spell JASON • There are only 4 words in the English language which end in 'dous' (they are: hazardous, horrendous, stupendous and tremendous) • The oldest word in the English language is 'town' • 'Bookkeeper' and 'bookkeeping' are the only 2 words in the English language with three consecutive double letters • The word 'Strengths' is the longest word in the English language with just one vowel • The dot on top of the letter 'i' is called a tittle • The past tense for the English word 'dare' is 'durst'

• The word 'testify' derived from a time when men were required to swear on their testicles • The first English dictionary was written in 1755 • The word old English word 'juke' meaning dancing lends its name to the juke box • 1 out of every 8 letters written is an e • the longest one syllable word in the English language is 'screeched' • All pilots on international flights identify themselves in English regardless of their country of origin • The expression to 'knuckle down' originated from playing marbles (players used to put their knuckles to the ground for their best shots) • The word 'almost' is the longest in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order • The most commonly used word in English conversation is 'I'

Joey No Toes

Seal of Destiny ira Herald is having the worst life ever. Not only is she plagued by horrific nightmares starring the Devil himself, she's now the target of a power-hungry, rogue minion, freshly sprung from Hell and bent on her destruction. To complicate matters further, she's acquired a stalker. One who insists he's a divine warrior sent for her protection because she houses an ancient relic with the power to unleash Armageddon. Last time Mira checked, she wasn't insane. Still, all this celestial mayhem is enough to drive a girl crazy.

Kagan is a member of the Scion, an elite team of immortal warriors selected

by Divinity to aid mankind and save the world. After a century alone, Kagan is summoned for a new mission. He's eager to

Did you know that?

begin. Eager until he's informed his mission consists of protecting a woman with no clue to the power she wields. Plus, his briefing fails to prepare him for his new target's cosmic-sized attitude problem. As Divinity's sworn servant, he's required to fulfill his duty.

His oath, however, does not require him to be enthusiastic about his new assignment or warm-andfuzzy toward his new compatriot. He plans a wham-bam rescue and a quick return to solitude.

The minion attackswith the backing of a mysterious organizationand all Hades erupts, putting a fast end to any whirlwind escapes.

Accustomed to staunch independence, Mira's survival now requires full cooperation and an unwavering belief in Kagan.

T

hrough the mill and blowing in the wind, Mickey tries to find his place in the new economy.

A college education is no longer a guarantee. Luck is the only variable of success.

Chance mentorship opportunities with two multimillionaires, turn into a nightmare. Testing the definition of crime Reflexivity (social theory) refers to the capacity of an individual agent to recognize the forces of socialization and alter his or her place in the social structure. In this novel, for the first time, reflexivity is applied to a crime scene where the criminal instigating the crime modifies his criminal behavior knowing beforehand how the courts will interpret his criminal actions.

About the Novel Follow Mickey Mulden in Buffalo, New York when he discovers that

productivity, as indoctrinated in college academia, takes on a nonlinear bent in America's 'new economy.' In fact all societal truths become tested when Mickey is involuntarily plunged into a tangled vortex of crime to feel its slippery slopes. This novel explores the murky line between good and evil in the legal and illegal drug trade.

Decisions must be made on hunches to avoid the thunderous implications of guilt by association.

Justice is ultimately meted out with a poker hand. About the Author John Milner holds a B.Comm, a BA in mathematics, and has completed graduate studies at the Association of Investment Management and Research in Virginia.

Presently, the author is gleefully employed as your smelly neighborhood garbageman.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

With Aunty A'isha

Sights and sounds Who are the Bantu people?

T

h e term "Bantu people" is used to describe the roughly 60 million Africans who speak languages in the Bantu language family. Given that there are approximately 400 of these closely related languages, it should come as no surprise that these people are very diverse and that societies and governments among Bantus can be totally different.

Some people feel that the term may not be entirely appropriate, since it encompasses such a huge group of Africans; these individuals may prefer to identify individual communities instead.

It is estimated that Bantu tribes probably began migrating from Northern Africa around 3,000 BCE. They probably brought a variety of skills with them, including the ability to farm and work metals such as iron, This migration continued until around the fourth century CE, many of these speakers settled south of the Congo River. Over time, a number of languages including Swahili, Kirundi, Gikuyu, Tsonga, and Basaa developed; many of these languages share the word "Bantu" for people and except for a region in South-East Africa where KhoiSan is spoken, they cover Southern Africa.

Many of the great kingdoms of South Africa were ruled by Bantus, who tended to be highly creative and adaptable. Their culture included those of other native Africans, although traces of earlier African peoples can be seen in some Bantu societies today.

These kingdoms traded with people from other regions of the world, including Europeans, and as Europeans started to colonize Africa, they pressured the existing Bantus to move.

Bantu-speaking people can be found in Rwanda, Angola, Burundi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, among other nations in the southern part of Africa.

Around the 1920s, whites in South Africa started to use the term "Bantu." Over time, the term began to be seen as racially offensive, and many modern South Africans prefer to use the term "African," rather than "Bantu," because of its implication with apartheid South Africa.

In other regions of Africa, some people use the term more freely, because it has not become as racially loaded as it has in South Africa.

PAGE 23

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

SHOR T ST OR Y SHORT STOR ORY

The Rainbow

T

h e r e was a little girl who loved the rain.

She danced in the drops as they landed on her skin.

She skipped rope in the puddles.

She stretched her arms out and spun around with an open mouth to let the water tickle her tongue.

One day while the girl was twisting and turning underneath the raindrops, a beautiful rainbow lit up her

path.

She had always heard that there was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

She did not see a pot of gold.

She saw light streaks of many colors; Red, Blue and Yellow.

While the girl was looking at the colors of the rainbow, it turned into a bridge.

She began to walk towards the bridge that was all bright and shiny.

She danced across the bridge and disappeared into the red, blue and yellow rays.

In that town, you can hear people talk about the little girl who loved the rain. You can also hear them talk about a bridge that leads to a beautiful land.

The little girl crossed that bridge, and on a rainy day when the sun peaks through the clouds, you can see and hear her dancing, swirling, grinning and laughing.

You can just look and see her.

HIS AND HERS CORNER

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 22

With Aunty A'isha

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

AFRICAN TALES

MODEL OF THE WEEK

Laughter of a fish O

n c e upon a time there was a king named Firozshah, who ruled over. His wife was sitting near the window, she saw a woman selling fish. She asked her if she had any female fish. The fish-selling woman said, "NO, I have only male fish."

With this the woman moved ahead. As she was going, the queen heard the laughter of a fish. The queen was surprised. She thought that the fish was laughing at her.

She got annoyed and rushed to the king. She narrated the whole incident to him.

The king could not decide what to do. He called his Prime Minister Hussain who was very intelligent. He narrated the whole incident and asked the minister to solve the riddle, 'why the fish had dared to laugh at the queen.' in fifteen days or he will be beheaded.

Hussain thought deeply and decided to set out on a journey to unfold the puzzle the next day.

The next day, he met an old farmer named Rehman who was on a journey to his far away village. Hussain thought of making friends with him so he might help him in solving the riddle.

Thus, Hussain accompanied.

On their way, Hussain said to him, "It would be better for us to talk to each other alternately as we go." Rehman could not get the meaning of Hussain and preferred to keep quiet.

While they were passing through a field of maize, Hussain again asked if Rehman could not understand what he said, Rehman replied, "I do not know."

They both continued their journey and after some time, they crossed a Mosque and passed through a village. When nobody welcomed them, Hussain asked, "What are we doing in this graveyard?" Rehman said, "Are you mad; this is a village."

To be continued‌

Omasirichukwu Japhet is saying hello

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

Show your work to your teacher for correction.

Cheers!

CREA TIVITY CREATIVITY

Here comes the Mango I

t is mango season! Set everyone's stomach growling with your irresistable, yummy look.

What you need: Two cardboard sheets Two white chart papers Water colours Paint Brush Two meter yellow ribbon Scissors, pencil and eraser What to do:

Paste a white chart paper on to a cardboard sheet. Draw the shape of a mango and cut it.

Colour the mango using different shades of yellow and orange. Repeat the same steps to make another mango which would cover your back.

Once you have made your front and back, make holes on the sides of both the mango

pieces and string the ribbon like you do your shoelaces.

Wear a yellow bottom and a brown full sleeves top. The yellow will match with your mango and the brown will give the effect of a branch.

Your mango suit is ready to be worn. Just make sure that you tie the ribbons firmly so that the mango does not drop!

PAGE 24

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 25

Entertainment

Kannywood

Our artists don't keep to time, 2face Idibia and wife receive car gift and cash promised says Ustaz

by Gov. Akpabio For many years, Umar Sani Fagge, popularly known as Ustaz has carved a niche for himself in the Kannywood Film Industry as an actor and make-up artist. The 44-year old NCE holder shares his experiences in the movie career and challenges confronting it, in this interview with Mustapha Adamu.

How long have you being in the film industry?

I have been in the industry for 18 years, since 1995.

What motivated you to go into film making?

I have developed the passion for movie since 1987 when I was in secondary school. I joined our school's drama club and we represented the school in interschool drama competitions. Later on, after I graduated from secondary school, I joined another drama club in Fagge Local Government called Tauraruwa Drama. It was then I gained more experience and become an expert in film making. I started my makeup career in the Tauraruwa Drama, in a film titled "sakaci", in which I also featured as an actor.

That was the beginning of my make- up career.

wife and six children.

How then do you cope with your fans especially the female ones? And how does your wife react to this?

I thank God that my wife is not all that jealous because she is wise and is aware of my profession and knows what the profession entails.

I don't know if she hides it in her mind but she doesn't show me physically. She knows that I have been in this profession for a long time and knows almost all about it. I sometimes go home with the disks and play them for her to see how films are made. She will see the background, the crew, she will

Who are your most favourite director and producer in the industry?

My most favourite director is late Tijjani Ibrahim. He was my hero and I pray for his soul to rest in perfect peace. I cannot pinpoint a single producer as my most favourite, they are all my favourites.

Your most favourite musician

in the industry?

Nazifi Asnanic, Sadi Sidi Sharifai and Yakubu Muhammed.

What is the biggest challenge you face in your movie career?

The biggest problem bedeviling my career is lack of appropriate use of time. Our people are not time conscious, they don't respect time. For instance, if a shooting is scheduled at a particular time, let's say at 10:am, it will not start until 2:00 pm.

This is what disgusts me in the industry.

How do you think such a problem can be solved?

The solution is people should be mindful of time bearing in mind the popular saying "time waits for nobody". We should respect time and appointment. Doing things in a stated time will definitely enhance our production and develop the industry. I advice my colleagues in the industry to be punctual, diligent and hardworking.

This is why international film industries are far ahead of us.

By Mike Etim, Uyo

D

espite the barrage of criticisms which greeted the promised marriage gift of a reported 2 Prado Jeeps to Nigeria Hip Hop Star 2face Idibia and wife Annie Macaulay Idibia during their Marriage in Eket, Akwa Ibom State last week by the Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpaboi, the governor has made do the promised by honouring the couple with the gift.

The Governor had last Friday as a special guest at the Apostolic High School Eket venue of 2face heralded marriage to Annie an indigene of Eket in Akwa Ibom State reportedly announced the gift of two Prado Jeeps and promised to sponsor 29 indigenes of Akwa Ibom State to Dubai for the wedding proper.

The Governor’s gift had draw the Ire of some people who felt that the Governor’s magnanimous to already well to do 2face was uncalled for.

Against the face of the numerous complains, the singer

had said he was considering refusing the offer of the Governor.

But in a dramatic twist of event, the Governor represented by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications Mr. Aniekan Umanah said Governor Akpabio approved and donated one vehicle and not two as against the misrepresentation in the sections of the media.

The commissioner then presented the car key of a brand new one unit Toyota Prado Jeep and a cheque of N3 million to the couple stating that the governors decision to donate the wedding gift to the new couple was a well intentioned act of a father to show love and support as they begin their marital journey.

He said it was only a gesture of love and goodwill in appreciation of Mrs. Annie Macauley – Idibia for standing by her husband from his days of humble beginnings.

It was gather that the couple arrived the Liason office of the state government at Victoria

Island Lagos in the company of their friends and family and were received by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, Special Assistant on Media to the governor, Jackson Udom and the Liasion Officer, Joseph Etem.

In a statement by the commissioner, the delighted couple expressed their appreciation to the Akwa Ibom State government under the leadership of Governor Akpabio.

Commending Governor Akpabio further 2face said “we are happy that the Governor has made good his promises. Little wonder people call him the promise keeper. We know this is a sign of good things to happen to our family as we begin the journey. We are planning to take our white wedding to Dubai and we appreciate Governor Akpabio for his kind gesture. Words cannot really explain how we feel right now for the love and support we have received so far since the pronouncement of the wedding”.

Enugu bans 'unapproved beauty pageants'

T

he Enugu State Government has banned staging of beauty pageants in the state without approval from the government, according to the state's

Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Joe Mamel.

