Peoples Daily Newspaper, Monday, April 16, 2012

Pension probe: Panel suspends task force, grills Zenith, Diamond, GT banks MDs

PAGE 4

Vol. 8 No. 17

Monday, April 16, 2012

Jimadal Ula 25, 1433 AH

N150

Bamanga’s election:

PDP tackles IBB

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has counseled former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to tow the line of

maturity and decorum in his criticism of the party and the government. Babangida was been reprimanded over aspersions cast by his spokesman, on the processes adopted at the National Convention of the party in March

that led to the emergence of its new chairman.

The party's National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in release made available to newsmen yesterday, said: "The statement credited to the former

president is surprising because known tradition the world over is for former presidents to tow the path of maturity and decorum in criticisms of perceived lapses of the incumbents. We know of George Bush Jnr. and President Obama

and we also know of Tony Blair and Prime Minister Cameron."

"It is therefore an embarrassment on the person of the former president of Nigeria for his media spokesperson to resort Contd on Page 2

L-R: Executive Secretary, Muslim Ummah of South-West, Professor Dawood Shittu Noibi, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during a conference on political future of Muslims in Nigerian democracy, at the weekend in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Sanusi re-opens fuel subsidy withdrawal campaign

By Patrick Andrew, with agency report

B

arely four months after succumbing to pressure mounted by the civil

societies and the labour unions against the total withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products, the Federal Government may have tacitly re-opened the campaign to effect the removal

soonest.

The Governor of the Central of Nigeria (CBN) Lamodo Sanusi, while attempting to justify the need for less dependence on oil as the main source of revenue for the

country, said over the weekend in New York that Nigeria could be in danger of a massive depreciation of its currency, a collapse in reserves and a huge growth in deficits, owing to

fluctuations of oil prices.

Sanusi, who led the campaign that advocated an overhaul of Nigeria's economy through the total removal of subsidy to make Contd on Page 2

INSIDE

INEC to prosecute UK court 1m over electoral sentences Ibori offences >>PAGE 2

Bomb explosion in ACN Reps caucus Fresh crisis in NECO Sabon Gari, Kano in disarray over Registrar’s re-appointment

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WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Newsxtra

26

Education

27

Health

29-30

INEC to prosecute one million suspects for electoral offences

A

t least one million suspects are to be prosecuted over offences arising from the 2011 voter registration and general elections, the Chairman, INEC Board of Electoral Institute, Prof. Lai Olurode, has said.

Olurode, who is also National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Training and Research, told the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday in Abuja that the prosecution had

been 'a big problem' because of paucity of funds and manpower.

He said the Independent National Electoral Commission was collaborating with the Nigerian Bar Association to facilitate the prosecution at minimal costs, adding that Bauchi, Zamfara, Gombe and Bayelsa were among states with the highest number of suspects.

"In actual fact, some of those

Total shuts Nigeria gas plant

F

rench energy group Total has shutdown a gas plant in southern Nigeria because of a technical fault during a drilling operation at an oil facility, the company said on its website.

"On April 3rd, Total E&P Nigeria Limited (TEPNG) was alerted about some water and gas resurgence points observed in an uninhabited area close to its onshore Obite gas production facilities on the OML 58 license," Total said on the website dated April 12.

"This event is the likely

consequence of a technical incident that occurred during drilling operations on the same site on March 20th," it said.

The company said there had been no injuries from the incident which has resulted into leaks.

"Production from the Obite gas plant has been stopped and wells shutdown," it said, adding that experts had been mobilised "to ensure the protection of nearby communities and personnel and to limit the impact on the environment".

apprehended have been prosecuted and convicted but the number was just too small compared to those remaining," he stated.

He said NBA as a body and stakeholder committed to sanitising electoral process in the country, had offered INEC a window that would lower the cost of prosecution.

According to Olurode, the prosecution of election offenders

should not be left with INEC alone as it is a major mandate which another body should be saddled with.

He called on government to work on the report of the Uwais Electoral Reform Panel which had recommended that a separate body should be set up to handle electoral offences.

The 22-member Uwais panel was set up in 2007 to, among others, fashion out strategies towards free and fair elections in Nigeria.

Olurode called for increased police participation in INEC activities to facilitate prosecution of electoral offenders. (NAN)

UK court sentences Ibori

T

he embattled former Delta state governor, Chief James Ibori, has been sentenced by the Southwark Crown Court in London. The court had on Monday, February 27 fixed April 16 and 17 for the sentencing of the exgovernor after he pleaded guilty to 10-count charges of moneylaundering and conspiracy to defraud. Sunday Mirror recalls that Ibori Ibori had been entangled in legal battles with the authorities in Nigeria, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and United Kingdom in the

past four years.

His travails began in 2007 when he was arrested by the Nuhu Ribadu-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before he was set free by the commission under the headship of Mrs. Farida Waziri which had written to an Asaba High Court to make a no case submission against Ibori.

But the former governor was discharged and acquit-ted of the over 70 charges preferred against him by the EFCC before a Federal High Court in Asaba, the state's Capital.

Bamanga’s election: PDP tackles IBB

That IBB criticism of PDP brand of democracy, Page 37

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Contd from Page 1 to a recipe of media relations that subsists on public acrimony and less noble language," he added.

Metuh expressed surprise at the comments credited to the former President in a national daily where unrestrained aspersions were cast on the electoral processes that culminated in the recent National Convention of the PDP. The party said it was unfortunate that for a second time in a week, such a frontal attack on the person of President

Goodluck Jonathan, the National Chairman of the party, its Publicity Secretary and indeed the entire essence of the current leadership of the party was coming from a respected statesman and former president.

"However, we doubt if Kassim Afegbua indeed has the directive of Gen. Babangida," Metuh stated.

He said: "We must state for the avoidance of doubt that there is nothing wrong in the electoral consensus option through which our National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Turkur emerged that constitutes an

inhibition in the effective discharge of his functions as the National Chairman of our party. That other aspirants, having noted the likely trend of voting, decided, on their own, to withdraw from the race and support an aspirant does not translate to incapacity on the part of the consensus candidate."

The party pointed out that IBB succumbed to the consensus option when he wholeheartedly subjected himself to the Northern Presidential Consensus arrangement that produced the former Vice President, Atiku

Abubakar, as the consensus candidate during the prelude to the 2011 PDP Presidential primaries.

While affirming that the party still holds IBB in high esteem, the party urged that his Media Assistant be cautioned so as not to cause injury to party loyalty.

"In the same essence, we wish to put on record that if our respected party leader has donated his spokesman to the Action Congress of Nigeria gubernatorial campaign in Edo state, it is not a lesson in loyalty and party building," PDP warned.

Sanusi re-opens fuel subsidy withdrawal campaign Contd from Page 1 available sufficient funds for massive capital projects as well as free the country from adverse consequences of fluctuations in oil prices, said a sharp fall in prices, such as had recently occurred, would have painful repercussions for the nation.

Nigeria hugely relies on oil production which accounts for about 80 percent of government revenues, a development the government says was unhealthy and must be corrected to avert a major backlash from the uncertainties of the oil industry.

"There will be a very bad day and a lot of gnashing of teeth if the oil price crashes and we haven't saved a thing," Nigeria's central bank governor, Lamido Sanusi, said.

They fear reforms such as creating a sovereign wealth fund could prevent them from dipping into Nigeria's windfall oil revenues.

Sanusi noted recent discussions between the United States and other industrialized nations about the possible release of strategic petroleum reserves,

and signs that producer countries such as Saudi Arabia might increase output to help bring down oil prices.

"Our major concern is a major decline in the price of oil or (domestic) output would lead to a massive depreciation of the currency, a collapse in reserves and a huge growth in deficits and some of the states outside of the oil-producing region might find actually themselves in a situation where are not able to pay salaries," he said.

"I am trained to think in terms of 'what if' and that's the mindset I bring to my job. What happens if oil prices go to $50 a barrel? It's happened before."

Sanusi, a former banker who specialized in risk management and who is allied with Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in the push for reforms, has warned that Nigeria's system of subsidizing fuel prices is unsustainable.

The Nigerian government tried to scrap the subsidies but backtracked after widespread protests earlier this year and partially reinstated them.

Sanusi said the government

should spend no more than the 880 billion naira for subsidies in 2012 earmarked in the budget signed by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday.

"I would simply like to see that the government does not pay a penny more than that, no matter what happens," he said.

Asked how low oil prices would need to fall before they pose a risk to Nigeria, Sanusi said a decline to around $85 or $90 a barrel from around $120 now - could lead to a shortfall in projected revenues and higher budget deficits, if Nigeria's oil output does not increase.

Sanusi said Nigeria's central bank was comfortable with its monetary policy stance, having hiked interest rates sharply last year, but that could change if the government breaks its new 2012 budget.

The budget includes an assumed average oil price of $72 a barrel, any earnings over which are saved into the country's excess crude account. That is $2 more than the level recommended by the central bank, but the difference did not translate into a

major increase in the planned level of spending, Sanusi said.

"So I don't think the headline numbers alone would justify a change in monetary stance from where we are today," he said.

Nigeria's central bank implemented a string of rate hikes in 2011 that pushed the benchmark borrowing rate to 12 percent.

"We front-loaded most of the tightening. We met seven times last year and tightened six times out of seven."

A surprise dip in inflation seen in February from January's level might continue until about April before an up-tick starting in April or May and price growth could peak at around 14.5 percent in the third quarter before slowing to single digits in late 2013, Sanusi said.

"We've done most of the work ahead of the fuel subsidy removal.

Now it's about waiting to see that tightening moving through the system which is what we're seeing."

Sanusi also said he expected the recent stability of the naira currency to continue.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 3

Pension probe: Panel suspends task force, grills Zenith, Diamond, GT bank MDs

By Julius Ogar

T

he bribe saga rocking the Senate panel investigating the alleged fraud in the handling of pension funds was aggravated yesterday when the panel slammed suspension order on the operation of the pension taskforce team.

The probe panel has however summoned the chairman of the

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, the embattled chairman of the task force Abdulrasheed Maina and chief executive of six banks to appear before it today (Monday) to answer questions in connection with the whereabouts of the recovered pension funds. The task force team and the listed banks are to tell the panel where the over N151billion the taskforce claimed

it recovered are deposited.

The panel may also quiz the taskforce and others on the alleged wide spread looting of pension fund, the secret banks account for pension funds. The taskforce may use the forum today to clarify its stand on the alleged bribe scam. But the panel in a reaction yesterday insisted that the Maina led task force team remain suspended even as the panel insisted that task force

attempted to bribe the panel to cover its role in the alleged scam.

There are however indications that the Senate may on resumption tomorrow, quiz the probe panel on the allegations against the committee by one of the key actors.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Aloysius Etok said yesterday that operation of the Maina led taskforce team would

remain suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. "We have also summoned the managing directors of some banks including the Zenith Bank, GTB, First Bank, Diamond Bank, among others to explain illegal transfers of pension funds into various accounts in their banks. They are also expected to appear before our committee tomorrow (today)", he added.

World Bank contest: OkonjoIweala to know fate soon

By Isa Abdulwahab

T

he race to the headship of World Bank gets to zero hour today as Nigeria's finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala faces US nominee Jim Young Kim. The race is narrowed to Iweala and Kim after former Colombian finance minister, Jose Ocampo withdrew from the race and endorsed Okonjo-Iweala as having the required experience for the job.

In another twist, Mexico has thrown its support for US backed

candidate by endorsing Young Kim as the best candidate for the job, deputy finance minister Gerardo Rodriguez said on Wednesday.

Korean-American health expert, Kim, is up against Nigerian Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala, who left a top post at the World Bank last year.

However, experts have overwhelmingly endorsed the candidature of Iweala as the best for the job considering her vast experience as former Managing Director of the bank.

3 injured as explosion rocks Sabon Gari, Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Kaduna state Ministry of Economic Planning, Aminu Lere, state Commissioner for Economic Planning, Timothy Gandu, and Commissioner for Agriculture, Ramallan Giwa, during a press briefing on one year of the administration of Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, at the weekend in Kaduna.

Photo: Agaju Madugba

ACN Reps caucus in disarray

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

here are indications that the camaraderie in the House of Representatives' Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) caucus may have crumbled as its member no longer regard the leadership provided by the House Minority Leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila.

This is coming as the House Majority Leader, Rep Mulikat Akande-Adeola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has now become the rallying point for the majority of the members of the opposition from the South West owing to the fact that she has now become the most ranking officer from the region.

The usual bond between the members of the caucus, investigation revealed, has suffered a setback since Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal announced the leadership of the House committees several months ago.

The party with majority of members from the South-West states was at the forefront of the

support for the emergence of Speaker Tambuwal in the run-up to the House Leadership election when the ruling party was busy whipping its members into line to support its candidate, Rep Mulikat Akande-Adeola, now the House Majority Leader.

The grouse of the members, investigations revealed, was that the leadership of the caucus was not protecting their interests but instead preoccupied itself with the interests of the party's godfathers who are not members of the parliament.

A member who volunteered information on condition of anonymity said the caucus disappointed most of its vocal members when a certain political leader 'apportioned' committees to his cronies. He said out of the 12 committee chairmanship allocated to the ACN in the South West, Lagos alone took six; two went to Ogun and Ekiti apiece while Osun and Ondo got one each.

The South-West lawmaker complained of lopsidedness in the distribution of the committees even as they alleged that those

committees considered juicy are being given to lawmakers from Lagos state to the disadvantage of the others.

According to him, the leadership of the South-East Caucus has never left anybody in doubt of its effectiveness by the quality of committees it was able to negotiate for his people and the benefits he has been able to attract to his people in terms of welfare.

He added that the leadership of the House Committee on Communication hitherto reserved for ranking member of the parliament by tradition was given to the current Chairman in consideration of his relationship with a powerful godfather outside the parliament.

Another bitter source complained that he was made to contribute N500, 000 for the celebration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's birthday even when he has yet to enjoy the benefit of being part of the caucus. He however disclosed that some members of the caucus have refused to make the contribution "and heavens did not fall".

N

o fewer than three people got injured in New Road, Sabon Gari, Kano evening when a locally made bomb exploded at a drinking joint.

The incident which occurred on No. 38 New Road at about 7:30 sent panic among residents of Sabon Gari predominantly inhabited by non-Muslims and non-natives.

As the sound of the explosion reverberated across the enclave, people ran helter-skelter as shopowners and beer palour operators hurriedly closed down.

"I heard an explosion followed with shouts and wailing. As I peeped through the window, I saw people running helter-skelter," said a resident near the scene of the

incident.

An eyewitness account said the blast took everyone around by surprise, "as no one could tell where it came from, but there was a black Jeep packed beside the scene which was apparently abandoned by the owner. We can only feel the perpetrator triggered the explosive and ran away."

Soldiers and mobile police men had cordoned off the area.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Musa Magaji Majia confirmed the incident saying it was a can- made improvised explosive device (IED) that exploded he added that nobody was injured and that the explosion only damaged a Honda CRV jeep. Majia added that no arrest was made and that people should go about their normal business.

CPC expels Barau Ningi

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he National leadership of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), yesterday, announced the expulsion of Alhaji Barau Ningi, the former chairman of its Bauchi state chapter.

The statement signed by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, read "In a continuing effort at repositioning the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, as a disciplined political party, the national leadership of the party decided to expel Alhaji Barau Ningi (of Bauchi state) at its

meeting on Thursday, 12thApril, 2012.

"The decision became imperative in view of Alhaji Ningi's persistent insubordination and intransigence at impugning the authority of the leadership of the party in Bauchi state.

"We hereby re-iterate the party leadership's zero-tolerance for any acts (from its members), capable of bringing the party and its leadership to public opprobrium.

However, we shall remain irrevocably committed to the task of building a virile, political mass movement for entrenching real democratic values in the Nigerian nation."

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 4

NAF conducts Route Match to check security alertness From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

O

ver 1,000 Air officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), have participated in a 10km Route Match to check the alertness and prompt assembly of the personnel in lieu of the current insecurity in Nigeria.

The exercised was performed yesterday at the Air Force Base Head Quarters and was attended

by Commanders, Officers and men of the seven units in Kaduna, namely: The Head Quarters Training Command (HQ TC), Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), 325 Ground Training Group (GTG), 335 Base Services Group, 333 Logistic Group 345

Aeromedical Hospital and the Nigeria Air Force Institute of Safety.

In his remarks, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Training Command Kaduna, Air Vice Marshal Alex Sabundu-Badeh assured that NAF will continue to keep the spirit of the service up and defend the sovereign integrity of Nigeria against any security threat.

“Our quick and prompt assembly for the Route Match has shown that the NAF will perform creditably well if we are called upon to go out for any operation”.

The new AOC, while assuring of operating an open door policy, warned that his command will not condone any acts of grumbling and indiscipline by officers and men.

Minister tasks youth on national devt

By Mohammed Kandi

T

he Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Mohammed Musa Sada has called on youths in the country to be purposeful in their endeavours and to imbibe the spirit of partnership with development partners in order to ensure the development of the nation.

Arc. Sada made the call in a statement issued by the ministry’s Deputy Director (press), Marshall H. Gundu. the minister was conferred an award of “Worthy Ambassador of the Northern Youths” by a delegation of the National Youth Parliament (NYP). in advising the youth, Arch.

Sada said “Your collective mind will help you into going towards the right direction, do not get

discouraged by the situation now and do not get influenced by statements.”

“When we talk about transformation agenda and vision 20:20:20, we are not talking of anything, but the confidence that we put in you. Anybody that tells you, there is no future, tell him ‘the future is with me’. It is only when you feel great that you can do great things and can be able to create great country for us”, he said.

The minister who reiterated the abundant natural resources that the country has, urged the parliament to make judicious use of the inherent abilities in them to harness the potentials of the country. He said Nigeria required purposeful and highly skilled personnel to drive the processes of transformation agenda of the present administration.

Muslim coalition decries sectarian violence, divisions

By Muhammad Sada

A

fter a two-day conference on the ‘Political Future of Muslims in Democratic Nigeria’ the Nigerian Muslims and Democracy Conference, a committee of Muslim groups finally came to a consensus yesterday and have devised the way out for Muslims in Nigerian democracy.

The conference which was organised by a coalition of Muslim groups from all the geopolitical zones of the country, was tagged: “Nigerian Muslims and Democracy Conference 2012”.

The opening ceremony of the conference was chaired by Prof Dawud Shittu Noibi, the executive secretary, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, and graced by several dignitaries including the Speaker, House of Representatives,

Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, who declared the conference open; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar; former governor of Kano state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau; representatives of some governors and members of the diplomatic corps.

After serious and in depth discussions around the theme of the conference, some observations and resolutions were arrived at: The committee noted that it has observed the perpetual dwindling of the quality of education and the failure of the older generation in monitoring the youth have continued to deprive them of the necessary opportunities; it also observed that many Muslim youths are continuously conscripted into gangs for political thuggery and unleashing of horizontal violence in the communities… The committee

also said: “We observe that the practice of democracy in Nigeria in the last years has been devoid of freedom of choice, accountability and people centeredness and there is, therefore the need to restore consultation, accountability and justice in the nation”.

Among the resolutions contained in the communiqué included: “The Committee strongly condemns the current attempts to tear the society along sectarian and sectional lines and opted to be conscious of the poor human development indices as well as sensitise and mobilise the Muslim Ummah on ways of mitigating the socio economic and educational challenges facing it and try to transform it into a well educated, highly skilled, economically vibrant and socially inclusive community”.

Mineral and metal sector: FG hinges devt on transparency

By Mohammed Kandi

T

he Federal Government has said that collaboration between relevant stakeholders in a transparent manner would facilitate exploration, exploitation, value addition and sustainable development of the minerals and metal sector of the country.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada, stated this during his meeting with the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, in Abuja, according to a statement issued by Deputy Director (press) of the ministry, Marshall H. Gundu.

The minister said for the sustainable development of the nation’s minerals and metal sector, “The custodians, regulators and operators must all come together and work out something better for us to be able to move forward in harmonious and transparent manner”.

He said the ongoing reforms in the country were aimed at ensuring the sectors were privately driven while the government plays the role of a regulator.

Arc. Sada also noting that: “No private investor will put his money in an opaque situation, if situations are not cleared as to the way forward for the sector”.

He further welcomed the current administration’s readiness to audit the solid minerals sector through the Nigerian Extractive Industries Initiative (NEITI), describing it as timely.

He expressed the hope that the auditing process of the minerals and metal sector of the country would ensure that things are done right to move the sector forward.

Earlier in her address, the Executive Secretary, NEITI and leader of the delegation, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, said the purpose of the visit was to thank the minister for the approval of the audit of the solid minerals sector for the year 20072010 by the Federal Executive Council as well as to formally introduce the auditing firm, Haruna Yahaya & Co to the minister.

She said “It will be a credit to Nigeria if we are able to guide our country to meet all the requirements of Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiative (EITI) to become a full member towards the implementation of EITI”.

L-R: Former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Kenyan VicePresident, Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, President Goodluck Jonathan, CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, during Presidential Breakfast Prayer, at the State House, on Saturday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Factional ASUU group backs UniAbuja VC

By Richard Ihediwaa

A

splinter group of the Academic Staff Union of Universities by the name Integrity Group, has thrown its weight behind the embattled Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof.

James Adelabu.

The group, known as the Integrity Group, in a communiqué after its meeting in the main campus of the institution last Friday, dismissed the demand by a faction of the union led by Dr. Clement Chup, that the VC should vacate office due to the curriculum crisis in the

institution.

The pro-Adelabu group said at a time when the image of the university was under threat, the reasonable thing to do was to work with the VC as a means of resolving all issues affecting the institution rather than exacerbate the situation.

The Integrity Group, in a communiqué signed by Drs. Ya’u Dmagun and Peter Maidoki, chairman and secretary respectively, accused the Chup group of working “consistently to disrupt the peace, tranquility and academic culture of the university” adding that their

action and attitude show that they were “self-serving and pursuing unwholesome agenda to the detriment of the development of the university.”

It said the VC is working with the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) and the Ministry of Education to resolve all the problems.

Trouble started in the institution when the Minister of Education suspended four courses; Medicine, Vet Medicine, Engineering and Agriculture from accredited courses offered by the university for lack of facilities penultimate week.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 5

Alleged extrajudicial killings: Human rights lawyer justifies NHRC chair’s statement

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

A

Human Rights Lawyer, Chief Bamidele Aturu (SAN) said the statement on extra-judicial killings by the Police made by Dr. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu is firmly within the ambit of his statutory responsibilities as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Aturu said in a statement yesterday that the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Act, 2011, empowers the commission to, among other things, monitor all places of detention and the conduct of law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

"It is our advice to Dr. Odinkalu that a statement on extra-judicial killings is firmly within the ambit of his statutory responsibilities as Chairman of the Governing Council of the NHRC", the SAN said adding also that the NHRC can only function legitimately if it is truly independent and responsible and seen to be so.

"The fact that its position or that of any of its officers is considered vexatious, damaging and a trigger for a criminal interrogation by the NPF clearly misapprehends its mission and undermines its independence.

"We do not believe, however, that the hierarchy of the NPF would seek to intimidate a fraternal institution like the NHRC", he said.

According to him, a National Human Rights Institution that cannot, with a clear conscience call attention to extra-judicial executions in the country is simply not fit for purpose and noted that the statements made

by Dr. Odinkalu were based on findings already in the public domain, saying that it is up to the Police to controvert them with credible facts if they have them.

It would be recalled that, on March 5, 2012, Dr. Odinkalu delivered a 16-page keynote paper at the annual conference of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) in Abuja, Nigeria on the theme, "Plea Bargaining and the Administration of Justice in Nigeria".

Page 5 of the presentation stated that: "The response of law enforcement to the incapability of the legal system to ensure convictions is an epidemic of thirddegree policing, torture and extrajudicial executions. By some estimates, the Police execute well over 2,500 detainees summarily every year."

L-R: Wife of Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark, Senate President David Mark, and Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Moshe Ram, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, yesterday in Abuja.

Gunmen kill journalist, rob couple in Benin From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A

journalist with Independent Television (ITV) in Benin, Mr. Chucks Ogu has been shot dead by unknown gunmen.

Ogu, a cameraman with ITV was said to have been killed on

Saturday night after covering a marriage ceremony.

He was said to be at the home of the newly wedded couple along Siluko road with his reporter when armed men stormed the apartment and opened fire at close range, hitting Chucks and killing him on the spot.

It could however not be

confirmed if he was the actual target of the attack or if anything was stolen from the couple.

A staff of ITV who did not want to be named confirmed the death of Chucks to newsmen.

At the time of filing this report, no official statement has been issued by authorities of ITV.

Similarly, an unnamed couple, was last Saturday robbed by armed men around Ugbowo axis of Uselu, Benin City.

The armed men had trailed the couple from the venue of a ceremony to their private residence at about 9pm before dispossesing them of undisclosed sum of money and jewelries.

ASP Muhammad Shehu Koko noted that the four assailants who wore a flowing gown, opened fire on reaching the businessman shed in the market.

Our correspondent gathered from eyewitness in the market that the assailants who arrived the market towards late evening shot sporadically in the air to scare away people before going

after their target.

The source added that the gunmen appeared on foot where after committing the act walked away out of the market unchallenged.

Similarly, the Katsina police command has announced a reward of N250, 000 to any person with a clue that may lead to the arrest of suspected assassins of an assistant director

with the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Late Alhaji Kabir Yahaya.

The command also assured that such information given by any person would be treated with utmost confidentiality and gave the following phone numbers for those with any lead on the incident, 08099327364, 08033336020, 07086232558 and 08054409757.

‌. kill one in Katsina

From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

U

nknown gunmen, on Thursday invaded the weekly Batsari market in Katsina where they shot and killed a wealthy businessman in the market, Alhaji Sani.

Confirming the incident to our correspondent, the Katsina police command spokesman,

Group wants Nigerians to expose Boko Haram members

By Lambert Tyem

F

ollowing the spate of bombings by the Boko Haram sect, a n o n g o v e r n m e n t a l organization, the Social Responsibility Network

Initiative (SRNI) has called on the citizens and friends of Nigeria to join government in fighting the terrorists by exposing the people behind them.

Executive Director of the group, Taidi Olanrewaju

Yahaya told journalists in Abuja at the weekend that the activities of the sect "has become alarming and we consider it unacceptable for a country known for the peaceful co-existence of the people.

Nigeria cannot be threatened

by a negligible number of dissidents while we fold our arms and watch."

According to him, time had come for Nigerians to be more security conscious and expose suspicious characters in their midst

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Revenue allocation: You are not fair to us, Kaduna govt tells Jonathan From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

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he Kaduna state government has joined the protest over alleged inadequate revenue accruing to it from the Federation Account arguing that that the Federal Government ought to pay more attention to the area which is the third largest state in the country with a current population of 7.1 million people, based on the 2006 population figure with annual growth rate of three percent.

Speaking at a press briefing at the weekend, on the activities of the Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa administration in the past one year, the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Timothy Gandu, noted that Kaduna is about three times the size of Akwa Ibom state which ranks third on the Federation Account list while Kaduna is 10th.

According to him, "Kaduna is the third largest state with a land size almost equivalent to all the states in south-east or south-south or south-west combined.

"It is the third largest in population and that that is where the problem of the state begins. It has 23 local governments yet it has less number of local governments than Katsina state that has more local governments and less population, than Lagos state, though it (Lagos) has more population, it has less land mass.

"So, Kaduna state is in a position that requires special attention. This used to be the seat of government of the defunct Northern Nigeria and every state in northern Nigeria has

either a liaison office or has officers and men who have made Kaduna their residence.

"Their home states are more or less their second states while the indigenes of Kaduna have only the state to deal with. It is an indicator to the difficulty in running the state and it is a situation that requires attention.

"You cannot go the other states in the north without passing through Kaduna state and you cannot go the southern states from the north without passing through Kaduna state. That means there is a heavy

Stakeholders say pasting of posters defaces Lagos

Plateau Customs Command collects N53.4m revenue in 3 months

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ome Lagos residents have called for regulation of posters and handbills pasting on highways and streets, saying it was affecting the state government's beautification projects.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos that indiscriminate pasting of handbills and posters had constituted nuisance and was defacing the state.

Mr. Anthony Eze, a Lagos-based lawyer, said that the sight of the handbills and posters on public buildings "gives a very ugly picture and connotes poor organisation of the state".

He noted that various religious bodies' posters and handbills, home video advertisements and other advertisements by individuals were placed at strategic points in the city.

Eze urged the appropriate authorities to check the situation to give the state a dignified outlook.

Another lawyer, Mr. Yomi Idris, said that the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) should wake up to its responsibilities and rid the streets of such ugly posters.

