Peoples Daily Newspaper, Thursday, May 17, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 8 No. 39

Thursday, May 17, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Jimadal Akhir 26, 1433 AH

N150

Boko Haram: How ex-governor Sheriff was arrested in Cameroon

By Abubakar Ibrahim

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ormer governor of Borno state, Ali Modu Sheriff, recently got the shock of his life when he was arrested by neighbouring Cameroon’s

security forces, allegedly for his link with Boko Haram, the extremist sect that has been waging an insurgency in parts of Nigeria’s northern region.

According to a news report on page 10 of the April 2, 2012

edition of the Cameroon daily, L’Oriel du Sahel, Modu Sheriff, also a former senator, was arrested upon entering Cameroon from Chad on his way to visit the governor of that country’s Far North

Region.

The report translated from French reads: “On the 28th March, 2012, the police in Mora, under Commissioner of Police Hamadou Bello arrested Contd on Page 2

Ex-Gov. Ali Modu Sheriff

Jonathan is danger to Nigeria – CPC Presidency plans to arrest me, says Buhari Buhari is right on 2015 polls - ACN

By Lawrence Olaoye

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igeria’s political temperature is bound to rise even higher in the coming days no thanks to the raging battle of wits between opposition leader General Muhammadu Buhari and the man who beat him in last year’s presidential election, Goodluck Jonathan and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It all began last Sunday when Buhari warned of a bloodbath in 2015 if elections scheduled for that year are not free and fair.

The next day, the Presidency and PDP responded, describing Buhari, a former head of state as bloodthirsty and a sectional leader, describing the federal government he leads as “the biggest Boko Haram”, a reference to the insurgency in the north by an extremist sect.

And yesterday, Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change

Face-off: President Goodluck Jonathan and CPC Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari

Land acquisition in FCT is fraud, says EFCC >> PAGE 4

Women police Ex-NLC officers free to President, marry men of choice Bafyau, dies at 65 >> PAGE 4

>> PAGE 5

Contd on Page 2

PHCN’s N88.4bn gas debt cripples power supply >> PAGE 19

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 3

Suswam: Police join suit against chief magistrate

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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Yobe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam (left), during an inspection tour of Potiskum-Danchua road under construction yesterday, in Yobe state.

n Abuja High Court sitting in Zuba yesterday joined the Nigerian Police in a suit filed against Chief Magistrate, Hafsat Soso Sadiq of Abuja Magistrate Court, seeking to review the procedure she adopted in the handling of a defamation case against Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state.

When the matter came up yesterday, the court granted the application brought before it by the police seeking to be joined as defendant and adjourned the case to June 6, 2012 for hearing of the motion on notice filed by the applicant.

The said defamation case was instituted by the police upon complaint by Governor Suswam that Power Steering magazine published a false story alleging that he (Suswam) engaged one Chidozie Ukpabi to forge the West African School Certificate for him.

But an affidavit deposed to by Ukpabi claimed that Chief

Magistrate Soso initiated the criminal trial against him while the police prosecutor, Mr. Simon Lough hails from the same nativity with Governor Suswam.

Also listed as defendants before the police was joined yesterday were Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Registrar and Chief Magistrate Court II, Wuse 2 in Abuja.

While the matter was being heard at the Magistrate court, counsel to the accused persons including the Editor of the magazine, Daniel Ekah approached the Abuja High Court in Zuba sitting before Justice Olasunbo Goodluck seeking the review of the procedure used by the Magistrate in handling the matter.

Meanwhile, Chief Magistrate, Hafsat Soso, last Friday stayed proceedings in the matter, following an order of an Abuja high court directing her to hands off the matter pending the determination of motion on notice before the Zuba high court.

Social insecurity cause of Congolese arraigned over corruption in police - IGP currency trafficking

By Lambert Tyem

By Lambert Tyem

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cting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar yesterday said high level corruption obstructs effective performance in the Nigeria Police.

Abubakar, who disclosed this while inaugurating the Board of Directors of Police Savings and Loans Limited (Mortage Banker),

noted that the fear of not having a personal house has driven many police personnel into corruption.

Abubakar said "The quest for the ownership of a house has been for a very long time, the bane of almost all police personnel both within and outside service. Many officers are distressed by the thought of retirement and even transfer for the fear of not having

a permanent place of residence for themselves and their families.

"The worst are those who died in active service as their families are generally ejected from either rented or official abodes before the end of their mourning period. The effect of this has encouraged corruption, immorality among officers and men of the force and has even accelerated the death rate of retired personnel.

TUC rolls out 150 buses worth N2.3bn From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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rade Union Congress (TUC), yesterday rolled out 150 mass transit buses worth N2.3 billion in Lagos for both intra and inter-state transportation.

The TUC President, Comrade Peter Esele who spoke with newsmen, said “we took a loan from Urban Development Bank during President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration and it

was guaranteed by the government”.

Esele said that TUC would refund the money in five years with five percent interest payable to Federal Government which guaranteed the loan.

On why TUC ventured into the business, Esele said that apart from making profit, it would create good relationship between members and Nigerians in particular.

He said the operations would be handled by Country Wide Logistics and Eko Mega City operators. He went on: “We want to start in Lagos first because of the population and later extend it to other states which depend on our operators”.

He added that to ensure transparency, no TUC member would be involved, pointing out that most projects fail in Nigeria because of owners influence.

50 people trapped as bridge collapses in Ibadan From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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o fewer than 50 people were trapped yesterday morning when a bridge connecting over 20 communities to Ibadan main city called Ayegun Bridge at Olomi in Oluyole local government area, collapsed.

Most of the victims in the tragedy were students and civil servants in four commercial vehicles going for their daily engagements before they got stuck in a traffic jam on the bridge which caved in ostensibly from overload.

Some of injured victims were said to have been rushed to St. Mary’s Catholic Hospital, Olomi-

Academy area of Ibadan for treatment.

An eyewitness told newsmen that the state government had temporarily repaired the bridge after the August 26th 2011, flood disaster that ravaged the state.

One of the residents, Alhaji Oloya explained that one side of the

bridge was closed down for repaires, adding that the pressure from the other side of the bridge caused the collapse.

The state police command through its public relations officer, DSP Bisi Okuwobi, said the command has not been briefed about the incident.

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday arraigned a 42 year-old Congolese, Seleto Papy before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on a five-count charge bordering on unlawful possession of fake foreign currency totaling $38,400.

According to Wilson Uwujaren Ag. Head, Media and Publicity, “the suspect was arraigned before Justice James Tsoho.”

After the charges were read out to the accused person, he pleaded not guilty to them. Prosecution

counsel, Modupe Akinkoye then urged the court to remand the accused in prison and fix a date for the commencement of trial.

However, defence counsel, Adeniyi Odunsi told the court that his client was entitled to bail based on the National Refugee Asylums Certificate. He urged the court to exercise its power judicially and judiciously, insisting that the accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Justice Tsoho granted the accused person bail but ordered his remand in prison custody until he meets the bail conditions.

FG approves N1.73bn surveillance aircraft for Customs

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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he Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the purchase of a Cessna Citation CJ4 surveillance aircraft worth N1.73 billion for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to strengthen its anti-smuggling operations.

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who briefed State House correspondents after the weekly meeting of the council presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, said the aircraft would enhance the effective surveillance and management of Nigeria’s borders to eliminate economic sabotage and cross border crimes.

The approval followed the

ratification of the President’s anticipatory approval after the council considered a memo presented to it by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

He said the aircraft whose contract was awarded to Messrs Africair Incorporated, would help the Customs to aerially patrol the borders not well defined as well as roads used by smugglers to bypass official border posts.

FEC also approved the immediate implementation of the African Union (AU) Green Wall Convention through the resuscitation of the National Council on Shelterbelt Afforestation, Erosion Control and Coastal Zones Management.

…Violent clash as truck crushes okada, passenger in Asaba

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ommercial activities around Okpanam Road and Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Asaba, Delta state, were paralysed for several hours yesterday when a commercial motorcycle and his passenger were crushed to death.

The killing of the motorcyclist

and his passenger sparked off a bloody clash between commercial motorcycle operators and truck drivers plying the road.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that trouble started when a tipper, laden with sand, crushed the “okada” rider and his

passenger to death at DBS Road junction on Okpanam Road.

The incident which occurred at about 11.30 a.m., stirred spontaneous protest by okada riders, who instantly set the tipper on fire, after the driver and his conductors fled the scene of the incident to escape

the wrath of the motorcyclists.

But as the news of the incident reached the tipper mark at Anwai Road, the drivers were said to have quickly mobilised and descended on any motorcyclist seen around, beating them up and torching their motorcycles.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 4

Deji Abiola: Parties opt for out of court settlement From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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ustice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, of an Ikeja High Court, was yesterday informed that parties in the ongoing trial of Deji Abiola have agreed to settle the matter out of court.

Deji Abiola is standing trial for allegedly swindling Hamzat Babatunde Jose of N35.5million under the pretext of importing a printing machine for him, from Switzerland.

However, as the trial commenced on Wednesday before the court, counsel to Abiola, Jimoh Lasisi, SAN said the complainant (Jose) and his client had come to

an agreement and that what remained was for the complainant to inform the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission so that the matter could be withdrawn from the court.

According to Jose who confirmed that they had come to an agreement, they are yet to finalise it.

The prosecution counsel, Omeiza Adebola, however said he was not carried along in the settlement plan and so had to go ahead with the trial.

Justice Onigbanjo subsequently adjourned the matter till June 21, 2012 for mention.

Gunmen kill FRCN reporter in Benin A From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

reporter with Federal Radio Corporation (Bronze FM, Benin), Mr. Sashua Edeghagba, was shot dead on Tuesday night by unknown gunmen along Dawson Street, before Iyaro in Benin City.

The death of Edeghagba has brought the number of journalists killed in Edo state by unknown gunmen to three in

the last 30 days, excluding the three journalists who died in a road mishap involving Governor, Adams Oshiomhole’s convoy.

According to Controller News of Bronze FM, Benin, Mr. Fulani Olufemi, Edeghagbe met his death when he went to Dawson street to fix his car while there was a robbery operation going on near the mechanic workshop adding that it was learnt that in a desperate bid to

escape when residents of the area raised alarm, the robbers shot sporadically to scare people away, and in the process shot a policeman and Edeghagba.

The policeman is said to be hospitalised in an undisclosed hospital, while Edeghagba’s body has been deposited at the mortuary.

Until his death, Edeghagba who was employed last year by FRCN was a father of three and a wife that is pregnant.

Ikeja NBA election: Court stops swearing-in of new executives From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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ustice O.A Taiwo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, restrained the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch and its chairman from swearing-in the newly elected officers pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed by a contestant, Yinka Farounbi.

The judge in her ruling ordered the elected officers to stop parading themselves as officers

elect of the NBA Ikeja branch, pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

The claimant, who contested the chairmanship position of the NBA Ikeja branch with one Monday Ubani (3rd defendant/ respondent) and lost, had sued him alongside the out-going chairman of the association, Adebamigbe Omole, seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants from swearing -in the officers elect.

Reps to investigate security at airports

By Umar Mohammed Puma

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isturbed by the security measures currently adopted at airports that are undergoing maintenance by means of manual search which is defective, the House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committee on Aviation to investigate the functionality of security equipment in all such airports and to report back to the House within four weeks.

The motion was filed by Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, who said that the present global security challenges in air transportation calls for urgent adoption of measures to forestall any breach of passenger and aircraft safety in Nigeria, adding that the current renovation of the airports has dislocated and disrupted the smooth functioning of installed scanning machines and other vital security gadgets thereby posing great security risk to passengers and the airports.

L-R: National Commissioner, Information and Communication of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prince Adedeji Solomon Soyebi, with Coordinator of Electoral Institute of INEC, Dr. Frank Ozoh, during the commissioner's visit to the scene of a fire yesterday at the institute, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Police Act: Women officers free to Land acquisition in FCT marry men of choice, says court is fraud, says EFCC

By Lambert Tyem

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hairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, has said land allocation and acquisition in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is a huge fraud.

Lamorde said, "It is in the FCT that people brandish supposed originals of Certificate of Occupancy of plots of land and other people still come and contest it with the original certificate".

Speaking at the public presentation of a United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP) sponsored report of a "Systems Study on the Federal Capital Territory Land Administration and Documentary on Grass roots Involvement with Budget Process in Abuja, Lamorde described the results of the study as commendable, stressing that such a report should be expanded and applied not only in the FCTA but across Nigeria.

He described land scam as the biggest scam in the FCT, and explained that, since "land is very important to us in Africa; I hope we can move forward positively from this study and replicate it in other parts of the country".

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, presided over by Justice Stephen Adah, yesterday declared as illegal and unconstitutional the provision of the Police Act that prohibits a woman police officer from marrying a man of her choice without the permission of the Commissioner of Police in the command where she is serving.

The judge in his judgment, rejected the arguments of the Attorney-General of the Federation and held that Regulation 124 was illegal, null and void due to its inconsistency with Section 42 of the 1999

Constitution.

Justice Adah declared the Regulation unconstitutional and proceeded to annul it, pursuant to Section 1(3) of the Constitution.

The suit was filed by the Women Empowerment and Legal Aid Initiative (WELA) challenging the constitutional validity of Regulation 124 made pursuant to the Police Act (Cap P19) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

The Regulation states that: "A woman police officer who is desirous of marrying must first apply in writing to the Commissioner of Police for the state command in which she is serving, requesting permission

to marry and giving name, address and occupation of the person she intends to marry.

"Permission will be granted for the marriage if the intended husband is of good character and the woman police officer has served in the force for a period of not less than three years."

When the case came up for argument, counsel to WELA, Mrs. Funmi Falana, in her submissions, argued that it was illegal to ban a woman police officer for three years before entering into a marriage and that seeking permission of a Police Commissioner was an infraction of her fundamental right to dignity and freedom of choice.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Ex-NLC President, Bafyau dies at 65 From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

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former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Comrade Pascal Bafyau is dead. He was 65 years old and hailed from Numan local government area of Adamawa state.

Peoples Daily gathered from relatives that the former labour leader died in the early hours of yesterday after suffering a massive heart attack late Tuesday night.

The late Bafyau, it was learnt, had slumped in his Abuja residence located at Wuse Zone 2, close to Banex Plaza at about 10:30pm on Tuesday before he was rushed to Silver Spring Hospital, where doctors battled for hours to revive him but to no avail.

Consequently, his corpse has been deposited at the National Hospital, Abuja. No official announcement has been made by the family regarding burial arrangements.

Following the news of the demise of Bafyau, thousands of sympathizers have been converging at his Yola residence and his hometown, Numan to condole with the family.

He was last seen at a public function in Yola, at a press briefing organised by Pene Da Bwatiye Association at the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists on Monday.

…NLC, TUC mourn him

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he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) yesterday described the death of Comrade Pascal Bafyau, a former NLC President, as a great loss to labour movement.

Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC President, Comrade Peter Esele, TUC President, and another labour leader spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos.

A statement by the congress said the deceased joined the ruling PDP in 1998 and made unsuccessful bids for senatorial and gubernatorial contests in Adamawa.

The statement said that “Bafyau would be remembered for striving for a strong and united labour movement in the country.”

Omar described the deceased as a strong pillar who always participated in the development and growth of the congress.

He said that the death of the ex-NLC president “came as a shock to all” and gave assurances that the congress would collaborate with the family to ensure a befitting burial for him.

Esele, while commiserating with the family of the deceased, said it was during Bafyau’s administration that the foundation for a virile labour movement in the country was laid. (NAN)

PAGE 5

UBEC contract document fabricated, says EFCC T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, closed its case against UBEC officials and contractors for an alleged N787 million contract award.

Counsel to EFCC, Mr Wahab Shittu closed the case for the prosecution after Mr Usman Tahir, a prosecution witness, concluded his evidence.

During cross-examination, Tahir, a police investigator attached to the EFCC, said that the minutes of the 5th Board Meeting which approved the contract was fabricated.

The witness had told the court on May 15 that the contract awarded by UBEC to an American company ``was against the rules’’.

The prosecution witness further explained that the contract was

discussed at the 5th Governing Board Meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) based on misrepresentation.

The anti-graft body is prosecuting four UBEC directors, an American contractor, Intermarket USA LLC and Inter-market Nigeria.

The accused persons are Molkat Mutfwang, Michael Aule, Andrew Ekpunobi, Alexander

Cozma and Prof. Bridget Sokan, They were said to have deceived UBEC into awarding the contract to Inter-market, USA LLC and Alex Cozma and N636 million was paid.

Earlier in the trial, Justice Abdul Kafarati had held that the EFCC had established a case against the accused persons.

The judge adjourned the case to June 27. (NAN)

L-R: Minister of Communications, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, Minister of State for FCT, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, and Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, during the Federal Executive Council meeting yesterday at the State House, Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Northern govs elect new chairman today From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

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new Chairman is expected to emerge during the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) holding in Kaduna today.

The forum will also elect a number of vice-chairmen, according to the secretary to the Niger state government, Daniel Clifford Shashere, who is also Coordinating Chairman, forum of secretaries to the governments of northern states.

Shashere who spoke yesterday during a meeting of the SSGs in Kaduna, explained that the

elections were part of efforts to restructure the NSGF. According to him, the governors would deliberate on a number of issues and receive reports from committees earlier set up on the repositioning of New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN) and

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orried by the disruptions caused by the moribund Nigerian Telecommunications Plc (NITEL) obsolete cables on major streets across the country, the House of Representatives yesterday urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to initiate measures to remove them and to urge the telecom firms to lay cables underground, where necessary, in line with

discussions had been held, there have been pockets of security issues that have come up.