This is contained in a statement signed by the commissioner in Enugu on Friday and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The commissioner, who alleged

that some organisations were using the pageants to extort money from the public, warned that henceforth, any organisation or individual planning to stage pageants must seek the approval of the ministry, and failure to do so would attract serious sanctions.

Fans, friends shocked at Monalisa Chinda's affair with Lanre Nzeribe

Which of this do you engage more in, make-up or acting?

I do make-up more than acting.

Why? Understanding the fact that I am an expert in make-up, the industry has deemed it necessary to compel me to engage more in the make-up. It is something that I have to accept if I want to prosper in my career.

S

How many films have you featured in so far and what is your most favourite movie(s)?

I have featured in about 30 movies. I featured in Sakaci, Samun Gari, Reno etc. They are many and I can not mention all at the moment. I featured both as an actor and make-up.

The most favourite films of mine are "sakaci" and "Reno". I love them the most because they are my "premiere".

What about the most favourite make-up you have carried out in a movie?

My best make-up performance was in a movie titled "Jalabi", it is quite an old movie, directed by late Tijjani Ibrahim. This is Followed by a recent movie titled "Karan bana". I was quite impressed by my performance in these two movies, I performed wonderfully and love the movies the most.

Are you married?

Yes, I am married. I have one

see everything. She would notice that it is not only the actors that feature in a scene; the crew is also there at the background watching. This makes her relax and make up her mind that it is nothing to worry about. The fact that I mostly play the role of "Ustaz" (pious man) in my films is significant, I have a lot of fans and most of them are either teachers of Islamic schools or have Islamic knowledge. Whenever I meet a fan, he/she will express appreciation for the role I play which they say is religious and helps in educating and entertaining the society because it sometimes involves comedy.

Umar Sani Fagge

ome fans and close allies of the beautiful Nollywood Actress MonalisaChinda, have reportedly expressed disgust over the recent moves of the mother of one, Stella Damasus, in dating Liz Benson and Grace Egbagbe's ex lover, Lanre Nzeribe.

Nigeriafilms.com reports that the actress, no doubt, is now seriously dating Lanre to the extent that she flaunts it whenever they stepped out together.

According to the report, there have been speculations about their relationship since last year, but the truth came to light at Chinda's daughter Tamar Lily's 5th birthday where she and Lanre indulged in public display of affection not minding who might be watching.

Also Nigeria films gathered that notable faces who stormed the 5th birthday of the Tamar-Lily, Monalisa and Dejo Richard's daughter's birthday included family, friends and celebrities like Genevieve Nnaji, Desmond Elliot, Ramsey Noah, Ini Edo, Julius Agwu, Segun Arinze, Oge Okoye, Ibinabo Fiberesima and many others who all came out to celebrate with the birthday girl and her mother. And the only face missing was that of her father, Dejo Richard.

Liz Benson

Grace Egbagbe

?

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Hollywood/Bollywood Salman Khan in Shah Khan's footsteps

T

here are indications that Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, whose tales of rivalry are not hidden from anybody any longer, seem to have taken it a step further as he is set to purchase a Dubai home.

Shah Rukh Khan already owns a home in Dubai, and now Salman too is said to be keen on purchasing property there.

According to a leading daily, the 47old-actor is shooting for his upcoming action film 'Mental' in Dubai, and is actively looking for a house alongside the project.

Zeenews.india.com learnt that during an interview with an unnamed Dubai portal, Sohail Khan confirmed that his family is looking for a property in Dubai.

"We are looking; in fact, we have been for a while. It's just that we have been tied up this whole year. We would love to buy a pad in Dubai. It's just two and a half hours from Mumbai anyway," said Sohail.

"It (investing in Dubai) has crossed our mind, we will just have to find the right place where we would like to invest, where we would like our home to be," Sohail added.

The Entertainment news portal reports that Rukh owns a villa in Palm Jumeirah a man-made island off the Dubai coast.

BazLuhrmann, DiCaprio, Fitzgerald to inaugurate the festival de Cannes

I

t is on The Great Gatsby by Australian director BazLuhrmann, which the curtain will rise at the inauguration of the 66th Festival de Cannes, on Wednesday 15th May, in the Grand Théâtre Lumière du Palais des Festivals, out of Competition in the Official Selection.

Adapted from the famous novel by American author Francis Scott Fitzgerald and set against the roaring twenties on the East Coast of the United States, the film

depicts the romantic and tragic figure of Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), as narrated by his friend Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire). Carey Mulligan is Daisy Buchanan, whose husband is played by Joel Edgerton.

According to Hollywoodnews.com the prestigious occasion will also be graced with the presence of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, as well as American pop star rapper Jay-Z.

This weekend's Specialty BOX Office Preview: 'Spring Breakers', 'Upside Down', 'Reality', Also in this weekend's specialty slate is 'Ginger & Rosa'

T

Bollywood's youngest actress, Alia, turns 20

A

his weekend, A24 Films will release two of its brood including Harmony Korine's anticipated Selena Gomez/Vanessa Hudgens/James Franco starrer Spring Breakers, which had its U.S. debut this past week at the SXSW Film Festival. The new distribution company will also roll out Ginger & Rosa, although it sees the titles as appealing to different audiences.

ce filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's younger daughter, Alia Bhatt, turned 20 on March 15 2013. The pretty damsel is at the moment the youngest actress in the Hindi film industry. Bhatt rose to recognition with her debut alongside VarunDhawan and SidharthMalhotra in Karan Johar's 'Student of the Year' last year.

Right after the release of 'Student Of The Year', Alia was roped in for other films. She is shooting for Imtiaz Ali's 'Highway' opposite RandeepHooda and the on-screen adaptation of ChetanBhagat's '2 States' across ArjunKapoor simultaneously at present.

In her first and only film till now, Alia essayed the role of ShanayaSinghania, a teenager obsessed with brands and glamour. Bhatt had received decent praises for her portrayal of Shanaya in the Karan Johar romance.

Millennium Films' Kirsten Dunst starrer Upside Down, which may had the largest number of opening cities among the limited release debuts, though it will still be under a dozen runs. And Oscilloscope's Reality has a unique story of its own, with a convicted prisoner as a star - filmmaker MatteoGarone made an arrangement with Italy's prison system.

– Spring Breakers

Upside Down

T

Ginger & Rosa

S

et in the 1960s, the film follows two teenage friends, Ginger and Rosa, who grow up in London against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Cold War event ends up being a catalyst for re-defining their friendship.

"Ginger & Rosa is playing extremely well to an older art house audience," noted A24 Films head David Fenkel.

The film will roll out to all top markets in the next few weeks.

he film centers on Adam and Edne who fall in love as teens despite living in two opposing worlds pulling them in opposite directions. Ten years after a forced separation, Adam sets out to find his love.MillenniumFilms plans to open Upside Down in 10 theaters in eight America cities this weekend, including New York, LA, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Boston, Dallas and Denver.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Homes

PAGE 27

Essential dining area tips

Essential dining area tips Your dining area is not merely a place for eating. It is one of the most important parts of the house where you can make memories. Your ambience will surely contribute a lot to indulge your guests' senses in munching on their favourite meals. Well, it is every homeowner's dream to have a great dining area. To help you, here are some tips that can serve as your guide before you start designing your dining area. Also, be inspired with the dining area ideas that you will see below.

Know what you want First, you need to decide the kind of kitchen you want. You might want a kitchen for fine dining or just a simple dining area. Others even choose a simple bar only especially if the space is so limited.

You wouldn't be able to choose the right design for your dining area if you haven't decided what you want first.

Know your design In designing your dining area, you have to know your style. The design concept of your house should also be the concept of your dining area. If your interior is Eclectic, then everything should be Eclectic. There should be conformity for the rest of your home.

Have smart color choices Make sure that you do not have mismatching of color. You have to make up your mind in choosing the right colors.

When mixing colors, make sure that they match and they are complementary.

Avoid the use of loud colors in just one area.

If you use bright pink, just accent it with neutrals and shades of pink. Do not use pink with green. See to it that the colors look good together.

Your dining table is the star in your dining area. But it doesn't really have to be new. If you think your old one will still look good and apt, then use it. You can also change its color if you want to. Choose the right size and shape of your table. If your area is small, you can use a round table.

Your seats should be comfortable. It has to complement with your table, too.

Use space correctly Space is very important. First, you have to know if you have a wide or narrow space, a closed space or an open space. This way, you will be able to know the kind of colors to use. If your area is closed, you can choose colors that will make it look wide. It can also help you choose the right furniture sizes. This will also be your guide in choosing the right layout for your dining room.

Use the right layout.

In accordance with your space, ensure your arrangement is good that it won't look so crowded and awkward. Make sure that your furniture and even decorative accessories in the dining area will work in harmony with each other. The right layout includes good traffic in the dining area. Make sure the homeowner and their

guests will be comfortable in having meals there.

Have balance and harmony Make sure that everything in your dining area has balance and harmony.

You can use your old furniture if you want but if you think it doesn't complement with the entire design, then buy a new one. Your aim is to really make your dining area appealing, comfortable and distinct. Everything in the place should work well together. The choice of color, accessories, lighting and other aspects should look good as a whole.

Consider good lighting Most kitchens use a chandelier or an overhead light. This is a good focal point for your design. You may also use light with dimmers so that you can set the mood in your dining area. You can also use wall scones and pin lights if you want to. Others prefer to use some decor overhead the dining table. This is also good.

Use additional accessories You can also place some accessories in your dining area. If your place is small, put a large mirror or a painting on the wall to make it look bigger. Choose the kind of painting that will also go in harmony with rest of the design. Accessories should be used subtly in this area. Add some sparkle in your dining area by placing accessories with glass elements.

Remember, the dining room won't be a dining room without a dining table.

Consider the right size and type of the table. Accessorize it in a manner that it suits the design style of your room. You should have good table placement and a good center piece, too. Also, do not forget to choose the kind of tableware that will complement with the color and design.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Cuisine

Pots & Pans

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

Take your mango juice in style T

he season for fresh fruits is here again. Do yourself a favor by blending a glass of fresh mango juice to relish the real taste of mango with all its nutrients and delicious taste.

Peel and chop ripe mango into pieces, place in blender with crushed ice, water and sugar or honey or date syrup as required. Blend to a smooth consistency and run through a sieve. Discard the left over pulp in the sieve.

Pour into tall glasses and serve.

Mango sago

Brown sugar, cream and mango

Mango juice with nuts

Thai mango juice with rice pudding

Mango Indian style

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Womanhood Population growth: a time bomb that only women can defuse

A

ttempts by several governments to control overpopulation threaten to impinge on human rights, yet failure to address the issue could cause a global population crash.

It has been argued that gender empowerment holds the key.

It's a question which now crops up with predictable frequency: what about population growth? It's the subject which everyone finds very hard to discuss, firstly because it leads quickly to polarised positions and fingerpointing blames. Population growth is an issue dominated by the question: who is having too many babies?

To many people across the world, this question is simply incomprehensible.

Firstly, because babies are still the most effective welfare state for many people; they offer the best chance of agricultural labour, family security, sibling support and welfare in old age.

Furthermore, in many cultures, having plenty of babies is crucial to your identity and your status as a woman or a man. Add to that the inaccessibility of safe birth control in many parts of the world, and it becomes clear how little choice has got to do with having babies outside of a relatively small prosperous corner of the globe.

To see a clutch of children as "too many" depends on a range of cultural assumptions that westerners take for granted which means they can make some rather silly mistakes. In Kampala a couple of years ago, a western NGO was trying to promote birth control in an advertising campaign, and they juxtaposed two images. In one, a couple had two children and a nice shiny car. In the other, the couple had several children but no car. The implication of the advert was obvious to the discerning mind, which is that you will be better off with fewer children.

But in fact, Ugandans were taking an entirely different message from the advert: they much preferred the image of

productiveness and big family and the car seemed a very poor exchange for a crowd of lively kids.

There is a really profound point in this everyday story of our cultural mistranslations.

What underlay the incident is a real clash of value systems, and who will be right in their own eyes, to insist that preferring a car to more children constitutes progress?

Yet, at the national level, Uganda's population is growing at one of the fastest rates in the world. So is that of other African countries like Nigeria who population has risen from about 100 million in 1995 to a whooping 167 million today. Attempts made to reduce poverty and expand health and education services have turned out a much harder task, quite apart from the tiring impact of this population growth on the environment.

On Tuesday night, I chaired a debate, "Crisis and recovery: ethics, economics and justice", with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the economist Robert Skidelsky, the Guardian's economics editor, Larry Elliot, and the new Conservative MP, Zac Goldsmith.

During the audience's questions, population growth inevitably came up. Skidelsky was deeply worried and warned that Experts have warned that while education does reduce fertility rates, it is having too slow an impact to prevent growth population explosion to the 9 billion predicted by the middle of the century.

Population growth is aptly described as "a time bomb".

Although there appears to be a dramatic drop in fertility rates in many parts of the world, which observers have linked to gender empowerment, escalating crime rates in suburban settlements in the cities and unemployment have also been linked to over-population. With education and empowerment, women will save the world. – guardian.co.uk

Women and children. There is a clear link between reduced fertility rates and gender empowerment.

PAGE 30

Archives

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013 Do you have old pictures for memories?