The agency, established by the Lagos State Structure for Signage and Advertisement Law, 2006, is responsible for the management, regulation and control of the signage and outdoor advertising environment in the state. (NAN)

load on Kaduna, by way influx of travelers and culture."

He said that the state may get as much as N8 billion from the fund accruing to the Federal Government from the removal of fuel subsidy, when the money is eventually shared.

According to Gandu, government has already set up a committee, headed by the Deputy Governor, Muktar Ramallan Yero, to work out how the money will be spent, to enhance development of the state.

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R-L: Editor-in-Chief of African Leadership Magazine, Mr. Ken Giami, presenting the African Leadership Magazine Man of the year 2011 to CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, recently in United States of America.

he Plateau Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, collected N53.4 million revenue in the first quarter of this year, the Area Comptroller, Alhaji Lawal Gusau, has said.

Gusau told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos yesterday that the amount represented a 220 percent increase over the N16.6 million realised within the same period in 2011.

A breakdown of the revenue reveals that N19, 324,235.65 was received in March, while N15, 360,879.06 and N18, 729,517.35 were realised in January and February respectively.

Gusau said he had encouraged his members of staff to do more against the backdrop of N110.8 million realised in the whole of 2011.

"We trained more officers on revenue generation and ensured that all of them were computerliterate.

"We also took steps to block leakages and ensure that every kobo was remitted into the coffers,'' he said.

According to him, the new strategies have really paid off and "we are happy for it".

The Comptroller said that the command had already constituted a committee towards checking all nooks and crannies for all prospective dutiable products.

(NAN)

Fresh crises in NECO over reappointment of Registrar From Iliya Garba, Minna

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fresh controversy brews in the National Examination Council NECO following the re-appointment of the registrar, Prof. Promise Okpala from a purported letter signed by the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim Pius instead of being confirmed from the office of the Hon. Minister of Education, Prof.

Rukayya Ahmed Rufai.

It would be recalled that the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) of NECO had last week addressed a press conference at the IBB, Pen

House in Minna where they claimed that it was only the Minister of Education that could ratify his appointment.

The members of the union had through the branch Secretary Ibrahim Ali alleged that they were invited by the Director State Security Service (SSS), Dr. Larry Obiagwu in Minna and were threatened that the 'unnecessary confrontation with constituted authority constitutes a security threat which cannot be overlooked'.

They further alleged that after the aggressive warning and threat, five members of the union were profiled with their photographs and

thumb prints.

According to him, out of the 11 members of exco and consultative forum that were invited by the SSS, he was detained in the midst of hardened suspects for asking the director "if the registrar as a public appointee is supreme and not accountable to the Nigeria public for his actions and inactions?"

Consequently, the union had written a disclaimer to the state commissioner of police over a planned violent protest today (Monday), stressing that, "as a matter of fact, sources in NECO revealed to us that members of staff are compelled by some powerful

element within the council to sign a piece of paper and write No to NASU".

"We want to categorically distance ourselves as executives of NASU from any such protest and call on all legally endorsed members of our union to do same, that is to stay away from any act that will be construed as a breach of public peace", they added.

The union had further alleged that the registrar through some unscrupulous elements in the society had earmark N3million to mobilise thugs to stage a protest as well as destroy asset within the council so that the union leaders would be arrested and detained.

The Secretary of the chapter further disclosed that, no fewer than 200 staff of NECO who had been clamouring for the removal of the registrar had been transferred out of the headquarters including all EXCO of the chapter as well as members of the consultative forum with the aim to stop any agitation from the union.

When contacted on his mobile phone, the State Director SSS, Dr. Larry Obiagwu, explained that he received an intelligence report of some group of people parading themselves as union leaders without regard to constituted authorities.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 7

NEMA donates cash to victims of Kaduna bomb blast From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

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L-R: Yobe state Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Umar Kaigama, state Deputy Governor, Engineer Abubakar Aliyu, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Babagoni Macina, and Head of Service, Alhaji Dauda Yahaya, with others dignitaries, during the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop on accountability and transparency in managing public funds, recently in Damaturu.

Patience’ Lagos visit: Fashola blasts Jonathan over special road blocks From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state has condemned the visit of the wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, which resulted into road blockage in the state, saying “It is particularly worrisome that she is not an elected person.”

Fashola who made this known yesterday, at the retreat held in Amuwo-Odofin local government to review the budget performance of the state, said “Lagosians were terribly embarrassed by the visit of the first lady to the state on Thursday.”

It would be recalled that traffic congestion was experienced in the state on Thursday following the visit of the Mrs. Jonathan who came into the state to show gratitude to women in the state for voting for the president in the 2011 presidential election.

According to the governor, “Needlessly, if I must say and it reasons on me, the need for public officers generally, especially the security agencies to be more sensitive to the people we serve.

It is particularly worrisome this is not an elected person.”

“And I think we all, including the security agencies on how they pander to our high officers

especially Very Important Personnel (VIP) movement at the risk and expense of citizens and taxpayers whose money were used to fuel all the vehicles and all the apparatus that we used to block the roads against those who pay those money.”

“It is an issue that calls for greater sensitivity to the comfort of our citizenry. Yes, I understand the need to protect the VIPs but it must be done in a way that it doesn’t impoverish.”

“It should not get to the level that we shot down the roads in the state because VIP wants to pass. If they let us know earlier, they can go through these roads

without shutting it down.

Traffic can be managed with communication apparatus.

When this is done, I know that Nigerians respect their leaders either elected or not.

And they very sensibly and gladly yield to them to go and do their business.

“But I don’t think that residents of Lagos deserve to be kept on the road in standstill for five hours.”

Meanwhile, Lagos state government has disclosed that the state recorded 65 percent budget performance in the first quarters of its 2012 budget.

Bauchi govt assures subsidised agricultural inputs From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi he Bauchi State Government has resolved to subsidize the procurement of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, cotton seeds and pesticides to ensure a revival of the commodity production in the state.

The State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Aminu saleh, who pledged to subsidise cotton for cotton farmers, also said the government is poised to facilitate the acquisition of capital for the farmers towards massive production of Cotton in the state.

Alhaji Sagir Saleh, who is the Chairman of the Committee on revival of cotton production

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in the state, stated this at Bununu, headquarters of Tafawa Balewa local government, during an advocacy visit to cotton farmers in the area.

Saleh, while disclosing that he would embark on massive production of cotton this season, also called on cotton farmers in the area to avail themselves of the government’s subsidy on agricultural inputs, saying production of cash crops such as cotton would go a long way in empowering them economically.

The Sagir Saleh-led cotton production revival committee, which also visited farmers at Liman Katagum village of Bauchi local government,

similarly assured them of ready market for the produced commodity.

The Bauchi State Chairman of Cotton Farmers Association, Alhaji Baba Abubakar, also while addressing the cotton farmers, urged them to form themselves into groups of organised bodies so as to tremendously benefit from the government’s subsidy gesture.

He recalled that cotton production had, before the advent of oil boom, been one of the major sources of revenue for the government, saying it also boosted the socio-economic status of the cotton farmers themselves.

The Caretaker Chairman of Tafawa Balewa local

government, Alhaji Idris Halilu, earlier in a welcome address, described Bauchi as one of the major cotton producing states in the North.

The Cotton Production revival committee also visited the Bauchi Emir’s place, where the Monarch, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu, noted that production of cash crops would accelerate the socio-economic development of the state.

He told the committee that he is ready to go into cotton farming even if it means planting the crop within the vicinity of the place, and commended the state government for its efforts to revive cotton production in the state.

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has donated N4 million to support four hospitals in Kaduna for the treatment of victims of recent bomb blast in the state.

The victims of explosion which occurred on Easter Sunday are currently receiving treatments at designated medical centres, which include Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika Zaria; 44 Army Reference Hospital; Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital and St. Gerards Hospital, all in Kaduna state.

Some victims of bomb blast were also given cash donations as a means of offsetting their essential needs while undergoing treatments in the hospital.

The Director Search and Rescue of NEMA, Air Commodore Alexander Bankole, who represented the Director General, said the government’s gesture is intended to support affected victims of disaster to ameliorate their plight.

In his remarks, the Acting Zonal Coordinator, NEMA North West Zone, Alhaji Musa Ilallah stated “the agency will continue to discharge its responsibility promptly and efficiently towards assisting victims of natural and man-induced disaster.”

NEMA says 10,000 IDPs are in 3 NorthCentral states

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he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says that there are more than 10,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states.

“The myriad conflicts in the three crisis-prone areas have left more than 10,000 homeless and they are now in various IDPs camps”, Alhaji Alhassan Aliyu, NEMA’s North-Central Zonal Coordinator, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos yesterday.

Aliyu said that 5,840 of the IDPs were currently camped in Nasarawa state, while about 3,000 from Yobe State were being camped by the church in Plateau.

“After recent attacks, we also visited five IDPs camps in Nasarawa state and the figure from Nasarawa State Emergency Agency (SEMA) is 5,840 persons from clashes within the state alone.

“The estimate we have from Plateau is about 3,000 IDPs, and they are mostly those who fled from Yobe state,’’ he said, adding that the figure of IDPs from Benue State was still being compiled.

Aliyu also noted that many people were killed in two disasters in Benue, adding that these were the clash between herdsmen and farmers as well as the recent church collapse in Vandeikya.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Again, Jonathan looks up to God for Nigeria’s deliverance

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has once again said that his administration is totally reliant on divine intervention to deliver the country from its myriads of socioeconomic and security challenges.

The President conceded that he and his ministers were not the best the country could have at the helm of its affairs, saying that since God had put them in the driving seat, same divine forces would help rescue the country from collapse.

He stated this during a Breakfast Prayer Meeting in the

Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa on Saturday, where Christian leaders prayed for his success in the effort to transform the country.

He also noted that “by God’s grace this government will not fail and Nigeria would change for the better.”

“In selecting me as the President of this country, the Vice President, the governors, members of the National Assembly, the ministers, we are not the best material but God knows why he chose us and we pray He should use us to change this country.

“We believe that with God using us collectively, we will be able

to transform this country. We all as Nigerians want a better country, we want a country that there would be peace, power; that will take care of our health needs, that we can move freely from one part of the country to the other, that our children will have hope.”

He continued: “God sometimes uses most impossible sources to solve human problems and I believe God has a purpose for us and God will use us to fulfill that purpose.

“I trust in the efficacy of the Bible truth that the prayer of the righteousness avails much.”

According to him, “we must live above those primordial

tendencies which can only compromise our growth as a nation. We should be guided by the ideals of justice, equity, selflessness and above all the fear of God in every conduct public or private.”

While urging Nigerians to emulate the selflessness exemplified by Christ, President Jonathan remarked that the nation could only attain the lofty heights, which almighty God through Nigeria's rich natural endowments and human resource base has preordained for it, “if we as individuals are prepared to make the requisite sacrifice.”

He further noted that his

administration was voted into office by overwhelming majority of Nigerians cutting across ethnic, social, cultural and even political barriers, saying “we therefore owe all Nigerians the sacred duty to toil endlessly for the enhanced welfare and well-being of all. This is a duty I have vowed to commit my all to achieve.”

“Every promise I made during electioneering campaigns is to me an article of faith and a covenant with all Nigerians.

“I am aware that the task of national transformation is daunting one, I am however more aware that there is nothing that God cannot do. With Him on our side,s I am confident that every stumbling block on our way shall become a stepping stone into national rebirth,” he stated.

Gov Aliyu condoles IGP over mother’s death

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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Corps Marshal/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka (middle), leading other corps and civilians on road walk exercise, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Wamakko approves N3.9bn for outstanding commitments

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he Governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, has approved N3.9 billion for the payment of all outstanding commitments.

A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Abdullahi Bala, stated that commitments under the capital expenditure amounted to N2.5 billion.

“Down payments in this category total over N377 million.

Payments for commitments of N10 million and below will gulp N231 million, while payments above N10 million will take about N1.8 billion.

“Supplementary on capital expenditure amounted to more than N314 million”, it stated.

According to the statement,

under recurrent expenditure, all payments of N5 million and below will take more than N366 million, while all payments above N5 million will take more than N675 million.

The statement stated that “with this development, government hopes that all contractors engaged in the execution of projects will re-double

efforts in ensuring timely completion”.

“In like manner, with the payment of all overhead costs for government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, it is expected that civil servants will rededicate themselves to discharging their duties efficiently to ensure the attainment of outlined goals.” (NAN)

s condolence messages continue to pour in for the Acting Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Muhammad Dahiru Abubakar, over the death of his mother, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu has joined several Nigerians to commiserate with the police chief.

A condolence message signed by Governor Aliyu's spokesman, Malam Danladi Ndayebo urged the IGP to be consoled by the fact that it is only Allah (SWT) that gives and takes life whenever He pleases.

Aliyu said the death of Hajiya Aisha is a devastating experience for the police boss, especially at this critical period when her parental support is needed to succeed in his assignment.

Governor Aliyu urged the IGP not to be discouraged by her death, but to forge ahead with the enormous task of repositioning the Nigeria Police to meet its responsibility of providing security to lives and property.

He said the best tribute the IGP can pay to his late mother is to continue to touch the lives of Nigerians positively like he has been doing since he joined the Police force some three decades ago.

He prayed Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and to grant members of her family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Flawed elections, bad governance cause of insecurity, says Jingir From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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he Chairman of the council of Ulamas of the Jama'atu Izalatul Bid'a Wa'iqamatus Sunna (JIBWIS), Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has described flawed elections and bad governance as the major cause of insecurity in the country.

Sheikh Jingir, who stated this in an interview with newsmen at a preaching session of the association, weekend in Katsina, noted that manipulations during

elections frustrate people to lose hope on the elected leadership and therefore followed other means to vent their anger on them.

He said “during election campaigns politicians make promises to the electorate on improved welfare, but after election they abandon the electorate with no job, no means of livelihood. In this situation certainly people would embark on crime to make ends meet.”

He equally disagreed with the federal government over its

insistence that it doesn’t know the members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, adding “how can government with all its powers, security and intelligence gathering, say it doesn't know those behind these spates of bombings”.

The chairman lamented that a lot of people were arrested attempting to bomb places of worships, especially those that are not Muslims, yet nothing was heard of their arraignment in courts or further information on the incidence.

He called on people to reflect back

on a recent history were some socalled foreign affairs expert in the US predicted the collapse of the country by 2015 and a coup by some military elements during the reign of General Ibrahim Babangida, where they carved out certain states of the north from Nigeria.

He noted that with these incidences, a lot of people in the country were convinced that the rampant bombing and killing of the innocent were simply an external script meant to destabilised the country and dismantle it.

Jingir also called on the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to fear God and to always control his utterances on issues of national concern, adding that the CAN president's attack on any peace initiative to frustrate such efforts was more than met the eyes.

However, hundreds of thousands of Islamic Scholars and Muslim faithful from across Nigeria and the neighbouring countries attended the preaching session conducted at the Polo Ground, Katsina.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 11

Polio eradication: Japan pledges to support Nigeria

FRSC cautions motorists on conduct

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By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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he Federal Road Safety Corpse (FRSC) has called on motorists, especially during this raining season, to properly maintain their vehicles and observe road signs, so as to safeguard their lives.

FRSC Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, who made this call over the weekend, during a jogging exercise, noted that there was every need for motorists to make sure their vehicles were in good condition before plying the roads.

At the jogging tagged "Towards Attracting Private Sector Involvement in Road Safety", Chidoka said there was need to involve the private sector and all members of the society in the safety project, so as to create safety awareness for those who are ignorant.

He called on all motorists to be responsible; instead of waiting for the FRSC to either arrest or punish them, adding that it is everybody's responsibility to create an accident free society.

Earlier, the Managing Director, Nicon Insurance, Mr. Emmanuel Jegede, said using the private sector to create awareness was imperative because they form the larger part of the society.

Jegede who was the guest of honour at the training further appealed to the members of the society to play their own role in ensuring that the roads are free from accident.

A victim of the UN House bomb blast in Abuja, Member Feese (in a wheelchair), Archbishop John Onaiyekan (right), with other clerics during a thanksgiving service for the victim at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, on Saturday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

he Japanese government has reaffirmed its intention to support Nigeria in the fight against polio.

Mr. Naohiro Tsutsumi, Director, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, disclosed this during a visit to the Ministry of Health in Abuja.

Tsutsumi said the gesture was to further strengthen Japan's relations with Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the past, the Japanese government had backed UNICEF with a donation of over N1 billion for health programmes, including the eradication of polio.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, said that polio eradication was about protecting the lives of children and not a political issue.

He commended other partners like UNICEF and the Rotary Club, which had provided support towards polio eradication. (NAN)

Survivor of UN House blast holds thanksgiving service in Abuja

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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ne of the survivors of the United Nations House bomb blast in Abuja in August 2011, Member Afeese, has set up a Foundation to care for the less privileged and the poor in the society.

This development was disclosed

over the weekend, by the father of the survivor, Mr. Ambrose Afeese, shortly after a thanks giving service in her honour at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.

Afeese said that the foundation is an expression of gratitude to the Almighty God for healing his daughter, saying she recovered at a time when many thought she

won't make it.

"We are grateful to all those who stood behind us, we can't thank you enough for what you have done. We also thank the Federal Government for footing the hospital bill. Member is not only our daughter; she is every body's property, evident by the support she received from the society".

On her part, the survivor who just returned from Queen Mary's Hospital, London, pledged to assist the poor and those in need.

Earlier, Rev. Fr Ugo Ugokwu, urged the survivor to forgive her enemies, saying "evil does not triumph over good", and called on Nigerians to pray for peace in the country.

Plateau produces enough eggs for export, says commissioner

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he Plateau state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Stephen Barko, has stated that Plateau has more than 3,000 poultry farmers who produce large quantities of eggs every day.

He noted that the poultry farmers usually sell their eggs to large-scale buyers from neighbouring countries since the local buyers cannot buy up the eggs.

“A lot of foreign buyers depend so much on eggs from Plateau because the state's weather facilitates the production of highquality eggs. Our eggs are not only big in size but they are also more nutritious and they have a longer life-span.

“Our eggs can also withstand any kind of weather; they are usually preferred by foreign embassies, expatriates and tourists,” he said.

Buoyed by the massive demand for eggs, egg producers have been on the rise in Plateau over the years, he stated.

However, as a result of the recent border closure ordered by the federal government due to security challenges, many producers have already incurred huge losses in view of a massive eggs' glut, which Mr Julius Gusan, the Chairman of the Poultry

Farmers Association, says is unprecedented.

“One is being forced to pay the fees but there is no guarantee that one's eggs will be purchased eventually. Even if the eggs are purchased, we are not sure of how many crates of eggs will be purchased from each farmer and for how much,” says Mr Amos Yakubu, who owns a 500-bird poultry farm.

Besides, Yakubu wonders why he is now required to renew his membership of the Poultry Farmers Association and suspects that the payments are a plot aimed at disqualifying most farmers from benefiting from the initiative.

Mrs Joke Adebayo, another poultry farmer based in the Terminus area of Jos, shares similar sentiments.

“Asking farmers to pay fees to get their eggs sold would defeat the governor's good intention and it would further worsen the economic conditions of poultry farmers who have already incurred losses.

“If government buys a farmer's eggs at N450 per crate and he pays N5,500 as registration fees; it means the eggs are actually bought at a lesser price,” she says Another farmer, Mr Obinna Chukwuemeka, also faults the

ministry's argument that the registration fees are aimed at generating extra revenue for the state.

“It is not right to generate revenue from a bailout initiative aimed at rescuing poultry farmers who are already groaning under the yoke of losses.

“Plateau State boasts of about 5,000 poultry farmers and by the time you multiply N5,500 registration fees by 5,000 farmers, it is a cool N27.5 million. This is beside those farmers who would pay N8,500.

“Why will they want to generate money before implementing a bailout programme for which the governor has magnanimously released N30 million?

“We believe he (Jang) is not after the money. We feel that the governor’s aim is to save us from incurring huge losses and we are calling on him to save us from the emerging exploitation,” Chukwuemeka says.

Many other stakeholders have also expressed reservations over the fees and they accused some government officials of trying to exploit the situation for some personal gains.

A university lecturer, Mr Paul Ade, who is a poultry farmer, queries the agriculture ministry’s

sincerity of purpose.

He argues that he is not convinced that all his eggs will be bought after paying the mandatory fees since government has already decided that only 50,000 crates of eggs would be bought on a “first come, first buy basis.”

Some of the poultry farmers also allege that government officials are conniving with the Poultry Farmers Association to further exploit them, citing the dual fees charged by the ministry and the association as an illustration.

However, a check at the Desk Office shows that many farmers have complied, as an official, who craves anonymity, says that the farmers' response is “very encouraging.”

Gusan, the Chairman of the Poultry Farmers Association, nonetheless, sees the registration fees as legitimate charges and explains that they vary in relation to a farm's capacity.

“The minimum membership registration fee is N2,000, while those that have large farms pay up to N5,000," Gusan says, adding, however, that he cannot confirm the actual number of poultry farmers in Plateau.”

Sharing similar sentiments, Barko insists that the charges are

somewhat justifiable.

“The fees are being charged to generate revenue. Unregistered farmers will not be covered by the initiative,” he stresses.

The commissioner insists that poultry farmers can only benefit from eggs mop-up initiative -- a market guarantee programme -after paying the “token fees”.

“Government intends to buy a total of 50,000 crates of eggs at N500 each instead of the prevailing market price of N700 because the intervention is only a risk-sharing measure and not a pure commercial initiative.

“It is just an intervention; it is aimed at giving our farmers something so that they don't lose out completely,” he says.

Barko, however, is not ready to respond to the farmers' allegation of extortion, insisting that he does not owe anyone any explanation in that regard.

“As far as the issue of extortion is concerned, that is your problem and headache,” he shrieks.

But as the government officials and the farmers bicker over the modalities of the eggs' mop-up initiative, analysts have expressed fears that further delays may frustrate the desirability of the programme and its purpose since eggs are a perishable commodity.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

FRSC and misguided penchant for revenue generation

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stablished in 1988, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is supposedly charged with responsibilities for policy-making, organization and administration of road safety in Nigeria.

Therefore, ask the average and even the not- so- average Nigerian today what they think is the primary assignment of the FRSC and, chances are, eight out of 10, would tell you without hesitation that, it is to secure our streets and highways from the deadly antics of murderous drivers, who happen to be in the majority among road users in Nigeria. For, it is a sad fact that, hardly a day passes without one form of fatal accident or another occurring on our roads, mostly caused by recklessness on the wheel. In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that in 2009 alone, 32,000 people died of road accidents in Nigeria. That is a staggering average of 89 people a day.

Sadly however, going by the preoccupation of the FRSC of late, that perception would appear to be deadly wrong. The FRSC's penchant for revenue generation in the past couple of years would seem to have relegated all other assignments, including the decidedly more important one of making Nigerian roads safe from the recklessness of drivers, to the back bench.

Three weeks ago, at the Senate public hearing on new number plate and drivers’ licence, the top hierarchy of the Police and the leadership of the FRSC exchanged sharp words over which of them has the statutory duty to register and keep data base of

vehicles in Nigeria. It is, in other words, about which one of them has the right to generate revenue from these exercises.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Olajide Akano, who is in charge of ICT, had told the Senator Awaisu Kuta-led (Senate) Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs that the law did not empower FRSC to register vehicles, arguing,

“

A casual drive on our highways and a walk on the city streets would explain why, and expose the lie in any claim that the FRSC may lay, in making our drivers responsible citizens vis-à-vis road usage among others, that no section of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) Act of 2004 empowers the FRSC to register vehicles and maintain database of same.

However, the Corps Marshall of the FRSC, Mr Osita Chidoka, disagreed, telling the committee that the 104th meeting of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) in August 2003 in Nasarawa state, agreed that collection of road taxes were the responsibility of the states, and that the FRSC had statutory function of keeping

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motor vehicle records.

Our concern and, especially, worry at Peoples Daily is why is it that the agency which is charged with the responsibility of inculcating driving ethics on Nigerian drivers and making our roads safe, among other things, is more concerned with making money off the Nigerian citizens at a time when road accident has become the number one killer of Nigerians.

A casual drive on our highways and a walk on the city streets would explain why, and expose the lie in any claim that the FRSC may lay, in making our drivers responsible citizens vis-à-vis road usage. In addition to converting with reckless abandon the highways and streets into race tracks of sorts, with no regulators, drivers of all kinds of vehicles have also turned the city streets no less dangerous because of their indiscriminate parking habit with nobody seeming to care.

We are therefore forced to state that despite or because of the activities of the FRSC, our roads have sadly become death traps no thanks to the unchecked recklessness of some of our drivers.

Our advice to the leadership of the FRSC is that if it is revenue generation they feel more at home with and adept at, then they should seek accommodation at the Federal Inland Revenue Service or the Customs Service, as these are the agencies whose raison d’être it is to generate revenue. Otherwise, FRSC should be first and foremost about making our streets and highways safe from the recklessness of drivers.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

By Simeon Nwakaudu

W

ithout an iota of doubt, one area where the Federal Government is making slow, but deliberate gains of recent is developing the Non-Formal Education, NFE, sub-sector to ensure that millions of Nigerians from all walks of life have access to sound functional education.

Zeroing on Non Formal Education by the government stems from the fact that Nigerians can only contribute to the development process when they are educated enough to appreciate the efforts of government and its direction to better their condition of living.

Before then, the attention paid to non formal education across the country had been below expectation. The situation has

PAGE 13

Taking education a notch higher improved encouragingly as the President, himself with a background in education has stressed the importance of ensuring that the less privileged in our communities, rural and urban have access to functional education through the non-formal education format.

The President’s directive in this regard is being implemented by the Minister of State for Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who, upon assumption of duty spelt out clearly to officials of the Federal Ministry of Education in the Basic and Secondary Education department and the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non Formal Education,

NMEC, that it would no longer be business as usual in the sub-sector.

The Minister insisted that positive results must be achieved from the Federal, through to the states down to the local councils to reach out to Nigerians who are unable to access formal education through existing school system.

Presently, Nigeria has over 60million illiterates. These are people without the basic literacy skills to contribute their quota meaningfully to national development. Available statistics indicate that 47percent of the nation’s adult population remains illiterate, while 22million children are out of school, with majority of them being women.

It is the minister’s belief that keeping such a large percentage of the population outside the radiance of literacy and education makes the task of national development more complex and burdensome.

“This further implies that something drastic is done to accelerate literacy and education for all Nigerians, Nigeria may not attain the 2015 Education for All goals and the MDGs; it may also fail to achieve the significant milestones of its developmental targets under Vision 20:20:20”, notes the minister.

The goal that the Federal Ministry of Education is working towards presently under the direct supervision of Barr. Wike is to

ensure that 10million Nigerian illiterates are reached through the non-formal education format annually. The target is to reach out to 40million illiterates to ensure that they have functional literacy skills within the next four years terminating in 2015. The remaining percentage of the illiterates will be covered in the years after 2015, using clear-cut principles that have been laid out for the attainment of Education For All (EFA).

Concerned agencies and officials in the Federal Ministry of Education have started the concerted implementation of the Continued on page 14

British Media: Friend or foe?

By Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u Introduction ne of the key aims of the media is to inform and educate the people. But in recent years there has been a debate on whether the media is fulfilling its role as the fourth estate of the realm. Critics of the media such as Noam Chomsky, Robert W McChesney, John Pilger and other experts have pointed on the role the media has been playing not in promoting good causes, but by serving as the mouthpiece of governments and corporate interests. This leads to the question whether the media in Britain or elsewhere around the world is a friend or foe?

In his recent documentary, The War You Don’t See, John Pilger explored the role of the media in reporting conflicts around the world, from the First World War to the War on Iraq. John Pilger framed his documentary within the context of a public relations war employed by various governments and corporate agencies to misinform the public in order to achieve the objective of going to war.

Two examples from the documentary on the war on Iraq, and the plan to attack Iran will be relevant here. After the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the then BBC’s political editor Andrew Marr was shown in front of Downing Street claiming that even the critics of Tony Blair now have to give him credit, for he stands vindicated and will therefore stand as a stronger prime minister.

The second example also involves Andrew Marr who runs a show in the BBC called the Andrew Marr Show. Guess whom he was interviewing in the show, it was Tony Blair again. In the interview Andrew Marr asked Tony Blair about the threat posed by Iran in its attempt to possess weapons of mass destruction, Tony Blair responded by saying that “”I think it is wholly unacceptable for Iran to have nuclear weapons capability. I think we’ve got to be prepared to confront them, if necessary, militarily.”[1] During the interview Andrew Marr keeps emphasizing about the military option until Tony Blair stated it clearly that he is in support of military action. Here the

O

journalist who should be the defender of truth is guiding the interviewee to mislead the public once again.

