Peoples Daily Newspaper, Friday 16, November, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 9 No. 70

Friday, November 16, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Reps order suspension of N3.7bn ecological projects >> PAGE 2

JTF kills Gen. Shuwa’s ‘killer’ >> PAGE 3

Al-Muharram 2, 1434 AH

N150

Jonathan sets up whitepaper c’ttee on Ribadu report >> PAGE 8

Family of six burnt in midnight attack From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

T

he police in Kaduna have launched an investigation into the killing of six members of a family during a

midnight attack on a village in Zangon-Kataf area of Kaduna state.

Eyewitness accounts said that unidentified gunmen invaded the Madauchi

community in that area at about 11.30 pm on Wednesday and started shooting sporadically after which they surrounded the house of one Yakubu Kiyat and set it ablaze, roasting the family

of six to death.

Confirming the incident, Zangon-Kataf local government Chairman, Gambo Dominic Yahaya, said that, “an attack took place at Madauchi, near

Zonkwa, early this morning during which six people were shot and killed.

“A building was set ablaze and five members of one family Contd on Page 2

Mark backs state creation as Ekweremadu backtracks

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi, Abuja & Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

A

Nasarawa state Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura celebrated his 60th birthday yesterday with students of Science School Lafia by eating with them at the school.

gainst an earlier statement attributed to the Deputy President of the Senate, and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Review of 1999 constitution, Ike Ekweremadu, that state creation may not be possible, the Senate President, David Mark, yesterday, supported the call for the creation of new states in Nigeria, arguing that it would protect healthy competition as well as bring governance closer to the people.

Mark who stated this yesterday in Makurdi, Benue State, at the Senate Public hearing on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution for the NorthCentral zone, maintained that the creation of states has become imperative at this time in the history of the country.

He emphasised that the states that are to be created were

yet unknown, but warned that the National Assembly would neither be intimidated in the amendment process nor allow the exercise to be hijacked by any clique.

“We would not yield to any form of manipulation. We will be firm and just to ensure unity of the country”, he said.

While observing that the Constitution review is a continuous process, he Contd on Page 2

PD INDEX

14th Nov., 2012

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

BUYING 154.74 247.259 197.94 0.2885 41.267

SELLING 155.74 248.857 199.222 0.3085 41.5

PARALLEL RATES EURO £ RIYAL $

BUYING 206 257 40 157

SELLING 208 258 42 158

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Religion

26

Reps order suspension of N3.7bn ecological projects

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he House of Representatives yesterday passed a resolution urging immediate suspension of work on 17 ecological projects across the country worth N3.7 billion.

Following a motion sponsored by Sekonte Davis (PDP, Rivers State), the House resolved to direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Federal Ministry of Environment and the Ecological Fund Office to suspend all actions and readvertise those projects in line

with the Procurement Act of 2007.

It also mandated the House Committee on Environment to ensure compliance and evaluate the state of these environmental problems in line with the current realities and report back to the House in four (4) weeks.”

The projects affected include those located in AkwaIbom (N1.31 billion); Zamfara (N412 million); Lagos (N258.46 million); Gombe (N383.75 million); Borno (N289.76 million); Delta (N308.49 million).

Presenting the motion,

Davis informed his colleagues that “ seventeen (17) Ecological Fund Office projects for which procurement processes started in 2006/2007 are still undergoing various processes of procurement as late as year 2012 contrary to provisions of the Procurement Act of 2007”.

He lamented that about six years after these projects were advertised, they are still awaiting ministerial approval.

“Some of these projects have recently found their way to the Office of the SGF and the Minister of Environment for

signing preparatory for execution.” Davis noted.

The lawmaker argued that “These procurement processes have been time bared having been moribund for those number of years, because ecological problems are time related and progress with changing years and weather.”

“The projects, if allowed to commence now, would be deficient in current status of the extent of the ecological problem and will therefore add to the number of abandoned projects in the country,” he submitted.

Family of six burnt in midnight attack

Over dependence on Mali, Senegal’s textiles is killing our market, says Hadiza, Page 40

Int’l

31-32

Digest

36

Politics

37-39

Woman

40

Sports Columnist

41-47 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

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Contd from Page 1 were burnt beyond recognition.

One other person was also brought out dead but his body was not burnt.”

He noted that the invaders numbering about 10 disappeared into the bush after the attack.

A resident of the area, Emmanuel Danboyi, said that, “in the day time, we saw a trailer parked but at about 11pm when we had gone to bed, we began to hear gun shots for several minutes.

“I had to evacuate my family to a safer place and we discovered later that all the people in the house had been burnt even beyond recognition.”

Some other residents noted further that the attackers operated for about 30 minutes

and that there was no response from security personnel manning a checkpoint close to the scene of the incident.

A cross section of youth from the area matched to the streets yesterday morning protesting the killing and demanded immediate withdrawal of soldiers from the area.

They contended that if the soldiers cannot intervene during such attacks, then there was no need for their continued presence.

One of the protesters, Bala Samaila, said, “the military have no business being here if they cannot protect us. They should go. We can protect ourselves.”

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Aminu Lawan, said that, “yes, we are aware of

the incident at Maduachi village and investigation is ongoing.”

In his reaction, Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa described the attack and killing as barbaric.

A statement by Yakowa’s Special Adviser (Media), Reuben Buhari, said that, “His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State is truly saddened by the gory incident of Wednesday 14th 2011 in Madauchi, Zangon Kataf local government.

“More saddening is the fact that this incident came when more concerted effort by this government, through the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, is being made to entrench lasting and sustainable peace in Kaduna state.

“But even in the face of such unwarranted and deliberate attempt to incite and create chaos, the state government will not be deterred in its quest of ensuring a secured and united Kaduna state.

“Government, while totally condemning the killing as an act of barbarism, sympathizes with the families of the departed, His Highness, the Agwam Bajju, Mallam Nuhu Bature, the local government council and the entire people of the state.

“I urge us all to take comfort and strength from the fact that this loss is shared by many who truly care for them and may that give us the courage to face our tomorrow with the hope that peace will find a permanent abode within our state soonest.”

Mark backs states creation as Ekweremadu backtracks Contd from Page 1 condemned the 1999 Constitution contending that it was not only hastily done but it is ambiguous and as such has not achieved its aim.

In a related development, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has refuted reports in the media which claimed that the National Assembly has foreclosed state creation in the ongoing constitution amendment, saying that states can still be created.

Debunking the reports yesterday in Enugu, Ekweremadu clarified that though the processes leading to the creation of new states are constitutionally cumbersome, it can however scale through by aggressive lobby and political negotiation.

He made the clarification at the opening of the South East Zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution in the Chambers of the Enugu

State House of Assembly.

The Deputy Senate President therefore promised that the National Assembly will ensure that every request is treated on its merit, noting that constitutional requirements, good governance, justice, and national development will be taken into account in amending the 1999 constitution.

According to him, “Nigerians need to understand that the processes for state creation are slightly different from that of conventional constitution amendment.

While state creation under the military was an event as states were decreed into existence by fiat, state creation in a democracy, especially going by the provisions of Section 8 (1) is a long and cumbersome process requiring the inputs of every part of Nigeria and is therefore not an entirely National Assembly affair.”

While noting that state

creation is a process that is driven by the people, local government councils, members of the State Assemblies, and members of the National Assembly who come from the areas seeking new states, he advised those concerned to not only focus on the National Assembly, but to reach out to other parts of Nigeria to elicit support for their aspirations.

“The role of National Assembly is to provide leadership, moderate the process, and ensure compliance with legislative due process.

Among the thematic areas drawn by the Committee from submissions of Nigerians was the amendment of the constitutional provisions on state creation on state creation and boundary adjustment to address gray areas and make them less cumbersome,” According to him.

Speaking further, he insisted that neither the

Committee nor members of the National Assembly had any hidden agenda with regards to the constitution amendment, “Those who seek to make Nigerians believe that there are predetermined outcomes or hidden agenda are only desperate attention-seekers who do not have the overall interest, health, peace, unity, and prosperity of this nation at heart. Their intents are to pollute the minds of Nigerians, discredit and possibly scuttle the process.

“Again, I say to them that we are not and we will never be intimidated or distracted. Such elements should therefore be ignored, but their misleading propaganda opposed with broadminded and higher force of patriotic ideas because no one person or group is greater than the overall interest of this great nation as we are committed to doing that which will stand the test of time.”

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

N75.5bn fraud: Witness tells court how accused misappropriated N6.4bn

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

A

Federal High Court in Abuja was yesterday told how former Minister of Works, Dr. Hassan Lawal and some multinational companies misappropriated the sum of N6.4 billion equity contribution by the Federal Government, Nasarawa and Kogi state governments for the construction of the GutoBagana Bridge. the Swede Control Intertek Limited, been the concessionaire, on the other hand.

A prosecution witness, Mr. Chike Nwibe, a member of the team that investigated the allegations of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, fraud, abuse of office, misappropriation and criminal conversion of public fund leveled against the former minister and his co-accused persons, disclosed this while testifying before the court yesterday.

The witness, who is a deputy Superintendent of Police seconded to the EFCC, told the court while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu, that investigation shows that the public partners (FG and the government of Nasarawa and Kogi states) in the bridge contract paid their equity contribution of N6.4 billion while the private partner (Swede Control Intertek Limited) made zero contribution.

NACOMYO wants FG to investigate JTF activities in North-east From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

F

ollowing the incriminating reports against members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) by Amnesty International, on its alleged human rights abuses, the National Council for Muslim Youth Organisation.

NACOMYO), Nasarawa state chapter, has called on the Federal Government to investigate activities of the JTF in the troubled North-east.

In a release issued by Salisu Musa Akaki, state president of NACOMYO in Lafia, the group stated that having critically studied the AI report, it concluded that the international organisation made a fair, reasonable and comprehensive investigation into the security challenges in the trouble spots and as such must be taken seriously.

The statement added that the AI report has exposed the veracity of human rights abuses that has been perpetrated by Nigerian security agencies on the civilian population in the country, which according to the group, has never been articulated and reported by the media and government.

PAGE 3

JTF kills Shuwa’s ‘killer’ From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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he Joint Military Task Force, (JTF), said yesterday that its operatives and a team of personnel of other security outfits conducted a joint operation which led to the killing of a top Boko Haram commander, who was also believed to be responsible for the murder of a civil war veteran, Gen. Muhammadu Shuwa.

Late Shuwa was gunned down by unknown gunmen in broad day light at his residence in Gwange ward of Maiduguri metropolis, two weeks ago.

Since then, there had been controversy over who was behind the incident as one Ibn Abdul’Aziz, who claimed to be the new spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, in a tele-conference with newsmen in Maiduguri, had exonerated the group from the killing.

Spokesman of the JTF, Lt-Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement issued to newsmen, claimed that one Ibn Saleh Ibrahim, who was among top commanders of the insurgents, was confirmed to have killed Gen. Shuwa, under the order of the Boko Haram

leader, Muhammad Shekau.

“In a sustained follow up operation this afternoon (yesterday morning), the combined troops of the JTF, 333 Air Defence Regiment, the Department of State Security Service (SSS), supported by armoured personnel carriers and helicopters conducted a major offensive operations against the insurgents terrorists at Ngarnam, Bulabulin and Bayan Quarters areas of Maiduguri metropolis.

“During the offensive and in a counter attack, a major

commander of the Boko Haram terrorists sect commanding the northwest and the northeast, Ibn Saleh Ibrahim with some of his commanders and foot soldiers were killed by our operation troops.

“The operation is still ongoing and late Ibn Saleh was confirmed to be responsible for the recent assassination of Civil War hero, the late General Muhammadu Shuwa through the orders of the leader of the Boko Haram terrorists, Abubakar Shekau”, Lt- Col. Musa said in the statement.

L-R: Elder statesman, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, Senator Bukola Saraki and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, during a condolence visit to the family of late Dr. Olusola Saraki, yesterday in Ilorin.

Photo: NAN

Subsidy scam: ANPP condemns plea bargain for Tukur, Alao others

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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he All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), has described the bid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to secure a plea bargain with Mahmud Tukur, son of the PDP national

chairman, Bamanga Tukur, alongside Abdullahi Alao, son of business tycoon, Arisekola Alao, and Alex Ochonogor – over their role in the fuel subsidy scam, as anti people.

The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Emma

Eneukwu, said the suspected company, Eternal Oil and Gas Plc, allegedly obtained N1.9billion from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 80.3million litres of petrol.

“In as much as our great party believes in the sanctity of

the law of the land, and its instrument and processes, we are strongly convinced that entering into a plea bargain with suspects in the opprobrious fuel subsidy scam is tantamount to another daylight robbery of the Nigerian people”, the party said.

Jonathan approves N50m grant to NIPSS

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the release of N50 million to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), to address its immediate challenges.

The President gave the approval when the graduating students of Senior Executive Course 34, 2012 of the Institute presented their reports to him at the State House, yesterday.

He acknowledged the importance of the institution to policy formulation and underscored the need for adequate funding.

The President said government would address the issue of inadequate funding raised by the management of the institution.

While submitting the report, the participants called on the President to intensify efforts aimed at tackling the spate of insecurity being witnessed in many parts of the country. They described the “precarious security situation’’ as a disincentive to business.

The participants also identified unemployment as another cause of insecurity and called on the government to address the situation.

They also called on the government to take cue from Canada on the challenges of crude

oil and petroleum resources management.

Specifically, they said Canada has 16 refineries working in full capacity whereas Nigeria with the abundance of crude oil resources has four operating at 30 percent capacity.

PIB passes second reading in Reps

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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he Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) yesterday passes through second round of debate on the floor of the House of Representatives. The bill seeks to establish a legal, fiscal and regulatory framework for the petroleum industry.

Continuing debate on the bill, the Deputy Leader, Rep. Leo Ogor, (PDP-Delta), urged the

House to consider the bill, saying that the passage of the PIB would improve operations of the oil sector. “Let us give Nigerians a bill that will improve on the oil sector”.

Rep. Farouk Lawan (PDPKano) said that the PIB was one bill that would “have far reaching implication on the Nigeria economy. “The PIB would ensure that business is concluded based on

international best practices.

The PIB deserves to pass through the second reading”, Lawan said. There was no dissenting voice and the bill sailed through the second reading after being put to vote by the Speaker, Rep. Aminu Tambuwal. Tambuwal said it was important for Nigerians to note that there was “no single nay” opposing the second reading of the bill.

PAGE 4

H

ow would you say your Alma Mata, ABU has fared as it clocks 50 I can say that I am really very proud to be a member of the family of ABU. It is a family that is one and truly national. It is a family that is truly Nigerian and we have gone through it when it was good and in a very good shape. That ABU has fared very well is beyond debate as can be seen from its alumni who have always been on pole position in deciding the affairs of the nation.

Given the current situation Nigeria universities have found themselves, would you say that the dreams of the founding fathers of ABU have come to pass?

There is no doubt about that.

Take a roll call of the nation’s who is who in the last forty years or so years and you will discover that most of those on the list are ABU alumni. But along the way however, things started to go off tangent. Probably as we are expanding universities in the country we should have gotten more infrastructures. It is not only with the universities though; it is with everything. As the population is growing bigger we are supposed to go on increasing and improving the infrastructure. Sadly, that has not been the case. They now have overcrowded lecture halls and students’ rooms, and these can affect the quality of education. The smaller you are in a class, the better attention you get from the lecturer. Therefore, it has affected the quality of learning, which is obviously not what the founding fathers had in mind.

How will you then compare the ABU of today and that of 50 years ago?

I think it is a bit bad because the way we were taught in the university back then and even in the secondary schools we attended at that time in Nigeria, you will think that some of us attended universities outside the country.

Probably because the population has gone up, but really, the quality of ABU of three decades ago cannot be compared with what we have today. The standard has sadly gone down. Well-meaning Nigerians and those of us who attended this great institution which is still the pride of Nigeria and the North despite the challenges facing the university need to sit up and save it from total collapse.

Having identified some of the problems the university is facing, how do you think they can be addressed?

When I see the list of successful leaders and successful business men and women the ABU has produced, I know that the problems the university is facing will Insha Allah become a thing of the past if we all come together and contribute in whatever way we can towards solving such problems. Now that the institution’s Golden Jubilee anniversary is on, we are doing a lot inform of alumni meetings.

Perhaps we should have been more active in that kind of thing because that is the only way you can assist your university if you come together. So, I believe the

ABU @ 50

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

ABU founding fathers meant it for all Nigerians – NITEL MD Hajiya Zainab Ilyasu Sa’ab is an alumnus of ABU Zaria and presently the Managing Director/ CEO of Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL).In this interview with Maryam Garba Hassan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the university, she talks about the present condition of the institution, the challenges facing it and how the alumni can help in arresting the rot and turning back the clock to the good old heydays of their Alma Mata, among other issues of topicality.

Hajiya Zainab Ilyasu Sa’ab effort that is being made now is a step in the right direction, we need to intensify it. We should have more meetings and more programmes to see that the university picked up once again.

If the founding fathers were alive today, what do you think their reaction might be to what becomes of their brainchild given that it used to rank as one of the best universities in the world but today is not even ranked among the top in Africa?

I can say everything have changed in Nigeria. I am sure the

days of our founding fathers were not the same as today.

Everything has changed not only in the education sector. So, if they were alive today I don’t

know what they would have done differently. I wouldn’t know what is in their minds, but I think the kind of boom we have had in Nigeria should have been

“

ABU founding fathers did not establish it for the north alone but for all Nigerians. The founding fathers were not tribalistic in any way. Rather, they were bridge-builders who wanted everything good for all Nigerians

directed in so many directions.

Our founding fathers would have probably gotten better ideas than we have. They would have tailored our development toward another direction which is more than what we have today. You have to manage success well because if you don’t manage it well it can become a disaster.

Can you tell us the role the university has played in the socio economic and political development of this country?

As I said earlier, we have a lot of ABU products in all sectors of Nigeria who are making the country proud and ABU is a university that is truly national.

It has educated people from all over the country.

In what way do you think the educational system of the country can be redeemed?

You have to look at it holistically. You have to look at how the whole system is being run, because education is only one part of it. So, if we have to address the education sector in the country, we have to do it correctly so that it will impact on other aspects. Probably if we start from the primary school level we may be able to make a remarkable improvement in the next 20 years or so. It should be a long term plan because it is not something that can happen overnight.

ABU is believed to be established primarily to serve the north. Do you think the establishment of the institution has served its purpose?

I can say yes it has served its purpose because ABU is an international university. I believe the founding fathers did not establish it for the north alone but for all Nigerians. The founding fathers were not tribalistic in any way. Rather, they were bridge-builders who wanted everything good for all Nigerians. So if you look at ABU products you will find out that they were given good education and they are in good places. I know Sir Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and their like did a lot for the benefit of the North. The setting up of NNDC, Bank of the North and the New Nigerian Newspaper were decidedly for the exclusive good of the north. If these institutions have been maintained the north wouldn’t be where it is today because its economy would have been at par or even better than those in the other regions.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 5

NAFDAC presents prizes to quiz winners

By A’isha Biola Raji

I

n recognition of children’s contribution to curbing the menace of fake drugs in the society, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has presented awards to students who won the NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club (NCSC) Annual Quiz Competition.

The awards which are the 10th edition since inception of the agency, covering both junior and senior category of students, were presented in Abuja yesterday by the NAFDAC Director General, Dr. Paul Orhii, India High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mahesh Sachdev and other top dignitaries representing concerned stakeholders.

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Orhii pledged to continue to fight the manufacture of fake drugs, through cutting-edge technology, mobile authentication and through children hence their involvement through the

organisation of NCSC with the goal of “catching them young”.

He however called on schools that are yet to participate, to key into the club programme thereby qualifying for the competition. “For schools that have not participated, they should endeavor to do so and become great ambassadors of the agency”, he called.

School that won the award at junior category include, Graceland International School Port Harcourt; Saint John Secondary School Awka; Saint Paul’s Comprehensive College, Bauchi; Regina Pacis College Abuja; Airforce Comprehensive School Ibadan; and Nigeria Turkish International College Kano.

Schools at senior category include, Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja; Hallmark Secondary School, Ondo; Ruby Springefield College, Maiduguri; Airforce Comprehensive Secondary School, Enugu; Federal Government College, Port-Harcourt; and Panaf School Barnawa, Kaduna.

Al-Habibiyah donates N3m to less privileged

By Lambert Tyem

A

l-Habibiyah Islamic Society, on Wednesday, publicly distributed goods and materials worth N3million to 40 less privileged ones including two Christian beneficiaries.

The disbursement of the Zakat funds in Abuja was chaired

by Chief Imam of the society, Imam Abubakar Faud and Rear Admiral Nasiru Ibrahim Dirisu (rtd), who besought those blessed with material things to help the

needy.

Imam Faud said the importance of Zakat in Islam cannot be over-emphasised, adding that it makes good life and enhances faith.

The items included deep refrigerators, generators, grinding machines amongst others.

The public distribution which was made at Al-Habibiyah Mosque, Guzape, Asokoro Extension, Abuja, attracted eminent dignitaries including former Inspector General of Police, Aliyu Attah.

Scarcity: KRPC supplies 1.5m litres of fuel daily to Kaduna

By Muhammad Nasir, with agency reports he Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), said it is supplying an average of 1.5 million litres of fuel daily, enough to serve the needs of marketers in Kaduna and its environs.

The Executive Director of Operations, Dr. Banfred Enjugu, who made the disclosure to

T

newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday night, said there was no reason for the lingering fuel queues in the area, adding that the management of the company was working hard to ensure continued flow of the product.

“We are producing steadily.

The management does not see any reason why, with that level of production and release of the product, there should be queues in Kaduna”.

Ex-militants want Kuku sacked over denial of entitlements

By Adeola Tukuru n association of 22 documented ex-Niger Delta militant leaders have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack his Special Adviser on the Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku accusing him of denying them of their amnesty entitlements.

The militants also alleged that Kuku has been harassing and threatening their lives over the letter they wrote to the President on the matter.

In the letter signed by the

A

leader of the association, Andrew Joel Azazi, read: “It is regrettable to note that the current happenings from the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta are deliberately calculated to truncate the amnesty programme.

“Sir, the amnesty programme needs urgent attention. It is time to bring in new people with new ideas and commitment in solving the Niger Delta problems. Mr. Kuku has forgotten the real reason for his office and needs to be changed in the interest of peace in the Niger Delta…”

L-R: Romanian President Rosen Plevneliev exchanging pleasantries with Ambassador Abba Abdullahi Tijjani after the former presented his Letter of Credence in Sofia, as Nigerian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republics of Romania and Bulgaria

Youth protest theft of transformer parts in Taraba community

From Yush’u Alhassan, Jalingo

Y

ouths in Lau local government area of Taraba state have decried the persistent theft of parts of electricity transformer in the area.

The youth numbering in their hundreds, registered their displeasure by staging a peaceful protest.

Speaking on the matter, the information officer of Lau local government area, Aggrey Zailani, said the protest followed attempts by hoodlums to remove the transformer at night when a good Samaritan spotted them and

raised alarm.

Zailani explained that the thieves abandoned their vehicle, a set of hand gloves, spanners and escaped.

He stated that most of the equipment at Lau Tomatoes Industry has been stolen by unknown people.

The information officer who commended the youth for being concerned about government installations in the area, urged government to take step towards stemming the rate of theft in the area.

In another development, a Jalingo Upper area Court has

sentenced a 30-year-old man, Gambo Mohammed of Iware ArdoKola local government area of the state to five years imprisonment with hard labour without option of fine.

Mohammed was sentenced for stealing a Peugeot pick-up van worth over N200, 000.

The presiding judge, Dauda Nijane Buba, also awarded N102, 825 to be paid as compensation to Celestine Uchenna, the owner of the vehicle, in accordance with section 78 of the Penal Code.

The judge said the convict has a right of appeal within 30 days of the judgment.

investigate the implementation of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

In a motion filed in by Rep. Haruna Manu (PDP Taraba), the SURE-P was not aimed at causing hardship on Nigerians, but opening up the sector for growth and investment in the economy.

Haruna confirmed that so far, the total sum of N105billion has accumulated as Federal

Government’s share from the proceeds of subsidy removal as at August 2012.

The SURE-P committee headed by Dr. Christopher Kolade, had released the sum of N17.8 billion, out of which N8.9 billion was released to Infrastructure Bank of Nigeria for acquisition of buses for transporters, N5billion for intervention in the railway sector, and N3.9billion on youth empowerment.

Reps demand full implementation of SURE- P

By Umar Muhammad Puma

W

orried by the huge amount of money accrueing to the Federal Government as proceeds from subsidy removal, the House of Representatives has mandated it’s Committees on Petroleum Resources, (downstream), Finance and State and Local Governments to critically examine and

‘Ember’ months: FRSC cautions on speed violation

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

W

ith less than four weeks to this year’s Christmas, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has raised concern over increasing cases of road crashes associated with excessive speeding, and warned motorists to be careful saying the corps will not treat those who flaunt its orders with kid gloves.

This is coming on the heels of the Corps’ road crash data for weeks 42, 43, 44 and other previous reports which indicated that speed limit violation ranked highest among other factors such as loss of control, route violation, overloading and dangerous driving associated with road crashes for the month of October and 1st week of November, 2012.

A statement issued by the

Corps Public Education Officer, Jonas Agwu, indicated that the corps has initiated some strategies towards mitigating road crashes such as the recent injection of 15 additional operational vehicles with 17 units of speed cameras, 1,250 units of breathalyzers, 45 units of radar guns, 44 units of walkie-talkies which has been deployed for intensive patrol and strict enforcement of traffic rules and regulations along critical corridors in the Federal Capital Territory as pilot programme for a special patrol tagged “ Operation Octopus”.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Kogi can’t be ruled from Abuja, says Wada’s aide

L-R: Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Elias Mbam, Federal Commissioner, RMAFC, Mr. Nnamdi Ekweogwu and representative of the Senate President, Senator Anthony Manzo, at a national Seminar on Non-Oil Sector of the Nigerian Economy, yesterday, in Abuja.

From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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Photo: Mahmud Isa

Grandfather bags first class in UI A

grandfather, Mr. Aderemi Alli, was among the 21 first class graduates produced by the University of Ibadan (UI) at its convocation yesterday in Ibadan. The university graduated a total of 1,582 students for the 2011/2012

academic session with 243 graduating in second class (Upper Division) and 920, second class (Lower Division). A total of 135 of the students graduated with third class and 203 pass.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alli, 57, was

among the three first class graduates produced by the institution's Faculty of Law. He had had a first degree in economics education 31 years ago. Alli, whose last child is studying electrical engineering in UI, told journalists at the ceremony that

he was motivated to study law because many of his schoolmates had become Senior Advocates.

"I feel I can still participate in the society in spite of my age. I am using this medium to advise others that they can do it, If I can do it", he said. (NAN)

Court orders police to arraign Masalla over alleged forgery

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered the police to arraign the self acclaimed factional national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Alhaji Sadeeq Masalla, on a one-count charge of forging the signatures of some members of the National Working Committee of the party.

The court presided over by Justice Peter Kekemeke on Wednesday, granted the order after listening to an application brought by police prosecutor, Frances

Irabor, in charge number CR/36/12 between the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) versus Alhaji Sadeeq Ibrahim Masalla and fixed November 21st for his arraignment.

Irabor had in his application for leave to prefer a criminal charge without holding preliminary inquiry brought under Section 185(b) of the CPC and pursuant to Rule 3 of the criminal procedure (application for leave to prefer a charge in the High Court Rules 1970) and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The application according to Irabor is supported by a copy of

the charge in respect of which leave was sought, a copy of the proof of evidence which will be relied on during trial, a copy of the list of witnesses, a copy of the list of exhibits, affidavit in support of the application and photocopies of statement of witnesses and the accused person.

Some of the charges read: "That you Alhaji Sadeeq Ibrahim Masalla "M" 60 years No. 8 Bauchi Road, Jos, Plateau state on or about the 6th day of June 2012 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, forged the signature

of one Hon. Jolly. Ngbor (a member of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance) on the resolution paper purporting the signature to have been appended by the said Hon. Jolly B. Ngbor which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Law. It would e recalled that the leadership of APGA under Chief Victor Umeh had on June 21, 2012 suspended its deputy national chairman (North), Sadeeq Massalla and national vice chairman, South-east, Morgan Anyalechi from the party over anti-party activities.

CBN partners Borno govt on agric transformation From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is to partner with the Borno state government in massive agricultural transformation through strategic value chain crops with a view to creating jobs for poverty alleviation, in order to address security challenges facing the state.

Speaking at an interactive session with CBN officials, agricultural transformation team and other stakeholders at the Government House Maiduguri, yesterday, Governor kashim Shettima said the partnership with CBN is born out of the administration's determination to develop the agricultural sector.

He said the interactive forum was organised for extensive

deliberation to map out effective strategies for the frame work in order to realise fruitful results within shortest possible time, adding that the current insecurity has compelled

government to adopt aggressive agricultural transformation.

Earlier in his speech, the chairman Agricultural Transformation Committee,

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

Borno employs 300 youths

n its effort to tackle insecurity and unemployment among the youths, Borno state government has employed 300 youths across the 15 wards of Maiduguri metropolitan council (MMC), for interlock-tiles making and laying to beautify the major streets of Maiduguri, the state capital.

Addressing the youths at the flagging off of the programme at the Government House Maiduguri, Governor Kashim Shettima said it is just a beginning

as government plans to recruit 1,500 youths in the MMC alone.

He said "we are engaging you in interlock making and laying to beautify the major streets of the metropolis, you are going to start work tomorrow with the sum of N10, 000 set aside as your monthly stipends", Shettima told the beneficiaries.

The governor stated that government would do everything possible to create more jobs for youths, adding that very soon the exercise will be extended to all the 27 local

I

Engineer Ibrahim Ali said the session has accorded them the opportunity to arrive at some value chain crops that will be used to fight poverty, unemployment and social ills among youths.

government councils of the state.

He urged the youths to take their jobs with all seriousness and contribute to the government's development drive and pledged government's determination to transform the state to an enviable position.

Responding on behalf of the youths, Bukar Adam thanked the governor for considering them fit for the jobs, assuring that they will be his foot soldiers to realise the government's aspiration to move the state forward.

he Special Adviser to the Governor of kogi State on Media, Mr. Jacob Edi has reacted to the SOS made by elders of the state to the Federal Government to rescue the state which they described as being adrift.

In an interview with pressmen in Lokoja yesterday, Edi described the elders' complaints as a "campaign by failed politicians trying to overheat the polity on the crisis in Kogi House of Assembly"; calling on the elders to leave the governor out of the Assembly matter.

Edi also said 'whoever wants to rule Kogi should come down to Kogi state', adding that the "elders gathering in Abuja is a gathering of 'formers' who thought they could shout in Abuja and people will shiver in Kogi".

"Those whom their people could not trust to give them office of responsibility should not seat in Abuja to cause disaffection within the polity, if their people had seen them worthy of office of responsibility, they would have given them", he alleged.

Airport police command arrests, prosecutes 20 suspects From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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he Commissioner of Police Airport Command in Lagos, Mr. James Olatunji Caulcrick, has said no fewer than 20 miscreants have been arrested and prosecuted in the last three months by the command for various offences.

Speaking with reporters in his office yesterday, Caulcrick explained that the command was taking the issue of miscreants very seriously to ensure that the airport was free of such elements to ensure the safety of passengers at the airport.