Send them to junioremma419@gmail.com

First HSC Class Provincial Secondary School (PSS), Katsina 1966/67, (Sitting) L-R: Stephen Danjuma, Haliru Akilu, Maliki Daniel, Frank Ajanaku, Ibrahim Mustapha, Bashari Dikko, Muraina Gbadamosi; (Standing) L-R: Dahiru Labo, Dennis Ingbian, Kabir Abdulkadir, Faisal Suka, Meshack Tarfa, Abu Aminu Yar'Adua

The German colony of the Cameroons. The Nigeria Regiment and Police

Troops of the Nigeria Regiment, 3rd West African Brigade (Thunder), boarding a Dakota Transport plane in 1943.

Nigerian footballer (centre), Pele, did something spectacular at a match during the Nigerian Civil War

The Carter bridge, Lagos, Nigeria

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 23 — SUNDAY 24, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 31

Leisure Photo of the day

WORD SEARCH Find the program related words listed at the bottom of this page in the friendship word search grid. The words may be forwards, backwards, up, down, or diagonal. Circle each letter separately but the letters in each friendship related word may be used in more than one of the words.

Space program Word Search

APOLLO ARMSTRONG BOOSTER BURNOUT CAPSULE CONTROL

CENTER COURSE CRATERS EAGLE LAUNCH MARINER

Words of wisdom “Nature and wisdom never are at strife.”

“It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves.”

“The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.”

“The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others.”

“Years teaches us more than books.”

“The wisdom of nations lies in their proverbs, which are brief and pithy.”

“The middle course is the best.”

“The only medicine for suffering, crime, and all the other woes of mankind, is wisdom.”

The Power Of Thinking • The true test of stewardship is not what your money is doing for you but what it's doing to you.

– John Maxwell

• Leading others takes courage. Knowing the right decision is usually easy. Making the right decision is hard.

– John C. Maxwell

• The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.

–Wayne Cretzky

• Leading followers is fast and easy, and it has little return; leading leaders is slow and hard, and has a great return.

– Frank Scully

• Vision adds value to everything.

– Dale Carnegie • It takes less time to do a thing right than to explain why you did it wrong.

– Henry Wadsworth • People do what people see. They forget your words but follow your footsteps.

– John C. Maxwell • If you want to make enemies, try to change something.

– Woodrow Wilson • Do not follow where the path may lead. Follow God, instead, to where there is no path and leave a trail.

• People who never do any more than they get paid for, never get paid for any more than they do.

– Elbert Hubbard • Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions.

Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

– Mark Twain • Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you'll understand what little chance you have of trying to change others.

– Jacob m. Braude • Loving people precedes leading them. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

– John C. Maxwell

“A wise man learns by the mistakes of others, a fool by his own.”

“Silence does not always mark wisdom.”

“Measure a thousand times and cut once.”

“No man was ever wise by chance.” ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

CARTOON

PAGE 32

F

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Compiled by Miriam Humbe

D

ue to the apparent northward movement of the sun, the global heat belt shifts northward . As such from March to May, it is usually hot here in Nigeria.

One of the most common forms of advice during hot weather is to wear light, loose-fitting clothing made of natural fibres. This seems logical; however, most technical clothing designed to increase thermal comfort and performance for athletes is close-fitting and made of synthetic wicking materials.

Stylish way to cope with heat

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Business News NSE: transactions remain on downward trend

A

R-L: Former Yobe State Governor , Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, President of the Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Mr. Agele John Olufohai, his Deputy, Mallam Murtala Aliyu and Chairman of the Institute FCT Chapter, Mohammed Abba Tor, at the Investiture of the Chairman and Senate Members of the FCT Chapter in Abuja on Friday, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

World Bank earmarks additional $300m for Human Development in Nigeria

By Etuka Sunday

W

orld Bank through its Director of Human Development in Africa, Ritva Reinikka said it has concluded plans to disburse 300 million dollars to help the 10 million youths that are currently out of school according to statistics, and also fight the ugly reality of poverty across twenty states in Nigeria.

Ritva Reinikka while addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja said Nigeria is faced with lots of challenges especially in the areas of quality education, child mortality and maternal mortality therefore there was need to

support government in addressing those challenges.

She said the 300 million dollars was additional money to the already existing portfolio of 1.2 billion dollars for Education, Health and other social support services, saying that the World Bank new approach to service delivery was designed as social protection to reduce poverty and inequality in Nigeria.

She expressed satisfaction with the developmental efforts of government in Lagos State in the area of Technical Colleges and the private partnership involved, adding that with such initiative, 100% jobs would be guaranteed.

Explaining the new World Bank

approach, the Sector Leader, Human Development in Abuja, Foluso Okunmadewa said the 300 million dollars was planned to support the existence programmes in 20 states but would start with seven states, which is: Bauchi, Niger, Cross River, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo and Kwara.

According to him, government would spend its money upfront to train the people as designed by World Bank after which they would be given 50% of the money that must have been spent in training them. He however advised them to ensure that the resources are well directed to the poor since verification visit to the said communities would be conducted before the money is paid.

CPC wants Consumer Protection Amendment Billfast-tracked

T

h e Consumer Protection Council (CPC) on Friday called on the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the Consumer Protection Amendment Bill to enable the council work effectively.

MsNgozikaObidike, the Head of the council, Lagos Zone, made the appeal during a Road Show to mark the World Consumer Rights Day in Lagos.

Obidike said that the bill would assist the agency at the national and

state levels to enforce the rights of consumers which had been lacking for years.

"Nigerian consumers have continued to suffer avoidable hardship as a result of weak system of consumer advocacy; which suggest that urgent passage of the bill will complement our efforts in propagating the rights of consumers and give us a legal framework to make more impact," she said.

A consumer advocate,

MrOlanrewajuOginni, who decried the low level of awareness of consumer rights and the unwillingness of Nigerians to report unsatisfying goods or services, said that some consumers preferred to remain unruffled, while some only got angry, but refused to report the case to the CPC. He therefore charged the council to intensify efforts on the campaign for consumer satisfaction as most Nigerians were ignorant of the council's activities. (NAN)

FCT agric. office urges farmers to register for scheme

T

he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) office of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has called on farmers in the territory to come out to register for this year's exercise.

Mr. Charles Momo, the FCT Director of the ministry said this in a statement on Friday, in Abuja.

According to him, the exercise which will enable farmers benefit from the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, which will commence on March 18, and will

run for two weeks.

He explained that the FCT had been divided into 62 political wards with each ward being manned by a trained enumerator.

"Farmers in the FCT are hereby encouraged to avail themselves of this opportunity and come out at the enumeration centres in their wards and get registered.''

He also called on traditional rulers, area council authorities, religious and opinion leaders to mobilise the farmers in their localities to get registered.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that this year's exercise is a follow-up to that of 2012 and it is mainly for those farmers that were not captured then.Under the initiative, farmers access inputs through an electronic distribution channel known as the e-wallet.

The conditions of the e-wallet scheme stipulates that a registered farmer under the scheme pays 50 per cent of the cost of farm inputs while the federal and state governments pay 25 per cent each on his behalf.

ctivities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed on Friday for the week on depressed note as the market capitalisation depreciated further by N83 trillion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation, which opened at N10.63 trillion, lost 0.78 per cent to close N10.54 trillion.

Similarly, the All-Share Index lost 256.94 points to close at 32,950.08 against the 33,207.02 posted on Thursday.

NAN reports that Dangote Cement recorded the highest price loss, dropping N1.50 to close at N141.50 per share.

Cadbury followed with a loss of N1.12 to close at N33.57 per share, while Access Bank lost 99k to close at N10.20 per share.

Ashaka Cement and Julius Berger also lost 99k each to close at N23 and N53 per share, respectively.

Market analysts attributed the development to profit taking by speculative investors to take advantage of price gains recorded by the market since the beginning of the year.

Conversely, Northern Nigeria Flour Mill led the gainers' chart with N1.17 to close at N24.60, while UAC Property gained N1.10 to close at N16 per share.

Nestle and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria appreciated by N1 each to close at N84.3 and N12.99, respectively, while Nigerian Breweries gained 80k to close at N166.80 per share.

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated emerged the most traded stock with a total of 68. 21 million shares worth N954.9 million.

Access Bank trailed with 50.69 million shares valued at N536.56 million.

In all, investors exchanged 429.65 million shares worth N4.62 billion in 5,456 deals against the 638.42 million shares valued at N6.27 billion traded in 5,880 deals on Thursday. (NAN)

NGO trains 7,000 women in Benue

W

omen Environmental Programme, a Non

GovernmentalOgarnisation (NGO), has trained 7,000 women on various entrepreneur skills, in Benue state, Samuel Tough, the state coordinator has disclosed.

Tough told the News Agency of Nigreia (NAN) in Makurdi on Friday that the decision to train the women was to give them a sense of belonging.

According to the coordinator, a lot of women are 'suffering everyday either in their homes, farms or at their places of work without the society paying attention to them;because of their gender, the society expects so much from them, yet they are not appreciated.

Tough said that most of them either lost their husbands or were underprivileged in the society, adding that theorganisation had decided to train the women to address their environmental issues and integrate them in the mainstream of the society.

"Our aim is to access the environmental and socio-economic challenges of the women and support them in areas where necessary.''

Tough said majority of the women were suffering because of their gender, adding that the NGO would educate them about their roles in the society.

"The African society generally feels that there are specific set out roles for women, the society believes that all about women are to be house wives."

He said 10 women were currently undergoing training in Japan and Kenya on beads.

He said that the NGO had also organised workshops and programmes on capacity building for women to encourage them to be selfreliant.

Tough however appealed to the public to re-examine the roles of women in the society and accept them equally for the development of the country.

The coordinator also urged the federal and state governments to acknowledge the efforts of the NGO and complement them by empowering women to be selfemployed. (NAN)

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IDRIS TELA BAYO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BALARABE TELA BAYO. ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BAUCHI STATE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AND THE GENERAL TO TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS FATIMA MUKTAR NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS RAHINATU MUKTAR. ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BAUCHI STATE HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD AND THE GENERAL TO TAKE NOTE.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 35

News Extra

How man 'murdered' stepbrother over land dispute

The late Ofiku From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

O

g o l i -Ugboju a community in Otukpo local government area of Benue state is still stunned by the gruesome murder of Ofikwu Iyabga a popular farmer in the locality.

58-year-old Ofikwu had been in litigation with his stepbrother, Inalegwu over a farmland and had received several threats from him.

The community had initiated several peace talks to broker peace between the two brothers but Inalegwu remained obstinate, boasting that if he kills Ofikwu and goes to jail, he would have no regrets.

Prior to his murder, according to Ofikwu's wife Maimuna who narrated the incident leading to her late husband's death to Peoples Daily Weekend, Inalegwu fought her husband for the mere reason that the late Ofikwu passed through his compound on his way back from the farm.

During the fisticuff, Inalegwu hit his brother with a hard instrument causing dislocation to the hand. She also recalled how Inalegwu had openly told her late husband that he will not live to enjoy the fruits of court victory, warning that he will die in the farm.

In the same vein, Matthew Adole, nephew of the deceased, corroborated Maimuna's words noting that Inalegwu made several moves to frustrate Ofikwu from his farmland. He said one of such was his unlawful 13-day detention orchestrated by one Gabriel Idu who works with Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in Abuja.

Chief Solomon Apochi Och' Ugboju On March 3rd 2013, Ofikwu who was said to have returned from the wake keeping ceremony of his wife's in-law the previous night at Ofiloko, a nearby village had finished preparing to go to church when a stranger walked into his house in the guise of wanting to buy wood.

Ofikwu did not realise that the young man was an agent of death.

He told the man that he hardly goes to the farm on Sunday but on a second thought suggested that the man wait for him to come back from the church so he could attend to his need. But the visitor insisted that Ofikwu must to the farm with him first before going to church.

Not suspecting the stranger of harbouring any evil intention, Ofikwu picked his machete and led the way to the farm which is about one kilometer from his residence.

But on getting to the farm, he met other colleagues of the visitor who requested him to give them his machete to mark any of the trees they wanted to buy. Ofikwu objected to their suggestion insisting that he would do the markings.

It was at this point that a large number of gangsters who had laid ambush came out from Inalegwu's farm that is opposite Ofikwu's. They were said to have brandished different weapons an axe and a knife.

The would be murderers told Ofikwu that they would kill him but a bemused Ofikwu pleaded for mercy that fell on deaf ears.

The first to strike him was the young

visitor who lured him to the farm. He was said to have hit him with a machete at the back while another person hit him with a dagger on the head. He also sustained deep cuts on his legs and slumped on his face in the pool of his blood.

However, unknown to the attackers, some children who were returning from the stream watched the gory incident happen.

According to one of them who recounted the incident to the family of the deceased, Ofikwu, before he was

“

During the fisticuff, Inalegwu hit his brother with a hard instrument causing dislocation to the hand. She also recalled how Inalegwu had openly told her late husband that he will not live to enjoy the fruits of court victory, warning that he will die in the farm.

overpowered was able to hit one of his attackers on the leg. The affected person who was seriously hurt was said to have run away through another bush path with his colleagues with blood dripping from his leg and is believed to be treating the wound in an unknown hospital.