This is classical example of how journalists fail in their duty to hold leaders to account. If Andrew Marr was doing his job properly, the direction of the interview should focus on the absence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which Tony Blair told the world was the reason for the attack on Iraq. The interview should have focused on the damages done by the coalition forces in Iraq, the end result of which was what the former UN arms inspector Hans Blix called the ‘weapons of mass disappearance’. In a world where journalists do their work by holding leaders to account, Andrew Marr should have asked Tony Blair about the number of people lost and continued to be lost in Iraq. And if the answer to these questions about Iraq disproves the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, why should the media provide another platform to Tony Blair to repeat the same lies about the possible existence of these weapons in another country. As such it is in order to ask whether the media in Britain is a force for good or evil?

Why do journalists echo the official line?

Why are journalists ready to be used as propaganda tools to promote lies and distort reality? We can identify three reasons for this. The first is what I will call “establishment journalism”. Many journalists are obsessed with establishing friendship with senior politicians, military commanders, and corporate tycoons. The friendship comes with a reward, which is access to information. The journalist-source relationship has been explored in detail by various scholars including Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky’s work on propaganda model (2002), and Bob Franklin’s Packaging Politics (2004). Journalists are proud to boast to their colleagues for having dinner with the prime minister or the foreign secretary the night before. In Britain the relationship between journalists and their sources reached its peak when Alastair Campbell was the director of communications at Downing Street. Mr Campbell used his position

to establish a strong relationship with journalists, and punish those who refuse to toe the government line by starving them of information. So when it came to the attack on Iraq, the media was simply echoing the views held by Alastair Campbell and his principal Tony Blair.

Unfortunately for journalists, they work under intense pressure from their editors to get the scoop.

And as long as a journalist can get the story, confirm the sources of the story, it matters little whether the story is true or not, especially if it comes from highly placed sources.

Here it is important to discuss the suggestion by Nick Davies, the author of Flat Earth News, a book that should be read by anybody who wants to understand how the media work. Davies explains the difference between “Accuracy” and “Truth”.[2] According to Nick Davies journalism today is more interested in the accuracy of the information than the truth it contains. According to him, if a prime minister tells journalists that “there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq”, as long as the journalists got the remarks in quotation marks, they have done their job; the emphasis is to quote your sources accurately. But the truth according to Nick Davies is to ascertain whether there are weapons of mass destruction or not.

This example by Nick Davies brings to light the culture of journalism being practiced whether in Britain or elsewhere that produces what Nick Davies himself calls “distortion”, “falsehood” and “propaganda.”

The second reason why journalists misrepresent Islam is their ignorance of other cultures and deliberate mischief on anything Islamic. I once heard a newscaster describing the recitation of the Qur’an as a song that Muslims normally observe during ceremonies. To illustrate this point further let us bring some examples on how some concepts in Islam have been used in the news media. For instance the word “Fatwa” which implies an advisory opinion suggested by Muslim scholars who have a sound understanding of Islam as well as the circumstances that necessitate the need to provide solution to

problems affecting the Muslim community. These issues could be in terms of economic matters. For instance it is clear that Riba (usury) is prohibited in Islam. But to own a house in many countries where there is no Islamic alternative to mortgage requires dealing with Riba. So for the Muslim community living in those countries it means they will perpetually remain as second class citizens because they couldn’t own houses; while Islam preaches life in dignity and self esteem, so the scholars can look into the circumstances of the Muslims in these countries and issue a fatwa (religious verdict or opinion) advising on the circumstances under which Muslims can take mortgage, and the “Fatwa” can change as their circumstance changes as well. Other issues that may require a fatwa can be the involvement of Muslims in politics or the issue of how to address inheritance where they are a minority and there are no shari’a courts to address their needs.

But what we see in the British media is the appropriation of the word fatwa and used only in negative stories, many times associated with death, bad behaviour or criminality. Take the following example from the Daily Mail newspaper: “The historian, his wife and a mistress living under fatwa” (Headline 8th February 2010).

The text of the story suggests that “With their close ties to David Cameron and illustrious careers in academia and publishing, they were a formidable couple. But last night it appeared that the 16-year marriage of celebrated historian Niall Ferguson and former newspaper editor Sue Douglas has ended. The Harvard professor has left his wife for Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a glamorous Somali lawyer threatened with death for scripting a film critical of Islam.”

As you can see from the text, the story was about divorce, but because it is a story that fits the bill of the “Muslim stereotype” it was linked with the word fatwa in the headline to attract the attention of the readers of the newspaper by reminding them how bad Muslims are?

Other examples in the

newspaper includes “Dial-a-fatwa that bans naps, raffles and tattoos: Muslim scholars issue 350,000 decrees in 2010” (Headline 28 December, 2010); “‘Fatwa on your head?’ Controversial adverts that help Muslims abandon Islam appear on New York buses” (Headline 27th May, 2010).

These kinds of headlines and stories are not restricted to the Daily Mail. A search through BBC’s website also reveals that stories about Fatwa are related to punishment, crime, death or terrorism. For instance on 12 May, 2011, BBC’s Asia website carried the following headline “Bangladesh lifts fatwa ban but forbids enforcement” with the text of the story explaining that “The Bangladesh Supreme Court has ruled that clerics can issue fatwas Islamic religious edicts - but said that they cannot be enforced. A high court ruling 10 years ago banned fatwas altogether after several women were sentenced to brutal punishments” Even the liberal Guardian newspaper is no different when it comes to the use of the term. A search through the Guardian website also suggest that the use of the word is restricted to stories about Salman Rushdie’s satanic verses, stories about terrorism, punishment etc in fact sometimes even using the term satirically to mock the Muslim community. An example of that was a commentary written by Mai Yamani on Monday 29th October, 2007, the comment entitled “War of the fatwas: Saudi Arabia has unleashed its ultimate weapon in its battle against terrorism: Wahhabi clerics armed with fatwas”. Yamani suggested in the article that “What the kingdom claims to offer is a lead in the “war on terror”. Indeed, Saudi Arabia’s rulers have rallied to the cause, deploying their ultimate weapon: a barrage of Fatwas, or religious edicts, issued by prominent Wahhabi clerics”.

An analysis of the above text will help us to understand the intent behind it, first of all, the headline was framed within the context of war discourse; the words and phrases used are unleash, weapon, battle, and terrorism. This was made even clearer in the text with Continued on page 14

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Taking education a notch higher Continued from page 13

Presidential commitment to eradicate illiteracy in the country.

In the last eight months, the Federal Government has deliberately targeted those marginalized, deprived and excluded from the formal education system for access to basic education to improve their literacy skills. The NMEC and Ministry officials have ensured that a critical percentage of the less privileged in urban slums and rural communities progressively come under tutelage through non formal education.

The commitment of the Federal Government to the realization of mass literacy for all Nigerians, irrespective of the circumstance of their birth is underscored by the release of N1billion self-benefitting fund to UNESCO, one of its development partners in this regard, to help drive the process of eradicating illiteracy in the country.

The girl-child most affected by the scourge of illiteracy in the country has received the attention of the Federal Government in the last eight months. After the success of the pilot schemes targeted at women and children in selected states to improve their literacy level, the Federal Ministry of Education is partnering with development partners and state governments to scale up the coverage of these gender-specific Continued from page 13

the use of phrases like “clerics armed with Fatwas”, a “barrage of Fatwas” etc. Although the average reader of the Guardian is seen as educated, middle class and liberal, how many of them do understand the meaning of a “fatwah” as it affects the daily lives of Muslims, let alone distinguish it from its negative portrayal by the news media in Britain or elsewhere around the world? The words Jihad (striving in the path of God), Madrasa (school) and sharia (Islamic law and a guide on how a Muslim should lead his life) have almost lost their Arabic meaning in the global media because of the way their use has been distorted.

programmes. their investments will soon come to its statutory functions as a priority.

To be sure, modern day realities fruition like the mention states.

The commission has been duly rewhich have expanded literacy Another area that the Minister positioned and is working effectively beyond reading and writing has led of State for Education, Barr. Wike to achieve the goals set out by the to the review of the scope of mass has ensured takes firm root in the Federal Government. Alhaji Jubril literacy programmes by the last eight months in this sub-sector Yusuf Paiko, a seasoned non-formal Federal Ministry of Education to is the “Literacy by Radio”. This education expert has been meet the new policy objective and programme was already on ground confirmed as the Executive development challenge of before the Minister took over the Secretary of NMEC to help drive producing educated men and administration of basic education. the government’s programmes. women with appropriate skills and He, has, however, worked for the A primary initiative by NMEC competences is the for job creation establishment of and selfNational Literacy employment.

Centres across the T h e country.

At Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text Minister of present, the messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written State for Centre in Minna is contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 Education has, n e a r i n g words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and through the completion. The a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed N M E C National Literacy to: effectively Centres are meant connected to serve as models with states to for states to join in The Editor, improve the tackling the Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, quality of non i l l i t e r a c y 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. f o r m a l challenge in the Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com education country. Aside SMS: 07037756364 available to functional adults and outliteracy and of-school children in the six geo- scaling of the programme and the numeracy skills, the National political zones of the federation. distance learning aspect of the Literacy Centres would help in the States like Anambra, Zamfara, NMEC activities. More than development of vocational skills for Ondo, Kano, Niger and Benue have 30,000 Nigerians are directly the illiterate population. This developed effective partnerships to participating in the “Literacy by project is expected to effectively kick improve mass literacy and non Radio” programmes being run off before the end of the year. formal education. Several other across the country in English and The Minister also worked for the states have already keyed into the 21 indigenous languages. improvement of budgetary new initiatives introduced by the The Minister has made the re- allocation to the execution of mass Federal Ministry of Education and vitalization of NMEC to carry out literacy and non formal education

WRITE TO US

British Media: Friend or foe?

The third reason for the negative portrayal of Muslims is purely ideological. Since the fall of communism, the West, United States in particular was looking for an enemy. The next formidable force that fits the bill is Islam. As such with the contribution of political scientists like Samuel Huntington and other right wing scholars, Islam took centre stage in the media. Stories about Islam and Muslims provide a selling point. This picture was complicated further by the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York. Since then

Islam and Muslims have been classified as the enemy which has taken the place of communism.

This picture has more or less become a guiding principle in different news rooms. When a reporter sends a story, or a commentator contributes an article about Islam or Muslims, be assured that once it gets into the hand of the editor, the stereotypes “extremist”, “fundamentalist”, “terrorist” will be inserted. Unless proved otherwise, any violent attack within the minute it occurs, pundits will be invited into the news room

Gen. Buhari, in and out Contd. from back page or squeezed out by the formula which has shifted the source of power of the PDP to the Southsouth and South-east. Certainly, if the General can engineer the emergence of genuine intra-party democratic practices well before the next elections, then his party stands a much better chance of making a major impact in forthcoming elections. This will involve a transparent reduction in his profile and, quite honestly, influence in the manner the party is run. In simple terms, if the CPC cannot function well without the towering presence and influence of General Buhari, then he and all those who worked hard with him in the past have wasted their time. On the other hand, the routinization of his

programmes in this year’s budget.

The aim is to achieve the President’s Transformation Agenda of eradicating ignorance and illiteracy, which have done unquantifiable damage to our nation in the recent past.

Developing countries that have attained milestones in the world today did so through mass literacy.

If the population participate in development programmes, it is usually easy for the government to attain set goals. That is the focus of the President through the Federal Ministry of Education. The government is committed to educationally empowering the people through mass literacy programmes for them to become participants in the development process.

The mass literacy effort of the Federal Government is not a quickfix affair. It’s a long term programme which has earned the commitment and dedication of government officials at the highest level. Results are trickling in for now and by 2015, the results would have been manifest for all to see.

The key point in all of this is that the nation has left the departure lounge in the journey to mass literacy. It is only reasonable for all stakeholders to work towards safe landing at the end of the circle. The nation stands to benefit more from a vibrant Nigerian literate community as being built by the Jonathan administration.

Simeon Nwakaudu wrote from Abuja

charisma in a party which has the potential to provide national leadership, provided it also engages in strategic alliance building, will be the best legacy General Buhari will leave.

The scramble for General Buhari's endorsement or the fight to establish a foothold with or without his blessing will challenge the party as much as the preelection quarrels did last year.

This is why the General himself should be personally involved in pushing through key reforms in this party so that a new leadership emerges which enjoys popular, rather than the General's support.

For a man who has elevated the demand for credible elections to a step below the worship of God, General Buhari needs to be reminded that intra-party democracy is a fundamental

requirement for a working and credible electoral process. The dominance of the PDP in the national political landscape may be a function of its ability to manipulate the electoral process better than the opposition, but the unhealthy presence of Tinubu in the ACN and Buhari in CPC does not give much comfort that they will differ much from the PDP in terms of the manner they are run.

The only way the opposition can take on the PDP is to organize and release the energies of millions of Nigerians to feel that they have roles and stakes in overhauling the Nigerian political and electoral system, and that they do not exist only to put people into political offices. General Buhari can show Nigerians that there is a lot more to politics than running for office.

to confirm that it is the work of “Islamic fundamentalists” or “terrorists”. A recent example is the Norwegian attack by Anders Behring Breivik. Within minutes of the attack the media rushed to blame Muslims as the alleged perpetrators. Later it was discovered that it had nothing to do with Muslims, but with a Christian right wing activist. And suddenly the framing of the story changed completely.

For instance on 24th July 2011 the BBC stated that “the lawyer representing Anders Breivik, the 32-year-old Norwegian man charged with Friday’s shooting spree at a summer camp and bomb attack in Oslo, has said his client has admitted responsibility”; The Guardian on 23rd July, 2011 reported that “The killer began just after 5pm; it was two hours before 32-year-old Anders Behring Breivik, wearing the uniform of a police officer and protective earplugs against his own deafening gunshots, apparently ran out of ammunition and was arrested by police Swat teams sent from Oslo.”

As for the Daily Mail newspaper, it reported on 24 July 2011 that “the 32-year-old Norwegian man arrested for gunning down children on a holiday island and detonating a car bomb in Oslo has been named locally as Anders Behring Breivik.”

So in both the BBC which claims to be impartial, the Guardian with its liberal approach as well as the Daily Mail, Anders Behring Breivik is neither a terrorist nor an extremist, he is simply a 32 year old Norwegian man. If Anders

Breivik had been a Muslim, how will the story be framed? You know the answer.

Of course not all journalists in Britain or in the West accept the use of stereotypes. The exceptional work of journalists like Robert Fisk who writes for the Independent newspaper and one of the few journalists who have an in-depth understanding of the Muslim World comes to mind. John Pilger is another exception with his decisive and informative contribution on how the news media becomes a tool in the hand of the corporate world and politicians eager to mislead the public. In the academia the works of researchers like Dr John Richardson author of (Mis)Representing Islam: The Racism and Rhetoric of British Broadsheet Newspapers, Dr Elisabeth Poole author of Reporting Islam: Media Representations of British Muslims, Professor David Miller, author of Tell Me Lies: Propaganda and Media Distortion in the Attack on Iraq; and many more have contributed in unearthing the bias of the media in representing Islam and Muslims.

Despite the contribution of these great minds, they still remain lonely voices, so when the question is asked on whether the media in Britain is a friend or foe? The examples cited earlier will help you to answer the question.

Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u is a PhD student in the Department of Journalism Studies, University of Sheffield. mjyushau@yahoo.com

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan fired the first shot in the current controversy with Boko Haram over the new June dateline.

Jonathan who spoke in an interview with the South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency while attending a two-day summit on peaceful use of nuclear energy, with about 51 other world leaders in Seoul, assured that his government will end the menace of Islamic sect, Boko Haram in some areas of the North by the middle of the year.

Speaking on the current security challenges facing the country following the Boko Haram Islamic sect’s bombing canpaign in some parts of Nigeria, President Jonathan said, the problem was limited to certain areas in the country, assuring the international community that the problem would be seriously curtailed as the nation’s security forces would take total control of the situation by the middle of this year.

“In terms of security challenges, we have some parts of the country where we have terrorist attacks, but it does not affect the whole country. We are in reasonable control. We have the belief that in the middle of this year; in terms of security of individuals, we will have full control. The danger is limited to some parts of the country. It does not extend to other parts of country,” he further said.

The stage has thus been set for a titanic struggle between the

PAGE 15

June – The new dateline government and Boko Haram.

Following the pronouncements of the Commander in Chief and the several bomb blasts that killed scores of people and marred the Easter celebrations in some parts of the North, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, told soldiers to consider themselves at war with the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Ihejirika spoke in Kaduna while declaring open, a one week First Commanding Officer’s Workshop on “Enhancing Military Professionalism in the Nigerian Army to Meet Contemporary Challenges,”. He said that the Nigerian Army will soon establish a special unit in the military on the use of dogs to fight terrorism and related crimes.

His words: “You and your men are to be in a war mood to be able to deal with the current challenges. Otherwise, how do you explain that troops on check point duty would be attacked by these decadents? And they sometimes do that and get away with it. This is an area you must work on.”

In a rapid response, Sheik Abubakar Imam Shekau the leader of Jama’atu Ahl-Sunnati Lil Da’awati Wal Jihad popularly known as Boko Haram stated last week that President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian security forces cannot take down the sect by

June. The sect leader delivered human service, but Allah’s work the message titled “Message To and it is clear your aim is killing Jonathan’’via a Youtube video. us. Let me tell you with Allah It lasted for 14 minutes and two we will triumph over you and seconds.

In it Shekau, your men in hundreds. We are surrounded by his body guards not boasting rather keeping also threatened to consume quiet and working for Allah.

“Allah that finishes Pharaoh Jonathan’s regime in 3-months.

Shekau’s chilling message, and other wicked rulers that mainly in Arabic and Hausa you are not even up to them, will languages vowed that it must finish you and end your destroy Christians and government. We are not afraid because we are not Christianity doing man work in Nigeria but Allah’s work. particularly And we will see those killing who will carry Muslims in the day.”

Nigeria and President it will also kill Jonathan’s all Muslims pronouncement aiding the that Boko Haram arrest and will be a thing of harassment Emmanuel Yawe the past in June of its may have been members.

08024565402 targeted at the Shekau said, royawe@yahoo.com international “ Y o u community to Jonathan cannot stop us like you boasted, reassure them that all will soon instead we will devour you in the be well in Nigeria. To those of us Nigeria, the current three months like you are in boasting. If death is your worldly exchange is ominous because it gain, for us, it is eternal victory is sadly reminiscent of what to die working for Allah. Our joy happened last year between the is to die in Jihad for Allah then Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Hafiz Ringim and Boko against infidels like you…”

“We are also aware of some Haram. The police chief had Muslims using our name to make boasted during the presentation money, we will say nothing but of 10 Amoured Personnel let them continue, and they will Carriers (APCs) to the Nigeria Police, that the days of Boko meet Allah in the last day.

“We are not doing physical Haram sect are numbered in

Borno State.

He said this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, shortly after he received the 10 APCs and 10 Hilux patrol vehicles presented to the police by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State.

The police boss said he was in Maiduguri on the instruction of - please wait for the name - the president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to assess the security situation in the state.

Two days after the grand pronouncement that the days of Boko Haram are numbered, the group sent a suicide bomber who trailed the IGP from his residence in Abuja all the way to his office at Police Command Headquarters where he detonated a bomb that nearly killed the IGP. It is curious that the President sent his police chief to Maiduguri to make an empty boast - all because of 10 APC’s and 10 Hilux patrol vehicles - a boast that almost cost the cop his life and now he has come out himself to make a similar pronouncement.

The frightening thing is that Boko Haram which is not known for empty boasts have threatened to ‘devour’ the Preseident.

My prayer is that my President is on a sure foot when he speaks of this June dateline and that the ordeal of Hafiz Ringim will not be his portion.

Re-inventing the radical politics of the North: A tribute to Mallam Aminu Kano (I)

By Salihu M. Lukman

O

n April 17, 1983, twentynine (29) years ago, Mallam Aminu Kano passed away at a time when his party the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) was moving towards reconciliation. The party, which was in control of old Kano and Kaduna States (presently Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna and Katsina) was split in two factions with the PRP Governors, Alh. Balarabe Musa, late Alh. Abubakar Rimi, spearheading the radical faction under the leadership of late Chief Michael Imoudu. The main cause of disagreement leading to the split was issues bordering on party management and control.

This resulted in leadership crisis culminating in the emergence of the two factions - Tabo faction led

by Mallam Aminu and Tsantsi led

by Chief Michael Imoudu.

At the time of his death, the Tsantsi faction has further split into two with late Alh. Abubakar Rimi leading one faction and Alh. Balarabe Musa and Chief Michael Imoudu leading the second faction. The cause of the second disagreement was the question of whether the party should merge or not with other opposition parties in the country, notably, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the

Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) led by Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe. The Abubakar Rimi faction was for merger with the Zik-led NPP while the Balarabe/Imoudu faction favours the retention of the identity and ideological orientation of the party and forging an electoral alliance for the purpose of the 1983 elections.

It is important to note that, at the time of Mallam Aminu Kano’s death, reconciliation talks with the Balarabe/Imoudu faction were in advanced stages preparatory to the 1983 general elections. This was consistent with Mallam Aminu Kano’s strategy of spearhead a radical political challenge to the electoral hegemony of the dominant Northern establishment. It was to his (Mallam Aminu Kano) credit that most elections in the North, from 1950s to 1983, witnessed internal opposition to Northern establishment. On account of that he was able to mobilize the ordinary people in the North to challenge the politics of Northern establishment, which distinguishes politics in the North with what obtains in other regions, especially during the Second Republic.

The practice of challenging Northern establishment in the North was a prominent feature and almost in every section of the

North, there was manifest and strong opposition to the ruling NPC. In the North East, there was the Borno Youth Movement (BYM), in the North Central, there was the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) and in the North West, there was the Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU). These opposition parties, BYM, UMBC and NEPU were able to collaborate and form strong electoral alliances in order to defeat the NPC in the North.

Opposition politics in the North had led to remarkable historical decisions such as the case of late Alh. Ibrahim Imam who on account of was denied the opportunity to contest for legislative seat in Borno, was brought to Benue and given a constituency to contest elections into the Northern House of Assembly and won. Alh. Ibrahim Imam was a founding member and former Secretary General of NPC. He was also a co-founder of BYM and on account of his opposition to the NPC government, it was made impossible for him to contest the election in Borno, hence the decision by UMBC to invite him to Benue and offered a constituency to contest.

The point being made is that politics in the North, historically, has always presented ideologically choices, at least in the first and

second Republics. These choices influenced our national politics in many respect. The role and leadership of Mallam Aminu Kano, is to say the least considerable. This is not to dismiss criticisms that have been made over the years regarding the leadership of Mallam Aminu Kano. But it is to his credit that while the dominant Northern establishment engages national politics based on a strategy to assert its hegemonic control, Mallam Aminu Kano approaches it with a strategy to engage all nationalists in the country and negotiate for a better deal for the common person (talaka) in the North.

It is important to also recognize that the BYM and UMBC in the first Republic represented were the opposition in the North. Both the BYM and UMBC had alliances during the first Republic with AG and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) to challenge the electoral hegemony of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC). In the second Republic, both the PRP and Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) were the opposition parties in the North and had alliances with the UPN and NPP to challenge the electoral hegemony of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

Partly on account of these

alliances, the PRP was to control old Kaduna and Kano States governments (now Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Jigawa). The GNPP was to control Old Borno and Gongola States (now Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba). It is also significant to note that also partly on account of these alliances, the NPP controlled old Plateau Benue State (now Plateau and part of Nasarawa). The NPN was only in control of old Sokoto, Niger, Bauchi, Benue and Kwara (today’s Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Bauchi, Gombe, Benue and parts of Nasarawa states).

Twenty-nine years after Mallam Aminu Kano, the politics of the North has lost its capacity to engage effectively with other interests and tendencies to project alternative nationalist politics both within the North and outside, no thanks partly to the reckless and self-serving political engineering of the Babangida and Abacha military regimes. In fact, it could be argued that the whole project of creating new breed politicians under the Babangida administration was targetted at decimating the radical political establishments, which included the PRP disciples.

Salihu M. Lukman can be reached through slukman45@gmail.com

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

The highs and lows of the FCT 2nd fishing festival FEATURE

A

fter six years hiatus, the long anticipated 2 nd edition of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fishing Festival eventually held at the weekend in Yankara Reservoir, Yaba in Abaji Area Council.

But, disappointedly, the thrills and frills that usually, accompany fishing festivals, was evidently absent, due largely to poor organisation and the travesty of some of the fisher men who participated in the various competitions featured at the festival and the grand fishing expedition.

For those who may be hearing about the festival for the first time, the fishing fiestal is said to be as old as the host Yaba community, where fishermen were said to have in those days, gathered annually between January to April to organise a local fishing festival on some reserved natural ponds along the coast of River Gurara.

On the chosen day, both local men and women from the village and neighboring clans gather, to witness the event and at the end of the fiesta, the biggest catch is given to the village chief, some are sold to the invited guests at very affordable prices, while others are roasted, fried and shared among the villagers.

However, in fulfillment of the declaration made at the end of the new Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), ‘Fish for all Summit’ held in Abuja in 2005, the FCT administration through its Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, deemed it appropriate to resume action on the staging of the fishing festival.

The summit was aimed at defining priorities for all fisheries and aquaculture development initiative within NEPAD programme, Along the line, the then Minister of the FCT, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai approved the staging of the maiden fishing festival in 2006.

Based on the testimony of the FCT administration, the maiden edition was quite colourful and saw fishermen from all over the country participating, but this was far from being the case in this second edition, though the contrary was expected.

Re-scheduled on two occasions (from DecemberFebruary), the FCT administration had approved a

The dreams of both local and foreign tourists, who thought the 2nd edition of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Fishing Festival at Yaba, Abaji Area Council, would afford them the opportunity of having if not complete, but at least partial insight into a fishing adventure akin to the internationally acclaimed Argungu Fishing Festival in Argungu, Kebbi state, was dashed on Saturday the 14th April. From poor organisation to deception, the entire event was a far cry from the expectation of those who witnessed it. Our correspondent, Josephine Ella covered the event and captured what transpired at the festival in this piece.

Fishermen in search of the biggest catch at the FCT 2nd Fishing Festival held on Saturday at Yankara Reservoir in Yaba, Abaji Area Council.

whopping sum of N21m for this 2nd edition of the festival, aside other financial supports from the private sector.

With this enormous budget, it was expected that the festival would not only be the talk of the town, but what transpired was a different ball game altogether when the curtains was drawn on the festival.

The first lapses that drew wide criticism from guests and other participants at the event was the fact that they were kept waiting unnecessarily by the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, for 4 ‘good hours’ behind the scheduled time.

As early as, 7am, fishing folks from all walks of life, dignitaries drawn from the diplomatic communities, members of the National Assembly, Ministers, traditional rulers, local and foreign tourists, among others had arrived the venue for the event and were already seated, waiting for the event, slated for 9.20 to begin.

However, to their uttermost chagrin of those

present, the minister, who was the special guest and expected to flag-off the festival did not show up until 12.59pm, against her arrival time of 8.45-8.50am as reflected in the programme of event distributed to guests.

As typical of most senior government officials in this clime, she did not consider it necessary to tender an apology over her lateness, when eventually, she strolled in with her team of aides, a development which further earned her more criticism from some of the grumbling crowd, who were wearied from the long wait.

When the Master of Ceremony (MC) announced her eventual arrival and demanded everybody to rise to welcome her as a difference to her, it was observed that aside the dignitaries on the high table and a few others, many others present refused to honour the request as they made comments in low tones about her discourteous behaviour.

In the lineup of the speeches

and addresses at the occasion, the Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretary, Mrs Olvadi Bema Madayi was the first to set the ball rolling with her welcome address.

While welcoming the guests, she remarked that besides the tourism potentials of fishing, the FCT fisher men through the festival were been encouraged to increase fish production in the FCT. According to her, the event ”is also intended to develop this fishing festival village into a world tourism centre, where economic activities such as recreation, agric show, international seminar, fish tending will be taking place all year round”.

Madayi concluded her address by inviting investors and stakeholders to invest in the project as she welcomed the FCT Minister of State to the podium to deliver her address.

The minister in her remark did not hesitate to explain that the revival of the event was not unconnected with the determination of the FCT administration to benefit

absolutely from the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, one of which is agriculture.

She said the FCT was endowed with huge natural and agricultural resources including aquaculture, which the administration intends to make the best use of.

“Despite all this endowment, however, fish production has contributed basically only about 16 per cent of the total domestic fish production in the FCT. This scenario portends great concern because fish is widely regarded to be the major source of protein and other nutritional and health benefit,” Akinjide said.

This was despite as she disclosed ‘in view of the enormous economic benefit of agriculture’, the administration would ensure proper management, maintenance of its fishing resources “and the provision of fishing tournaments for our fishermen and women, giving adequate financial supports to them through Micro Finance banks at subsidized rate to boost aqua culture”.