He said the Command has doubled its efforts to deal with miscreants by carrying out regular raids adding that a taskforce was already in place to address the menace of motorcyclists popularly known as okada within the airport vicinity.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 7

Olusola Saraki (1933-2012) Saraki: More tributes flow as …ACN, Dafinone mourn

Mark, Ekweremadu mourn

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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resident of the Senate, David Mark has lamented the death of Second Republic Senate Leader, Dr. Olusola Saraki, describing him as a political giant and shining star of the Nigerian politics.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark said the late Saraki was a

political tactician and engineer who navigated the political environment like a colossus.

He noted the political sagacity of late Saraki in nurturing the modern day Nigerian politics, saying “Saraki was a political leader who stood to be counted when it mattered.

Similarly, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremmadu, in a statement signed by his Special

Adviser on Media and Publicity, Uche Anichukwu, described the death of Sakari as a grave loss to the nation and exit of a people’s democrat.

Ekweremadu, who condoled with the people of Kwara state and the Sakari family, said the late politician would be forever remembered in the annals of Nigerian politics for promoting the philosophy of people’s welfare as the crux of politics.

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has expressed shock and sadness at the death of Dr. Olusola Saraki, just Senator David Dafinone joined several dignitaries across Nigeria to mourn the late senator whom he described as his colleague and friend.

In a condolence message to the family, Senator Dafinone described Saraki’s death as painful, especially at a time when

the country is in a state of flux.

Dafinone lauded Saraki’s great concern for the unity of Nigeria and the growth of democracy, as he prayed Almighty Allah grant the soul eternal rest and the family the strength to bear the loss.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the CAN had described late Saraki as a colossus who possessed efficient political machinery that he used effectively to rally the people.

…He was an outstanding leader – Oni

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national vice chairman (South-west), Chief Segun Oni, has described the late strongman of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki as an outstanding professional, grassroots man and leader.

Oni, who reacted to Saraki’s

death through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Lere Olayinka, said Kwara state people, Nigerians and in particular, the PDP will miss him dearly.

“Baba was truly a political timber, a colossus of wide diameter and a wonderful political strategist”, Oni elogised.

…Nigeria has lost a statesman and political tactician – Tinubu

A Sympathisers surrounding the casket of the lat Waziri of Ilorin and Second Republic Senate Leader, Dr. Olusola Saraki who died on Wednesday

…He was a North-South bridge – Senator Adamu From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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enator Abdullahi Adamu has described the death of Dr. Olusola Saraki as a huge loss not only to Kwara state but to Nigeria as a whole.

Reacting to the demise of Saraki on Wednesday, the Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District said yesterday in Abuja that the late Senate Majority Leader was one of the most successful brokers of peace and “a

bridge” between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria.

He recalled that when he was majority leader, the NPN had a slim majority that made it impossible for it to carry out its agenda but late Saraki’s political sagacity made him find a way for the ruling party to always have its way in the senate. He said it was to his credit that he held firmly to Kwara state and was able to not only provide adequate leadership for the people but also

used it as a springboard for meaningful contributions to national politics.

According to Senator Adamu, “the exceptional touch of Baba Oloye with the grassroots was one of the major sources of his political relevance and something other Nigerians should emulate”.

He commiserated with the Saraki family and urged the Kwara state government to immortalise “Baba Oloye” as the deceased was fondly called.

…A committed democrat with convictions

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has described Sen. Olusola Saraki as a committed democrat of outstanding convictions.

In a condolence message issued by the national chairman of the party, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu described Saraki as a consensus builder whose warm disposition to all, advanced peace and harmony among members of the party.

“It is with a heavy heart, that on behalf of our great party, I

mourn the transition to eternal glory of one of our distinguished founding leaders, the late Senator (Dr) Olusola Saraki, Wazirin Ilorin”.

Onu said in the formative stages of the party, he played a resilient pioneering role which helped to build a great party.

“I urge the members of his family and indeed the people of Kwara state to take heart for the good deeds of the late Wazirin Ilorin did not die. Surely, they will remain ever green in the hearts of our people”.

In the same vein, the party’s

presidential candidate in the 2011 elections, and former Kano state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau also condoled with the family of Late Abubakar Sola Saraki.

In a statement issued by his special assistant on Media and Public Relations, Malam Sule Yau Sule, Shekarau extolled the virtue of the late Senate Leader in the Second Republic thus: “Saraki is a very rare politician, a gentleman, philantrophist, a community whose absence has created a vacuum difficult to fill”.

siwaju Ahmad Tinubu, national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria has described the death of Olusola Saraki as a monumental loss not only to Kwara state but the country at large.

“Saraki remains one of the builders of modern Nigeria. He was a political tactician who played pivotal role in the political advancement of his people and that of Nigeria”, Tinubu said.

Tinubu recalled that Saraki was one of the brains behind the formation of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, and a party that went on to win the presidency.

The former Lagos State

governor and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria further asserted that story of that epochal era in our democratic development will not be complete without recognising the gravitas Saraki brought to politicking and the maturity he brought to party politics.

“Saraki was not just the issue, he was the main issue in Kwara politics and now that he is no more, Kwara politics will never be the same again”.

Asiwaju Tinubu condoles with the Saraki family and the people of Kwara State and prays that the soul of the departed will rest in peace.

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

family, distinguished Senator Abubakar Olusola Saraki. I wish to convey to you the deepest condolence of the people and government of Edo state as well as my personal commiseration…

“However, much as we mourn, he will be celebrated even in death, in full complement of a worthy life of service to humanity”, Oshiomhole said.

… He was friend of the masses – Oshiomhole

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has described the late Senate Leader, Abubakar Olusola Saraki as a friend of the masses.

In a condolence message to the family, Governor Oshiomhole said: “I received with shock, news of the passing of your beloved father and patriarch of the Saraki

… A quintessential politician and father-figure - Tambuwal

By Umar Mohammed Puma

S

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has described late Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki as a quintessential politician and father-figure who gave his all for the development of the country.

In a message of condolence issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Tambuwal said Saraki has

earned his place as one of Nigeria’s most consistent advocates of democracy.

He said Saraki will be best remembered for his pioneering role in the formation of leading political parties in the country especially during the Second Republic which led to the establishment of the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and in the present dispensation, the All Peoples Party, now ANPP.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 8

Jonathan sets up White Paper C’ttees on Ribadu Report, others

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday established three committees to prepare draft White Papers on the reports of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, the National Refineries

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Fire guts Katsina LG secretariat From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina ferocious fire outbreak yesterday razed Katsina local government secretariat in Katsina state to the ground.

The fire according to eyewitnesses at the local government secretariat started around 7: 30 pm, and it was believed to have started from the Conference Room of the secretariat.

Our correspondent who visited the secretariat met men of the State Fire Service battling to put off the ferocious flames.

However it was learnt that they later ran out of water.

As at the time of compiling this report, the fire had gutted the conference hall, the office of the chairman, the administration and account sections.

A

Special Task Force and the Governance and Controls Special Task Force.

According to released signed by the presidential adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the committees are to study the reports, review the issues raised and prepare draft White Papers for the consideration of the Federal Executive Council within two weeks.

The release further stated: “The White Paper Committee on the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force Report will be chaired by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, with the Minister

of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II: Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed as members.

“The White Paper Committee on the report of the Governance and Controls Special Task Force will be chaired by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple. Other members of the committee are Minister of State, Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, and Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mallam Bukar

Tijani.

“The White Paper Committee on the report of the National Refineries Special Task Force has Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Mohammed Sada as Chairman, and Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Pate and Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyeson Wike as members.

The statement said the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is to serve as secretariat for the committees.

Nuhu Ribadu

Multiple crash claims one, injures many

By Etuka Sunday with agencies

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middle-aged man was killed, while some others sustained varying degrees of injury, following a multiple automobile crash which occurred yesterday along the Owerri-Umuahia road.

Four vehicles were involved in crash. The lone occupant of the Nissan saloon car with

registration number SF 609 KJA died instantly, while a few passengers in the Bournvita branded Toyota Hiace bus, XC 663 WEN, suffered varying degrees of injury and were rushed to hospital.

The driver of an Imo Transport Company, ITC, whose vehicle, a Mitsubishi L300 bus, XG 109 PHC, was involved in the crash, gave a graphic account of

how the accident happened to some officers of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

“The driver of the Nissan vehicle was overtaking the Bournvita branded bus as they were descending the hill and heading towards Mbaise. Sadly, the driver of another red coloured Japanese car opted to overtake from the right of the bus”, the ITC driver recounted.

Continuing, the driver said that the Bournvita branded bus, who was helmed in at the time, brushed the Nissan car and it started somersaulting.

“The bus driver equally lost control and crashed into my bus, which I parked neatly and off the road as soon as I saw what was happening in front of me. The driver of the red Japanese car sped away”, the ITC driver said.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 9

FRC quizzes NIMASA DG over unaudited accounts

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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he Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) yesterday interrogated the Director General, Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for failing to submit an audited account of the agency as statutorily demanded by the FRC Act of 2007.

Speaking shortly after receiving the management of NIMASA, the Executive Chairman of FRC, Jibril Yelwa, said that FRC came into force since 2007, adding that the essence of the provisions in the FRC Act is to ensure the respect and enforcement of fiscal responsibility by government agencies and departments.

He further said that NIMASA is one of the national agencies listed under the Act to submit their accounts and budget to FRC, regretting that NIMASA has not been able to comply with this demand.

He said that since 2009, NIMASA has not submitted its audited account; hence investigation has been initiated against the agency with a view to unravel the mystery behind the attitude.

According to him, “The law requires that every ministry, department and agency should submit its medium term revenue and expenditure framework, in addition to preparing an audited account yearly before the end of any financial year and also to pay 80% of their operating surplus to government.”

Against this background, he warned that failure to plan is plan to fail, adding that the law has equally stated how the goals of FRC would be achieved.

In his response, the Director General of NIMASA, Ziakede Akpobolokemi, observed that FRC was a legal entity that must not be ignored in carrying out official assignments.

R-L: Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, former head of interim government Chief Ernest Shonekan, and the Minister of State for Finance, Alh. Yerima Ngama, at the opening of the 4th African Public Private Partnership, held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja yesterday.

Photo: Joe Oroye.

2012 budget: Reps query presidential adviser on amnesty

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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he House of Representatives committee on Niger Delta yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan’s special adviser on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, was unable to defend the implementation of the 2012 budget for the amnesty programme.

The committee therefore

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he general public has been advised to identify epilepsy as brain disorders which can happen to anyone, and should be referred to hospitals for proper treatment which can only be given by qualified medical practitioners.

This call was made by a group of experts in Abuja yesterday at a oneday epilepsy seminal supported by Angie Epilepsy Foundation.

In his remark, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Biodun Ogungbo, said epilepsy was not a disease but a treatable disorder which can only be provided by medical experts as it mostly requires opening the brain in order to discover the damage and have it treated.

According to him, “Epilepsy is not a disease, but a brain disorder, which is caused by a scar in the

Amnesty office could not convince the committee on how the appropriated funds were utilised.

“I will therefore close this session and ask the special adviser to go and come back next Tuesday with concrete facts” Earlier, in his presentation before the committee, Mr. Kuku said N63.847 million appropriated in the 2012 budget were yet to be released by the

Expert advocates blood donation culture in Nigeria

By Adeola Tukuru

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he Donor Recruiter, National Blood Transfusion service, Mr Ubarieke Chukwudi, yesterday called for strengthened blood donation culture in Nigeria to reduce incidences of deaths associated with blood transfusion.

Chukwudi stated this in Gwagwalada during a free

Doctors treat epilepsy better– Experts

By A’isha Biola Raji

directed the special adviser to reappear before it next Tuesday with cogent documents.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Warman Ogoriman announced this at a budget defence session with the special adviser.

He gave the order after Kuku made a presentation which majority members of the committee disagreed with.

He said it was clear the

Budget Office. He said so far, his office has received money in four instalments only.

He said N20.7 billion was voted for stipends and allowances for ex-militants, while N3.173 billion was for the cost of operations in the Presidential Amnesty Office.

According to him, 26,328 exmilitants have been fully disarmed and demobilised, 2,875 undergoing entrepreneurial training, while 5,209 have been placed in various gainfully employed positions. He added that 8084 ex-agitators have been successfully placed in rehabilitation centres.

brain; it is not communicable and so cannot be contacted by another person.”

He however called on government and pharmacists in the country to help the sufferers of this disorder by making drugs available and affordable.

In his presentation, the guest lecturer at the seminar, Dr. Yusuf Zubair said, a child could develop epilepsy if the brain did not form properly. Other causes of epilepsy according to him are accident, brain tumor, hormonal activities in women, sleep deprivation, noise, low sugar and whatever can cause a scar to the brain.

He advised epileptic people to avoid swimming, driving, walking in areas with height and also avoid places with dangerous objects and fire.

Others include avoidance of alcohol and head trauma and they should get adequate sleep.

medical checkup, laboratory testing and clinical diagnosis organized by a National Youth Service Corps member, Mr Nche Bikwe for staff of Gwagwalada area council.

He expressed dismay over the attitude of Nigerians towards blood donation adding that a strengthened voluntary blood donation culture would ease the stress of looking for donors during emergency cases.

According to him, “our partnership with Bikwe on the free medical outreach followed the fact that the programme would create an avenue for us to

strengthen awareness on blood donation”.

“In blood donation, one of the things we look out for is where we can have the people in large number like this so that we can address them since it is a voluntary thing,” he said.

In his remark, Bikwe said the initiative followed his interest to impact on his host community as well as to strengthen awareness that some deadly disease could be prevented.

He said the initiative was aimed at assisting the public particularly those that could not afford medical diagnosis.

According to him, the free medical programme would cover checkup and diagnosis on sugar level, hypertension, hepatitis as well as voluntary blood donation.

He said the programme was also targeted at commemorating the World Diabetis Day adding that the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases, like diabetis, hypertension and hepatitis was on the increase.

Bikwe identified obesity, excessive intake of alcohol, lack of exercise, excessive intake of sugar as well malnutrition as risk factor to non-communicable diseases.

Lafia modern market opens for business

By Adeola Tukuru

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he Lafia Modern Market on Tuesday opened for business with the sealing of a Facility Management Agreement between Nasarawa State Government and Abuja Markets M a n a g e m e n t Limited(AMML),after being commissioned earlier this year.

The 1003 shop- capacity market which was conceptualized by the Abdullahi Adamu administration in 2001, was sixty per cent done before the present Administration in the state completed it.

According to the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Commerce, Ahmed Mohammed who signed on behalf of the government, said mandate to the

Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) to manage the market was informed by the need to sustain the public facility through professional facility management services.

A statement signed by the Corporate Affairs Manager, Abuja Markets Management Limited Innocent Amaechina quoted Alh. Ahmed as saying that the Abuja Markets Management Limited was chosen as a result of its trackrecord in market management in Abuja where it currently manages about 15 shopping facilities.

The Commerce Commissioner therefore called on the traders and shoppers in the state to take advantage of the modern shopping facility and to also cooperate with the market

managers so as to have the best of shopping experience as part of Governor Umar Tanko Almakura’s democratic benefits to the people of the State.

In his remark at the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony, the Managing Director, Abuja Markets Management Limited, Abubakar Usman Faruk assured the people of the state that AMML would live up to the confidence the Nasarawa State government has shown in them.

Thanking the State government for the provision of the market, the Chairman of Contactors’ Forum in the state, Ibrahim Mohammed urged the government to resuscitate the “abandoned” Keffi market so as to harness the potentials therein.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER, 16, 2012

FG revokes Plateau road contract

By Adeola Tukuru

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he Minister of State for Works, Amb. Bashir Yuguda has said that the Federal Governmenthas terminated the road contract for Panyam -Bokkos-Wamba road

in Plateau state due to poor performance.

This was disclosed by the Minister during courtesy call on the Minister of Information Mr. Labaran Maku.

The Minister lamented that the road contract which was

awarded on April, 19, 2007 to STATECO NIGERIA LTD at the cost of N5,338,200,930.90, has left much to be desired.

He further stated that to date after over 66 months and grant of two extensions of contract period, no satisfactory progress

was recorded.

Amb. Yuguda said that the Federal Government had no option other than to terminate the contract in line with clause 63 of standard conditions of contract(Road Works).

"The contactor has been

reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for investigation, while the Federal Controller of Works in Plateau state has been directed to carry out assessment of the work so far done so as to determine the final account of the project", he said.

Varsities produce unwanted graduates -Fashola From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Wednesday said qualitative higher education is not about certificates alone but certificates of knowledge in the critical area of needs of the economy.

Mr. Fashola stated this while delivering 2021 Convocation Lecture of the University of Ibadan titled: Framework for Reinventing Higher Education for National Development held at the Trenchard Hall of the institution.

In his paper:" We are producing the same graduates that our economy no longer needs, the town (Economy) and the gown (our higher institutions) are speaking different languages".

He said nation's priority must be how to create a generation of Nigerians that would build businesses rather than manage businesses built by others and shun product of necessity for a conscious national plan.

The governor said that, since our economy has changed, the training of our human capital must change not only as a response to the present but also as a strategic plan to control the future.

"All our major cities are rapidly urbanizing with the attendant problem of overcrowding and transport congestion, how many universities are producing transport engineers and transport planners.

"Similarly, our tourism economy is still underdeveloped", he added.

Give society beyond handouts, Oshiomhole tells multinationals From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has tasked multinational companies to do more for the society instead of giving handouts.

He spoke yesterday at the commissioning of an ICT Centre donated by Shell Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation to Edo College, Benin City.

The ICT Centre consists an ICT block, 20 units of desktop computers with interconnectivity facilities; 27 KVA power Generator, C Band Internet of 512/256 Kbps with three years subscription.

Speaking at the occasion, Oshiomhole expressed appreciation to Shell and NNPC for establishing the centre to improve the student's knowledge of computer.

According to him "I like to appreciate NNPC and Shell for appreciating that they have a

duty as beneficiaries of public funded capital development to also share their profit to the baking of that human capital.

The human capital that drives ", he remarked.

He however told the companies that "as an oil producing state, Edo State should get a higher share of your handout. It can't be the same.

Those who live by the river side should get more than those to whom the water is passed".

Oshiomhole added "I'd like to appeal to PTA leaders not to be satisfied with various organizations giving you computers. If there is no school, there would be no place to put those computers. I am sure between Shell and NNPC they can make additional contribution to rebuild abandoned projects".

In his remark, the Shell representative Mr. Amaechi Onaiwa said the essence of establishing the centre is to strengthen the education system and giver children the opportunity to explore.

L-R: Member, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yakub Balogun, Chaiman.

House of Representatives Committee on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Ben Nwankwo, Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nnena Elendu Ukeje and Chairman, House Committee on ICT, Hon. Ibrahim Gusau, during the budget defence by the ministry of foreign affairs before the house committee, yesterday at the National Assembly.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Women group wants discriminatory laws nullified

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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Federal High Court, in Lagos has been asked to declare unconstitutional, null and void, the law mandating a married woman to continue to claim her state of origin for the purpose of appointment at the federal level.

A nongovernmental organisation, Incorporated Trustees of Women Empowermentand Legal Aid Initiative (WELA) which instituted the suit named the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice as the sole defendant.

According to the plaintiff, the fundamental right of every person against discrimination has been guaranteed under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Articles 2 and 3 of the African Charter on

Human and Peoples' Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

WELA told the court that the provision that a married woman shall continue to identify with her state of origin for the purpose of implementation of the Federal Character Formula at the national level was contrary to the provision of Section 42(1)(a)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.

The NGO noted that in spite of the unconstitutionality of section 2, part II of the federal character commission law, it is being applied to deny women appointments.

The women averred that on November 5, 2012, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma-Muktar refused to administer oath of office on Justice Ifeoma Jumbo-

Offor on the ground that she has taken the slot of Abia State, her husband's state and not Anambra, her own state of Origin.

In a 14-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Funmi Falana from Femi Falana (SAN)'s chambers, the women group held that: "It is the duty and responsibility of the Respondent to protect every citizen of Nigeria including the Nigerian women against any form of discrimination.

"It is our submission that a married woman who moves to her husband's state and takes residence there, is entitled to enjoy the rights of all other indigenes of the state and to that extent, Section 2 of Part II of the Federal Character Commission Act is illegal as it has violated the obligation of Nigeria under the African Charter on Human Rights Act", the plaintiff held.

Constitution review: Concede VP, deputy governorship to women - NPC

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s the constitution amendment process continues, Mrs. Cecilia Dapoet, the only woman commissioner in the National Population Commission (NPC), has suggested that deputising roles be conceded to women.

"The constitution should make it compulsory that only women should be qualified to be vice president, deputy governor and deputy chairman of local

government", Dapoet said in Jos on Wednesday.

Dapoet was speaking at the joint public session organised by the three senatorial districts of Plateau state to harmonise their positions on the issues to be amended in the nation's Constitution.

"Conceding such positions automatically to women is the only way to give them a sense of total belonging; it is the only

way to make them part of polity, especially since their male counterparts had always outmuscled them in the contest for offices.

"Clearly, many women do not have the financial strength to match the men and have often lost the bids for such elective offices, so an automatic clause conceding the deputising roles will correct that imbalance", she said.

She said, "Women have tried in vain to be elected to the offices of the president, as governors and local government council chairpersons; we cannot just leave out a major segment of the population just because of some artificial hurdles usually placed on their paths", she said.

Dapoet said that such rule, if inserted in the constitution, would make women more enthusiastic and supportive of

democracy.

The Special Adviser to Governor Jonah Jang on Women Mobilisation, Mrs. Tabitha Aruku said that men had always dominated the Nigerian polity without due regard to the womenfolk.

"We need an urgent change because such domination is discriminatory and must be corrected because Nigeria belongs to all", she said. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 11

How to make N300, 000 monthly from popcorn business in Nigeria (2) T

he popcorn you see on the streets is not made by the sellers, people process them in quantity and supply to them, while they sell and make profit. Pick one of them and you will see the addresses and phone numbers of the maker, that's the business I'm talking about! You can start processing popcorn in large quantity and be supplying to the retailers (hawkers and supermarkets) in the city.

One thing that makes the business attractive is because the materials involved in the production are not costly; anyone can afford them with little efforts. The product sells fast too because people just enjoy eating popcorn for many reasons.

Popcorn is one my favorite snack; likewise it is to many people. We likes it due to The crispy effect in the mouth, the nutritional value, and children likes it a lot so parents buys it for their children.

Again, the profit potential is quite good and if you can take it to the next level, you will be assured of making even much more sales and profit. If you produce 10,000 monthly and sell to the retailers at the price of (maybe) N70, the retailers will sell for N100 and make profit of N30 each.

The cost of producing a pack is not more that N40 therefore you will be making profit of N30 each as well. With this projection, 10,000 packs will give you 10,000 x N30 = N300, 000 of pure profit in a month!

I've gone round and discovered that most people who are into this business are doing it the wrong or old way.

In this article, I will try to explain what you need to do to get yours right and make all the money for yourselves.

If you can apply my strategy, I guarantee you will make more sells that anyone in the business. If you're ready, here are the requirements you need to put in place to be in Popcorn business.

Get the type of popcorn frying machine that is normally used by the eateries.

Go for the types that produce salt and sugar popcorn at the same time; ET-POP6A-D or Fun pop 8 oz, it is sold from N62, 000. It's bigger and process faster that the regular one.

If your area doesn't have electricity, buy the type of popcorn maker that uses gas cylinder and electricity so that you can switch to both power sources. Prices for popcorn maker start from N20, 000. Go to the seller and negotiate the price.

If you have enough money, you can go for commercial type like the one pictured here. One of this will be able to pop all the corn you want in a day.

Popcorn Machine: Known as popcorn maker. You will need bigger popcorn machine since you will be producing in larger quantity. Look for nice one in the market and buy two or more depending on how many hands you need in the business.

I will encourage you to employ hands in this business for effective production and distribution.

Handwork in Nigeria you can learn within 2 months (1)

Quote Whenever an individual or a business decides that success has been attained, progress stops.

– Thomas J. Watson

Sealing Machine: Manual sealing machine cost N10, 000 to N15, 000 in the market, find out what the exact prices are and negotiate with the seller.

Buy according to the number of workers you have -- more hands, more machines, and more productions.

The manual sealing machine is powered by electricity while you control the sealing manually. You just position the pop corn filled nylon on the machine and pressed the 'handle like' controller on the nylon edge and it will be sealed by the hot rim.

You will get better information on how to operate it from the accompanying literature!

Branded Nylon: This is where the big deal is. To stay ahead of competitors in this business, your strongest selling point should be your brand.

Make sure your package nylon is well branded. It's not enough to just write your business name and phone number on the nylon, create attractive brand for your business.

Take a clue from the eateries and see how their packages are professionally branded with good and quality designed pictures and graphics, complete with professional logo. That's what sells in business -- all

H

andwork is one of the most reliable means of income in today's world economy. If you have any quality service you can render to people, you're sure to be making regular income all year round uninterrupted, as long as your service is good.

But one thing that discourages people from learning handwork is the long period of time normally required to complete apprenticeship.

Fortunate to know however, that there are some handwork you can learn within two months and be able to start

popcorn is the same but your brand could make yours different in the eyes of consumers.

It doesn't cost much to get a professional branding for your business, employ professional graphic designers to do it for you. Then use the design for all your nylons and other items like the popcorn wrappers if you are using wrapping papers.

Bag of Corn: Your major raw material in this business is corn.

Buy enough bags of corn depending on the quantity you wants to produce. You can get as many bags of corn as you want in

making money for yourself.

Some of the world's most satisfied and accomplished people are people with great handwork, who have learned the art of craftsmanship and renders quality services.

• Phone Repair Nearly 100Million Nigerians have GSM phone and these phones need constant servicing. To learn phone repair, you need about two months or less. People in the trade confirmed that the work isn't that difficult, that one can learn it even using phone manuals.

Mile-12 market in Lagos.

For corn to pop, There should be certain amount of moisture within the corn, so that when heated makes it pop from the inside out, when a corn don't get popped from inside out, it's called a dud, which means there was not enough moisture in that corn.

Look for sweet corn that contain enough moisture.

Sugar, Salt, Butter: You need sugar and salt and butter to make your popcorn taste great. These one are difficult to get, go to any shop near you and buy as much as you need.

Note: You need to get additional training on how to mix

The cheapest repair you do on your phone will cost you nothing less than N1, 000, and you are guaranteed of plenty customers on daily basis if you're good at your work.

• Graphic Design This is one of the highly sought after services both on and off the net. A good and creative graphic designer earn very decent amount from his work, and you can be paid in Dollars if you work on the Internet too.

• House Painting Houses are springing up all

the sugar, butter, and salt and the desired quantity. You will also need to learn how to pop the corn.

Marketing Tips: Target the street hawkers; they sell the product faster and in large quantity. If you can get 10 hawkers, you will be sure of supplying them about 500 daily that is a whooping 13,000 monthly.

Talk to Supermarkets and shop owners, you will be surprised of the positive response you will get if your branding is attractive enough.

S o u r c Wealthresult.com

e

:

over Nigeria on daily basis, that's the sign of level of prosperity in our father's land. These houses are to be painted, and to learn house painting work will take you approximately two weeks.

House painting work is a combination of art and creativity, if you're a creative person, you will surely do well in this work. Get in touch with a good house painter now and begin to learn this. House painters charge between N100, 000 to Millions of Naira to finish a whole house depending on the extent you want the painting done and how big the house is.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

General Muhammadu Shuwa (1933-2012)

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is exploits during the 30-month Nigerian civil war (1966-1970) were legendary. Those from the north, old enough to know what the war was all about, could not forget the war songs and jingles in Hausa on Radio Kaduna, as the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) was then known, celebrating the heroics of General Muhammadu Shuwa. In those war songs and jingles, the name of the legendary General always got the most mention for bravery.

But bravery was not the only redeeming attribute of the Borno state born commander during the ferocious war to keep the nation a single entity; General Shuwa also exhibited an uncommon compassion for the “enemy”. For the wartime 1st Division Commander, the life of the opponent was considered no less sacrosanct and precious. As Commander of the 5th Battalion in Kano in 1966, he was said to have locked and kept the key to the armoury during the northern officers’ counter-coup of July 1966 so as to prevent a reprisal against the Igbo officers serving there. He was in deeds and comportment the archetypal officer and gentleman.

So sad it was a day indeed that Friday, a fortnight ago, when the life of the gentle General, along with those of his orderly and a guest, was snuffed out by the bullets of assassins who stealthily came calling at his Gwange residence in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. The cowards they were, the killers, four in number, were said to have disguised as guests who came to pay homage to him, as his residence was a Mecca of sorts to

all manner of people. That was the measure of General Shuwa’s popularity among his people that even as Gwange ward remained one of the most volatile and deadly areas in Maiduguri in the ongoing fierce battle between the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the insurgent group, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati walJihad, better known as Boko Haram, he opted to remain with the people instead of fleeing to the safety and comfort of far away Abuja, the Federal Capital, as have done many of his fellow, but less honourable and uncelebrated, elite.

“

As we pray for the repose of the soul of departed General Shuwa, we urge the federal government to do justice to his memory by doing all within its powers to bring his killers to book as well as bring to an end this vicious, violent and deadly insurgency Born in Kala Balge local government area of Borno state in 1933, General Shuwa attended the famous Barewa College in Zaria along with fellow war time legend and former Head of state, late General General Murtala Mohamed, Professor Jibril Aminu, the late Interior Minister Alhaji Ali Baba, the late Professor B.D. Musa, Alhaji Lema Jibrilu, former Chief Justice Mohamed Lawal Uwais and the late Secretary to the Government of the Federation and

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

Wazirin Jama’a, Alhaji Aliyu Mohamed, among a host of other leading Nigerians past and living.

After a stint in the Treasury Department of Dikwa Native Authority, Shuwa enlisted in the army in 1957 and was trained at Teshi, Ghana and later Sewnhath Military School in the United Kingdom (UK) where he graduated as a Second Lieutenant in 1961.

He had served first as the Federal Commissioner for Trade and later for Works from 1975 to 1979. And after retiring from the army on October 1, 1979, the late military icon had lived in Maiduguri since then before his brutal murder on that fateful Friday, November 2nd. In General Shuwa, the killers, whoever they may be, as Boko Haram has denied responsibility, have robbed Nigeria of one of its most patriotic, illustrious, compassionate, courageous, disciplined, restrained and down to earth Generals.

As we pray for the repose of the soul of departed General Shuwa, we urge the federal government to do justice to his memory by doing all within its powers to bring his killers to book as well as bring to an end this vicious, violent and deadly insurgency which has not only continued to decimate the youth population in the north, but is also threatening to bring to its knee the entire north, if not the nation.

May Allah (SWT) make Aljannat Firdaus the final abode of his soul, and give the four wives, 25 children, numerous grand and great grand children as well as the friends and associates he left behind, the fortitude to bear the irreparable national loss.

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OUR VISION

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

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HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

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MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

By Hassan Gimba Ahmed

I

confess this is the title of a book written some 22 years ago by Chief Arthur Nwankwo after he had an altercation with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and felt that his life was under threat. I picked this title for this piece since I was threatened with annihilation by unknown gunmen/hoodlums in the garb of members of the Jama’atu ahlus Sunnah lid Da’awati wal Jihad popularly known as Boko Haram. On the night (around 7.30 to 8pm) of Thursday, the 18th of October, 2012, rampaging hoodlums wielding guns scaled the walls of my house in Potiskum and threatened my family to open the door or get shot. When the door was opened by my wife, a blessed and gentle soul, they rushed in and molested my household and asked for my where about.

On being told I was not in town, they said I was lucky for if I were around they would have killed me.

To prove that their threat was not a fluke, they, all thanks to He who gives and taketh life, brought out my family and set the house on fire.