The paramount ruler of Ugboju Chief Solomon Apochi Och' Ugboju, who regretted the death of Ofikwu whom he described as a man of peace, lamented over the series of murders in Ai-Obekpa clan where the Iyagbas hail from, maintaining "Ugboju people are not happy with the conduct of the people because this is not the character of my people".

Chief Apochi affirmed that the piece of land being contested by other people rightfully belonged to Ofikwu whom he said possess the certificate of occupancy.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ezeala said the culprits have since been arrested, detained, charged to court and bailed even as they case continues.

Death in farmlands in Idoma land seem to have assumed a worrisome dimension as only recently, an officer Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Apa local government area, James Nathaniel was murdered in his farm at Kaduna K'Olijamu in Edikwu ward. Nathaniel was said to have gone to the farm alone on that fateful day and was overpowered by unknown gunmen who shot and killed him on the spot.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

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”

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Re: Sovereign wealth fund Why north must promote female education

W

h e n e v e r the issue of the 10 million or so almajiris, who should be in school, but are not, comes up, there is the tendency to forget that for every male almajiri who is not in school, there is a similar number of young girls from the North, who are also supposed to be in school, but are not. By implication, there are at least 10 million young girls from the north who are missing out on the benefits of education.

Which is why today, if a formal study were to be carried out to determine the level of northern women participation in politics, government, business and other sectors today, such a study will undoubtedly demonstrate that not only are women of northern extraction hugely disadvantaged, it will also show that the major reason for their subdued roles in Nigerian public life is down to one factor: lack of access to education.

The irony is that some cultural tendencies - which are often used to deny women access to education clearly promote women education and enlightenment. It may surprise many to know that Nana Asmau, who was the daughter of the famous jihadist Sheikh Usman Danfodioactually wrote several books, some of which are still in print today.

If Dan Fodio could educate his daughter over 200 years ago, what excuses do we have for denying our female children access to education in this modern world where education is power? Education is an important foundation that improves the status of women and has also been recognised as a fundamental strategy for development. Educating a female child is like educating the whole nation and also enhances the economic productivity and growth.

Studies carried out by the World Bank has indicate that there is no investment in the world that is more effective for achieving developmental goals than educating a female child.

WRITE TO US Peoples Daily Weekend welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: The Editor, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja.

Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com Women are powerful catalysts for change. The challenge is how to ensure that women have the knowledge and practical skills to mobilize communities around local issues affecting women and the ability to leverage organizational resources.

Women in northern Nigeria, perhaps due to cultural and religious misconceptions obviously face more challenges in the pursuit of education than their counterparts from the south, making them generally less educated than women in Southern Nigeria. Considering the role of education in human and institutional development, it is a beaten truism to state that no woman should be left behind because education is the key to personal development, social enlightenment, economic empowerment and general societal progress.

It is pertinent to ask, why is it that despite the well-recognised role of education in social and economic development, girls in northern Nigeria are not attending school? Why is it that most women are simply programmed for marriage and not trained as potential contributors to national development?

Clearly, poverty and economic issues, early marriage and teenage pregnancy, inadequate school infrastructure and cultural and religious misinterpretation are the main issues that prevent girls from going to school. Unfortunately, this is a vicious cycle from which many have been unable to break away from. Despite government commitment to provide

universal basic education, the delivery of education services is inadequate and even more so in northern Nigeria.

The consequence is that the gender disparities in education between the Northern and Southern geo political zone are stark. Nationally about 43% of primary school aged girls do not have access to basic education and approximately more girls than boys are out of school. In the North, the percentage of girls who attended school stand at 34% and 39%, while for secondary school, the figures are 10% and 15%.This report shows that education in the north is in a poor shape.

The worst part of the confusion is that the states with the poorest education statistics often have the highest numbers of Muslim residents. Why have the authorities in those states chosen to ignore the fundamental Islamic injunction that

makes the pursuit of knowledge a responsibility of the entire community and not a male-only affair? What this tells us is that traditional beliefs and not Islam is the reason why so many of our young girls in the north remain illiterate and are denied education which is a fundamental right for every citizen.

Fortunately, the Sultan of Sokoto, in a recent address in support of the Universal Basic Education (UBE), reminded Muslim parents of the call of the Prophet that every member of society should seek for knowledge and enlightenment, even if it means going far from home. Clearly a lot of work needs to be done to re-orientate people and change long-held beliefs about the value of girl-child education.

It is time for northern governments and civil society organizations to learn from the past: Sheikh Usman Danfodio's daughter was a teacher, linguist, administrator, author of fifty-five works and founder of a women's education movement Yan Taru, remnants of which still exist in Sokoto today. We must encourage and assist young girls to fulfil their potentials through education.

Fatima Usman Faculty of Business Studies, Baze University, Abuja. (fatiusman93@yahoo.com)

“

In the North, the percentage of girls who attended school stand at 34% and 39%, while for secondary school, the figures are 10% and 15%.This report shows that education in the north is in a poor shape.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 37

Opinion Wammako at 60: A survivor of judicial coup

By Abdulhamid Babatunde

F

or Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako of Sokoto state, the attainment of 60 years of age is indeed a coming of age. Though, in keeping with the spiritual ambience of the Seat of the Caliphate, of which he is temporal head, and his own respect for decorum in governance, there was no fanfare, the occasion must have provided a unique opportunity for reflections on other significant events in his political career. Now heading steadily into the second half of a second term, His Excellency may have begun to get some relief after the agonizing predicament of a protracted and pernicious legal running battle waged by his political foes. He has definitely translated the dividend of peace of mind and unwavering focus on duty occasioned by the eventual and final squelching of the serial legal challenge of his popular election by the Supreme Court into greater good governance for the people of Sokoto State.

It may nevertheless be of interest in the context of remarkable milestones of Governor Wammako's tenure to learn that the same tortuous legal trauma he went through to revalidate his twice-affirmed popular mandate has now earned him a singular pride of place in the annals of election petition trials as a robust reference point in political litigations in Nigeria henceforth. This is by virtue of the fact that the Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi (DPP) versus Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako(PDP) election petition trial which lasted from May 11, 2007 to April 8, 2011 is the longest election trial ever.

This case engaged the attention of the political class and the general public with alarm and apprehension just as it tasked the mental faculties and professional competence of the legal teams involved while it lasted.

Indeed, in a climaxing turn of events, the election trial ultimately shook the foundations of the nation's judiciary with the threat of "drifting into judicial anarchy" and imminent pronouncement of "conflicting interpretation" of identical issues by two different courts of equal jurisdiction, as succinctly described by the legal luminary Yahaya Mahmoud ,SAN, himself a veteran of the case, in his concise compilation of the facts and issues of the saga.

Governor Wammako's experiences capture the vicissitudes of life and the astonishing changes of circumstances that can only be divinely determined. Sai Alu's remarkable rise from the suppressing machinations of his former political boss Bafarawa into the irrepressible hero of the people of Sokoto State transformed him into a legend in his own time. The persistence by proxy in pursuing Governor Wammako with intent to reverse his resurgence instead took a heavy toll on his political predators whose political shadows shortened dramatically.

The more profound political repercussions of the protracted legal challenge of his popular democratic mandate are of timeless significance. The legal angle precisely outlined in the Yahaya Mahmoud compilation of the trial raises several salient points to ponder. The opportunity to extend the political competition for popular mandate to tribunals and courts

and to even stand a good chance of effectively capturing the mandate by legal tactics is considered an affront on the sanctity of the expressed popular will of the people through the ballot box. Wammako's landslide election results of 392,258 in 2007 and 568,395 in 2008 above 296,419 and 126,046 respectively for Dingyadi meant little to the tribunals and courts pre-occupied with preelection procedures of qualification and nomination.

“

It may nevertheless be of interest in the context of remarkable milestones of Governor Wammako's tenure to learn that the same tortuous legal trauma he went through to revalidate his twice-affirmed popular mandate has now earned him a singular pride of place in the annals of election petition trials as a robust reference point in political litigations in Nigeria henceforth.

No less perplexing is the seeming solicitousness of the election tribunals, courts of appeal, federal high courts and even the Supreme Court implicit in entertaining proceedings, making pronouncements and sundry acts of commission and omission whose outrageous outcome included the creation of loopholes for litigants to "shop" for convenient verdicts and for judges to deliver conflicting interpretations of identical issues thereby paving the way for judicial anarchy to loom ominously over the temple of justice. Even as the Supreme Court and ultimately the National Judicial Council were eventually constrained to intervene to save the judiciary from terminal implosion, the rattled ranks of laymen shuddered at the thought of the consequences of a judicial coup ousting Wammako's tumultuously popular democratic mandate. The voice of the people proved to be the Voice of God when Governor Wammako polled 518,247 votes to secure his second term mandate on February 8, 2012, dusting his closest rival's 131,048.

This awesome conflict of political and judicial constituencies staged across seven tribunals and courts over a period of almost 4 years during which the verdict of the people was twice affirmed will also be a memorable milestone in the political career of Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako and the history of political struggle of the good people of Sokoto state whose "patience and resilience" is saluted in the compilation by Yahaya Mahmood, SAN. Abdulhamid Babatunde, former Editor, The Democrat, wrote from Kaduna

NECO and the fight against examination malpractice

By Lamara Garba

O

ver the years, examination malpractice has become a subject of discourse at both national and international fora. This venom which sadly characterises our educational system has often times created a credibility problem to the certificates awarded by our institutions of learning, especially when a student is seeking admission abroad. Right from primary to secondary schools through to the tertiary institutions, this ugly quest of wanting to pass examinations at all cost has eaten deep into the fabric of our national psyche. Everyone is looking for a shortcut to glory; which regrettably, affects the rating and ranking of our institutions of learning at the international level.

It is no exaggeration seeing primary school pupils inventing a theory and or formula of cheating in an examination.

However, it is worrisome to note that the saddest part of this cancer is that everybody is almost guilty in this case of malpractice: the parents, the school administrators and then the students themselves.

Examination malpractices come in so many forms. While in primary and secondary schools it is often considered as ‘help’, in universities and other tertiary institutions, they view it as ‘let my people go’ and therefore see nothing wrong in cheating.

In some secondary schools for example, the administrators see no harm in ‘helping’ the students to pass the examinations, on a flimsy logic that it will count on the percentage of the ‘successful’ men and women they tutored.

In particularly theprivate schools, they indulge in malpractice because, to them, the students’ performance in SSCE may determine the volume of their students’ enrollment which of course will mean an

increase in the revenue generation of the school.

The most annoying trend however, is the direct involvement of parents who are supposed to guide their wards against such negative attitude. It is surprising to note that parents participate in the promotion of examination malpractice by way of patronising schools with ‘good’ students’ performance in their final examinations and sometimes they engage themselves or encourage their wards to cheat during examinations, either by hiring someone to sit for examinations on behalf of their children or pay invigilators to allow students cheat during examinations, so that they can pass out with wonderful grades.

Indeed, corruption and bad governance occasioned by underdevelopment are all byproducts of examination malpractice. A situation where a pupil cheats at common entrance examinations for example and fraudulently gains admission into a secondary school, and there too, he cheats in his final SSCE examinations to get admission into a tertiary institution, prepares such a person for committing the same fraud in the tertiary institution so as to graduate.

Certainly when such a person gets to the larger society, he will not hesitate to employ all sorts of irregularities in order to get promoted from one grade level to another and as well amass wealth in a fraudulent and corrupt manner.

However, disturbed by the growing trend and its attendant negative consequences especially in the conduct of examinations at primary and secondary schools, coupled with the desire to produce a special human breed for the future by way of ensuring credible certificates that meet international standards, the National Examinations Council (NECO), the body

charged with the responsibility of organising and conducting these examinations decided to come up with a policy to address the ugly development.

Since his assumption to office in 2007 as the Registrar Chief Executive of NECO, Prof.

Promise Nwachukwu Okpala, has concerned himself with the responsibility of checking the excesses of dubious elements in the system who perpetrate all sorts of examination malpractices. Suffice it to say that prior to the establishment of NECO and the appointment of Prof. Okpala, cases of examination malpractice in our country’s educational system were unimaginable and unprecedented. They included among others, leakage of examination questions, impersonation of candidates, importation of answer sheets and even outright award of results to unregistered candidates. These, no doubt, have adversely affected the quality of graduates from our institutions of learning.

Determined to tackle the problem headlong, Prof. Okpala-led management introduced a number of measures in order to get rid of malpractices and other wrong tendencies associated with examinations conducted by the body. These measures include the provision of highly customized answer scripts to make NECO examinations leakage-proof, effective monitoring of all examinations using combined security operatives from the officers and men of the Nigeria Police, SSS and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps and the personnel of tertiary institutions to serve as invigilators and supervisors respectively.

In the same vein, its vigorous pursuit of excellence and to conduct malpractice-free examinations, NECO, through the innovation of its Registrar/Chief Executive became the first public examination body in the country in 2011 to introduce and

successfully deploy biometric data verification machine in admitting candidates that sat for its examinations. The measure which discourages cheating, especially impersonation of candidates, has subsequently been applied in all its examinations since then.