While assuring that the FCT administration also intended to sustain this festival as an annual event, she said this was part of the effort of the administration to develop a permanent fishing festival in the FCT that would have the necessary recreation facilities.

“It is hoped that this will go a long way in eradicating poverty, creating employment opportunity and stemming the rising tide of crime and develop the tourism potential of the territory,” the minister added.

Two hours later, after other speeches and goodwill messages were delivered by selected dignitaries, it was time for the Yabanchi display, preceding the grand fishing expedition.

There were seven of such competitions lined up, such as the boat race, diving, wild duck hunt, Tulu race(swimmers carry a pot on Continued on page 18

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 17

Buying and selling at Wuse bus stop yesterday.

Children having fun during the Easter celebration, at Wonder Land, Abuja

A truck carrying a container at Garki, Abuja at weekend

A magician performing his trick in Wuse, Abuja

‘Keke NAPEP’ operators in Garki II, Abuja

Photos: Mahmud Isa and Joe Oroye

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Hotels, churches under tight security in Abuja

I

n the continued bid to ensure safety of lives and property, security around hotels, churches and other strategic areas remained beefed up in Abuja yesterday.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who went round the city, observed that policemen, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and FRSC officers were in strategic locations to ensure orderliness.

At Sheraton and Transcorp Hilton hotels, NAN observed that some military men were deployed there to complement the internal security

arrangements of the hotel managements.

At Holy Trinity Catholic Church, THISDAY Doom, St Mathew Anglican Church in the Maitama axis, road blocks were mounted and vehicular movement restricted to secure the areas.

At the THISDay Doom, one of the policemen, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the idea was to ensure effective monitoring of movement of vehicles. ``As you can see, our major focus is to make sure that those who come here to worship go home safely. We are blocking the

road just for safety. ``You can see that people packed outside, if we don't block this road, there will be serious traffic here.''

At Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Mr Jonah John of the FRSC told NAN that the focus was more on free movement of people at the end of the service. ``What we are doing is part of the security work, but we focus more on ensuring that no accident occurs here. ``You can see that nobody parks inside the church compound; everybody is encouraged to park outside.''

Security was also beefed up at the Assemblies of God Church in Garki 2 as well as Dunamis Church, Mountain of Fire and Living Faith Church, all in Area 1, Abuja.

At Dunamis Church, Mrs Ngozi Achuluike, a church member, said that seeing security men around the churches was a good development. ``This is one good thing that government has done.

Security issue is not a child's play; I know that God will deliver us from the current insecurity situation in the country.

``For some time now, apart from our own internal security, I notice that every Sunday, policemen and sometimes, FRSC people are always around until we end the service.''

She commended the efforts being made by the government, and urged Nigerians to complement the efforts by being security-conscious.

It will be recalled that after the Christmas-day bombing at St Theresa's Catholic Church Madalla, Niger State, the Federal Government started beefing up security around churches and other strategic areas. (NAN)

The highs and lows of the FCT 2nd fishing festival Continued from page 16

their heads, the first to reach the target with the pot intact wins) and the Gora race(swimming atop a calabash).

Unfortunately, majority of the competitors at each of the displays did not follow the laid down rules. Despite caution from the judges, they cheated by violating the rules in their desperation to emerge winners.

To make matters worse, this resulted in fisticuts by contestants throughout the competitions. This came to the fore while the judges were trying to determine the winner after each of the contests.

Security operatives at the occasion hard tough times trying to calm the aggrieved participants and prevent the situation from escalating, as the event went on.

Following one of the episodes of the fight, one of the participants sustained a deep cut close to his eye and was whisked away for medication with his white polo shirt stained with blood from the injury.

The organisers had to even cancel the boat race when a contestant representing Kebbi state went wild and vowed to cause more trouble if he was not provided with a boat to participate in the competition.

Finally, it was time for the grand fishing expedition; contestants were ushered into the competition with a gunshot into the air. The game began with contestants toiling frantically to get a catch.

A contestant, Mohammed Kudu drenched with water, soon emerged out of the water with a fish in his fishing net, and raised it with much excitement for the judges and spectators to see.

Not quite long, another contestant showed up from nowhere with two bigger fishes, but his catch was rejected because they were dead on arrival, to the disappointment of spectators who had presumed that he had

The biggest fish at the festival caught by Kudu

produced the biggest catch so far.

The judges announced that the contestant was disqualified, alleging that he must have vanished and reappeared with the fishes from only God knows where, certainly not from the water.

Another man dressed in an immaculate white flowing gown showed up again with an even bigger fish in his bare hand claiming to have caught in it from the reservoir but, was also disqualified by the judges who said he was not seen emerging from the water and must have gotten the fish from somewhere.

Thus, with the two disqualified and no other contestant with any significant catch, as the rest of them were only able to catch small sizes of fishes at the end of the competition, Kudu was declared winner and handed undisclosed cash in an envelope.

In an interview, the winner told journalists that he thought he could get a big catch, but unfortunately the fishes had gone into hiding since the water had been troubled before the fishing competition.

This confirms the views of a spectator from the riverine area, Mr Raphel Ogaga who like others, while expressing disappointment over the absence of fishes in the reservoir told our reporter that the possibility of the fishes going into hiding could not be ruled out since the water had been

troubled before the fishing competition.

Besides, he faulted the timing of the fishing, saying the best time for fishing was most appropriate in the mornings compared to the chosen time of afternoons.

Other spectators, who also commented on the festival

expressed disappointment over the poor organisation, the poor exhibition and conducts of the participant. “I was not impressed at all from what I saw. It is quite unfortunate that in a small competition like this people will be cheating and misbehaving because they want to win.

Another annoying thing is that there are no fishes in the water.

Why did they allow people to come here and waste their time in the first place,� one of them, Kenneth Uka said.

It was observed that there was little or no exhibition of farm produce and fishing equipment as the Secretary of the Agric Secretariat, Mrs Madayi had assured earlier, while the total number of about 1,000 fishermen that were suppose to take part in the competition, were less than 50.

As spectator, who had looked forward to partaking in the fish banquet, at the end of the fishing festival since he had hoped that there would be a lot of roasted, fried fishes and fresh fishes for sale, left the venue totally disappointed, one thing was glaring, that the festival failed to achieve the intended objectives.

Violence almost marred the whole show as depicted by this bloodied participant.

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

FAAC allocation for the month of March 2012 S/N

BENEFICIARIES

SUB-TOTAL (N)

1

FG (52.68%) States (26.72%) L/govt Councils (20.72%) Derivation (13% of Mineral revenue-oil/gas) Value Added Tax (VAT) & Transfers

Q1 ends, microfinance development fund not yet established

By Aminu Imam

T

he first quarter of 2012 has ended yet the Microfinance Development Fund (MDF), which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said would be set up to support microfinance banks, is yet to be implemented.

This raises concerns among operators of microfinance banks who are asking when the fund will be established. All efforts to get the CBN to respond to this proved abortive.

However, operators of microfinance banks are optimistic that the regulatory authority will respond to the

development before the end of next quarter.

Managing Director, GTI Microfinance Bank Limited, Lagos, Abimbola Adewale said the microfinance development fund would definitely be established, considering its importance in the growth of the industry.

He said the attention of the regulatory authority was high on the fund as it had continued to echo its implementation. "It will be set up very soon. You cannot undermine the importance of the fund," Adewale said.

INSIDE - Pg 20 Naira firms on Shell, NNPC dollar sales

Mob: 08033644990

Air Nigeria to commence Lagos-London daily flight From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

620.7 billion

PAGE 19

A

ir Nigeria will commence daily flight operations from Lagos to London today, Monday, May 16, the Chairman of the airline, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, said on Saturday.

Ibrahim told media executives and editors in Lagos that the company had also finalised arrangements to fly from Lagos to Johannesburg, South Africa, with effect from Tuesday, May 17.

As part of the company's 2012/2013 projects, he said that the company would start flight operations to both Rome and Paris by the middle of June.

Ibrahim, who is also the Chief Executive Officer and Group Executive Chairman, Energy Group, said that the company now has 13 aircrafts.

He said that the aircrafts would be used for both

international and domestic operations, adding that the airline “is financially not indebted to any financial institution”.

The chairman said that the airline's operations would be decentralised from May. “Air Nigeria is safe and in nearly 10 years of flying, it has not recorded any accident,'' Ibrahim noted.

Ibrahim said that the revenue of the airline grew by 56 per cent just as the number of passengers rose by 68 per cent both in 2011 compared to its performance in 2009 whose figures were not provided.

According to him, the airline has consolidated its market position as well as expanding in Nigeria, West and Central Africa.

He further said that the company had entered into strategic partnership and alliance with Delta Airlines

and signed other interline agreements.

The businessman explained that for airlines to survive, they must go international, adding that one international flight to London could generate more than what an airline would realise doing 10 domestic flights.

He blamed most airlines' problems on poor management and inadequate advertisement and the increase in the price of aviation fuel from N45 to N160 to bad management.

On the air fare controversy involving British Airways, Ibrahim said that the issue had to do with the exchange rate and the strength of the naira.

He advised that the government should firm up the naira to solve the problem of disparity in international air fares.

Air Nigeria was acquired

by NICON Group in April 2010, with a new Board of Directors chaired by Ibrahim.

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

ABJ-LOS: 07.00, 09.30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35 ABJ-KANO: 18.40 KANO-ABJ: 08.35 ABJ -SOK (MON): 09.35 ABJ-SOK (FRI): 10.10 ABJ-SOK (WED/SUN): 11.20 SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35 SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00 SOK-ABJ (WED/SUN): 13.20

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

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN) LOS-ABJ: 07.02, 08.10, 12.06, 15.30, 17.10

R-L: Group Managing Director /Chief Executive, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc; Mrs. Funke Osibodu, Deputy Governor, Financial Sector Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Mr. Kingsley Moghalu, former Vice Chancellor, Ferdral University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Prof Placid Njoku, and Deputy-General Manager, Special Products, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Anthony Olufidipe, at the International Conference on Agric Financing held at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja.

ABJ-LOS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40 ABJ-LOS (SAT/SUN): 13.05, 18.00 LOS-KANO : 08.10 KANO-LOS: 11.25 KANO -ABUJA: 11.25 ABUJA-KANO : 10.08

IRS AIRLINES LOS -ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

EXCHANGE RATES

CBN CFA • £ RIYAL $

LOS-KANO: 6.15 LOS-KANO (SAT/SUN): 16.30 KANO-LOS: 07.30 KANO-LOS (SUN/SUN): 10.30

SELLING 0.3096 203.6739 244.7177 41.6127 156.06

PARALLEL RATES

ABJ-LOS: 11.30, 3.45, 4.45

£ RIYAL $

Management Tip of the Day

14th Mar, 2012 BUYING 0.2896 202.3688 243.1496 41.346 155.06

BUYING 243 43 154

SELLING 257 45 159

W

Need a mentor? Forget the expert

hen people early in their careers seek mentors, they often target those with a depth of experience. But experts can't teach you everything. And, often they are so far removed from your day-to-day work

that they can't help you solve problems.

Select at least one mentor with only a few more years of experience than you. Someone who has recently walked in your shoes can give you practical, relevant advice on

the challenges you face.

He may also give you insight into what's coming in your career and the types of challenges you'll be up against next.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Farmers lament unavailability of fertiliser as planting season begins

F

armers in Akwa Ibom have lamented the nonavailability of fertiliser as the farming season begins, saying it would have a negative effect on their productivity at the end of the year.

Nigeria to become largest producer of cocoa in 10years

T

he Executive Director, Conservation Alliance (CA), Ghana, Yaw OseiOwusu, has predicted that in the next 10 years, Nigeria would be the largest producer of cocoa in the world, with the right incentives in place.

Kano gives out 74 rice milling machines to farmers at subsidised rates

I

n his determination to strengthen the capacity of farmers and boost food production in Kano state, the state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has made available 74 rice threshing machines worth millions of naira.

Tony Elumelu Foundation partners firm on social technology

Naira firms on Shell, NNPC dollar sales

T

he naira strengthened to its highest level in a month against the U.S dollar on the interbank market on Friday, supported by dollar sales by a unit of Royal Dutch Shell and speculation on sales by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to local lenders.

The local currency closed the week at 157.40 to the dollar on the

interbank, firmer than the 157.70 to the dollar it closed on Thursday.

Four oil multinational companies sold around $186 million to lenders early in the week, which boosted dollar liquidity in the market and provided support for the local currency.

“The market reacted to the invitation by NNPC to some banks to bid for its dollars today (Friday)

Poultry farmers battle heat stress

week when the funds hit the market,” another dealer said.

(Reuters) Unity Bank ’11 pre-tax profit drops 76.6 % Unity Bank Plc said on Friday its pre-tax profit declined by 76.65 percent to 3.13 billion naira ($19.87 million) in 2011, from 13.41 billion naira the previous year.

Pension Alliance fetes Mundi old people’s home From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

A

s part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, Pension Alliance Limited (PAL), one of the licensed Pension Fund Administrators (PFA’s) in the country and subsidiary of First Securities Discount House, has identified and celebrated the feast of Easter with old people’s home of Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Mushin.

The pension firm with over N100 billion in asset and paying over 3,200 retirees on monthly and pension emoluments, see the old people’s home as extension of its vision to care for old people as a

pension managers.

According to the company, its slogan “Your PAL for Life” means that as a friendly company, its responsibility is to care for her clients during working years and at retirement, such that they are there for them at all times.

Speaking at the event, the head, Pension Administration, Godwin Onoro, , noted that the event which was marked with singing and dancing; luxury meals; presentation of gifts to the old people; drama and jokes as well as large turn out of PAL staff was geared toward showing affection and care in line with the feast of Easter.

According to Onoro, it was the

decision of the board to extend its CSR to old people, noting that as pension managers, part of its responsibility is to ensure a healthy old age, so it decided to extend the goodwill to old people’s home even though they are not covered in its pension scheme.

Mezu Ibiyemi, also of Pension Alliance said the company was doing this to give the parents in the old people’s home a sense of belonging because many of them are abandoned and no relation comes to visit them.

Ibiyemi stated that PAL was doing everything possible to make their clients and people save for retirement because it is

a very important time in life when you will need the best partner like (PAL) to enjoy a healthy old age.

“Everybody cannot be in the old people’s home and that is why we keep talking to more people to join the new contributory pension scheme, stating that PAL has a Pension Advisory Service Unit that guides people on how to maximise pension benefit,” Ibiyemi.

This platform enables people make additional savings if they want and also for people in the informal sector to come under the scheme, depending on the level of comfort they intend to have at that all important old age.

NCRIB swoops on defiant members From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

T

he Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has reaffirmed its readiness to deal with its errant members.

The council noted that all insurance brokers who practising with only the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) licence without a corresponding registration

certificate of Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) would soon be in trouble.

The NCRIB said the market regulators licence was complimentary requirement to practise broking profession in Nigeria, and so would at the end of this month launch attack on practitioners who are not duly commissioned to practise.

President of NCRIB, stated

that in view of the need to affirm the provisions of the NCRIB Act on registration of insurance brokers and eliminate charlatans from the broking profession, NAICOM has directed players without the Council’s certificate to normalise their records immediately.

According to her, the Council on her part has also forwarded written circulars to all those

affected to comply with the directive in order to avoid embarrassment, as their names would be omitted from list of members to be made public soon.

“The position of the law is that enlistment of an insurance broker with the NCRIB is a condition precedent to licensing

by NAICOM,” she stated. But regrettably, some companies have brazenly flouted this provision for quite some time.

Anchor Insurance introduces travel medical policy From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos nchor Insurance Company Limited in collaboration with its international counterpart, RSO

A

of Germany has introduced a travel medical Insurance policy for travellers outside the shores of the country.

The travel medical policy will enable oversea travelers

T

he Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), an institution dedicated to the promotion and celebration of excellence in business leadership and entrepreneurship across Africa, is partnering with CoCreation Hub Nigeria (CcHub), the country’s first open living laboratory and pre-incubation space dedicated to catalysing creative social technology ventures.

and coupled with another dollar sale by Shell,” on currency trader said.

Dealers said the naira was also supported by large dollar inflows from offshore investors who participated at a treasury bills auction on Wednesday. “Since NNPC was unable to conclude its dollar sales this week, we expect the naira to strengthen further next

Inflation rates from Mar, 2011 to Feb, 2012 Max = 12.8%, Min = 9.3% for period in display.

Current Inflation rate = 11.9% Source:CBN

get medical assistance, benefit for death and disability resulting in the course of the travel.

With the international counterpart, and record success in medical insurance for many years clients are rest assured that their claims would be met fast at any part of the world when the need arises. We provide the medical and security expertise combined with an ability to deploy our own professionals to the exact location of your emergency, the company assured.

The Managing Director of the company, Mayowa Adeduro, who disclosed the development said Anchor Insurance has secured the approval of the National

Insurance Commission on the product, assuring clients would enjoy a great benefit taking the policy whenever they are travelling outside the country.

Anchor it would be recalled had recently embarked on diversification to enhance its investment income and mobilise more revenue that would guarantee regular returns on investment, for its teeming shareholders.

According to the Managing Director, its two subsidiaries, Anchor Farms Investment Limited and a Health Management Organisation called Anchor Health Management International Company would soon start to contribute to the overall growth of the company.

Earnings Report for Banks

T

he high temperatures in virtually every part of the country in the last few weeks are giving farmers cause for concern, says president, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos chapter, Mufutau Akinlolu after a meeting with farmers in Lagos.

Source:Pro-share Nigeria

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

A

fter making a quick getaway from the Nigerian stock market between 2008 and 2009 at the peak of the global financial crisis, foreign institutional investors have increased their dominance of the market, accounting for 81 per cent of total value of traded stocks in 2011.

In its March report on the Nigerian economy, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) indicated that despite the negative returns from the stock market, foreign investors have continued to take advantage of the low valuations to make returns.

FDC showed that though 19 per cent of local investors who accounted for total value of trades in 2011 were also primarily institutional investors, the company predicted that this is certain to change when the National Pension Commission gives pension fund administrators (PFAs) the green light to increase

INVESTORS NEWS BEAT

Retail market evaporates as foreign investors dominate equities market investment in equities to 50 per cent of their asset mix.

The increase in equity contribution by PFAs, the company stated, will boost liquidity in the stock market and increase the volume and value of traded stocks by local investors relative to foreign investors.

Market analysts, however, cautioned that the dominance of foreign investors could prove fatal in the likelihood of a global economic downturn like the type witnessed in 2008-9 or at the first

sign of political instability in the country.

According to one market analyst, “Foreign investors are rather fickle and are the first to exit the market to cover their exposure in the event of a global meltdown; they also flee once there is any form of political instability in Nigeria.

“The outcome of this is the negative impact on the equities market, so it is important that more local investors begin to take major positions in the Nigerian stock market to reduce foreign

dominance.

“Hopefully, with the review being undertaken by PENCOM on the asset mix, PFAs will be able to provide liquidity for the market,” Currently, as a proportion of their asset mix, PFAs investment in equities stands at 9.34 per cent, in comparison to 50.96 per cent in government securities, 25.8 per cent in money market instruments, 0.03 per cent in corporate bonds, and 0.009 per cent in open, close-end and hybrid funds.

RenCap most active Broker dealer on the NSE

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enaissance Capital (RenCap), has maintained its dominance of the Nigerian capital markets, firing on all cylinders as it was the most active broker/ dealer on the Nigerian Stock exchange (NSE) as of February 2012. This is as it prepares to launch its new fixed income offering for the Nigerian market (this quarter), which may further strengthen its market leadership.

Data from the NSE show that RenCap was the top firm by trading volume, with 14.55 percent of the market, followed by BGL securities, at 11.52 percent, STANBIC IBTC at 9.8 percent, ESL Securities 5.18 percent and Chapel Hill Denham 4.28, to make up the top 5.

The top 5 trading firms by value were STANBIC IBTC at 20.96, RenCap Securities 19.78 percent, CSL Stockbrokers 5.79 percent, BGL Securities 5.08 percent and ARM Securities 4.12 percent. The data also shows that 67.5 percent of all trades on the NSE are controlled by 10 stockbrokers.

Rencaps dominance of the broker/dealer market is “evidence of new and dynamic leadership” according to analysts at Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), an investment / research firm.

The new leadership is likely to be extended with the expected launch of a range of fixed income offerings for the Nigerian Market

by Rencap in the second quarter.

Rencap Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for West Africa, Yvonne Ike gave the hint in a chat at Business Days Corporate Head Office, in February.

“For our Nigeria operations, we are looking to focus on the fixed income market, Mergers and Acquisition (M&A), equities trading, market making and securities lending” she said.

The Nigerian fixed income market which has a market capitalization of over N4 trillion is traded mostly Over the Counter (OTC), and outside the trading platforms of the NSE. Recaps’ goal in launching its fixed income product according to Yvonne Ike, would be to migrate some of that trading to a transparent exchange like the

NSE, while also helping to develop the corporate bond market and the nascent Repo (Repurchase Agreement) market.

The Repo market is the life line of Bond Market trading and Repos play a central role in providing liquidity for the vibrant trading and financing of Bonds. Repos also provide opportunities for Primary Dealer Market Makers (PDMMs) and smaller bond traders to manage liquidity and take risk in portfolio asset allocation.

Renaissance Capital a leading emerging markets investment bank has recently stepped up its presence in Africa, in 2010-2011; RenCap completed 25 transactions in 16 African countries, valued at more than $3billion.

Bearish sentiments dominate Exchange, Index dips by -0.95%

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rading activities on the Nigerian bourse closed downbeat after a week of positive outlook as unprofitable transactions dominates market activities in most trading days of the week while the CBN plans monetary easing measures with the hope that it could help moderate the cautious approach to lending by banks and thus further ease credit expansion to the productive sectors of the economy.

Furthermore, the key benchmark indices closed pessimistic by -0.46% to open the first trading day of the week negative as investors return from the Easter break while the second also closed red by -0.15% to

maintain negative position for the second successive session as the twin market indicators, NSE ASI & CAP, moved in opposite directions.

The third session closed with a negative outlook by -0.35% as the bears continue to exert their grip on the market with two losers for every gainer recorded Conversely, trading activities on Friday closed in the positive territory as sentiments turned green. Consequently, the key benchmark indices inches up marginally by +0.01% while market closed the week with aggregate loss of -0.95%.

Further analysis on acquiring banks since transaction date showed that the

share price of Access Bank Plc has recorded 11.11% gain, followed

by FCMB with 15.38% gain while Union Bank Plc leads the chart with 41.63% gain. However, Sterling Bank recorded -0.79% loss while ETI closed positive with +0.17% gain recorded.

However, the All-Share Index in the week under review moved down by -0.95% to close at20,743.16 as against an upbeat by +1.40% recorded last week to close at 20,941.93.

In the same vein, the market capitalization in the week depreciated by N26.20 billion (US$174.67 million) to close at N6.61 trillion (US$44.08billion) as against appreciation by N91.79 billion (US$611.99

million) recorded last week to close at N6.64 trillion (US$ 44.26billion).

The total volume traded in the week closed at 1.60 billion units valued at N9.26billion (US$61.76 million) compared with 1.15 billion units valued at N7.81 billion (US$52.06 million) exchanged in 15,156 deals last week. The volume transaction in the week when compared with the previous week data moved down by +38.80% as against downwards movement by 19.92% recorded last week.

Weekly value also went up by +18.61% as against negative position of -32.23% recorded last week.

Oando proposes N5.4bn dividend payout as pre-tax profit grows 77%

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ando plc, one of the nation’s leading energy groups listed on both the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges, has announced results for the full year ended December 31, 2010. The Group delivered a Profit-Before-Tax of N23.9 billion, representing a 77 percent increase compared to N13.5 billion in 2009.

Equities market reels on MPR increase

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ollowing concerns over economic stability, particularly with regard to prices and exchange rates, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last week decided to embark on an aggressive restrictive monetary policy stance with the following decisions.

IFC to issue its first Naira bond

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he International Finance Corporation (IFC) has gained approval from the Federal Government to issue its first naira-denominated bond, a senior official told Reuters on Thursday.

T-bills yields upward sloping while bond curve shows slight inversion

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n analysis of the tradable mark to market treasury bills (T-bills) and Federal Government (FGN) bonds shows that while the T-bill yield curve is upwards sloping, the curve for the FGN bonds maintains a slight inversion.

Chipita turns around Leventis snacks industries

I Source:Pro-share Nigeria

n what seems to be a reconsolidation of the Jewish stronghold in the country’s manufacturing sector, Chipita Nigeria Limited, a new company that acquired majority share in Leventis Snacks Industries limited, last year, has commenced full operations. It has launched croissant, a new form of snack, into the market.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 22

Appraising Zamfara’s roadmap to industrial development

By Umar Yari

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vailable statistics on Nigeria’s economy indicate that Zamfara is one of the poorest states of the country in spite of its vast arable land, abundant mineral deposits and other natural resources.

Observers say that it is more of a paradox that its abundant mineral and natural resources notwithstanding, Zamfara state is still adjudged as a poor state that survives mainly on monthly allocations from the Federation Account.

As a matter of fact, a recent survey conducted by the state government revealed that more than 100 minerals of high quality are located across the state in commercial quantities For instance, the study confirmed that gold is available in large deposits in Anka, Maru, Bukkuyum and Maradun local government areas of the state.

The precious mineral is, however, currently exploited by artisanal miners and the smallscale mining operations have some challenges such as lead poisoning, which has caused several deaths in the areas in recent times.

Apart from its huge deposits of mineral resources, Zamfara is also blessed vast arable lands across its 14 local government areas, compelling observers to assert that the state could become a leading producer of various agricultural produce, all things being equal.

Observers, nonetheless, note that efforts to harness the various mineral and agricultural resources and use them to foster the state’s economic growth have been haphazard and largely based on patch-work methods.

Malam Abubakar Ibrahim, an agricultural economist, says that most of the agricultural activities in the state involve subsistence farming, adding that livestock production is also aimed at satisfying only domestic needs.

“For Zamfara State to experience any remarkable economic growth, tangible efforts should be made to develop its agricultural sector.

“Mechanised farming should be promoted, while small-scale farmers should be encouraged with well-packaged incentives to enable them to increase their production,’’ he says.

However, in the area of minerals’ exploration and exploitation, the government has been making concerted efforts to standardise mining operations.

Such efforts notwithstanding, mining operations in the state have remained largely artisanal regardless of the fact that hundreds of mining companies

An industrial textile factory once vibrant is now comatose had been licensed to engage in mining activities by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

Analysts, nonetheless, note that the accredited companies have either not shown considerable interest in operating in Zamfara or have been conducting their mining activities in a clandestine manner.

“The attitude of the registered mining companies has somewhat made it difficult for both the federal and state governments to derive maximum and appropriate benefits of their operations,’’ says a mining consultant, Mr. Saheed Zubairu.

Zubairu recalls that the state government has repeatedly expressed reservations over the lackadaisical attitude of the companies in plans to promote transparent mining operations and generate royalties for the

governments.

In spite of these drawbacks, hopes to put Zamfara State on a sound footing for a pragmatic economic and industrial growth are still bright.

The state government says that it has designed a blueprint for the state’s industrial development.

To that end, the government’s programme is aimed at facilitating the utilisation of the natural resources for the state’s economic development, job-creation and poverty-alleviation efforts, while reducing the level of the state’s dependence on allocations from the Federation Account.

The Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, Alhaji Hassan Mohammed Zurmi says that the industrial master plan is aimed at establishing a cottage industry in each of the state’s 14 local government areas this year.

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the problem with Nigeria’s development is not the dearth of good programmes but the absence of willpower to execute the programmes according to specified specifications.

He says that an action plan for implementation has also been designed so as to monitor the implementation of the industrial development plan properly.

“With the establishment of 14 industries in all the local government headquarters, it is expected that no fewer than 20,000 jobs will be created, while a lot of economic activities would spring up from there,” he says.

Zurmi laments that many people are wallowing in abject poverty because of the failures of past state administrations to harness the vast mineral and agricultural resources of the state for economic prosperity.

“Our idea of establishing the industries in the rural areas is aimed at checking rural-urban migration and providing job opportunities for our teeming youths in those areas,’’ he says.

The commissioner says that feasibility studies and raw materials’ surveys have been conducted to ensure that each local government area has an industry that could conveniently use raw materials that are locally obtainable.

Zurmi says that the state government, in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI) and other financial institutions, will spend about N2 billion on the establishment of the cottage industries on a 50-per-cent counterpart funding ratio.

“Arrangements have been concluded for the signing of memorandum of understanding between BOI and the state government to kick-start the initiative. We hope that the industries will commence production early next year.