“Therefore, we will not get tired about discussing and trying to find solutions to this issue. We require the cooperation of everyone to be able to tackle the security problem.

South-east govs to launch book on Ojukwu From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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overnors of the six states of the South East geopolitical zone will today launch a book on the late Igbo leader, Chief Chukwuemeka

Reps want NCC to remove NITEL cables nationwide

By Umar Mohammed Puma

revival of agriculture in the north.

As Shashere put it, “the main items on the agenda of the meeting of the NSGF include as usual, the recurrent issue of the security in the north.

“We are aware that during our last meeting, despite the fact that

international best practices.

The motion which was moved

by Hon. Samuel Segun Williams, observed that since the commencement of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) services, NITEL has witnessed drastic reduction or has almost stopped the provision of telephone services, adding that telecom mast/base stations were the new infrastructure supporting telecommunication services.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

The book titled: “Ojukwu, the Rebel I Served,” was written

by Uche Ezechukwu, a veteran journalist and public analyst and captures some of the innermost secrets and exploits of the former Biafra leader and top Nigerian soldier who died last year.

Chief Emeka Okengwu, who signed a statement on behalf of

the organisers, said Senator Ben Obi would chair the event while the governor of Niger state, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu would present the keynote speech.

The book is an account of a journalist who worked closely with Ojukwu for two years at the end of a major and harrowing torments of his life after leading the Biafran war against Nigeria that lasted for almost three years.

Fire guts INEC facility

By Richard Ihediwa

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here was a fire incident at The Electoral Institute (TEI), located at the Central Business District, Abuja. TEI is an annex of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The fire, which started at about 11: 55a.m. yesterday, was promptly put under control –

preventing any serious damage to the facility.

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said in a statement yesterday that relevant agencies have commenced investigation into the exact cause of the incident.

The Fire Service was promptly called in to join officials of the Commission who had responded to contain the fire.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

I need no PDP support to fight Justice Salami, says Oyinlola

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, yesterday, said he needed no support from the leadership of the party to take on reinstated Justice Ayo Salami as President Court of Appeal.

Oyinlola made the clarification in a statement he personally signed in an effort to

clarify the alleged rift between him and the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur over the propriety or otherwise of President Goodluck Jonathan acceding to the recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC) that the suspended President of the Court of Appeal be reinstated.

There have been insinuations that there was a big disagreement between Oyinlola and Tukur on

whether the President should accept the NJC recommendation or reject it, with Oyinlola said to be averse to the return of Salami to office.

The PDP secretary however stated that the insinuations were tissues of lies. Oyinlola insisted that the matter was never discussed at the party's National Working Committee (NWC) meeting as reported.

He said "The alleged rift in the

leadership of our great party over the recommendation by NJC to the President to reinstate the suspended President of the Court of Appeal is not only false but a baseless media speculation.

"The PDP as a party had at no time discussed the issue much less disagreeing over it. " "The PDP has no reason to table for discussion at its National Working Committee, a matter that both the Federal Executive and the Judiciary have entirely conceded its resolution to the

unconditional context of due process and rule of law.

"However, I wish to make it abundantly clear that while the PDP is least interested in interfering in this matter as a body, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as an individual whose rights and electoral victory were hurt by the matter which are clearly related to the reason that orchestrated Justice Salami's suspension, reserves every right to continue to seek redress within the ambit of the law."

Benue residents groan over rent hike From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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esidents of Makurdi, the Benue state capital, have expressed displeasure over the incessant increase in house rents in the town.

Our correspondent’s investigation reveals that house rent in the town has jerked up by more than 100 percent.

For instance, a room apartment which used to go for N50,000 now attracts N100,000 per annum while a room and parlour equivalent that used to be N80,000 now goes for between N150,000 and N200,000 per annum depending on the location and the facilities.

An agent, Sunday Agbe said an ordinary room and parlour structure goes for N120,000 per

annum while three bedroom flat goes for between N350,000 and N450,000 per annum depending on the location adding that a prospective tenant has to pay for at least one and half years.

He attributed the recent increase to large influx of people fleeing from other areas of the North because of the activities of the Boko Haram Sect.

"Many people are leaving the troubled areas to Makurdi having discovered that Benue is relatively peaceful. So, house rents have increased tremendously. I receive more than 10 people on a daily basis looking for accommodation, many of them are from Kano, Jos, Kaduna, Bauchi and Yobe states", Agbe said.

Labour minister commiserates with NLC over Bafyau’s death L-R:Author of “Templates for Nigerian Transformation,” Mr. William Otabil, Executive Director, International Organisation for Youth Advocacy and Development (IOYAD), Mr. Samuel Ayinde, and Conference Director, Mr. Ayokun Fagbeni, during the stakeholders' summit of IOYAD, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Jibril blames decline in values on colonialism, coups, corruption,

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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he Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Mrs. Sarah Jibril, blames the country's decline in moral values and ethics on the long history of colonialism, military coup and corruption which she said is still a cog in the wheel of the progress of the nation.

Jibril, who gave this indication yesterday at the headquarters of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), during a one day collaborative seminar with Global Entrepreneurial institute on "Promoting Ethics and Value Reorientation in Nigeria", added that the experience of war eroded trust

in the minds of people while corruption battered the country's image and economy.

She said however, that the present administration was bent on restructuring Nigeria to the right path, by appointing the current Director-General to champion the campaign so as to give the Nigerian people a sense of belonging.

Similarly, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Anesthesia Nwaobia, who harped on the need for leaders to lead by example, said there was urgent need for effective collaboration between the leaders and people at the grassroots.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director-General of the

Agency, Mike Omeri, said that the aim of the programme was to engage Nigerians from all walks of life and influence their attitude positively towards brightening the image of the nation.

He noted that the collaboration would enable the agency to tap from the experience of other foreigners and stakeholders on how to better inculcate values in the people.

He added that the agency was committed to equip more people to serve as vanguard for change, and to in turn mould additional people who would extend the chain of the transformation agenda to the wider society.

By Albert Akota

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he Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu has described the demise of Comrade Pascal Bafyau, a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), from 1988-1994 as shocking.

The minister in his reaction to the news of the death eulogized late Comrade Bafyau for his resilient efforts at improving the welfare of the Nigerian workers as evident in the negotiation of the national minimum wage of 1991, establishment of Federal Urban Mass Transit (FUMT) programme which he

Katsina awards N4.7bn road contracts From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina atsina state government has awarded contracts worth N4.7 billion for the rehabilitation of two major link roads in the state.

At the signing ceremony, yesterday at the Ministry of

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We pay salary promptly because we can - Kwankwaso From Bala Nasir, Kano

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overnor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state has declared that for stopping wastage, Kano workers receive their salaries by the 25th of every month unfailingly.

The governor was saying this during the distribution of working and learning materials procured by the state government for public schools

in the state.

The materials worth over N330 million were distributed to all the 44 local government councils in the state for onward distribution to all public schools in their respective areas.

Governor Kwankwaso stated that since he came to power last year, he made sure that public money were used judiciously for public good and not for some few to stash away.

He said salaries are paid at once,

not by senatorial zone as is the case in some places.

Adding, if all states of the federation could manage their resources very well, none would find it difficult paying its workers every month.

The governor therefore urged all the principals, headmasters and teachers to use the materials supplied to their schools for the purposes they were procured.

The materials, according to him,

championed among others.

"We have lost a foremost labour leader, an astute politician whose wealth of experience could be drawn upon as we move towards a paradigm shift in labour government relationship from adversarial position of industrial relations practice to a more flexible winwin relationship", he said.

According to a statement by the Assistant Director of Press in the ministry Olowookere Samuel, Wogu prayed for the repose of the soul of the dead and for the family and the entire labour movement in Nigeria to have the fortitude to bear the loss.

would be used in public schools in the next 12 months adding that a plan has been designed by the state government to make them available to the schools without finishing throughout the year.

He also called on the people of the state to help his administration by making good use of the projects provided by his administration and to protect them from vandals.

Works, Housing and Transport, the commissioner, Arch.

Mustapha Maikudi Kankia signed on behalf of the government while representative of the construction firm signed on behalf of his company.

According to the commissioner, the two contracts covers a distance of 112 kilometres comprising MashiMani-Ingawa- Bindawa-Kusada and Ingawa-Kankia roads.

He noted that contracts for the rehabilitation and asphalting of these roads would to be completed in 18 month, calling on the contractor to quickly mobilise to site.

The commissioner similarly assured that the government would provide more road networks to ease movements and economic activities across the state.

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

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Staff of New Nigerian Newspapers protesting non payment of their oneyear salary, yesterday in Kaduna.

Photo: NAN A driver being frog-jumped for traffic offence at a check point, yesterday at Giri, Abuja. Photo: NAN L-R: Former Cross-River state Governor and member of the National Steering Committee of State Peer Review Mechanism(SPRM), Dr. Donald Duke, another member of the committee, Professor Oladipupo Adamolekun, and Director General, ,Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Asishana B. Okauru, during the Technical Review Mission on SPRM, on Tuesday in Awka, Anambra state.

L-R: Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Lawal Ngama, Minister of Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafiya, and Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, jointly briefing journalists on the purchase of aircraft for Nigeria Customs and the and the need for tree planting in the country, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

NUJ supports journalists’ threat to boycott govt activities in Plateau From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

T

he national secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has endorsed the resolution of journalists in Plateau state to boycott the activities of the state government.

In a telephone interview, NUJ secretary, Mr. Shuaibu Liman, regretted that journalists have been forced by government insensitivity to shun its activities.

Liman described the action of the journalist as laudable,

because the government had failed to provide the enabling environment for them to do their job.

He condemned in entirety the insinuation by one of the aides of Governor Jonah Jang that the action was borne out of the fact that journalists were seeking for some pecuniary favours before doing their job.

According to him, journalists in Plateau have contributed immensely in stabilising the very fragile security challenges in Plateau and should be commended.

Benue Speaker laments stagnation at medical college L-R: Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Dr. Ekpo Nta, Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministry, Engineer Anthony Ozodinobi, and Chairman, Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, during the presentation of report of a systems study on the Federal Capital Territory lands administration and documentary on grassroots involvement with budget processes, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Nigeria has 85million hectares of uncultivated arable land - Sambo

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Vice President, Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo has said that Nigeria has over 85 million hectares of arable land yet to be cultivated.

Sambo stated this during a courtesy visit by a high powered trade delegation from Japan, led by the Nigerian Ambassador to Japan, Ambassador Godwin N. Agbo.

The Vice President said the administration was seeing agriculture not as a programme, but as a business that would create jobs to the teeming unemployed.

“We have placed great importance on agricultural development, which we intend to develop as a business; previously in this country agriculture is considered as

government programme, but now agriculture is considered a business”.

Vice President Sambo used the opportunity to invite the Japanese delegation to invest in the huge potentials that abound in the sector. He also enumerated several areas of opportunities for Japanese businesses to tap into, which included the power sector, the transport sector, oil and gas, petrochemicals, finance, etc.

He noted that Nigeria had put in place measures that would safeguard the business concerns of all investors. He also promised them that there were incentives that would further boost their confidence, when they invest in the country.

Arc Sambo used the occasion to express Nigeria’s sympathy over the unfortunate disaster caused by last year’s Tsunami,

in that country, while also appreciating the confidence that Japan had placed on Nigeria. He said this confidence had boosted the cordial relations existing between the two countries. He thanked the country for the assistance they have been rendering to Nigeria through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Ambassador Godwin Agbo stated that the trade delegation was in Nigeria to tap into the huge potentials in different sectors of the country’s economy. He said that the 32 member delegation was drawn from companies, which included The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd, Marubeni Corporation, Sanyo Foods, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Middle East FZA, and Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd, among several others.

partnership with StarTimes was the introduction of channel 24 by the NTA which is a 24-hour transmitting station, operated digitally and viewed globally”.

In his contribution, StarTimes General Manager, Jess Jing, said “in fact, each time you hear people talking about digitalisation, you will always hear them talk about StarTimes.

“When the NTA DirectorGeneral briefed us on how to go digital, some officials from StarTimes visited Nigeria and that was the time when the NTA was struggling for expansion, struggling to have news 24 hours channel, sports channels and entertainment channels.

“So, that was how it all started and later it became something

great for us because it helped us in the digitalisation effort.” He noted that more channels were being introduced into the StarTimes decoder, due to what he described as popular demand.

How NTA went digital, by zonal director From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

T

he director, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Kaduna zonal office, Malam Bala Hassan, has said that a Chinese firm, StarTimes, made it possible for the station to begin digital transmission.

“Otherwise, we would have remained an analogue broadcast station,” Hassan said at a press conference, in collaboration with StarTimes in Kaduna.

According to him, “StarTimes came to our rescue by introducing digital transmission through the decoder format, at a time the NTA was in dire need of a digital outlook.

“The resultant effect of the

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

S

peaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. David Iorhemba, has lamented over what he described as ‘the stagnation of the programme of medical students of the Benue State University most of whom have stayed at the institution for over 10 years.

Mr. Iorhemba who made the lamentation yesterday during a meeting with the students in his office, disclosed that the Assembly would put in place a joint committee on education, health and human services that would investigate the matter and make recommendations to assist the

state government provide solutions.

On the request by the students to be sent to foreign universities to complete their programme, the speaker noted that language would constitute a barrier, stating that the to-be constituted committee would work towards sending the students to other universities in the country to complete their courses.

President of the Medical Students Association, BSU chapter, Abah Ochigbo, regretted that some of the students have stayed in the institution for more than 10 years without graduating as a result of inadequacies at the BSU Teaching Hospital.

JUTH doctors, consultants to undergo re-training in India From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

T

he University of Jos and the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Apollo Hospital in India to train consultants, nurses and lecturers on the provision of advanced healthcare in the country. The training is through an observer-ship programme in areas of invitro fertilisation, cardiology and cardiac surgery, neurosciences, organs transplantation, joint replacement, oncology and critical care medicine.

In a press statement issued in Jos, Dr. Bode Thomas, paediatrician and consultant with JUTH who is one of the beneficiaries of the training, stressed that under the agreement, the Indian hospital

would see to it that doctors from the University of Jos and JUTH are trained and exposed during the observer-ship period in the various fields to enable them practice same on return to Nigeria.

Dr. Thomas stated that 96 doctors and nurses will be leaving in separate batches for the programme, adding that the first batch consisting of eight members are expected to spend three months while the various sessions will last between three to six months.

According to her, “The three institutions are desirous of providing quality and cost effective healthcare to patients in Nigeria. The training programme will be intensive in nature and it is expected to keep the participants abreast with latest advancement in the medical field”.

Leadtimes magazine to honour prominent Nigerians on nation building

By Adeola Tukuru

L

eadtime Africa magazine will honour the wife of Kaduna state governor, Mrs. Aminatu Yakowa and other prominent Nigerians for their contribution to nation building.

The chairman of the magazine, Professor Buba

Mshelia, told newsmen that the magazine took the initiative of hounoring deserving Nigerians who have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria.

“The award is principally organised to spur people in leadership positions towards excellence in service delivery

and to engender good governance in leadership for quality service delivery in our respective positions of leadership.

It is further aimed at sensitizing African leadership on the effect of corruption in a democratic set-up.”

The event is slated to hold in June, 2012 in Abuja.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Women protest insecurity in Edo From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

R-L: Abia state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, with Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Nnamdi Okere-Affia, during the 2012 Annual Management Conference of NYSC, yesterday at the Hotel Royal Damgrate, in Umuahia, Abia state.

Man, 21, to hang for killing parents, siblings in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano

A

Kano High Court on Tuesday convicted one Bello Garba Bello to death by hanging for killing his parents and three siblings, two years ago at their family house along Zoo Road by Gandun Albasa quarters in Kano metropolis.

The presiding judge, Justice Haliru Abdullahi said he was satisfied with the evidence tendered before him that the accused had actually committed the five- count charge of homicide for which he was accused.

Justice Abdullahi also declared

that the five victims were killed as a result of various degrees of multiple injuries inflicted on them contrary to section 221 of the penal code.

The prosecuting counsel, Shu’aibu Sule, said the accused had confessed to have committed the offence in a written statement he made to the police on September 15, 2010.

He presented seven witnesses before the court including the younger brother of the accused, Farouk, whose testimonies corroborated the charges against the defendant.

It would be recalled that Bello

Garba Bello was said to have murdered his father, Garba Bello, an officer with state security service (SSS) in Sokoto. His mother Habiba, and three siblings Khalifa, Murja and Hafsa on the night of September 13, 2010.

The defense counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji had tendered a 17page written address before the court explaining the circumstances leading to the death of the five persons and exonerating the accused from the charges preferred against him.

According to him, the statement written by Farouk implicating the accused was

inadmissible as the witness was below the age of 14 and that Bello Garba had earlier written a statement on September 14, 2010 exonerating himself before he was forced to write another one on September 15, 2010 confessing to have committed the offence.

Our correspondent recalled that the incident which occurred on the night of September 13, 2010 at the residence of Garba Bello Number 175, Zoo Road in Kano municipal had generated public out-cry and sympathy as it was the first homicide case of its kind ever witnessed in the state.

NAN, German Press Agency sign MoU on capacity building

T

he News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and the German Press Agency (dpa) yesterday in Abuja signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost the capacity of both agencies.

Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, the Managing Director of NAN, said at the signing ceremony, that the

MoU would enhance the capacity of NAN to meet the yearnings of its more than 240 subscribers.

According to Oyo, the Nigerian nation deserves to know what is happening in the Republic of Germany and wherever dpa correspondents are.

She said that NAN had wide reach and guaranteed fair

coverage of all events without bias to nationality or race.

“We believe that signing of this agreement will also help to boost our capacity because you have a longer history in news agency journalism than we do…”

Responding, Mr. Laszlo Trankovits, the Bureau Chief of dpa, said the agency had not given

Amaechi commissions Jigawa nursing school From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

T

he Birnin Kudu School of Nursing and Midwifery constructed at the cost of N2.1 billion has been commissioned by the Rivers state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

The school according to the Jigawa state governor Alhaji Sule Lamido was conceived to provide the maximum standard for learning by the state’s future health workers.

Alhaji Lamido said the school of nursing complex which is the best in the west of the Sahara, was

equipped with modern facilities, laboratory equipment and motivated teachers.

The governor said the Rasheed Shekoni Hospital based in Dutse that is equipped with the state of the art facility has been accredited to serve as training of house officers, pharmacy and physiotherapy interns in the state.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Hassana Hussaini Adamu, has said apart from the construction of the school of nursing and midwifery the state government

has improved the enrolment of doctors from 40 in 2008 to 170 in 2011.

She also said nurses’ population has increased from the former 351 to 672 and midwives from 30 to 268 within the periods of 2008 and 2011.

She said in addition to giving deserving students the opportunity to study in the school, the government has also given indigenous students automatic employment and they are placed on grade level 03 and subsequently placed on GL 07 on graduation from the school.

Africa adequate coverage, a situation it intended to correct.

He said that Nigeria was a strategic partner based on its huge population, adding that the agreement would boost cooperation between Nigeria and Germany.

“We did not pay enough attention to Africa especially to Nigeria and this we want to correct; we are aware of the importance of Nigeria as the most populous country in Africa.” (NAN)

he National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS), Edo state chapter has condemned the wasteful killing and maiming of innocent people on a daily basis in the country, particularly in Edo state.

The women who registered their indignation by staging a protest, were armed with placards reading: ‘Mothers of the nation, appeal for calm’. ‘Orphans are on the increase’. ‘Reduce the widowhood in the state’, marched through major streets in Benin City.

State chairman of NCWS, Mrs. Omoluru Agbokhae Eniye, told newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists press centre that the council is worried over the rising number of widows and orphans.

“As mothers we can no longer fold our arms and watch these senseless killings overpower our wealth and inheritance. Edo state belongs to us all. In all these women suffer because their children and husbands are been killed and they are left as widows”.

Boko Haram: COCIN has losses 15 preachers From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

T

he Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) yesterday disclosed that it lost over 15 preachers last year alone to the activities of Boko Haram in the Northern part of Nigeria.

COCIN president, Rev. Soja Bewarang made this disclosure at the general church council in Jos held in the headquarters compound of the church. He lamented that even though democracy has come to stay in Nigeria, there is still much to be desired because his members despite their striving to live in peace, are continuously being threatened

by Boko Haram.

According to him, the unchecked activities of the Boko Haram terrorists have caused incalculable loss of lives and have subjected the citizens to unnecessary panic.

The COCIN president further regretted the fact that most of the political leaders are more interested in using their positions to create wealth for their selves rather than concern themselves with the plight of ordinary citizens being mindlessly slaughtered.

According to him, the insecurity in the country has exposed the incapability of the leaders to tackle the security challenges once and for all.

FRSC joins UN road safety body

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he World Health Organisation (WHO), has adopted the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as a member of the UN Road Safety Collaboration (UNRSC).

An FRSC statement issued yesterday by the Corps Public Education Officer, Jonas Agwu, said that the adoption was contained in a letter endorsed by

the Director and the UNRSC chairman, Dr. Etienne Krug.

It added that the FRSC admittance was taken from the 15th meeting of the UNRSC in Washington DC, United States.

Mr. Agwu, further revealed that the UNRSC was set up by the WHO in May 2004 at the instance of the World Health Assembly to act as coordinator on road safety issues across the United Nations.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 11

Rep advocates fiscal federalism, says North can survive without oil money

By Lawrence Olaoye

R

ep Mohammed Monguno (ANPP) representing Monguno/Marte/Nganzai Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has canvassed for the inclusion of fiscal federalism clause in the nations’ statute books as the National Assembly considers the amendment of the 1999

Constitution.

The Borno state lawmaker said the Northern region can survive without oil money from the South if the leaders could harness the region’s potentials in agriculture and other mining concerns.

He said: “Fiscal federalism is good; too much power is concentrated in the centre; there is need to devolve powers so that every

state will take its own destiny in its own hand. As it is presently, many states are not viable”.

According to him, “The Federal Government should have no business with agriculture because it is practiced at the local level; the Federal Government should concentrate on defense; it should not concern itself with agriculture and education but on policies that could

regulate their administration.

“Before the advent of oil, the North supported itself with agriculture. The oil only made the North to be lazy. The North can survive without the oil money.

The money used to prospect for the oil came from agriculture”, he asserted.

Monguno equally noted that opposition parties in the country

were not virile enough to put the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government on its toes. He however commended the latest efforts being made by the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and other opposition parties to forge a united front to confront the ruling party ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Katsina NULGE commends Shema over minimum wage From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

T

he Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Katsina state chapter has commended Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina State for approving the new minimum wage to local government workers in the state.

A statement signed by the president of union in the state, Comrade Aliyu Haruna noted that by this act, the governor according to him has demonstrated that he was a listening governor.

Similarly the union lauded the governor's prudent, accountable and transparent management of the state funds at both the state and local government levels.

The union while acknowledging the governor's achievement in all sectors of the state advised workers to reciprocate the gesture by showing commitment, discipline and dedication to duties, adding that the union would continue to be loyal to the state administration.

Reps urge MDAs to embark on security drills

By Umar Mohammed Puma

T

he House of Representatives has urged all ministries, departments, agencies and private organisations to periodically embark on mandatory security drills including emergency response and awareness measures two times annually in order to save lives and properties in times of terror attacks.

A motion filed by Hon. Chudi P. Uwazurike during Tuesday’s plenary session, observed that the insecurity in Nigeria is a major threat to the nation’s democracy and the general well being of the populace.

Hon. Chudi said the Nigerian public is not adequately educated on security measures and drills in the face of the rising menace of terrorism, both lives and property are usually lost when panic sets in as observed in the recent terrorist scares in Lagos, Ibadan, Cross River, Benin, Warri and other places.

L-R: Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Yusuf Adebayo Ibrahim, NAHCON Chairman, Malam Mohammed Bello, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation and member of NAHCOM Board, Captain Shehu Usman Iyal, during House Committee on Foreign Affairs meeting with the NAHCOM chairman, on Tuesday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

NIMASA boss’ trial: EFCC calls 2 witnesses

By Lambert Tyem

T

he trial of the former director general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Temisan Omatseye continued yesterday at the Federal High Court Lagos with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission calling two witnesses.

Ahmed Ibrahim, an operative of the commission and prosecuting

witness 1, during cross examination by Olushina Sofola, counsel to the accused person, told the court how several contracts were awarded for the supply of desk top computers, air fitters, printers and lap tops and a host of others, without due process.

The Head, Media & Publicity of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said: "Contracts were only internally advertised on the notice board of NIMASA, and that it breached

government procedure on approval limit.

The 2nd prosecution witness, Director of Shipping M. K Bulama, who was a former Director of Finance, told the court about the sum of 300, 000 pounds transferred from NIMASA’s rent account to its impress account, and was spent to finance the election of one Mrs. Mbanefo, a Nigerian who was seeking office of the Secretary General of

International Maritime Organisation, expending only 26,000 pounds on renting accommodation.

He also told the court that the agency’s approval limit for service was N2.5 million and N5 million for works.

Justice Binta Nyako adjourned proceedings to June 12 for further cross examination and presentation of more witnesses by the EFCC.

FG to partner NBRRI on job creation Ogun police kill 4 highway robbers

By Joy Baba

T

he Federal Government has concluded plans to partner with Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), to create jobs for the teeming youths, with the aim of alleviating poverty in the country.

The Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo, who made this known in Abuja, during a conference organised by NBRRI with the theme: ‘Curbing the incidence of Building Collapse in Nigeria’, added that the technical workshop was a welcome development.

The Vice President who was represented by the Minister of

Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple, said “the Federal Government is ready to encourage NBRRI or any agency whose activities are tailored towards creating jobs, alleviating poverty and wealth creation”.

Sambo averred that the initiative was a key feature of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda, adding that as a seasoned professional architect, the issues of combating the incidences of collapsed buildings in Nigeria was an issue of concern to the Federal Government. He advised that NBRRI and other professional bodies to proffer solution to the menace of building collapse in the country.

From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

O

gun State Police Command on Tuesday shot four members robbery gang dead along the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, after foiling robbery operations and recovering three locally made pistols.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed to journalists in Abeokuta that the incident took place at about 9:00 am at Fidiwo junction of the expressway.

“A good spirited individual along the expressway who saw the bus been driven to the bush alerted the DPO Ishara division about the attack”,

stating further that the DPO, SP Haruna Bashir immediately swung into action and met the robbers robbing the passengers”.

The bandits, on sighting the police took to their heels, while the audacious four who engaged police in gun duel were shot dead while others escaped with bullets wounds.

The items recovered from the robbers included three locally made pistols, eight xpended cartridges, and some Indian hemp.

According to Adejobi, “We were also able to recover all the items collected from the victims such as two black berry phones, two Nokia handsets, one Compaq laptop, among others”.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

No to increased security vote P enultimate Saturday, one of the weekend newspapers reported that the National Assembly was concluding plans to jack up the N930 billion 2011 Security Vote because the amount is now considered grossly inadequate to cope with the security challenges confronting the nation, but which many have rightly viewed as being unreasonably on the high side considering the dire economic situation in the country.

The paper quoted an unnamed senior government official as saying that “we are really worried about the worsening security situation and we have made the point very clear to the authorities that something must be done urgently to checkmate those who are killing and getting away with it. In the face of other competing challenges, money is a big problem but we have to source for it and confront an enemy that has refused to back down”.

According to the newspaper, the agencies charged with the management of the nation’s security are uncomfortable with the “paltry” sum and had already made their feelings known to the federal government.

But the confirmation of the move by the NASS to hike the security vote, coming from the chairman of the Senate Committee on Security and National Intelligence, Senator Muhammed Magoro, is the pointer that there is clearly a predetermined but unhealthy convergence of minds between the Executive and the Legislature, on the issue.

It quoted the former internal affairs minister and retired army general as saying that “the security committee in conjunction with other committees in the National Assembly will put heads together to see what can be done to the

budget with a view to improving security in the country.”

The move, in our view is wrong, and therefore uncalled for, for a number of reasons. Since it is a universal truism that the military approach alone cannot successfully address the multiple security challenges confronting Nigeria or any country for that matter, it is therefore illogical to jack up the security vote when the extra fund could be put to better use in other even more demanding areas, the

“

if strong arm tactics were any panacea to militancy, insurgency and other security challenges of that nature, the problem in Afghanistan would have long been history, so consigned by the combined military might of NATO, which has unfortunately been fought to a near standstill for upward of a decade by the ill-equipped, ill fed, ill sheltered and ragtag Taliban army neglect of which is a contributing or the sole factor in the emergence of the security challenges, in the first place.

We dare to argue that, if strong arm tactics were any panacea to militancy, insurgency and other security challenges of that nature, the problem in Afghanistan would have long been history, so consigned by the combined military might of NATO, which has unfortunately been fought to a near standstill for upward of a decade by

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the ill-equipped, ill fed, ill sheltered and ragtag Taliban army, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives of Afghans and a few hundreds of the coalition members, not to talk of the over $100 billion annual costs of the war.

Closer at home, there is little to say in support of the effectiveness of the Military approach as the sole cure and deterrent of security problems. Else, nobody would be contemplating increasing a budget that already amounts to N2 billion per day for the security sector, but with pretty little positive to show for the impact of that mind-numbing amount.

It is our considered belief at Peoples Daily that any further militirisation of the approach to the security challenges would only make a bad situation worse, at least for the innocent larger society, which has in any case been paying the price, in many cases with lives, of the murderous activities of the Boko Haram sect and other criminal elements in the society on the one hand, and the vicious and no less fatal response of the security agencies, especially the military, on the other. This only-stick approach has left the entire northern part of the country under the combined siege of the equally brutal security agencies and the criminal elements in the society.

Even by his own admission in that controversial contribution at the BRACED meeting of the South-South states on April 26, the National Security Adviser, General Andrew Awoye Azazi, said military force alone, could not solve the problem of Boko Haram as, according to him, “it is a combination of everything (religion, poverty and a desire to rule Nigeria), and unless you address all those things, it would not work”. Need we argue more on the need to free the funds for other uses away from brute force? More civil and less military approach, please.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

By Aliyu Musa

W

ith total delight I recently read Dr Aliyu Tilde’s piece ‘To Niger In Search of Aisha’ in which he narrated the outstanding improvements Nigeria’s neighbour to the north has recorded in just few years.

Previously, one’s attention was often drawn to ‘begging bowls’ stretched out by the country considered one of Africa’s poorest asking for handouts on which she might survive. Famine and dying humans and animals have long been used to symbolise Niger. I vividly recall Muhammadu Gawo Fillinge’s songs, which I first heard as a kid in the 1970s, emphatically conveying a message of urgency to save Niger.

I always pitied Nigeriens, hundreds of whom lived in my community. They were always the ‘maigadis’ (security guards to the better off Nigerians), the ‘yan garuwas’ (water vendors), the ‘maishayis’ (local tea vendors) etc.

Once they owned a bakery in my street and, during the brief period it survived, life became much more comfortable for those scores of ‘yan garuwa’ and ‘maishayis’ who thronged and sought solace under the umbrella it provided.

But the bakery was among the first victims of President Shehu Shagari’s austerity measure as prices of almost all essentials (in addition to scarcity) took a sudden flight to the skies rendering such small businesses effectively dead.

That sent many of them back to the streets, again, and to the inglorious mockery of many of our countrymen. But, from Dr Tilde’s article, it seems Niger is no longer that Africa’s weeping child and her citizens would, by right, be treated with more respect perhaps for the first time. And what a

By Ike Willie Nwobu

L

ike the legendary cat with nine lives, this subject of gay marriage seems to be one that is determined to come to stay.

When it seems it has been sapped of steam and gleam, and is considered drifting uncontrollably into the throes of oblivion, out of nowhere a fresh burst of wind flows to its sails and sets it on course, on point and on hand to continue to unleash its odious tidings on an already godless and spiritually impoverished secular world.

A little more than commensurate dosage of fuelling was fed into the burning cauldron of the gay marriage discourse when the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama summarily reversed his stance on the issue, saying in an interview that it was important to him to affirm that same sex couples should be able to get married.

Previously, the British prime minister, David Cameron had threatened to cut foreign aid to countries that frowned at such same-sex marriages. We expected this re-echoing of the British agenda from the American front, since there has already been an understanding involving the two countries in economy, security and defence. Now that there has also been a blazing of the trail by the British concerning foisting

PAGE 13

Contagious implications of Nigeria’s security challenges paradox, Niger is set to be one of Nigeria’s oil suppliers!

Again, there is the story of Ghana whose citizens swarmed our villages and cities in the late 1970s and 1980s seeking greener pastures. They were in every profession or trade as could readily be available; they were our shoe menders or cobblers, bread hawkers, taxi drivers and even teachers. I once had a private teacher, Mr Fringpong, who could teach virtually every subject. I still consider myself quite lucky to have been his student as his tutorials gave the sort of head start that would prepare me for later academic and professional challenges. But he was one of thousands of foreigners given the marching order by the government of General Muhammadu Buhari in 1984.

Even as a die-hard supporter of General Buhari that is one policy I still can’t understand and might never do. Sadly. I remember how many of them hurriedly packed their bits and pieces in carry bags that were later renamed ‘Ghana Must Go’ by Nigerians in mockery of their plight. Many sold off whatever they could not take along at give away prices.

Benbella, a neighbour gladly told of how he bought a 14-inch colour television at 50 naira. It was an excellent bargain for him, but 50 naira was also quite some money to be taken back to Ghana then, given the higher exchange value of Nigeria’s naira to Ghana’s cedi.

The last I heard of Mr Fringpong

was that they had been taken in

by Libya’s Muammar Ghadafi.

Our loss was indeed Libya’s gain.

However, Ghana has since made a big come back and can no longer be bullied by big sister Nigeria. It is such a big shame that our politicians (and big men) now flock Ghanaian hospitals for treatment and send their children to their schools after collapsing our own. Ghana will probably join the list of our oil suppliers soon enough.

Cameroun is another country whose citizens considered Nigeria a sanctuary. The country is polarised on the basis of such silly sentiments as the foreign (colonial) language spoken by those in one part as opposed to the one spoken in the other. And because those speaking French in the south of the country are in power by means of Paul Biya’s overspent presidency, the English speakers in the north are, in effect, marginalised.

Many ran off to Nigeria at a time they badly needed a home, but they were let down by their hosts.

The list of those we have let down in the most bizarre manner is endless.