Nothing was salvaged as the house was completely razed.Now, some things baffle me. Those hoodlums claimed to be members of Jama’atu ahlus Sunnah lid Da’awati wal Jihad but were they? I doubt and for so many strong reasons.

This group has as its cardinal objective “the establishment of an Islamic society”. What I know is that

PAGE 13

Before I die (I)

anybody not grounded in Islamic knowledge comprising of Qur’an, traditions, history, jurisprudence, philosophy, etc. cannot be at the vanguard of Islamic reformation not to talk of revolution. And from my little knowledge, from what I am able to gather from a book called Ta’alim Muta ta’alim Tariqatut Ta’alim (Teaching the knowledge seeker [student] ways of getting knowledge), I know one CANNOT successfully be a revolutionary (Islamic, anyway) without being ta’arifu bilLah wa Ta’arifuz zaman (knowledgeable of Allah and current times [affairs]).

I want to believe Imam Shakau and at least his immediate associates are well grounded in Islamic knowledge and therefore know the history of all Islamic revolutions and revolutionaries, at least in black Africa, and their methods. I also want to believe that with knowledge of the times, they know that killing Hassan Gimba will in no way give mileage to their objectives because Hassan Gimba, who has never worked in Government either in an elective or appointive capacity, can in no way impede their march. I want to believe they know Islamic history therefore they know that burning my house also cannot be an act of

Islam nor can it in anyway help their cause because the system does not even know me or my house. In any case, what was unIslamic about my house?

How can I or my house be in the way of a jihadist? Remove me and my house and then you are guaranteed an “Islamic Republic”?

I do not want to believe that anybody who knows Islam and ancient and contemporary history will have such a mindset: wasting his energy and resources on what will ultimately not be of benefit to him and his dreams.

So that most likely leaves Shakau and his people out. The next set is the criminal Boko Haram peopled by hoodlums always high on drugs. Being malcontents, they are at pains to see one seemingly (or assumedly) contented so they must destroy one. A lot of good men have lost their lives in their hands.

Women have been widowed and children orphaned while parents’ wishes to be buried by their children shattered.These hoodlums kill and steal money, gold, handsets, laptops, etc. from their victims in the name jihad!

Now, like every good Muslim, despite my failings and imperfections, I believe life is sacred and given by Allah (SWT). He gave

me my life without consultations with anybody and He will take it at His appointed time and by the means He decreed without consultations with anybody. He alone knows when and how and no powers anywhere, save Him, can harm a strand of my hair anytime, anywhere. If anything happens to me, therefore, it must only be by His leave, to whom all Glory and Praise belongs.

However, like any concerned observer in present day Nigeria, I wonder what happened that led to such deterioration in morals and character that youths have no qualms in killing, maiming and arson; that people can take lives of others without the fear of God; that authority no longer commands respect and chaos and anarchy rear their heads whenever they wish! I believe there is a failure in leadership and therefore a huge disconnect between the leaders and the followers. We have been let down by our leaders’ selfishness and disregard for the welfare and well being of the led. Whatever social upheavals we are experiencing now as a nation can be directly traceable to corrupt leadership that panders just to its kind as against equitable distribution of the commonwealth for the benefit of all.

No citizen would want to take up arms against the state if he knew that hard work pays and merit is appreciated. What do you call a system whereby you toil from dawn to dusk but go home broken while someone takes home unaccounted millions daily just because he is an appointee or an “elected” official? It is a cutthroat system in which survival is no longer for the fittest but for those with the hottest godfathers on board: those without formal (considered as western) education cannot survive while those with, too, are at their wits end to make ends meet as there are no jobs just as the so called education they were imparted with did not equip them to be self dependant.

At this stage of our nationhood, is it not an indictment on the leadership that PhD holders are queuing up to become drivers? Our brightest left to the mercy of killer potholes and night bandits! In any case, if as a graduate you cannot have a decent job and there is no socio-economic policy on ground for you to own a truck or any property for that matter unless you take over the “traditional” job of the “uneducated”, then, pray, what happens to the later group? With no social welfare package to cater for them, can Nigeria contain any future social backlash, upheaval and (or) repercussion as a result?

Hassan Gimba can be contacted at agimbah@gmail.com.

Justice Ifeoma: Why state of origin shouldn’t have mattered

By Folarin Samson

T

he recent refusal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Muktar to administer judicial oath of office on Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo as Justice of the Court of Appeal is a draw back on the much-touted campaign for gender equality and women empowerment in Nigeria. And to think that Justice Aloma, who made history as the first female Chief Justice of the country could superintend this show because of some primordial considerations leaves so much to be desired in women who are at the top already and exposes a fundamental matter Nigeria has not been paying attention to and which is seriously affecting our nationhood. Justice Ifeoma and 11 others were supposed to be confirmed as justices of the Court of Appeal. But as others were being sworn into office, petitions were reportedly filed against the candidature of Justice Ifeoma for the position because she was not an indigene of Abia state and hence unfit to fill Abia slot as a judicial policy demanded. Findings show that Justice Ifeoma although born in Anambra State, was married to an indigene of Abia State and had since her marriage transferred her service and allegiance to Abia.

That was some 14 years ago.

I am shocked that Justice Aloma could not make a case for her counterpart on the matter knowing the sensitive nature of gender-connected controversies.

But supposing she was avoiding the sludge of gender bias, what stopped her Lordship from previously conferring with the relevant recommending authorities so the

matters could be sorted out to avert the embarrassment that now trails the event? The Abia State Government and the Abia Judiciary decide who represents them and they never objected to her appointment.

The Presidency and the National Judicial Council also reportedly approved of her appointment and established the worth of her qualifications and credentials for the office. So, why would the CJN allow some raucous dissenters put the judiciary in a situation that could lead to insinuation of another bout of subliminal interference in judicial processes? And if indeed there is a subsisting judicial policy that forbids women from ascending to the height of their career in their husband’s state as we are being told, what is the position of the constitution, which is the basis of all other rules and policies?

Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution had established the pre-eminence of the constitution thus: “If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void”. In addressing the matter of Justice Ifeoma, Section 42 (1) under the heading ‘Right to freedom from Discrimination’ states, “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person (a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the

government, to disabilities or restriction to which citizens of Nigeria or other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religious or political opinions are not made subject.”

Justice Muktar Aloma is the Chief Justice of Nigeria and certainly knows better. Aside from constitutional protection for the rights of women, is it not culturally, socially, religiously and even legally true that when a woman is married to a man, she becomes an entity with him?

What is then the basis for discrepancy? If Aloma could endorse this shame and even dared the joint resolution of all the 108 Senators who ratified Ifeoma’s appointment, other Nigerian women may have to swallow their pride when some overbearing men repeat such humiliating action in the future.

Conversely, those who have expressed sadness over Justice Aloma’s decision have been men, men who have risen beyond parochial sentiments. Senator David Mark in particular felt the

first female justice by her decision was weeping more than the bereaved. It will therefore be the path of honour for Justice Aloma to recall Justice Ifeoma for her rites of office as this is becoming disgraceful for the nation merit system and whatever may be the reason being currently evinced by Her Lordship for the delay cannot be sufficient at such a moment when all matters ought to have been concluded. It could only mean two things. One, the judiciary is not organized. Two, the NJC and all the public officers, including Mr. President and the Senate President who approve of Justice Ifeoma’s investiture, lack credibility and integrity. These are too weighty implications and they have damnable consequences on us as a people if valid.

But beneath this socio-judicial altercation is another issue, which stocks the blinding smoke.

Senator Mark himself spotted it when he presented a strong case for replacement of state of origin with state of residence. It is high

“

I am shocked that Justice Aloma could not make a case for her counterpart on the matter knowing the sensitive nature of gender-connected controversies.

But supposing she was avoiding the sludge of gender bias, what stopped her Lordship from previously conferring with the relevant recommending authorities so the matters could be sorted out to avert the embarrassment that now trails the event?

time we adopted this suggestion so that embarrassing confrontations like this will stop. I believe with this in place, the limitation of our ethnic differences will be reduced and Nigerians can live and work in any state of their choosing without the fear of any repugnant judicial policy or executive fiat.

Those who followed events in Abia state in the wake of the minimum wage benchmark will understand executive fiat better.

Thousands of non-indigenes of Abia state were summarily dismissed from the state civil service and sent packing because the state government could not afford to pay all the workers minimum wage.

So, those who had filled other states of origin in their application forms had to be fired, their tenement rate expired with executive fiat.

That is how state of origin is tearing us apart. Public and private establishments require you to fill ‘state of origin’ in their forms so they will know how to deal with you just in case you don’t belong.

Tertiary institutions still talk of catchment areas while offering admissions, so they can absorb students who are not too good but are sons and daughters of the soil.

Even the nation, in every sector, still stresses the decimal of federal character at the expense of merit.

We have this mental consciousness of our ethnic bearing and this is affecting the unity and progress of the country. We may never be one until we start removing all the clauses and conditions that widen our differences and accentuate our weaknesses.

Folarin Samson is reachable on childofdkingdom@gmail.com.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Re - anonymous appeal for intervention at NIA

M

y attention was captured by a surprising petition against Ambassador E.O. Oladeiji, the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), by anonymous persons that claimed to be “concerned officers” of the Agency which was published in the 18th – 24th September, 2012 Vol. 147 edition of Desert Herald.

As a voluntarily retired Assistant Director ‘of the Agency, who has remained actively and keenly abreast and conversant with developments within the Agency and is well aware of and inspired by Ambassador Oladeiji’s impeccable and unequalled track record of professional excellence and integrity, I was shocked by the manner in and extent to which the petitioners went to blemish his character. I was also astounded because despite the petitioners’ acknowledgement that the current DGNIA is a perfectionist , in the same breath, they questioned the wisdom behind the reforms initiated and implemented by the DG which have undoubtedly raised the

By Aminu Mohammed

T

he recent four- day total power blackout in Sokoto town by electricity workers in protest against an alleged assault on one of their managers has left many questions unanswered. Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) must explain the real motive behind its workers’ undeserved punishment of innocent Sokoto electricity consumers.

There is a reason for every action taken but the consequences of some actions have always been negative as in the case of the PHCN workers who visited on the entire people of Sokoto state the “sins” of the state government. It is yet to be ascertained that the Gwiwa business manager of PHCN, Moses Osigwe, was manhandled by security at the residence of the state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko or the governor himself. Until the courts prove that he was manhandled or assaulted, it is subject to debate.

But even if he was assaulted, does that warrant the inhuman and unpatriotic action the union members took against the people of the state?

Agreed, Wamakko is the chief

fairly young Agency’s profile. fulfilment of intelligence intelligence liaison relevance The merits of the reforms and requirements in order that the under the current global security achievements of Ambassador Nation’s current security challenges and, more Oladeiji at the NIA are not in challenges may be surmounted. importantly, its continued dispute at all. One only needs to The essential secrecy of the timely fulfilment of the visit the Agency’s headquarters Agency’s operations would not let Government’s numerous and parley with the highly us speak of the harvests of intelligence requirement orders. motivated, Of course, with a spirited and perfectionistdisciplined and workaholic in loyal officers charge of the and staff. The Agency, no less is Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text impact is visible expected. messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written a n d T h e contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 resounding, achievements words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and particularly in cited above did a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed aspects of not come as a to: c r i t i c a l surprise to those importance of us who had The Editor, such as the since noted, and Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, autonomous had always had 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. f i n a n c i a l tremendous regime, posting respect for Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com autonomy, Ambassador SMS: 07037756364 operational Oladeiji’s productivity, resourcefulness, strict access control, office intelligence and operational meticulousness, diligence, environment improvements, staff successes since 2010. But, in a unique sense of official obligation discipline, welfare and morale as nutshell, the ultimate testimonies and a good sense of direction. well as retiree welfare. to the value of Ambassador Indeed, even ordinarily, the There is simply no doubt that Oladeiji’s visionary leadership of demands of working in an the DG has succeeded in the NIA are the Agency’s increased external intelligence repositioning the Agency for robust local and international organization are comparatively

quite high. The DG’s insistence on perfection and excellence would naturally make things harder for some officers. But, that offers no excuse at all for any mischief or the kind of irresponsibility and wanton disregard for official secrecy displayed by the petitioners.

It is self-evident that the petition was driven by malicious presumptions that went too far.

Thus, it is advisable that officers, who feel aggrieved, should seek the appropriate established means of redress. It is also necessary to draw a line between the DG’s well-intentioned initiatives and the misguided acts of some of his ill – intentioned Aides. The DG urgently needs to do something about such Aides and also seek new conciliatory means of re-establishing wholesome, perfect and enduring peace in the Agency. The new dangerous attitude of officers going to the press with grievances (real or unreal) must not be allowed to become a culture of the NIA. I. Ibrahim

security officer of the state as its governor but how fair was the action of PHCN staff to punish innocent electricity consumers most of whom are unjustifiably over billed every month and yet they never fail in paying the unnecessary and illegal additions to their monthly bills? The fourday illegal blackout in Sokoto should not be allowed to go without PHCN paying heavily for it. The action taken by PHCN was inhuman, insensitive and unjustifiable and there is need for the people of the state to be compensated. Going back to the reason behind the blackout, the flogging of Osigwe remains an allegation which needs to be proved in a court of law.

Governor Wamakko, fully aware of his responsibility as a leader when it comes to dealing with fellow human beings, will never lose his temper against Osigwe without a very serious reason to do so. Have we forgotten the public flogging of a serving police officer by President Obasanjo in Lokoja, Kogi state at a rally? What happened afterwards?

Nothing. Again, have we so easily forgotten how football lovers beat the

hell out of a PHCN manager in Lagos which led to his death for failing to give them light to watch a football match involving the Nigerian national team? Anyway, since the story of the alleged flogging broke out both the print and the electronic media have been making it look like hara-kiri. As people who reason and not only reason but appreciate the burden of leadership, fathers do not flog their children for the fun of it, rather they do it to straighten their character or discipline them; they want them to be good ambassadors of their homes, society, community and by extension their country.

Those who know Wammako very well will agree that he is a humble person and as governor in the last five and half years, he has tolerated the bad and the ugly, the young and the old, the rich and the poor, and has been tolerating all kinds of insult, all because of this singular virtue he possesses patience. How do you explain the forbearance of a deputy governor who extended his hands 79 times for a handshake with his boss and 79 times his boss refused to shake him? How many of our leaders can

tolerate this kind of embarrassment?

To make himself available to the electorate, he has refused to relocate to the government house where it would be impossible for people especially the less privileged to get access to him. Gov. Wamakko’s personal residence is the only residence in Nigeria today where there are security personnel who have become extremely friendly with the public just because he has made them to believe that they cannot prevent him from meeting the people.

On the issues that led to the alleged manhandling of Mr. Osigwe and two of his subordinates it is not a new thing that PHCN staff have been assaulted because they milk unsuspecting consumers dry while they sleep in darkness. Nigeria is the only oil producing nation where citizens sleep in darkness every day. Way back in the 90s, former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings visited Kano during the Babangida era and only God knew how bad, Babangida felt when NEPA struck while he and his guest were

attending a function. Again, about three years ago, late President Yar’adua was delivering a speech to PDP supporters and chieftains in Kaduna when NEPA struck.

When Nigeria hosted the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2009, the same NEPA which is today PHCN painted the country black. There are several instances to cite but in order not to divert from the real issues, consumers in Sokoto provide over N140 million monthly to PHCN but for how many hours, minutes or seconds do they enjoy electricity? This figure was provided by a top official of the Gwiwa business centre office of PHCN but Kebbi state which does not pay up to N100 million per month is getting electricity more than Sokoto state where PHCN collects over N140 million.

It is not only Gov. Wamakko that is sick and tired of PHCN’s poor services but there is a national dislike of PHCN.Today, PHCN is the most corrupt institution or sector in the country and even staff of the company have been saying so.

Aminu Mohammed wrote in from Sokoto.

commending the initiative to establish the Agricultural Sector Intervention Fund, the N200 billion was placed in interest yielding bank accounts for a long while, with many of them reluctant to lend, and to the real farmers. Yet, this is a sector that can earn more foreign exchange for Nigeria than oil and save us the trillions we spend on food imports.

Similarly, education – where millions of vacancies in teaching, lecturing and support services also exist or can be created is still chronically underfunded. Worse is the fact that the informal sector

– which is three to four times the size of the formal economy, has been left to its own devices because formalization channels are difficult to reach – so an important source of economic development, employment generation and tax revenues remains untapped.

Unemployment is at the heart of Nigeria’s poverty and insecurity. Unfortunately, the government of President Jonathan has consistently failed to devise policies to stimulate economic growth and create jobs when he should be taking advantage of inadequate

amenities like clean water, education, and health care to invest in the required infrastructure and human capital development to create and retain millions of jobs in every part of the country and all sectors of the economy.

Considering the huge social and economic costs of unemployment, a focused government should be raising capital expenditures substantially – by building more schools, roads, bridges, water systems, electricity stations and other projects that create jobs. That would be the

best way to apologize to, and salvage the futures of the millions of unemployed people in the country and engage them constructively in the Nigerian project.

Regrettably, this administration does not seem to understand these concepts, and is, therefore, unable to create even a mere 50,000 jobs every year when it should be creating at least three million jobs annually, while parents like me must shoulder the burdens of looking after our parents, extended families and children for years to come.

WRITE TO US

Sokoto black out: Matters arising

The social and economic costs of unemployment Contd. from back page

which should in turn lead to a steady decline in unemployment and poverty.

At the moment, many sectors capable of creating jobs for Nigerians remain untapped.

Tourism alone can create millions of jobs, but which tourist will visit a country that is as unsafe as Nigeria? Agriculture – potentially the largest employer of labour- has been left largely at subsistence level, with issues like infrastructure deficits, high interest rates affecting the sector’s value chain. Whilst

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 15

Our billionaire pastors and their private jets

By Ose Oyamendan

I

t is the season of plenty in Nigeria. You don’t have to look far to see evidence of plenty everywhere. All you have to do is look at the skies. There’s always a private jet kissing the Nigerian skies. Once, ownership of private jets was the exclusive domain of politicians and businessmen who are government contractors anyway. Now, a new group has entered and put some colours into Nigerian private jet-dom. They are called the preachers. They are so colourful they still wear the same jerry curls Michael Jackson wore when his hair caught fire three decades ago. It’s a funny thing. I keep looking for AfricanAmericans with jerry curls and they all seem extinct. I think they may have moved on to the Nigerian pulpit.

I believe in God and I love the Nigerian preachers who have put up ladders from their churches to the gates of heaven. It always gladdens my heart that since Nigeria can’t export the oil it

produces properly, God has seen it fit that Nigerian preachers will repackage Christianity, put a “made in Nigeria” on it and export it to the land where it came from.

But, I have this friend who is contemptuous of the riches God has bestowed on Nigerian preachers.

He always wonders why it’s always years of plenty for the preachers while famine ravage their followers. It made me wonder what church he goes to because most of the modern day churches preach wealth and plenty.

Nigerians are too smart to fall for smarty-pants preachers. I’m certain the followers of these jet set pastors are not far from owning their own jets. Surely, no poor man would make a rich pastor richer?

It goes against any logic and it goes against the Nigerian spirit.

My friend who I seriously suspect is jealous of Nigerian preachers disagrees.

“It’s exploitation, man,” he says with one tongue. Then, he added, “I made a mistake. I should have been a preacher. I could have been a billionaire!”

And, that

convinced he’s been bitter for many years. He dug in. “You’ve been to a few places, is this how it is everywhere?” he asked. That made me mad a little because I like to think I’ve been to a lot of places, deliberately mistaking cities in one country as two or three countries so I sound like a world traveller. Laugh all you can but let me tell ya, people love it when you say you’ve been to a lot of places. Sometimes I even go Baba Sala on people and invent countries in Eastern Europe and Asia. But, my friend does have a point. One of the countries I’ve been in that you cannot count twice because it’s really small is Israel. My friend wonders what the man the private jet pastors franchised would think about the jets.

You see, the Middle Eastern terrain is not for the faint hearted.

But, Jesus Christ trekked all over it, winning hearts and pissing a few people off. If there was every one man who needed a private jet, it was Christ. The man had a father that could make anything

happen. Surely, a private jet was nothing. The private jet back then was an elegant horse. But, when the man upgraded from walking, he chose a donkey. Once!

I felt my friend had a point and I told him so. Bad idea. His gloom deepened. You see, he could really have been a billionaire. He has a sweet tongue and when he’s on a roll, he can sell ice to an Eskimo. He had a chance to be a pastor but it would have left blood on the floor in the competitive world of preaching.

My friend opted to go the information technology route.

He’s done well for himself – nice house, good cars and a bank account he denies is fat. But, he’s got no private jet. And that kills him. He guilt me into a belly ache too. You see, before I made the long trek from Maryland to California to study filmmaking a little over a decade ago, my local pastor was so proud I was making a leap to what some saw as an impossibility, he thought I could inspire the younger member of the congregation by giving a

short speech.

Now, I hate public speaking. My heart does multiple somersaults every time someone put a microphone in my hand. I tried to smile it off but the buckets of sweat rolling down my head always fail to help. So, I get on stage and forced myself into giving a speech.

Somehow, I got on a roll and imagined myself as Martin Luther King on the Washington Mall. In actual sense, I was more like a fake drug hawker in a molue bus. But, the pastor was impressed, or he did a great job lying. He said, “Brother Ose, maybe you should join us on this side. You have talent.”

I should have listened. But, who knew? Who knew you could be a billionaire talking the word of God. Who knew you could be the proud owner of private jets by just ministering to poor, scared souls? Now, I got jets crowding Nigerian airspaces and a friend sad he missed the spiritual ATM train.

Ose Oyamendan is Los Angeles-based Nigerian filmmaker.

property running into billions of naira. It was now the turn of Akingbola, convicted by a British court and asked to return millions of Pounds stolen from his former bank. Moreover, Akingbola still has a date with another Nigerian court sitting in Lagos. This was one more proof that CBN meant business and its cases against those accused were coming to light and one after the other they could be convicted in the courts.

Sansui’s passions are banking, justice, philanthropy, insightful intervention in public discourse as well as vigorous defence of his own opinions. As a notable Prince of the famous Kano emirate, Sanusi’s passion for justice and philanthropy could be understood, but it would appear that his commitment to banking is a personal choice.

Banking, especially the western type that Sanusi is supervising at the moment, is an anathema to Islamic heritage which is alleged to dominate his thinking at this point in time. Here lies the contradiction: Sanusi, an alleged Islamic fundamentalist superintending over a banking system that thrives on usury punishable by Allah.

Sanusi, educated in a Catholic school at a tender age, quotes the Bible with ease, but is still viewed as a religious bigot by some critics.

Still, it is worrying; Sanusi’s utterances and other actions have attracted more attention, nay opprobrium, than his masterful delivery on the banking mandate.

Sanusi’s flurry of reforms and implacable commitment to protect depositors funds and punish pilferers have attracted less attention than his statements on revenue allocation, CBN donation to Madalla and Kano bomb victims, or his comments on the naked greed of the elite that corners national resources to itself. To some Nigerians, Sanusi’s comments on those issues amount to less than his determination to establish

corporate governance, the absence of which provided a leeway for some chairmen and managing directors of banks to steal the hard earned money of the ordinary Nigerian depositor.

It makes a lot of sense therefore, to strengthen the rules under which banks can lend out money and also how long a bank CEO remains in office. In the past, bank CEOs in Nigeria ran them like empires and converted to their use money belonging to hapless Nigerian depositors; Sanusi’s leadership would not tolerate this and so the most brilliant Nigerian bank CEO is allowed a maximum of ten years to prove his mettle and then leave. Even more important, Sanusi’s harsh critics have paid less attention to his excellent handling of the turmoil in the Nigerian banking industry during the 2009 financial crisis. Sanusi’s swift and decisive application of CBN’s powers enabled him to seize the affected banks and prevent their collapse, thus safeguarding depositors’ money without anyone losing a Kobo.

Not to talk of the apex bank’s intervention in the power and aviation sectors, agriculture as well as small and medium enterprises in order to arrest decay in these sectors and help jumpstart the Nigerian economy. In all cases, CBN provided guarantees to make sure that the aviation sector is made safe, power supply is improved, and agriculture is revived and valuechained so that small and medium

enterprises emerge to provide jobs for the unemployed. It is also remarkable that in a country where public institutions are corruptly run, the CBN under Sanusi has been free from any verifiable allegation of impropriety.

Sanusi would introduce Islamic banking and the groundwork for this had already been laid by his predecessor. In a country with more than half the population made up of Muslims, Islamic banking would offer opportunity to all Nigerians who do not want to receive or give interest; and in any case, it appeared to Sanusi that the opponents of this banking model have failed to show what harm would come to them if it is operated.

The argument that Sanusi is out to Islamise the country looks irrational in the face of the fact that Islamic Banks are flourishing in Christian and non-Muslim nations like Britain, USA, Japan and France. Is Islamic banking in Nigeria just a legal question? Or is it a moral issue?

How come that this Islamic Scholar has been getting riveting reviews, awards and accolades in matters of central banking in Africa and the world, to the envy of other central bankers in Kenya, South Africa, Uganda etc.? Sanusi has got more awards in his chosen field than his critics have in theirs.

As at the last count, he had won the following awards and honours: The Banker magazine, a

publication of the Financial Times of London chose him as Central Banker of the Year 2010; the Forbes Africa magazine declared Sanusi as Africa Person of the Year 2011 from a shortlist that included the names of serving and retired former Heads of State and Nobel Laureates; the TIME magazine selected him as one of the 100 most influential persons of the world; the Tribune, Leadership, The Nation and Silverbird named him as their Man of the Year for 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. In 2010, the Jonathan administration conferred the national honour of CON on him, enabling him to match the record of his father, Ambassador Muhammad Aminu Sanusi, who had also received CON in the 1970s; the Emir of Kano turbanned him as the Dan Majen Kano and the Universities of Nigeria, Nsukka, Jos, Kano, Benin and Benue State awarded Sanusi honourary degrees.

These important institutions have recognised that the CBN reforms required vision, courage and singleness of purpose which only Sanusi could have delivered.

Sanusi can take on anyone, anytime and anywhere on matters of economic policy. His recent tirade on former President Olusegun Obasanjo was probably misjudged but the validity of his argument is not lost on analysts.

In the CBN Governor’s reckoning, Obasanjo had restructured the Naira many more times than any other Nigerian leader, dead or alive, and should not therefore, objectively speaking, seek to dissuade another administration from doing so. As it was, few days after he countered the former President, Sanusi himself was shown the limit of political support when President Jonathan said the exercise was being suspended.

Abu Najakku wrote in from 19 Shantali Road, Kofar Kola, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state.

Lamido Sanusi: An avant garde central banker?

By Abu Najakku

O

n his 50th birthday, and minutes before he cut the anniversary cake as he stood there holding a knife, a top banker sauntered in and gently said it in the ear of Sanusi Lamido Aminu Sanusi, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), that Mr. Erastus Akingbola, former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, had been convicted by a court in the United Kingdom. “Very good”, the CBN Governor was heard saying elatedly and with the birthday rituals over, he retreated into his office to receive the details.

Sanusi’s leadership at the Central Bank of Nigeria has been quite eventful, beginning from his well publicised criticism of the 7point agenda of late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua during the confirmation hearing in the Senate prior to his assumption of duty in June 2009. Upon his nomination, a section of the Nigerian media aiming to diminish Sanusi’s academic qualifications and sound experience in banking, had described him as an Islamic scholar.

As the immediate past Managing Director of First Bank (the first Northerner to be so named), Sanusi had his suspicion and after he was appointed the CBN Governor, further audit confirmed to him that some Nigerian banks were simply cooking up figures to give the impression that all was well.

Having established incontrovertible facts that there was criminal meddling with depositors’ funds, Sanusi shared this information with the Nigerian Police and the EFCC. A Nigerian court had earlier sentenced Cecilia Ibru, the former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, to six months imprisonment and ordered a forfeiture of ill-gotten

“

As the immediate past Managing Director of First Bank (the first Northerner to be so named), Sanusi had his suspicion and after he was appointed the CBN Governor, further audit confirmed to him that some Nigerian banks were simply cooking up figures to give the impression that all was well

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Man, 28, jailed for damaging Keke NAPEP

By Amaike Beauty with agency report

A

The Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Alh. Yahaya Musa Mohammed during a meeting with traditional heads in the council recently.

Photo: Adeola Tukuru

Mechanic arraigned for cheating Nigerian Police A

28-year-old mechanic, Malo Mafiyai of Jaji village, Abuja, yesterday appeared before an Abuja Upper Area Court charged with cheating the Nigeria Police.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mafiyai is standing trial on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating, the offences contravened section

312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

The police prosecutor, Mr Danjuma Abdul, told the court that the case was reported at Dutse Alhaji Police Station by one ASP Haruna Yohanna on Nov. 9,2012.

Abdul said that sometime in October this year, the accused was entrusted with the sum of N60,000 to be used to overhaul a Nigeria Police Force Toyota Hilux Patrol Van with

registration number NPF 237 C. He added that the accused was expected to fix the top gasket, engine oil, oil filter and rings of the vehicle.

The prosecutor said that the accused failed to execute the job but converted the money to his personal use.

Mafiyai pleaded not guilty to the charges and the prosecutor prayed the court to fix a date

for trial in view of the plea.

The prosecutor also asked the court to grant the police custody of the accused person to enable the force conduct further investigation into the matter.

The judge, Malam Lawal Mannir, remanded the accused in police custody.

He adjourned the case to Dec. 13,2012 for hearing.

(NAN).

Kuje chairman urges NYSC members to be creative

By Adeola Tukuru

C

hairman of Kuje Area Council, Danladi Etsu Zhin has called on National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the area council to be enterprising during their service year.

Zhin made the call during a workshop on Agric Allied Skills organised by the Batch-A corps

members serving with the Agric Department of the area council.

Represented by his personal assistant, Mr Gambo Bako, the chairman urged the corps members to take advantage of the skills acquired and put to good use the knowledge gained from the workshop.

The Head of Agric Department, Kuje Area Council, Mr kayode

Babatunde, commended the efforts of the corps members and advised them to be proactive in their places of primary assignment.

Mr Barnabas Jafet, a Batch-A corps member said that the objective of the workshop was to empower corps members to contribute to the development of their societies by reducing unemployment. ``Only one per cent out of the

total number of corps members currently serving may be gainfully employed after the service year,'' he said.

The NYSC supervisor in the area council, Mrs Elizabeth Erughaen, also encouraged the corps members to see the workshop as a rare opportunity and privilege.

She advised the corps members to acquire skills in agriculture to guarantee self employment.

Account officer in court for criminal misappropriation

A

27-year-old accounts officer, Francis Idokoko, of No. 16D Jigo Extension, Bwari, Abuja, appeared before an Abuja Magistrates Court over an alleged criminal misappropriation of funds.

Police prosecutor, BubaIrimiya, told the court that one Cyprian Linhundibe,

of Peace Micro-Finance Bank, Utako, Abuja, reported the matter at the Utako police station, on Nov. 7,2012.

Irimiya said the accused dishonestly diverted the money he had collected from customers to his own personal use.

He said that the accused,

being the accounts officer collected the sum of N664, 000 from customers and did not remit same to the bank.

He added that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 309 of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The presiding magistrate,

Mimi Katsina- Alu, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 and two sureties in like sum. She said the sureties must be of a fixed address and resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

Katsina-Alu adjourned the case to Nov. 29, 2012 for hearing.

n Abuja Senior Magistrates Court on Wednesday sentenced one Zubairu Mohammed, 28, of Dagba, Area 1, Garki, Abuja, to nine months imprisonment for causing hurt and mischief.