“We realised that Zamfara is blessed with assorted mineral

and natural resources which could facilitate our economic development. We are, therefore, poised to harness the resources for the economic transformation and self-reliance of our state,’’ he says.

Besides, Zurmi says that the state government is planning to organise a “Made-in-Zamfara goods’ exhibition’’ in April this year, as part of efforts to showcase the state’s industrial potential and attract investments.

He says that during the exhibition, products such as calabash oil, marble stones, gold, rocks, leather and wood works, shea butter, beads and body lotion, among others, would be displayed.

As part of efforts to encourage private entrepreneurs to set up small-scale businesses, the commissioner says that the state government has earmarked N1 billion as loans for small-scale businesses, so as to further enhance the state’s economic development.

Zurmi, however, bemoans the situation in which some entrepreneurs have defaulted in the repayment of loans, totalling over N300 million, which were given to them by previous administrations in the state.

“The default in loans’ repayment has made the government to be extra careful in giving out new loans. We are now looking at ways of getting collateral from prospective beneficiaries before releasing the money,’’ he says.

In spite of the desirability of the industrialisation programme, observers stress the need to strictly monitor its implementation so as to ensure its success.

A public commentator, Alhaji Abba Abubakar, commends the government for charting a new course for the state’s industrial growth. He, however, notes that the problem with Nigeria’s development is not the dearth of good programmes but the absence of willpower to execute the programmes according to specified specifications.

“Zamfara state government should commit all it takes to ensure the accomplishment of the industrial blueprint, while monitoring its implementation and guarding against extraneous factors which could frustrate its success,’’ he says.

Sharing Abubakar’s sentiments, observers stress the need for the government to coopt opinion leaders in each of the local government areas into the programme’s implementation process.

The leaders should be encouraged to participate in the management of the cottage industries through channels such as cooperative organisations, some of the observers suggest. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Our GDP growth is meaningless without improving infrastructure – Engr. Mansur Ahmed Engr. Mansur Ahmed is the pioneer Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), a government agency which came in to existence in 2008 saddled with the responsibility of sustaining investment in infrastructure sector using Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) initiative.

In a recent interactive session with senior editorial team from Peoples Media Limited, publishers of Peoples Daily and Peoples Daily Weekend, Ahmed gives an insight on the state of infrastructure in Nigeria and concludes that Nigeria needs to match its growth in GDP with investment in infrastructure to attain real growth in the economy. Excerpts:

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ou are pioneering an agency whose mandates and objectives are quite new. What are the major constraints to i n f r a s t r u c t u r e development?

I think you started well by drawing attention to the major constraint to the growth of infrastructure and of course the Nigerian economy. This is economy that everybody accepts has potential to grow; to be a strong economy because it’s an economy that has requisite potential for growth and development.

By and large, while it has grown in terms of GDP, that growth has not been translated into development in the sense that Nigerian people have not seen a great improvement in the quality of living, and part of that constraint, is a very huge deficit in basic economic and social infrastructure .

To us, infrastructure is the underlining or internal architecture that economy needs to grow sustainably and create condition for a sustained improvement for the quality of life of the people.

The physical infrastructure is made up of the network of road, water lines, pipelines that constitute the infrastructure for transportation, the infrastructure for water and sanitation, the infrastructure for energy, those are the basic things that make the economy come alive, and then translate into quality of life of individual.

Those things are significantly inadequate and therefore, if our economy is to grow, those things have to be significantly improved on in content or in quality.

Investment in infrastructure as we all know

tends to be long term. If you are going to invest in a road or in a power plant, you should assume the investment will run through adequate return over many years, fifteen years, and twenty years. So, if you are bringing the private and public sector together to partner and provide the service over the period of fifteen years somebody has be responsible for that partnership to work sustainably for fifteen years because a partnership is something that has to be sustained, if it breaks down it means that the public did not get the service and the investors may lose its money and government may not be able to achieve it purpose of delivering service on a continue basis.

So, the role of the ICRC is to work with the parties that entered in to this kind of agreement to ensure that the relationship is sustained in a way that it continues to satisfy the expectation of all parties in t h e environments. Essentially, this is the key role and mandate of the ICRC: to create the environment, to provide the rules and regulations that will make PPP work and to monitor specific PPP investment over time to ensure that they produce the output that are expected in a way that will satisfy all the parties that are involved.

Certainly, there are encumbrances to publicprivate partnership in a form of law which says for instance, only government can construct and rehabilitate. Have you drawn the attention of National Assembly to clear this off?

There are indeed several

encumbrances and one of it is one that you just highlighted. There are laws and regulations in various sectors. Some support the kind of arrangement where the private investor can come in and participate in the provision of services. Also there are areas where the sector regulation does not give full access to private investor. For instance only the Nigerian railway can provide, shall provide railway services.

So, if the private sector comes in and invests and operates a railway service if another government comes in, they will say, this is illegal. One of the key issues is looking at each sector and identifying subsisting law and regulation that will impede the private investment in the sector including the one we just mentioned. We are working with the relevant agencies including the ministries, and other agencies of the government to identify the clause and recommend the amendments to the relevant laws. So we are working with such agencies to make sure that such laws are amended.

There are bills currently in the process, some already in parliament that seek to make amends to create more conducive regulatory environment for PPP. Some Nigerians are getting impatient with the ICRC slow pace partly due to enthusiasm that heralded the birth of this agency in 2008. Why are things getting slow?

I agree with you absolutely. There are basis for concern in some areas, particularly with regards to this kind of regulation.

Indeed, the attempt to amends this law was on before ICRC

came in to existence .When privatisation policy was implemented that was identified as a constraints and since then effort is being made though sometime very slow but I can assure you that within long-term you need to have this law but it’s not only the laws that are conservative.

We are pushing and we‘ll continuing to make sure this changes take place. We have 26 infrastructures that we are working on and I hope that within 8 to 12 months, we should have some of it. There are a lot that have been done and some are working and if you recall in the port sector, we have done some concession for some of the port facilities.

So yes, there is progress taking place, we expect that as time goes on, we entrench the condition, the attitude, the skills and competences that will increase the projects we put on the ground.

Let’s take a look at the investment situation in the country against the backdrop of prevailing challenges. How has this affected investment in the infrastructure sector?

This is a very good question.

There are factors that investors will want to see in countries especially in the areas of infrastructure. In Nigeria, if you want investors to come, first of all, we look at the investment environment, compare it with the investment elsewhere, it has been established that investing in Nigeria holds a higher rate of return potentials than investments anywhere else.

Nigeria has clearly been at the top range in terms of investment and that is the first answer. The second answer is the growth potential. Growth

potential is the function of the market mix .Nigeria is probably 1/6 of the African market, so if you are looking for a country, you look for the one that has biggest market potentials of population that is also in terms of security of the market, in terms of the content of market approach and so to some extent, we can say that in terms of growth potentials, Nigeria population is not going to stop growing, so the market is going to continue to expand.

Studies done by analysts have shown clearly that the growth potential is here. Even with our infrastructure deficiency, the Nigerian economy has been growing at about 7%. If you correct that infrastructure is going to move smoothly.

The other key issue is the regulatory environment. Are the regulations in place? Have they been followed? Is there commitment to work within the regulation; are people willing to play by the rule? Is our justice system strong enough to ensure that whoever you are, if your

Engr. Mansur Ahmed interest is impeded by somebody, you can go to court and get your right? Are people playing by the rule? Then, the issue of corruption. These are some of the issues that have to be looked upon.

Apart from Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA) terminal what other airports in Nigeria have been concessioned?

At the moment, the only airport terminal under concession is MM2. There are other concession arrangements within the airport system

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there are projects that have been timed, but unfortunately they have not been taken up because the way they are structured, the key issue that should be address especially the sharing of risk have not been cleared

which has to do with the provision certain services like the one we have been hearing recently, where a private entity is providing airport management services to FAN which is unfortunately has encountered difficulties. But there is a plan to look at other airport particularly with a view to long time concession.

The issue of corruption featured prominently in some concession arrangements that were tried in the past. In the case of Ajaokuta for instance, there have been two attempts.

How prepared is the ICRC to deal with this?

This is an issue that goes beyond ICRC. All Nigerian stakeholders recognize this is a challenge to our investment planning because that is what it is. So we need to work together to address this issue, the government, the National Assembly, the judiciary, the media in particular because they have the tremendous role to play in highlighting this issue.

What are your criteria for determining projects for PPP? There are projects that

investors will find attractive. If you push projects for some political reason, if those projects are not marketable, you will not get anybody to come and invest. However, if we do PPP properly, both at the federal and state level, there is no reason why any good project in any parts of the country will not attract potential investors. With regards to government role, we go out to look for projects that have potentials for private investors and frankly what we found is that necessarily, there are various potential projects across the country. We are currently working with different ministries. We are working on about twenty to twenty four different projects in different ministries. If you look at the list, in my view if they are all going to be done, it will cut across the country.

In terms of in road network, we have Onitsha bridge, the second Niger bridge and in my view , there has not been difficulty in covering the country, but the key issue is that we have to find investors that are ready to invest in this areas.

Of course, there are projects that have been timed, but

unfortunately they have not been taken up because the way they are structured, the key issue that should be address especially the sharing of risk have not been cleared. One quick project I can say is the Lagos international trade fair, the intention of the concessioner was to find individual that will be able to develop that place into a commercial center. If you go there, you will see some of this things growing by the day, and that was the intention. Unfortunately, the project was not structured because a number of key issues that needed to be addressed were not addressed at all and so the projects have not taken on.

This takes me to railway development a very expensive project and takes a lot of time for the revenue to be recouped. We are working with the minister of transport and the management team first, to bring some level of rehabilitation in the railway system to enable the system to start working, to enable the train to start moving from Lagos to Kano or from PortHarcourt to Maiduguri. When we get to that time where there is a working railway

system, the intention is to find private investors that will enter into the PPP arrangement so that they can take over the operation and also the investment in the railway stock, because the investment in the railway stock is what generates revenue. If you want to bring private people in to railway system, bring them where they can generate revenue.

So our expectation is that we will start working with NRC over the next year or so. The Kano – Lagos line will be completed, we believe this kind of projects are there but there are some areas where there are some weaknesses in the line so they are not going through.

Our expectation is that may be by the end of this year, that line would have been integrated to be able to reach lime light and then we will start looking for investors that will now invest in the railway and then provide the service.

There are also other plans in terms of railway lines. We are going to focus on passenger’s line from Kaduna to Abuja and I think another one from Lagos to Ibadan to be able to move people massively .Again government will put the track down and then we will look for investors that will provide the services. Within Abuja, we are working with the FCT; they are already working with the light rail project which is government funding with the Chinese support. We are working with them to expand that because there are three lines that go round connecting all the high density areas like kubwa, Gwagwalada, Nyanya and others. So, they are creating one line under government support and intention is to work with them to create two more lines on PPP bases. So there is a lot of work going on, but at the moment the interest is to make sure that when the investment is made, it’s going to be sustainable.

But to average Nigerian, government has been going back and forth on privatization; we are wondering if there are stimulus attracting private entrepreneurs to invest?

To me, the regulatory environment particularly the way the market is going to be organise and manage has now been substantially put in place to attract private investors. For instance, one of the key content for investment in the private sector is the tariff. The tariff arrangement so far is such a way that they cannot see enough revenue to fund to support the various

components of the power. So yo u need to make sure that revenue you collect at distribution is commiserate to power you use. We support the distribution, we support the transmission, and we support the generation.

I believe that if we can create market environment and ensure adequate tariff for all players in the system, investment in the power will be very rapid and effective and I think this are something we can look up to as far as the present processes are concluded.

Has the ICRC so far developed infrastructure master plan for Nigeria?

Recently, we were in a meeting with the Minister of National Planning Commission and he suggested that we need to develop infrastructure plan. There is the vision 2020-20 which was produced by the National Planning Commission and there are infrastructure components that we believe need a long term infrastructure plan.

You are a combination of engineering, economic, no wonder you were choosing to head this agency, what legacy do you want to live behind?

I will like to see an agency that has capacity, the capability to actually stir up and sustained investment by the private sector in infrastructure and other areas because I see that going forward in the future investment is going to be increasingly a private sector affair. Investment overtime will continue to focus more on governance, organizing society in a way that it will create the greatest jobs for a number of people, creating the institution that enable individual whether a corporate entity or an individual person to actually express his potential and this is why I said investment is going to be a private entity .

Strong institutions will endure, strong man will never endure. The man may be there for ten, twelve years, he may go and one strong man takes over; the institution are weakened and when the strongman goes , the weak institution cannot grow and we begin to look for another strong man.

So, I will do whatever I can to create an institution that can target its goal and mandate. If I can see that, I think is something that I can rely on.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Lockerbie bomber’s health deteriorates ‘dramatically’ as he fights for life

By Nabila Ramdani and Victoria Allen he Lockerbie bomber has been given an emergency blood transfusion following a sudden deterioration in his health, his brother revealed last night.

Libyan Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, who is suffering from terminal cancer, was taken from his home in Tripoli to the intensive care unit of a private hospital.

The news came less than a fortnight after he celebrated his 60th birthday.

He was released from prison in August 2009 on compassionate grounds with three months to live but has survived for more than two-and-a-half years.

Recent pictures of the bomber have shown him looking increasingly ravaged by the cancer spreading through his body.

His brother Abdulkahim told reporters: 'His health began to deteriorate quickly and we were worried about him, so took him immediately to the hospital where he is receiving a blood transfusion.'

Megrahi's condition was not known but his wife Aisha was by

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his side at the private clinic with most of the couple's five children.

His death will mark the end of a long fight by the relatives of his American victims to get the former intelligence agent sent to face justice in the U.S. Megrahi was the only person convicted in 2001 of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 as it flew to New York from London.

All 259 people aboard the airliner died and 11 others in the town of Lockerbie were killed by falling wreckage.

His release from Greenock prison by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill in 2009 was met with anger by President Barack Obama and David Cameron, who called Megrahi a 'mass murderer'. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also called for an inquiry, amid claims oil company BP had lobbied for him to be freed to clear the way for lucrative Libyan contracts.

Megrahi himself has protested his innocence from the beginning. On his 60th birthday, on April 1, he said prayers thanking God for the 'miracle' of his survival.

Relatives said he was slipping in and out of consciousness, kept alive by oxygen and an

intravenous drip, but saw the fact he was still alive as a sign.

A family friend said: 'He is convinced there is a reason for all this and that is why he wants to continue the fight to prove his innocence.

'Brother Abdelbaset is not able to say a great deal but he makes it clear that he has been given time to prove his innocence.'

He attempted to do this with a 'deathbed memoir' claiming several miscarriages of justice.

The book was mainly based on evidence that was never heard, which was intended for an appeal the bomber abandoned. He claimed he was indirectly pressured by Mr MacAskill to drop the appeal in exchange for repatriation to Libya - a claim dismissed by the SNP as 'hearsay'.

On returning to Libya, Megrahi was treated as a hero by Colonel Gaddafi's regime and the

new National Transitional Council has refused to hand him over to the U.S. to face further charges.

A source close to Megrahi's family said: 'He's treated as a Libyan who was falsely accused and wrongly found guilty of a terrorist outrage.

'There is a great deal of support for Brother Abdelbaset no matter what his links with Gaddafi were.

Brother Abdelbaset is still viewed as a national hero by many Libyans.'

The bomber's life has been prolonged by a new cancer treatment developed in London but not yet widely available in the UK. Abiraterone, a £3,000-amonth hormone-based therapy drug, was discovered at the Institute of Cancer Research.

His family have sworn to launch a fresh appeal on the bomber's behalf after his death.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Al Megrahi is believed to be fighting for his life after a blood transfusion as his health deteriorates

Recent pictures of the bomber have shown him looking increasingly ravaged by the cancer spreading through his body

The only convicted Lockerbie bomber was 60 two weeks ago and has been living in Tripoli since being released

Megrahi was the only person convicted in 2001 of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 as it flew to New York from London

All 259 people aboard the airliner died and 11 others in the town of Lockerbie were killed by falling wreckage

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

M

alam Ibrahim Shekarau, former Governor of Kano State, has called on the Federal Government to ensure adequate public enlightenment and restructuring of the newly launched Al-Mmajiri school system.

Shekarau, who made the call at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Nigerian Muslims and Democracy Conference in Abuja on Sunday, said proper knowledge and restructuring of the system would ensure its success.

He said there was a need for the government to empower and carry the teachers (Ulamas) of the Almajiri schools along in the design and teaching of the school curriculum.

Shekarau seeks awareness, restructuring of Al-Majiri school system He said that the government needed to embark on more public awareness on the scheme because some individuals were still skeptical about the scheme and its impact.

The former governor said government did not need to erect massive structures for the schools to take off, but had to equip the teachers and create an enabling environment for teaching and learning. “We don't have to build big schools equipped with chairs and

Varsity releases admission letters to 318 pioneer students

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he authorities of Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, have directed the institution's pioneer students to collect their admission letters on April 16.

A statement issued by the registrar of the university, Dr Abubakar Aliyu-Bafeto, in Gombe on Sunday said academic activities would commence on April 30.

According to the statement, the institution will begin academic activities in the two pioneer faculties, the Faculty of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Sciences.

The registrar said that each of the students must pay a N5,000

PAGE 27

acceptance fee at any Guaranty Trust Bank.

He directed the students to report at the campus at Kashere village in Akko Local Government Area on April 30, adding that registration would start on May 1 and end on May 5.

The registrar said that late registration would attract a fee of N1,000 per day, and would last for one week only..

He advised the students to visit the institution's website at www.fukashere.edu.ng The institution is one of the nine universities that were established by the Federal Government in 2011. (NAN)

tables before the scheme takes off. “What is important is to empower the Ulamas (teachers) and create the conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning,'' he said.

He called for qualitative and holistic educational system, especially in the North for the region to overcome the economic and security challenges facing it.

He decried the over-population of most schools in the country, and called on government and stakeholders in the sector to address Some of the intellectuals that coordinated the verification and assessment exercise conducted by Committee of the Primary Schools Verification and Assessment Exercise, recently in Gusau .

the issue.

He called for a review and proper implementation of the Universal Basic Education scheme to achieve the aim for which it was set up.

Earlier, Malam Ibrahim Ahmed of the Muslim Professional and Intellectual Organisation, highlighted the need for Muslims to acquire both Islamic and western education to fit into the present society.

He described lack of education,

poverty, unemployment, corruption and bad leadership as the major problems facing the country.

It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonthan launched the AlMajiri model school in Sokoto on Tuesday.

The two-day conference with the theme, ``The Political Future of Muslims in Democratic Nigeria'' was attended by Islamic scholars, politicians, the academia, civil servants and Muslims from all walks of life. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 29

Insect bite remedies not worth buying, say experts

B

ut the medicine could be simply a waste of both time and money.

Research suggests that most

victims of home-bred midges, mosquitoes, flies, bedbugs and fleas will get better without any treatment at all.

It admits that getting bitten may be horribly uncomfortable but there is little evidence that over-the-

L-R: Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, Director of Country Assistance Planning Division III International Cooperation Bureau of Japan, Mr. Naohiro Tsutsumi, and First Secretary, Economic Cooperation Section of Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Mr. Yudai Maeda, during their visit to the minister, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

A

widely recommended to calm itching but there is little evidence to back this up. The exception was people with eczema, added the bulletin.

It said creams with painkillers or anaesthetics are only ‘marginally effective’ but there is some evidence dilute ammonium solution may relieve itching or burning.

DTB deputy editor David Phizackerley said, “Our message is that most insect bites will clear up without treatment.”

Sheila Kelly, chief executive of the industry body for overthe-counter products, said the ingredients were known to work against chemicals causing the symptoms.

Down syndrome: What you need to know What is Down syndrome? own syndrome (also called Trisomy 21) is a genetic disorder that occurs in approximately 1 of 800 live births. It is the leading cause of cognitive impairment.

Down syndrome is associated with mild to moderate learning disabilities, developmental delays, characteristic facial features, and low muscle tone in early infancy. Many individuals with Down syndrome also have heart defects, leukemia, earlyonset Alzheimer’s disease, gastrointestinal problems, and other health issues. The symptoms of Down syndrome range from mild to severe.

Life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has dramatically increased over the past few decades as medical care and social inclusion have improved.

A person with Down syndrome in good health will on average live to age 55 or beyond.

Down syndrome is named after Doctor Langdon Down, who in 1866 first described the syndrome as a disorder.

Although Doctor Down made some important observations about Down syndrome, he did not correctly identify what causes the disorder. It wasn’t until 1959 that scientists discovered the genetic origin of Down syndrome.

What are the chromosome basics of Down syndrome?

Genes on an extra copy of chromosome 21 are responsible for all characteristics associated with Down syndrome.

Normally, each human cell contains 23 pairs of different chromosomes.

Each chromosome carries genes, which are needed for proper development and maintenance of our bodies. At conception, an individual inherits 23 chromosomes from the mother (through the egg cell) and 23 chromosomes from the father (through the sperm cell).

However, sometimes a person inherits an extra chromosome from one of the parents. In Down syndrome, an

D

Harmful hidden sugar in your food and drinks re you feeling virtuous about your healthy breakfast of wholegrain cereal washed down with a glass of orange juice?

After all, it’s better than an artery-clogging fry-up, in terms of fat, at least.

But few of us realise that a bowl of Flakes plus juice will account for half our recommended daily amount of sugar.

We all know the dangers of too much salt, fat and calories in our diet, but health professionals warn that not enough of us stop to consider our sugar intake.

There are obvious sources of it such as eggs consumed in large quantities at the weekend.

But the problem, experts say, is that our everyday diets are packed with ‘stealth’ sugar, sending our intake far above the recommended limits and placing us at risk of a range of diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

Sugar is also found in surprisingly large amounts in many savoury foods such as sauces and ready meals.

In fact, it’s highly likely to be a much bigger part of your diet than you realise, as our investigation reveals. Ironically, ‘healthier’ reduced-fat foods can actually contain more sugar.

‘Stripping out fat from processed foods makes them less appealing to our taste buds. The inevitable consequence is that manufacturers increase other ingredients, including sugar, to recreate taste and texture,’ says Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum.

We set out to find out how much sugar is lurking in our favourite foods and drinks including those many would consider healthy.

The results, shown below, were shocking.

counter remedies work.

Putting a cold compress to relieve pain and swelling could be a better option.

That was the verdict of the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, which offers impartial advice to doctors. Its review of evidence found that, in most cases, no treatment was needed as the reaction was so mild.

Many preparations are available but few have been properly tested against bites.

Because of their use in other areas, such as steroid cream to reduce itching from eczema, it has been assumed they would help treat bites, said the DTB. Antihistamine tablets, and steroid creams and tablets are

UK guidelines recommend that ‘added’ sugars those used to sweeten food, fizzy drinks, honeys, syrups and fruit juices shouldn’t make up more than 10 per cent of the total energy we get from food.

This is around 50g of sugar a day, equivalent to ten cubes of sugar for adults and older children, and nine for five to ten-year-olds.

But our findings reveal that just one 500ml bottle of Coke will send you over this limit.

Other examples include a McDonald’s milkshake, which contains an incredible 16 cubes of sugar.

Even a ‘healthy’ salad contains two cubes. Remember, we’re talking about sugar added as a sweetener.

The sugars in milk, vegetables and pieces of fruit (as opposed to fruit juice), including dried fruit; do not wreak as much havoc.

On average, adults eat around 18 per cent more added sugars than is healthy equivalent to around two teaspoons a day too many according to the Diet and Nutrition Survey.

The two most common forms of unhealthy added sugars are table sugar (sucrose) and high-fructose corn syrup, a liquid sweetener made from maize.

Both are added to countless foods, turning up in everything from fizzy drinks to chicken korma.

Sugars in fruit juices and honeys are also the unhealthy ‘added’ type.

‘Added sugars are more likely to do harm as they aren’t safely bound in the structure of a food, as they are in fruit,’ says Sasha Watkins, a spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association.

‘It means they are available to the body in higher concentrations.’

But how can you spot a high sugar food? To interpret labels that list sugar (which is labelled as ‘total sugars’ and will include natural and added sugar), the Britain NHS Choices website suggests that a food with less than 5g per 100g is classified as low.

More than 15g per 100g is high.

Though we all need some sugar it is the essential fuel that powers all cells in our body excess levels have been linked with raised levels of the hormone insulin, which increases the risk of diabetes.

Furthermore, the body turns excess sugar into fat, which is stored around the major organs, placing us at risk of liver and heart disease.

There are also fears that high sugar diets may promote some cancers. The theory is that glucose, one of the main ingredients in added sugar, creates repeated spikes of insulin.

For reasons that are not clear, many tumours seem to have insulin receptors, hence a rise in this hormone fuels their growth.

It is the sheer quantity of sugar that we consume that creates the problem, says Roy Taylor, professor of medicine and metabolism at Newcastle University.

‘Sugar calories slip down so easily and lead to weight gain.’

The sugar industry is quick to point to evidence that high sugar consumers are less likely to be overweight, which, paradoxically, can be true.

They generally eat less fat, which has twice as many calories as sugar. But with sugary drinks the link with obesity is far stronger.

One study in 2007 found that youngsters consuming around 200 calories from sugary drinks (two glasses) increased their odds of being overweight by two-thirds.

individual most often inherits two copies of chromosome 21 from the mother and one chromosome 21 from the father for a total of three chromosomes 21. Because Down syndrome is caused by the inheritance of three chromosomes 21, the disorder is also called trisomy 21. About 95% of individuals with Down syndrome inherit an entire extra chromosome 21.

Approximately 3% to 4% of individuals with Down syndrome do not inherit an entire extra chromosome 21, but just some extra chromosome 21 genes, which are attached to another chromosome (usually chromosome 14). This is called a translocation. Most of the time, translocations are random events during conception. In some instances however, a parent is a balanced carrier of a translocation: The parent has exactly two copies of chromosome 21, but some of the genes are distributed to another chromosome. If a baby inherits the chromosome with the extra genes from chromosome 21, then the child will have Down syndrome (two chromosomes 21 plus extra chromosome 21 genes attached to another chromosome).

About 2% to 4% of people with Down syndrome inherit additional genes from chromosome 21, but not in every cell of the body. This is known as mosaic Down syndrome.

These individuals may, for example, have inherited extra genes from chromosome 21 in their muscle cells, but not in any other type of cell. Because the percentage of cells with extra genes from chromosome 21 varies in people with mosaic Down syndrome, they often don’t have all the typical physical characteristics and may not be as severely intellectually impaired as people with full trisomy 21. Sometimes, mosaic Down syndrome is so mild that it will go undetected. On the other hand, mosaic Down syndrome can also be misdiagnosed as trisomy 21, if no genetic testing has been done.

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Why those antioxidants could be causing you more harm than good T

hey are the Philosopher’s Stone of the 21st Century: antioxidants, touted as a universal cure-all. Naturally occurring chemicals, they are found in fruits and juices, made into supplements, and even added to make-up.

Every week we read about a new superfood that is supposed to have more of these apparently beneficial chemicals than anything that has come before – and the concept is beguiling.

Antioxidants enhance the immune system’s defence against the diseases caused by free radicals. They include Vitamins A, C and E and selenium, and we have been told they may help prevent cancer, heart disease and even such neurological conditions as Alzheimer’s.

But adding extra antioxidants to our diet gives no benefit. You can eat as many blueberries – or whatever the antioxidantcontaining food du jour is – as you like and it won’t stop you getting these illnesses. And loading up with supplements may be bad for your health.

BATTLE OF THE FREE RADICALS Some antioxidants are produced by the body and some by plants, and so they can be derived from the diet. Their job is to combat free radicals – highly reactive molecules formed as a natural by-product of cellular activity. Free radicals are also created by exposure to cigarette smoke, strong sunlight, and breathing in pollution.

These aggressive chemicals present a constant threat to cells and DNA. We know they can lead to cell damage, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular problems.

Free radicals have also been implicated in everything from strokes to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Antioxidants stop the chain reactions triggered by free radicals that can damage and destroy cells. So it may seem entirely reasonable that it would be a good thing to eat and drink more antioxidants to boost the supply – or even rub them into your skin. But this is by no means the case.

PACKED WITH GOODNESS? You might have seen some antioxidant- containing products labelled with a number, usually in the thousands. This is the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) number.

It compares the antioxidant with a standard substance called trolox – itself an antioxidant.

Cranberries, for example, have an ORAC level of 8,983, which is related to the number of molecules of trolox that would have the same antioxidant strength. Taken in isolation, the number is pretty meaningless, but it makes it possible to compare different foods. So theoretically, the higher the

ORAC number, the better the food.

In reality, beyond a certain point, there is no benefit. In 2008, a study of nearly 15,000 men showed no benefits from Vitamin C and E supplements. There is no recommended daily amount of antioxidant consumption.And although there is evidence that antioxidants may have an effect on cancers, much of it is based on experiments on free radicals in cells cultured outside the body, in labs.