One would be very unfair to continue to suggest that Nigeria has been a very bad sisters’ keeper. No. Working on the premise that she could disentangle the continent from the vestiges of colonialism (and checkmate imperialism) there were quite a few times she demonstrated rare altruism, at

least on the surface. One of such was her involvement in South Africa’s anti-apartheid campaign by directly funding the African National Congress (ANC). Nigeria defied every risk to solidly stand by Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe and Sam Nujoma’s South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO, in Namibia) in their fight for independence. For instance she supported SWAPO with up to US $20 million in its preparation for independence in 1989. Nigeria was the main African backer to frontline states like Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe that constantly faced threats from the Pretoria regime. In terms of peacekeeping operations, more than any other African country Nigeria contributes troops. Thus, her earliest participation was in the Congo crisis of the early 1960s.

Since then she has played a major role in transforming the conflicts in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Western Sahara. In fact for her role in the conflict in Sierra Leone, despite Britain stealing the shine off her, most Sierra Leoneans still speak glowingly of her. In Liberia’s renewed conflict shortly before Charles Taylor was tricked into stepping aside in 2003, Nigeria it was that first put her troops in Monrovia to deescalate the violence. The US would not put a single soldier at such risk; they waited for Nigeria to clear the bush.

Several years on, Nigeria, plagued by myriads of upheavals, is now Africa’s ‘sick old woman’ in urgent need of a new lease of life. In 2004 I read an article published by a South African newspaper in which Nigeria was likened to a ‘hell on earth’ from which everyone hopes to make a great escape. Contrast the situation then to all that is happening now you’ll have a picture of a much, much better place eight years ago. I won’t cease to wonder what analogy the author of that article would apply today, taking into consideration the state of Nigeria now. But this is not a matter that calls for laughter. Nor is it one that should be treated with levity. What still shocks me is that African leaders still pretend that the contagious effect theory is a ruse in politics. Perhaps they need to scroll back their memory to the events of the early 1960s.

Scholars of African Politics had erroneously assumed that with the return to self rule Africa was a showcase of democracy. But a few like Samuel Huntington and S. E. Finer still thought it was too early to rule out the possibility of military encroachment. Such scholars emphasised the wisdom in diarchy and/or military professionalism.

To be continued Aliyu Musa, wrote in from Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace Studies, Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park, Liverpool, L16 9JD, UK.

Now that Obama has spoken immorality and mindless lewdity with impunity on the people, it is only natural that America, through its number-one citizen will definitely follow suit, and confirm our suspicions he has, albeit in a very ignoble and uncanny manner.

The pointer to the level and depth America and Britain, and indeed the whole of the Western world has fallen in the miry glut of the sickening abyss of lecherous immorality, was the fact that he even cited his daughters’ opinion of acquiescence on the matter as a strong leverage for his approving nod to the gays operation. When it is no longer out of place for even children, who should be more pristine and probably warehouse some level of sanity and sanctity, to see things as this as unusual and possibly ask searching questions that should restore older folk from their transgression, then it is certain that doomsday is but a few ticks of the clock away. When the sores of spiritual malaise have eaten so deep into the polity and psyche of the people to the extent that laws are now promulgated to seal societal and spiritual autistic tendencies, to the level we are witnessing in the present-day West, then it is only time to look for a just recompense which WILL

SURELY come. President Obama should by this piece know and note that he owes both posterity and divinity hordes of explanation for this wicked and self-seeking sellout, and that is of course in exclusion of the account he has to give for handing down such peevingly pervasive values to his innocent and unsuspecting children and generation, in his capacity as a father. For failing in his duties to protect his children from the rodential, and poisonous gnaws of same sex awareness being touted about, he is certainly culpable and cannot lose his reward.

How on earth does permitting same sex relationships foster this economic development and empowerment that has become as elusive as looking for the moon at noon, the world over? Apart from being a licence to hand lewd people their proclivities and excesses on a platter of gold, how is this going to impact on our existence and improve on our lives? Instead of improving our lives and perpetuating it, the obvious result of permitting same sex relationships will only decrease world population, and a host of other impromptu imbalances of which loss of active workforce is one,since I have not

heard of any form of reproduction emanating from relations between an Ada and Eve, or an Adam and Steve.

I think it is clear enough that this whole pervading politics and intrigues of same sex marriage is aimed at enslaving and destroying Africa and the black race, with special focus on Nigeria, and it is most unfortunate that Barack Obama, a man with so much followership and charisma, on top of his glaring African roots would give in to such spiralling evil. For one thing, the complexity of this same sex saga is a major weapon of destruction for societies, and none who have trotted that tortous path have pleasant stories to tell-from the days of Lot on the Bible, to Ballam and Barack and their lure of the Israelites to their pernicious waysit has always been met with the seething wrath of God, and decimation of such societies to vanishing point. Perhaps the first port of call would be the resultant diseases and infections people who engage in such alliances are already living with and may possibly die from-torn rectal tissues, HIV/AIDS, and a host of them. While this should not be mistaken for a sermon, but show me a man or institution that

engages in ‘’common”adultery, and I will show you one who is speedily headed down the slippery path of destruction and perpetual downfall, in every wise.

With all our indices of sensibility and reasonability intact and without mincing words, we hereby affirm that we will not be as daft and dumb as to import that spiritual balderdash into our country, even if it gets to the level of same-sex incestuous relations in the White House. It is alien to our culture and therefore is NOT acceptable to us. The level of below-the-belt crimes we are contending with here is more than enough headache, and we will certainly not burden ourselves further, mortgage our generations yet unborn and incure the ire of the Almighty by acceding to that manifestation of spiritual and psychological paupery. Whether the House of Representatives lends a voice or not, the few unfortunate ones who have dared the law have started reaping the rewards, and so will it remain. We will not follow the West blindly to perdition, in the name of allowing people their right of association.

Ike Willie Nwobu is reachable at ikewillienwobu@yahoo.com

PAGE 14

By Emmanuel Onwubiko

F

lipping through a copy of The Guardian in the morning of Thursday May 3, 2012, I was confronted by a full page black and white advertisement by the National Directorate of Employment, a department of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity. What attracted my attention were the bold photographs of the Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu and that of the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

Specifically, the advertisement was an invitation to the inauguration of what was called a lady chauffeur training scheme [LCTS] with the notice disclosing that it was a joint initiative of the government funded National Directorate of Employment and the privately-run-but- lavishlyfunded Non- Governmental organization Women for Change Development Initiative, which is promoted by the wife of the President. According to the authors of this public notice, which incidentally appeared simultaneously in over four other national dailies, the scheme is aimed at producing 200 ladies into gainful employment as commercial drivers under what it calls the pilot phase in the Federal Capital Territory.

Further buttressing the underlying objectives of the scheme, the authors stated that the scheme when operational after the inaugural ceremony billed for May 4th 2012 [though the advert in Guardian carried on Thursday

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Mrs. Jonathan, give us female pilots, not agberos May 3rd 2012 said the event is equipped, twenty first century- happy to embark on the free billed to take place on April 4th compliant female technicians to distribution of tricycles and 2012] will among others create work in the railway industry that motorcycles to their constituents and empower a pool of female has gone moribund as one way of and other less fortunate citizens to drivers that will meet the needs of resuscitating and rejuvenating turn them into commercial bike labour market in Abuja and the that service sector and also train riders rather than commit the immediate environment; create female pilots who would be resources into providing better wealth and job satisfaction as a gainfully employed both in technology-driven training of the result of choosing driving as a trade Nigeria and outside of our shores thousands of unemployed young and impart the spirit of with better and further enhanced Nigerians to be gainfully professionalism and commitment remuneration and international employed in ventures that can in driving as a profession. prestige. contribute tremendously to the The first thing that came to my Even as I write, I am completely actual growth and advancement mind after deep reflection over the shocked that government officials of the nation’s economy and bring public notice about real job was why some satisfaction for influential the participants persons holding and reduce the public offices high crime rate in Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text and a the society. Why messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written prominent are Nigerian contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 woman in the politicians words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and person of the b u y i n g a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed wife of the first motorcycles for to: N i g e r i a n the young President with N i g e r i a n The Editor, an academic graduates to use Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, doctorate as commercial degree would bikers even when 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. want to give it is known that Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com N i g e r i a because of SMS: 07037756364 hundreds of paucity of turn l a d y over fund most of commercial drivers [or agberos as always engage in churning out these commercial bike riders have they are known in popular pallance half baked policies that are not converted these bikes as weapons because of their nuisance value to scientifically tested and are not and tools of perpetrating the decent passengers] rather than meant to last for a long period of sophisticated crimes of kidnapping design a more scientific approach time. Government officials in the for ransoms, bag snatching, gun towards producing better Executive and Legislative arms are running and targeted

WRITE TO US

assassinations?

At best, the Federal Government’s newly inaugurated Lady Chauffeur Training Scheme (LCTS) is worthy of being dismissed as substantially lacking in creativity, innovation and sustainability.

Rather than spend the scarce public fund in this good -fornothing venture, the Federal Government should consider the introduction of specialized technology skills’ acquisition schemes specifically targeted at training young Nigerian ladies to become middle level technicians in the petroleum and environmental sectors and other technology related skills that will make them job creators rather than job seekers.

Like most other schemes introduced by some government institutions and political office holders that never last, the new ladies’ drivers’ training scheme is absolutely bereft of creativity, innovation and therefore is not a sustainable job creation effort in the twenty first century.

Come to think of it, is the pressing service need of most Nigerians that of commercial drivers? Another question is how many unemployed persons would be taken off the streets if commercial driving is now the Continued on page 15

Why party administration must be reformed

By Salihu Moh. Lukman

I

f Nigeria’s opposition parties ever hope to defeat the PDP’s stranglehold on Nigeria and the political environment, the planning, mergers and alliances must begin from now. Opposition parties must also promote internal democracy by carrying out critical reforms in the way the parties are run. Therefore, there is a need to go back to the drawing board to re-examine the rules and management of our parties to come with dynamic party administrative structures. Part of the requirement for registration as a political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) states that the party’s constitution and rules must: • Provide for periodical election (not exceeding four years subject to reelection) on a democratic basis of the principal officers and members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political party; • Ensure that the members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political party reflect the federal character of Nigeria. Members of executive committee must belong to different states not less than two thirds of 36 and FCT; and • The programme as well as the aims and objects of a political party shall conform with the provisions of Chapter II of this

Constitution.

This has translated into the provision of uniform structures with virtually the same designation of officials across all the political parties. The nomenclature, number and functions of the structures and officials are virtually the same.

What you find in the PDP is almost word-for-word what you have in the ACN, CPC, ANPP, Labour Party and others with respect to structures and provisions of officials in the constitutions of the party. The only variation is where the parties’ names are mentioned.

All our parties are governed by National Convention, Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee, National Working Committee, State Congress, State Executive Committee, State Working Committee, Local Government Area Congress, Local Government Area Executive Committee, Ward Congress and Ward Executive Committee. The small variation would be the existence of Stakeholders/Elders structures at National, States, Local Government Areas and Wards in different forms.

In terms of officials, all our parties have a minimum of 24 officials since the INEC registration requirement stipulate that the “executive committee must belong to different states not less than two thirds of 36 and FCT”. Arising from this, Nigerian political

parties all have a National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman, Six National Vice Chairmen (one from each geopolitical zone), National Secretary, Deputy National Secretary, National Treasurer, Deputy National Treasurer, National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Financial Secretary, National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Organising Secretary, National Publicity Secretary, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Legal Adviser, National Welfare Officer, Deputy National Welfare Officer, National Auditor, Deputy National Auditor, National Women Leader and National Youth Leader.

These designations are cascaded down to states, local governments and wards with slight variations. In all cases, the main focus is not about recruitment or providing services to members. References to recruitment and services are hardly traceable in the constitutions of all our parties. A quick explanation would be the hurried way they were packaged in order to meet INEC requirements and get registered as political parties. A second explanation would be the fact of originating from a common source given that ANPP and AD were breakaways from PDP, ACN being formed by AD leaders and

splinter group of PDP, CPC being a breakaway of ANPP, etc.

The questions would be: now that these parties are opposing the PDP, why should they retain the same structural outlook? Why should emphasis to membership recruitment and services not be a major distinguishing feature of these parties from the PDP? The answer is: because the main focus of all our parties is to win elections fairly or unfairly! Arising from this, political practice and culture is the same across all the parties. It is all about recruiting membership based on individual aspirations for political offices, capacity to buy/procure votes, employ thugs for political campaigns, contract ballot box snatching and capacity to organize rigging during elections.

A major determining factor therefore is financial capability of individuals. Across all the parties, once an individual aspirant is recruited with strong financial capability, the party is surrendered to him/her. Such a person would then proceed to nominate/appoint party leaders from among his loyalists.

Accordingly, presidential aspirants nominate/appoint party leaders at national levels and gubernatorial candidates nominate party leaders at states, local governments and wards levels. Candidates for elections are also similarly recruited that way.

Presidential candidates recruits

gubernatorial candidates and gubernatorial candidates recruits other candidates for lower offices from the ranks of loyalists. As a result, a few individuals have become the proprietors of our political parties.

Issues of participation and democracy are compromised, professional management of parties ignored and disciplinary conduct of members sacrificed.

The consequence is the preponderances of so many unethical, unfair and uncivilized practices by party leaders and public representatives of political parties, including public officials.

Knowledge, logic, conventions, qualifications, skills and experiences carry little weight.

For instance, the Chairman, Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Treasurer, Legal Adviser, etc. of the party can be any ‘yes-person’.

Offices are reduced to territorial control with hardly any focus on services. Cost considerations are hardly regarded. It is more about access to resources.

In the circumstance, all party officials are full-time. They are political, administrative and bureaucratic leaders. In fact, the definition of structures in the constitution of all our parties entrenches and enforces this ambiguity. A good demonstration of this is the fact that the Secretariat of the party, which is supposed to be the administrative Continued on page 15

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 15

Mrs. Jonathan, give us female pilots, not agberos Continued from page 14

way out when in actual fact making someone a commercial driver will rather than take the person out of the streets deepen the involvement of such persons in the vices associated with motor park touts? More importantly, how many of the female children of these political office holders would be encouraged to participate in the lady chauffeur training scheme being spearheaded by the wife of the President? This is not to say that all commercial drivers are touts and the objective of this piece is not to belittle the commercial drivers.

To assume leadership position comes with a big demand and those who aspire to become leaders must have real vision on how to transform their societies and must not engage in activities that would not last and bear good fruits. I am of the strong belief that in these days and age, what my government should be doing is introducing modern, technologyinclined job creation schemes for

Nigerian women rather than waste scarce public fund to produce mere artisans and commercial drivers which are not the pressing needs of most Nigerian consumers.

Is government unaware that the local content law which prescribes mainstreaming of indigenous technicians and middle level experts in the foreign dominated Nigeria’s crude oil industry is observed in the breach by the multi-national crude oil companies operating in Nigeria because of claims by them that local experts are in short supply?

Why can we not for once be forward looking as a nation by training a pool of twenty first century compliant technicians from among our thousands of unemployed female graduates to be deployed to work in the Railway sector whenever the huge resources committed into rebuilding the moribund venture

by Government begin to bear fruits that would last?

I sincerely think that every

right thinking and forward looking Nigerian should be very worried that at a time that India has successfully launched a long range surface to air nuclear missile anchored by an Indian young lady Miss Tessy Thomas, and in an era that developing countries like South Africa, Botswana and Bangladesh among others, are investing heavily in the training of their women in the technology and aviation Industries, Nigeria is still behaving as if we are in the eighteenth century by training female commercial drivers as if that is the most pressing service need of Nigeria and Nigerians. This downward thinking of officials of government is a clear manifestation of the dearth of quality vision among those who are privileged to assume political offices or be married to powerful persons in government.

If truth be told, Nigerian Government and other leading stakeholders in the private sector should concentrate energy and

resources towards training young Nigerian ladies to become competent pilots, and scientists who can build the much needed security architecture that Nigeria needs to check the unprecedented rise in terror-related violence.

Government should not behave as if we live in stone age by mass producing commercial drivers whose services are not needed. To even hear the wife of the President say that Nigerians will soon begin to experience the joy of being driven by lady commercial drivers shows that those who hurriedly packaged the scheme for this gentle lady did not reflect deeply so as to evolve a better job creation scheme for the Nigerian women. The lady chauffeur training scheme is pedestrian and cheap thinking at best and must be discarded.

Although I was happy when recently Miss Blessing Liman was celebrated as the first female fighter pilot but at the same time I felt ashamed that Nigeria with all the big name that we gave to ourselves as the giant of Africa has

only just produced the first female fighter pilot nearly fifty two years after gaining independence and even with the unfortunate but historic fact that Nigeria has had three years of civil war. Bill Newman in his book “10 laws of Leadership” pointed out vividly that; “Vision is the key to understanding leadership.

Without vision you are just playing games with your life. Men and Women with vision see more and further than others. Leaders have empires in their brains”.

Mr. Newman built his theory from the statement by Winston Churchill that; “The empires of the future are the empires of the mind”. Only by the development of human capacity of younger Nigerians to acquire the right kinds of skills in high demands around the world will Nigeria become a better society. +Emmanuel Onwubiko, head, Human Rights Wrietrs’ Association of Nigeria writes from www.huriwa.blogspot.com.

Why party administration must be reformed Continued from page 14

and bureaucratic organ of the party, only ascribes its location, which as the INEC rule provides should be Abuja, with offices in state capitals, local government headquarters and wards. There is hardly any further definition with respect to functions and responsibilities. Even provisions specifying that the National Secretary shall be the head of the Secretariat and its composition can only be assumed.

Lack of professionalism is therefore an inherent characteristic of all our parties.