Senior Magistrate Ann Akobi passed the sentence after Mohammed pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency.

Akobi sentenced Mohammed to 3 months imprisonment for causing hurt and 6 months for mischief.

She, however, gave the convict an option to pay N2, 000 fine for the offence of causing hurt and N2, 000 for mischief.

The senior magistrate said Mohammed must be punished for his actions to serve as a lesson to him and a deterrent to others.

Earlier, police prosecutor Emmanuel Nnamani had said that the case was lodged at the Garki Police Station on Nov, 1, 2012 by Yinka Babalola and Chimezie Chibuzo.

Nnamani said Babalola and Chibuzo were in a Keke NAPEP going to Area 10, Garki, Abuja, when Mohammed, who works with the Keke NAPEP Union, Garki branch, jumped into tricycle, causing it to somersault.

“Due to Mohammed’s action, the Keke somersaulted and got damaged and the passengers sustained injuries in the process,’’ Nnamani said.

He said that Mohammed could not give any reasonable explanation for his action during investigation, adding that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 246 and 327 of the Penal Code.

Mohammed, who pleaded guilty to the charges, said he committed the act in the line of duty.

“I was given a directive from the office not to allow any Keke NAPEP to operate within the Central Business District.

“I tried to stop the Keke NAPEP but the driver wouldn’t stop that was why I jumped into it.”

The prosecutor prayed the court to grant the owner compensation to assist him to repair his Keke.

The magistrate said the prosecutor failed to state the exact amount spent on the repairs of the Keke, adding that the court could not give an order based on assumption.

Akobi, however, ordered the convict to pay N10, 000 as compensation to Chibuzo to support him in the repair of his Keke.

She said that if the convict failed to meet the requirement, he would serve another six months imprisonment.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Facebook fraudster remanded in prison over N140,000 fraud A 28-year old facebook fraudster, Benjamin Asuahor of Eleko town, Lagos State, was on Thursday arraigned before an Abuja Magistrate court, Life camp, FCT for alleged cheating.

The accused, who appeared before Chief Magistrate Rahmatu Gulma, was also charged with criminal breach of trust and criminal intimidation.

The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. John Ijagbemi, told the court that one Amaka Okoye of number 2, Gafia

Street, Nasarawa State, reported the accused at the FCT police command headquarters, Abuja.

Ijagbemi said that on June 4,2012 the accused, who was a facebook contact, proposed to sell ladies wear and hand bags to Okoye at the rate of N140,000.

He said on June 20, Okoye paid the said money into a UBA account, in favour of one Obiowu Felix, but the accused refused to supply the items. The Prosecutor told the court that efforts to get the money back proved abortive, adding that in the

process, the accused threaten to kill Okoye if she insisted on collecting her money back.

He said police investigation had discovered that the accused was only a scam that neither had a job nor a shop. Ijagbemi said the accused was charged with criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal intimidation, which is contrary to the provisions of sections 312, 322 and 397 of the Penal Code.

When the accused was asked if the allegations leveled against him

Two scavengers at Nyanya refuse dumps, Abuja.

here true, he pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, however, urged the court for an adjournment and urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody till the next adjourned date.

He argued that the accused had no fixed address within the jurisdiction of the court and if granted bail on any grounds, he was liable to jump bail.

Chief Magistrate Gulma, remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case to Nov. 21, 2012 for hearing. (NAN)

Photo: Mahmud Isa

2 men jailed for attempting to steal NITEL cables

A

n Abuja Senior Magistrates Court has sentenced two men to six months imprisonment each for attempting to steal NITEL cables.

The convict are Abibu Abubakar, 20, and Umar Inusa, 24, resident of Dutse Pantaker, Abuja.

The magistrate, Mr Bashir Alkali, however, gave them an option of fine of N10, 000 each.

Prosecutor Monday Akor told the court that on Nov. 10,2012 a

team of policemen arrested the convicts while on patrol.

According to him, the policemen led by Cpl. Friday Ugwu, were on patrol on Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja, when they saw the convicts parading themselves suspiciously at that late hour.

Akor told the court that one saw blade and one curve iron were found in their possession.

He said on investigation the convicts had planned to vandalise

communication cable belonging to the Nigerian Telecommunication (NITEL).

Akor said that the offence contravened Sections 97 and 95 of the Penal Code.

The convict had told the court that that they came from Zamfara on the request of some individuals to do a job for them in Abuja. ``We had no idea of the type of job we were hired to do as we were dropped at the point we were arrested by the police.

``It was while we were waiting for them that the policemen arrested us and since then we have been trying to reach the people that hired us,'' the convicts claimed.

The presiding magistrate said that on listening to the explanations of the Abubakar and Inusa, it was not convincing, describing them as economic saboteurs.

While sentencing them to six months and an option of N10, 000 fines each, he said it would serve as a deterrent to others. (NAN)

Man bags two months imprisonment for criminal trespass, theft

A

n Abuja Senior Magistrates Court yesterday sentenced one Yakubu Namadi to two months' imprisonment with hard labour for criminal trespass and theft.

Senior Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna,, however, gave the convict an option of fine of N2,000.

Police prosecutor Christian Munonye told the court that on Nov 9,2012 one Yakubu Liman of No 31, Area 1, Garki, Abuja, reported the convict at the Garki

Police Station.

Munonye said that Liman told the police that on the same day, by 4.00 am, while he (Liman), was asleep, Namadi trespassed into his compound at Utako village.

According to Munonye, the convict gained entrance into the compound by jumping through the back fence and stole two Tecno cell phones, one Nokia and LG X330 phones, all valued at N21,000. ``He had stolen from one house in the same compound before

going to the house of Liman to steal while Liman was asleep. ``He was, however, was caught in the act,'' Munonye said.

The prosecutor said that the offences of criminal trespass and theft were contrary to sections 248 and 288 of the Penal Code.

Namadi, who pleaded guilty, begged the court for leniency promising that he would never commit such a crime again.

Reacting to Namadi's plea, the prosecutor urged the court to try

him summarily under Section 157(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

Iyanna said that the sentence was to serve as a deterrent to "able bodied young men" who have the strength to be productive but have rather resorted to stealing. ``While serving his prison term, he will learn how to use his strength for positive things rather than jumping people's fences, at odd hours, to steal,'' Iyanna said.

(NAN)

Kwali council partners traditional birth attendants for HIV prevention

By Adeola Tukuru with agency report

T

he Chief Nursing Officer, Kwali Area Council, Mrs Elizabeth Gabi, said that the council has concluded plans to involve Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), to mobilise pregnant women for antenatal.

Gabi stated this in an interview stated that the Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) were also to assist the pregnant women in accessing HIV testing at the clinic.

Gabi, who is also the HIV and AIDS Coordinator, said the council would go from ward to ward to educate the TBAs on the need to encourage pregnant women to know their HIV status.

According to her, there are 10 wards in the council and each ward has a health centre that carries out counseling. ``TBAs are experienced women in the communities, they live at various communities in the council. ``they normally assist pregnant women during labour and post deliveries. ``Also, we hope to sensitise them on the risk of delivering them without proper knowledge of their HIV status," Gabi explained. NAN reports that this plan was in line with the FCT Agency for the Control of AIDS strategic goal of achieving zero new infection, discrimination, HIV and AIDS related deaths by 2015.

The transmission of HIV from an HIV-positive mother to her child could occur during pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding of a child. ``In the absence of any intervention, transmission rates could range from 15-45 per cent. ``This rate can be reduced to levels below five per cent with effective interventions. ``Also, we are going to use the community heads to sensitise the men on the need to encourage their wives to attend antenatal," she added.

According to Gabi, TBAs will serve as a vehicle through which more than 200 pregnant women are to be mobilised and sensitised on preventing mother -to-child transmission (PMTCT).

Gabi said that PMTCT HIV and AIDS services were always available at Kwali General Hospital, private hospitals and other private organisations. ``In terms of PMTCT HIV and AIDS we run antenatal every day.

"We don't have specific days because pregnant women come from various parts of the council and some are far to reach.

"We also give them health talk most especially on PMTCT and during the health talk. ``we normally encourage them to educate their husbands too.

She said the health attendants also visit the pregnant women in their homes to know their heath condition and to encourage them to attend antenatal.

She also encouraged the women to engage themselves in petty trading and not to depend wholly on their husbands.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 17

Women selling fura da nono yesterday in Dutse, Abuja.

Engine oil retailers waiting for patronage yesterday in Apo village, Abuja.

Some women going to the popular local market in Bwari, Abuja.

Bags of grains at Garki market, Abuja.

Scavengers scrambling for used items in a refuse dump site, yesterday in Garki 2, Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-Owo

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

Three cars up for grab

Mob: 08033644990

InterSwitch presents First Bank with ‘Milestone Achievement’ award

By Muhammad Nasir

N

L-R: Group Managing Director, Interswitch Limited, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe (left), Group Managing Director/ CEO, FirstBank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya and Group Head, E-Business, Mr. Chuma Ezirim at the presentation of “Milestone Achievement Award” from Interswitch to FirstBank in recognition of the Bank’s leading role in driving electronic banking in Nigeria. The presentation was made at the Bank’s headquarters in Lagos on Wednesday.

igeria’s leading electronic transaction company, InterSwitch Limited, has presented First Bank PLC, with a Milestone Achievement Award for being the first bank to cross the over 5million verve card user landmark.

The award according to InterSwitch is for “significant feats in card issuance and transactional activity” by the bank.

According to the Group Managing Director of InterSwitch; Mr Mitchell Elegbe, “First Bank is deserving of this plaque as it again distinguishes itself from the pack.”

The award also recognizes key areas in electronic transaction switching and payment process which includes the following: The first bank to hit the 90% card activity rate across the

switch since the issuance of the Verve Chip & PIN card and also the fastest issuer of Verve Debit cards across the InterSwitch network in the last 12 months is the first bank to hit the 5million card issuance mark on the InterSwitch network FirstBank is the first bank with card activity growth rate from 56% to 91% in the last 12months and also is the pioneer bank to start the Customer Selectable PIN process i.e. customers are able to choose a PIN of choice instantly upon issuance of cards FirstBank is the pioneer bank to begin instant issuance of cards upon request.

InterSwitch Limited is an independent company focused on facilitating the exchange of value between service providers (financial, telecommunications and utilities), merchants, their customers, and other stakeholders on a timely and continuous basis nationwide.

LASSACO records N2.7bn gross premium Socite Generale bank to soon From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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ASSACO Assurance Plc. has announced a gross premium income of N2.7 billion for the financial year ended 31st December, 2011.

This represents 32 % appreciation when compared with N2.0 billion written in the 2010 financial year.

Gross premium earned also stood at N2.66 billion against N2.05 billion in the previous year while total income increased to N2.2 billion from N1.7 billion written in the 2010 financial year.

Addressing shareholders at the company’s 32nd annual general meeting in Lagos, the Chairman, Chief Edward Akin

Leigh stated: “Despite the prevalent insecurity and stability in the parts of the country during the year under review and the impact of a tough economy, all of which slowed down business opportunities and development, we were still able to post 24 % growth in our premium earned, which is N2.1 billion in 2011 against N1.2 billion in 2010”, he said.

Claims paid within the period dropped to N244.6 million from N326.2 million recorded in the 2010 financial year while total expenses which stood at N773.6 million decreased to N536.5 million in the period under review.

Underwritten profit increased to N1.7 billion from

961.1 million written in 2010 while profit before tax which stood at N322.5 million in the previous year, grew to N487.9 million in the year under review.

Profit after tax however dropped to N213 million from N249 million written in the 2010 financial year, this, the chairman attributed to the impact of lower planned investment and other income and general unfavourable business environment within the period.

Total assets increased to N9.8 billion in 2011 from N8.9 billion recorded in 2010 while shareholders fund which showed N6.3 billion in 2010 also rose to N6.5 billion in the period under review.

FG begins revitalisation of Abuja commodity exchange

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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he Federal Government has commenced the process of transforming the Abuja Securities and Commodity Exchange (ASCE) into a first-class commodity exchange.

The measure is part of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment’s broader Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan.

The Managing Director, ASCE, Mr. Yusuf Abdurrahim who stated this on Wednesday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ sensitization workshop on the revitilisation of the Exchange said the transformation is expected to be completed in the next 12 months.

Abdurrahim disclosed that a new bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Independent

Ware House Regulatory Agency would soon be sent to the National Assembly.

He noted that the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, had already initiated reforms aimed at making ASCE a world class institution in line with the

Transformation Agenda of the present administration.

He noted that the workshop was to sensitise stakeholders on the Commodity Exchange Project and to discuss the various building blocks of a functional Commodity Exchange.

re-open as Heritage Bank - NDIC

By Aminu Imam

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mbattled Societe Generale Bank Nigeria (SGBN) Limited, is to commence operations under a new name, Heritage Banking Corporation Ltd. This was revealed by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Director, Special Insured Institutions, Bashir D Umar at the 2012 workshop for Business Editors and Finance Correspondents yesterday in Dutse, Jigawa state.

The Director said that Societe Generale Bank, owned by the Saraki family, will come back, operating as a regional bank five years after its licence was restored to the owners through an Abuja Federal High Court judgement.

He also revealed that Savannah Bank, which likewise got its licence back through the same court judgment in 2009

Cocoa prices surge 3.1%

By Chris Alu

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ocoa futures jumped to a more-than-three-week high after Ivory Coast’s president dissolved his cabinet, reigniting concerns of political

Management Tip of the Day

B

3 tips for rewarding bonuses

onus season can be tough for managers. They have to decide who to reward and how to best reward them.

And with many companies cutting back on perks, these decisions can be extremely difficult. Here are three tips to keep in mind as you navigate bonus season:

1. Follow company policies.

Most companies have protocols in place to make allocation decisions. Look to your boss or HR for guidance so that you are aligned.

2.Tie awards to accomplishments. Bonuses are only motivating and meaningful if they are connected directly to

will soon recapitalise.

“They should be opening their doors to the public very soon. I don’t know how soon, but most of the things that they need to do from our end are more or less 80 percent completed”, he noted.

The CBN revoked the operating licence of Savannah Bank in February 2002, while that of Societe Generale Bank was revoked on January 16, 2006. The NDIC and CBN handed over Savannah Bank to the owners on June 9, 2009, with a promise of ensuring a speedy conclusion of the necessary processes for re-opening the bank to the public.

Alh. Umar also stated that the court is yet to decide on whether the licenses of three other merchant banks, Peak Merchant Bank Limited, whose license was revoked on Feb. 28, 2003, Fortune and Triumph Merchant Banks, whose licenses had also been revoked on Jan.16, 2006 would be restored.

specific achievements.

3. Be transparent. Make it clear from the outset what people need to do to earn rewards. When delivering the news, be open and honest about how you came to the decision you did.

Source: Harvard Business Review

instability in the world’s largest producer of the main raw ingredient in chocolate.

President Alassane Ouattara dismissed his entire cabinet amid a dispute over a bill that would make husbands and wives joint heads of households.

Political strife in the nation previously has rocked the cocoa market. This new standoff comes almost two years since Mr. Ouattara was elected in a contentious vote that sparked months of violence. The election aftermath also included a cocoa export ban from Ivorian officials that sent prices for the commodity to a 32-year high in March 2011.

The latest political turmoil in the supplier of more than a third of the world’s cocoa set off a rally.

PEOPLES DAILY,FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS

NIMASA

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he Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) in Abuja has decried the repeated failure of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration (NIMASA) to render its audited accounts from 2007 to 2011.

Officials of the commission, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Yelwa, met with NIMASA officials, led by the Director-General of the agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi.

In his remarks before the meeting went into a closed-door, the Director, Policy and Standards, FRC, Dr Sylvanus Mordi, said NIMASA ignored requests to submit its audited accounts from 2007 to 2011.

He said the fact that the agency’s financial statement for the periods had not been prepared and published was a clear violation of Section 23 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

On budgetary planning, Mordi said that NIMASA was listed among the 31 corporations, commissions and agencies owned by the Federal Government expected to submit their Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for three years.

SON, partners Korea on standards, conformity assessment

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n furtherance of its cam paign on zero-tolerance to substandard products initiative and the human and testing capacity development efforts, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria has secured an ally in the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS).

SON Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu got the commitment from the Administrator of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards Mr. Seo, Kwang-hyun and his management team during a recent visit to KATS as part of a quality assurance visit to some major Korea companies exporting to the Nige-

ria Market.

Welcoming the SON delegation to KATS, Mr. Seo expressed the interest of his agency in profiling the quality of Korean products exported to Nigeria using accredited Laboratories under the Standards Organisation of Nigeria off-shore Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP).

According to him, Korea has six internationally accredited laboratories with capacity for testing in specialized areas including, electrical/electronics; household equipment; machinery and materials; standards and measurements; environmental technology equipment; medical devices

and telecommunications, including mobile telephones.

He disclosed that the Korean Government through KATS and its sister agencies have been providing a lot of support for Africa through human capacity development programmes one of which is scheduled to hold in Korea between November 18 and 29, 2012 under the auspices of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) of which Dr. Odumodu is the acting President.

Responding, the SON Director General expressed delight at the product testing capabilities, research and development invest-

AMCON

Three cars up for grab

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ith the dearth of funds for agribusiness, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina has advocated injection of funds from the pensions and Asset Management Company (AMCON), to finance the agricultural sector through long term bonds.

Specifically, the Minister, while delivering a lecture titled, The New Agricultural Transformation in Nigeria: Opportunities for Banks and Other Stakeholders in Economic Diversification, at the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria 2012 yearly lecture in Lagos, yesterday, urged stakeholders to consider raising long term bonds to finance the agricultural sector.

Fidelity Bank

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n furtherance to its commitment to environmental sustainability and risk management, Fidelity Bank Plc has adopted the Equator Principles.

The Equator Principles are a credit risk management framework for determining, assessing and managing environmental and social risk in project finance.

The Principles are adopted voluntarily by financial institutions and are applied where total project capital costs exceed US$10 million.

By adopting the Equator Principles, the bank commits to providing loans only to projects that pass environment risk assessment, such that focus on profit making does not endanger human lives.

ments and development of innovative brands by the Korean companies visited as well as the Korean Testing Laboratory (KTL).

Dr. Odumodu KATS for the rapid growth of the nation's economy and its industrialization in the last 20 years, stressing that Nigeria stands to benefit a lot from their experience while it provides greater opportunity for trade with Korea in view of its large population, mineral and human resources.

He therefore welcomed the interest expressed by KATS in the SONCAP and also called for collaboration in other areas like laboratory and human capacity development as well as promotion of small and medium scale enterprises in which the Korea has a lot of competence.

This according to him will allow for actualising the great potentials for a rapid increase in the volume of trade between Korea and Nigeria, which Mr. Seo said rose to about N3.3billion in 2011.

The SON DG and his Korean counterpart then proposed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations with a view to exploring the signing of a trade agreement between the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment of Nigeria and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy of Korea.

…as Unity Bank holds Promo grand finale

By Aminu Imam R-L: Director, Halta Travels and Tours, Mr. Thomas Ahmed, Executive Director, Halta Travel and Tours, Mrs. Lami Ahmed, Director Crinse International Pullinantur Mr. Vincenzo Oriandini and President Nigeria Malaysia Business Counsel,Mr. Larry Segun Lean, during the reception of Criuse Partners and Symposium on Halta Truise Packages, on wednesday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Intrigues over SON 40% of FMTI’s N16.21bn 2013 budget Stories by Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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ll is not well at the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment since it proposed N2.4bn from N16.2bn representing about 40 per cent of the ministry proposed 2013 Federal Budget to the Standard Organisation Nigerian (SON), as other agencies under the ministry as begin to silently protest the allocation to SON. The ministry is expected to divide its N16.2bn proposed spending 18 agencies under its statutory supervision wish include SON, Centre for Automotive Design and Development, National Automotive Council, Abuja, Industrial Training Fund, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Consumer Protection Council, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos.

Also , Federal Produce Inspection, Onne Oil and Gas Free

Zones Authority, Tafawe Balewa Square Management Board , Abuja Securities and Commodity Exchange , Small and Medium Development Enterprise Agency of Nigeria , three External Trade Sector, in Geneva, Shangahi and Taiwan and Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission .

The agencies, under the control of the ministry headed

by Olusegun Aganga has begin to lamented that SON grabbing of highest among the agencies in the ministry’s budgetary allocation is not healthy for the growth of other 18 agencies which are currently groaning under fund shortage.

While aggrieved, some Director-General under the ministry believe ‘the allocation is unjustifiable’, when many other agencies under the ministry are not are dying of funds.

An aggrieved CEO cited a situation where more than 100 million naira was used to destroy sub-standard tyres.

Experts also argue that the Ministry of Trade and Investment should devote its larger part of its budget to Small Scale business and non oil sector by providing them with more funds to achieve the present transformational agenda.

They argue that a situation where the country needs industrial training centres in the 36 states to reduce the level of unemployment in the country.

“ITF has been in need of vocational skill training centres, an equipment can cost N15 million or even more but how much is budgeted to ITF that has plans to set up industrial skill centres that will cost about N3.5 billion each.”

A top official in the ministry said the budget allocation was based on proposed activities and projects of the agencies in the incoming budgetary year.

“All agencies submitted their inputs to budget before we pass it to the presidency, but you can SON how they get that large share”, he stated.

U

nity Bank Plc has set aside three brand new cars to be won by Customers who participated in its Aim, Save & Win Promo. The cars will be won at the grand final of the Promo which is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

At the previous National Draws, Bikudaimai, a civil servant in Maiduguri was the first car winner. Abubakar Tata, a businessman from Hadejia, and a school teacher in Afuze, Edo State, Mary Iruafemi won the second and third car respectively.

The Bank’s Head of Media and External Communication, Sani Zaria said that besides the three cars in the Saturday grand finale, other prizes that have not been won would be up grabs. These include a total of N5million scholarship awards for kids.

Sani also revealed that from the commencement of the promo in March to date, a total of three cars, 15 motorcycles, 21, television sets, 48 refrigerators, 50 bicycles and over 700 mobile phones have been won.

He added that the Bank will continue to support and reward its loyal customers with not only the savings promo, but through the introduction of products that are beneficial to all classes of people.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 21

Non-Interest Banking in Nigeria-Tax Issues (I)

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he storm surrounding the introduction of NonInterest Banking (NIB) commonly called Islamic banking is gradually settling down and it is important to begin to exhume the challenges that might crop up in its operations with particular reference to the taxation of the sub-sector by the relevant tax authorities, especially the setting of standards for the type of taxes that apply and that are to be collected from the transactions.

As the name implies, NonInterest Banking (NIB) is a system of financial services that provide unique services in accordance with Islamic religious jurisprudence and Sharia principle and fully regulated by the relevant regulatory authorities as provided for in sections 9, 23 and 52 of the Banks and other Financial Institution Act (BOFIA) 1991 as amended.

The CBN is empowered by law, to issue licenses to appropriate entities for the establishment of Non-Interest Banks provided they meet the regulatory requirements.

The establishment of an enabling ?scal and regulatory framework in the UK for Islamic Finance becomes more imperative today than ever.

Though the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) technical Working Group on NIB is working assiduously to enunciate policies that will guide the tax regulation governance of this sub-sector. It is also crucial for sector stakeholders to step in and make valuable contribution to engender a mutually acceptable tax system on the operations of Islamic Banking in the Country.

Islamic financial instruments continue to attract consumer attention, with the central element of being interest-free products in compliance with Islamic Sharia law. According to financial sources, the value of funds involved in Islamic banking worldwide grew by an average of 15% annually over the past three years. Some analysts estimate Islamic banking to be worth some $500 billion, with the Middle East controlling a quarter of those assets. Kuwait is reportedly the biggest contributor, accounting for almost 29% of the sector’s value in the Gulf region. It is followed by Saudi Arabia with about 27%, and the UAE with 15.2%. Nigeria with its 160 million people should definitely not be left out of emerging business frontier. The unbanked population can be a key target.

There are a number of challenges that have to be addressed for the successful Introduction and operation of Islamic banking in Nigeria.

Indeed the challenges are numerous, the absence of skilled workforce and the technical capacity to even regulate Islamic financial institutions are lacking and must be resolved before we can witness a boom in this banking sub-sector.

Much has been said of the Lack of Sharia-compliant liquidity management instruments.

Islamic banks cannot invest their

L-R: Coordinating Director, Field Operation Group, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FRIS), Mr. Akin Ogungbesan, Coordinating Director, Standards Compliance Group FIRS, Mr. Andy Ejjemeyovwi and Acting Executive Chairman FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, during FIRS VAT Stakeholders meeting and Educational Forum,recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo excess liquidity in interest-based instruments, which are the liquidity management instruments in the money market.

This puts them at a disadvantage side by side with conventional banks. The current interbank market and the instruments used by the Central Bank for monetary policy operations are all interest-based with no equivalent government securities or other money market instruments that are Shariah compliant, all of which are essential to avoid a liquidity bottleneck for Islamic banks when they come into operation.

Another key deficiency that has been hotly discussed is the lack of knowledge of accounting and auditing standards pertinent to Islamic financial institutions. The balance-sheet structure of Islamic banks is unique, and even though the work of the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) on accounting and auditing standards for Islamic banking products is available, there is the need to train conventional accountants and auditors in the application of the standards and how it can be used with the recent benchmark of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Should NIB products be taxed as conventional banking products? One of the best ways to understand Islamic banking is to gain an understanding of the products that are considered acceptable. The important thing to remember is, as it is with the Christian Bible, there are several differing interpretations of what

the Holy Quran and the Hadith actually intend. As a result, not all of these products are universally acceptable (particularly those where the return is determinable in advance), but they are a useful guide. Several of these are covered below: Wadiah (Safekeeping)-In Wadiah, a bank is deemed as a keeper and trustee of funds. A person deposits funds in the bank and the bank guarantees refund of the entire amount of the deposit, or any part of the outstanding amount, when the depositor demands it. Mudarabah (Profit Loss Sharing) Mudarabah is an arrangement or agreement between a capital provider and an entrepreneur, whereby the entrepreneur can mobilise funds for its business activity.

Musharakah (Joint Venture), this concept is normally applied for business partnerships or joint ventures. The profits made are shared on an agreed ratio, while losses incurred will be divided based on the equity participation ratio. This concept is distinct from fixed-income investing (i.e. issuance of loans).Murabahah (Cost Plus), this concept refers to the sale of goods at a price, which includes a profit margin agreed to by both parties.

The purchase and selling price, other costs and the profit margin must be clearly stated at the time of the sale agreement.

The bank is compensated for the time value of its money in the form of the profit margin. Bai’ Bithaman Ajil (Deferred Payment Sale), this concept refers to the sale of goods on a deferred payment

basis at a price, which includes a profit margin agreed to by both parties. This is similar to Murabahah, except that the debtor makes only a single instalment, on the maturity date of the loan. By the application of a discount rate, an Islamic bank can collect the market rate of interest. Qardul Hassan (Benevolent Loan), it is a loan extended on a goodwill basis, and the debtor is only required to repay the amount borrowed.

However, the debtor may, at his or her discretion, pay an extra amount beyond the principal amount of the loan (without promising it) as a token of appreciation to the creditor.

Ijarah Thumma Al Bai’ (Hire Purchase), these are variations on a theme of purchase and lease back transactions. There are two contracts involved in this concept.

The first contract, Ijarah contract (leasing/renting) and the second contract, Bai’ contract (purchase) are undertaken one after the other.

Bai’ al-Inah (Sell and Buy Back Agreement)-The financier sells an asset to the customer on a deferred payment basis and then the asset is immediately repurchased by the financier for cash at a discount. The buying back agreement allows the bank to assume ownership over the asset in order to protect against default without explicitly charging interest in the event of late payments or insolvency.

Sukuk (Islamic Bonds), in keeping with the prohibition of riba, a conventional bond is not permitted. A Sukuk bond,

however, is asset-backed and the returns on it are not fixed, but are linked to the return on the assets purchased with the proceeds of the issue.

Interestingly there is no tax law specifically to regulate the NIB in Nigeria. The current tax legislation therefore has to be strengthened urgently to accommodate the operations of the NIB institutions. Aside the Jaiz Bank Plc and Lotus Capital currently operating noninteresting banking institutions in Nigeria non other exists. Clear tax legislation is the required to back the guidelines created by the Central Bank to spur up growth in this sector.

The key issues are; how would Company Income Tax be charged on Musharaka, Mudarabah and Sukuk (is it be charged like conventional bonds)? Or VAT on Ijara? The collection of taxes such as Company Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Withholding Tax and Stamp Duty need to be properly highlighted and guided by appropriate legislation to avoid multiple taxation of the sub-sector.

Does the purchase and then onward sale of assets by the Islamic financier result in any capital gains or other profit-based tax?

What will be an equitable VAT framework on Islamic banking products? Issues remain unclear.

Is VAT, which tends to be a key tax type with greater focus on delivery procedure in commodity m u r a b a h a / t a w a r u q transactions, be an issue? Islamic Finance requires proper documentary evidence of the transfer of title from the original supplier to the financier.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 22

Foreign investors, market reforms put NSE ahead of peers Q3 From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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espite the global economic slowdown plaguing global equity markets, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has witnessed an impressive run in its Q3 (third quarter) 2012 as the All Share Index (ASI) gained a 20.43 percent leap during the period, after a previous dive in its Q2 well ahead of global

peers, owing to foreign investors and market making reforms.

Foreign investors again dominated activity in the market, accounting for 81 percent of trading activity, according to the NSE, likely supported by cheap capital finding its way into Emerging Markets on the back of continued quantitative easing from major central banks.

A previous review shows despite a tepid NSEASI performance in H1 (4.2 percent), a resurgence ensued in Q3 as most sectors rallied buoyed by better than expected results in some sectors, increased interest from international investors, as well as the commencement of some NSE reform initiative to enhance market efficiency.

While reviewing NSE’s Q3

performance, analyst at ARM research noted as part of their outlook the current resurgence of the market would continue for the rest of the year, partly hinged on some market catalyst, such as the timing of NSE reforms, as well as low fixed income yields – which began in Q3 due to the announcement of Nigerian Bonds included on the JP Morgan Bond Index.

L-R: Front end controller, Shoprite EnuguVanessa Umeh, Chief Matron & Officer in-charge of the Daughters of Divine Love catholic institute, Rev. Sister Maria Goutti, Sales manager Shoprite Enugu, Nnenna Anyadiegwu, and Shelf packer, Donatus Nnamani, - when the management team of Shoprite Enugu donated N320,000 worth of shopping vouchers to the DDL Prolife Center Enugu; via Shoprites' Help-Change-A-Life Charity project.

Dangote to build N300bn fertiliser plant in Edo

By Aminu Imam

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hairman Dangote Group, Alh. Aliko Dangote, has concluded plans to build a N300 billion fertiliser plant in Agenebode, Edo State.

Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man, made the disclosure, on Monday, at a reception in Benin City to mark the 2nd term inauguration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

He said the company, when built, will employ more than ten thousand people directly and indirectly.

“Comrade Oshiomhole has delivered on road, infrastructure, but now he’s going to deliver on job creation,” Dangote said.

“We will partner with him to make sure he gives us a conducive environment to create jobs here in Edo State.

“He has already mentioned that we will set up a fertiliser plant here in Edo State. I am sure he wants me to reaffirm that. Yes, we will build the biggest fertilizer plant in Africa

here in Edo State.”

The industrialist said that the project is planned to commence in December or January 2013, adding that it will be completed

in three years.