It is gratifying to note that since the commencement of the anti-malpractice measures adopted by the council, particularly the use of coded answer booklets for different subjects, NECO has been able to eliminate the practice of importing of answer sheets into the examination halls thereby making it extremely difficult for cheating during any examinations conducted by the body.

Recently, while announcing the release of the 2012 November/December Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) results, Prof. Okpala, happily disclosed that NECO’s fight against examination malpractices have been yielding the desired dividends as evidenced by the remarkably low malpractice incidences. Thus, the statistics of malpractice has drastically dropped compared to what obtained in the past. According to Prof. Okpala, the success in curbing malpractice was the resultant effect of the stiff measures adopted

by NECO especially in the last four years he has been in charge, diligent workforce and the zero tolerance of dubious elements within and outside the organisation who were hitherto aiding and abetting of the conduct of all forms of malpractice.

With this development therefore, it’s apt to say that NECO results now are not only reliable and credible, but equally meeting international standards and acceptability so that holders can raise their shoulders to compete favorably with their peers at the global arena.

Lamara Garba, is the Chief Information Officer at NECO

PAGE 39

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

International

Samsung unveils Galaxy S4 S

a m s u n g has unveiled its latest and most-hyped smartphone, the Galaxy S4, which allows users to control its 5in (12.5cm) screen using only their eyes.

The phone, the first in the highly successful Galaxy S-series to make its global debut on US soil, was showcased in New York on Thursday, with the South Korean electronics giant challenging US rival Apple on its home turf.

The S4 can stop and start videos depending on whether someone is looking at the screen, flip between songs and photos at the wave of a hand, and record sound to run alongside snapped still pictures.

The vast selection of new features "are good steps in this direction, but they can be seen as gimmicks rather than game changers," said Jan Dawson, chief telecom analyst at IT research outfit Ovum.

"At this point, Samsung appears to be trying to kill the competition with sheer volume of new features.

"For now, Samsung can likely rely on its vastly superior marketing budget and the relatively weak efforts of its competitors in software to keep it ahead."

The success or failure of Samsung's latest flagship phone - the fourth in a brand launched in 2010 - will be pivotal in the world's biggest smartphone maker's battle against Apple and smaller competitors.

A day before the launch, Apple's vice-president of marketing Phil Schiller criticised Samsung and Google Android software, underscoring the pressure that the iPhone maker is feeling from its Korean mobilephone rival.

"Android is often given as a free replacement for a feature phone and the experience isn't as good as an iPhone," Schiller told the Wall Street Journal.

The S4, which Samsung preceded with a marketing launch that drummed up industry speculation reminiscent of some of Apple's past launches, will be available by the end of April.

The device will be rolled out to 327 carriers in 155 countries, including US service providers Verizon Wireless , AT&T, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile USA. "Samsung has fulfilled the promise of their marketing that they are the tech innovators," said Forrester analyst Charles Golvin.

"It remains to be seen whether it's overload for customers,

The success or failure of Samsung's latest feature-rich smartphone will be pivotal in its battle against Apple whether they can really take advantage of all these features."

The S4 will use either Samsung's

own applications processor or Qualcomm's Snapdragon central processing chip, depending on the

country. But the exact dates and prices have yet to be released by the company.

strips ex-president of Vatican rejects Dirty War Zambia immunity from prosecution claims against pope Z

T

h e Vatican has rejected claims that Pope Francis has failed to speak out against human-rights abuses during Argentina's military rule and said he had in fact helped save lives.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first pope to come from Latin America, has been criticised by leftist critics for his actions during Argentina's Dirty War in which 30,000 people died or disappeared from 1976 to 1983.

His role in the arrest of two young Jesuit priests, Orlando Yorio and Francisco Jalics, who were taken to a torture centre by the ruling junta, has come under intense scrutiny.

Speaking on Friday Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said: "There has never been a credible, concrete accusation against him. The Argentinian justice system ... has

Pope Francis (I)

never charged him with anything."

He said the campaign against Bergoglio was "well known" but claimed it was defamatory and aimed at discrediting the Church.

"The accusations come from parts of the anti-clerical left to attack the Church and must be denied," said Lombardi, insisting that Bergoglio "did a lot to protect people during the dictatorship" when he was not yet a bishop.

Bergoglio himself has always denied any involvement in the case, and even says he intervened with the head of the junta, Jorge Videla, to beg for them to be freed. The two men were released after five months.

The newly elected pontiff, who is also the first Jesuit pope, earlier urged the Catholic Church that he has inherited not to succumb to

"pessimism" and to find new ways of spreading the faith.

"Let us not give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day," he told an audience of the world's cardinals on his third day in office.

In a reference to the declining number of worshippers in many parts of the world, he urged the cardinals to find "the courage to persevere and also to find new ways to bring evangelisation to the ends of the earth".

Francis, 76, said he and they were "elderly", but old age brought wisdom.

"Let us give this wisdom to young people like good wine that gets better over the years," he told the cardinals.

Francis hailed his predecessor Benedict XVI's historic resignation as a "courageous and humble act".

Benedict, who last month became the first pope to stand down for 700 years, had "lit a flame in the depth of our hearts that will continue to burn", he said.

Francis wore white papal vestments but also plain black shoes, not the red shoes favoured by his German predecessor, for the address in the ornate 16th-century Clementine Hall in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican.

He has indicated that he will lead a more simple papacy, stripped of the fineries enjoyed by his predecessors.

On Thursday, he gave a stark warning that the Church, wracked by scandal and Vatican infighting, risked becoming just another charitable organisation if it strayed from its true mission.

a m b i a 's parliament stripped former President Rupiah Banda of immunity from prosecution on Friday, clearing the way for investigators to arrest him for corruption-related offences.

Banda is accused of abuse of office, corrupt acquisition of public property and misappropriation of public funds involving more than $11 million during his tenure as president.

Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba said the government had concluded its investigations and were ready to prosecute.

"We bring this motion in the interest of the country," Kabimba said, Banda was swept from office in 2011 by current President Michael Sata, whose government has launched several high-profile graft probes into deals struck by

the former administration while it ran Africa's biggest copperproducing country.

Kabimba has accused Banda of siphoning $2.5 million from the treasury in a 2008 oil deal and the former president has also been accused of using public funds to finance his 2011 campaign.

Banda's lawyer Robert Amsterdam said in a statement that Friday's action in parliament was aimed at getting rid of political competitors.

Sata's government has already won convictions against a few Banda officials and has been investigating suspected shortfalls in tax collection revenues from copper.

In February, Banda who then enjoyed immunity from prosecution, refused to appear before a team of investigators, which summoned him for questioning on graft allegations.

Zambia's President Rupiah Banda gestures during the Reuters Africa Investment Summit held in Johannesburg March 8, 2011.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 41

Weekend CAF cups campaigns

Kano Pillars, Lobi Stars, Heartland, Rangers go to war

K

ano Pillars are in war mood against visiting AC Leopards in the CAF Champions League campaign, the pedigree of the Congolese team, notwithstanding. The visitors are last year's winners of the Confederation Cup. But against Pillars, which bundled out an opponent from the Central African Republic to secure the berth for this round, their reputation will count for nought going by the mood and physical poise of the ancient Kano team.

Pillars, who will have the full complement of the Super Eagles trio of Mannir Ubale, Papa Idris and striker Gambo Mohammed for the game, are eager to extend their impressive form today at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata.

In the opening Nigeria Professional Football League game away to Wikki Tourists, Pillars showed their sterner stuff by posting just one of the two on the road wins and the technical crew say they are not in a hurry to shift ground.

Enugu Rangers will make the trip to Burundi for the first leg of the first round in the CAF CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Zanaco v Orlando Kedus Giorgis v Djoliba FUS Rabat v Union Douala AFAD v Cotonsport Centre Chiefs v TP Mazembe Kano Pillars v AC Leopards Sewe Sport v Al Hilal ASFA v ES Setif SUNDAY Vitalo v Enugu Rangers Tusker v Al Ahly Recreativo v Al Merreikh Bizertin v Dynamos 1º de Agosto v Esperance Casa Sport v SM Bamako CAF CONFEDERATION CUP ENPPI v Gor Mahia Petro de Luanda v SuperSport Lobi Stars v Muculmana Wydad v Douanes ASEC v du Kadiogo Motema Pembe v LLB Academic Heartland v US Bitam Al Ahli Shendi v Dedebit Ismaily v Terreble CO CS Sfaxien v GAMTEL Recreativo da Caala v US Bougouni Barrack YC II v Azam FAR Rabat v Al Nasr Etoile Sahel v Onze Createurs USM Alger v Panthere Diables Noirs v The Panthers

Kano Pillars’ players lining up before a league game Champions League against Vital'O on Sunday.

Former African Coach of the Year, Okey Emordi, has named a squad without Super Eagles' trio, Chigozie Agbim (not cleared), Chibuzor Okonkwo (not registered) and Sunday Mba, who is a player in dispute.

But Emordi is confident of leaving the Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium in Bujumbura with a result against the Burundian champions.

"I have a squad capable of winning games. We have worked with players we have for this game rather than bother ourselves with those who are currently unavailable," said Emordi, who won the CAF Champions League with Enyimba in 2004.

In the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup, Heartland and Lobi Stars will play their opening legs at home this weekend against US Bitam and Liga Muculmana de Maputo (LDMM) respectively.

Heartland and Lobi Stars were drawn bye in the preliminary round.

At the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri tomorrow, Heartland face Gabon's US Bitam, who humiliated Desportivo de Guadalupe from Sao Tome and Principe 17-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round.

Lobi Stars will make their fourth appearance in Caf competitions after three previous attempts in 2000 (in

the Champions League) and in 2004 and 2006 (in the Confederation Cup).

Ezekiel Bassey and Tony Okpotu will join up with Lobi Stars on Friday from the Super Eagles' camp in Abuja for the game against the Mozambicans in Bauchi on Sunday.

The second leg for the matches in the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup will hold in a fortnight.

Elsewhere, Botswana club Mochudi Centre Chiefs play

their biggest game to date in Africa when they host fourtime champions TP Mazembe of DR Congo.

The two-time Botswana champions coached by Zimbabwe-born Madinda Ndlovu face Mazembe on Saturday at the UB stadium in Gaborone in a 2013 CAF Champions League first round, first leg match.

Centre Chiefs advanced to the first round the hard way with a giant-killing act over

1995 CAF Cup semifinalists and six-time Mozambique league champions Maxaquene.

Ndlovu's side beat Maxaquene 1-0 away in Maputo on February 17 before cementing their first round place via a similar scoreline in the return leg in Gaborone to advance 2-0 on aggregate.

Centre Chiefs defender and captain Arnold Chaka said they were not under any illusions about what awaited them against Mazembe.

UEFA CL Q/F pairings: PSG will go through against Barca, says Ancelotti

“

I think it's brilliant to play Barcelona. I'm very happy but it'll be very difficult...

Barca have a lot of experience, quality and confidence but PSG have a chance of going through.

We'll have to play the full 180 minutes," Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti said shortly yesterday'sdraw that pitched teams for the quarterfinals.

He admitted it would be difficult but not impossible. "It's the most difficult draw... And I'm not only talking about their last game (a 4-0 win against AC Milan after being 2-0 down from the first leg) but because of what they've achieved in the last few seasons."

Bayern Munich chief

executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also reacted.

"That's not a dream draw for us because we have had some tough games with Juventus in the past. We'll have to have two good performances to make the semifinals. A 1-0 or 2-0 in the first leg would be ideal for us.

"Statistically we have not had good experiences with Juventus. It will be difficult and we will need to have two good days against them to reach the semis."

Nine-times winners Real Madrid will take on Galatasaray in a tie which pits Jose Mourinho, coach of the Spanish side, against his former Chelsea player Didier Drogba. Real are at home first.

Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund were drawn against Champions League newcomers Malaga in the other quarter-final with the Spaniards at home in the first leg.

"We can live with this draw," Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc said. "At least it is better than playing Barcelona, Real or Bayern."

The first legs will be played on April 2 or 3 and the second legs on April 9 or 10.

Draw for the Champions League quarterfinals: Malaga v B/Dortmund Real Madrid v Galatasaray Paris St Germain v Barcelona Bayern Munich v Juventus

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

African Youth Championship

Flying Eagles begin title defence

By Patrick Andrew

N

ow, the die is cast, the moment of truth has arrived and the credentials of the respective aspirants will be fully put to the test. Indeed, the chaff will shift from the grain and fiction from facts.

This weekend, the race for the coveted African Youth Championship trophy kicks off with the Flying Eagles, the defending champions, standing up against other contenders in the quest for the prestigious trophy.

The Flying Eagles are aiming to repeat the Super Eagles' performance. The senior Eagles paraded fledgling players yet stunned top favourites Ivory Coast and Ghana and defending champions Zambia to clinch the trophy after 19 years of asking.