Also, the absence of viable democratic funding sources is a major attribute of our parties.

This partly accounts for why the recent external auditors reports on the accounts of political parties for the year 2010 released by INEC produced virtually the same result. The summary is: a. Parties do not have internal audit reports and accounts for the year under review (2010); b. Conventional accounting books were not properly maintained; c. Budget and budgetary control were not in place; and d. The parties do not have a well defined fixed assets register and assets were not labeled; In addition, INEC reported the income and expenditure claims of all the parties, which are hardly verifiable given that there are no accounting books and budgets.

Interestingly, this is the situation with all the parties with very minor differences. With no exception, this report covers all the 63 registered political parties in the country. And all the parties have Treasurers, Financial Secretaries and Internal Auditors.

The question we need to ask is what are the responsibilities of these officials?

The truth is that many of these officials don’t even know their responsibilities as provided in their

respective constitution. Besides, the constitutions of our parties are in most cases blind or ambiguous on matters of responsibilities for these officials. As a result, our parties are at best models in bad practices, inefficient and ineffective in service delivery and excellent examples of dysfunctional structures. This being the case, they cannot be the harbingers of good and democratic governance.

How do we create a model party that can engineer the development of democratic, efficient and effective political organization that can mobilize Nigerians based on an agenda of developing and harnessing the resources of the country? This is not simply about meeting INEC registration requirements. It is about efficient mobilization and deployment of resources – human resources especially.

The first reference point of our parties is mobilizing citizens and strategically deploying them into public services. From all evidences, our 63 existing registered parties are anything but political parties as far as human resource mobilization is concerned.

As for deployment into public service, it is more by default on account of demands by aspiring politicians. As a result, our parties are ambition rather than inspiration driven. This is the factor which produced the absence of choice. Choice, if it exists at all, is more about the individual candidates and not the party.

A crucial challenge before opposition parties in Nigeria is the need to properly restructure internal party organization with the objective of developing service framework around which citizens’ mobilization can take place.

Restructuring internal party organization would require clear definition and delineation of responsibilities. This would mean separating political leadership from the administrative. It would

also further require outlining responsibilities of all functionaries based on modern organizational standards. In other words, there is the urgent need to professionalize the workings of our parties if they are to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

A situation where offices are designed based on convenience and office occupants are recruited based on personal loyalty is counterproductive and can only breed undemocratic practices.

Professionalizing the operations of our political parties would necessitate focus in two areas. These are membership mobilization and party funding. The two are related.

As it were, it is the absence of focus in these two areas that made our parties what they are – mere platforms for contesting elections and not representatives of any interest. To be able to mobilize membership would entail making offers to specific interests’ of citizens.

The strength of commitments to these offers would determine financial contributions. Beyond offers however, membership would be encouraged to make contributions if they are guaranteed prudent management of party resources. Also, apart from legal requirements, good financial management is imperative for the financial survival of parties and sin-qua-non for internal democracy in the party. Financial management should not be therefore only vested in the hands of political leaders. Competent personnel with requisite fundraising and bookkeeping skills must be recruited and remunerated.

In addition to financial management, sound and proactive communication strategies should drive our political party membership mobilization programme. Therein lies the role of propaganda, which is basically about influencing the attitude of Nigerians towards political and

governance issues in the country.

It is the consistency of the message being conveyed and its relevance to the realities of Nigerians that would attract membership to the party. The main challenge is to develop the internal capacity within our parties to develop the messages and popularize them. It is not simply the responsibility of a Publicity Secretary. It is also imperative to consider the presence of competent communication skills experts who can develop the messages and create platforms for their dissemination. This is not happening in any of our parties today.

The other issue is the need to focus mobilization specifically towards women and youths. This is because women constituted about 50% of our population and youths constitute more than 60%.

Any party that is popular to these categories of our population would be guaranteed majority votes.

Already, given the provision for Women and Youth Leaders in the parties, it can be argued that this is already recognized. What is missing is the absence of clear mobilization programmes or projects. Our parties need to consciously invest resources to develop youth and women mobilization programmes and projects.

In the debate about repositioning our parties, especially opposition parties, if we are interested in achieving a good measure of political and democratic progress as a nation, all negotiating parties need to do at the initial stage, is to prioritize issues of membership mobilization and party funding with the objective of developing a framework that would ensure delineation of political and administrative responsibilities within our parties. Good delineation would mean that majority of our parties’ political

leadership are part-time officials and very few are full-time.

However, it would also require that a conscious decision is taken to recruit specialized financial and communication experts to provide services to the parties.

This would then define the dayto-day workings of the party. In addition to these day-to-day workings of the party, there are other periodic services that parties must provide, which is not the case now. For instance, the task of recruiting agents for elections can be handled better by the party which can in the process organize specialized trainings for them. As it is today, in almost all the parties, the task of recruiting agents is largely the responsibility of candidates with little input from the party. Also, the issue of managing the process of filing petitions after elections can be better organized and handled by the party. Many good cases have been lost on account of poor handling by candidates and wrong choices of lawyers.

Given all these, the challenge is for our opposition parties to engage and negotiate political, administrative and bureaucratic frameworks for service delivery.

It will be less controversial to have an agreement on these issues. Once there is agreement on the need for these reforms, it will be much easier to develop a strategy on how to manage the resolution of more difficult challenges such as the issue of leadership, staff and candidates’ recruitments.

In the context of our discussion of the need for ACN and CPC to unite in order to present a stronger electoral challenge to the PDP, these are the primary issues.

Capacity to reach an agreement on these issues would fundamentally change the political fortunes of our parties.

Salihu Moh. Lukman can be reached at slukman45@gmail.com

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

This building at No. 8k, 2nd Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja, is where Hajiya Aisha Ismali was evicted from on Monday by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Resident accuses FHA of illegal eviction from N35m house

By Sunday Etuka

T

he owner of a 4-bedroom twin duplex at Modified Badagry, 8k, 2nd, Avenue, Kado Binko, Gwarimpa II Estate, Hajiya Aisha Ismail, yesterday, accused the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) of illegal eviction from her N35m house.

Hajiya Aisha claimed that armed policemen, invaded the house, manhandled her security guard, domestic workers and destroyed properties worth thousands of Naira.

She said that the policemen claimed that they were acting on the directive of the Managing Director (MD) of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Arc. Terver Gamade.

The owner of the house, who said she purchased the property from the FHA in 2011 at the cost of N35 million, told our reporter that the men stormed her house in her absence at about 9am, throwing out all her properties and destroying some in the process.

A letter dated 22nd August,

2011 and signed by the MD of FHA, which was obtained from the victim, confirmed the transfer of ownership of the property to her, having made the required payment to the FHA. The letter reads in part: “Further to your application for 1 unit of 4-Bedroom Twin Duplex (modified Badagry at Gwarimpa II Estate, Abuja , FCT, and in consideration of your payment of the sum of N35,000, 000.00 (Thirty Five Million Naira) only being full purchased price thereof, it is hereby confirmed that House No.8k, 2nd Avenue, Kado Binko, Gwarimpa II Estate Abuja, FCT, Nigeria, has been formally allocated to you for residential purpose on a lease hold basis for a term of NinetyNine (99) years with effect from 1st January, 2011”.

The FHA boss was said to have in March, this year, served the occupant of the house a notice to vacate the property for a man said to be his close friend without any justification for the action.

According to her, “This property was allocated to me August last year, but when the FHA’s Managing Director’s friend saw the house in December same year and told him that he likes the property, he wrote a letter to us that we should pack out. It was after this letter that he ordered his friend to throw our things out of the house”, the occupant said.

She added that despite a letter from her lawyer, restraining the FHA from harassing her, the MD went ahead to mobilise his men and police officers to carry out the demolition.

Recounting the incident to our reporter who visited the scene, the security man attached to the house, Lobe James, said prior to the incident, officials of the FHA had last week Saturday, forced themselves into the house, placing a notice on the wall.

“They came last week Saturday in the morning around 7am, while I was praying and started knocking at

the door. I refused to open the door, they opened the window but their hands could not reach the in-lock so they forced the door opened without proper identification.

“I didn’t take it serious initially but when they entered, they started pushing me to gain entrance to the stair case, but I resisted. After that, they left but wrote on the wall that we should pack out of the house before 24hours,” he narrated. ”This Monday, they came again and started knocking at the door; I refused to open the door so they sent for two police men to come. And they used their legs to force the door open and started throwing things out. They scattered everything and even destroy some properties.

Several attempts to get the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the FHA, Mr. Tunde Ipiminsho, to comment failed as he refused to pick calls or reply text a message sent to his mobile phone.

Lady, 24, charged with stealing

A

n accused, Hope Joseph, 24, on Wednesday appeared before an Abuja Magistrates’ Court charged with criminal trespass and theft.

The police prosecutor, Mr Phillip Akowgu, told the court that on May 12, one Andrew Ajoge came to Asokoro Police

Station to report the case.

He said the accused, who claimed to be Ajoge’s girlfriend, came into his room and stole his camera and DVD player valued at N69, 000.

The prosecutor said the accused disappeared and refused to show up until she

was teased by telephone to come to Asokoro Hospital, Abuja and collect a message from her uncle in the U.S. He said the accused was charged with criminal trespass and theft which contravened Sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.

The accused however

pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Musa Jobbo granted the accused bail in the sum of 100,000, with a surety who must be a civil servant residing within the jurisdiction of the court.

Jobbo adjourned the case to May 24 for hearing. (NAN)

Development control dismantles shanty near Yar’Adua Centre

By Josephine Ella

T

he Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital D e v e l o p m e n t Authority(FCDA), Wednesday, removed a shanty, erected beside the Musa Yar’ Adua Centre at the Central Area in Abuja.

Officials of the department, led by the Director of Development Control, Yahaya Yusuf, were on routine removal exercise, when they stormed into the illegal structure, situated at a large-spaced green area near Sheraton Hotel and Towers.

Peoples Daily gathered that the shanty which served as a house for a security man, who takes care of the green area, was erected by a contractor, who nurtures the green area.

Yusuf, described the shanty an eye-sore, as he urged the said contractor to provide a befitting structure in place of the shanty which defaced the environment.

He also advised residents to desist from erecting illegal structures anywhere in the FCT, warning that the development control department would not hesitate to remove such illegal structures at any time.

Two men in court for stealing

By Usman Shuaibu

T

wo men, Victor Obi, 27 and Ifakachi Chike, 26, yesterday, appeared before an Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court charged with joint act and theft.

Police prosecutor Simon Ibrahim told the court that on May 12, one Samson Okewu of Jabi Park, Abuja, reported the matter to Utako Police Station.

He said the two accused persons conspired and stole a cell phone valued at N12, 000 belonging to the complainant.

The prosecutor said the action contravened Sections 79 and 288 of the Penal Code.

The accused however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Chief Magistrate Mimi Katsina-Alu subsequently granted the accused bail in the sum of 50,000 each with a surety each in like sum.

She directed that the sureties must be civil servant residing within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the case to May 29 for hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 17

We all can do our part to keep Abuja clean.

A young mother backing a child with a load on her head, yesterday, at Lugbe, Abuja.

In Abuja, you don’t have to buy a newspaper. Vendors permit casual reading as this scene yesterday at Area 3 Abuja shows

A woman proudly hawking yam yesterday in Utako District, Abuja.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Minister charges pilgrims welfare board on hitch-free pilgrimage

By Josephine Ella

T

he Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has charged the FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board to ensure a hitch-free 2012 pilgrimage in the Holy land.

While declaring open a twoday stakeholders workshop organised by the board yesterday in Wuse Zone 5, she expressed that the workshop would have a direct impact on the successful implementation of this year’s pilgrimage.

“The Federal Government in its concerted efforts to change the wrong perception of the international community has considered Christian Pilgrimage as an important component of foreign policy and has therefore, frowned at such misconducts like absconding during the exercise.

“I therefore, charge you to deliberate thoroughly on ways to achieve a successive pilgrimage without a single case of abscondment among members,” she charged the stakeholders.

She further, reminded them to focus on the essence of the pilgrimage, which is to pray for

the FCT administration and the nation as a whole.

Commending the past achievement of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), the minister pledge the commitment of the FCT administration to continue to support the activities of the board towards the spiritual well

being of residents.

In a remark, the Chairman, Board of Directors, FCT Pilgrim Welfare Board, Rev. Israel Akanji assured that in a bid to ensure a successful pilgrimage, the board would embark on the necessary preparatory activities.

According to him, “these

activities include among others, the pre-visit, state of readiness visit, interview of air carriers, procurement of Visas, screening and orientation of intending pilgrims etc.”

He said the screening exercise would present qualified pilgrims with genuine intentions and good health status

for participation in Holy pilgrimage.

On his part, the Executive Secretary, NCPC, Kennedy Okpaka condemned the calls for the Federal Government to withdraw sponsorship of the Christian and Muslim Holy pilgrimage to Israel to Saudi Arabia.

While emphasizing the essence of the exercise, he pointed out that if Nigerians are morally sound, it would go a long way to change the Nigeria system, saying “the essence of pilgrimage should not be undermined by the economy of any country”.

Tudun Fulani gets oba of Yoruba

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Chief of Tudun Fulani, Dei- Dei in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammadu Gwandabe has crowned Mr. Mufu Tau Olalekan Lasisi as the Oba of Tudun Fulani in the area.

Speaking at the occasion, Gwandabe urged the Oba of Tudun Fulani to carry the Yoruba along irrespective of their religious and political affiliations.

The traditional ruler said that his leadership would continue to maintain Cordial relationship with all the tribal Chiefs in the interest of peace and security of the area.

On his part, the Oba of Yoruba in the FCT, Dr. Olusegun Salau called on Yoruba to cooperate with the newly turbaned Oba of Tudun Fulani to move the Yoruba Community to a greater height in the area, while urging the Yoruba to support government policies at all times.

Responding, the newly turbaned Oba of Tudun Fulani, Dei -Dei, Mr. Mufu Tau Alalekan Lasisi advised the Yoruba across the country to be law- abiding citizens, saying that he will not hesitate to fight for the unity of the Yoruba people.

Soldiers impounding banned Okada motorcycles yesterday at Area 1, Abuja.

Photo : Justin Imo-owo

School proprietor advocates for education reform education

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he needed reform in educational sector can only be achieved if the teachers’ education is revolutionalized, the proprietor of City College of Education Mararaba Gurku in Nasarawa State, Evang.

Gabriel Amu, has said.

Amu, stated this in an interview with Peoples Daily, calling on the government of the day to re-establish the Teachers Training Colleges/ Technical Colleges across the country to enable the students to have the area of specialization from the

tertiary education level before going into the higher institutions.

According to him, let the government of the day go back to the Teachers Training Colleges again, the only weakness during the existence of the Teachers Training Colleges was that government

AMAC warns Abuja residents against indiscriminate refuse dumping

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Administration of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), have warned Abuja residents to shun the habit of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the council.

The Council chairman, Hon Micah Jiba, gave this warning yesterday during a massive cleaning exercise in Federal Housing Authority in Lugbe, Abuja.

Jiba explained that the unhealthy state of an environment results to sicknesses, such as Lasser Fever and other diseases that are dangerous to human life.

He said that the beauty of any city comes from its cleanliness, saying there is need for residents of the council to see cleanliness as their watch word in order to live a long and healthy life.

In his words: “We have to give serious attention to cleaning our environment on daily basis. we

should not see as a monthly exercise, because that will not help us,” he said.

He appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, to provide more dumping sites in the council, so that residents will have particular areas for dumping of refuses.

He further assured that the council will set up a task force committee and also a mobile court to prosecute any resident caught dumping refuse indiscriminately.

was more concern with Liberal Arts than Primary Sciences, stressing the need for the government to bring in the pure sciences/ social sciences if the country must achieve the teachers’ education.

He lamented that if the teachers’ education is neglected there would be no transformation in educational sector, noting that the teachers’ education need not to be toyed with.

The proprietor appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education to consider the operators of private schools and the School Principals as the primary stakeholders in educational sector, emphasising that the authorities know what is practically wrong with education at this present time.

Amu, however, advised the proprietors of private schools in Nigeria to continue to provide an enabling environment for the Students to enhance learning, noting that the school business is a sacrificial venture.

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

T

Science in Abuja.

The PHCN owes Agip N60 billion, Shell N12.14 billion, Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) N10 billion, NIPP N6 billion and Ibom Power N300 million.

The minister said that with a new tariff coming into force on June 1, the PHCN should be able to pay for gas and power supplies promptly.

He said that NNPC was owed N110 billion by various

Nigeria’s foreign reserves rise to $37.02 bn CBN

CBN to sell N126 bn in treasury bills

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he nation’s foreign exchange reserves rose to their highest in 21months to $37.02 billion by May 14, from $36.66 billion at the end of last month, the latest figures from the central bank showed on Wednesday.

Forex reserves in Africa’s biggest crude exporter stood at $33.94 billion a year ago. The last time the reserves were at this level was in August 2010.

Flight schedule AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY) LOS-A BJ: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30 ABJ-LOS: 07.00, 09.30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35 ABJ-KANO: 18.40 KANO-ABJ: 08.35 ABJ -SOK (MON): 09.35 ABJ-SOK (FRI): 10.10 ABJ-SOK (WED/SUN): 11.20 SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35 SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00 SOK-ABJ (WED/SUN): 13.20

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

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

IRS AIRLINES

AfDB president, Donald Kaberuka, invited to 38th G8 summit by President Obama

By Aminu Imam

A

t the invitation of the President of the United States, Barack Obama, the President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka will be attending the Group of Eight (G8) meeting at Camp David in Frederick County, Maryland in the

United States of America on 18 and 19 May. The discussions will centre on the subject of food security in Africa and will also show how Africa’s voice is being heard at the highest level.