By “December or January, next year, we will perform the groundbreaking ceremony in Edo State,” he said. “I am

reassuring you, in the presence of everybody, that in the next three years, Edo State will be exporting fertilizer from here to other parts of Africa.”

First Hydrocarbon sees increased production in Ogini and Isoko fields

By Muhammad Nasir with agency report

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irst Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited (FHN) has announced that an independent assessment of the reserve and contingent recourse potential of the Ogini and Isoko fields has significantly increased 2P reserves and combined 2P/2C resources.

Following completion of an independent assessment of the reserve and contingent resource potential of the Ogini and Isoko fields for FHN, gross remaining 2P oil reserves at the fields have been estimated at 129.3 million barrels and gross contingent resources have been estimated at 75.7

million barrels.

This represents a 218 per cent and 12 per cent increase on 2P reserves and 2P+2C volumes respectively, that were previously carried by FHN. FHN acquired a 45 percent interest in the OML 26 portfolio of assets from the Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture (“SPDC”) in December 2011 and raised US$280 million of syndicated debt and mezzanine finance to fund the field development and further inorganic growth.

The OML 26 portfolio of assets holds two producing fields (Ogini and Isoko, with 2P oil reserves estimated at 129.3 million barrels and gross contingent resources

estimated at 75.7 million barrels) and three proven but undeveloped fields (Aboh, Ovo and Ozoro, with an estimated 144 mmboe of gross contingent resources (previous operator’s estimates)), as well as a further 615 mmboe of gross prospective resources on the block.

OML 26 also has gas resources of 582 bcf (2C) and 1076 bcf (prospective) according to the previous operator’s estimates.

The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (‘’NPDC’’), the oil and gas exploration and production subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (‘’NNPC’’) is the Operator of OML 26 and works closely in partnership with FHN on the redevelopment of the assets.

Naira appreciates across four segments of forex markets – FMDA

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ast month, the value of the naira against the US dollar appreciated in all the four segments of the foreign exchange (forex) markets, recording an average of 3kobo at the Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN), 25kobo at Interbank, 100kobo at Bureau De Change (BDC) and 100Kobo at the parallel market, relative to September’s average rate.

The Financial Market Dealers Association of Nigeria (FMDA) in its latest financial and economic report for October, hinged the foreign exchange (forex) gain on the recent review of the foreign exchange management policy, with increased complementary dollar sales from energy companies.

The US dollar traded between N155.75/$ – N155.78/$ at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS), N157.04/$ – N157.20/$ at the Interbank, N158/$– N159.00/$ at BDC and N159/$ – N159.50/$ at the parallel market. The range widened more for the BDC and parallel markets in the month under review.

“The premium between CBN and Parallel market, as at end-October lowered to 2.08 percent from 2.32 percent recorded at the end of September 2012. The above premium is 292bps below the international benchmark of 5% which has demonstrated the CBN’s capacity to tame further volatility in the bud and to avoid speculators from having a field day, as well as the possibility of a dollarised economy, consequent upon the MPC communiqué resolution end-July,” said FMDA. At the WDAS, the report showed that the wholesale market for foreign exchange fell markedly in market demand compared to the preceding month.

“The apex bank offered $1.250billion and sold $1.10billion, in relation to $1.590billion offered and $1.54billion sold in September 2012, reflecting a decrease of 27.2 percent and 28.6 percent respectively. The southward trend of demand from the WDAS window was on the back of progressive dollar inflow from energy giants, estimated at $796.50million and the August 1 policy which had helped to limit speculative activities.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

How science education can be a catalyst for faster economic development

DG of NOTAP, Dr. Umar Bindir

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easoned educationists bemoan the poor performance of Nigerian students in science, saying that their concern stems from the fact that no nation can experience a meaningful development without having a strong science base.

The experts stress that any country that is desirous of development should have a tangible interest in science and technology, ascribing the phenomenal growth of some Asian countries to their resolve to embrace science and technology.

Sharing similar sentiments, Prof. Ita Ewa, the Minister of Science and Technology, noted that the “Asian Tigers’’ were able to achieve their current level of development because they embraced science and technology.

“While some of them embraced a broader scientific culture linked to education, others introduced modern technology with heavy emphasis on building skills,’’ he added.

In spite of the general awareness of the fact that science and technology remains a dependent variable in all pragmatic national development plans, Nigerian students appear not to be doing well in the sciences.

Mr Aina Kola, an educationist, who cited the

performance of students in science subjects in the May/ June West African School Certificate Examinations as an illustration, decried the poor performance.

He said that in 2006, only 22 per cent of the candidates passed in science subjects, while the pass rate for 2007 dropped to 20 per cent.

Kola said that in 2009, 2010 and 2011; the pass rate was 26 per cent, 26 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.

He attributed the candidates’ poor performance in science subjects to the poor infrastructure, the students’ attitude to learning and the lack of appropriate teaching skills by science teachers, among others.

However, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, described the declining interest of students in the study of mathematics and sciencerelated courses as unacceptable.

She stressed that the trend should be checked if the country must move forward.

Rufai’i stressed that Nigeria could not achieve any meaningful progress without promoting the study of mathematics and other sciences, adding that tangible efforts should be made to encourage excellence in science

education and research.

However, the Federal Ministry of Education,

through the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP),

Minister of Science and Technology, Prof ita Ewa

has been addressing some of the critical challenges militating against science education, especially in secondary schools.

To expand the students’ access to laboratory equipment, Dr. Umar Bindir, NOTAP’s DirectorGeneral, said that the agency was collaborating with research institutes and relevant agencies to provide locally made science laboratory equipment.

“We believe that the slowness in the study of science is probably because the facilities are not available but Nigerians can provide these materials even at cheaper prices,’’ he said.

Bindir said that all the key institutions in the sector were brought together for the project.

He listed the institutions

as National Institute for Chemical Technology, National Biotechnology Developments Agency, National Mathematical

“

As part of effort to boost science education, Bindir said that NOTAP was engaging some agencies and companies to produce technology storyboards for all primary and secondary schools in the country.

These storyboards will consist of graphic details, showcasing the use of technology to process raw materials into end products

Centre and Raw Materials Research and Development Council, among others.

Bindir said that along the line, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure was also brought into the group.

“We hope that before the end of this year, we should be able to launch a product that is domestic; one with 100-per-cent local content.

“By the time we finish the project, we will lobby the government to enforce a policy that every secondary school in Nigeria must have a science laboratory. This is because we can do it; we don’t need to import anything,’’ he said.

As part of effort to boost science education, Bindir said that NOTAP was engaging some agencies and companies to produce technology storyboards for all primary and secondary schools in the country.

These storyboards will consist of graphic details, showcasing the use of technology to process raw materials into end products.

“I am happy to report that we have got partnerships with industries that have submitted assorted technology storyboards,’’ Bindir said.

The NOTAP chief said that about N200 million would be invested in the project, which would be executed with contributions from industries and other stakeholders.

“They have pledged to be part of the experimentation and the study processes, while providing some of their raw materials and products that can be showcased on the storyboards,’’ he said.

He said that the storyboards will be colaunched by the science and technology minister as well as the education minister before their introduction as a teaching tool.

Besides, Bindir said that NOTAP, in collaboration with a private sector operator, was planning to introduce traditional

Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa'I

technology in schools across the country.

He argued that traditional scientific knowledge, which ought to be kept alive, was gradually fading away.

“We want to bring traditional scientific knowledge back, in order to promote the understanding of science and technology in our schools,’’ he added.

Bindir also announced

plans to introduce an annual award, “The Young Innovation Award’’, to promote inventions and innovations among secondary school students.

Commenting on NOTAP’s programmes, Mr Adebayo Ishola, a teacher, urged the leadership of the agency to ensure all the programmes were realised.

He said it was only after that achievement that

NOTAP would be able to earn the citizens’ commendation.

S t a k e h o l d e r s particularly urge NOTAP and other relevant agencies to sustain efforts to provide locally made laboratory equipment for secondary schools, saying that the venture will surely boost the quality science education.

(NAN Features)

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Muslim traveller: The pains and the anguish (II) Abu Hurairah related that the Messenger of Allah,(SAW), said, "Travelling is a portion of the torment. It denies you your sleep, food, and drink. When you have accomplished your purpose, you should hurry back to your family."

[Muslim: Book 20: Hadith 4725, Muwatta' Malik: Book 54: Hadith 54.15.39]

I

n the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All Praise is due to Allah! We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our evils and bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah, is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and final messenger to mankind. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon His last and final Apostle, his Household, his companions and all his followers until the end of time.

Last week we saw some of anguishes and tribulations Muslim travellers under-go, most especially when they are travelling to America and the West. This week we will be forecasting on the inconveniences they experience both on board and at the airports.

In fact even where prayer rooms are reserved, they are still under surveillance and watch by various security operatives. The mere fact that you ask for where to say your any missed prayers, was enough trouble for you, once you are Muslim. In fairness to our discussion, some airports are less restrictive and unfriendly to praying travellers.

Travelling today, from any point to another entails hardship, mental and psychological anguish, as well as surprising discomfort.

That was why Allah i His infinite mercy, reveals the following concessions for travelers: Allah says: "O ye who believe! approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say,- nor In a state of ceremonial impurity (Except when travelling on the road), until after washing your whole body. if ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been In contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands. for Allah doth Blot out sins and forgive again and again.[anNisa': 43] All thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds for granting us such invaluable concession without asking for it. He is indeed all knowing, all Merciful! Allah indeed is fully aware of our needs resulting from our natural incapacitations and weaknesses, goes further to grant us respite regarding the five daily obligatory prayers; a phenomena that bothers every Muslim's souls while in state of travelling.

The feeling uncomfortableness and incommodiousness and the fear of the sudden strike of death at any point of your journey, made our burden lighter by the teaching and message of the following verses: ''Thy Lord doth know that Thou standest forth (to prayer) nigh twothirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night, and so doth a party of those with thee. but Allah doth appoint night and Day In due measure He knoweth that ye are unable to keep count thereof. so He hath turned to you

(in Mercy): read ye, Therefore, of Book 4 : Hadith 1514 ] Similarly, falling sick or even the Qur'an As much As may be easy for you. He knoweth that death is a normal phase of our there may be (Some) among you being. The two calamities can In ill-health; others travelling sneak to anyone of us regardless of through the land, seeking of Allah's our stqte of affairs. Thus, in the bounty; yet others Fighting In Allah's Cause, read ye, Therefore, As much of the Qur'an As may be easy (for you); and establish

By Husain Zakariyya regular prayer Yawale and give regular charity; and loan to Allah a +234-8052952900 (sms only) beautiful Loan. islamexplained35@yahoo.com and whatever good ye send forth for your souls ye shall find it circumstances one dreads death In Allah's Presence,- yea, better and while on a journey with people he greater, In reward and seek ye the or she is familiar or otherwise, a Grace of Allah. for Allah is Oft- wasiya should be made in from of forgiving, Most Merciful.''[al- some upright witnesses for onward transmission, actualization or the Muzammil: 20]

ISLAM EXPLAINED

and: "When ye travel through the earth, there is no blame on you if ye shorten your prayers, for fear the unbelievers may attack you: for the unbelievers are unto you open enemies."[an-Nisa': 101] We can see in these two verses very clearly how Allah, the allKnowing and the Oft-Merciful gave us unlimited reprieve and an divine pardon to shorten to two, all prayers of four units while on a journey! In addition, the Sunnah went further to complement the concessionary gift of combining two prayers at the instance of them. For example, Zuhr and Asr, and Maghrib and Isha' during either of them; in advance or areas!

Another mercy of Islam is that the prayers can be performed under any circumstance; just as time and space offers. Read the following verse: "Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, ... glory to Thee! give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire."[al-Imran: 191 in fact if there is any cause of uneasiness to a Muslim traveller by whatever means of transportation, is the fear of missing any obligatory prayers on its appointed time!

Anas reported that when the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) had to set out on a journey hurriedly, he delayed the noon prayer to the earlier time for the afternoon prayer, and then he would combine them, and he would delay the sunset prayer to the time when the twilight would disappear and then combine it with the 'Isha' prayer."[ Muslim ::

case may be. The Qur'an clarifies further, thus: "O ye who believe! when death approaches any of you, (take) witnesses among yourselves when Making bequests,- two just men of your own (brotherhood) or others from outside if ye are journeying through the earth, and the chance of death befalls you (thus). if ye doubt (Their Truth), detain them both after prayer, and let them both swear by Allah. "We wish not In This for any worldly gain, Even though the (beneficiary) be Our near relation: we shall hide not the evidence before Allah. if we do, then Behold! the sin be upon us!"[al-Ma'idah: 106] I remember, of course with pains, when in 1995 I was travelling Syria via Cairo, Egypt, what befall me. At that time traveling to Syria was not a one day or two days business from Nigeria. Travelers to Damascus had to transit for two days at Cairo, a night by the airline and the second night at your expense. I with a friend I met on board decided to change a hotel after the free night into the city of Cairo. The taxi driver persuaded us to a hotel Shaharazad in the down town area, against our plan. He unwillingly yielded, and the experience was hell! It was an old deserted hotel by the Nile river with heavy traffic and disturbing noise of trains station. The sounds of the hundreds of cars and train horns gave a restless night. While the rats and mosquitoes inmates entertained with disturbibg music and dancing. Our rooms where very close to first generation lifts, though we were at fourteenth

floor, the squeaking was another nuisance that deprived us our money, peace and sleep. That night was one of the longest one I witnessed!

In the early hours of that morning we set out to the airport unwashed! In fact vacating the hotel was a good relief away from high rising 'prison'!

Eventually, we landed at the D a m a s c u s airport.

The screening and emigrational procedures were efficient and short because there were X-ray and scanner machines.

I stayed for six memorable days in Damascus.

When the social function that took me there for the first time ended, I set out to Lagos via Cairo.

This time the transit was for three days. On arrival at the airport at 8:30 pm local time, we were ushered into the arrival hall for immigration and custom checks.

When it was my turn for clearance into the city, I was politely asked to wait behind. I complied. After all the passengers were cleared, I was asked to come to the immigration office for a chat. I protested and asked me alone? Anyway, i obeyed. The officer in charge asked me my reason of coming to Egypt.

I replied, 'I am forced to transit for three days in Cairo on my home.

He looked at and said, 'you are not allowed to enter our country'! I asked on what ground? He said, 'on my order! I said, 'did I break the laws of your country? He said, not at all; we just do not want you in Cairo! On hearing that, I quickly referred them a Qur'anic verse superscribed on the main entrance of the airport which reads: "...Enter ye Egypt (all) In safety if it please Allah."[Yusuf: 99] He replied with his face turned away from me, and said, 'this verse does not include you! I stayed there stunned and dumfounded! I said, 'alright allow to proceed to Jeddah with any available flight, I have entry visa! On hearing that, he ordered another officer to lock me off in the airport prison until the transit period elapsed! I request for a telephone to inform the Nigerian Ambassador, they refused; that time there was no GSM in Africa. I was finally inequitably escorted into the airport prison at about 2:30 am local time.

The drama reminded me of the glorious story of Prophet Yusuf (AS). The set-up uplifted my perseverance and in my trust in Allah! I immediately murmured some verses of the Qur'an, confirming my recline to Allah!

The verses are: "Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong, and to Him is Our return"[al-Baqarah: 156] "He said: "O My Lord! the prison is more to My liking than that to which They invite Me: unless Thou turn away their snare from me, I should (in My youthful folly) feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant."[Yusuf: 33] In the prison, I met nationals of many nations; French, Moroccan, Ghanaians, Lebanese. There were Muslims and Christians. Soon, it was time for Fajr prayers. I quickly prepare myself for the prayers; I was alone! In the morning, I asked the warder staying with us, when will the breakfast be served? He replied anytime! I said how do you mean, I enquired? Whenever you

are hungry I can buy for you anything you want for a 'baqsheesh'! What is that? 'Tips, he replied courageously! I sent my hand into the chamber of my trouser pocket and gave him for all the inmates. I invited all of them for a group breakfast. That singular offer, naturally made their leader and Imam. I became like Sayyidna Yusuf, their spiritual and prison leader! After two days of incarceration, an officer whispered to if I can give a baqsheesh they can transfer me to the airport hotel on my expense. I hurriedly answered because for two day I hated myself; I was stinking! I paid immediately, and resigned from the leadership role for the comfort of the hotel. On the third day I was escorted to the Lagos bound plane. I was freed al last, without any charges.

Travelling, very true to the saying of the mother of believers, A'Ishah (RD), who was reported to have said, 'Had it not the saying of Apostle of Allah, "Travelling is a fraction of hell fire....", came earlier, I would have said hell fire is a portion of travelling! Thus, one can hardly travel from a point to another, without experiencing the unexpected; a kind of disappointment and frustration.

Allah, the Most High in His typical types of mercifulness, included, probably as a respite due the inherent torture and torment of travelling, promises to grant the supplications of a traveller along two others. The hadith reads, thus: Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: Three supplications are answered, there being no doubt about them; that of a father, that of a traveller and that of one who has been wronged.[Dawud: Book 8: Hadith 1531] According to the tradition of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) never travelled without the following supplications at the instance of riding his camel. He would say: "... "Glory to Him who has subjected these to Our (use), for we could never have accomplished This (by ourselves),"[az-Zukhruf: 13] "... In the name of Allah, whether it move or be at rest! for My Lord is, be sure, Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful!"[Hud: 41] Finally, we should understand that travelling is a very serious venture which may include, travelling for merchandize or trading, for search of knowlegde, for religious purposes such as Hajj, Umrah or pilgrimage to the 'Bait al-Maqdis'. Travelling to visit ones family or relation or visiting the sick or for search of medication or visiting historical monuments with the purpose broadening ones perception of the past in order restrain from making the same mistakes or sins, can be considered as important and allowable. But, travelling for watching games such football, hockey, boxing and similar undertaking are unnecessary. Likewise travelling for social reasons such as tradition tittles coronation, marriage solemnization and condolences are not significant journeys in Islam.

Travelling from hostile nations to safe heaven as hijra or migration is rewardable trip.

For whatever reason, and with whatever means, travelling will ever remain unpredictable. More so that it has never been so difficult and unpredictable as is today.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 27

We must take very aggressive action to eliminate extrimists- Mike Hammer INTERVIEW

L

et me take honor to welcome you. Welcome Mike, what is the Percentage of Muslims in the US? The percentage of Muslims in the US is rather small, but what I would like to emphasize is that Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the US today. The recent survey found out that there are 11,200 mosques in the US, and half of those were just founded in the last 20years. So, it's a rapidly growing religion and as you know, Unites States was built under the notions of religious freedom and religious tolerance guaranteed by our constitution. We interact very much with people of all faiths and have very much respect for people of all religions. It is part of our society, people have different faiths, different cultural back grounds that come from different parts of the world, and its part of our identity.

Are there any positive contributions of Muslims and Islam to the development of the US? Most absolutely, it's something we appreciate, you find Muslims in all works and it's something we appreciate, I have workmates in the State Department who are Muslims. You see Muslims who are involved is sports, doctors, professors, lawyers, so, we find Muslims in every walk of life in US and they make very important contributions as all Americans do.

There is a lot of interest in the world of how Muslims get along in the US but we want to make sure that its well understood that there are many misperceptions, we are welcoming of all faiths, tolerant of religions but we also have core values in terms of freedom of expression.

My incidences seem to prove otherwise of what you are saying, the recent filthy film (innocence of Muslims) is an example , If the US embraces diversity, why would it allow such provocative film that resulted in public outbursts of rage in the Muslim world, leaving scores dead?

This is a question that has been raised in very many parts of the world and I hope you have seen statements by president Obama, Secretary Clinton and a number of US officials. When it comes to the video, it is something that the US government had absolutely nothing to do with. In fact, we absolutely reject the content and the message in the video, Secretary Clinton was very clear about this and she referred to it as disgusting.

In reality, we can't shut down every bit of information in today's world as you know, with the social media, with the internet, there is going to be a lot of problematic, disgusting images, but that should never be an excuse for violence.

We need to talk about these things and talk about the virtues of our religions and beliefs, that's really

Mr. Mike Hammer is the deputy Secretary in charge of public affairs, at the white house Washington DC. In an interview with Hamza Kyeyune, highlights the stand of the US regarding Islam. Excerpts.

Mr. Mike Hammer what the US is about.

The UN which is the custodian of human rights made all disputations against the Jewish narratives on the Holocaust illegal that is binding to the US. The least Muslims across the world would expect from the US government is to provide for legal guarantee that prevent people from infringing on freedom of others while exercising their rights to freedom of expression. Is that expecting too much from the US? Again, we have our own history, own traditions, and freedom of speech is one of those core values. We also have laws that go to the question of inciting hate that apply to all religions, but here, we have a view that's very open to allowing people to express themselves, critically important in our democracy.

Even in the US, when the majority of people disagree, there should be a discussion. But shutting down ideas that we don't like is not the way we think that one should go about. In society, we have to allow things to be said and that can be a basis for discussion.

There are laws obviously to prevent incitement and hate and violence and that needs to be enforced.

On violence, I agree with you. But the US should also know that, there can never be guarantee of international peace and security when there is no justice and respect for religion.

We completely agree that no persons should lose their lives or home as a result of violent protest in response to an appalling video. I would also remark again that in the US, we are such a tolerant

society, and we have Muslims in America. You may have seen expressions of our religion, but we have to accept that sometimes people will say things that are very distasteful and disgusting and the communities will come together in condemning it, but doing it in a peaceful way. Those voices are louder than that minority group, so I think they can co-exist; there is no reason again to react in a violent way.

People may demonstrate and protest, about this video, not to watch it, not to promote it, not to give it more attention.

Some private organizations made campaigns against blasphemous activities, but my concern is about the US government, where is the voice of the government?

Am glad that you point out that certain important organizations both Jewish and Muslim organizations have spoken out. The US government doesn't have to be involved in very activity; it will be a nonstop job for us to comment on every issue that gives us some kind of trouble. So what I would say again is that we very much appreciate what you do, the Muslim community working with the US to promote human rights, inter-faith dialogue, to promote respect for diversity coz we share principals about views that Muslims and nonMuslims are core in pursuit of justice and tolerance and respect of human rights.

So we need to be focusing on the positive, where we all come together, and respect religion and common values, and that is what really this discussion should be about and not focus on things that divide, we need to see things where we can work together and to make a better future for our children.

During the final presidential debate that focused on foreign policy, the issue of drone strikes in Pakistani, Yemen was avoided. In Pakistani, Muslims have demonstrated repeatedly against these drones. Why this issue of the use of unmanned armed drones overseas avoided, thuogh it is an aspect of foreign policy?

On this, I think the US government does not talk about the issue of drones, because the president has been very clear, we must take very aggressive action to eliminate terrorists. And indeed as the president of the US, he has the mandate to defend the American people, against threats and American interests. In fact, we work with our allies to ensure that this threat is eliminated. So that's why you don't see a lot of debate in America. There are different voices on issues like this, and it's part of American society to have many perspectives. It's something that for the most part, we don't talk about it because of the nature of the activities that you are trying to talk about.

Independent reports have indicated that there are more lives of innocent civilians lost when the drone strikes. So when you kill one terrorist and along, you kill many innocent civilians, leave others disabled, others orphaned, doesn't this create a new set of enemies that are potential terrorists, don't you see terrorism becoming a predictable consequence?

I have to defer on this because it's not a program that am able to speak about and even dispute directly some of the figures that you are getting. But I must say that am a little bit struck by the fact that we are talking about this issue, why

aren't we talking about the many thousands of people that are killed

by Al-Qaida terrorists including Pakistani Muslims? Why are we talking about the recent horrific Taliban attack on the young 14 year old girls in Pakistani? I think we need to change the nature of discussion, and identify here what the problem is. The problem is that a terrorist network that is indiscriminately killing innocent people, Muslims, Christians, Jews, regardless of their faith, regardless of their country of origin, for no purpose, and I think what the country is doing is to understand that that's the focus of the problem.

My concern is, if we are trying to eliminate terrorism but along the way, we create conditions that are likely to create more terrorists, isn't that dangerous?

I don't want to completely sidestep the issue, it is an important issue, and I can assure you that this issue is discussed with in the quarters of Washington. Certain information that you may have may not be the most accurate and we have a challenge that we are not at liberty to discuss here.

When drones fly USA to another sovereign state, Isn't USA which is a role model exhibiting behavior of lawlessness by intervening militarily anywhere it pleases?

Again am at disadvantage because you know that I told you that I cannot be discussing this. But I think president Obama has been very clear, he said when he was running for president and has acted on it as president of the US, that he will take whatever actions that are necessary to protect American lives and American interests and we do this in cooperation with a number of countries around the world and in recognition of international laws. And so, am not in position here to be debating these specifics, but I want to assure you that USA is a law abiding country, we want to promote human rights and act according to international human rights, and all the discussions in Washington and decisions that are made about what we do, we take these factors into account.

Looking at the powerful nature of the social media, what is the US doing to use social media as a tool to combat terrorism in all its ramifications?

We put a very high priority at the state department to communicate with social media, not only concerning terrorism but as way we can have dialogue and listen to peoples point of views, so that I can be sitting in Washington and participate in a face book chat, anybody could ask me questions, there are twitter feeds, so people can be expressing their views, very directly now to the USA government and we, on behalf of USA government can explain our policies because a lot of it is frankly mis-understood. Other people think we stand for something, when actually that's not true.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 28

South Africa vineyard clashes leave one dead Mozambique award continues for South African pilots

T

he head of the air search for two South African pilots missing for more than two weeks in Mozambique has said it will be suspended on Friday.

Richard Maier, however, said the $5,000 (£3,000) reward would remain on offer.

He said that the search had been hampered because the Mozambican authorities would only let one of their five planes fly.

Bryan Simms, 60, and his son Rob, 22, went missing on 27 October as they flew home from Malawi.

They last made contact when their plane was flying near the Mozambican port of Beira, when Mr Simms said one of his engines was having trouble, South African media say.

The authorities in Mozambique have called off the search but volunteers have been combing the area to try and find the plane's wreckage, on foot and on motorbike, as well as by plane.

"The local authorities are worried about security because of instability in the area and have grounded [four of] our aircraft," Mr Maier told the BBC. The 11-member team have placed adverts in local newspapers and radio stations.

Mr Maier said the permit for the one plane that was allowed to fly would expire on Friday, which was why he was returning to South Africa.

"After that, we will rely on information from local contacts we've made. The reward will remain on offer until we get valid information," he said.

Christine Pecorella Simms, who is married to Rob Simms' brother, told the BBC once the team returned to South Africa the data they had collected would be analysed to decide on how the search would proceed, especially the operation on the ground.

Members of South Africa's aviation community have spent more than 200,000 rand ($23,000; £14,000) from their own pockets to fund the search, with private donors also helping with costs.

Locals have deserted their houses as properties were set ablaze

O

ne person has died in clashes between farm workers and police in South Africa's vineyard region.

The agricultural workers have been protesting for the last week demanding more pay.

Police have fired rubber bullets as protesters have blocked roads, set fields alight, overturned vehicles and destroyed equipment.

Five other people have been injured in the unrest in the fertile wine-producing region outside Cape Town.

Several thousand striking farm workers are calling for their salaries to be doubled to 150 rand ($16; £10) a day.

The vineyards are the latest industry in South Africa to be hit by violent demonstrations over pay.

In August, 34 people died when police opened fire at striking miners, leading to widespread shock.

The circumstances of the death in Wolseley in the Western Cape province are to be investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, which looks into complaints about the force, AFP news agency reports.

Fighting breaks out in DR Congo ighting has broken out in eastern Democratic Republic Congo between UNbacked government troops and M23 rebels, forcing people to flee.

Media men at the scene say he has heard heavy gunfire and shelling north of the regional capital, Goma.

Nearly 500,00 people have been displaced since April when the rebels mutinied from the army.

The UN accuses Rwanda and Uganda of backing the rebels allegations they both deny.

Gabriel Gatehouse says the

fighting - around the village of Kibumba about 30km (19 miles) north of Goma - is the most serious since July.

The government has sent reinforcements, including helicopter gunships, to the area, he says.

A column of UN peacekeepers could also be seen.

Our correspondent says it is not clear who started the most recent clashes.

But he says when he was in rebel territory on Wednesday, he saw the M23 - also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army - redeploying their forces and preparing for a fight.

Uganda health minister, Christine Ondoa

antibiotics, drugs for pain relief and for other diseases such as malaria, to strengthen their resistance.

The virus causes death in 90% of human cases.

Dr Ondoa said the disease is "very infectious" and kills "in a short time", but is "easily" preventable.

Among precautionary measures she urged people to take were: Avoid public gatherings, including funerals, in affected districts Bury victims immediately under the supervision of health

F

The presence of the rebels has made many locals flee for safety

A

fresh outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Uganda has killed at least two people, the health minister has said.

Christine Ondoa said two members of the same family died over the weekend not far from the capital - and a third person was also suspected to have died in that area of the haemorrhagic fever.

An estimated 17 people died in western Uganda during an outbreak in July.

According to the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), there had been no cases since August.

Dr Ondoa said that investigators had found conclusive evidence of Ebola in Luweero, about 60km (37 miles)

"We can confirm the death of a 28-year-old man in Wolseley and five others wounded," Lybey Swartz of the Western Cape police told AFP. Andrew Harding in Johannesburg says the agricultural employees work in one of the one of the richest and most beautiful corners of South Africa - but the inequality is jarring.

Ebola outbreak in Uganda kills two from the capital, Kampala.

A third man had also died in the area late last month after showing symptoms of Ebola however no samples were taken from the victim and the case was not reported to health officials at the times, she said.

Five people who came into contact with those who died are being monitored. Two of them have been admitted to an isolation unit at Kampala's main Mulago hospital, the minister said.

There is no known cure for Ebola, but patients can be treated for their symptoms with

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Asia and Middle East

X

i Jinping has been confirmed as the man to lead China for the next decade.

Mr Xi led the new Politburo Standing Committee onto the stage at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, signalling his elevation to the top of China's ruling Communist Party.

PAGE 29

China anoints Xi as new leader The party faced great challenges but would work to meet "expectations of both history and the people", he said.

Most of the new committee are seen as politically conservative, and perceived reformers did not get promotion.

Xi Jinping replaces Hu Jintao, under whose administration China has seen a decade of extraordinary growth.

The move marks the official passing of power from one generation to the next.

Mr Xi was followed out onto the stage by Li Keqiang, the man set to succeed Premier Wen Jiabao, and five other men - meaning that the size of the all-powerful Standing Committee had been reduced from nine to seven.

Those five, in order of seniority, were Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang,

Shanghai party boss Yu Zhengsheng, propaganda chief Liu Yunshan, Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and Tianjin party boss Zhang Gaoli.

The new leaders had great responsibilities, Mr Xi said, but their mission was to be united, and to lead the party and the people to make the Chinese nation stronger and more powerful.

"The people's desire for a better

life is what we shall fight for," he said.

Corruption had to be addressed, he said, and better party discipline was needed.

"The party faces many severe challenges, and there are also many pressing problems within the party that need to be resolved, particularly corruption, being divorced from the people, going through formalities and bureaucratism caused by some party officials," Mr Xi said.

Burma to free hundreds of prisoners before Obama visit

B

Mr Xi Jinping

urma is releasing 452 prisoners under an amnesty, officials say, days before a visit by US President Barack Obama.

The release, which could include political detainees, is to "help promote goodwill and the bilateral relationship", state media report.

The move is the latest in a series of prisoner releases under the reformist government of President Thein Sein.

Mr Obama's visit, a first by a serving US president, is intended to encourage continued government reform.