In Algiers, the junior Eagles will be the cynosure of all eyes as defending champions- one that parades five of the players that featured in the last edition and many others that had graduated from the Golden Eaglets.

So, as the fiesta kicks off today with hosts Algeria tackling Benin Republic in Ain Temouchent, Flying Eagles square up against fellow West Africans Mali in Oran, while the second Group B game will be between two debutants, Gabon and DR Congo.

The Flying Eagles next Group B match will be on Wednesday against Gabon, who arrived Oran, four days ago to further extend their acclimatisation after they spent a week in Morocco.

The final group game will be on Saturday, March 23, also in Oran against DR Congo, who like Gabon, are also making their debut in this tournament.

The Flying Eagles are in the three-star Eden Airport Hotel, which is also where the three other teams are staying while the match venue is about five minutes drive from the hotel.

Nigeria are the most successful team at the African Youth Championship having won it a record six times with their last conquest being two years ago in South Africa.

The Flying Eagles have ruled Africa in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005 and 2011. They have also been runners-up twice (1997, 2007), and placed third on four other occasions.

Egypt and Ghana, who are also be at Algeria 2013, have each won this U20 competition thrice.

The semi-finalists qualify for FIFA U-20 World Cup finals to be played from 21stJune to 13th July 2013 in Turkey.

On paper, three former champions: Nigeria, Egypt and Ghana are the favourites. Add Algeria as the hosts to that number and you won't be wrong. Since the inception of

Ramon Azeez of Flying Eagles

Ahmed 'Koka' Hassan

this tournament, Ghana and Nigeria have been the heroes of youth football in African.

Ghana went on to become the first African U-20 team to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup championship. The Flying Eagles though are yet to accomplish that feat, they won the silver in 2005.

The four remaining teams are still beginners in the tournament. Yet, unbelievable as it may seem, since the beginning of this version with the current format of U-20 finals in 1991, Algeria have never made it to the final. DR Congo made it to this year's tournament after defeating Cameroon who were present at the 2009 and 2011 finals.

Benin Republic made it to the final in 2003, but this was the year in which they hosted the tournament. They exited from this tournament in 3rd position which saw them qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Benin were highly impressive during the knockout stages beating both Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal. It would be naïve to underestimate this team.

Similarly, Gabon have only ever made it to one final which was back in 2005 in Burkina Faso where they knocked out both Tunisia and Burkina Faso.

Ever since their U-23 side won the inaugural CAF championship of that age group in December 2011 and qualified for the London Olympics, Gabon football has

taken a turn for the better which was confirmed by a place in the 2012 AFCON quarter finals. This is a team which certainly have a few aces up their sleeves.

As is the case with football, we can never predict the final outcome let alone who will be in the semi-finals. A place in the

semi-finals will mean automatic qualification for the FIFA World Cup which will take place from 21 June to 13 July in Turkey.

Group A will be made up of Algeria, Benin. Egypt and Ghana whilst group B will be made up of Gabon, Mali, Nigeria, and Congo.

CAF U20 coaches: Algeria: Jean Marc Nobilo (France) Benin: Sedogbo Alohoutade

Ghana: Sella Tetteh

Egypt: Mohamed RabieYassin

Nigeria: John Sam Obu

Gabon: Anicet Yala Ngoukou

DR Congo: Sébastien Migné (France)

Mali: Moussa Keita

CAF U-20: 32 foreign-based 15 of these players profs in Algiers playThen, for French club which is

O

f the 168 players (21 per team) who will be participating in the 12th edition of the Orange CAF U-20 African Championship, 32 did not participate in their national championship. of the lot, DR Congo lead with eight foreignbased professionals while Algeria and Mali come in tow.

Gabon are the only country with a single non-domestic league player This may not come as such a big surprise as this was the case with the 29th edition of the Orange AFCON 2013 in South Africa.

not hard to believe because amongst the coaches there will be 2 Francophone coaches (Algeria and DR Congo) along with six French nationals.

Algeria: 6 Ayoub Belabes, goalie (US Quevilly/France) Nassim Torche, goalie (Lyon la Duchère/France) Mokhtar Rabah Toumi, defender (Montpellier/France) Kenzi Zenadi, midfielder (Sedan/France) Bilal Ouali, forward (Reims/France) Thomas Paul Izerghouf, Continued on page 43

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 43

Manchester United confident of maintaining lead

Van Persie celebrating with team mates

M

a n c h e s t e r United winger Ashley Young has warned title rivals Manchester City there is no chance his team of serial winners will falter with the Premier League crown within touching distance.

Young and his United team-mates return to league action against managerless Reading at Old Trafford on Saturday determined to get back on track after a pair of frustrating setbacks.

After being dumped out of the UEFA

Champions League by Real Madrid, United blew a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

But Alex Ferguson's side remains firmly on course to regain the English title from champions City after surging 12 points clear at the top.

And England international Young is convinced the experience of the likes of Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, who have all won countless trophies with United, will ensure they don't throw away their lead.

While even City manager Roberto Mancini has conceded his team have only a slim chance of catching United, the club's French left-back Gael Clichy has a more positive outlook.

City have only beaten Everton once in seven games during Mancini's reign and David Moyes' men will be desperate to defeat the champions at Goodison Park as they look to erase the bitter taste of last weekend's FA Cup exit against Wigan.

But Clichy believes City's epic fightback in the title race last season, when they came from eight points bhind to overhaul United on the final day, should provide more than enough motivation to keep chasing Ferguson's team.

While the fate of the title race remains in United's hands, the battle to qualify for the Champions League is much harder to predict.

Third placed Tottenham host Fulham knowing they must win to stay ahead of Chelsea, who are two points behind their London rivals in fourth place.

The Blues face West Ham at Stamford Bridge looking to build on that impressive Cup recovery against United.

Arsenal made a valiant effort to avoid elimination from the Champions League on Wednesday, winning 2-0 at Bayern Munich but losing the last 16 tie on away goals.

But there is no time for Arsene Wenger's fifth placed team to feel sorry for themselves as they travel to Swansea looking to close the gap on Chelsea, who are five points ahead of the Gunners.

At the other end of the table, QPR travel to Aston Villa for a crunch relegation clash with confidence high after successive victories.

Barcelona target Real’s record

B

a c k on track in Europe, Barcelona will return to chasing history in the Spanish league with Real Madrid’s point record still

in reach.

Barcelona are well on their way to dethroning Madrid for the league title with a 13-point lead with 11 games to go, but the Catalan club will need a near perfect run-in to surpass Madrid’s milestone of 100 points from last season.

Barcelona enters tomorrow’s home game against Rayo Vallecano with 71 points, meaning they must earn 29 of 33 to match Madrid’s feat from last season.

After a bad run of results including two losses to Madrid, Lionel Messi helped Barcelona by scoring twice in an emphatic 4-0 win over AC Milan on Tuesday to become the first team to overturn a 2-0 away loss from the first leg in the Champions League.

Madrid host an improving Mallorca today clinging to a one-point lead over crosstown rival Atletico Madrid, who visits Osasuna tomorrow.

Madrid ended Barcelona’s three-year reign of the domestic league last season, and by collecting the most points ever. Barcelona, already eliminated by Madrid from the Copa Del Rey semifinals, now have the added motivation to finish out the season in recordbreaking fashion.

A

Barclays Premier League Everton v Man City Aston Villa v QPR Southampton v Liverpool Stoke v West Brom Swansea v Arsenal Man Utd v Reading Sunday Sunderland v Norwich Tottenham v Fulham Wigan v Newcastle Chelsea v West Ham German Bundesliga B/ Dortmund v SC Freiburg Werder Bremen v Greuther Nurnberg v Schalke 04 TSG Hoffenheim v Mainz Hamburg v Augsburg B/Leverkusen v B/Munich Sunday E/Frankfurt v VfB Stuttgar B /M’gladbach v Hannover 96 Italy Serie A Catania Bologna Sunday Siena Napoli Pescara Fiorentina AC Milan Sampdoria

Messi

the second successive year.

Last year, Milan lost to Fiorentina after the Champions League exit, essentially ending their bid to win the Serie A title.

Thid-place Milan are two points behind Napoli in second spot and the final automatic Champions League berth. Napoli host Atalanta, while leader Juventus look to extend

their nine-point advantage at Bologna today.

Milan are the only team in Serie A yet to lose in 2013. That run of seven wins and three draws has allowed Massimiliano Allegri's side to set higher targets.

Forward Mario Balotelli, who has scored five goals in five games, returns after being ineligible for the Barcelona trip.

v v

Udinese Juventus

v v v v v v

Cagliari Atalanta Chievo Genoa Palermo Inter Milan

Spanish Primera Liga Real Sociedad v Valladolid Getafe v Athletic Bilbao Real Madrid v Mallorca Valencia v Real Betis Sunday Malaga v Espanyol Sevilla v Real Zaragoza Osasuna v Atletico Madrid Granada v Levante Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano French Ligue 1 Bastia Lorient Sochaux Lille Montpellier Reims Sunday AS Nancy Toulouse St Etienne

AC Milan turns attention back to Serie A after Barcelona defeat f t e r a disappointing midweek exit from the Champions League, AC Milan need to focus on the Serie A match against Palermo tomorrow if they are to be back among Europe's elite next season.

Milan held a 2-0 lead from the first leg, but lost 4-0 at Barcelona on Tuesday to be dumped out of the competition by the Catalan club for

WEEKEND FIXTURES

v v v v v v

Lyon Brest Valenciennes Evian TG Grand Troyes Rennes

v v v

Nice Bordeaux PSG

Spanish Primera Liga Real Sociedad v Getafe v Real Madrid v Valencia v Sunday Malaga v Sevilla v Osasuna v Granada v Barcelona v

Valladolid Athletic Bilbao Mallorca Real Betis Espanyol Real Zaragoza Atletico Madrid Levante Rayo Vallecano

PAGE 44

P I C T O R I A L

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

With four spots at this year's FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey up for grabs, the eight African teams competing for the continental crown in Algeria know that there will be a thin line between disappointment and glory.

Tottenham players were allegedly subjected to racist chants by Inter Milan fans as they progressed beyond the Europa League last-16 at the San Siro.

Stuart Broad strikes twice in two balls to help England take a firm grip on the second Test against New Zealand

Rafael Nadal continues his comeback from a long-term knee injury with a 6-4 62 win over Roger Federer at Indian Wells.

Olympic 10,000 champion Tirunesh Dibaba's marathon debut in the London race next month is postponed because of a leg injury.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 45

Politics

Nasarawa PDP is in total disarray, says chieftain Y

o u are a staunch member of the PDP in Nasarawa state.

Looking back, what can you say was responsible for the downfall of the party in the state?

Honestly, I belief in saying the truth and that is why a lot of people can be very upset when we speak the truth. PDP has been a dominant party in the state. In 1999, we had the governorship seat, 21 members of the state assembly, five members of the House of Representatives and three senators. This was achievable then because we were one family.

In 2003, there was a very strong challenge from some members of the party, with the late Haruna Abubakar challenging Abdullahi Adamu, then governor. Still the party was able to capture 23 out of the 24 state assembly seats, as well as all the members of the National Assembly. To my thinking, the party started to have problems in the process of bringing a non PDP member to be the governor of the state. That person was none other than Aliyu Akwe Doma. That was when the party began to lose grip, losing five seats at the state assembly, one seat each for the House of Representatives and the senate.

That was the beginning of our problems.

From 2007, the administration of Aliyu Akwe refused to be an inclusive government, rather he chose to localise everything. So the party began to have problems here and there.

A lot of people contested elections‌ and I challenge anybody to prove me wrong‌ but expended huge amount of money within the party to emerge victorious. For the party primaries, there is no assembly aspirant, especially those that were previously in the House, who did not spend less than N40 million to secure the party's ticket. For the members of the House of Representatives, aspirants expended not less than N70 million within the party just to secure tickets.

Likewise the senate, an aspirant could only secure the PDP ticket after spending in the excess of N100 million.

This is just within the PDP family, not to talk of the general election. So when this happened, the governor then asked everyone to go and campaign on their own steam, not as a family again. He constituted a task force as his campaign machine, disbanding the Aliyu Akwe Doma Campaign Organisation, with the party machinery also sidelined. Only the chairman of the party and his secretary were carried along. Almost all the structures from the ward to the state level were sidelined.

And that was what took us to our present position. For those who contested but lost, nobody came out to console them. There was no attempt at a genuine reconciliation. That was why all those that lost in the primaries decided to go and do otherwise. As if that was not enough, the governor, barely two months to the general election, dissolved the local councils. Aliyu Doma allowed the DPMs, who are public servants, to handle the elections at the council level.

It is evident that the PDP in Nasarawa is no longer one family, what with the emergence of factions within the party. Do you think there has been any genuine attempt to reconcile aggrieved members of the party?

I have been a member of the party since 1999. Before then, I was in the ANPP. But as soon as we lost the election that year, we decamped immediately to PDP and actively participated in assisting the party win the senate seat, with the late Haruna Abubakar

Hon. Aliyu Bello is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa state.