Donald Kaberuka will also be attending a special luncheon at the White House during his time in the United States.

Naira falls to 2- GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, (2nd right), welcoming Managing Director, Travelex, UK, Mr. Jackson (2nd left), yesterday to UBA House Marina, in Lagos. With them are Group Treasurer, month low on Peter UBA Plc, Funso Olusanya (left), and Vice-Chairman, Travelex Nigeria, Chief Godson Evulukwu(right). dollar demand Nigeria’s cement production now 28 million he Naira currency fell to

T

its lowest level in two months against the U.S dollar on the interbank market on Wednesday, on strong dollar demand from investors repatriating their dividends abroad, traders said.

The naira closed at 158.90 to the dollar on the interbank market, the lowest since the middle of February, compared with the 158.03 naira it closed at on Tuesday.

“The market was hit by large demand for the dollar with which it could not cope with due to lack of dollar flow, putting pressure on the naira,” one dealer said.

tonnes –Manufacturers From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Chairman, the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN) Joseph Makoju says cement production in Nigeria has increased tremendously from 3 million metric tonnes in 2006 to 28 million metric tonnes at the moment.

Makoju said this at the National Conference on: “Cement Based Option for Sustainable Road Construction” organised by

CBN CFA • £ RIYAL $

LOS -ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

16th May, 2012 BUYING 0.2839 197.0569 246.6537 41.2489 154.7

SELLING 0.3039 198.3307 248.2481 41.5156 155.7

PARALLEL RATES • £ RIYAL $

BUYING 210 250 40 156

SELLING 212 252 42 158

CMAN in conjunction with BusinessDay Newspaper.

He however lamented that that Nigeria still has poor quality roads, explaining that less than 0.1 percent of roads in Nigeria are cement based, compared to 40% in developed countries.

He however assured of availability of cement to cater for the new approach to road construction.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of Lafarge Limited, Mr. Joe Hudson noted that with the recent

developments in the industry, Nigeria will soon be second largest producer of cement when production hits over 48 million metric tons per year.

He urged the Federal Government to act quickly and ensure constant power supply as well as ensure an efficient and effective rail system to convey produce to the market saying the stock, quality and quantity of our roads infrastructure are major stimulant for economic growth just as the lack of it hinders sustainable growth and poverty reduction.

Management Tip of the Day

EXCHANGE RATES

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

NACCIMA asks FG to legalize illegal refineries in Nigeria

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LOS-KANO : 08.10 KANO-LOS: 11.25 KANO -ABUJA: 11.25 ABUJA-KANO : 10.08

customers, including governments and their agencies, which accounted for 20 per cent of the debts.

He attributed the cause of the ongoing power crisis to nonavailability of gas.

The minister said that the gas issues arose principally from poor coordination among the ministry of power, the ministry of petroleum resources and the agencies under them.

- Pg 20

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said it plans to auction 126.33 billion naira ($800.19 million) in treasury bills ranging from 3month to 1-year maturities at its regular monthly debt auction on May 23,.

The bank said it would issue 30.65 billion naira in 91-day paper, 45 billion naira in 182-day bills and 50 billion in 364-day bills next week Wednesday.

Nigeria, Africa’s second biggest economy after South Africa, issues treasury bills regularly to reduce money supply, curb inflation and help lenders manage their liquidity. (Reuters)

ABJ-LOS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40 ABJ-LOS (SAT/SUN): 13.05, 18.00

INSIDE

Mob: 08033644990

N88.4bn PHCN gas debt cripples power supply, says Minister

he Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) is in N88.44 billion debt, which is crippling power supply in the country, a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, Cdon Adinuba said yesterday.

According to the statement, the minister made the disclosure at a public lecture organised by the Nigerian Academy of

PAGE 19

G

Keep Gen-Xers engaged

eneration X may be a smaller population than Baby Boomers or Millennials, but it wields great influence in today’s organizations.

People in this generation are the allimportant bench strength for aging leadership. To keep them around, here’s how to keep them engaged.

Develop corporate

chameleons. Gen-Xers like to continually learn.

Rotate promising employees through different functions on a regular schedule. This will keep things fresh and prep them for leadership roles that require broad experience.

Bring them out of the shadows. Put Xers in charge of high-visibility projects to spotlight

their abilities, or partner them with Baby Boomers who can enhance their careers.

Test their wings. Many Xers have an entrepreneurial spirit.

Foster this interest by letting them take responsibility for a companysponsored venture.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS

Signal Alliance repositions for visibility

D

ue largely for more market visibility and also in response to complaints by its esteemed customers, Signal Alliance, an IT multi-discipline service company, has moved its operational base and now operates at the massive UBA House on Lagos Island.

TIC, Bauchi govt partner on youth empowerment

T

he Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) said it will continue its partnership with the Bauchi State Government on youth empowerment.

Edozien tasks governors on revenue diversification

W

orried by the states’ overdependence on the oil proceed from Federal Government for infrastructural development, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof.

Chike Edozien, has advised governors to devise a means of diversifying their economies.

Nigeria, Iraq lift OPEC oil output in April

N

otwithstanding the theft and sabotage that have affected the nation’s oil export in recent times, Nigeria still ranked high among the nations that lifted the crude output of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in April.

Dangote targets 33m tonnes of cement by 2015

N

igeria’s business mogul, Aliko Dangote on Tuesday in Abidjan said he was targeting the production of 33 million tonnes of cement by 2015, with a large share going to West African countries.

Indigenous firms urged to utilise local content law

I

ndegenous companies in the country have been urged to take advantage of the oil and gas industry’s Local Content legislation and invest in the sector.

Sub-standard goods: Nigeria, China trade pact fails again Nigeria, over the years has been labelled a dumping ground for sub-standard products coming from the Asian country,China; Ayodele Samuel writes on how recent moves to harmonise standard quality between both countries failed.

T

he draft ‘Co-operative agreement on surveillance of Chinese products’ exported to the Nigeria was first drafted eight years ago; since then, it had undergone several amendments and was on the verge of being signed at a certain point before being aborted.

The agreement, meant to curb the influx of sub-standard products, largely from the Asian region into Nigeria, was recently revived by the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu when he led a high profile delegates to Beijing to put an end to sub-standard products coming from the country to Nigeria.

The Nigeria-China dialogue meeting, meant to reach mutually beneficial trade

relations between the two countries failed, as efforts to sign the agreement to ensure that only quality products are imported into Nigeria from China was not totally achieved.

The Nigeria delegation had several meetings with Mr. Wang Xin – Director-General of the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine (AQSIQ) of the People’s Republic Of China leading the other side.

The meeting was marked by initial optimism on both sides, given some of the conclusions reached. These included: that products which do not meet the standards for export qualities are identified and their further exports stopped; if the manufacturers are found to have violated the law they would be punished according to the laws of China.

Part of the early concession included that the Chinese government would not charge

Traders urge SON to intensify fight against sub-standard products

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he Chairman, Marine modern market, Onitsha, Mr. Vincent Ifeme has urged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to re-double its efforts in checkmating the influx of substandard products.

Ifemetold the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha, Anambra, on Tuesday that a lot of sub-standard products still flooded most markets in the country.

He said that the issue of substandard products was making buyers lose confidence in most goods and denied importers of quality goods the opportunity to sell their products at the right prices.

Ifeme said: “It has come to a time that holistic and drastic action is taken against substandard products and their importers and manufacturers.

“SON must re-double its efforts and find a way of involving Nigerians in the fight against sub-standard products just like the degree of success recorded by NAFDAC in the fight against fake and sub-standard drugs, cosmetics and food products.’’

On payment for stall and development levies by traders, Ifeme said most traders in the Marine Market had complied with the payment.

“Our market records the highest compliance following series of sensitisation we gave to our members on the need to pay it and not to defer payment,’’ he said.

The chairman, however, urged the government to

provide the market with a new and bigger transformer that could carry all the electrical appliances in the market.

“We are sincerely grateful to Gov. Peter Obi for providing us with water as well as tarring the major road to the market.

“Marine market and other markets in the state have not received such attention until the inception of Obi’s administration,’’ he added.

(NAN)

any fees for its pre-inspection services, and that all products exported to Nigeria should comply with the Chinese standards and the NIS standards, and that should products arrive Nigeria and are found t o

b e without C I Q certificates and are substandard, then the importers should be treated according to thelaws of Nigeria.

There were however other contentious issues which led to the duo parting ways without signing any agreements.

First was the issue of country of sales, through which the Nigerian team, represented by a delegation from SON, demanded that products not fit to be sold in China should not imported into Nigeria.

The Nigerian delegation also requested that products found wanting on arrival in Nigeria be quarantined, investigated by both parties and if found wanting, repatriated to the country of origin; and also rejection of the demand by China to charge 1.5 per cent for every one thousand product destined for Nigeria.

The draft agreement, which has been on the drawing board, was to be finalised to ensure that it stands the test of time and

benefit both parties.

SON and ASQIC, which represent both regulatory bodies sat for hours and days working on the agreement in orderto finalise it.

The Director-General of the SON, in his opening at the meeting, had said that the issues of products quality and standards are serious such that both countries should be willing to dispassionately discuss and make concessions where necessary.

He said the issue of s u b s t a n d a r d products from China has come a long way and would no longer be swept under the carpet.

According to Odumodu, the dumping of sub-standard products in Nigeria has resulted to loss of life, economic hardship, and environmental degradation, and that it should be stopped.

He further emphasised at each time such products arrived Nigeria and is quarantined, it is the hard-earned money of Nigeria that goes under the drain, while the Chinese manufacturer benefits and said currently, the trade is lopsided because the China government does not suffer any losses.

The Chinese government delegation had earlier welcomed the Nigerian delegation saying he hoped that the visit would lead to the signing of the agreement.

He said China was aware of Nigeria’s concern about substandard goods being exported into the Nigerian market, and the perception that the products come from China, thereby having a negative image for China.

He said the Chinese government was committed to working with Nigeria to reducing the problem, but the way the meeting ended tends to point otherwise.

NACCIMA asks FG to legalize illegal refineries in Nigeria From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has called on the Federal Government to issue licensee of operation to illegal refineries in the country to become legal instead of destroying them.

NACCIMA National President, Dr. Ademola Ajayi speaking at a press conference on the state of the economy in Lagos, said that legalizing illegal refineries would boost local supply capacity of petroleum products, reduce prices and create jobs. ”NACCIMA believes if these illegal refineries are made legal and is effectively done, it would boost local supply capacity of petroleum products, create jobs and invariably may also reduce prices when competition fully takes its course.

“We have watched with dismay the continuous destruction of small refineries classified by Government as illegal in the country. We believe that the action of Government/Ministry of Petroleum Resource is not the best given the current problem confronting the country in the petroleum sector; as it would further compound the sector’s supply chain of petroleum products. To ensure strict compliance and standards with the laid down criteria by the operators of the small (but now legal) refineries, there is need for the Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR) to assume effective supervisory role,” he said.

NACCIMA also called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to establish an Unclaimed Dividend Trust Fund as a means to addressing the problem of unclaimed dividends which

presently estimated at N52.2 billion. ”Unclaimed dividends in the Nigerian capital market now stands at N52.2 billion as at December 31, 2011. We are worried that the rising wave of unclaimed dividends in the nation’s capital market may become another thorny issue that seems to have defied all solutions despite the aggressive drive by the regulators to ensure that dividends payout by companies are received by investors promptly.

“The establishment of an Unclaimed Dividend Trust Fund with appropriate legal law to cure the present defects by making it possible for shareholders to recover their dividends however long this may take. This will make it mandatory for companies to hand over unclaimed dividends to SEC for onward transfer into the Fund,” said NACCIMA President, Dr. Ademola Ajayi.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 21

Unity Bank defies security threat in Bauchi for new promo

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TV presenter, Andre Blaze (left), Nollywood actresses, Lola Alao, Ufuoma Ejenubor, Florence Onuma, Omoni Oboli and radio presenter, Yaw with the Brand Building Director, Unilever Nig Plc, Mr. David Okeme during the launch of the new Knorr Seasoning Powder recently.

Unilever pops out new Knorr seasoning I From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

n a bid to effectively remain ahead in the entire market segment it operates, Unilever Nigeria Plc has added a powder seasoning to its Knorr range of seasoning; the premium culinary brand from the stable tagged: ‘New Knorr Seasoning’ for stews and another for soups.

At the launching, at the Police College ground in Lagos, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Nigeria, Mr. Mabe Thabo said, “We are unveiling Knorr in a different way, we are unveiling Knorr based on the strategic agenda of creating better life every day, every year. We do this with our brand when we take a ‘Green walk’, we call it the ‘Green walk’, because Knorr brings all the tasty ingredients which are more favourably given.

“What we are launching is about driving health and most important we are making consumers life easier. Cooking has not been easier. Knorr has made cooking easier. Now you can enjoy cooking. We are now making life easier for everybody. We are bringing health credential as a corner stone of our brand.

Thabo said the product is made with all the natural ingredients of garlic, paisley all the natural ingredients piped together in the form of a small powder in making life easier; instead of buying different flavours we have pepped them into one. We have decided to use a strong aroma in response to consumers’ agitation for more. Today we have two variants of stew and soup and we are unveiling a new one very some, which will also be focusing on food, it is a passion for what we make.

Brand Building Director for

Unilever Nigeria, David Okeme, also noted that “At Unilever, we continuously improve on our brands because we always want to provide our consumers with products that help get the best out of life.”

“With the new Knorr seasoning powder, women now have a brilliant opportunity to enjoy the consistent superior Knorr quality, as well as the best taste from their cooking,” he added.

Before the formal unveiling of the exciting new product, a crowd of over one thousand people joined Unilever, Knorr and various Nollywood and entertainment celebrities to embark on a 2km ‘Green Walk’ for Natural Taste Celebrities that participated in the fun day include actresses Omoni Oboli and Ufuonma Ejebenor as well as comedians and on-air radio personalities, Yaw and Manny.

Dufil Group hits market with Power Pasta spaghetti

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aker of leading Indomie Noodles and others brands, Dufil Prima Foods Plc has again hit the pasta segment of the market with a new brand named Power Pasta Spaghetti.

Having gotten approval from the National Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and duly certified by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the company said Power Pasta is produced under world-class manufacturing conditions at its factory is located in the Choba suburb of Port Harcourt in Rivers state.

At the presentation of the new product in Lagos, General Manger of the Pasta Division, Pure Flour Mills Limited, Mr.

Karan Checker disclosed that Power Pasta is set to upstage other similar products and challenge for consumers minds’ share and market share in the competitive pasta market.

He affirmed that the new spaghetti is set to change the game in the pasta segment of the Nigerian food sector, by changing the perception about pasta being a supplement or alternative meal and launching it into culinary menu lists as a staple and regular meal in Nigeria.

Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Deepak Singhal, described the launch of the Power Pasta spaghetti by its subsidiary, Pure Flour Mills Limited as another

remarkable milestone in the history of the company, which is regarded as a leader in the Nigerian food sector.

According to him, the company has invested several millions of Naira into the production of the new product, by installing the best state-ofthe-arts plant that is equipped with an ultra-modern and fully automated production process, to ensure best quality product for its esteemed consumers.

On the unique qualities the new Power Pasta Spaghetti is bringing into the competitive market, he said, “With all sense of modesty, we make bold to say that Power Pasta Spaghetti is Nigeria’s finest pasta brand made from quality American wheat, providing energy with a distinct great taste and a whole new unique experience for the consumers”.

gainst all odds, Unity Bank Plc defied the current security threat ravaging the northern part of Nigeria to berth it new consumer promotion tagged: ‘Aim, Save and Win’ promo to the people of Bauchi state through a massive road show and market activation.

The show marked the first consumer promotion laced with brand activation carried out by any brand in the home state of Nigeria foremost Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa in a long while.

The jubilant resident could not hide their joy, having had to contend with security challenges and measures put in place to curtail their movement, and they expressed their gratitude to Unity Bank Plc for coming to lift their spirit.

A trader in Muda Lawal market, Adamu Mohammed Toro told the mammoth crowd that he heard the music and thought it was from the state government, and that on knowing that it was

the ‘Aim, Save and Win’ Promo from the Unity Bank Plc, he was so glad that a bank has come to entertain them among their tight market performance.

Speaking at the enlightenment campaign, Unity Bank’s North-East Zonal Director, Alhaji Usman Abaji, assured the public that the promo has been designed to be very transparent and that the whole idea behind the ‘Aim, Save and Win’ promo is to reward the bank’s new and already existing customers for their steadfast patronage and also to encourage savings culture amongst Nigerians.

The Unity Bank’s Aim, Save & Win promo activation train has been to Abuja, Lagos Port Harcourt and the train will be moving to Kano city at a later date yet to be announced. The first zonal draw will take place later this month simultaneously in the entire geo-political zone earmarked for the campaign.

African music fans get exciting new innovation on DStv’s Channel O for the video that they want to see From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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usic fans around Africa must be thrilled to get the opportunity and authority to decide on their favourite music videos after the launch of Channel O’s new virtual interactive music video war show this month.

VideoWars is a first-of-its-kind experience, where viewers use a synchronised VideoWars Facebook application and mobile site to decide which music video plays next while interacting with other viewers on-air as well as on-line.