ADDING ANTIOXIDANTS So if antioxidants are good for us, why doesn’t eating more of them have an even more beneficial effect? We know that people with poor diets are more prone to a host of diseases, and that those who eat a balanced diet with at least five fruits and vegetables a day, take exercise, and other very mundane things such as that, have the best chance of not becoming ill. But trials where people have consumed higher than usual levels of antioxidants by taking supplements have found that, if anything, they have a negative impact on health.

A Cochrane Review published last month, which looked at the results of hundreds of individual studies, found that current evidence does not support the use of antioxidant supplements in the general population or in patients with various diseases. And when the review looked at the mortality rate over 78 randomised clinical trialsfor a range of conditions and

Blueberries are hailed as a 'superfood' packed with antioxidants using various antioxidants, those consuming antioxidants were 1.03 times more likely to die early.

Another clinical trial last month showed that antioxidant supplements don’t slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s. Two 1994 clinical studies showed a

possible increase in lung cancer when taking antioxidants.

IT’S ALL IN THE DOSE Almost all things are poisonous in large enough quantities – even water, though you would have to drink an awful lot to kill you. Similarly, the amounts of antioxidants found in

foods are relatively small, so it would be difficult to overdose.

Fruit has plenty of other benefits – vitamins that are crucial for healthy functioning and fibre for good digestion, but, like everything, you can consume too much.

Excessive consumption may cause damage to the enamel of the teeth or stomach problems.

It is only the excessive consumption of antioxidants through unnecessary diet supplements that could cause any concern.

YOU CAN RUB ON THE BENEFITS Using antioxidants on the skin, rather than eating them, may have benefits. Clinical trials have shown that they provide considerable protection against the formation of free radicals in the outer layers of skin when added to sunscreens.

THE TRUTH IS DULL How can we avoid cancer, heart disease, diabetes and the like? Don’t smoke, don’t drink to excess, eat a sensible, balanced diet, including a good mix of fruit and vegetables, and don’t get fat.

It’s boring, but true. We know for a fact that the big killer diseases are caused by unhealthy lifestyles.

It would be lovely if eating blueberries or popcorn would somehow counteract a lifetime of abuse, but it’s just not going to happen. And no matter what you do, you can get ill anyway.

That’s life.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Discovery of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in ancient cave could lead to cure for superbugs

A

ntibiotic-resistant bacteria cut off from the outside world for more than four million years have been found in a deep cave.

The discovery is surprising because scientists had thought bacteria built up resistance to antibiotics after being repeatedly exposed to the treatment.

However, the resistant bugs from Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, U.S., have had no contact with humans, suggesting the environment may be to blame.

They are thought to have picked up their resistance from natural anti-bacterial chemicals in the environment.

‘Our study shows that antibiotic resistance is hardwired into bacteria. It could be billions of years old, but we have only been trying to understand it for the last 70 years,’ said Dr Gerry Wright, from McMaster University in Canada, who has analysed the microbes.

‘This has important clinical implications. It suggests that there are far more antibiotics in

the environment that could be found and used to treat currently untreatable infections.’

The research is published in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE. Lechuguilla Cave, which reaches to a depth of 1,604 feet, is one of the largest and deepest unspoiled cave systems in the world.

It is surrounded by an impermeable layer of rock discovered in 1986, and access to the cave is limited to a handful of expert cavers and researchers each year.

The bacteria were collected from some of the deepest and most isolated recesses of the cave and tested for antibiotic resistance.

Researchers found that while none of the bacteria are harmful to humans, almost all were resistant to at least one antibiotic and some to as many as 14 different drugs.

Overall, resistance was seen to virtually every antibiotic in current use by doctors.

‘Most practitioners believe that bacteria acquire antibiotic

resistance in the clinic,’ said Dr Wright.

‘As doctors prescribe antibiotics, they select for members of the community that are resistant to these drugs.

Over time, these organisms spread and eventually the bacteria that commonly cause these infections are all resistant.

‘In extreme cases these

organisms are resistant to seven or more drugs and are untreatable using traditional treatment, and doctors must resort to surgery to remove infected tissue.

‘The actual source of much of this resistance is harmless bacteria that live in the environment.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Clinically important: The discovery of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Lechuguilla Cave (above) in New Mexico, U.S., could open the door to new drugs

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 31

The hypocrisy of the USUK Extradition Act (I)

The Extradition Act 2003, signed by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W Bush, was designed and pushed through Parliament after 9/11

ANALYSIS

By Siobhan Courtney

L

ondon, United Kingdom "My son will not be some poster boy for America, held up as an example by them to show the world that the US gets what it wants," says a defiant Julia O'Dwyer.

Richard, her 23-year-old son, is anxiously awaiting his fate. His lawyers are preparing to appeal against his extradition to the United States, approved last month by Home Secretary Theresa May. Richard is accused of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and criminal infringement of copyright; by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, who allege his website TVShack hosted links to other sites which streamed "illegal" TV shows and films.

TVShack, which did not store copyrighted material and was run by Richard from his bedroom at university, generated ÂŁ146,000 in advertising revenue over three years, after two US companies approached him to place ads on the site. Richard, who is attempting to carry on with life "as normally as possible" and continues to attend Sheffield

Hallam University, is facing trial and up to 10 years in jail in the US for offences which lawyers say are not even crimes in the UK. Regulation 17 of the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 states: 17.-(1) Where an information society service is provided which consists of the transmission in a communication network of information provided by a recipient of the service or the provision of access to a communication network, the service provider (if he otherwise would) shall not be liable for damages or for any other pecuniary remedy or for any criminal sanction as a

result of that transmission where the service provider (a) did not initiate the transmission; (b) did not select the receiver of the transmission; and (c) did not select or modify the information contained in the transmission.

Parallels have been drawn between the case of TV Links R v Rock & Overton cited as the only UK prosecution of a similar hosting site, which resulted with the case being thrown out.

Richard's mother Julia, who is relentlessly fighting day and night against the extradition, tells me there is no justification for her son to be sent to the United States, as the US would never allow this to happen to

“

one of their citizens.

Richard is a British citizen who has never ever been to the US. TVShack's server was not set up and operated from America. Why aren't they going after the sites which stored the illegal material, instead of intent to make an example out of Richard? If any British citizen appears to have committed a crime in the UK, then they should be tried in the UK and given the right to prove they are innocent under British law of the allegations made against them. Would the US allow this to happen to one of their citizens? No, they absolutely would not. They knew this Extradition Act was a one sided farce, that's why they didn't sign up to it like the

Our British government can see absolutely nothing wrong with agreeing to allow the US to take our citizens on the grounds of "reasonable suspicion" that the accused is guilty. The US is not required to supply a scrap of "prima facie" evidence before a UK court to prove that a crime was committed, so with no questions asked, innocentuntil-proven-guilty British citizens are stamped and sent on their way.

UK did who rushed it through and now my son is having to pay the ultimate price for that.

Politics over principle The Extradition Act 2003, signed by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W Bush, was designed and pushed through Parliament after 9/11. Blair, blinkered, and in the throes of his "special relationship", did whatever he could to prove that he was the man to help Bush in his "War on Terror". Doing whatever he could though, has resulted in a chilling situation, where Britons who could not be any further removed from terror suspects, are stripped of all their human and legal rights and shipped across the Atlantic.

This biased, one sided treaty is grossly unjust. If a crime is suspected to have being carried out by a UK citizen on the UK soil, why is the British government (who just in case have forgotten that their first and fundamental duty is to protect its citizens) allowing them to be tried in the US where they don't live, where the alleged crime didn't take place, where there are complications and difficulties in summoning witnesses to give evidence and where they are not entitled to the legal aid that they will desperately need?

Moreover, the contentious issue of plea bargains in the US makes a macabre mockery of a justice system where innocent defendants are pressurised to enter into plea negotiations. In turn, the vulnerability, rights and morality of the innocent are exploited to produce results for the US legal system, where 95 per cent of all convictions are secured with a guilty plea, most of them through plea bargaining.

Our British government can see absolutely nothing wrong with agreeing to allow the US to take our citizens on the grounds of "reasonable suspicion" that the accused is guilty. The US is not required to supply a scrap of "prima facie" evidence before a UK court to prove that a crime was committed, so with no questions asked, innocentuntil-proven-guilty British citizens are stamped and sent on their way.

However, on this side of the pond, the UK is required to show "probable cause" when requesting for an American to be extradited. But no one will be going anywhere in the US until the US courts have first examined that "probable cause" under the fourth amendment of the US constitution which states: Culled from Aljazeera.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 32

Egypt poll bans prompt talks with military South Sudan disputes North’s claim

S

outh Sudan has denied that the disputed, oil-rich area of Heglig has been reclaimed by Sudanese forces, saying that the South's army was still in control of the town.

Sudan had earlier said that it had taken back control of the oil town, which provides half of its oil needs.

"As we speak now, the SPLA is still in full control of Heglig," Colonel Philip Aguer, South Sudan's military spokesman, said on Saturday, referring to the South's army.

Aguer said southern forces did not plan to give up the town, which lies along the ill-defined border between the two Sudans.

Dismissing Sudan's claims as "wishful thinking", Aguer said "they are trying to convince their public they are making progress".

He said Sudanese forces were still at least 30km from Heglig town.

"We are now in Heglig region a few kilometers from Heglig town and oilfield," Al-Sawarmi Khalid, Sudan's military spokesman, said, adding that fighting was continuing.

Khalid said the Sudanese army's immediate aim was not to enter Heglig town but to destroy the South's "war machine".

Limited access to the remote border region makes it difficult to independently verify claims from both sides.

South Sudan has accused the North of carrying out airstrikes south of the border, including a strike in Bentiu in Unity state in which five civilians have reportedly been killed.

"The Sudanese Armed Forces are conducting indiscriminate air bombardment by Antonov jetfighters, indiscriminate bombing of Heglig, bombing of oil installments,'' Aguer said.

‌Sudan says no talks until South pulls out of Heglig

S

udan will not negotiate with South Sudan until the southern nation withdraws its forces from the oil-producing Heglig region, state media quoted Sudan's president as saying yesterday.

"Sudan reiterated its stated and fixed position that it will not negotiate with South Sudan unless it withdraws its forces from the Heglig region," state news agency SUNA reported, citing President Omar Hassan al-Bashir after he met Egypt's foreign minister in Khartoum.

A combination photo shows (L-R) Muslim Brotherhood and the Freedom and Justice Party"s (FJP) Khairat al-Shater on April 8, 2012, Vice President Omar Suleiman on February 6, 2011 and Salafist leader Hazem Salah Abu Ismail on December 15, 2011.

E

gypt's military leader has held talks with political leaders after next month's presidential election was thrown into further turmoil with the disqualification of ten candidates.

Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi met with the heads of 17 political parties and groups on Sunday to discuss recent developments ahead of the first presidential poll since a popular uprising ousted long-time leader Hosni Mubarak last year.

According to the MENA state news agency, the Muslim Brotherhood, whose candidate Khairat al-Shater was barred from running for office, attended the meeting, as well as the Al-Nur party, which represents the more conservative brand of Salafi Islam.

On Saturday, Egypt's election commission said that 10 of the 23 registered presidential candidates had been barred from the race, including Omar Suleiman, the former intelligence chief, Shater and the Salafist politician Hazem Abu Ismail.

Suleiman, Mubarak's intelligence

chief for two decades, was briefly appointed Egypt's vice president, but quit the post in February 2011 when the president resigned following weeks of mass protests against his 30year rule.

His registration had infuriated the political forces who were at the

forefront of last year's revolt, with many regarding his candidacy as proof that promises of a transition to democracy were merely cosmetic.

Secular groups were furious over Shater's candidacy, accusing the Muslim Brotherhood of monopolising politics after dominating parliament,

The disqualification of ten candidates threatens to the election into further turmoil

and a panel tasked with drafting the constitution, after their success in this year's elections.

Omar Suleiman: Failed to get endorsements from 15 provinces as per law.

Khairat el-Shater: Released from jail in March last year after being imprisoned on charges of terrorism and money laundering. Candidates can only run in elections six years after being released or pardoned.

Hazem Abu Ismail: Mother allegedly holds dual US-Egyptian citizenship, violating election rules that mandate all candidates, their parents and wives have only Egyptian nationality.

Ayman Nur: Imprisoned shortly after challenging former president Hosni Mubarak in 2005 elections and released on health grounds in 2009. He was banned under the same grounds as Shater.

The Muslim Brotherhood had repeatedly vowed not to present a member for the top job, but in a dramatic reversal it put forward Shater, as well as party chairman Mohammed Mursi as a back-up candidate.

Al Jazeera's correspondent Sherine Tadros in Cairo said that the High Elections Commission has issued a statement where it has explained in detail why it has disqualified each of the ten candidates.

"Abu Ismail for example, the Salafi candidate, there was a big question mark over whether he could run or not because this issue of whether his mother was a dual national.

"The commission said they sought advice of the US officials, who provided them with ample evidence to show that she (Abu Ismail's mother) has had an American passport since 2008," our correspondent said.

Abu Ismail is therefore out of the race because his mother holds another nationality, violating election rules which state that all candidates, their parents and their wives must have only Egyptian citizenship.

G Bissau main party rejects transition plan

G

uinea-Bissau's main political party has rejected the ruling military's call for all political parties to form a "national unity" transitional government to organise fresh elections, days after being overthrown in a coup.

The leadership of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), which holds two-thirds of the seats in the West African country's parliament, said that it "rejects any anticonstitutional or antidemocratic proposal of a solution to the crisis", in a statement released on Saturday.

The PAIGC demanded that Raimundo Pereira, the interim president, and Carlos Gomes Junior, the former prime minister and frontrunner in the country's presidential poll, be released from detention. Both are members of the party, and were arrested after the military

seized power in a coup on Thursday evening.

Small protests in favour of Gomes erupted in downtown Bissau, the country's capital, on Saturday, even as soldiers met with political leaders from other parties to try and organise the formation of the transition government.

Soldiers subdued the protests by erecting roadblocks and arresting several demonstrators, according to Peter Thompson, head of a British election observer mission in the city.

Businesses began to slowly reopen on Saturday, but shut in the evening in order to observe a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the military.

Leaders of Guinea-Bissau's military coup set conditions for the formation of a "unity government" on Friday, a day after they seized control of the country's capital amid international condemnation.

The coup's leaders announced that they had "deposed" the

interim president, prime minister and army chief-of-staff, according to a statement.

The overnight curfew was imposed by the self-titled "military command", with members of the toppled government ordered to surrender themselves to the army.

Alain Yero Mballo, the correspondent for Radio France

Internationale in Bissau, told Al Jazeera that the coup leaders had not clarified election plans.

"They didn't say anything about the election... They just tried to organise themselves," he said. "But I think the elections will be postponed, maybe for two years."

Soldiers broke up small protests against the coup in the capital on Saturday, arresting several people

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 33

Afghanistan rocked by wave of Taliban attacks

S

uicide bombers have struck across Afghanistan in coordinated attacks, with explosions and gunfire rocking the diplomatic area of Kabul as Taliban fighters took over buildings and tried to enter parliament.

Outside the capital yesterday, attackers also targeted government buildings in Logar province, the airport in Jalalabad, and a police facility in the town of Gardez in Paktya province.

A Taliban spokesman said the violence marked the start of their

annual spring offensive which heralds the fighting season, adding that "a lot of suicide bombers" were involved.

The attacks which are among the most serious on the capital since US-backed Afghan forces removed the group from power in 2001.

Al Jazeera's Qais Azimy, reporting from Kabul, said gun battles were still raging in parts of the capital.

"There is still fighting going on [in Kabul]. We can hear gunfire from the diplomatic area, a VIP part

of Kabul where the UN offices and other important buildings are," Azimy said.

The gunmen are located in a building there and there is still fighting going on in front of parliament.

"There is gunfire being exchanged by both sides and police are trying to enter the building where the gunmen are."

A spokesman for International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said there were no reports of casualties in the attacks on possibly seven

locations in Kabul, and the US embassy said in a statement all its staff were accounted for and safe.

The Taliban said the main targets were the German and British embassies, and the headquarters of Afghanistan's NATO-led force.

Several Afghan members of parliament joined security forces repelling attackers from a roof near the parliament.

Azimy said that Afghan police had arrested 15 would-be suicide bombers in northern Afghanistan

who were trying to launch attacks in Kunduz province. There were reports of the arrest of suicide bombers in other areas.

Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith, reporting from Kabul, said the damage and death toll from Sunday's violence was still being determined.

"We do not know the number of casualties, but the important thing is the spectacular nature of the attack. Taliban will claim that once again they have struck at the heart of the city," Smith said.

Pro-Palestinian activists detained in Israel

M

ore than 40 proPalestinian activists have been detained by Israeli authorities at Tel Aviv's international airport for taking part in an attempted "fly-in".

The Welcome to Palestine campaign, now in its third consecutive year, aims to gather activists from more than 15 countries in Israel from April 15 to 21 to "challenge the Israeli siege of the occupied territories", it says on its website.

Micky Rosenfeld, an Israeli police spokesman, said yesterday that 41 people had been refused entry at Ben Gurion airport by early afternoon and would be deported. Four Israeli supporters, two holding "Welcome to Palestine" signs, were also arrested as they waited to greet the arrivals.

Rosenfeld told Al Jazeera, "We know those activists have intentions of arriving here, intentions of causing disturbances both inside the terminal ... to stop the the Isreali aircrafts from coming in."

Al Jazeera's Cal Perry in Tel Aviv said that 60 per cent of the activists had been stopped at their point of origin.

Earlier on Sunday, hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists were prevented by authorities across Europe from boarding flights bound for Tel Aviv.

The Swiss police prevented about 100 pro-Palestinian activists from flying to Ben Gurion airport, according to the Welcome to Palestine campaign website.

Anas Mohammed, the campaign's spokesman, said on Sunday: "The information we have obtained from activists is that there is a high presence of police there and

that the police are trying to prevent them from boarding."

"Besides that there has been the confiscation of a passport of one of the activists."

The Swiss and French activists had bought their tickets in advance and were due to fly on a 6:30am local time (04:30 GMT) flight to Tel Aviv, Mohammed said.

"They are going to visit Palestinians who are under occupation, they are going to visit the West Bank."

British airline Jet2.com and French carrier Air France said on Saturday they were cancelling seats on flights to Tel Aviv.

Israeli police said on Sunday that hundreds of officers had been deployed at Israel's main airport to detain activists flying in.

An interior ministry spokeswoman said the immigration authority had on Wednesday given airlines the names of about 1,200 activists whose entrance to Israel would be barred.

"Israel has clearly put pressure on these airlines and the Belgian government has regrettably cooperated in this intimidation" At least 120 pro-Palestinian activists protested at Brussels airport on Sunday after a number of them were barred from flying to Tel Aviv.

Three people were under "administrative arrest" for disturbing the peace after between 120 and 150 people protested, Kaatje Natens, a federal police spokeswoman, said.

Activists said at least 60 Belgian and 40 French citizens taking part in the campaign were unable to fly despite holding airline tickets.

The Taliban said they were behind the co-ordinated attacks across the country

China"s Ambassador to the United Nations Li Baodong votes during a Security Council meeting at the United Nations in New York April 14, 2012.

UN monitors head to Syria as fighting rages

A

ctivists say Syrian government forces heavily shelled residential neighbourhoods dominated by opposition fighters in the central city of Homs, just hours before the arrival in Damascus of an advance team of UN observers.

The reported shelling yesterday is threatening the truce to which President Bashar al-Assad and rebels fighting to topple him had agreed.

Both sides accuse each other of violating the truce at the centre of the peace plan brokered by Kofi Annan, the UN-Arab League envoy.

Annan's spokesperson, Ahmad Fawzi, said the group of six

observers were due to arrive on Sunday night and would be "on the ground in blue helmets tomorrow".

Meanwhile, activists told Al Jazeera that Syrian security forces are also shelling the village of Kherbet al-Jouz in Idlib, where there is a heavy presence of the Free Syria Army.

There were also reports of gunfire near the Turkish border but it was not clear which side was responsible for the gunfire.

The Reuters news agency reported an attack on a police station in Aleppo that it said was staged by opposition fighters.

The Syrian government restricts access of foreign

observers, including journalists, making it difficult to verify reports of violence independently.

A Syrian security source accused "terrorist groups" of being behind new attacks, saying assaults had increased since the ceasefire to end violence was announced last week, according to the official SANA news agency.

"Since the announcement of an end to military operations, terrorist attacks have increased by dozens, causing a large loss of life," SANA said, adding "armed terrorists" killed five people in ambushes around the country on Saturday.

The UN observers were deployed after the Security Council

in New York voted on Saturday to authorise an advance team of observers to help maintain Syria's ceasefire.

Saturday's resolution gave the 15-nation Security Council its first united front since the uprising against Assad began 13 months ago.

It called for immediate deployment of up to 30 monitors, to be followed by a larger contingent of up to 250 once the situation has stabilised.

Fawzi said the council would be asked to approve a full mission of about 250 observers, assuming the ceasefire holds, based on a report by Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, next week.

"What ceasefire? There's an explosion every five to six minutes,'' said Yazan, a Homs-based activist, contacted via Skype by the Associated Press news agency.

"I can also hear the sound of a reconnaissance plane. It's flying very low.''

In an amateur video posted on the internet by activists on Sunday, explosions and gunfire can be heard echoing as alKhalidiya's skyline is engulfed in grey smoke.

Homs-based activist Yazan said 'shelling resumed Friday and it has been escalating since then' [YouTube] Homs-based activists said other districts including Bayada, Jurat al-Shayah, alQarabis and al-Qusour were also being bombarded.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Argentina storms out of Americas summit

A

rgentina’s President Cristina Kirchner has stormed out of the Summit of the Americas in protest against a perceived lack of regional support for her country’s claims in the dispute with the UK over the Falkland Islands.

The summit in Colombia had already been marred by a lack

of consensus among attendees, with Latin America countries opposing the decades-old US isolation of communist Cuba.

Several countries put pressure on Barack Obama to end the ban, as the US president continued to be plagued by a US secret service scandal involving prostitutes.

Al Jazeera’s Lucia Newman, reporting from Cartagena, said the summit was at risk of “falling apart” after Kirchner’s exit.

“I suppose the collapse shouldn’t be too surprising. There was complete disagreement about signing a final statement but the nail in the coffin came when Cristina Kirchner stormed

Latin American nations say there may not be another summit unless the US overcomes its objections to Cuba

Deadly tornadoes strike US Midwest

A

t least five people have died as a result of heavy weather in the state of Oklahoma after a tornado alert was issued across the Midwest of the US. Dozens of tornadoes swept through parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa overnight.

The five deaths were reported when a twister struck the northwest city of Woodward early yesterday morning after lightning apparently disabled its storm warning system, Mayor Roscoe Hill said.

Two children died at the Hide A Way mobile home park on the west side of Woodward, a town of 12,000 people, while two adults were killed in a small community just outside the city limits, Hill said.

Details of the fifth death were not immediately known, according to Keli Cain, a spokesperson for Oklahoma's emergency management department.

"The warnings went out more than a day before, which is almost unprecedented," Al Jazeera meteorologist Richard Angwin said.

"The year 2006 was the last time the National Weather Service gave warnings that far ahead."

The National Weather Service said in an advisory on Saturday afternoon that severe storms were possible from Texas in the south to Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota in the north.

"It does look like we have the potential for a massive outbreak of tornadoes throughout the remainder of the day," our meteorologist said. "[All the factors] make it look like it's the right combination for more storms to come."

Local Oklahoma City television

station KOCO reported the twister in Woodward caused "significant structural damage and several injuries".

In the Iowa town of Creston, the Greater Regional Medical Center hospital was damaged by a possible tornado, said a woman who answered the phone there but declined to give her name.

A dispatcher for the Union County sheriff's office said he was unable to release any information about damage to the hospital or buildings.

In northwestern Oklahoma, a tornado touched down for less than a minute in the afternoon, according to Rick Smith, a National Weather Service meteorologist in the town of Norman.

The area was, however, hit by

severe hail, breaking windows and damaging buildings.

A tornado was also spotted in Mustang, a suburb of Oklahoma City, before dawn. Kristy Yager, a spokeswoman for Oklahoma City, said that trees, power lines and fences were reported to have collapsed in the area.

"We'll have storms all night long in Oklahoma," Smith said. The pair of Oklahoma twisters hit a day after a tornado sliced across Norman on Friday afternoon.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said the worst conditions were expected to hit late on Saturday between Oklahoma City and Salina, Kansas, while other areas could see baseball-sized hail and strong winds.

out of the summit followed by Bolivia’s Evo Morales. “[Kirchner] was furious, we are told, because of the lack of full, complete support for Argentina’s claim of control of the Falkand Islands,” Newman said.

“We understand she was very, very angry that [leaders] didn’t even mention the dispute over the islands with the UK.” “She was overheard saying, ‘This is pointless. Why did I even come here?’”

Seeking to woo a region whose trade could help create US jobs, Obama has instead had a bruising time at the two-day hemispheric gathering attended by more than 30 heads of state in historic Cartagena.

Brazil and others bashed Obama over monetary expansionism and he has been on the defensive over calls to legalize drugs.

The disagreements came as 16 US security personnel were caught in an embarrassing prostitution scandal at the summit.

Eleven agents from the Secret Service were sent home, and five military servicemen grounded, after trying to take at least one prostitute back to their hotel the day before Obama arrived.

The incident is a major blow to the prestige of the service and turned into an unexpected talking point at the meeting.

For the first time, conservative US-allied nations like Colombia are throwing their weight behind the traditional demand of leftist governments that Cuba be in the next meeting of the Organisation of American States (OAS).

Diplomats said the dispute could block the final declaration planned for Sunday at the closing of the meeting, and originally intended as a hemispheric show of unity.

“The isolation, the embargo, the indifference, looking the other way, have been ineffective,” Juan Manuel Santos, the summit host and Colombian president, said of the Cuba issue.

A major US ally in the region who has relied on Washington for financial and military help to fight guerrillas and drug traffickers, Santos has become vocal over Cuba despite his strong

ideological differences with Havana.

Al Jazeera’s Newman said: “There will not be a final statement, at least one signed by all the nations.

“All the nations, except the US, have insisted there will not be another summit if Cuba is not included.

“This was not the harmonious meeting many had hoped for. There will be no final declaration at the end.”

Cuba was kicked out of the OAS a few years after Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution, and has been excluded from its summits due to opposition from the US and Canada.

“All the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean support Cuba and Argentina, yet two countries refuse to discuss it,” Eva Morales, Bolivia’s president said, referring to widespread support for Argentina’s claims to sovereignty over the British-ruled Falkland Islands.

Morales said: “How is it possible that Cuba is not present in the Summit of the Americas? What sort of integration are we talking about if we are excluding Cuba?”

Rafael Correa, Ecuador’s president, boycotted the meeting over Cuba, and fellow-leftist Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua also stayed at home.

The leftist ALBA bloc of nations, including Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua and some Caribbean nations, said they will not attend future summits without Cuba’s presence.

“It’s not a favor anyone would be doing to Cuba. It’s a right they’ve had taken away from them,” Ortega said from Managua.

“At this meeting in Cartagena, I think it’s time for the US government, all President Obama’s advisers, to listen to all the Latin American nations.”

Although there were widespread hopes for a rapprochement with Cuba under Obama when he took office, Washington has done little beyond ease some travel restrictions, saying democratic changes must come on the island before any further steps can be taken.

Obama has not spoken of Cuba in Colombia, though he did complain that Cold War-era issues, some dating from before his birth, were hindering perspectives on regional integration.

Peru’s Shining Path frees kidnapped workers Peruvian rebels have freed 36 construction workers from a Swedish company and a Peruvian firm who had been held captive for five days, a local government official has said.

The workers, kidnapped on Monday, had walked "seven hours from the mountains to reach our village", Susano Guillen, lieutenant governor of a town in the southeastern Cusco region, told local radio, on Saturday.

Local officials have said the workers were kidnapped in the hamlet of Kepashiato, near the country's main natural gas field in the Amazon jungle.

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala told the Peruvian radio station RPP that theguerrillas freed

the captives as troops and police were closing in. He said no negotiations with the rebels had taken place.

"Seeing themselves surrounded, they released the 36 hostages," Humala said from the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia.

He said the operations by security forces will continue until they track down the kidnappers.

Peruvian television showed images of the freed men waving to the camera and then praying.

The men appeared tired as they climbed aboard army helicopters.

Freed hostage Rigoberto Muniz told TV channel N that the

workers had been in the wilderness and were fed once a day, usually noodle soup. He and others said the rebels hadn't mistreated them.