He contested for the position of the state secretary for the party during the last congresses after which together with others, formed the Concerned Members Group, challenging the emergence of the Chief Yunana Iliya-led state exco. In this interview with Ali Abare Abubakar, our Lafia correspondent, the former councilor bared his mind on the state of the PDP in Nasarawa, calling for a genuine reconciliation as the party's fortunes continue to dwindle. emerging victorious. We also participated actively in the emergence of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as president. If you looked at what happened then, and like in most civilised societies, where a general would lead a war and get defeated, you will not expect such a person to lead the army into the next battle.

But that was exactly what happened in Nasarawa.

We understand and quite agree that the problem of the PDP in Nasarawa was the former governor and the leadership of the party. One would have expected that having realised this, there are yardsticks for conducting party congresses, like the article that gives eight years as the maximum time to occupy a particular position in the party. Instead, we closed our eyes to that, abandoning the zoning formula propounded in 1998. If you care to look, all the offices zoned to particular local governments across the state, have subsisted since 1999, with no attempt to revolve the offices as enshrined in the document regulating the affairs of the party. The only time when there was a swapping of party offices was when Aliyu Doma came into office, when the position of the state party chairman was shifted from Doma to Keffi, while that of the secretary was changed from Keffi to Doma. All other party offices remain unchanged since 1999. This was allowed to occur merely to protect vested interests. We made a case for the party to allow interested members to seek election into party offices of their choice, after which we presented our case before the national secretariat which then instructed the zonal chairman of the party, Alhaji Ayitogo, as well as a former board member, now secretary of the party's BOT, Sen. Walid Jibrin, to form a committee to monitor the conduct of the party primaries.

In that committee, Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, represented members of the Concerned Forum, Hon. Godiya Akwashiki, represented the legislature and the state secretary of the party represented the exco. That committee recommended that members of the Concerned Forum and the exco, should come together to form a unified committee to handle the primaries but it was on the eve of the primary elections that the state exco, under the leadership of Chief Yunana Iliya, reneged and refused to comply with the decision of the committee set up by the national secretariat. From there, there was no congress at all in Nasarawa state. So while

there was no c o n g r e s s , members of the Concerned Forum said let there be a congress. We agreed that if that was the case, we will go to the courts to stop the conduct of the congress and we went to court

Hon. Aliyu Bello and we are still in court.

In essence you are saying that and despite the call by the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led exco for reconciliation, there is yet to be an understanding between aggrieved members in Nasarawa state?

You see we saw our problems solved when Bamanga Tukur came with his 3 Rs; reconciliation, reformation and rebuilding.

Reconciliation without bitterness, reforming without revenge and rebuilding with a sense of fairness and justice. So you see, without justice and fairness, there is no basis for reconciliation. That is where we are now presently. They say everything to our leader, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu. They abuse him, they accuse most of us of selling out the party. They even accuse us of conniving with the CPC, which is not true. If you look at it again, Abdullahi Adamu is from Nasarawa West and it is on record that that was the only zone the PDP won during the 2011 guber election and the party lost in the other two zones. We lost in the Nasarawa North, were our minister came from as well as Nasarawa south where our governorship candidate came from. So what are they saying, what are they accusing Abdullahi Adamu for?

Has there been a genuine attempt to reconcile the factions?

As far as we are concerned, we are not going to agree with any reconciliation attempt

emanating from the illegitimate state exco.

As far as we are concerned, that party machinery in the state lacks legitimacy and as such we do not recognise them. As PDP members, we will however agree to reconcile if such initiatives come from the national secretariat, if it is genuine. We care for the party and that was why we presented our case before the national secretariat. We went there to tell them that the party requires a total reorganisation. And mind you, every political office holder under the CPC, right from the governor, were PDP members. Let us ask ourselves, why these people had to leave the party to go and contest under a rival party? It is not as if the manifesto of the CPC was better than that of the PDP, neither its ideology but they went to the CPC because they were frustrated out of the PDP. So if one is frustrated and chased out of his house, if he comes to even a hut, he hides there.

I don't think it is good for the state to be in the opposition because we are a poor state and we need support from the Federal Government.

Tanko Al-makura was chased out of the PDP and he did not leave the party to the CPC because it has a better manifesto. You can even imagine a party chairman seeking reconciliation going on air to denounce his challengers as being inconsequential. We want the party to re-structure so that aggrieved members can return. But as long as those responsible for chasing away former party loyalist are still in charge, it will be difficult to reconcile aggrieved members.

With the disarray within the party in Nasarawa, do you foresee the PDP retaining its stranglehold at the state assembly come 2015?

I like this question simply because people are deceiving themselves. And I believe in saying the truth. Most of these members, only a few of them did not betray the PDP. This is because most of them voted for the CPC before their people voted for them. Go and ask around. They were told that even though their people wanted them but they were asked to vote for the CPC in the governorship election before they were voted into office. When the PDP lost one its members, did the party regained that seat? There was a bi-election in Toto, did the party win in that election? How can a party that could not even secure 2000 votes win a bi-election? Members of the PDP are in total disarray in the state, things have fallen apart and the centre can no longer hold. Most of those in the state assembly compromised in order for them to be there.

And I assure you they are in a dicey situation because of the way the party leadership chose to behave. Decision for the party is being taken in Abuja without the knowledge of the members of the state assembly and that is a pity.

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Feature

Jama'are: Residents still in fear following abduction, death of seven foreigners T From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

h e people of Jama'are local government area of Bauchi state and the staff of Setraco Construction Company are still in shock following the abduction/killing of seven expatriates in the community after more than six years in the area building a dual carriage way to link Kano to Maiduguri.

Seven construction workers of different nationalities were kidnapped among them four Lebanese, a Briton, an Italian and a Greek - all working for Setraco.

Gunmen reportedly attacked the workers' camp in Jama'are, Bauchi where they killed a security guard to gain entry into the premises before seizing the victims, who have all been reportedly murdered.

Speaking on the incident, Mohammed Ladan, the Bauchi state police commissioner revealed that the assailants had earlier targeted a prison and police station in the rural town of Jama'are, some 200km north of Bauchi, the state capital, before moving to the Setraco camp.

The caretaker committee chairman of Jama'are local government area, Adamu Aliyu said the incident was unfortunate, decrying the inadequate security personnel in the town and the need for the relevant authorities to deploy more policemen to the town in order to give those present more courage and boost their morale to perform their duties effectively and efficiently.

On their part, the chairman of Jama'are Development Initiative, Malam Shuaibu Nafada, and many other residents of the area said the abduction of the expatriates put them in fear and blamed security lapses as the main reason why the attackers successfully abducted the expatriates without any challenge.

Nafada said on that fateful day the gunmen continued to fire shots between 9.30 up to 11.00pm but no security reinforcement was sent to stop the attackers. He said they also passed the two check points on the road to Kiyawa and from Azare. According to him, "we heard that they came with three vehicles - one Nissan and two golf cars and we suspect that they must have passed through the road blocks and military check points before taking the captives to wherever they intended to keep them".

He said some members of the community had become friends with the expatriates because they

Fence of the building affected by explosives had spent six years in Jama'are.

"We don't have any problem with them; they came to the market; went for morning exercise like running and jogging in the town.

Their presence helped to boost commercial activities in the city but unfortunately they were abducted".

The chairman said the people of Jama'are are hospitable and very caring. "They didn't have any misunderstanding with our people throughout their stay with us.

Since their abduction, we have been confused; we have been left in terrible fear; we don't know what may happen tomorrow".

Also recounting the incident, the chief security officer of Setraco Company life Camp, Mohammed Kuda said on the fateful date, they had completed their duties and handed over to the next people on night duty around 10 o'clock pm.

"We heard several gun shots; we didn't know it was inside our camp.

When the shooting stopped, we came out and discovered that it was inside our camp and that some expatriates were abducted".

Kuda said when the attackers entered the premises, they went straight to the club house where they evacuated four expatriates; they forced themselves in to one house and captured two; while the other one just opened his house to peep and when they saw him, they broke his door and abducted him.

He said even the security man who was killed was shot when he went to hide in a corner; unfortunately for him that was the corner through which they entered the premises and when one of them saw him, they asked him if he was a policeman… he said 'no'! they asked him where the mobile policemen were…he said he didn't know… they did not believe him because he had removed his uniform and one of them just opened fire and shot him to death.

Also recounting the incident, the human resource manager of Setraco Nigeria Limited in charge of the Maiduguri-Kano road project, Mr. John Yama, said on that fateful day "we heard gun shots…later we discovered that our life camp was invaded by gunmen who carried seven expatriates away and killed our security guard who came from Kogi state.

Following the attack People's Daily Weekend learnt that there are now 40 mobile policemen specifically posted to provide security at the premises of Setraco in Jama'are. Prior to the incident, only 10 of them were on duty and they were stationed at the gate while the hoodlums entered the premises through the back.

Meanwhile, Ansaru, an extremist group believed to be a splinter of the Boko Haram sect, claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of seven foreigners.

Ansaru claimed in a statement that it took the hostages as reprisal for the actions of European countries in Afghanistan and Mali, where France recently launched a military campaign to drive out militants linked to al-Qaeda.

The kidnapping was "based on the transgression and atrocities done to the religion of Allah by the European countries in many places such as Afghanistan and Mali," according to an Ansaru statement reported by news agencies.

The statement warned that the hostages would be killed if there were any rescue attempt, but it made no demands. True to type, the group killed the victims and posted videos when it got wind that a rescue bid was being contemplated to free the hostages.

Though the respective countries of origin of the victims have accepted the fait accompli of their nationals, the Federal Government has denied any report of killing, claiming the deaths are yet to be confirmed.

Personel Admin manager of Setraco in Jamaare, Bauchi state, John Yama

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, MARCH, 2013

PAGE 47

From the Pulpit Managing your weaknesses (II)

I

GREEN PASTURES

began this message last week and I defined weakness as lack of strength or determination, weak point, character flaw, fondness or object of desire. I pointed out that everybody has an area of his life where he is weak, where he lacks strength, where he cannot do something or do much. We all have both strengths and weaknesses assets and liabilities. Nobody is everything.

I also pointed out that there are some weaknesses that you can work on and improve on yourself while there are others that you will not be able to remove or improve on not even by prayers but you must learn how to live with them and manage them properly with the help of God. I want to continue today to show you more how you can manage your weaknesses. I have already talked about two namely: recognize and admit your weaknesses and improve on your weaknesses. Here are other things you need to do: -Get rid of moral weaknesses.

Some people's weaknesses have to do with their morals or sinful habits. You cannot ignore these as a child of God. These weaknesses will ruin you no matter the other strengths you have.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. (Heb. 12:1 NLT) By the help of the Spirit of God, refuse to yield to temptations. The Bible says, "Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For

though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!" (Matt 26:41, Mark 14:38 NLT) You don't have to yield to temptations and tolerate sinful habits; don't helplessly label your sinful habits as your weaknesses. 1 Cor. 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (NKJV) So don't give in to temptations.

Don't explain away a moral weakness - moral weakness is a sin.

You should repent of any sinful habit in your life and receive the help of God to overcome temptations whenever they come. Hear what Heb. 4:14-16 says: "That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it." (NLT) Samson was reputed for his superlative physical strength but he was morally weak. He was deceived by his strength. Your strength cannot compensate for your moral weakness. Don't become a slave to sin. "Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so that you will become holy." (Rom 6:19 NLT) -Don't neglect your strength while you concentrate too much attention on eliminating your

I

The way of the multitude and sinners

n Exodus 23:2 “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment” two notable words read in the passage are ‘multitude’ and ‘many’. We are living in a community where there are many people around us, we are living around people of different characters and behavior, and the world we are in is not a very good world. We cannot close our eyes as we move around, as we get to the market, as we get to our places of work, as we live with people, sleep with them in the same houses, you will see how they do, what they do in the streets, houses, and offices.

But the scripture has much to say about the way of the multitude and what the attitude of the believers is to be towards the way of the multitude. When somebody is born again by realizing all have sin and have come short of the glory of God, and knowing that Jesus died for our sins we confessed them and turn away from them to living a new life, we become children of God. After we are saved, we become children of God, citizens of heaven, new generation unto the Lord, children of light, the righteous ones; but the sinners around us are children of Satan, children of this world, generation of viper, children of darkness, the unrighteous ones.

What then should be our attitude towards the way of the multitude?

We are told we must be different. If we truly belongs to God, born again, and citizens of heaven; we must be different and avoid all the ways of the multitude. Thou shalt not follow

a multitude to do evil. The question is what are the evils the multitudes in the world are doing. We cannot explain all the ways of the multitude in a single sermon. But remember the Lord wants us to avoid the ways of the multitude. Those who are not born again, they easily follow the way of the multitude because they have no grace to be different.

Don’t look for the righteous in the market place, in the offices, in the village, they are not there. There is only one place to find the righteous; is in the kingdom of God, in the Church of the living of God, and among the believers. If you are looking for somebody to copy, somebody to imitate, not the multitude in the world, if you have any question, don’t go to ask them in the world. For none of them understands the way of the Lord, none seeks after God. None of those sinners will be of help to you if you get into business partnership with them. No herbalist can do you good, they will collect your money, ruin your family and life. They cannot do you any good.