It remains unclear, however, how many political prisoners will be freed this time. Rights groups believe that there are still at least 300 political prisoners in jail.

Some foreign nationals are also among those expected to be released in the amnesty, state media say.

An amnesty in September saw the release of more than 500 prisoners, with the opposition saying that at least 58 political detainees were freed.

The nominally-civilian government led by Thein Sein has undertaken a series of reforms since the end of military rule in elections

in November 2010.

These include freeing hundreds of prisoners, including political detainees, and introducing more press freedom. Western sanctions against Burma have been loosened in response.

Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy party - having rejoined the political process after boycotting the November 2010 polls overwhelmingly swept parliamentary by-elections earlier this year.

However, critics question Mr Obama's decision to make Burma one of his first destinations after re-election, saying it is too soon to reward the government for reforms which have just started, Jonathan Head in Bangkok says.

They argue that the repeated promises by Thein Sein that he will stick to the reformist path will only be credible when all political prisoners have been freed, our correspondent adds.

Dozens more people have been detained this year during various protests, and the Burmese military still acts with impunity in border areas where it is fighting ethnic insurgents, says our correspondent.

Jordan violence escalates during second night

T Calendars of 2013 printed with Obama's picture already in stores

Police in a showdown with protesters

he violence over fuel price hikes in Jordan has escalated, as growing anger threatens to plunge the kingdom into a wave of unrest.

One armed civilian was killed and several policemen injured, some critically, when gunmen stormed a police station in Irbid, in the country's far north, and fired on officers there on Wednesday night.

In Salt, northwest of capital Amman, protesters set fire to a civil affairs office.

The scene was less deadly in Amman itself on Wednesday night, although up to 1,000 people had spilled onto the streets.

Hundreds of young men gathered at a usually busy road junction in the capital, facing off with riot police, who shot tear gas as tensions rose.

The unrest was not confined to the country's north, as about 2,000 protesters in the city of Karak, about 140km south of Amman, shouted: "Down, down with you, Abdullah," and "Get out and leave us alone" as they marched through the town on Wednesday, shattering shop windows, witnesses and police said.

The violence started on Tuesday night after news spread of the price

increases, under which the cost of household gas will rise by 53 per cent and petrol around 12 per cent. The measure aims to rein in a bulging budget deficit and secure a $2bn loan from the International Monetary Fund.

Minutes after state television announced the price rises, several thousand Jordanians poured into the streets.

The hikes, followed by an 11 per cent increase in public transport fares, drew sharp condemnation from the opposition, which warned of civil disobedience in the run-up to January general elections.

"The street is seething with anger and an explosion is coming," said Zaki Bani Irsheid, the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Jordan's most powerful opposition group.

"We want to create a Jordanian Spring with a local flavour - meaning reforms in the system while keeping our protests peaceful."

In Amman, around 500 demonstrators clashed on Tuesday with anti-riot police and hurled stones at them after they were prevented from holding a sit-in near the interior ministry on Gamal Abdel Nasser Circle.

PAGE 30

Europe and Americas France to push for arming Syria's opposition coalition

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rance's foreign minister has said he will discuss supplying arms to the Syrian opposition coalition with European partners.

The government plans to push for a relaxation of the EU arms embargo to Syria to enable "defensive arms" to reach opposition fighters.

France is the first Western power to recognise the coalition as the Syrian people's legitimate representative.

Coalition representatives are due to hold meetings in London and Paris.

Opposition and human rights activists estimate that more than 36,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar alAssad's rule began in March 2011.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said his country was wary of pouring more weapons into the country but that there was a danger of leaving areas under opposition control open to attack from Syrian armed forces.

"For the moment, there is an embargo, so there are no arms being delivered from the European side. The issue... will no doubt be raised for defensive arms," Mr Fabius told France's RTL radio.

The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces has been calling on European nations to recognise it as the country's transitional government, enabling it to buy weapons to assist its attempts to overthrow Mr Assad.

"The issue will be raised because the [opposition] coalition has asked us to do so," Mr Fabius said, adding that "this is something that we can only do in co-ordination with the Europeans".

He said that Paris was still talking to Moscow and the UN Special Envoy to the country, Lakhdar Brahimi, about a solution.

Head of the coalition, Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

EU group endorses training mission for Mali F

oreign and defence ministers from five EU states have backed a proposed European mission to train Malian forces struggling against Islamist fighters.

The five countries - Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and France issued a joint statement in Paris endorsing the plan for the war-torn

African state.

An African military intervention is being planned to retake the north of Mali from the Islamists.

The African Union backed a plan to send 3,300 troops to help the government.

The proposal for the

intervention is due to go before the UN Security Council for approval before the end of the year.

Islamist groups and Tuareg rebels took control of the north after Mali's president was overthrown in March.

The Islamists, who have links to al-Qaeda, subsequently fell out

German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere, second left, and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, centre, attended the talks

with the Tuareg groups and consolidated their power in all the major northern towns, introducing strict Islamic law.

The UN has warned that the Islamist militias are imposing a harsh version of Islamic law on the areas they control and that forced marriage, forced prostitution and rape are becoming widespread.

Three of the states meeting in Paris - Germany, France and Poland - formed a loose grouping called the Weimar Triangle in 1991 to foster relations.

At their talks on Thursday, they endorsed a decision of the EU's Foreign Affairs Council on 15 October which says the EU is "determined to support Mali in restoring the rule of law and reestablishing a fully sovereign democratic government".

On that occasion, the council asked for work to begin on planning a possible EU military operation that would focus on reorganising and training the Malian defence forces.

The operation should take "account of the conditions necessary for the success of any such mission, which include the full support of the Malian authorities and the definition of an exit strategy", the council said.

BP to get record US criminal fine B

P is set to receive a record fine of between $3bn and $5bn (ÂŁ1.9bn-ÂŁ3.2bn) to settle criminal charges related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.

It will be the biggest criminal penalty in US history, BBC business editor Robert Peston says.

The settlement with the Department of Justice involves BP pleading guilty to criminal charges.

It is thought that up to four BP staff will be arrested, Robert Peston says.

Details of the settlement are expected to be confirmed by the Washington-based Department of Justice later.

Earlier, BP said it was in "advanced discussions" with US agencies about settling criminal and other claims.

BP said that any deal would not include civil claims for damages under the Clean Water

Act, pending private civil claims, and state claims for economic loss.

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster killed 11 workers and released millions of barrels of crude into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days.

The settlement is much bigger than the largest previous corporate criminal penalty assessed by the Department of Justice, the $1.2bn fine imposed on drug maker Pfizer in 2009.

The oil giant has been selling assets worth billions of pounds to raise money to settle all claims. The company is expected to make a final payment of $860m into the $20bn Gulf of Mexico compensation fund by the end of the year.

BP has booked provisions of $38.1bn to cover its liabilities from the incident, but the company has said the final cost remained highly uncertain.

Greek protesters hurl coffee at German diplomat

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rotesters in Greece's second city, Thessaloniki, have hurled coffee at a German diplomat amid resentment over austerity measures advocated by Berlin.

They broke into a conference centre where mayors of Greek and German cities were due to meet.

It was not immediately known if the diplomat had been hurt.

On Wednesday, an envoy of German Chancellor Angela Merkel said three Greek council staff were needed to do the work of a single German.

"Studies show that 3,000 employees are required in Greece for local administration work carried out by 1,000 people in Germany," German Deputy Labour Minister Hans-

Anti-capitalism graffities adorn the streets

Joachim Fuchtel said.

Mr Fuchtel has been tasked with working with Greek officials to streamline the operation of local councils.

While he has been visiting Thessaloniki, it is not thought that the envoy was himself targeted in the coffee incident.

Demonstrators chanted "Nazis out" and "This will not pass" as they tried to prevent delegates attending the conference.

"These people haven't come here to help us, but to announce our death sentence," said Themis Balasopoulos, leader of Greece's municipal workers' union, who was at Thursday's protest.

A visit by Mrs Merkel to Athens last month drew street protests.

As the EU's biggest economy, Germany has a key say in debt relief decisions over Greece.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 31

180 Million rats face 22 tons of poison on galapagos

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cuadorean authorities say the unique bird and reptile species that make the Galapagos Islands a treasure for scientists and tourists must be preserved and that means the rats must die, hundreds of millions of them.

A helicopter is to begin dropping nearly 22 tons of specially designed poison bait on an island Thursday, launching the second phase of a campaign to clear out by 2020 non-native rodents from the archipelago that helped inspire Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

The invasive Norway and black rats, introduced by whalers and buccaneers beginning in the 17th century, feed on the eggs and hatchlings of the islands' native species, which include giant tortoises, lava lizards, snakes, hawks and iguanas. Rats also have depleted plants on which native species feed.

The rats have critically endangered bird species on the 19-island cluster 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from Ecuador's coast.

"It's one of the worst problems the Galapagos have.

(Rats) reproduce every three months and eat everything," said Juan Carlos Gonzalez, a specialist with the Nature Conservancy involved in the Phase II eradication operation on Pinzon island and the islet of Plaza Sur. Phase I of the anti-rat campaign began in January 2011 on Rabida island and about a dozen islets, which like

Galapagos National Park, park staff test equipment that will hold poisonous bait to kill rats on the Galapagos Islands Pinzon and Plaza Sur are also uninhabited by humans.

The goal is to kill off all nonnative rodents, beginning with the Galapagos' smaller islands, without endangering other wildlife. The islands where humans reside, Isabela and Santa Cruz, will come last.

Previous efforts to eradicate invasive species have removed goats, cats, burros and pigs from various islands.

Pinzon is about seven

Reckless driver ordered to cook cops thanksgiving dinner

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awbreakers in Ohio better make sure they know their way around a kitchen because the punishment for a Canton woman accused of reckless driving will include making Thanksgiving dinner, CantonRep.com reported.

During the Canton Marathon in June, Valerie Rodgers, 46, knocked over a police officer directing traffic when she failed to stop at his signal. Rodgers pleaded guilty

last month to felony assault and three misdemeanors and was placed on probation for one year, CantonRep.com said.

But the judge handed down another punishment for Rodgers-she was ordered to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for three police officers on leave or unable to work.

The judge also reserved a year of prison time for Rodgers if she violates her probation, according to CantonRep.com.

Dinner for three other officers who are on leave.

square miles (1,812 hectares) in area, while Plaza Sur encompasses just 24 acres (9.6 hectares).

"This is a very expensive but totally necessary war," said Gonzalez.

The rat infestation has now reached one per square foot (about 10 per square meter) on Pinzon, where an estimated 180 million rodents reside.

The director of conservation for the Galapagos National Park Service, Danny Rueda, called the raticide the largest ever in South America.

The poisoned bait, developed by Bell Laboratories in the United States, is contained in light blue cubes that attract

H

arry Potter fans, rejoice.

A cloak of invisibility, like the one featured in the movies, is now a reality -- on a much smaller scale at least.

Inventors have been working toward this for a while now, but researchers with Duke University discovered a new way to tweak existing technology, ExtremeTech.com reported. The theory is that invisibility can be achieved using metamaterials, man-made materials that bend electromagnetic waves, like visible light, around objects to create an illusion. But past methods reflect some light back, which ruins the effect. Duke's new design uses those same metamaterials, but arranges them in a diamond pattern, which cuts back on the reflective glare.

In an experiment, the cloak fully hid a 7.5 by 1 cm cylinder, The Week said. However, there are a few kinks to be ironed out. For example, the cloak only works with centimeter-scale objects and microwave radiation, ExtremeTech.com said. Also, the illusion only appears when it's viewed from a very specific angle.

Researchers are hoping to unveil an omnidirectional cloak next.

rats but are repulsive to other inhabitants of the islands. The one-centimeter-square cubes disintegrate in a week or so.

Park official Cristian Sevilla said the poison will be dropped on Pinzon and Plaza Sur through the end of November.

A total of 34 hawks from Pinzon were trapped in order to protect them from eating rodents that consume the poison, Sevilla said. They are to be released in early January.

On Plaza Sur, 40 iguanas were also captured temporarily for their own protection.

Asked whether a large number of decomposing rats would create an environmental problem, Rueda said the poison was

specially engineered with a strong anti-coagulant that will make the rats dry up and disintegrate in less than eight days without a stench.

It will help that the average temperature of the islands is 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius), he added.

The current $1.8 million phase of the project is financed by the national park and nonprofit conservation groups including Island Conservation.

The Galapagos were declared protected as a UNESCO Natural Heritage site in 1978. In 2007, UNESCO declared them at risk due to harm from invasive species, tourism and immigration.

Duke university scientists unveil centimeter-scale invisibility cloak

The invisibility cloak

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 With Tobias Lengnan Dapam 07036990957

Show east 2012: Major exhibitors sign for High Frame-Rate ‘Hobbit’ despite format challenges

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arner’s decision to open HFR 3D in just 400 theaters domestically is “a blow” to some manufacturers who hoped for a faster roll-out.

Hollywood reporter revealed that major exhibitors like Regal and AMC lined up Tuesday to support Warner Bros, as it prepares for December 14, U.S. release of

Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit”, which is an unexpected journey in the high frame rate of 48 frames per second.

Meanwhile, the studio moves cautiously with its plans

to introduce the theater technology, which has encountered a number of problems as it goes through a testing phase.

It recalled that at last spring’s trade shows, as the NAB and Cinema Con, digital cinema manufacturers of projection equipment greeted the move to 48 fps enthusiastically even though Warner had not yet signaled its plans.

Sources within the industry predicted there would be “tens of thousands” of screens ready for Hobbit’s wide roll-out. Instead, Warner has decided to offer “Hobbit” in what is being called HFR 3D as a platform release, using 400 screens domestically, that will include 90 screens from Regal and 92 from AMC along

with another 500 in international markets.

The majority of theaters will show the movie at the traditional frame rate of 24 fps.

The studio’s decision to take it slow has been “a blow” to some manufacturers, in the words of MKPE consulting president, Michael Karagosian, “Several manufacturers set aside profitable projects to switch resources to supporting HFRs for Hobbit,” he said.

“We put the money into it,” admitted Gary Johns, senior member of digital cinema solutions at Sony Electronics.

“The opportunity for sales is diminished, though we think we will get there. I’m sure it will be back. We think HFRs is great thing.”

… as RealD wins world premiere, royal gala duties for “The Hobbit”

Some of the casts of ‘The Hobbit’

Top Nollywood actors at first Female AGN president inauguration

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umours Club, Ikeja, Lagos wore a joyous look on recently as top Nollywood actors stormed the upscale night club for the inauguration of Actors Guild of Nigeria’s (AGN) first female president, Fiberesima Ibinabo.

Nigeriafilm.com revealed that top stars like Genevieve

Nnaji, Fred Amata, Anake twin led other actors to show support for Ibinabo.

This has become a welcome development as top Nollywood stars have not been involved in the Guild’s activities for some time now due to internal crisis rocking the Guild.

Nigriafilms recalled that

World politics in one sketch!

last week, one of Nigeria’s foremost comedian, Charles Okarfor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu, lashed at the AGN members, accusing them of engaging in diabolical act, capable of sinking the industry.

Uti, Joe Benjamin, Ini Edo, others, win at BON awards

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ecently, a galaxy of stars who trooped out in their numbers for the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards held at the TBS Auditorium, Onikan, Lagos, went home smiling with several awards, Nigeriafilms.com has said.

It further said, Uti and Tonto won the best kiss in a movie, while Alex Ekubo won his first major award as a best most promising actor.

However, Nigeriafilms.com said that the high points of the occasion were the announcements of Joseph Benjamin and Femi Adebayo as the best actors in a leading role in English and Yoruba films respectively. It also indicated that Nse Etim Ikpe and Ayo Adesanya, won the best actress in a leading role in English and Yoruba movies respectively.

Meanwhile Ini Edo’s movie with Emem Isong ‘I’ll take my chances’ won as the best edited movie.

The fun was not finished as Iyabo Ojo family, had a double joy as the actress and her daughter, Priscilla respectively won as the best actress in a supporting role (Yoruba) and the child actress of the year.

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ealD, the 3D movie technology specialist, has won the bragging rights to provide the technology for the world premiere of Oscar winner Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: An unexpected journey”, Hollywood reporter has said.

It added that Jackson and movie backers, Warner Bros.

Pictures, New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), brought in RealD to set it up for the November 28, 2012, premiere at the Embassy Theater in Wellington, New Zealand.

The technology company will also be on hand to set up its RealD High Frame Rate 3D installation for the movie’s screening at the 65th Royal Film Performance on December 12, 2012, at the Odeon Leicester Square in London.

Jackson said: “I’m delighted that RealD are helping us present “The Hobbi” with the best possible picture quality around the world.

Their commitment to developing

technology that improves the 3D cinema experience has my full support.”

RealD Chairman and CEO, Michael V. Lewis, described Jackson as a “visionary filmmaker who has a keen understanding of how advanced technology can blend with storytelling to enhance a moviegoer’s experience,” before describing “The Hobbit” as “one of the most highly anticipated films of the year .”

Lewis added that, “We look forward to such an extraordinary movie making its debut in bright, realistic and immersive RealD 3D.” The Hobbit, “An Unexpected Journey”-themed limited edition, collectible RealD 3D glasses will be provided to attendees at each premiere.

RealD’s 3D cinema technology is in approximately 21,500 screens across 900 exhibitors in 68 countries around the world.

Uche Elendu lambasts Tonto, Oge Okoye, Iyabo Ojo, over tattoo

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or some time now, not much has been heard about Uche Elendu but sources close to the light skinned actress told Nigeriafilms.com that Uche has been busy on some movie locations within Enugu, Asaba and Owerri axis.

Getting into news this week, Uche lashed out at her colleagues in the play-acting profession.

She was quoted as saying, “The likes of Tonto Dikeh, Oge Okoye, Anita Joseph, Lizzy Anjorin, Iyabo Ojo, Ayo Adesanya and some others have one thing in common which is the tattoo they have on their skins”.

The delectable actress further said that girls who tattoo their bodies are classless.

Uche Elendu

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 33

Ice Prince and Bonang to host 9th Annual Channel O Music Video Awards

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Omotola

Omotola wins BEFFTA award, expresses gratitude to fans

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e who is thankful of a good done to him will surely get another”, is a popular saying in Nigeria, which recently manifested in the words of BEFFTA Film Icon awardee, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde.

Nigerifilm.com confirmed that the actress who made the comment recently while receiving award at a private presentation at London’s leading film studios, East End Studios, added that her fans, and husband, Captain Mathew “

Ekeinde remains her source of inspiration.

“This is the best award I have received on a global level, it is such an honour and I’m truly humbled that 16 years of my work in the film industry has been rewarded in a special way internationally.

Omotola became the first movie star to be awarded with the special BEFFTA honorary award in the film category, while Sir. Trevor McDonald OBE, also received a BEFFTA Lifetime time award.

Dbanj, Clarence Peters, Davido, Chidinma, Omawumi nominated for Kora Awards 2012

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ulse.com has revealed that this year’s Kora awards 2012 is filled with Nigerian celebrities.

It said that the Awards which is arguably the most prestigious award in sub-Saharan Africa, held annually to recognize

Dbanj

African talents are steadily changing the African music scene with their musical works of art.

At this year’s award, Omawunmi, Davido, Chidinma, Clarence Peters and D’banj have been nominated in various categories in the Kora 2012 awards.

D’banj (Oliver Twist) was nominated for the Best Male West Africa, Omawumi (If You Ask Me) and Chidinma (Kedike) in the Best Female West Africa category, Infinity (Press On) in Best Gospel Group, and Davido (Dami Duro) in the Best Newcomer Category.

Other Nigerian acts that were nominated include Clarence Peters for Capital Dreams with his work on Chindima’s Kedike, and Rebecca (I Need You More) in Best Female Group.

igerian superstar Ice Prince and South Africa’s ‘It girl’ Bonang have been named as hosts of the 9th Annual Channel O Music Video Awards, brought

by DStv and DStv Mobile, Pulse.com has said.

It added that the two will bring their unique individuality when Africa’s most prestigious music awards event gets underway on Saturday, 17 November at Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto.

The 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards will also be broadcast Live on Channel O, making sure fans are part of the magic as well as the many unique live performances that are lined up.

Some artists to perform include; Botswana rapper Zeus, Nigeria’s Mo Cheddah, multinominees Khuli Chana (SA) and many more.

Holding it down for the males on the night is Nigerian, Panshak Zamani – popularly known as Ice Prince. He began writing music in 1998 and later formed a group with a couple of his friends called the ECOMOG Squad.

The Jos-born artist has become a bonafide solo star across the continent over the past few years, primarily

driven by the mega hit “Oleku”. The song, featuring Brymo, saw Ice Prince win Most Gifted Newcomer Video at the 8th Annual Channel O Music Video Awards – and his current chart-toppers

“Superstar” and “Magician (Remix)” featuring Gyptian have seen the artist earn a nomination for Most Gifted Hip Hop Video as well as Most Gifted Ragga Dancehall Video, respectively this year.

Ice Prince

Nigerian singer, Romeo drops 2 singles in Italy

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t a time when the federal government of Nigeria is investing heavily in rebranding the perceived battered image of the country, the likes of a Nigerian singer based in Italy, Romeo is doing everything possible to contribute to the betterment of the country,

Nigeriafilms.com has said.

It added that the R&B and Afro-hip pop singer is really flying the Green White Green flag of Nigeria high in the ‘mafias’ land. He has also performed in various parts of Europe alongside some top Nigerian acts.

The handsome singer, who

has a recording company, has now dropped two new singles which he hopes to finally launch as a household brand in his father’s land. To this effect, he hopes ‘Halleluya’ and ‘Mama’ shoots him to the top as an artiste to be reckoned with in the music industry in Nigeria.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Dramatic scenes as 100 firefighters tackle huge blaze which engulfed 17th century stately home in Devon

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art of an historic stately home has been destroyed after the 17th century building was ravaged by a fire.

Nearly 100 firefighters battling to save Grade I listed Sydenham House, in Devon, were forced to evacuate the area at one point because it was feared the burning property would collapse.

The roof and much of the first floor of the once imposing building, which is believed to date back to the end of the Elizabethan period, have been left in ruins after flames tore through the house yesterday. The cause of the blaze is not yet known.

An investigation has been launched into what caused the devastating fire, which broke out in a first floor bedroom inside privately owned Sydenham House at around 4pm yesterday.

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the glow from the flames would have been visible for miles around as the roof and most of the first floor of the stately home near Launceston had been ‘well

alight’.

‘Fortunately the house was evacuated when the alarm was raised so there are no injuries,’ said the spokesman.

A total of 15 fire crews used eight jet hoses to quench the flames, using water pumped from a nearby lake.

‘It was a dangerous scene. At one point there was a risk the building would collapse, so we had to withdraw the firefighters,’ the fire service spokesman said.

Area commander Chris Bridgeman said ‘hidden voids’ inside the rambling property meant the fire spread rapidly.

‘With it being heavily wooden inside it was very unsafe, so we were unable to work inside for any length of time,’ he said.

Sydenham House was built some time between 1600 and 1612 for Sir Thomas Wise, an MP. The privately-owned property forms part of the Sydenham Estate, which organises farming and shooting functions.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Battle: At one point firefighters working to quench the flames at Sydenham House, Devon, were forced to evacuate due to fears the entire building could collapse.

Nearly 100 firefighters rushed to tackle the flames when the blaze broke out at historic Sydenham House

'Dangerous scene': Firefighters perched on a ladder spray water onto the flames at the house, which is thought to have been built between 1600 and 1612.

An investigation has been launched into what caused the fire, which broke out in a first floor bedroom at around 4pm yesterday.

After: Part of the Elizabethan stately home in Devon has been destroyed by the blaze, which 15 fire crews battled to put out.

PEOPLES FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Niger to refurbish gov’s lodge with N123.5m From Iliya Garba, Minna

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he Niger state government has earmarked N123.5million to refurbish the Governor’s Lodge, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructural Development Alhaji Abubakar Baba Jibreel revealed in Minna yesterday.

Addressing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting, Alhaji Jibreel said contract for the project has been awarded to an indigenous firm and would be completed within a month.

He said the contract involves the expansion of some of the rooms and provision of modern furniture for the structure.

The commissioner also said government decided to embark on the project to stop the building from further dilapidation and to make it conducive for living.

Alhaji Jibreel also said that the government will soon commence work on the street lighting project between Chancahaga town on the outskirts of Minna and the Maikunkele junction.

Though he did not disclose the cost of the project, the commissioner said its completion would stop people from hiding under the cover of darkness along the road to perpetrate crimes.

PAGE 35

Court transfers Boni Haruna’s graft charge case to Yola

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday transferred the case of 28-count charge preferred against former governor of Adamawa state, Boni Haruna and two others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to a Federal High Court in

Yola, the Adamawa state Capital.

The suspects, Mohammed Inuwa Bassi and John Babani Elias were arraigned before Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja alongside Haruna.

The transfer of the case to Yola followed an application brought before the court by the accused

persons, praying the court to transfer the matter to Yola, the Adamawa state capital.

The court had earlier dismissed the application by the former governor and three others to quash the 28 count charges of fraud and embezzlement of public fund preferred against them.

They were re-arraigned on

‘Tell us how you manage ECA’US Diplomats ask FG

BY Abdulwahab Isa

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ITF to train 250,000 youths in technical skills

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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s part of the efforts to address the shortage of manpower in the country, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has unveiled plan to train over 250,000 youths across the federation within the next two years.

The Director General of ITF, Prof Longman Wapmuk disclosed this during an interview with reporters on Wednesday.

The DG also hinted that ITF was collaborating with some stakeholders to train enough hands to address the dearth of indigenous technical skills in the oil and gas sector.

The DG said the Fund has been discussing with some state governors on how to make use of the training centres in their states for skill acquisition for the youths.

Wapmuk explained that the agency had been directed by the minister of trade and investment to collaborate with all the state governments in the country on the training of youths.

“What we have done is to have a phase programme whereby we will be having training with the people in the state gradually, in this year we are starting with about ten states and next year we will have twenty more states.

“And if fund permits, within two years we will be able to train at least 10,000 people per state.

“We have signed a contract with the minister to train at least 250,000 youths; this is not a small number and we are trying to see how to partner with the states,” he stressed.

February 9, 2010, by EFCC on a 28 count charges of fraud and embezzlement of public fund during the administration of the first accused (Boni Haruna) as governor of Adamawa state between 1999 and 2007.

L-R: Senate President David Mark (l) inaugurating a road, yesterday in Gombe right is Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe state Photo: NAN

Gov. Aliyu declares holiday From Iliya Garba, Minna

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overnor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has declared today, November 16, 2011 as half working day to enable workers in the state to mark the beginning of Islamic year 1434 AH. The declaration was contained in a press statement

signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Danladi Ndayebo.

The statement said all workers in the state’s civil service are expected to resume work at 8am and close at 12pm today.

Governor Aliyu urged Muslims to see the occasion as another opportunity to coexist

peacefully with non-Muslims since Muharram is one of the four sacred months on the Islamic Calendar in which fighting is prohibited.

Governor Aliyu advised Muslim faithful to observe the fast on the ninth and 10thof the month in other to maximize the benefits embedded in the month of Muharram.

Maternal mortality: ‘Too many professionals unnecessary’

By A’isha Biola Raji

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n reducing maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, an expert has enjoined the need to train nonprofessionals as there is little need for professionals in achieving the goal.

The Director, Primary Health Care System Development, Dr. Muhammed Jibril Abdullahi said this while fielding questions from journalists at the Trainers Workshop on Medical Officers at MSS (Midwives Service Scheme) Cluster held in Abuja yesterday.

According to Dr. Muhammed,

“we have enough manpower in the area of MSS and we are working on increasing the number because we don’t need large number of professionals in the area of care giving for survival of both mother and child, we can train nonprofessional to deliver this service efficiently.”

According to him, countries like India have used the method and it has yielded the desired results. “The initiative of village health workers is to bridge the gap between the facilities and community hence the

community-based driven initiative which had necessitated the need for village health workers, just as it is realized in India, to bridge the gap by encouraging people to go to facilities and also providing care for the people.”

In his words, Dr. Silas Ochejele, Chief Consultant Obstetrician, MDR Consultant, FMC Markurdi said, the training of trainers is intended at improving maternal survival through good quality service, “this will encourage clients to go out and access the services,” he said.

he United States of America (USA) is keen on knowing how the government spends accruals to the Excess Crude Account (ECA).

ECA is a special account created by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to warehouse oil revenue recouped by the government above budget oil benchmark . It currently stands at $9.5 billion but state governors are challenging its legality and want it shared.

A statement issued yesterday

by Deputy Director (Press) Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) Charles Nwodo said Mr. Douglas P. Climan of the American Embassy made the demand when he called on the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Mr. Jonah Otunla in his office at Treasury House, Abuja.

According to AGF spokesperson, the Diplomat “came to the Treasury House to understand the Budgeting and the operation of Federation Account. He further said he would also like to know how ECA withdrawals are made, and how the unspent balance of capital is managed.”

The US Diplomat also expressed optimism on early passage of 2013 budget .

Briefing the diplomat on some of recent initiatives undertaken by AGF Mr. Otunla said no fewer than 45,000 ghost workers had been detected in the course of screening conducted on 108 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) using the Government Integrated Fiscal Management System (GIFMIS) in Nigeria.

“Since the inception and adoption of GIFMIS, about 45,000 ghost workers have been detected.

It has helped in manpower planning and budgeting; how many people are on the payroll of government and the cost implications.

He said adoption of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), improvement in Cash Management System through Treasury Single Account (TSA), and other non-financial Reforms have all assisted in no small measure at improving the nation’s Financial Management System and accountability which began with 7 MDAs as pilot project

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

MEN are to blame for most cases of unexplained infertility - but a new test could help couples succeed

M

ale fertility problems shape, speed and concentration are behind the vast under a microscope. majority of cases where The new test checks for tiny a couple are unable to conceive, breaks and tears in the sperm’s a study has found.

DNA. Sperm damaged in this Each year, 50,000 couples way is less likely to make a are warned they require woman pregnant and, if she fertility treatment but up to a does conceive, she is more likely third are told by doctors that no to miscarry. problem can be detected.

A study by Professor Sheena But a study has found that Lewis, of the School of 80 per cent of couples with Medicine, Dentistry and unexplained infertility c a n n o t conceive because of poor sperm quality, known as high sperm D N A damage.

Now a test has been developed to detect the condition a n d measure its e x t e n t , allowing would-be parents to move on to t h e treatment most likely to succeed.

M o s t fertility clinics judge s p e r m quality by The new test should cut the financial and emotional looking at its costs of repeatedly trying to start a family.

New research has found that 80 per cent of couples with unexplained infertility cannot conceive because of poor sperm quality.

Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, looked at 239 couples with unexplained infertility.

It found that 80 per cent had a detectable cause of infertility in the form of high sperm DNA damage.

Professor Lewis, a member of the executive committee of the British Fertility Society, said prompt and appropriate treatment could save money, heartache and – crucially – time.

She added: ‘For almost one third of couples, until now,

there has been no obvious cause for infertility and these couples are given the diagnosis of “unexplained fertility”.

These couples often invest a lot of time and money in fertility treatments, like intrauterine insemination, which are unlikely to be successful.

‘Now that we have found the cause of infertility for these couples suitable treatments can be tailored which will direct them straight to the best treatment and increase their chances of having a baby.’

Many couples use IVF to try to start a family, at a cost of between £3,000 and £15,000 a course. But only one in four of the 40,000 women who have it each year will have a baby.

NHS patients will generally have to pay for the test, which is offered by several British clinics. It costs around a tenth that of an IVF cycle.