At any time, four music videos from around the world will go head-to-head in an all-out war for television domination, vying for the votes of Channel O viewers, to see which one is going to dominate live on their television screens.

This means fans will be able to vote

rule on Channel O via social networks and SMS. “With VideoWars, Channel O is giving its viewers and music lovers the chance to view their favourite music videos and musicians battle it out with them at the controls. We are delighted to be pioneering this technological innovation for our music and we will continue to give our viewers the latest and best of Original African music,” says Channel O Africa Manager, Leslie Kasumba.

The show advances the concept of social TV, by selecting and displaying the names and profile pictures of viewers who supported the winning video and by hosting a live audience chat channel which combines Facebook, Twitter and SMS interaction on-air as well as on Facebook.

Golden Penny Pasta, Noodles Pasta Yiannis Katsichtis reward dealers Golden indicated that the company was

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olden Pasta and Golden Noodles Nigeria Ltd recently hosted it’s 2012 edition of their annual customer forum with the tagged ‘The Food Basket’ at the prestigious Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja with customers carting home loads of cash and cars.

The forum bought together, company officials and her various distributors all over Nigeria, who were in their hundreds, seemed very excited as they expressed their joy and enthusiasm at the convergence.

In his remark, GM/Director

willing to further strengthen its partnership with the distributors towards achieving the vision of the company, which is providing Nigeria and the West African hub a complete food basket that meets all the needs of a family, from breakfast to dinner including healthy snacks.

Golden Pasta, a division of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc is the leading producer of pasta in Nigeria, with various pasta types such as spaghetti and macaroni while Golden Noodles Nigeria Lt, a subsidiary company produces the fast growing Golden Penny Noodles, which has several variants including; chicken, onion, beef and seafood.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

ECOWAS inter-regional trade low– UNIDO From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has lamented that inter-regional trade between the Economic Community of West African states (ECOWAS) sub-region remains very low at 10 per cent, compared to trade among the European Union countries .

UNIDO Country Representative in Nigeria, Patrick Kormawa said this at the meeting of the Regional Steering Committee of the West Africa Quality Programme (WAQP)transition phase.

He said that inter-regional trade within North America stands at 30 per cent, Asia 40 to 50 per cent while Latin America stands at 30 per cent.

Sterling Bank posts N4.6bn profit after tax From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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terling Bank Plc on Tuesday announced a profit after tax of N4.6 billion for its financial year ended Dec. 31, 2011.

Its Managing Director, Mr Yemi Adeola, disclosed this at the 50th Annual General Meeting of the bank in Lagos.

He said that the figure was against the N4.2 billion recorded in 2010.

Adeola said that the gross earnings of the bank rose by 49 per cent to N45.2 billion in 2011 from N30.4 billion in the 2010.

According to him, the operating income rose by 32 per cent from N20.4 billion in 2010 to N27 billion in 2011.

Adeola said that the total assets of the bank grew by 89 per cent to N583.1 billion in 2011

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regional market.”

Also the Representative of the European Union, Mr. Manuel Iglesias said that regional integration is not happening in reality in West Africa, adding that the programme will help in the integration process and improve trade within the subregion as well the national economies.

The WAQP is a capacity building programme executed by UNIDO on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission and the UEMOA Commission, funded by the EU to provide support to

competitiveness and harmonisation of Technical Barriers to Trade and Sanitary in West Africa.

The specific objectives of the programme is to create an environment that facilitates compliance with international trade rules and technical regulations through the establishment and strengthening of national and regional quality infrastructure that provide effective standardisation, conformity assessment and accreditation that meets international standards.

from N308.5 billion in 2010.

The bank’s deposits rose to N406.5 billion from N199.3 billion in 2010.

The Managing Director assured stakeholders that the bank would improve on corporate banking so that its operation could grow from strength to strength.

He said that the determination and passion of the management as well as the contributions of the shareholders impacted positively to the performance of the bank.

The National Chairman, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Sir Sunny Nwosu stated that there is presently need for the bank to involve young brains to bring innovations into the bank order than being dominated by old ones.

Glo rewards top dealers with 10 SUVs, other prizes lobacom has recently set new standards in dealership recognition when it presented spectacular prizes including 10 top of the range Special Utility Vehicles (SUVs), special crystal trophies, 43 utility vans, several million naira credit notes and Samsung Galaxy Notes to its 124 top performing business associates at a grand event held in Lagos.

The business associates were rewarded for their outstanding performance and excellence in distributing and selling Glo’s products across the country.

Top among the associates honoured at the event was Easy and Quiet Ltd., who emerged as the best performing Glo business associate nationwide and was rewarded with the latest model of Range Rover Sport HSE, a Hyundai utility van, one million naira credit note, Samsung Galaxy Notes and a special crystal trophy, courtesy of Globacom’s Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. Don P Communications and Sozabat Nig. Ltd were the second and third best performing business associates nationwide respectively and

He said: “This means that we need more work to ensure that we promote trade within our subregion and quality standard metrology certification and the rest of the issue that this programe deals with are the prerequisite to promote such trade.

“Trade is a very important aspect in the economic development and we cannot trade in this sub-region if we are not able to bring our products to quality and standard that are required on the international market and even also here in the

were rewarded with the latest Toyota Land Cruiser VX.R V8, Hyundai utility vans, several million naira credit notes, Samsung Galaxy Notes and special crystal trophies.

Seven other high performing dealers emerged as the fourth, up to the tenth best performing Glo business associates nationwide and were each rewarded with a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and other prizes. The entire top 10 formed the first category of winners who were rated as best performers nationwide in terms of revenue.

L-R: High Chief, Francis Eshiebor, discussing with the Vice-Chairman LONA Global Resources, Hon. Salisu Ibrahim Mohammed, during Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), recently at Lagos.

DN Meyer hosts 2012 dealers’ forum From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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N Meyer Plc, manufacturers of top quality paint in Nigeria , hosted its customers across the country to its annual Dealers Forum in Lagos recently.

The highly interactive session, which witnessed a large turnout provided both DN Meyer and its customers an opportunity for honest feedback and discussions on ways to improve their already great

Skye Bank rises first day in six on loan deal

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kye Bank Plc, rose for the time in six days after signing a loan agreement with three foreign banks.

The stock rose 4.5 percent to N3.50 by the close in Lagos, the commercial capital, its first advance since May 4.

The bank signed a $150 million five-year term-loan facility with African ExportImport Bank, Citigroup Inc. and Standard Bank Plc, who are the mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners, according to a

statement from Standard Bank, a unit of Johannesburgbased Standard Bank Group Ltd. The loan is repaid and secured by “remittance flows” generated by Skye Bank through Western Union Co. and is the first such transaction on a public basis in Nigeria, Standard said.

Officials of Skye Bank weren’t immediately available for comments when Bloomberg called their office in Lagos.

(Bloomberg)

business relationship.

The goodwill message of the Chairman of the company, Sir Remi Omotoso, which was delivered by the MD/CEO, Mr. Adeola Omosebi, said that the “forum was an opportunity for us as a company to intimate the dealers with the progress we have made so far, the current policies of the company, the focus of the company this year and the outcome of the various researches being carried out by the company with respect to new products”.

The Chairman, Strategy, Finance and General Purpose Committee of the Board of DN Meyer Plc, Prof. Wale Omole, in his opening speech said, “As a company, we are totally committed and now poised more than before to meet the yearning and aspirations of our stakeholders especially our customers. This is the basis for this forum, so that we can brainstorm and cross-fertilize ideas on how to grow. “ He further reassured the dealers of the high quality standard of the products of DN Meyer. He said, “This year, we are more than configured to manufacture products of high quality. For the record, four of

our products were recently awarded the prestigious NIS Quality Awards of Excellence (Gold Category) by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) for consistently conforming to the requirements of the NIS.” Prof. Omole also revealed that the company has continued to carry out various research with respect to new product development “outcomes of this effort is the birth of a new product called “Gladiator”, which is about to be introduced to the market.

Similarly, one of the existing products –BENIP –‘Beautify Nigeria Paint’, which is an Economic Value Paint, has been repackaged to support people’s derive towards affordability/ maintenance of new and existing projects.”

Speaking at the forum, the Managing Director/CEO of DN Meyer Plc, Mr. Adeola Omosebi, disclosed that, the company was moving from being customer focused to being customer led.

According to him, “We are not here just to meet needs and exceed our customers’ expectation but to delight. We will respond to our customer’s needs and deliver quality service”.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

NIGERIA: Where is the money to help poisoned children?

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id organizations and rights groups are putting more pressure on the Nigerian government to release a promised US$5.4 million in aid for lead-poisoned children, but government officials keep ducking the issue.

Last week , Nigerian and international specialists, aid workers, scientists, officials of Zamfara state government and local cultural leaders gathered at an international conference in the capital, Abuja, to map out a collective plan to clean up poisoned sites, test and treat affected residents - mostly children - and put in place safer mining practices.

Over 400 children have died and an estimated 10 times that number have been contaminated by acute lead poisoning in the state of Zamfara since 2010, when international health NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) learned of what its Nigeria head, Ivan Gayton, referred to as “one of the worst, if not the worst, lead-poisoning crises ever.”

In November 2011 the federal government committed US$5.4 million to help the poisoned children, but none of this money has been released, and the delay has not been explained, said MSF.

Going for gold?

“Without delay, the $850 million naira from the ecological fund must be released in order to begin the environmental remediation [cleaning] and the safer mining programme in Zamfara State,” Gayton said at the close of the conference.

Thousands of children in Zamfara go untreated while their villages await remediation, excluding them from chelation [removing lead from the body] while they are continuously re-poisoned.

Lead poisoning is caused by artisanal mining practices in the gold-rich but otherwise largely impoverished Zamfara region, when independent miners use crude hand tools containing lead to extract gold from crushed ore in their villages.

The toxic dust contaminates soil, water, food and homes. Children under five years of age are especially vulnerable to poisoning, as their bodies weigh much less and absorb far greater amounts of lead from the environment than adults.

Leadcontaminated dust is also more likely to be ingested by children as they crawl on the ground and put dusty hands in their mouths, while their vital

Fringe teaching: The classes were taught to military officers by a rogue instructor Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia.

An artisanal miner crushes stones to extract gold organs and cognitive abilities are still forming.

Zamfara’s lead crisis came to a head in 2010, when skyrocketing international gold prices (1 ounce of gold is valued at approximately $1,600) prompted scores of residents to turn to artisanal mining.

“The state government is doing all it can with its limited resources,” said Mouktar Lugga, Environment Commissioner for Zamfara State. The state has been working with US-based environmental engineering firm Terragraphics to clean seven of the affected villages, while Geneva-based MSF has treated over 2,500 children under five.

Yet no federal minister of mining, the environment, or health attended the conference, and no concrete action by the federal government was announced.

“By not participating in the conference, the federal

government sent a message that the political commitment to resolve this really isn’t there,” said Jane Cohen, an environmental health researcher with Human Rights Watch. “It’s not just about a symbolic message, it’s about whether or not the resources are there to now take action and, unfortunately, they’re just

not.”

Professor Abdulsalami Nasidi, Project Director of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, spoke on behalf of the government during the conference’s closing remarks, and stressed that Nigeria’s highlevel officials are engaged with the needs of Zamfara. “The federal government is

“

Over 400 children have died and an estimated 10 times that number have been contaminated by acute lead poisoning in the state of Zamfara since 2010

regarding this problem not only as an emergency, but a chemical warfare declared on Nigerian children,” he said.

On behalf of the ministers, he pledged to follow up on the issue, which Cohen says is a legal responsibility. “The government is obligated under international law to protect the rights of these people, and they’re really failing in this duty,” she said.

Fending for themselves The village of Bagega is widely considered to be the largest and most contaminated region in Zamfara, with some 1,500 poisoned children requiring treatment.

Minimal remediation has begun, but the scale of the village’s toxicity demands more resources than are currently available.

After a visit there, Cohen said that messaging about safety practices from NGOs and the state government are beginning to have an impact on local residents. She encountered one family who had cleansed their own home of lead by replacing contaminated soil and mud with clean materials, without external resources or expertise. “They’ve given up on their government,” Cohen told IRIN. However, if the remediation is not thorough, families remain at risk. “A lot of the bricks in people’s homes in Bagega were made of contaminated mud,” she said.

“Even though that family took out six inches of soil and replaced it with clean soil, their walls are still dangerous.”

Despite the standstill in releasing federal funds, delegates to the multidisciplinary conference announced an action plan for Zamfara, including creating a state-level rapid response team, a plan to include local communities in policy development, and a push for safer artisanal mining technologies.

But this must not excuse the government from fulfilling its responsibility, Gayton said.

“This 850 million naira would be an amazing first step to addressing the problems in Zamfara state.” (IRIN)

Water sources, like this well, have been contaminated by the lead.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE Youth corps member gets NEMA scholarship

By Mohammed Kandi

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he Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani-Sidi, has offered an automatic scholarship award to a youth, corps member, Abubakar Jimoh for an outstanding campaign on disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Nigeria during the service year.

Sani-Sidi, according to a statement by the agency”s head of press and public relations, Yushau A. Shuaib, presented the award at the end of a quiz competition for secondary schools students in Abuja, and describes the prize as “deserving”, saying he was particularly impressed Jimoh’s over 25 feature published articles in the media, as well as publication of a booklet on disasters management.

The NEMA boss said: “I am overwhelmed and impressed by the contributions of youth corps members on national development and particularly encouraged by the contributions of Abu Jimoh through his writings and advocacies, that I find it necessary to offer him a cash donation to pursue a postgraduate programmes in Disaster Management in any of the 6 universities that offered the

course in the country.”

Reiterating the agency’s commitment of NEMA in strengthen its collaboration with stakeholders including response agencies and the NYSC on disaster management and awareness campaigns, he called on the youth to avail themselves with opportunity of serving in volunteer groups and clubs set up on Disaster Risk Reduction in the country.

He said NEMA would soon institute annual awards of recognition to deserving individuals, groups, institution and media who have made significant contributions to disaster management in the country.

In her remarks, representative of NYSC Directorate at the occasion, Mrs Maksuda Momoh commended NEMA for sponsoring activities of Youth Vanguard Volunteer groups of NYSC throughout the federation and assistance it offered corps member at their various community development efforts.

Meanwhile, winners at the quiz competition include Government Secondary School, Garki, which came first followed

by Government Day Secondary School, Tudun Wada and Reginal Pacis College Abuja.

DG, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, offers scholarship to Abubakar Jimoh, a distinguished NYSC member for disaster prevention advocacy.

DG, NEMA, (right) presents first prize to a Student of GSS, Garki after the quiz competition in Abuja.

He is being assisted by Abubakar Jimoh (centre) DG, NEMA (left), assisted by Abubakar Jimoh (centre), presents 2nd prize to a student of GSS, Tudun Wada after the quiz competition

DG, NEMA (centre), with students and corps members during a quiz competition on disaster management in Abuja.

Student of Reginal Pacis College, Abuja, receives a prize from Director, Training, NEMA, Mrs. Clemen Aisueni at the end of the competition,.

PRO, Fire Service, Colins Elechi, presents certificate to a student of GDSS, Wuse II at the quiz competition in Abuja.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE Insecurity: NEMA urges Borno to establish emergency centre From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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ollowing the incessant insecurity pervading Borno state, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) Mohammed Sani Sidi yesterday admonished Governor Kashim Shettima to establish a befitting emergency centre to cater for the Internally Displaced Persons, (IDP).

Sidi gave the advice while presenting some relief materials to the victims of the violence campaign posed by the militants in various parts of the state.

According to him, establishment of the centre will not only compliment the federal government’s gesture in assisting victims of the militants’ insurgency, but also serve as an emergency unit which would

cater for the needs and aspirations of the affected victims in the state before any possible response by the federal government.

Represented by Zannah Muhammad, the NEMA boss said that, they were in the state to present some relief materials to victim of Gamboru market, Budum and Biu local government area of the state.

He explained relief materials is not to compensate the victims but is just a palliative measures to assist the victims of the affected areas, adding that the agency has increased its staff strength to address the security challenges in the state.

Responding, Governor Shettima thanked NEMA for their concern to the plight of the people of the state.

He said that his administration is determined to create more jobs and employment

as part of measures in addressing the current security challenges facing the state.

Shettima further noted that Borno is the fourth largest city in the country, after Lagos, Kano and Port Hacourt, but it is unfortunate that the state is currently having some security challenges, stressing that peace is the only option and called on the militants to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue.

He said with steps taking by Federal and state governments, Borno state is on the path of lasting peace and development.

The governor also promised to allocate some units of houses to assist staff of NEMA with accommodations and directed the state commissioner of land and survey to immediately forward file of the land allocated to NEMA to his office for certificate of Occupancy.

the distribution of the items.

He also directed the Ministry of Lands to begin the process of

issuing a certificate of occupancy to the agency so that work could begin on the site. (NAN)

...presents relief materials to disaster victims in Borno T he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has presented relief materials to victims of natural disasters in Borno State.

The agency’s Director of Administration and Supply, Dr Mohammed Zanna, presented the items, consisting mainly of food items, to Gov. Kashim Shettima, at the Government House, Maiduguri.

Zanna said that the items were meant for the victims of Gamboru Market fire disaster as well as victims of disasters in Biu and other parts of the state.

He said it was sad that some factors had hampered the agency’s plan to build its permanent site in Maiduguri.

“We have acquired a plot for the project but the lack of a certificate of occupancy has frustrated our efforts to begin construction work,” he said.