Ronald Pacheco, another of the workers, told RPP that the rebels "`freed us at 4 in the morning, told us we could go and pointed out the way back". He said the rebels hadn't made clear why they abducted them.

Guillen said the 36 men arrived wearing orange work clothes and had hiked about seven hours to reach the town.

"They arrived at 11 in the morning, and we were surprised to see them arrive," Guillen said by phone.

"We gave them water because

they were hungry and thirsty.

Then they left for the town of Kiteni." Guillen said many of their relatives were there.

Al Jazeera's Mariana Sanchez, reporting from Lima, said that the experience was indicative of the rebels' resources in the region.

"The kidnapping showed the rebels' ability hold, transport, feed and hide 36 people at the same time in territory they control," she said.

Local officials said previously that the rebels were demanding a $10m ransom.

Humala said government officials had explained to the workers' employers that "the government's policy is not to negotiate with kidnappers, and we won't permit a

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 35

It’s spider girl! Toddler, 22 months, scales rock climbing wall without rope or helmet

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oddlers are known to be adventurous but this child has taken it literally to new heights.

The 22-month old girl has been filmed by her parents scaling a climbing wall - with remarkable ease.

She is seen on camera - in just a nappy - carefully pulling herself up the wall and even managing to discard toys placed in her way for added excitement.

The clever toddler, believed to be from Bend, Oregon, U.S., clearly thinks through each move pausing momentarily to work out which grip to grab and where to place her tiny feet.

It takes a brave parent to watch their youngster execute such an extraordinary manoeuvre.

Although she is just a few feet off the ground the child would no doubt hurt herself if she made a wrong move especially as she doesn't have a rope, harness or helmet.

But falling doesn't seem to be an option as she appears to be in total control.

In fact she seems stronger and more able than many adults would be faced with a home climbing wall.

It's unclear if there is a safety mat underneath her and it is hoped her parents were close by just in case disaster struck.

Unfortunately the footage doesn't show if she climbs down herself or is helped by her parents.

The video has now gone viral after being posted on You Tube and has been seen

The 22-month old girl has been filmed by her parents scaling a climbing wall - with remarkable ease

The child is just wearing a nappy as she scales the home climbing wall and seems to have more strength in her upper body than most adults

by more than 180,000 people.

However, viewers are divided over whether it is irresponsible to let a toddler loose on a climbing wall.

One viewer called Sarmabu supported the decision. She posted: 'My 2 year old has been doing this for months too. Off course there are safety measures and common sense but he loves it. Agreed - if you disprove of everything like this your child will be scared of everything. Let loose a little, within reason, and your child will blossom before you and understand safety measures and riskassessment in no time!'

The child is several feet of the ground by now - and doesn't have a harness - but she's determined to get to the top

The youngster seems to enjoy grabbing hold of the toys on the wall and flinging them to the ground as she makes her way up

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Viewers are divided over whether it's irresponsible to let the child climb the wall without a harness, rope or helmet

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Your supermarket ‘bag for life’ can give you food poisoning...so put it in your washing machine to kill the bugs!

Many of us fuss over a clean loo and kitchen sink, but what about the other household items we use every day?

Experts reveal the neglected areas you should be spring cleaning to MATTHEW BARBOUR...

BAGS FOR LIFE aving the environment comes with its own risks, according to a 2010 study by the University of Arizona, which tested 84 reusable shopping bags collected from shoppers and found that just over half were contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria.

Twelve per cent of the bags contained E. coli, indicating possible faecal matter and more dangerous pathogens.

The study also found 97 per cent of those interviewed never washed their bags.

The contamination happens when food, such as juices from raw meat, leaks onto the fabric or plastic, says study co-author and environmental microbiologist Professor Charles Gerba.

ADVICE: Clearly mark and keep one bag designated for meats, and machine-wash all bags fortnightly. Replace them every six months.

S

GARDENING GLOVES They may protect you against prickly plants and shrubs, but when did you last wash your gardening gloves?

Dr Ron Cutler, deputy director of biomedical sciences at Queen Mary, University of London, says bacteria, viruses and spores found in soil could be easily transferred from your hands to your eyes or mouth after wearing unclean gloves.

‘Gardening gloves provide a false sense of security — debris can still fall in the top, and when removing them your hands will touch the outside, so wash your hands as thoroughly as if you hadn’t used gloves at all,’ says Dr Cutler.

ADVICE: Dispose of any gloves the moment any cuts or holes appear, and wash and properly dry them fortnightly using an antibacterial wash rather than soap or hot water, which can dry them out and cause cracks.

FRUIT BOWLS AND VEGETABLE BAGS Even before fruit or vegetables visibly rot and become slimey, they can harbour bugs called pseudomonas, which develop as they over-ripen and can cause severe gastrointestinal upsets and infections, says Dr Cutler.

‘They also create an environment in which other bacteria such as E.coli, salmonella and listeria can thrive. A fruit bowl or veg bag is not chilled, so bacteria can multiply rapidly.’

The E.coli cucumber outbreak last summer, which killed 26 in Europe and left thousands seriously ill, is proof of the risks fruit and veg can pose, he says.

ADVICE: Machine-wash bags at 60c. Clean fruit bowls with antibacterial solutions once a week.

WATER BOTTLES A recent study from Calgary University reported harmful levels of bacteria in water drunk from 75 plastic bottles in a primary school, which were refilled without proper cleaning.

Over 30 per cent of the water samples had significant levels of faecal bacteria, probably due to improper hand-washing.

Dr Julian Hiscox, senior lecturer in virology at Leeds University, says: ‘If you leave the bottle at room temperature all day long — on your desk or in your gym bag, for instance — you’re providing an ideal environment for any existing bacteria to multiply.’

ADVICE: Throw away disposable bottles every week.

Wash reusable sports-type bottles in boiling water once a week.

SPONGES & TAPS After just a week of washing up, a sponge can harbour more than a million bacteria, according to Professor Gerba.

‘Sponges are one of the key pathways for bacteria to reach our skin, including E.coli and staphylococcus from contact with raw meat or faecal contamination,’ he says.

University of Florida scientists say they’ve found a near-foolproof method for sanitising any sponge: soak it with water, then microwave on high for two minutes. Tests showed that this killed 99 per cent of bacteria.

Meanwhile, a 2009 study by the Hygiene Council found a kitchen tap carries more harmful bugs than a toilet handle.

Fourteen per cent of taps had relatively high rates of the potentially deadly E.coli bug, compared with just 6 per cent of toilet handles.

ADVICE: Disinfect sponges and kitchen cloths daily in a microwave or using antibacterial wash. Wipe down the entire sink and taps at the end of each day.

YOUR CAR A steering wheel typically harbours nine times more germs than a public toilet seat, according to research, which also showed 42 per cent of motorists regularly eat while driving.

The study found that bacillus

Immerse yourself in a bath that has a mouldy shower mat in it and any offending bugs are free to float into any open cuts or grazes, leading to infection, says study author, Professor Norman Pace at the University of Colorado.

Dr Cutler adds there’s ‘a very real risk’ of athlete’s foot or verrucas from standing on mouldy bath or toilet mats in the bathroom.

ADVICE: Rinse and hang mats to dry after each use, cover with antibacterial spray and wash weekly at 60c.

The contamination in your supermarket 'bag for life' happens when food, such as juices from raw meat, leaks onto the fabric or plastic. cereus — a bug that can cause food poisoning and is found in rice, pasta, potatoes and pies — was the most common, along with arthrobacter, found in soil and human skin.

Staphylococcus bacteria, which can lead to skin infections such as impetigo and food poisoning, was detected on the door, steering wheel and under the seats.

‘A car is the perfect place for germs to breed, especially if you eat in it and leave litter or uneaten food,’ says Dr Cutler.

ADVICE: Vacuum and clean the car with antibacterial wipes once a month, and empty any food wrappers or other litter immediately after each journey.

found that bath and toilet mats and non-slip shower mats breed potential pathogens such as infection-causing sphingomonas and methylobacterium, which can cause respiratory illness carried by steam particles.

SHOE RACKS Shoe racks are obviously preferable to treading everything from food matter to animal faeces into the carpet, Dr Cutler says, but racks and tidies pose the extra risk of cross-contamination.

So even if you haven’t got any dangerous pathogens on your shoes, they can be picked up when your hand touches the rack or the soles of any other shoes that have subsequently touched that part of the rack.

‘Taxoplasma parasites from cat and dog faeces can survive for days. If they get on to a child’s hand and into their mouth, they can cause blindness.’

ADVICE: Scrub shoe racks with antibacterial wash weekly, remove debris from shoes and wash your hands thoroughly after removing your shoes.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

CUDDLY TOYS Researchers at Otago University in New Zealand found more than half of all soft toys they tested contained potentially harmful levels of house dust mites, which can aggravate hay fever, eczema or asthma.

Regularly held close to the mouth while a child is sleeping, they can increase the risk of miterelated asthma.

ADVICE: ‘My advice for parents is to tumble dry teddies for one hour or freeze the soft toy overnight, and then wash it in a cold wash to remove any allergens,’ says Dr Steve Turner, a consultant paediatrician specialising in allergies at the University of Dundee.

BATH MATS A study in the journal Applied And Environmental Microbiology

Wash reusable sports-type bottles in boiling water once a week

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 37

That IBB criticism of PDP brand of democracy ANALYSIS

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

hat the recent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Convention that produced Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the party’s National Chairman comes under severe criticisms from a person of the caliber of the former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is not surprising to many Nigerians. The new politics of compromise and consensus that has crept into the ruling party’s lexicon has become a source of worry to not only the stakeholders but to those compatriots who are concerned with democratic development in the country.

Speaking up against the political ‘shenanigan’ called consensus by a stakeholder who is neck deep into the ruling party with such a political pedigree requires guts and courage and this could only be displayed by those who have attained a certain level of political maturity with no intention to lick anyone’s boot for pecuniary benefits.

Apart from IBB, so many others have expressed reservations at the way the much orchestrated PDP Convention ended up becoming the turbaning/coronation ceremonies for favoured candidates from across the country.

Eleven qualified candidates contested for the exalted position, but truth being told, Bamanga Tukur did the most comprehensive campaigns across the country and chances are that he might win if the delegates were allowed to cast their votes.

But political uncertainties, which of course are hallmarks of participatory democracy, made the power- that-be to prevail on other contestants to step down for the ‘favoured’ candidates at the convention. Although the Chairmanship candidates unilaterally withdrew their candidature and a mock voting affirming Bamanga’s was conducted, not many were deceived that those other candidates were pressurized to step down for the incumbent.

Some of the disadvantaged candidates, though pained with the pressure mounted on them to step down, chose to nurse their wounds secretly because they lacked the political courage to speak out. Nevertheless, they have found a man who is courageous enough to voice out their frustrations in the person

of the former Military President.

The discontentment of the candidates become apparent when at the venue of the convention, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a frontline contestant to the position of the party’s National Secretary from the South West was announcing his withdrawal. In an emotion laden voice, Babatope made it crystal clear that he was not stepping down for anybody but for the survival of the party. This statement, though sounded patriotic, was an indication that there was a power around the corner that insisted that he must have to step-down for his state’s former governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

The convergent interests that later coalesced into producing the PDP national leadership are perhaps well known to discerning minds conversant with the politics of the ruling party. The PDP governors’ power bloc constitutes a force to be reckoned with in the ruling party and anyone that toys with their interest does so at his own risk.

Though the President backs Bamanga’s candidacy, no force could stop Oyinlola who had become the choice of the governors. Yes, like Bamanga, Oyinlola could have won the election if the National Secretary’s candidates were allowed to test their political might at the polls. But, the fear

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur

was diametrically opposed to the swan-song of the former Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, who left no one in doubt that his leadership was going to entrench the principle of internal democracy and eschew imposition of candidates. The selection of the party’s leadership at the Congress was quasi-democratic because those that were made to step down did not do so under duress;

“

We do not intend to descend to the gutter as Afegbua has been doing because we still hold the former President in high esteem. However, we must state that for a leader in our Party to engage a loose cannon as his Media Assistant, care must be taken to restrain him from injury to party loyalty of uncertainties made the stakeholders to prevail on the candidates to withdraw.

IBB and other political watchers however frowned at the politics of consensus which has now become synonymous with selection process in the PDP. The same process was adopted nationwide in the states and Local Government Congresses held. About 90 percent of the Congresses conducted ended up in compromise candidates with groundswell of protests across the country.

This, according to observers,

otherwise the court would have been replete with court cases.

Responding to the criticisms of the PDP consensus politics by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the PDP leadership has retorted that it was better organized than the critic because it at least conducted its congress openly and was not being controlled by an invisible hand.

Political watchers however say the PDP response to the ACN diatribe was tantamount to begging the question. This is because the party has neglected the whole

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida

issue of sacrificing the principle of internal democracy on the altar of favouritism.

The latest criticism of the PDP brand of politics by IBB struck a wrong chord in the party as its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh wrote “The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olisa Metuh has described as a surprise as well as a huge disappointment the statement credited to the Media Assistant to the former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida in the National Mirror newspaper of Sunday 15th April 2012, where unrestrained aspersions were cast on the electoral processes that culminated in the recent National Convention of the PDP. The statement said it was unfortunate that for a second time in a week, such a frontal attack on the person of the President, the National Chairman of the Party, the Publicity Secretary and indeed the entire essence of the current leadership of the Party was coming from a respected statesman and former President. “However, we doubt if Kassim Afegbua indeed has the directive of Gen. Babangida” According to the PDP, “the statement credited to the former President is surprising because known tradition the world over is for former Presidents to tow the path of maturity and decorum in criticisms of perceived lapses of the incumbents. We know of George Bush Jnr. and President Obama and we also know of Tony Blair and Prime Minister Cameron.

It is therefore an embarrassment on the person of the former President of Nigeria for his Media Spokesperson to recourse to a recipe of media relations that subsists on public acrimony and less noble language.” ”We must state for the avoidance of doubt that, that there is nothing wrong in the electoral consensus option through which our national Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Turkur emerged that constitutes an inhibition in the effective discharge of his functions as the National Chairman of our Party. That other aspirants, having noted the likely trend of voting, decided on their own to withdraw from the race and support an aspirant does not translate to incapacity on the part of the consensus candidate.”

The statement added that General Babangida, prelude to the 2011 presidential primaries of the PDP, wholeheartedly subjected himself to the then Northern Presidential Consensus arrangement in which Alhaji Atiku Abubakar emerged, showing that it is no such danger to democracy as his aid has been jamming the airwave with.

“We do not intend to descend to the gutter as Afegbua has been doing because we still hold the former President in high esteem. However, we must state that for a leader in our Party to engage a loose cannon as his Media Assistant, care must be taken to restrain him from injury to party loyalty.”

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

N/East Assembly to deal with insecurity

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peaker of the House of Assemblies in the North East zone of the country have promised to address the security and other socio economic problems bedeviling the region.

Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Yahaya Mohammed Miya, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Bauchi.

He said "The Speakers met and we are making effort to make good laws that will bring safety living among the people in the region for the development of the region and the country at large."

Miya attributed the problem of insecurity to poverty and unemployment despite the abundant natural resources endowed in the region.

The Speaker said Bauchi and Jigawa state House of Assemblies are to collaborate towards coming up with a legislation to address the problems of Almajiri in the two states.

He said the lawmakers had dissolved all standing committees in the house to enable the house to discharge its legislative functions effectively.

Miya added that henceforth members of a particular committee to be established must have relevant qualities to enhance their operations and reiterated the commitment of the lawmakers to make good laws that will improve the living condition of the people of Bauchi state.

Kaduna lawmakers donate cash to blast victims

M

embers of the Kaduna State House of Assembly on Saturday sympathised with the victims of the bomb explosion in Kaduna during the Easter celebrations.

The lawmakers visited the victims at various hospitals and donated money to settle their medical expenses.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Dr Dogara Mato, led the delegation.

During the visit, various cash donations were given to the victims.

The places visited were Barau Dikko Specialists Hospital, 44 Nigerian Army Referral Hospital and St. Gerard Hospital, Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 25 victims were receiving treatment in the hospitals.

At the 44 Army hospital, the Director, Brig-Gen. Napolion Amarie, expressed gratitude to the members for the donations to the victims.

At Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, the members were conducted round by the Matron inCharge, Mrs Hassana Garba, while at St. Gerard Hospital, the Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday John conducted them round the institution.

L-R: Bauchi state Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, condoling with Bauchi state Chairman of all Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Alhaji Sani Malam, over the death of his mother, on Saturday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

132 PDP members decamp to ACN in Edo

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

1

32 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Esan local government of Edo state have decamped to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

A former House of Assembly candidate, Deacon Efosa Idugboe, House of Assembly Aspirant, Mr Aigbedo Osunde, two youth Leaders in Oredo Ward four, Amos Obaseki and Mr Osato Obaseki, Ward eight, led by one Ogunsuyi Mathiasformer Oredo local government Chairman of the state were among persons who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to ACN at the weekend.

They said, the reason for their delay in leaving the umbrella party was to enable them have enough time to nurse the party defeat at April

2007 governorship election.

Spokesman of the group, Mr Mathias Ogunsuyi, at a Press Conference in Benin City, the state Capital, warned maverick politicians to stop peddling 'ethnic agenda' because the slogan has been replaced with politics of transformation.

Ogunsuyi, said, 'The issue today is whether Edo state is in capable hands or not…We believe that Edo State is in capable hand under Oshiomhole'.

He challenged the electorates to be weary by voting wisely, noting that, 'We must ensure that Edo State does not end up in deep pockets'.

Meanwhile, the Director, Media and Publicity, Adams Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation, Prince Kassim Afegbua at the weekend said politics of development was a factor that would shape July 14,

2012 gubernatorial election in Edo state.

A statement endorsed by the former Media Aide to former Military President of Nigeria, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, said having viewed the performance of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN for the last three and a half years in the State the time has come for the people of the state to reward meritocracy.

"We have viewed with concern the descent to mudslinging campaigns being orchestrated by the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party in the state. "We'll campaign on issues not tissues of lies."

'Lack any concrete selling point in its resolve to test the popularity of its candidate in the elections. Rather than dwell on tissues of lies being bandied about as a

consequence of this lack of any achievement to point at'.

He assured that the Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation has collated all the credentials and numerous achievements of the Comrade Governor to sell across the three Senatorial Districts, eighteen Local Governments and the 192 Wards in the state.

"Those tissues of lies are deliberately orchestrated to cause distraction and perhaps confuse the hapless voters of the real achievements of the Governor which are too obvious for all to see'.

"For the first time in a long while, the people of the state are able to feel the positive impact of good and accountable governance through special interventionists' projects that have made life much more attractive to the ordinary person."

Akwa Ibom PDP primaries: Chairman urges losers to sheath their swords

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he Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Akwa Ibom chapter, Paul Ekpo, has appealed to members that lost elections in the just concluded part’s local government council primaries to accept their defeat in good faith.

Ekpo made the appeal on the occasion of his maiden

news conference in Uyo recently.

“I urge you to sheath your swords and remain loyal and true party members for the growth of the party.

“I, therefore, in the spirit of comradeship urge you to join hands together to ensure that the party triumphs in the forthcoming local government elections.’’

Ekpo also advised those who were nursing the idea of leaving the party to reconsider their action, saying that it could be counterproductive.

He said they should strive to work in one accord and build the party to maintain its pride of place instead of creating divisions.

The chairman gave

assurance that all the aggrieved party members would be accorded their rightful place under the present dispensation.

He said the last local government elections could not be faulted by anybody, adding that he was confident that the PDP would sweep all the 31 local council seats in the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

INEC to set up voter education clubs in schools

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to establish voter education clubs in secondary schools, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos state, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola has said.

Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting in Badagry recently, Ogunmola said the aim was to enable students and the youth know their civil responsibilities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, convened by INEC to review its performance in the last elections, was attended by representatives of political parties, security agencies, traditional rulers and council officials.

Ogunmola said that INEC had introduced public enlightenment programmes on radio to educate voters on the adverse effects of electoral malpractice.

He said that INEC would embark on continuous voter registration of eligible voters.

“Through continuous registration exercise, those who were not up to 18 years during the last elections and are now eligible will have the opportunity of being registered, while names of dead people will be de-listed,” he said.

He said that the exercise would be conducted centrally in each local government area but not at the ward level.

He said that politicians as stakeholders in the electoral process should be involved in the enlightenment of voters ahead of the 2015 polls.

Rep condoles IG-P over death of mother

By Lawrence Olaoye

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hairman House of Representatives Committee on National Security, Intelligence and Public Safety, Muhammadu Bello Mutawalle, has condoled with the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, over the death of his mother counseling him to regard the incidence almighty’s way of testing his faith.

Mutawalle, while condoling the acting IG-P, said the death of Hajia Aisha few weeks after that of his wife was a tragedy that only those with strong faith and will could overcome even as advised the police boss to learn a lesson from the two unfortunate deaths by redoubling his efforts in discharging his enormous responsibility.

He urged the IG-P not to despair considering the fact that he lost his wife a few months ago, reminding him that it is Allah that gives life and takes it any time He wills. “The two great losses should be a source of inspiration and rededication for the IG’s unwavering commitment towards combating the security challenges facing the nation,” the lawmaker said.

PAGE 39

Adamawa INEC denies ACN officials access to inspect election materials

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mild drama took place at the Adamawa INEC Office in Yola as ACN lawyers were denied access to continue the inspection of election materials used for the Feb. 14 governorship election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that

INEC officials told ACN lawyers and officials, along with their PDP counterparts who turned up for the exercise on Saturday, that the time limit for the inspection of the materials had elapsed.

The INEC Administrative Secretary, Ahaji Usman Baba, said that they received

a directive from INEC lawyers to discontinue the inspection exercise as the time limit provided for the exercise had elapsed.

In separate reactions, the lead counsel to ACN, Mr Jonathan Sanda, and the running mate of ACN gubernatorial candidate in

L-R: Chairman Conference of Speakers, Hon. Inua Garba, with Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. John Dabwan, after the election of conference of speakers, on Friday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

the election, Alhaji Abdulrazak Namda, insisted that INEC was wrong on the time limit.

They insisted that the Governorship Election Tribunal granted ACN the relief to inspect the materials on March 30 and the order was served INEC April 2.

They said that INEC, in its response to the order, had fixed April 11 for the commencement of the inspection which was expected to be completed within two weeks.

They wondered why the Commission suspended the exercise just three days after it commenced. “So far, we inspected materials from only three local governments of Numan, Demsa and Toungo. We are on MayoBelwa local government when this development occurred.’’ Sanda said.

Sanda added that right from the beginning they were not comfortable with INEC’s handling of the inspection and had sought for more time from the tribunal to check such development.

The running mate of ACN gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Namdaz, described the development as “unfortunate’’, insisting that the party would not be deterred in pursuing the case to its logical conclusion.

Edo 2012: INEC to re-strategise for smooth poll – Commissioner ByLawrenceOlaoyewithagencyreports

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head of July governorship election in Edo state, INEC has expressed its readiness to restrategise to ensure that people’s votes count.

This assurance followed the disclosure by the electoral umpire that at least one million suspects are to be prosecuted over offences arising from the 2011 voters’ registration and general elections.

The Chairman, INEC Board of Electoral Institute, Prof.

Lai Olurode stated this in a n interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday.

According to him, the electoral body was restrategising because fillers from various quarters indicated that things were getting charged up in the state and INEC needed to be in control.

“INEC has attained a measure of success in the collation of results, timely delivery of election materials and arrival of poll officials at their polling units.”

He said the commission would create a

•••to prosecute 1m for electoral offences level-playing field and secure the polling arena in a way that the electorate would not feel intimidated by any party.

Olurode said INEC noticed voter apathy in some of the recent elections because of fear of violence and hijack of ballot boxes.

He confirmed that security operatives were cooperating with INEC in its efforts to conduct smooth election in Edo, adding that the electoral body had also put in place an “Inter Agency Committee on Election Security’’.

Olurode said the malpractices observed at some polling units during past elections were inimical to the conduct of free and fair elections. “We have seen cases where many people are not seen voting at polling units but at the end of the day you see larger votes recorded for the units, and you know that something has gone wrong.”

He said INEC was bent on policing polling units more effectively to make peoples’ votes count. “People stay away because of the possibility of violence and this is a sign that their vote will not count and

INEC will never be part to this, so security of lives and property is of great concern to INEC.” The National Commissioner said that although Nigeria had yet to attained perfection in election matters, the Commission was doing all it could to reduce malpractices during polls.

“There is nowhere in the world where the entire election process is flawless, there will have to be some hitches, but the Commission is working on this.”

He said the electoral body noticed some imperfection in the activities of ad- hoc staff as some of them were infiltrated by some politicians.

Olurode said that INEC changed its strategy and employed more that 400,000 youths during the last elections and they did far better than the ad-hoc staff.

Commenting on te readiness of the INEC to prosecute electoral offenders, the Commission was collaborating with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to facilitate the prosecution at minimal costs, adding that Bauchi, Zamfara,

Gombe and Bayelsa were among states with the highest number of suspects.

“In actual fact, some of those apprehended have been prosecuted and convicted but the number was just too small compared to those remaining.

He said NBA as a body and stakeholder committed to sanitising electoral process in the country, had offered INEC a window that would lower the cost of prosecution.

“All over the country, there are NBA branches and the branch in each state will take up the case and prosecute for INEC at an agreed fee.

“NBA is seeing the service, a public service and an effort to sanitise the electoral system in Nigeria.”

According to Olurode, prosecution of election offenders should not be left with INEC alone as it is a major mandate which another body should be saddled with.

Olurodecalled on government to work on the report of Uwais Electoral Reform Panel which had recommended that a separate body should be set up to handle electoral offences.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Democracy demands participation of all, says Tambuwal S peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, has said the active participation of everyone was needed for democracy to thrive in a pluralised society.

Tambuwal said this in Abuja recently at the 2012 Nigerian Muslims and Democracy Conference (NMDC) with the theme: “ The Political Future of Muslims in Democratic Nigeria’’.

The Speaker advised Muslim leaders to take into cognisance

their differences and not pretend that they did not exist, discussing issues that could potentially affect the nation.

“To recognise them is to respect them and to take them into consideration when discussing issues that can potentially affect the whole nation.

“To recognise them is to be mindful of the various groups that live in a nation such as ours and not take any group for granted.’’

He enjoined the group not to

dwell unduly on its differences rather it should be sensitive to the realities on ground.

Tambuwal noted that every nation had its challenges, adding that failure to discuss them eventually led to crisis. “ In any case, many of the issues that face us as a nation are not as grievous as they appear.

They are mostly problems common with any developing democracy. With time and more efforts, many of these problems will be overcome.’’

He promised that the House

of Representatives would support the efforts of the group toward the enthronement of a better democratic arrangement.

The Speaker commended the organisers of the conference for bringing Muslims together to add their voices to the pool of opinion in a pluralised society.

Responding, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, emphasised the need for Muslims to always voice out their opinion.

Abubakar said that dialogue among religions and cultures must be maintained to ensure a peaceful and stable nation.

Among personalities who

L-R: Akwa Ibom state Governor, Godswill Akpabio, exchanging pleasantries with Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, after the governor official visit to President Goodluck Jonathan, at the State House, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Sodangi blames Nigeria's porous borders for rising insecurity From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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former lawmaker and exchairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Danso Sodangi, has blamed the porous nature of Nigeria's borders for the prevailing insecurity across the country, describing the situation as unfortunate.

In a chat with journalists in Lafia, shortly after the

expanded executive Council meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sodangi observed that while he was chairman of the senate committee chairman on internal affairs, he travelled round the country and what he saw at the borders, according to him, was most unfortunate, calling on the security agencies to meet up with the challenges.

He stated that threat to security was not only peculiar

to Nigeria but the entire West African sub-region, stressing that every hand must be on deck to curtail the spate of bombings that is threatening the corporate existence of the country.

Sodangi who was at the National Assembly thrice opened up on the emergence of Bamanga Tukur as the national PDP chairman and the chance of northern presidency come 2015, saying that because

Bamanga is a northerner does not preclude the chance of another northerner to become president in 2015.

He explained that in a democracy, it is the people who have the right to chose who leads them, stressing that the culture of imposition is now a thing of the past and that a northerner could emerge as president hopefully under the PDP, if not on the platform of another party.

attended the conference were a former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, the Executive Secretary, Ummah of South West Nigeria, Prof.

Dawood Noibi, and the former Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Dr Usman Bugaje.

NASS pledges to pass 2013 Appropriation Bill

by December 2012

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he National Assembly has pledged to pass the 2013 Appropriation Bill by the end of December.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekeremadu, stated this while fielding questions from State House Correspondents in Abuja shortly after the signing of the 2012 Appropriation Bill into law by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ekeremadu, however, maintained that the timely passage of the bill could be achieved only if Jonathan fulfilled his promise of sending the budget to them by September.