Dr Jane Stewart, of Newcastle Fertility Centre, said it was unclear whether it would increase the odds of having a baby.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

How sugary drinks can give you sore knees (especially if you’re a skinny man)

D

owning too many glasses of fizzy drink doesn’t just make you fat - it could also make your dodgy knees worse.

Researchers studied patients suffering from osteoarthritis in their knees, which is a common degenerative condition affecting six million older adults in the UK. They found that the more soft drinks patients consumed, the faster their condition progressed.

Slim men were found to be particularly affected.

Study leader Dr Bing Lu from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said: ‘Little is known about the course of disability over time in patients with osteoarthritis.

‘This study may offer the potential to identify a modifiable dietary risk factor for disease progression, enable evaluation of prevailing recommendations of healthy diet, and thus have potential public health implications.’

Sugary drinks joins the other known risk factors including obesity, aging and joint stress.

For the study, researcher looked at data on 2,149 patients who had been diagnosed with

Sugary drinks could make knee osteoarthritis worse - a condition that affects most adults over 60. osteoarthritis following an Xray.

At the beginning of the study, each participant’s softdrink consumption, not including sugar-free drinks was

measured using a Food Frequency Questionnaire.

The researcher followed up with the participants 12, 24, 36 and 48 months later to track their OA progression as

measured by joint space change in their medial knee compartments.

Body mass index (a measure of obesity) was also measured and tracked and data for men

and women were analysed separately.

After controlling for BMI and other factors that may contribute to knee OA, men who consumed more soft drinks per week had worse progression of their condition.

The joint space became narrower by an average of 0.29 millimeters in men who drank no soft drinks to 0.59 millimeters in men who drank more than five soft drinks a week.

Men classed as normal weight saw their knees get worse than men who were overweight or obese. By contrast, only women of normal weight showed an association between more soft-drink consumption and knee OA progression.

The researchers concluded that the more soft drinks men drink, the worse their knees may get.

It is unclear whether this problem is due to high-calorie soft drinks leading to excess weight burdening knees, or if there are other ingredients in soft drinks that contribute to OA progression.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 37

I blame CPC members for accepting PDP’s bribe – Momoh INTERVIEW

W

hat is the achievement of the CPC renewal committee headed by el’Rufai?

They set up committees, and those committee brought papers, and on June 16 th ; we met at NICON, and at that place, papers were looked at, suggestions on amendment of our constitution; guidelines on the conduct of primaries at wards, local governments, states, and at national level; code of conduct for all office holders. Those were the suggestions and also proposals on registration of party members. You know that CPC is more of a movement. Because, there are lots and lots of people who are CPC at heart but are not card carrying members of CPC; also you have lots of people who are claiming to be members of CPC and then carrying out the registration of CPC members, and they organized for themselves a power-house. In order words, you saw some members of CPC who were influential, and they collected many cards and gave to members and registering them. So the problems we had in the past include where you have these many members of CPC that are not reflected in our register at the center. So the el’Rufai committee will be responsible for the coordination of the registration of members of CPC and with some members of the NEC. They will soon move into the field, and the registration will be bio-metric.

This will solve the problem of who is a member of CPC, so anybody who registers with CPC becomes a member of CPC. And anybody, who is not registered, no matter how highly placed, is not a member of CPC. So that is another area.

All these issues of el’Rufai organizing people for himself is rubbish. He is not organizing anybody for himself; the NEC gave him the assignment, and he has been working on that assignment. They have not finished, it is more of a problem of coordination, rather than his fault. The Board of Trustees will meet; look at the work that he has done, and then, endorse the registration of CPC members. So very soon, there will be a lot of political activities where we will go to gather all our members.

The el’Rufai committee, which he heads, reports back to me on weekly basis. I do not know why all

Tony Momoh, the National Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), in this interview with Ikechukwu Okaforadi, speaks on the party’s strategies ahead of 2015 general elections as well as other germane political issues in the country. Excerpts:

Prince Tony Momoh these noise about it. But people give the impression that he is there, doing his own thing, that he is on his own, but it is not so and it is not fair. We sat down and ask that he does that work for us and he agreed to do it. And we are grateful that he is channeling his energy to do it.

The aim is being fully achieved.

We will go into registration after the Board of Trustees meeting.

How have the merger talks with other opposition parties fared?

We are not going to do merger talks before the public. In fact, where parties have agreed to come together, as you can see, managers of chaos have moved in, and we are not going to allow managers of chaos to move in now. I think the beauty of the pudding is in the eating. We are moving towards 2015, by mid next year, people will see where we are all moving. We are not going to discuss the strategy on the pages of newspapers. It is on the works, and it will result by the middle of next year.

There are fillers that el’Rufai committee’s draft report has split your NEC? That is serious, I am not aware of that. Before the TRANSCORP meeting, the NEC met and endorsed the work done so far; so where is the basis of the NEC not being in agreement.

The NEC met before the TRANSCORP meeting. The NEC met May 22nd, and the TRANSCORP meeting was June 16th. I am not aware of what you are saying.

With Edo, Ondo as case study, many opposition parties say election should be staggered for credibility, what is CPC’s position on this issue?

We in CPC believe that elections can be held the same day; why are you staggering elections? You multiply the cost of election; you multiply corruption, if it is staggered. We should have the elections the same day. All you need to do is to separate the elections with colours. You can have the election of the National Assembly by different colour of ballot papers. Election of governors can also be printed with another colour of ballot paper, and election of the state Houses of Assembly with another colour of ballot paper, election of the President with another colour of ballot paper.

That is very easy. Before two days, the results are out. So, what is the big deal? So, all the parties will have their own agents at the polling units the same time, protecting their votes. So, the House of Assembly own will be there. The state

House of Assembly own will be there. The senators’ agents will be there. The governors and president’s agents will be there.

Then, the collation of votes and announcement of results by the Commission will take place. We just increase the cost of election by staggering them. People will start to talk about how to stagger them, because, if you have the Presidential election first, everybody will run to that direction. If you have the National Assembly elections first, people will go there. So we believe that the elections should be held the same day. Well, that is a proposal, but we believe that all elections can be held the same day. Because, the traffic you experience in one zone will repeat in all the locations, moreover, people can more seriously protect their votes.

The endorsement of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa by Obasanjo and Babangida, people say, may erode the strength of Buhari and CPC in the north. How do you react to this?

Well, you are talking of PDP, and I am not a member of PDP, nor am I a party to what they are planning. But, in any case, if, out of 63 parties in Nigeria, of which CPC is one, and of which PDP is one, and PDP is afraid of CPC so much, that they are scheming, then, we congratulate ourselves. Being the last party registered, if we have become a threat to PDP, we are grateful; so, let them work harder. It is not their hard-work that will bother us; but it is our harder work that matters, to ensure that we excel. What I am saying is that they are members of PDP and whatever they are doing at their in-house is their business, and we in the CPC have our own programmes and strategy which we are pursuing.

So, why should I pass judgment on them? Then, if PDP and their leaders do not sit up to undermine the success of CPC, then they are not a political party. Look, if PDP gives bribe to CPC to compromise, I don’t blame PDP for giving the bribe, but I rather blame CPC for accepting the bribe. If a CPC member can take a bribe to work against CPC, then I am sorry, you don’t merit being a member of CPC. What efforts has the el’Rufai committee made in

reconciling the aggrieved members of the party, most of whom you suspended and they are running a parallel CPC? We set up a disciplinary and investigation committee for the six zones; they brought their report. We set up a whitepaper committee, to look into the reports.

The whitepaper committee brought their reports. And the anchor of that report is reformation. We want to include people in our party. So, instead of throwing people out of the party because of what they have done in the past, we want to forgive them and bring them back so that we continue to live together as one people.

But, if some people say they want to move, what is wrong with that? They have grown up enough; they have their own right of association. And they can mix with any group they like. But we are not driving anybody away. There are a lot of people who are moving into our party from all over, including PDP, and so if there are people moving out from CPC to PDP, for whatever reason, it is their right to do so.

But if they move out of CPC after all our efforts to reconcile with them, then, the door is closed. We had the problem of management and structures, as well as disagreement, but now, we have been able to put things together. We are now stronger and organized ahead of 2015. And we are now moving towards the area of merger, so we are stronger now than before.

How do you want INEC to improve to ensure credibility of 2015 elections?

INEC should not be responsible to anybody in the conduct of the elections. So, if the INEC Chairman goes to meet the President almost on a daily basis, then, they are failing in their duties. They should be strong enough to refuse to meet the executive on any issue whatsoever. I believe that INEC should be so funded that it does not have to go cap in hand to anybody to beg for funding. INEC has no business going to the executive. What is the business of Prof. Attahiru Jega going to sit on the same table with the President when he is a candidate in the election?

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Accolades as Kwara political godfather goes home ANALYSIS From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he name, Dr. Olusola Saraki, the Waziri of Ilorin strikes a cord in the nation’s political milieu having played prominent roles, not only in the politics of his home Kwara state but in the entire country.

The Second Republic Senate Leader who contested many elections had won some and lost others but his grip on the politics of Kwara state remained unquestionable until his death a few days ago.

His political influence in the country and his larger than life domination of the Kwara state politics made him the de facto leader that his people have come to honour and adore.

Saraki, reverently called “Baba Oloye” by his admirers, especially women, was born on the 17th of May, 1933 in Ilorin, Kwara to an Ilorin father and Iseyin mother.

He won election into the National Assembly on the platform of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and thereafter became the Senate Leader between 1979 and 1983. Saraki, a trained Medical Doctor and a detribalized Nigerian also held the exalted traditional title of the Waziri of Ilorin, a tittle conferred on him by the Ilorin Emirate, till his death.

Speaking with Peoples Daily in his house, one of his close friends, Professor Albert Ogunsola said it was God that joined them together.

Ogunsola who had been with him for many decades during his political career said “He did not die young because whoever lived above 70, such person did not die young. I thank God that he is useful for Kwara, and Nigeria as a whole. He is a great friend because God joined us together before God took him away. Last week, we spoke and we discussed the part of body that were paining us . I pray that God will accept him as his servant and protect those of us he left behind.”

A chieftain of ACN, Chief Iyiola Akogu Oyedepo said Saraki left without a successor.

The opposition politician in the state in a statement made available to our correspondent stated “No doubt, Abubakar Olusola Saraki was a political giant especially in Kwara state where he was actually venerated. His legacies in the form of land mark projects and reduction of poverty may be difficult to see. You may also not be able to track him down on any idea, believe or ideology that may now live after him.

Late Dr. Olusola Saraki Nobody, however, can deny the fact that he was a motivator and a great mobilizer of the people for whatever cause he believed in.

We should not be deceived that Abubakar Olusola Saraki left a successor. His shoes are too big for anybody to put on.”

To Alhaji Gani CookOlododo, a former Secretary to the Kwara State Government (SSG), former Commissioner and Saraki’s political godson who later dumped him to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when the deceased chose to form Allied Congress Party of Nigeria(ACPN) in order to ensure that his daughter, Gemisola becomes the first female governor of the state said “he is a leader of all leaders, father of masses. Because Baba doesn’t believe in religion affiliation. You may be his enemy today, he will take you back tomorrow. His demise is a great loss to Nigeria; it is great loss to Sarakites worldwide and we shall miss him.

In Kwara state, the fear of Saraki was believed to be the beginning of wisdom until his son, Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senator currently representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, defeated him in the 2011 general elections. Baba Oloye, who many believed was an era that would never finish in Ilorin was not convinced that an emergence of female governor in Ilorin was odd because such development was considered a political abomination since Ilorin is regarded aa an Islamic town.

The political disagreement

between the father and the son divided Saraki’s political camp and his political hegemony in the state was effectively challenged and defeated with the emergence of the incumbent governor,

Saraki also bankrolled the election of Late Admiral Muhammed Alabi Lawal who later fell out with the godfather only to pay with his loss of the contest for the State House to Bukola, in 2003.

While making the death of the late politician public, Senator Bukola, on behalf of the family in a statement made available to newsmen quoted Holy Quran [al-Baqarah:156] “ Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un ; “Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.”

He added “ With gratitude to Almighty Allah, we announce the passage to eternity of our beloved father and grandfather, His Eminence, Oloye (Dr) Abubakar Olusola Saraki, Waziri of Ilorin, former Senate Leader, Second Republic, Federal Republic of Nigeria who answered the call to the great beyond, in the early hours of today in Lagos. (17 May 1933 - 14 Nov 2012) “We take solace in knowing that our father lived an exemplary life of service, and selfless devotion to development of his people and nation. Baba will be sorely missed. We pray for the repose of his soul that Almighty Allah grant him AlJannah Firdaus.”

Former Kwara state Chairman of the Nigeria Bar

“

In Kwara state, the fear of Saraki was believed to be the beginning of wisdom until his son, Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senator currently representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, defeated him in the 2011 general elections Abdulfattah Ahmed having defeated Bukola’s sister, Gbemi at the polls. The political lacuna created by the disagreement between the father and son was never bridged until the passing away of the senior Saraki last Wednesday.

This is suffice to say that the elder Saraki played dominant roles in installing governors of the state, including his son, Bukola who served two terms as the governor of Kwara state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Late Olusola Saraki removed Adam Attah when their relationship became sour. He also financed Alhaji Sha’aba Lafiagi under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the General Ibrahim Babangida’s transition period. In 1999, Late

Association (NBA), Salman Jawondo, in a statement made available to newsmen said “The death of Dr. Senator Abubakar Olusola Saraki, the Waziri of Ilorin Emirate marks the end of an era in the annals of political history of Kwara state in particular and Nigeria in geneal.

He is a great philanthropist, patriot, nationalist, an apostle of politics of consensus and a fearless party and political financier. Indeed, he was an enigma and a political colossus without whose name and recognition of his political exploits and adventures, the political and constitutional history of Nigeria will not be complete.

He added “He died at a time his wealth of experience is most needed by the country. His life

and time will for ever remain a course of study in political engineering, doggedness, focused determination, perseverance and astuteness in planning and execution.

Nigeria will miss the late political juggernaut in the days ahead.”

He however condoled with the immediate family, extended and political family members, the Emir of Ilorin Mai Maritaba, Seriki Musulumi, Ilorin community, all Kwarans and Nigerians at large.

One of the Saraki’s associate who later fell out with the late politician, Senator Sulayman Makanjuola Ajadi, who was believed to have been removed from Senate under the platform of ANPP in 2003 and replaced with Senator S. S. Ajibola of the PDP, when the late political godfather was battling with Late Governor Lawal for the soul of Kwara politics said “I wish for him Alijana Friodus. I equally wish his children and other family members the fortitude to bear the loss. The death is not only a loss to Kwara state but to Nigeria as a whole”.

Baba Oloye’s vitriolic critic, who once contested against his anointed candidate for a seat in the state House of Assembly in the Third Republic, Chief Wole Oke, in an interview with journalist on the death of the elder statesman said that the history of Kwara State would not be completed without the contribution of late Saraki in one or two paragraphs. He said he was personally against his politics because he kicked against the creation of Moro and Asa local government in the 70s. He however pointed out that it would be very difficult for Bukola to wear his father’s shoe in Kwara politics because of many qualities he lacked that made his father a political enigma in the state.

To Muhammed Dele Belgore(SAN), the ACN leader in Kwara State, Nigeria has lost a politician who touched the lives of many people and whose contributions would be debated for years to come.

Belgore, who was ACN governorship candidate in the 2011 governorship election in Kwara state in a condolence message issued by his media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, stated: “We are saddened by the sudden death of our father, Abubakar Olusola Saraki who passed away today. No doubt, Nigeria has lost a political giant. He was a man who touched the lives of many people and whose contributions would be

Contiuned on page 39

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 39

Obasanjo's aide becomes Oshiomhole's SSG From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

F

ormer Special Adviser on Policy Monitoring, Prof.

Julius Ihonvbere, implementation and Speech Writer to former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been appointed as the Secretary to the State Government to Governor Adams Oshimhole.

The Professor of Political Science replaces Dr Simon Imuekemhe in the key cabinet appointment. Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Patrick Obahiagbon is the new Chief of Staff, replacing Mr Osarodion Ogie, while Mr. Stephen Idehenre is the new Deputy Chief of Staff, Governor's Office. He

replaces Mr. John Odigie Ejale.

Peter Okhiria retains his position as Chief Press Secretary.

Princess Theresa Erediauwa also retains her position as the focal person and Executive Director, Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Comrade Yakubu Aliyu is the Governor's new Principal Private Secretary.

Godwin Obaseki remains the Chairman of the Economic Team, while the former Chief of Staff, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, is Vice Chairman of the Economic Team.

Prof Ihonvbere was born in June 1956 and holds a PhD in Political Economy from the University of Toronto. He holds a national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

Subsidize malaria drugs, Reps order FG

By Lawrence Olaoye

H

ouse Representatives has called on Federal Government to subsidise the importation of Atemisimin Combinations Treatments (ACT), drugs to make it affordable for all Nigerians.

Presenting the motion, Rep Nkem-Abonta noted that "malaria affects over 100 million Nigeria's estimated 140 million population, with over one million Nigerian children between age 1-5 years, dying of malaria each year.

Approximately 60 percent of all cases of malaria occur among the poorest 20 percent world's population, with young children and women at the highest risk of malaria infection and mortality.

"From the above World Health Organisation (WHO) certified statistics, malaria kills more people than HIV/AIDS, or any other killer diseases."

The lawmaker ,who expressed concerns over near collapse of the country's health system, stressed the need for deliberate action towards addressing the problems of inadequate personnel, lack of equipment/infrastructure, importation of sub-standard and/ or counterfeit drugs, among others.

Nkem-Abonta who decried lack of political will to the fight against malaria by government, faulted allocation of N200 million in 2008 and zero budget allocation for procurement of anti-malaria drugs and monotheraphies in 2009, while subsequent budgetary provision for malaria treatment

remained on the decrease.

Nkem-Abonta who faulted the regulatory framework on health sector, noted that despite WHO Assembly resolution WHA 60.18 of May 2007 committed member states to cease the production and marketing of Artemisinin Monotheraphies, these drugs are being imported and sold because they are cheap, even though they have a 45 percent failure rate with 35 percent of them are being substandard.

In his assessment of the functions of the regulatory agency, he posited that "NAFDAC has not been careful about it. It has been proved that we are going to have some species of malaria that would develop resistance to most of these drugs."

He argued Federal Government "has failed, refused and/or neglected to intervene to ensure that these efficacious anti-malaria drugs are provided for our people at affordable rates".

In its resolution, the House directed the Committee on HIV/ AIDS and malaria control to carry out an in-depth studies on malaria and advise the House accordingly and urged Federal Government to consider urgently the use of effective malaria drugs that malaria parasites are not resistant to in her bid to roll back malaria.

It also tasked Federal Government to as a matter of urgency to intervene by subsidizing the importation of these Artemisimin Combination Treatments drugs so that it can be affordable by an average Nigerian.

Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representative, Hon. Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu (middle) in photograph with National Association of Mathematical Science Students and Computer science, during their visit to the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Edo guber: A/Court orders Tribunal to hear Airhiavbere's petition From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

he Court of Appeal sitting in Benin has ordered the reconstituted Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to hear the issue of qualification raised by the appellant, Charles Airhiavbere; just as it set aside the judgment of the Tribunal of September 27th 2012.

Presiding Justice of the court, Justice Helen Ogunwuniju made the order while delivering judgment in the appeal filed by Counsel to the Petitioner, Efe Akpofure (SAN).

The court held that the Tribunal was right to have

determined the motions and preliminary objections during the pre-hearing session. According to Justice Ogunwumiyi, the issue of qualification of candidates could be challenged at the Federal and State High Courts as well as at the election petition's tribunal.

The Judge however held that the lower tribunal should have heard anddetermine the qualification aspect instead of delivering jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

It was also the views of the three-man court of appeal panel that qualification of candidate was both pre-election and election matter which the law empowers

any tribunal to hear and determine; citing section 177 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as a grand norm of Nigeria law.

Justice Ogunwuniju also held that going by the way the petition was couched, it makes the issue of qualification a pre-hearing matter. The court further ruled that the merit of the petition has to be considered to allow an aggrieved party to ventilate his anger as enshrined in the law.

The court then restored paragraphs of the petition which was earlier struck-out by the tribunal just as the cross appeals brought before the court was described as academic exercise.

Saraki: CPC, LP commiserate with family

By Lawrence Olaoye

L

eadership of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Labour Party (LP) have commiserated with the family of late Dr. Olusola Saraki over the loss of their patriarch.

The CPC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Rotimi Fashakin said it joins the family, political associates, Kwara state government and indeed all Nigerians on the death of the great man.

Also the National Secretary of Labour Party, Comrade Ahmed Paiko said the party received the death of

the elder Saraki with mixed feelings.

He said that Saraki was undoubtedly a patriot; a bridge builder whose services, contributions, commitment and dedication to the course of humanity and his father land is unequalled.

"He will ever remain an indelible mark. It is important to note that Dr. Saraki was a democrat who believed in civilian Political order even in the face of military dictatorship.

"Dr. Saraki's legacy shows how human he was particularly to the rural poor and the needy who over six decades looked up to him. His

generosity, humility, sense of direction and warm hospitality will equally be missed. During his lifetime, Oloye was the authentic father of the downtrodden, the cheated, the oppressed, the forgotten and abandoned. Above all he loved Nigeria.

"The most remarkable essential aspect of Saraki was however his consistent Political followership as well as political leadership, having lost an election in 1964, he showed that with perseverance and capacity to follow the political direction of his own people, political setback can turn out to be an enduring and sustainable political forturne."

Accolades as Kwara political godfather goes home Contiuned from page 38 debated for years to come especially in Kwara where he was the dominant figure for over four decades.”

In spite of the late godfather’s contributions to the political development of Kwara state, some still insinuate that he was not an indigene of the state. Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdulrazak, a

former Nigerian Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, claimed to have met the father of Dr. Olusola Saraki in Abidjan in the sixties.

In an interview with journalists in Ilorin few months ago, he said the Saraki’s were from Abeokuta. He said he met Dr Olusola Saraki’s father,Alhaji Muttahiru Saraki and that they spoke about the matter.He said “Then he asked me where I come from. I told him I am from Ilorin.

Alhaji Saraki said he was an Egba man from Abeokuta. By this time, I did not even know the existence of Olusola Saraki. So, the man told me he was from Abeokuta, but he went to a Quranic school in Ilorin at Agbaji, an area reputed for Islamic scholarship. The man, with his own mouth, told me he was an Egba man from Abeokuta. And as of that time, I knew of no existence of any member of his

family. This was in early 1963.

So, we carried on like that.”

Similarly, the leader of Agbaji compound had corroborated Abdurazak’s claim by saying that the Saraki’s were not from Ilorin stressing that many people in Kwara migrated from one place or the other before they setlled in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.

However,the late Dr Olusola Saraki among his peers stood

firmly on his political achievements though his last ambition to enthrone Gbemi as the first female governor of the state was frustrated by his son Bukola. He would also be remembered for being the longest godfather in Kwara state. His death obviously has created a big political space that may be difficult to fill more so when the state inches towards another governorship election in 2015.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 40

08050639900 wallybabe2010@gmail.com

Over dependence on Mali, Senegal’s textiles is killing our market, says Hadiza C

an you introduce yourself please?

I had my primary education in Army Children School in Tudun Wada, Kaduna in 1979 from where I proceeded to the secondary section of the school for 3years before I was transferred to Women Teachers’ College, Kaduna, where I completed my secondary school education and got my Grade II Teachers Certificate. I got married in 1987 and the marriage is blessed with four children.

I developed interest for textile dyeing back in the secondary where I learnt all classes of textile dyeing and continued through my NCE which I finished in 2010. In between my studies, I trained people in textile dyeing and pastry making. Presently I am doing my degree programme in General Home Economics in ABU, Zaria.

How did you get into the business of tie and dye?

Like I said, the interest was developed during my days as a student in Women Teachers’ College but I became more serious with the business after my NCE programme when I could not get employed, then I made up my mind to go into entrepreneurship to be self-reliant. I do not only dye new clothes but also re dyed people’s old clothes.

I also got additional experience from one of my lecturers who volunteered to teach me other aspects of textile dyeing so that I can have good finishing touches at the end of the day and that has really helped me.

How much was your startup capital?

I can’t say the specific amount I started the business with because it’s been a long time but I know that it was not much.

What is your staff strength?

Presently I have 10 staff, 8 out of the 10 are women. I train people who are interested for a duration of3-6months and sometimes it depends on how fast they can learn after which they leave to be on their own. My staff would have been more than the number I have at the moment but lack of space hindered me from accepting more than that number. I plan to have a bigger place where more people especially the youth can come to learn the business and go back and teach others.

How much do you make in a day?

In a week after all expenditures, I keep N5000 to N7000 depending on the number of jobs I get from my customers.

There are times I get order from people who sometimes ask me to dye clothes for weddings or for Hausa film production. You know wearing uniform is part of the musical aspect of the Hausa home movies.

What makes your products different from others and how do you market them?

My designs are unique and

Hadiza Abdullahi, is a small scale entrepreneur with over two decades business experience in textiles dyeing and baking. In this interview with Maryam Garba Hassan, she talks about her venture which has spanned over two decades, low patronage for Nigeria’s locally made textiles due to the collapse of the country’s textile industries and the influx of foreign textile and what can be done to arrest the situation.

Hadiza Abdullahi one thing that makes my materials different from others is that the materials I dye and sell and those that I re-dye hardly wash off no matter how long you use them. This is because I use expensive dyeing chemicals that don’t wash easily and over the years I have created that reputation for myself.

On how I market my goods, people who I have worked with and whom I maintain good business relationships, introduce me to their friends and whenever I have a function to attend, I wear clothes that I produced to market my products.

Most times it works because from the functions I attend, I get customers who later introduce me to more people and the list is increasing by the day.

For now it is not the money aspect that I am looking at but how to improve on my work and

how to attract more customers, I believe that aspect can come later when I produce qualitative materials.

How do you combine the demands of your job and the home front?

I found it very difficult to cope when I was having my children but with the help I got from my family members, friends and my

determination to do what I always want to do, I was able to make it.

The business of local textile dyeing in Nigeria is gradually dying especially with the influx of brocade materials from Mali and Senegal into our markets. In what ways do you think the trade can be promoted to achieve the same feat?

“

The collapse of our textile industries contributed to the influx of Malian and Senegalese brocade and materials as well as our over dependence on their products which also affects our locallymade tie and dye materials

The collapse of our textile industries contributed to the influx of Malian and Senegalese brocade and materials as well as our over dependence on their products which also affects our locally –made tie and dye materials. When you look at it from the other angle, those neighboring countries produce qualitative goods which our producers cannot produce perhaps due to lack of finance and our craziness for made in outside Nigeria’s products which we consider more qualitative than ours.

One of the ways I think government can promote the trade is for government at all levels to establish more vocational centers where youth who have interest in the trade can be trained and empowered with substantial amount as capital to start producing qualitative materials that are of standard international standard or export quality.

Again, another way the government can promote local textile dyeing is by recapitalising our textile industries which has been out of operation for years.

It is sad that whenever there is trade fair in any part of the country, most if not all the textile goods brought to such venues and that which Nigerians rush to buy are textiles made locally in Mali, Senegal and even Benin Republic while those that are made in our country are of low quality and poorly packaged and therefore, record low patronage.

If textile dyeing is promoted, it has the potentials to boost our economy and create more jobs for our teeming youths.

What are the challenges you face?

Of course, like most businesses, capital is always a problem especially when the business is owned by one who is not financially buoyant.

The second challenge I am facing which also has to do with money is that the materials and chemicals I use in dyeing the materials that can last long is expensive and the patronage for locally made goods in this country is low.

What is your advice for the young generation of entrepreneurs?

They should find out their talents and build on it even before they finish their high school and begin practicing it if they have the chance while they await their results or admissions into higher institutions. It will be an added advantage to those coming from poor homes and those whose parents or guardians cannot sponsor them to higher education.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 41

Keshi scores debutants Ameobi, Dike high

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ebutant Foluwashola Ameobi received a rare applause from Head Coach Stephen Keshi even as USA-based Bright Dike also got into the ‘Big Boss’ good books for their excellent performances against Venezuela.

“Ameobi showed his experience, holding the ball, talking to the players and he made the third goal, while Bright Dike worked very hard and will be a good addition to the team,” Keshi said.

Questions have been asked about the Eagles defence and Keshi admitted there were problems in that department against the South Americans ranked 48th in the world.

“Oboabona was a bit jittery and Azubuike struggled and it was later in the game that we discovered he has a back problem. Otherwise I was impressed with (Solomon) Kwambe and

Elderson Echiejile in the defence,” said Keshi.

“I was also not surprised about Ejide. That he has been on the bench did not mean he is not a good goalkeeper. He was once the No.1 goalkeeper and he did an excellent job, played a captain’s game.”

The Eagles said overall he was satisfied with the performance of the team.

“It was a tough game because most of the players have not played together before as we only had one training session together on Tuesday.

“So, we did well against a team that have been together for much longer especially in the second as we increased our tempo and we tried to keep the ball. It was a good result and we hope to continue with the same spirit,” said Keshi.

Bright Dike

Shola Ameobi

Eagles will soar higher than expected, Keshi assures

By Patrick Andrew with agency report

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fter watching his fledglings took apart the experienced La Vinotinto of Venezuela in the early hours of yesterday in Miami, Florida, Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, is upbeat his work in progress is nearing maturity.

Keshi, who was delighted with the performance, and indeed the 3-1 score line, is confident the Eagles will not only fly but soar in South Africa, where Nigeria hope to clinch the Nations Cup

title for the third time.

Albeit, the La Vinotinto’s hands were heavy on the Eagles in the first, Keshi says he took away several positives especially from the players’ performances in the second where they demonstrated feasible teamwork and understanding.

“Still, we have works to do. I can say we will be ready but we still have work to do on the team to give them that look of a squad going for a championship like the Nations Cup,” Keshi said.

The former Mali and Togo coach also believes the win over the South

Onazi Ogenyi

Americans will help the confidence levels of his players as they prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations.

“The result against Venezuela was a good one for the team. It will help boost the confidence of the players as we continue to prepare for the Nations Cup. “I’ll admit to you it wasn’t one of the smoothest of games for us but it was good the lads got the result for the sake of their confidence. Their performance in the second was fine and forward-looking.

“I say it’s good for the confidence of the players here because a few of them are new in the team. At the same time,

Austin Ejide

they had just a day or two to train together for the first time before the game,” Keshi said noting that they trained together for just twice.

Nigeria’s goals against Venezuela were scored

by Brown Ideye, Nosa Igiebor and Ogenyi Onazi while Frank Feltscher scored for the South Americans.

The Super Eagles game against Venezuela is one of several tune-up games on the cards as they prepare to face Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and African champions, Zambia ahead of the 2013 AFCON. Nigeria are expected to face Angola, Cape Verde and Morocco in international friendly matches in December.

Nosa Igiebor

...promises Obafemi second chance

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bafemi Martins less than i m p r e s s i v e performance against La Vinotinto early yesterday will not be used to eliminate him from the Nations Cupbound Super Eagles squad.

Instead, the Levante forward will be allowed a second opportunity to amend his game and merit a seat in the Eagles’ flight to South Africa.

Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, assures that the former Newcastle and Rubin Kazan striker

fondly called ‘Weapon of Mass Destruction’ by his fans, will be given a second chance to try and lift his game for a possible place in the final squad.

“Obafemi must lift his game. He needs to step up his game because I know he can

do better than he did because he has the potentials but I did not see much of him. And I will give him another chance,” Keshi assures even as Obafemi acknowledges that and promised to grab the opportunity with both hands.