1Corinthians 15:33 says “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Knowing that these people in the world are not right, we must avoid their ways and run away from them. Evil communications corrupt good manners. In Prov 1:10-16 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk

weaknesses. Many people make this mistake. Successful people are not people without weaknesses. They are people who have been able to develop and maximize their strengths while also managing their weaknesses.

Even if your goal is to improve on your weaknesses or eliminate them, don't ever neglect your strengths.

Develop and maximize your strengths. But I must add that you should never overestimate your strengths to think you're sufficient without God. Ps 33:16 says, "The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior." (Ps 33:16 NLT) Concentrate on your strengths; don't exaggerate your weaknesses. But remember that your full strength is in God. (Ps 84:5, 27:1, 68:35, 1 Cor. 1:2-5, 2 Cor. 12:9) -Depend on the power of the Holy Spirit. God allows some weaknesses in His children including ministers of the gospel so that we shall all depend on Him. "But this precious treasure - this light and power that now shine within us - is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own." (2 Cor. 4:7 NLT) Heb. 5:1-2 says the high priest shared the same weaknesses with the people.

Heb. 7:28 says those who were high priests under the law of Moses were limited by human weakness.

Everyone has his weaknesses whether a pastor or a church member, a bishop or a parishioner.

Paul said he was with the Corinthian church in weakness timid and trembling. "I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much

By Pastor T.O. Banso cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (1 Cor. 2:3-5 NKJV) Despite your weaknesses - physical or spiritual - God can still achieve His purpose by His power working in you if you trust in Him. He is the one who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.(Phil 2:13) Hear what the Bible says about Jesus and you too: "For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you." (2 Cor. 13:4 NKJV) Depend on the Holy Spirit. He is the Counselor. He will teach you all things including how to manage your weaknesses. (John 14:26) Because of the constraint of space, I will stop here today and conclude this series next week. I will show you more things you need to do to manage your weaknesses. I urge you to be a doer of the word and not a reader alone, and it shall be well with you in Jesus' name.

TAKE ACTION! If you are not born again, I urge you to take the following steps:*Admit you're a sinner and you can't save yourself and repent of your

FAITH DISCOURSE WITH

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. If you have become a believer, you are being led by the Spirit of God, consent not with sinners. There are many things sinners will want to entice you to do.

Let me show you some of the things sinners will entice you to come and do.

Sinners will entice you if they know, may be your father had died, they will tell you to look for a familiar spirit to tell you what kill your father. If you have lost money at home, they sinners will want to entice and invite you to look for witches and wizards that will help you discover your money. If you are

always taking job and loosing the job, the sinners will entice you to look for a herbalist that will tell you how to make your job stable. If you are married and there is no child, neighbor and relatives of the world will invite you to seek for familiar spirit to offer you help. If you are a student in school, other student belonging to secret cult will invite you to be part of their group. Why are you as a living person seeking help from the dead?

In Deut 18:9-12 when thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these

sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life - your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start to attend a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church. There you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God. Kindly say this prayer now: "0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today.

I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God" I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations!

You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon.

May the Lord make you a Cedar Christian. May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be.

abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Many people have died, lost favour with God, prayed and prayed and God refuse to answer because of these abominations. God hates all these abominations. Those who are using divination, trying to get into magic, using occultist practices of the world, those who loves prophesying and will get to herbalist to collect water to see well into the lives of people, God hates it all.

Saul the first king of Israel got into problem; he started looking for light in the midst of darkness. When you have problem confronting you, instead of repenting and seek help from God, you begin to look for help from juju, witches and wizards, that will be the conclusion and sealing over your problem, doom and destruction. How did they servants of Saul know there was a woman with familiar spirit at Endor? These were the servants that were supposed to destroy all the witches and wizards in the nation, they were unfaithful. When members of the choir of a particular denomination know a papa somewhere in a particular house to take chicken to, they are gone totally into the world.

When the deacons know a witch where they go in the night to seek for help, that church is ruin and wrecked. Many are still disguising themselves like Saul today, where they parked their cars and put on “agbada” and carry chicken under their “agbada” to go to see a man.

BIG PUNCH “The pardon granted Alamieseigha amounts to arbitrary exercise of power, which can only weaken the rule of law and deny justice to the victims of corruption.”

—SERAP Executive Director, Adetokumbo Mumuni berating the decision to pardon DSP Alamieseigha

SATURDAY 16 — SUNDAY 17, MARCH, 2013

Alami should go: It's over I

f DSP Alamiyeseigha, the embattled Governor of Bayelsa state knows what is good for him, he should call his lawyers and advisers and draft a sober, apologetic letter of resignation, and give up the fight.

He has lost whatever moral ground he may have occupied before now, the conspiracy theory that was contrived around his travails has been watered down. If he receives any support from any quarters at this moment, such support ought to be taken with a pinch of salt: all because Alami himself has chosen to ruin his chances, destroy his own moral base if he ever had any, by conducting himself in a manner that is unbecoming of a leader and a gentleman. By running away from England under the cover of the night, away from the British judiciary which was probing him on charges of money laundering, by taking evasive action from the law and communicating with his feet, Alamiyeseigha, a man who until now was known and addressed as His Excellency, has shown himself to be a dishonourable fellow, unfit to rule, unfit to sit among men and women of honour and integrity, unfit to preach to the people that he leads about ideals and values...

The drama that he has organised around his return as a fugitive from England is so comical that it merely shows him in worse light. He has managed to entertain Nigerians with the mystery of his escape from London, his smart salute before a guard of (dis)honour and the histrionics that he has put up in the last few days, but all he has done in reality is to raise questions and concerns about the quality of leadership in Nigeria, about the Ijaw nation and the values of its people, and the future of Bayelsa state. I am told that he acted out of desperation: what desperation could that possibly be?

Is it desperation borne out of guilt?

Or desperation borne out of simple criminality? Alami has told his audience that nobody should pity him, because he is merely paying the price for leadership.

What leadership? He did not explain. Faced with a charge of money laundering in British courts, Alamiyeseigha, and his sponsored agents had argued ad nauseam that he Alamiyeseigha being an important man in Nigeria, leader of a "sovereign state within a federal system" was entitled to immunity within the purview of Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution, which in their reckoning, is transportable across boundaries, and that by

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arresting Alami for being in possession of an odious amount of foreign currency, the British was just acting illegally and as a neocolonial entity. This was a futile argument as the British courts determined that Alami had a case to answer. He was remanded in prison, and later granted bail with conditions, while his case continued to be heard in court. This is the same process which Alamiyeseigha truncated by running away from England. He was required not to travel near any English port. But he did. He jumped bail and escaped.

It has been said that he left England as a drag queen, dressed as a pregnant woman using forged documents. He insists that his escape is "an act of God".

All told, by conducting himself after the fashion of a common felon, Alamiyeseigha has brought the people of Bayelsa state and all Ijaws to great ridicule. If he was so supremely sure of his innocence in the matter, he should have stayed back in London to prove his innocence. If he had won victory through due process, he would have been a great hero and his points about conspiracy and the President of Nigeria not liking his face would have deserved more than a closer attention. But to jump bail, subvert the judicial process, only to show up in Yenagoa like a thief in the night, and then turn himself into a major means of measuring the moral fibre of the Nigerian society, Alami suffers a defeat in what he may think is a victory over the British and Aso Villa. When he showed up in Yenagoa, he was celebrated by a group of uninformed youths who insisted on identifying him as a hero. But what we are dealing with is what J P Clark another Ijaw man, has described as "the hero as a villain".

This particular hero, anti-hero in fact, has a character flaw which in spite of him confirms his guilt, and the emptiness of his strivings.

Leaders are supposed to be men of honour who are socially aware and imbued with a strong sense of ideals and values. In Nigeria, there is so much dissonance in leadership.

Alamiyeseigha has proven to be a master of dissonance. He has brought great embarrassment to the Ijaw people, who in their reaction to his travails have shown an ambiguity that is most unimpressive. Nigeria's stature has also been further diminished.

It does not matter what Alamiyeseigha says, he cannot remain as Governor of Bayelsa state while he remains a prisoner

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Reuben Abati of his own guilt, not knowing whether he would be abducted by the British or not. He cannot attend meetings of the Council of State, as a fugitive who is on the wanted list in Britain. He cannot remain as Governor when his tomorrow is in so much doubt. He has sounded so far as a man who is ready to drag down the whole of Bayelsa state with him if he must. Since his mysterious return, he has been exploiting the emotions of all Ijaws and using blackmail as a shield; his agents have been trying to prove his innocence. The pity is that Alami has not been charged to any court in Nigeria. Here, if he so wishes he can steal all the money in the Bayesla treasury. If the people of Bayelsa are okay with that, so be it. But Alami has a case to answer in Britain. He is being accused of violating the laws of England. If he has anything to say, let him go and do so in the courts of England not on the streets of Yenagoa.

As for those persons who have been packaging Alami as a victim and who have been mouthing the asinine line: "If Ijaw man thief Ijaw money, wetin concern Tony Blair inside", may the good Lord forgive them for they do not know what they are saying. All Ijaw must feel embarrassed for this is a difficult moment for them as a nation. They are being blackmailed emotionally to defend not a principled fighter, not a spirit of Ijawland, but an Ijaw leader who danced naked in a foreign land. The questions that would be asked are: what do Ijaws stand for? Where is the ancient and modern glory of the Ijaw nation?

These are difficult questions. Alami must save his own people the embarrassment by stepping aside.

Let him return to England and act like a honourable man. He has ridiculed the lawyers that he employed to argue his case, and not surprisingly, his lead counsel is so embarrassed, he has refused to comment on this resort to self-help.

He has also jeopardised the integrity of his sureties: they will lose money and face if they cannot produce the accused person in their care.

But where were the British?

Alamiyeseigha's escape is a bad comment on British security.

Alami has demystified the British and across Nigeria, questions are already being raised about the integrity of the British security network. Did the British collect bribe like Nigerian policemen? Did they work out a deal with Alami to embarrass the Nigerian government? If there is such a deal, what are the details? What is certain is that more Nigerians have lost respect for Britain in the last few days. How could the British who prevented the "exportation" of Umaru Dikko from Britain now allow Alami to escape? Is this the cynicism of the British at work or the opportunism of free enterprise capitalism? Whatever it is, the British have been relieved of the political burden of prosecuting a leader of Nigeria's oil rich Niger Delta in their courts. The Federal Government nearly ruined the case by showing an over-anxious interest in the trial: now Obasanjo has to clean up the shit in his backyard and deal with the Alami mess.

One of the points made by the embattled Governor on his return is that he has proven the "Nigerianness" in him. This may have been a slip of the tongue, but it is the truth. For indeed, there is an Alami in every Nigerian leader. We are a country of desperadoes to such an extent that when we criticise Alami and sound holier than thou particularly the sanctimonious crowd in the PDP and Aso Villa, what we are actually criticising is an aspect of our lives which has now been exposed due to a twist of fate in a foreign land. What has Alami done? One, he showed up in England with sums of money whose source he could not explain when he was asked to do so. How many big men in Nigeria can confidently explain the source of their wealth? You could be as poor as a church rat in January and become a multibillionaire in March, nobody will ask any questions. Because Nigerians love miracles, they will attribute the sudden change of fortune to a miracle made possible by a certain

pastor's intervention.

Two, Alami told the British that he is entitled to immunity. This is typical Nigerian-speak. In our country, every big man is free to do as he wishes. He is above the laws of the land and there have been celebrated cases of persons conducting themselves as if they were the law itself. Three, when Alami became convinced that the judgment of the British court may not favour him, he fled. This is also quite Nigerian. It is the standard practice around here that public persons do not respect the courts of the land. Not even the ruling Peoples Democratic Party or the President. We live in a country where individuals can overrule a court of law, as the PDP Chairman, Ahmadu Ali once did in the Anambra/Ngige case and as President Obasanjo, the Ebora of Aso Villa, has always done.

Alamiyeseigha simply transported these "Nigerian" attributes to England, and placed them on display.

It is perhaps why he is being lionized in Bayelsa as the "conqueror of the British Empire".

The Nigerians who have also been defending him and placing the blame at the doorsteps of President Obasanjo are also being Nigerian. They have asked: why is Alami being persecuted when other Governors commit the same offence and they pass through London all the time? In other words, Nigerians are no longer shocked by any kind of malfeasance. If someone commits a crime, we are not moved by the nature of his crime, instead we rationalise it: he should be declared innocent because he is not the only person who commits that kind of offence, he has been caught only because he is unlucky or he is being persecuted.

And thus, what we are faced with is a country without moral boundaries. But thank God for a few voices of reason who in the face of blackmail, intimidation and violence still insist on the truth. The members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly are not saints themselves; it is true that they are being pushed by Abuja, but if they succeed in removing Alamiyeseigha, they would have done Nigeria a favour: they would save us from the British who may be playing games out of self-interest.

For His Excellency, the Executive Fugitive of Bayelsa state, it is over. Resign now, get on a boat across the border, and run...

Reuben Abati published this piece on 25 November 2005.

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