“I’m happy and I’m sure the National Assembly is happy that the Executive has appreciated the need to submit in good enough time the budget proposal for 2013.

“He has given a pledge today that he hopes to submit the budget proposal by September of this year, which will give us enough time for us to realise our objective of passing the 2013 budget appropriation bill by end of December. So, once the executive is ready, we are always ready at the National Assembly to do our beats.”

Ekeremadu described President Jonathan’s speech at the signing of the budget as “quiet commendable”, saying that the National Assembly would continue to support and cooperate with the Executive arm of government in the realisation of the transformation agenda.

On the 2012 Budget, the Deputy Senate President advised Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to strictly abide by their submissions in the budget to ensure a hitch-free implementation.

Mark mourns Omoboriowo, Majekodunmi

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he Senate President, David Mark, says the death of Chief Akin Omoboriowo, former Deputy Governor of the old Ondo State is a sudden loss of a compassionate and resourceful political leader.

Mark said this in a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and

Publicity, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Thursday.

He described the late Omoboriowo as “an active politician who shared the vision of our founding fathers for a united and indivisible nation’’.

“He was a patriotic nationalist that worked assiduously to ensure that the

South-West has a place in the mainstream of Nigeria politics.’’

He urged the government and people of Ekiti and Ondo states to take solace in the contributions made by Omoboriowo to the respective states during his lifetime.

The Senate President also mourned the death of the former administrator of the old

Western region, Dr Moses Majekodunmi, saying that the foremost nationalist lived a fulfilled life.

Mark said the renowned medical doctor and former Minister of Health in the First Republic, died “a fulfilled man who dedicated his life to the service of humanity’’.

He urged the Ogun

government to immortalise the deceased, adding that he left a legacy worthy of emulation.

Mark further condoled the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, over the death of his mother, Hajiya Aisha on Wednesday after a brief illness.

He prayed God to give the IGP’s family the fortitude to bear the loss.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 41

Marquez marches on for another title bout

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uan Manuel Marquez won another big belt when he beat Sergey Fedchenko on points in Mexico City on Saturday night.

The 38-year-old Mexican won 118-110 on two cards and 119109 on the third to claim the WBO’s interim junior welterweight title.

Marquez improved his record to 54-6-1, including 39 knockouts. His courageous Ukrainian opponent’s record dropped to 30-2, with 13 stoppage wins.

There was never any doubt about the income as Marquez launched combination after combination, hitting Fedchenko, 31, with every shot in the boxing manual.

With more than 22 000 spectators supporting the hometown hero, Fedchenko put on a brave performance, taking the hardest blow Marquez threw at him and landing punches of his own right to the final round.

Marquez won his first “world” title in February 2003 when he stopped Manuel Medina in the

seventh round to take the vacant IBF featherweight belt.

He went on to win the WBA featherweight, WBC superfeatherweight and WBA and WBO lightweight titles. In his most recent fight, on November 12 last year, he lost to Manny Pacquiao by majority decision.

Many experts felt Marquez won.

Fedchenko’s only other defeat was in September 2009 when he was outpointed by South African Kaizer Mabuza in a clash for the IBF intercontinental junior welterweight title.

South African Louis Oosthuizen wins the Malaysian Open

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e was disappointing at the Augusta National where Bubba Watson came off the hero. But Louis Oosthuizen brushed aside the disappointment of the play-off loss to win the Malaysian Open yesterday The former Open champion finished 17 under par at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club posted a final-round four-under 68, after finishing his rainaffected third round with a 69.

Oosthuizen had been struggling

with the jetlag of travelling across 12 time zones from Augusta to Malaysia to make the event, but surprised himself with the speed of his recovery.

The 2010 Open champion had to play 26 holes on the final day after storms on Friday and Saturday had disrupted the schedule to clinch his second European Tour victory of the season,following his win at the African Open and his fifth in total.

Oosthuizen played the last

eight holes of his third round in level par, and went into the final round with a one-shot lead over Gallacher.

The South African turned in a two-under-par 34, and sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the 13th to give him breathing space over his 37-year-old opponent, before closing out the win with ease.

Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello closed with a 71 for a 12-under total to share third with England’s Danny Willett and American David Lipsky.

Heartland maul Warri Wolves

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eartland pushed their way up to sixth place on the NPL table after a 31 home win over Warri Wolves in a rescheduled tie yesterday.

Heartland are now on 27 points from 19 matches, five points adrift of front runners Kano Pillars, Enugu Rangers and Dolphin. Chinedu Efugh broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, before Kingsley Salami made it 2-0 in the 27th minute.

Ebinum Azuka celebrated his call-up to the Flying Eagles when he scored his first goal for Warri Wolves on 29 minutes to make it 2-1.

However, Kabiru Umar made the game safe for Heartland in the 78th minute. Scorer of the third goal Umar said that he is delighted with the character shown by his team in the game.

“I was excited with the result and the way we played. We showed character from beginning to the end. I am sure we will continue with that spirit,” he said.

In the other re-arranged fixture, Akwa United pipped Sunshine Stars by a lone goal at the Uyo Township Stadium.

Falconets 180 minutes away from Japan 2012

By Patrick Andrew

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he Falconets, Nigeria’s U20 female team completed the rout of the Mighty Young Warriors of Zimbabwe in Harare yesterday by mauling them 3-0 in front of their fans to secure an aggregate of 6-0 and thus secure the ticket to the stage of the qualifiers.

The Falconets are just 180 minutes away from booking a slot for the FIFA U-20 Women Championship scheduled for Japan later in the year. They are to meet the winners between Mali and DR Congo.

Striker Oparanozie put the Falconets forward in the 10th minute while Sunday grabbed goal number two in the 27th minute to keep the first 45 minutes at 2-0.

At resumption of play, Falconets pushed forward for more goals and were rewarded in the 86th minute through workaholic attacker and substitute, Ebere Orji.

Nigeria had more ball

possession, corner kicks and attempts at goal unlike the Young Mighty Warriors.

Desire Oparanozie

Falconets’ Keeper, Ebubuleye Whtye was on holiday unlike her counterpart, Portia

Esther Sunday

Makucha who was kept on her toes throughout the encounter.

The winners will be among

The only goal of the game was scored by Nnamdi Edo midway into the first half.

The Uyo-based team enterprising forward Ini Akpan said they were determined to win the game. “We are all happy with victory. It was a tough game as we expected, but our determination to win the game saw us getting the three points,” Akpan said.

Kano Pillars are currently leading the table with 32 points same with Rangers which however, have inferior goal difference.

Maigari, NFF President the 16 teams at the 2012 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Japan in August. It would be their third finals appearance in the FIFA tournament.

Falconets stunned the global community by reaching the final of the last edition of the football fiesta where they lost to the hosts, Germany 2-0. Nigeria have participated in all editions of the biennial football event since 2002 in Canada.

Ebere Orji

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

We hope to lift our 7th NPL title come August, says Eguaveon

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ustin Eguavoen, the Technical Adviser of Enyimba FC of Aba, has said that the team was poised to win the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) 2011/2012 title through its determined drive to succeed.

Eguavoen revealed on Sunday in Lagos on telephone that Enyimba would have to

maintain its invincible home form in addition to earning vital away points.

He said that the club’s third place finish in the first round of the league, would spur them to go all out in the second stanza to win the title.

“We intend to play the second round matches in the league with more seriousness; and we

must show grit, character and determination to achieve our stated objective.

“We just have to stay focused on the task at hand and guard against unnecessary distractions in our quest to win the league this season,’’the technical adviser said.

Eguavoen, a one-time coach of the Super Eagles, said the

club’s captain, Josiah Maduabuchi, had been sidelined for six weeks.

“But I am relying on the new boys like Gbolahan Salami and Nzube Anaezemba to hold forth in the interim. “ Some other key players were out due to injury; and this has affected the team’s performances in recent times but it shouldn’t be

Chelsea maul Spurs to set up FA Cup final with Liverpool C helsea thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 to set up an FA Cup final showdown with old rivals Liverpool after a Wembley semifinal tinged by controvercial goal.

Goals from Didier Drogba, Juan Mata, Ramires, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda saw Chelsea romp into their fourth FA Cup final in six years, with Tottenham’s lone strike coming from Gareth Bale.

But the occasion was marred by controversy before and during the match, with sections of Chelsea’s support chanting and jeering during a minute’s silence prior to kick-off to mark the anniversary of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Chelsea were also the beneficiaries of a deeply disputed decision by referee Martin Atkinson for their second goal, scored by Mata, which replays showed should not have stood after the ball failed to cross the line.

Bale briefly gave Tottenham hope of a fightback with a goal on 56 minutes to make it 2-1 but a sublime finish from Ramires, a stunning 35-yard free-kick from Lampard and a late effort from Malouda took Chelsea out of sight.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was philosophical about the refereeing blunder that gifted Chelsea a two-goal cushion. “It was nowhere near a goal,” Redknapp said. “It’s an honest mistake but it wasn’t anywhere near over the line.”

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo, whose side face Barcelona in a Champions League semifinal on Wednesday, sympathised with Spurs. Earlier, Tottenham appeared to be the likeliest to break the deadlock in a first half that was slow to get going, only to be denied by the woodwork and a goal-line clearance from Terry.

Terry’s last-ditch heroics came on 36 minutes when he blocked a

close-range header from Rafael van der Vaart.

Four minutes later Spurs threatened again, when van der Vaart’s long ball forward for Emmanuel Adebayor missed everyone and rattled the upright.

Yet just when it seemed Spurs were on the verge of an opener, Chelsea took the lead with a goal on 43 minutes that owed everything to the raw power of Drogba.

A long ball forward from Lampard found the Ivorian, who held off William Gallas and turned before crashing an unstoppable shot past Carlo Cudicini for 1-0.

Chelsea appeared to be intent on killing the game off early in the second half, Cudicini making a brilliant one-handed save from Mata on 48 minutes to deny the impish playmaker once more.

But Chelsea were to double their lead in controversial circumstances from the ensuing corner.

Cudicini pulled off another stunning block to keep away David Luiz’s near-post header, but the ball fell only as far as Mata.

The Togolese international touched past the Chelsea goalkeeper but was brought crashing down. Atkinson played advantage, however, and Bale was on hand to side-foot into an empty net and make it 2-1. The goal came at a price for Chelsea, with Luiz carried off with a hamstring injury that leaves him in doubt for Wednesday’s clash with Barcelona.

Yet hopes of a Tottenham fightback were short-lived. A delicate Mata pass picked out Ramires, who dinked in Chelsea’s third on 77 minutes, and four minutes later, Lampard stepped up to lash in his long-range effort.

In injury time, substitute Malouda made it 5-1 from Mata’s pass as Spurs’ evening came to a miserable end.

Frank Lampard contesting the ball with Gareth Bale in yesterday’s semi-finals match

an excuse not to win the league.”

The no-nonsense defender during his active days as footballer vowed that Enyimba would use its reverse home fixture in the second stanza against 3SC FC of Ibadan to boldly stake its claim for the league title. “ We hope to lift our seventh league title come August.”

Bolaji Abdullahi, Sports Minister

Association poised to revive tennis, say Head Coach

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he maiden edition of the Lagos State Tennis Coaching Clinic is aimed at repositioning the sport., says John Odiong, the Head Coach of the Lagos State Tennis Association.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day event ended on Saturday at the National Stadium Tennis Court in Lagos.

Odiong said that the association recognised the urgent need to reposition the sport through an aggressive grassroots development approach.

“The grassroots is the only viable medium through which any sports could be revitalised, and great talents like Nadal or Venus were not developed overnight but through a painstaking process.

“At this clinic, we hope to take tennis to the next level, whereby we put our stakes high to develop kids who are willing to learn the sport.’’

He noted that the association, in collaboration with the state government, planned to set up an academy where talents could be groomed to stardom.

“The authorities in Lagos are very particular about sports, most especially tennis, because it seems to be dying.

“And so the LSTA and government saw the need to revive the sport and hopes to take it to the next level. “ The two bodies finally came to a conclusion that a standard tennis academy would be raised and sponsored by the Lagos State government.

“We don’t have any tennis academy aside from the one in Kaduna and the more reason why we need more academies that will produce talents for the country,’’ he said.

The coach said that older players were not left out in the plan, but stressed that emerging talents were expected to bring back the glory days of the sport.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

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ell us about the Laureus Awards. Did you expect to win the prize?

Rai: A team from Laureus paid a visit to the Foundation a year ago and they had a very good look at everything. They weren’t there because of the award. It was just something they do on a regular basis, to find out about projects around the world. They were pretty impressed and about 20 days before the ceremony they sent out the invitation and asked for photos of the project.

They didn’t say anything else, though and that’s when I began to suspect something. Even so, it still came as a surprise, and I was pleased to receive recognition for a project I’ve been putting an awful lot of energy into for a good few years now. I was also happy to see they value the charity initiatives set up by sportspeople. It’s an incentive for others to go out and do the same.

What was it like to be at the ceremony and meet the other prizewinners?

All the award winners went to the see the British Prime Minister.

(Novak) Djokovic was there, and so were academy members like Boris Becker and Emerson Fittipaldi. It was an honour to be with champions like them, each with their own story to tell. I was very happy to be there because it really tied in with the idea behind the Gol de Letra project.

As sports people we can do a lot for society when we come together.

It’s not perfect but we’ve got the power to get others involved and reach out to people, and I could see that they all felt the same way too, which was great.

How much of a highlight is this Laureus Award in your career?

It’s very special. I’m in another phase of my life now and it’s a big award for this second part of my career. I’ve had recognition in Brazil too, from UNESCO, and I think this Laureus award is a return on all the hard work that’s gone into getting this project off the ground. Just before I stopped playing I started to think about the projects I wanted to get involved in.

And as Brazil was going through this whole new democratic process, I thought about taking part in a project to improve social justice in the country. Leonardo [the former AC Milan and Brazil midfielder] had similar ideas and so we decided to work together. As I said before, I’ve always thought that the values of sport can be a force for good in society.

With the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil coming up, this is a good time to get more social projects under way, isn’t it?

Absolutely. This is a special time in Brazil’s sporting history and I think it’s going to provide a boost for the things that need to be done.

I hope it all helps bring about social change through sport. That’s the objective of events and awards like this: to promote projects like Gol de Letra and put the spotlight on them so that more people get involved.

Neymar

Ganso

You mentioned Leonardo, who went into coaching and is now director of football at PSG. Did you ever think about taking a similar path?

I did and I had a few offers. I was less keen on coaching because it’s a bit frenetic, but I think I’ve got the credentials to do it and I might be tempted one day. As a director I had a spell at Sao Paulo and PSG sounded me out five years ago, though via a different potential buyer. I think I’d take something on as long as it wasn’t too time-consuming, which is not often the case.

I’m very happy with the way things are at the moment, with the Foundation, an association called Atletas pela Cidadania and a new school, and I’m not thinking about going straight back into football. Obviously I want to stay close to the game and I’ll always have links with it, but more on the fringes.

Turning to Brazilian football now, what’s your view on the country’s coaches? Do you think there’s anyone with a global vision who change the way the game’s played here?

I think there are people abroad who’ve got a lot to offer in general.

Who knows, maybe Leonardo will come back one day or others who are also picking up experience.

These days footballers prepare

PAGE 43

themselves better for what comes after their careers and I think we’re going to have some people who can contribute coming through. I also feel we’re going through a transitional phase in terms of coaches.

There aren’t many good, reliable ones, and the same goes for the players, whose skill levels aren’t what they were. Those two factors both have a negative impact and you end up having fewer teams who play the game the right way and take risks.

There are a lot of old coaches around, who haven’t kept up with the game, and a few young coaches who haven’t kicked on.

Do you think that’s all having an impact on the national team?

Yes I do. There’s that and then

“

These days footballers prepare themselves better for what comes after their careers and I think we’re going to have some people who can contribute coming through. I also feel we’re going through a transitional phase in terms of coaches. you’ve got the fact that other countries are moving on. Brazil are no longer the best or the favourites to win the big tournaments.

They’re just another candidate now. There are a lot of countries who are as good as Brazil, which wasn’t the case before. Both the team and the fans need to get it into their heads that Brazil are not as dominant as they have been at other times.

How do you think A Seleção

is coming along? Do you feel the team and the likes of Neymar, Ganso, Leandro Damiao and Lucas will be ready for 2014?

The Olympics are coming up and that’s going to be a good test for us. We’ve got a fine generation of players, with some aboveaverage talent. They need to show whether they’re ready or not, though I think we’ll see some other exciting youngsters come through before 2014.

Sport is weapon for social change, says Rai Ex-Brazil international Rai did not lack invitations to stay in football after playing his last match some 12 years ago. After taking up a director’s position at his beloved Sao Paulo, he received a number of other offers, only to turn them all down and take an entirely different direction.

Moving away from the game he graced, the stylish midfielder devoted his considerable energies to social projects, helping to set up the nongovernmental organisation Fundação Gol de Letra, which now provides support for nearly 1,300 disadvantaged children in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

His selfless efforts to put something back into society were recognised in February, when he was presented with the Sport for Good Award at the 2012 Laureus Awards in London. Discussing that accolade, his new calling in life and the state of the game in Brazil, the former Sao Paulo, Paris SaintGermain and Brazil star gave an exclusive interview to FIFA.com.

Rai

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

‘Basketball Without Border’ gets NIKE sponsorship

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Bolaji Abdullahi, supervising Minister of Sports

he Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has confirmed that NIKE would sponsor camps for the selection of players for the 2012 Basketball Without Border (BWB).

NBBF President Tijani Umar said in Lagos that the federation would play a prominent role in the selection of players for the competition.

According to the NBBF official, no date has been fixed for the annual event scheduled for Johannesburg, South Africa, in

September.

Umar said NIKE had agreed in principle to bankroll the three camps tentatively fixed for Abuja, Uyo and Ibadan.

The NBBF chief said a coaching clinic for basketball coaches would hold simultaneously with the camping. “They will hold a clinic for our basketball coaches that are involved in the development of the game.”

Umar also said that talents would also be discovered for the September event from the

training camps coordinated by the likes of Olumide Oyedeji, Ejike Ugboaja and Massai Ujiri.

He said all the former camps were relevant in the selection process, while the National Basketball Association Africa would sponsor the final selection in August.

“NBA Africa are coming to Nigeria and I think that is going to bring everyone to the main table.

“It will give many young players the opportunity to show their talents” Umar said.

First Bank B’ball club vows to return to winning streak

A

dewunmi Aderemi, the Coach of First Bank Basketball Club of Lagos, on Tuesday gave assurance of his team’s readiness to emerge champion of the remaining two phases of the Zenith Bank Female Basketball league.

First Deepwater Basketball Club of Lagos won the first phase of the league by beating five

times winner, First Bank to the second place in March in Kaduna. They equally won the 10 team- format league last year.

According to Aderemi the team would do “everything humanly possible’’ to emerge winner of the remaining two phases, saying that coming second in the first phase was an

aberration.

“We are going to clinch all the available points at stake in the second and third phase of the league,” he said.

According to Aderemi, the club’s coaching crew is putting the girls through rigorous training in order to ensure victory at the end of the league.

“We resumed training a

fortnight ago after a one-week break from the first phase of the league,’’ he said.

Aderemi said the performance of the players dwindled at the first phase because of the young players the club recently recruited to beef up the team.

“We only have five experienced players in the team now, but I want to assure you

Sports adviser charges coaches, administrators on refresher courses

Scribe laments nonparticipation in Africa Junior Tennis Championships

T

he Africa Junior Table Tennis Championships held Algeria ended over the weekend with Nigerian players failing to participate in the fiesta because of lack of funds.

Reacting to the development, the secretary of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Segun Oguntade, lamented Nigeria’s failure to take in the championship and regretted that it would have adverse effect on the country’s performance in subsequent tournaments.

Also, he said the inability to feature at the continental championship would not only affect the players but would hamper further development of the game.

Oguntade said that funds were not made available by the National Sports Commission (NSC) for the competition, adding that lack of funds has continued to hamper the growth of the game because sponsors other than the government were not forthcoming.

“Our players did not participate because the NSC did not approve funds for the

championship and we did not get positive response from corporate bodies that we had approached for assistance,’’ Oguntade said.

According to him, some of the countries that participated in the competition which began on April 9 in Staoueli are Nigeria’s rivals Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Congo-Brazzaville.

He added that regular participation of players in protours and other competitions would help to sharpen their skills adding that it was designed to boost the technical depth of players.

He said that preparing them for international competitions could be realised with the active support of sponsors.

Oguntade noted that the responsibility of moving the sport forward could not be left for the NSC alone but required support from all sectors.

He said the players were enthusiastic about taking part in these competitions because they would give them the necessary exposure required to be champions.

“The performances of our players will improve, if only we can get assistance from sponsors to fund their trips and other logistics to protours because we cannot rely on

T

Cecelia Otu-Akpan the government alone.

“International competitions are avenues for players to exhibit their skills and an opportunity for them to learn different techniques which will help their talents,’’ he said.

Accordingly to him, exposing the players to big competitions will also push up their rankings at the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) and International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

He said that it was not enough

that our young players now are the teams for the future.

Although, I am not happy about our performance, coming second in the past two years, I believe the table would change this year,’’ he said.

The second and third phase of the league will hold in Ilorin, and Lagos respectively on dates yet to be confirmed.

to attend one world or Africa Championships in a year, but exposing our players regularly to pro-tours so that they can withstand their opponents in any competition.

On London 2012 Olympic Games preparation, Oguntade said the players were doing well in their foreign clubs.

He said that as soon as money was released by the NSC for their training, they would be given the necessary grant.

he Kebbi Adviser on Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Bashar Isa, has advised sports administrators and technical officials to always update their knowledge as a means of improving their performance in competitions.

Alhaji Isa in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday that the government had provisions for training its workers.

“Sports administrators and coaches need to explore professional training grounds for government to assist in their training.”

He said that without training in modern sports administration and techniques, representatives of the state would remain behind in national and international competitions.

“Training will be accorded priority for better performance of our athletes but we want officers to show interests.”

Isa said efforts would be made to attract sponsorship in sports to discover talents who could become future champions.

“I am not happy with our level in national and international sporting world.”

He challenged sports administrators and coaches to engage in personal programmes that would improve the level of sports.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

PAGE 45

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE

All our dreams can come tr ue - if w e ha ve the true we hav cour age to pur sue them coura pursue — Walt Disney

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

United go five clear in style

W

ayne Rooney fired Manchester United five points clear at the top of the Premier League as his double inspired a 4-0 rout of Aston Villa at Old Trafford yesterday.

Rooney opened the scoring with an early penalty and Danny Welbeck increased United's lead before halftime.

England forward Rooney bagged his 31st goal of the season in the second half before Nani's late goal sealed a crucial victory.

Thanks to Rooney's brace, Sir Alex Ferguson's men were able to reestablish a significant lead over title rivals Manchester City with four games left to play.

After their shock midweek defeat at Wigan, and City's 6-1 demolition of Norwich on Saturday, this was the perfect response from United. Sunday's win, however, came laced with controversy.

Last Sunday, United winger Ashley Young earned a penalty and got QPR's Shaun Derry sent off in process when he fell under minimal contact from the midfielder in a 2-0 win.

And the England international was involved in another controversial incident against Villa when he appeared to exaggerate his fall after Ciaran Clark stuck out his leg in the penalty area in the seventh minute.

Referee Mark Halsey gave the penalty and Rooney calmly stroked home the spot-kick.

The champions increased their lead in the 43rd minute when Welbeck slid in to score after Villa defenders James Collins and Nathan Baker failed to clear Patrice Evra's low cross.

Rooney made it 3-0 when his close-range effort deflected in off Collins in the 73rd minute and Portugal winger Nani concluded an emphatic victory with the fourth goal in stoppagetime.

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Gen. Buhari, in and out You can never have a revolution in order to establish a democracy. You must have a democracy in order to have a revolution (G.K. Chesterton, 1874 - 1936)

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eneral Muhammadu Buhari is being reported to have made two seemingly contradictory statements regarding his future. One version of the reported comments is that he will stay in active politics until the electoral system is sanitized, which is his shorthand for a genuine reflection of popular will through the ballot box. The other version says he is repeating his earlier promise not to run for elective office again, but will stay in politics to help improve the electoral process. Predictably, both comments are being followed by an entire legion of interested politicians and millions of citizens who still see him as symbol of the hope for real change. There are major interests at stake in the manner these contradictory positions are resolved, and it is impossible not to see some serious jockeying for positions with regards to 2015 in both positions.

Visions of General Muhammadu Buhari shedding tears at a public function in Abuja with a few weeks to the 2011 general elections, and pledging that he will not run for elective office again after 2011 are still fresh in the minds of millions of people. But then so were his promises that he will not contest the outcome of the 2011 elections in court if he lost. His charge to his almost fanatical followers to guard their ballots every inch of the way with all the means at their disposal remained the most resonant message he delivered. He led his party into an election which promised much, and delivered very little. Bitter intra-party squabbles sapped his party's energy, while creating damaging pockets of resentment which were duly capitalized upon by the PDP, a party which acted like a horde of vultures following a wounded prey to its death. So many ambitions depended on Buhari's nod; so many disputes sought for his wise resolution; and so many people looked up to him to lead them away from a nation where corruption, poverty and impunity were progressively destroying the very foundations of their lives and their future.

The cumulative effects of massive, unresolved problems around a weak party structure centered essentially around the

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FIFTEEN MINUTES with Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed drbabaahmed@yahoo.com

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari person and character of the General, and the limitations of his capacity as a leader who had a reputation for extending too much or too little trust in equal measure showed very clearly in the manner the CPC approached the 2011 elections. The bitter recriminations which followed President Jonathan's decision to run as PDP's candidate created the impression that the North was there for the taking by the General and the CPC. But the prospects for electoral alliance with the ACN were disastrously bungled, thus limiting Buhari's huge following essentially to the far North.

Massive disputes were left unresolved in areas where the PDP

would not have dreamt of a whiff of victory; and they cost the CPC unbelievable losses, or created opportunities for the elections to be extensively rigged. Damaging ethno-religious campaigns were orchestrated to deprive the General support of Christian voters across the country, but particularly in the North.

Northern PDP governors rolled out untold amounts to shore up Jonathan's showing in the North, and everything was done in the South to show that voters there did not even know that Buhari contested for the Presidency.

So 2011 was an unmitigated disaster for the CPC. For millions of people who were convinced that the elections were rigged, rioting became the popular means of expression. From Sokoto to Maiduguri, mostly young people rose up in anger at the announced result of the Presidential elections, and the Jonathan administration was shaken to its marrow by the extent of anger and destruction.

But the international community thought it was better to endorse the elections quickly and move on, so it instructed its observers to say so and leave the smoldering nation. INEC was both vilified and commended, depending on who was supported, and the gains

“

The dominance of the PDP in the national political landscape may be a function of its ability to manipulate the electoral process better than the opposition, but the unhealthy presence of Tinubu in the ACN and Buhari in CPC does not give much comfort that they will differ much from the PDP in terms of the manner they are run

made by the appointment of a seemingly fair electoral umpire were lost in the smoke and bitterness which followed the election. General Buhari scored over 12 million votes, virtually all of them from northerners, and President Jonathan got his desperately desired second term.

General Buhari's party performed, on the whole, worse than anyone could ever have imagined, and his party went to court to challenge the elections, and lost there again.

The post election trauma in the party was profound. It nonetheless set in motion the search for a renewal strategy, starting with a committee under Malam Nasir elRufai, which is yet to submit a blueprint for regeneration. The role of Buhari himself and his immediate advisers came under very critical scrutiny, and the party performed poorly in many subsequent elections. The icing on the cake were the events which preceded the re-run of the Kebbi State Gubernatorial elections, when the CPC's leaders, including its own candidate in the election, defected to the PDP. Nothing is certain in politics, but the General is likely to attempt to resist pressure on him to run for the Presidency again in 2015. If he does that, he will be required to say so and show it in everything he does. It is particularly important that his supporters and members of the CPC understand the critical difference between being in politics for life, and contesting for office until your last breadth. If Buhari opts to allow the emergence of people from within his party who will substantiallyrun it, establish firm structures, and encourage the emergence of a national democratic party, then the party will be well placed to even replace the PDP as the ruling party. Yet this is where the problem lies. The slightest hint that the General will leave some space for others sets in motion tremendous activity among ambitious people to take up positions of leadership. There are many interested and suspected contenders, and they range from Malam Nasir el-Rufai, to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, as well as others who believe they have laboured enough for the party to get Buhari’s nod for leadership. There are yet others who are keeping their heads down and waiting for an opportunity, including many big name PDP members who have been chased Contd. on Page 14

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