“But I will be back and better when we return to camp, I know what I can do and I’m sure the coach will give me the opportunity to prove myself,” a sobered Obafemi said on reflection of his performance during the match.

Obafemi last laced boots for the Eagles at the 2010 World Cup finals where the Eagles were a flop.

Meanwhile, Lazio of Italy midfield sensation Ogenyi Onazi, who scored the team’s third goal has vowed to grab a shirt ahead of the

Nations Cup. “I’m happy at the manner the coach has been given me opportunity and I can assure Nigerians that I will be part of the team that will bring the Nations Cup to the country next year”, Onazi assured.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Eko 2012

Eko 2012

Team Lagos athletes out to sweep medal table

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eam Lagos’ athletes have restated their resolve to go all out to win the bulk of the events at the forthcoming 18 th National Sports Festival (NSF).

They declared their determination while speaking in Lagos after the series of quality training programmes they have been exposed to.

Oghene Eferobor, a bronze medalist at the 2011 Port Harcourt NSF, said that she was prepared to win the gold medal this time around.

“I won a bronze medal in hurdles at the last edition of the NSF in Port Harcourt, and now I intend to improve on my performance by going for gold.

“I am confident of attaining this feat, because my pace and bound have improved, judging from my performance in recent competitions.

“I participated in the All African Games, the West African University Games and the Lagos Tertiary Games; and I won medals in all of them.

So I am prepared for gold,” she said.

Matthew Egbeogu also tow the same line stressing that he was looking forward to setting a new record in the discus event at the NSF; stating that his throw had greatly improved from his previous ones.

“Although I was a bronze medalist at the Port Harcourt NSF, but my exposure there revealed the areas I needed to improve upon.

“I won’t tell you how I have worked on my weaknesses, but would just urge you to keep your fingers crossed at the festival; because a new record might emerge,” he said.

Michael Obisesan, the Lagos State Athletics Coach, said that they had left-no-stone-unturned in terms of training drills during their preparation for the festival.

Obisesan assured that the bulk of the medals would be won by Team Lagos, considering the level of hard work they had put into preparation for it.

… As Scribe says new equipment, kits will spur boxers to victory

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he Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association is optimistic its pugilists would excel at the Games especially after taking custody of modern training equipment and kits provided by the government, ahead of the 18th National Sports Festival.

The association’s secretary, Adejuwon Adesoye, who disclosed this, said that the boxers are currently using the new equipment to shape up for the Games at their closed camp at the Jalisco Sports Centre, Oshodi.

Adesoye said the equipment and kits, including punching

bags, boxing gloves, headgears, mouth guard, canvasses and jerseys, would help to improve the boxers’ skills and enable them to perform optimally.

“We have just taken delivery of modern equipment and kits; they came at the right time because they will put our boxers in an advantaged position to win medals at the sports festival.

“The boxers are excited at the equipment and kits. I think this will motivate them to surpass their records in Port Harcourt,’’ Adesoye said.

The boxers won seven gold, two silver and one bronze in boxing,

to put the state in the seventh position at the 2011 sports festival in Port Harcourt.

Adesoye also disclosed that the association had selected 12 of its best boxers who would represent the state at the Games.

The scribe, however, declined naming the selected boxers so that others still in camp with them would not be discouraged.

“We have selected our best boxers for the sports festival, though it will not be easy because every state wants to conquer Lagos, but I am confident in the selection,’’ Adesoye said.

“We have not come this far to die on the bank of the river. We have swum a lot all through the year,” player Nicolas Almagro said of the team’s intentions in another interview with dpa.

“It’s a very difficult, very complicated final,” said Corretja, 38, who played 19 Davis Cup ties between 1996 and 2003.

“We’re not going to win it with Ferrer alone. We assume they are the favourites: they were born on this surface, they play perfect on it, but we’re convinced that we can win.”

World number 11 Almagro does not agree with those who think that Spain should put pressure on veteran Radek Stepanek, who at 34 is the Cezchs’ No 2 player, as the key to winning the tie. The No

1 player for the 1980 champions (then as Czechoslovakia) is sixthranked Tomas Berdych.

“The key is to win three points. It does not matter who, when and where we win them.”But it’s true that if David (Ferrer) can get us that point on the first day, that will bring a lot of calm to the team,” he said.

The Spaniards are worried about the super-fast court chosen by the Czechs might be, but they know that is just the problem with playing away.

“It is a faster surface than any I have played on so far this year, but we knew that before we came here,” Ferrer admitted.

“According to the ITF it is within the boundaries of what is allowed, so we have to accept it,” Corretja said. “We’re going to play and that’s that.”

Spain play Davis Cup underdogs without Nadal

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pain are playing the Davis Cup final this weekend against the Czech Republic without their best player, Rafael Nadal, but they still like their chances.

After all Spain already won a Davis Cup final away and without Nadal, in 2008 in Argentina.

The Spaniards are out to claim a sixth Davis Cup title in 13 years.

They are to play on a very fast surface but they rely on the confident leadership of world No 5 David Ferrer, who has only lost one of his last 13 matches on indoor hard courts.

“If it has happened before, why can’t it happen again?” Spain’s Davis Cup captain Alex Corretja told dpa in an interview.

LOC to train 1,000 stewards for festival

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he Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Lagos said on Tuesday that it had concluded arrangements to train 1,000 stewards for the Games.

The LOC Sub-Committee Secretary on Security, Dele Adeniran, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the exercise was to acquaint them with the philosophy of the Games.

Adeniran said the three-day training, which would begin on Saturday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, would help to sharpen the participants’ skills in maintaining orderliness at venues and athletes’ hostels.

He said the need to maintain a humane and friendly relationship with all parties, different from the style and approach of regular police personnel, necessitated their engagement.

“We want the stewards to be able to effectively key into the

philosophy of the 18th NSF, such that they can never derail from championing the course of the event, in all their activities,’’ Adeniran added.

He said that six feet tall guards would be deployed to the events venues, to nip in the bud any emotional outburst that could result to crisis.

NAN recalls that the LOC had last week trained 55 ushers who would be used at the Games.

Christine Ohuruogu

Ohuruogu commits to 2013 World Championships but not Rio

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lympic gold medallist, Christine Ohuruogu, says she will continue top level athletics and is targeting next year’s World Championships in Moscow.

But Ohuruogu, 28, who added Olympic silver this summer to her Beijing gold, will not commit to Rio 2016.

“For me to retire, I’d have to be bored with what I’m doing and I’m not.

We always look at the championships and Moscow is one that we have pinned down to run next year,” the Great Britain athlete told BBC Sport.

Ohuruogu, who won 400m world gold in Osaka in 2007, struggled for form after her triumph in Beijing and was disqualified from the 400m final at last year’s World Championships after a false start.

However, she produced a blistering finish in the Olympic final on home soil to pip DeeDee Trotter and Amantle Montsho on the line to take silver behind Sanya Richards-Ross.

She added: “I still think there’s a lot more for me to do and work on as I’m not extremely happy with how I run the 400m.

“I want to push on from the ground I made this summer. Me and my coach are changing things a little this season.”

Should Ohuruogu compete in Rio, she will be 32 and it will be her fourth successive Games.

“I can’t think seriously about competing at Rio,” she said. “I don’t know what will happen tomorrow let alone in four years. Everything comes down to fitness, passion for the sport, injuries and whether you’ll be competitive - there are a lot of factors.

“Of course I’d love to go to Rio but I’m happy with what I have done in my career so far. If it does take me to Rio, that will be brilliant.”

David Ferrer, will lead Spain’s assault, Tomas Berdych, the Czechs hope bearing

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PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Suspension of the NPL Congress

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ure, it was bound to happen: the romance between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and its subordinate- the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), which having been stretched thin by sundry nervy incidence,s was almost certain to snap off.

In fact, except for the blind, it was obvious that sooner or later, tempers having boiled over, the false marriage was bound to go sore.

Of course, as always, there are several extraneous forces responsible for the hiccups.

Yes, muscles flexing mostly from the part of the National Sports Commission (NSC)- that infamous body that almost always play the ostrich while things go awry only to awaken from its slumber to indulge in gibberish.

Or maybe just some few smart guys close to the corridor of power who

delight in name dropping and flaunting purported 'power from above' to do that or this. We've seen all that before.

One recalls the High Chief Oyuki Obaseki's era when the forces that had held down the league boasted its the value won't be more than N70m.

Even the peanut that supposedly came through them developed wings and ended in several vaunts which remotely had nothing to do with the league.

Papa Oyuki stood his ground and thus began a battle that almost consumed the league. In fact, it dented the image of Nigeria and smothered the game.

He was suspended, ridiculed and starved of funds.

But Oyuki, a hard fighter in all respect, trudged on and eventually triumphed over the combined forces of the warp leaderships in existence then.

Those were days of successful wars, fought on principle and focused national objective and, therefore, far from the selfish prism prevalent then.

And the league prospered. Hitherto scare sponsorship funds tumbled in and almost hit the roof top. No, forget the sorry story and poor application of such funds.

The thing is, there was sponsorship, and things were done somewhat close to international best practices. We then saw hope, yes light at the end of a dark tunnel.

But then, good things don't last. The league or rather Obaseki' s era was no exception. Then came the return of the period of the jackals.

And the vicious circle returned: the battle for the soul of the league rages with fury and intensity that anyone with a half a logical mind could the wisdom in scampering for

WATCH DOG

safety.

Yes, the sponsors were either pushed out or made to pull out.

But w h o superintended while the altercation lasted?

Who owoidoho_ng35@yahoo.com i n d e e d instigated the warriors and stoke the of publicly suspending the brought to order?

NPL congress would have It doesn't seem logical. ember?

Well, the same agent/s, arisen? Isn't the chairman It's all the game of musical motion without always at the ready to of the NPL the second vice chairs, and the posit a truce for a disorder president of the NFF movement committee? highhandedness that has they initiated and executive supervised all the way. Why choose to wash dirty led us to nowhere. No, one The excuse has always linings in public if both is not exactly happy with pursue uniform the leadership of Victor been the same: things bodies purposes for the league?

Baribote board, it seems must be done well.

It seems obvious that the most unserious, And yet the same trite and attitude and performance what has transpired is directionless, lingers. If the NSC, which simply the voice of Esau u n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c is obvious, is behind the but the hands of Jacob. management so far.

Yet, were the latest efforts to scuttle the And that's where the commencement of the worry lies. Yes, there are environment conducive could readily season, has been up and issues to be addressed for one doing, one doubts the NPL the betterment of the challenged it for crass indeed our failure. I bet it would only would be without sponsors game, domestic football.

But be hypocritical to do so now.

Again, were the NFF must the state wield the when it is clear the path of forthright in its quest to big stick against some the board has been laid reposition the league, one hapless persons/ group of with mires, thorns and doubts whether the issue persons before things are t h i s t l e s .

By Patrick Andrew

Froch holds no fear of Mack for Saturday’s fight

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arl Froch is set to make the first defence of his IBF supermiddleweight title when he meets the American in Nottingham, England.

And it will take an adventurous punter to put money on Mack, ranked among the top 15, to dethrone Froch in tomorrow night’s fight to be held at Englishman’s hometown.

Froch has a professional record of 29-2, with 21 knockouts. He is a two-time WBC super-middleweight champion and won the IBF supermiddleweight belt when he knocked out Lucian Bute on May 26.

The 35-year-old Froch won his first WBC belt in December 2008 when he beat Jean Pascal on points.

He retained it in defences against Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell before losing the belt to Mikkel Kessler on points in October 2009.

However, seven months later he regained the title when he beat Arthur Abraham. He made one defence, against Gen Johnson, before losing it to Andre Ward.

Mack, who has a record of 31-42, including 17 knockouts, has fought mostly at lightheavyweight. He has not fought at super-middleweight since 2007.

Johnson stopped him in the sixth round in an IBF eliminator in February 2010.

The Philadelphian won the USBA light-heavyweight title when he beat Otis Griffin on a split decision

K

Hearn doubts Brook, Khan fight

ell Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn says a possible fight with Amir Khan would have to be on Brook’s terms.

Brook, 26, is expected to face Devon Alexander for the IBF welterweight title in America on January 19.

“He’s coming off back-to-back losses, he has no belt and he doesn’t really bring that much to the table. If Amir Khan wants

to fight for the title when we’ve won it then that’ll be on our terms.”

Khan, who lost to Danny Garcia in July, is set to take on American fighter Carlos Molina in Los Angeles on 15 December. Brook defeated Argentinian Hector Saldivia in

in March last year. In June 2011 he lost on an eighth-round technical knockout against Tavoris Cloud in a challenge for the IBF lightheavyweight belt.

Early this year he retained the USBA title against Omar Sheika (32-11) and in July he outpointed Sabou Ballogou (8-5) over six rounds.

In Los Angeles, WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria takes a record of 31-3; 18 into his unification bout against WBA champion Hernan Marquez, who stands at 34-2; 25.

Viloria, 31 and nicknamed the Hawaiian Punch, could find it a tough assignment against the 24year-old Mexican, who has won

October to stretch his unbeaten run to 29.

After the fight Brook said: “I would love to take Khan’s chin clean off and everyone knows I want to destroy Khan.”

Hearn is confident the Sheffield fighter can get the better of Alexander, who has a

seven fights – five inside the distance – since he was stopped by Nonito Donaire in 2010.

Marquez won the WBA belt in April last year and has made successful defences against Edrin Dapudong, who fought Gideon Buthelezi in South Africa last weekend, and Luis Concepcion.

Viloria is unbeaten in the past two years and is on a five-fight winning streak.

On the same card, 24-year-old Roman Gonzalez is scheduled to defend his WBA junior flyweight title against Juan Francisco Estrada, a 22-year-old Mexican.

Gonzales, who has a record of 330, with 28 knockouts, is from Nicaragua.

record of one defeat from 25 bouts.

“Devon Alexander is very skilful and quite tricky. He’s a bit of a spoiler and a counter puncher. He’s not the biggest puncher in the world but he is technically very gifted and he’s only 25,” he continued.

Kalmer looks towards World Champs

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Rene Kalmer

inner of the 2012 Spar Grand Prix Series, Southern Africa’s top female road runner Rene Kalmer is now looking ahead to next year’s IAAF World Champions in Russia.

“I have already qualified for the World Champs Marathon in Moscow next August, so hopefully if everything goes well and I stay injury free, I’ll be representing SA at the World Champs as well,” Kalmer said in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

“I will use the next Grand Prix Series to keep fit and motivated throughout the year as its helps to set the stage for world class

events.”

Kalmer, who won a Nissan Micra for her achievements in this year’s Grand Prix Series, represented South Africa in the women’s marathon at the London Olympics in July, where she finished 35th.

In October, she came 16th at the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships in Bulgaria and took the titles at the SA HalfMarathon National Championships as well as the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town.

“2012 has been a great and amazing year for me,” she said.

“Winning the Grand Prix Series and taking part in the Olympics Games have been great highlights for me this year.”

It was 32-year-old’s third Grand Prix Series win, finishing top of the leader board with a total of 110 points.

“It has always been my dream to win a car. When I heard that this year’s prize was a car, I made up my mind that I was going to be the one to take that car home.”

After winning races in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Pretoria, an Achilles injury forced her to drop out of the final race in

Carl Froch Estrada, who stands at 22-1; 18, and suffered his only loss when Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr beat him on points over eight rounds in May last year, has won four fights since then.

“Kell needs to go in there and put it on him with a new level of intensity. He needs to go in there and stop him and I think he can do that.

“Kell Brook wants to win the title and he wants to win it in style. This fight could change his life.”

Johannesburg, shattering her dreams of being the only women to win all five races.

“I was bitterly disappointed that I couldn’t run, but at least I had made sure of my position on the Grand Prix ladder,” Kalmer said.

Meanwhile 2010 and 2011 Grand Prix winner Irvette van Zyl (formerly Van Blerk), who won the Johannesburg race to clinch second place in the series, with 74 points, said she was happy to be injury free and is looking ahead to a better year.

“It wasn’t my greatest year with all my injuries, but I have been doing well in training and looking forward to next season,” Van Zyl said.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 45

Bring Falcao now, Liuz pleas with Abramovic

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Falcao

‘Seville derby tougher than a ‘Clasico’ “

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hey may not be as important as a BarcaReal in terms of the quality of players, the spectacle on offer, and the media coverage, but they are passionate games. They are tougher than a ‘Clasico’.” Dani Alves was quoted by Spanish media as telling Algerian newspaper Le Buteur.

Though the Real MadridBarcelona “clasico” is televised around the world and often decides the La Liga title, but Alves believes a Seville derby is a tougher proposition, Real Betis travel across the Andalucian city to take on neighbours Sevilla on Sunday for a derby of huge importance locally, and a match of major significance in the push for the European places in La Liga. Betis lie fourth in La Liga with 19 points from 11 games, four behind champions Real Madrid in third, and 12 behind unbeaten leaders Barcelona. Most significantly for their supporters, however, they have a four-point advantage over Sevilla in 10th.

Betis coach Pepe Mel, a former striker for the club, was refreshingly honest about his enthusiasm for Spain’s most highly-charged city derby.

Sevilla, like Betis, have been inconsistent of late but did beat Real at the Sanchez Pizjuan 1-0 in September, and narrowly lost to Barca 3-2 there conceding two goals in the last few minutes.

Sevilla and Betis, along with Qatari-owned Malaga, Levante and Valencia are all lagging behind, leaving Atletico Madrid as the only side really keeping pace with the two Spanish powerhouses.

Atletico, in second with 28 points, returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory at home to Getafe last weekend and travel to take on lowly Granada on Sunday.

They are three points behind Barca, who are at home to Real Zaragoza on Saturday.

Tito Vilanova could have Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique back from injury at the centre of defence, but Sergio Busquets is suspended.

Real have yet to eat in to Barca’s eight-point advantage over them, but host struggling Athletic Bilbao on Saturday with midfielder Sami Khedira and striker Karim Benzema back after injury.

n apparent plea to club owner, Roman Abramovic, David Luiz has expressed his hope that Radamel Falcao joins Chelsea during the January transfer window.

The defender openly made the demand after Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Colombia in New Jersey. Chelsea are in need of top finisher and would be certain to profit from the prolific form of Falcao, who singularly destroyed them during the European Super Cup.

Falcao, 26, has been strongly linked with a move away from Atletico Madrid, whose financial concerns appear likely to necessitate a sale at some stage in the coming months. The Colombia striker this week told Radio Caracol he was “dreaming” of a transfer, adding: “The chance of playing in another league and for another club will come.”

Chelsea are believed to be monitoring the situation amid concerns over Fernando Torres’ goal return, and Brazil centre-back Luiz

has made clear that he would relish the chance to play alongside Falcao.

“I’m happy when there are great names attached to Chelsea,” Luiz said on Goal.com US. “He’s a great player.

It would be a good choice for Falcao to come to Chelsea ... All of the players would be happy because Falcao would be a great player.”

On Wednesday, asked about Falcao’s radio interview, Atletico coach Diego Simeone had said in Marca: “Everything that is happening to Falcao makes me happy as I have

known him since he was a kid.

Falcao has yet to feature in the Europa League this season, and there have been suggestions that the primary reason for his absence is to ensure he is not cup-tied ahead of a January move.

The player had insisted it was “not because I’m leaving in January” during the week, and Simeone added: “I am the coach - I do not have to explain my decisions.

I do what I have to so we are competitive in three competitions.”

Man City preparing to tempt Liverpool’s Suarez with big offer

M

anchester City manager Roberto Mancini is hoping to prise striker Luis Suarez away from Liverpool in the January transfer window, according to widespread reports.

Mancini hopes the club will back him with a bid for the Uruguay international despite the recent appointment of former Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain to oversee the Premier League champions’ transfer policy.

A report in the Daily Express, since picked up by most of England’s other national newspapers, claims Mancini wants the 25-year-old despite already having Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli on his books.

Mancini is under pressure following a poor Champions League campaign which looks destined to end in failure to qualify for the knockout stages for the second successive season.

Backing him with an audacious and sizeable bid for Suarez would be seen as a clear sign that the City hierarchy are fully behind the Italian.

Suarez is on a long-term contract at Anfield, which runs until 2018, meaning City could have to stump up a British record fee to sign him.

He has been in sparkling form for the Reds this season, scoring eight Premier League goals to put him alongside Manchester United’s Robin van Persie at the top of the scoring charts.

Liverpool would understandably be unwilling to sell their star man, who is currently their only dedicated striker with Fabio Borini out injured and Andy Carroll on loan at West Ham with little prospect of a return to Merseyside.

However, Liverpool have previously been persuaded to sell their main striker midway through the season if the price is right, having sold Fernando Torres to Chelsea for £50 million in January 2010.

City are the only side still unbeaten in the Premier League this season but are currently in second place, two points behind Manchester United.

United have scored 29 league goals so far compared with City’s 20, while Chelsea, Everton and Fulham have all scored more than the defending champions.

Again, Neymar alerts top clubs, admits dream Europe move

N

eymar Brazil’s sensation, Neymar, has set the alarm clock ticking faster than usual as he admitted a switch to a European club would be a personal “dream”.

Though he insisted he does not have any firm offers to leave Santos, the youth prodigy has been linked to several interests from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Man United, Man City, PSG, among others.

Neymar has already played 200 games for Santos, and played on British shores for the Selecao during the 2012 Olympics.

When asked if a move to England or Italy appealed to him, the forward told reporters: “They are both big countries with great teams and great national teams. I don’t have any [specific] choices right now.

“I do dream about playing in Europe, but there’s nothing

Neymar concrete at this time. Maybe in the future.”

Neymar was speaking after Brazil’s friendly with Colombia in New Jersey that saw him equalise Juan Cuadrado’s opener before missing a penalty just 15 minutes later, with the match finishing 1-1.

Huntelaar’s agent confirms premier league clubs’ interest

S

Liuz Suarez

chalke 04 arrow head, KlaasJan Huntelaar, is the subject of many English Premier League clubs, according to his agent Arnold Oosterveer.

Already, the player has declared that he would fancy relocating to the premiership and has thus sparked off interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea plus several others from the La Liga and Bundesliga.

Liverpool though are said to have open talks with the Netherlands striker for a possible transfer in January, but nothing has been conclusive as yet.

Huntelaar’s contract expires at the end of the current season, and Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been linked with the striker in recent weeks.

A report in The Sun newspaper claims Schalke will accept a £7 million bid when his current contract expires at the end of this season.

“Klaas has not decided,” Oosterveer told The Sun. “He’s had offers from England, Italy and Spain. It’s also possible he could stay

in Germany.

“He wants his future planned by the winter. In the next 45 days he wants to know his next project and it will be decided by his football ambitions and not by money.

“His dream is to fight to win titles in Europe and to have chances to be successful, because today he is one of the best strikers in Europe.”

Huntelaar enjoyed a fine season last term, scoring 48 goals in 47 games in all competitions, and has netted eight in 15 appearances in this campaign.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

PAGE 47

Say what?

FACTS

* About 75 acres of pizza are eaten in in the U.S. everyday. * The largest recorded snowflake was 15 Inch wide and 8 Inch thick. It fell in Montana in 1887. * The tip of a bullwhip moves so fast that the sound it makes is actually a tiny sonic boom. * Former president Bill Clinton only sent 2 emails in his entire 8 year presidency. * Koalas and humans are the only animals that have finger prints. * There are 200,000,000 insects for every one human. * It takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than the celery had in it to begin with. * The world's largest Montessori school is in India, with 26,312 students in 2002.Source: Weird facts

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Quick CrossWord (71) ACROSS 1 Punctiliously (2,3,6) 9 Look over (3,2) 10 Ability to stay the course (7) 11 Kitchen tool (7) 12 Extricated (5) 13 Those defeated (6) 15 Large prawns, fried in batter (6) 18 Badgers’ homes (5) 20 Makers of the Spitfire saloon (7) 22 Suffered (7) 23 Himalayan raccoon-like animal (5) 24 International consent on weapons limitation (4,7) DOWN 2 First players (7) 3 Wishes (3) 4 Finally (6) 5 Illicit commerce (7) 6 Banished person (5) 7 Issues in print again (11) 8 Chap advertising between boards! (8,3) 14 Has recourse (to) (7) 16 Keepsafe (7) 17 TV recording room (6) 19 Mary __, Henry Vill’s daughter (5) 21 Fed data (5)

Yesterday’s answer

Two herons fight over a fish in the Camargue area of southern France

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Nwosu urges Keshi to focus on African teams for friendlies

F

ormer Super Eagles' Assistant Coach and exGreen Eagles, Henry Nwosu, has urged the Eagles' technical crew to seriously consider taking on African oppositions preparatory to next January's Nations Cup fiesta in South Africa.

The Eagles in the early hours of yesterday defeated hardfighting Venezuela 3-1 in Miami, USA in an international friendly which Stephen Keshi used to take a second look at some players as well as see others for the first time ahead of the biennial football showpiece.

Nwosu said the Africa Cup of Nations is meant for African teams and an Africa challenge would best prepare the Eagles for the kind of oppositions they would face at the tournament.

According to him, playing African foes would be the perfect path for the Eagles to trek and thus be in the mental and physical condition necessary for the show-piece.

"AFCON is for African teams, we need African opposition more than Europeans because at South Africa our opponents are Africans, we need to get used to their patterns. I'm not saying challenge outside Africa is bad but emphasis must be on Africa.

"I'll love to see a build-up game against the likes of Egypt or Cameroon. Though both sides won't be in South Africa, they're solid and African powerhouses.

A challenge against Cote d' lvoire will be excellent," he said.

The former Nigerian player said he is satisfied with the outcome of the Venezuelan game while he believes the errors noted in the tie will be corrected in time.

"I'm satisfied with the result, they played well. It is a good result. Cohesion is what is needed now and that's the importance of friendly. Friendly helps you to see the strength of your team, what they can absorb, errors, loopholes and how to correct it.

"Venezuela is not a weak opposition, names don't play football, every country is improving and on the field of play it is 11-11 players. Keshi must have gained from the encounter and will bring it to bear in his team's formation.

"Featuring of Newcastle United player, Shola Ameobi is fine. The older the experience we need at the Afcon, we need more of such experienced and fit players for the AFCON games," he said.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE Indeed, we have lost a great man who loved his people passionately and served them diligently, a man who in every way exemplified commitment to the betterment of people's lives.

– Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, ex-Kano state governor on demise of Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, former Senate Leader

The social and economic costs of unemployment O

ne depressing reality in virtually every Nigerian family is the sight of adults in their late 20s and 30s who left school years ago, but have been unable to secure gainful employment. Thus, at an age when they are supposed to be productive and integral parts of our economy, building the fabrics of our social life by settling down to raise families, and supporting their parents in their old age materially and emotionally, millions of them are still at home – with parents, relatives or simply roughing it out with more fortunate friends who have managed to find something to do.

To put the situation in context, Colonel (later General)Yakubu Gowon became Head of State of Nigeria at the age of 32. Not many people realize that despite his impact and legacy, General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated at the age of 38. Late Mathew Mbu was an ambassador at the age of 26. Obasanjo handed power to civilians in 1979 at the age of 42.

Late Anthony Enahoro then member of Federal Parliament tabled the motion for Nigeria’s independence at the age of 30.

Most of the military officers who commanded battalions during the civil war were in their 20s and 30s….the examples are endless.

While recognizing the special circumstances under which these patriots operated, the fact is that they were in charge of government, making and implementing public policy decisions affecting the lives of millions while in their 20s and 30s. That many Nigerians still yearn for the good old days means that the earlier generations were largely successful and managed to keep Nigeria united despite civil unrest, the civil war, military coups and through very difficult periods in our history.

By contrast, many young men and women in Nigeria today of the same age are still waiting to graduate, have graduated but cannot find jobs, have found jobs but lost them to government economic mismanagement, have never left home or are squatting somewhere with no end in sight. Many of the few who have found jobs cannot afford accommodation. It is a sad truth too, that many Nigerians in their 20s and 30s have never

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NASIR EL-R UF AI EL-RUF UFAI ON FRID AY FRIDA elrufai@aol.com

President Goodluck Jonathan experienced the joy and privacy associated with having a room to themselves, much less a tiny apartment. How can we get the best of them? How can we actualize the true potential of a 30 year old that still has to share rooms with siblings and other relatives? Personally, I have two holders of masters’ degrees at home, waiting for their very first job. What can we as parents do?

This gross waste of our human resources potential – which should be one of our greatest assets - has grave social and economic consequences that the government glosses over or simply chooses to ignore. But this is one problem it cannot disregard. To continue to waste the lives of our young people this way is not only criminal, but ignores the impact on the psyche and quality of leaders of the future: Why should our young men not be angry, when several years after graduation and already in their 30s, they still have to ask their parents for money to pay for meat pie or a haircut? Why should our young women not be irritated when despite graduating with good grades, they remain unemployed or unmarried simply because the

basic ingredients for settling down – a job and a home are not only unobtainable, but far from reach?

It was with shock that I read the reported revelation from the Dangote Group, that in response to the company’s adverts for executive drivers, about seven PhD holders and thousands of master’s degree holders were among the 13,000 that applied for the available 100 openings.

In other words, 1,300 people were jostling for every single position.

Is President Jonathan aware of the social and economic costs of wasting the potentials of 20 million youths? Does he have a plan to tackle unemployment?

What happened to the promises of YouWin and all the ‘transformation’ hype he made?

Is it sensible to fritter N2.4 trillion on his friends and cronies in government when Nigeria has about 90 million people who are willing and able to work, but about 70 million of them cannot find productive, full-time and paying jobs or what to ‘manage’?

It is a shocking fact that only about 20 million Nigerians have sustainable and regular jobs, out of a population of about 162 million. This simple statistic causes the country a loss of about N2 trillion annually from the absence of commercial activities that ordinarily should have taken place but did not. The social cost is unquantifiable but has short and long term effects that sociologists have to study. What cannot be denied is that the situation is doing severe harm to the creativity and productivity of millions of Nigerians between the ages of 21 and 40 years - the future leaders of our country, and nearly half of its population.

It is sad that when the performance of the Jonathan administration is mentioned, rather than objective analyses of the situation devoid of the usual connotations, a few Nigerian youths, who perhaps by virtue of

their proximity to power benefit from the mindless looting of the nation’s treasury, distort the discussion and sing baseless commendations. But when all the praises have been sung, the hard facts still stare back at us: millions of our unemployed daughters, sons, brothers and sisters – including those entering the workforce for the first time and others who have lost their jobs due to the incompetent management of our economy - will scan the pages of newspapers and websites for job advertisements, but like the situation at Dangote reflects, thousands of youths will chase every available vacancy. And as we know, it is those connected rather than those best qualified that will end up filling most vacancies when they are available.

Sadness turns to fear when one ruminates on the fact that even as the ranks of jobless Nigerians grow, at least three million more unemployed people will join them next year. At current rates, even if government policies, enabling environment and direct efforts manage to create one million new jobs a year (an impossibility under Jonathan), it would take 20 years to close today’s existing job gap. Except that by that time, at least 60 million more Nigerians would have joined the workforce.

It is almost cruel to talk of underemployment when so many millions are unemployed, yet we cannot pretend that underemployment is not a serious concern in our economy. This has negative consequences on our national productivity output.

The twin factors of unemployment and underemployment cause substantial economic losses because we are unable to produce goods and services for the lost millions of wage earners, but because unemployed people do not earn money, that gap remains unfilled. In most places in the world, job growth leads to economic growth and vice versa, but not in Nigeria. How can government claim that the economy is truly growing when it is not creating jobs? If the growth figures released by government are to be believed, Nigeria should be creating about three million jobs annually

Contd on page 14

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