“We are appealing to the state government to help facilitate the issuance of the certificate of occupancy so that we can begin construction work at the site,” Zanna said.

Responding, Shettima thanked NEMA for the kind gesture and promised fairness in

NEMA D-G, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi

Kaduna SEMA wants residents in flood prone-areas to relocate

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he Kaduna state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has appealed to residents living in floodprone areas to relocate so as to prevent loss of lives and property.

Executive Secretary of the SEMA, Mr Ishaku Makama, said in Kaduna that their relocation was necessary because of the recent forecast by the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) on Kaduna state.

Makam also told journalists

that the agency had embarked on early warning campaign to prevent flood disasters in the 23 local government areas of the state.

He said: “NIMET forecasts that there will be heavy rainfall this year, which may cause extreme flooding, land slides, and windstorms,” adding that three local government area were affected in April.

The executive secretary said that the three local governments

were Kaura, Jema’a and Sanga, and that relief materials had already been given to affected individuals in the areas.

“Although relocation would not be easy for residents of floodprone areas, adequate measures should be embraced to avoid floods,” he said.

He also said that the state government had ordered the discontinuation of any construction work going on in such areas to prevent flooding. (NAN)

YOUTHS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

By Abubakar Jimoh abujimoh01@yahoo.com

Mitigating windstorm disaster

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storm has been scientifically described as any disturbed state of an astronomical body’s atmosphere affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather. Storm may be marked by strong wind, hail, thunderstorm, rainstorm, strong winds, or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere as in a dust storm, blizzard, and sandstorm.

Windstorm in this case opens the door for massive amounts of water and debris that cause further damage to a structure which result to negative impacts to lives and property, such as storm surge, heavy rain causing flooding or road impassibility, building devastation.

However, as a result widespread occurrence of the windstorm in some parts of the country, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) recently issued a fresh warning alerting members of the public against predicted windstorms in the Niger Delta and Kwara.

Apparently, windstorm always lead to unpalatable consequences, especially to automobiles, aircraft, skylights, glass-roofed structures, livestock, and most commonly, farmers’ crops including wheat, corn, soybeans, and tobacco. For instance, hailstone is one of the most significant thunderstorm hazards to aircraft when exceed 0.5 inches (13 mm) in diameter, may damage planes within seconds; just as hailstones accumulating on the ground could be hazardous to landing aircraft.

Over the years, windstorm has caused deadly disasters to the global environment. It has been observed that between 1964 and 1985, windstorm has caused no fewer than 26 major civil transport aircraft accidents in the United States leading to 620 deaths and 200 injuries; overt 500 homes were devastated by windstorm in Abi and Ogoja and Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River in August, 2009; while Lagos windstorm had claimed no fewer than 15 lives and millions of property was destroyed in February 2012.

As a result of these socioeconomic damages, NEMA in collaboration with the National Meteorological Agency have provided a number of strategies to help in mitigating the hazards of windstorm in Nigeria. They also advised individuals to evaluate their building and ensure it is protected by strong building codes and enforcement. This range from re-nailing removing roof weaken walls to prevent roof from blowing off, should the wind get under the roof panels and attempt to lift the roof; install all shingles which can be damaged by high winds; and make sure the

sheathing complies with current recommended practices if putting on new roof.

They must ensure that their home are secured at the top of the door frame and the floor by using sturdy sliding bolts in your home, as the exterior walls, doors, and windows are the protective shells of your home; while damage to the shell during a wind storm can pave way for high winds to enter the home and put pressure on the roof and walls, causing serious damage. Use strong doors made with bolt kits that can withstand high winds in your home.

There is need for highly secured garage door fails, windows, walls, and the roof to protect wind from blowing out the doors. Provide a concrete foundation of your building; and make sure it is anchored by certified building practitioners.

Individuals are warned against the use of inferior materials in building construction, and to always construct all new buildings with adequate bracing and materials of adequate strength and rigidity to provide for proper wind and snow load.

Also, landlords are advised to insure their property against windstorm; and this therefore requires a separate premium and deductible.

Meanwhile, windstorm insurance requires separate classification of wind damage in order for the policy to cover damage with annual review of home insurance coverage. Make sure you know what is covered and what is not. Contact your insurance carrier when considering remodelling, additions to existing buildings or new construction.

There is a need for more technical support and adequate facilities toward the National Emegency Managements to help improve the understanding of climate processes for determining the predictability of climate, including its variability and change to identify the extent of human influence on climate; and foster the effective application of climate knowledge and information for the benefit of our nation.

Adequate information and enlightenment on a predicted windstorm is very vital. In this case, weather forecasts and warnings are the most important services provided by the meteorological profession used by government and industry to protect life and property and to improve the efficiency of operations, and by individuals to plan a wide range of daily activities.

Also, comprehensive meteorological report must be made available in local dialects to sensitise individuals and circulating reports on windstorm to wider audience, especially at rural communities.

PAGE 26

Council engages unemployed youth to clear polythene waste, says Chairman

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waram Local Government Council of Jigawa State, has engaged unemployed youths to clear all major towns of polythene waste, the Chairman of the Coucil, Alhaji Bala Kila, has said.

Kila told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sara on Monday that each of the youths was being paid N500 daily to keep his environment clean.

He said that apart from keeping the environment clean, the exercise would help in clearing drains to avert flooding during the rainy season.

The chairman said that the exercise would last for some weeks when the rainy season would have stabilised.

Kila said that cleanliness of the environment was everybody’s business and therefore, urged people in the local government area to always keep their environment clean. (NAN)

Thunder sets tree ablaze in Kwara state

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late evening thunder strike recently in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital set a coconut tree ablaze, leaving the residents scampering for safety.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred at Jooro area on Asa-Dam road in the area.

It was also learnt that the thunder strike preceded a light shower which continued up to the early hours of Monday.

An eyewitness, Mrs Victoria Sodiq, revealed that when the thunder struck, an “object like rocket” entered into the tree from the top and set it ablaze.

“The incident was strange and unbelievable. We all ran for safety because we never experienced such in our lives.

All of us stayed glued watching the tree with surprise as smoke glowed from it,” she said.

“The flame burnt the fresh leaves into ashes with several branches falling down as a result of the blaze,’’ she said Another eyewitness, Alhaji Fatai Saliu, said: “the thunder struck and something came from the thunder like a rocket and entered the tree, and the fire started.”

“I can’t believe it. It is just the power of God. It is divine and I have never seen such incident in my life.”

It will be recalled that rainstorm wreaked havoc in the metropolis some weeks ago, rendering many homeless while property were destroyed.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

RUWASA to spend N350m on water supply, sanitation projects

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he Kano state government has provided N350 million to Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) to execute water supply and sanitation projects this year.

Commissioner for Rural and Community Development,

Alhaji Garba Durbunde, told journalists recently in Kano that the government made provision for the N350 million in its 2012 budget, saying “the agency presented a number of work plans to the state government for approval.”

According to him, the projects include the construction and installation of 50 new model windmill water solution schemes.

Others are payment of counterpart funding for the rehabilitation of hand pumpoperated boreholes as well as

construction of numerous hand pump, motorised and solarpowered boreholes in the state.

The commissioner called on the people, particularly those in the rural areas to be vigilant and protect projects sited in their areas. (NAN)

Kaduna Govt. evacuates 20-yearold dumpsite in Tafa

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he Kaduna state Government has commenced a four-day refuse evacuation to clear the oldest dumpsite in Tafa, Jere Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Zakariah Shamaki, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the evacuation became necessary as the dumpsite had become a menace in the town.

Shamaki said that the dumpsite was established in 1992 by the people of the community, which is located on the AbujaKaduna dual carriageway.

He said that more than 20 tippers and four waste collection trucks had been deployed to the area to ensure total evacuation of the waste.

Shamaki decried the proliferation of illegal dumpsites in parts of the state, and warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, stressing that it was not good for the health of the citizenry.

(NAN) Scavengers at a waste dump

Climate change: Least developed countries issue plan to strengthen discussion

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he world’s poorest countries have issued a bold plan to make the UN climate change discussion resuming Monday in Bonn, Germany, more likely to reach their goal.

The meeting is aimed at having an effective and legallybinding agreement ready for governments to adopt by 2015.

The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) group’s formal submission to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, under which the talks are taking place, includes demands that the new legally-binding agreement should take the form of a new protocol.

It also includes demands that the protocol should come under the convention that builds on and enhances the commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, and that parties should agree new rules to allow the adoption of the Protocol by a 75 per cent majority, and not by consensus as under current rules.

Other demands include that a final negotiating text should be ready a full year ahead of the 2015 deadline rather than the usual six months deadline that the UNFCCC imposes.

It demands raising the commitments to mitigate climate change before 2020 and that it must be the top priority and ensuring that the new Protocol should have as a key objective, the full implementation of mitigation, adaptation and finance and capacity building among others.

The LDC group also demanded that systems for monitoring, reporting and verifying finance and mitigation actions must not be weaker than but should build upon those that already exist in the Kyoto Protocol.

“At last year’s conference of parties to the convention in Durban, parties agreed to complete negotiations by 2015, but such deadlines have been broken before,”said Pa Ousman Jarju, the chair of the LDC group.

“Our countries cannot wait.

We are already feeling the effects of climate change, but the time has come for us to be leaders in the international effort to address this global challenge.

“The creation of a new body to negotiate a second protocol under the Convention represents

an overdue acknowledgement by all Parties that the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol alone are insufficient to drive action consistent with the ultimate objective of the Convention,” he said.

Janju underscored the need for urgent action is by all Parties “to prevent dangerous interference with the climate system, and in particular to stay below 2 degrees C and keep open the possibility of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial stadards in the long-term as called for by the most vulnerable countries.”

As negotiators gather in Bonn for the latest round of talks this week, the LDC group also proposes changes to the way the negotiations work to make them faster and fairer.

To ensure that all issues can be dealt with, the group said the number and duration of future negotiation sessions must be agreed in Bonn, along with a timetable to discuss particular issues.

The group also said parties should consider electing officers to the bureau that will run the talks for more than the usual

two-year period, to ensure continuity, and that the size of the bureau should perhaps be expanded given the urgency of its task and the wide range of topics it must work on.

“The LDC group comes to the Bonn climate change talks with a strong set of recommendations,” Jarju said.

“In the spirit of international cooperation and with our desire to see the UN climate change convention meet its objective, we urge other parties to join our call for these improvements to the negotiating process and its final goals.”

The session in Bonn is the first, following the Durban climate conference in December 2011 which, according to some analysts, was a step backwards in terms of action on climate change.

Although it produced several outcomes including a political agreement to continue the Kyoto Protocol but not a legallybinding set of science-based targets.

Also, the conference agreed on the establishment of the Green Climate Fund but no money to fill it. (PANA/NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 27

Zamfara lead poisoning blame game I

n March 2009, an estimated 400 children were reported to have died and 30,000 others poisoned in Zamfara state, in the world’s worst recorded outbreak of lead poisoning.

It was discovered that the situation was more extensive than anyone thought when this was first discovered. It was also discovered that there were more villages involved, and the lead levels were higher, and the number of children infected was higher than anyone first estimated.

The quest for gold after the international price of gold doubled due to the global economic crisis was said to have been responsible for the contamination of these remote mud-hut villages, as young men began to dig metal ore from nearby mines and process it in their homes in the search for gold.

But they were unknowingly mining lead, and the dust from the processing contaminated their houses. As children play in the dust around water wells, ignorant of the danger around them were contaminated.

Subsequent tests by experts show the areas contaminated with 11,000 parts per million of lead. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the safe level of lead is 400 parts per million.

The inaction of Zamfara State government after the alleged warning by the Federal Ministry of Mines about the danger of the illegal mining before it occurred, elicited public condemnation considering the number of people that died and those that were hospitalized.

The blame game between Zamfara State Government and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development continued, until we had to wait for the United Nations to tell us that, “The lead pollution and intoxication crisis in Zamfara state is far from over.”

Thousands more people are believed to still be at risk.

Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha), was quoted saying “an urgent and coordinated response is needed.”

The Medecins Sans Frontieres MSF is concerned that the situation in Zamfara is deteriorating as the water supply becomes polluted and has called on the Nigerian government to do more to deal with the deadly outbreak of this unfortunate lead poisoning.

“It is under-estimation because many lead-related deaths are never reported and in many cases, these communities attribute them to other factors or deny them altogether,” it said.

To extract gold, deadly amounts of lead were released and soil containing lead deposits

By Ambrose Inusa Sule, mnes globenviron@yahoo.com 0703-441-4410 (sms only) deposits than from farming.

They carried rocks home to break them open - but as well as gold the rocks contained high levels of lead, so poisonous dust and flakes were released into the community.

Contaminated soil was also dumped in water sources and there were fears that rain would also spread pollutants.

Exposure to high levels of lead can damage the brain and nervous system, and in severe cases cause seizures, coma and death.

MSF says the situation in Zamfara is one of the worst ever cases ever, if not the worst case, of lead poisoning, killing 460 children and contaminating a further 4,000.

Although the authorities

Illegal mining activities in Zamfara state was dumped in water sources and in places where children played.

This new information was discovered earlier this year during the country’s annual immunisation programme, when visiting doctors realised children in the region were dying in unusually large numbers. In several villages they saw there were virtually no children.

Villagers said the children had died of malaria and it was only when an MSF took blood tests from local people that the high concentrations of lead were discovered.

They were actually poisoned by dust released by gold miners breaking open rocks near their homes.

The charity says 4,000 other children remain contaminated with many of them unable to get treatment.

“One thousand five hundred children are currently leadpoisoned but are not receiving treatment because it is impossible to deliver effective treatment while they still live in contaminated homes,” MSF’s head of mission in Nigeria, Ivan Gayton, said.

In November it was reported that the federal government said it would spend more than N500m cleaning up Zamfara, and in some areas this work it claimed has already begun.

At a two-day conference in Abuja, Human Rights Watch noted that the government had not sent senior officials and suggested this underlined the fact that authorities were not taking the situation seriously enough.

MSF says although the government has started a clean up it must do more to stop people mining.

The outbreak began after the price of gold shot up and villagers realised they could make more money from exploiting local gold

ENVIR ONMENT ENVIRONMENT WATCH

have told people to stop mining, MSF wants to see better education in place to teach people of the health risks.

“It is possible to do the environmental remediation and it is possible to do safer mining... we need not die in search of livelihood. It can be done safely,” MFS said.

When will our government be proactive on issues that concern our very existence?

Must we have to wait for an agency like MSF to tell us what to do to remediate the contaminated areas in Zamfara of lead poisoning? Only God knows how many people have already died and how many are still living with the lead poison.

Above all, it is criminal for such negligence.

Forestry commission member decries high level of deforestation NEWS

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member of Cross River Forestry Commission, Mr Augustine Ogogo, has decried the increasing rate of deforestation in the state.

Ogogo, the member in-charge of Forest Regeneration at the commission, expressed the view in Akamkpa after inspecting facilities at Regeneration Centre.

He said increasing deforestation would threaten the position of Cross River as one of the 25 global biodiversity hotspots, saying “the forest has since depleted to the point that some areas have been completely deforested.”

He said that at a deforestation rate of 3.5 per cent, the state would lose some of its forest areas if not checked.

Ogogo, who is also in-charge of Agro-forestry and Timber, expressed regrets that very little work had been done in the area of regeneration over 30 years ago, while deforestation had been on the increase.

He said the state raised over one million seedlings last year for its regeneration programme, adding that the state targeted N5 million seedlings every year to enable the state to regenerate lost forest.

“Every year we raised seedlings for regeneration of forest, our target is N5 million seedlings

yearly,” he said.

Ogogo said that the commission planted over 250,000 seedlings between 2010 and 2011 to address deforestation.

He said that the commission had keyed into the state policy of protecting state-owned forest and community forest to protect the fragile ecosystem in the area.

Ogogo said the state had a policy to conserve forests for the payment of ecosystem services, adding that the commission had established links with relevant national and international regulatory policy makers and funding bodies for the benefit of bio-diversity conservation and sustainability.

(NAN)

Respect right to healthy environment, NESREA D-G tasks Nigerians

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he National Environmental Standards Regulations and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) have underscored the importance of respect to the right of the people to live in a healthy environment.

Director- General of NESREA, Dr Ngeri Benebo, who disclosed this in Keffi, Nasarawa state, said “If you pollute any environment, you will be contravening other people’s rights to live in a hazardfree environment.”

She called for concerted efforts toward conserving endangered species in the country, stressing that the presence of wildlife stimulates good and healthy natural environment, adding that, “A rich environment is assessed by its vegetation and not its dry land.

“You will agree with me that

this country is blessed with very rich vegetation and it appears we do not know its value. Some people do pay to visit the kind of vegetation we have, but we do not value our own,” she said.

“It is when we finish destroying this vegetation with its contents (endangered species) that we will discover how much it will cost us to develop an artificial one,” Benebo stated.

She expressed the determination of the agency to assist the wildlife department to achieve the goal of protecting and conserving the nation’s endangered species.

Benebo also gave the assurance that the agency would collaborate with other relevant agencies to enforce the Endangered Species Act with a view to achieving the goal of the

conservation of the wildlife.

On the issue of e-waste management, the directorgeneral, commended the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) for its support to checkmate the importation of e-waste.

“I must commend the NCS for its efficiency and inter-agency collaboration with us to check the importation of outdated electronics. We have achieved much through the use of their modern gadgets which can identify the contraband as quick as possible,” the D-G declared.

“Although the NCS has the responsibility to generate revenue by collecting duties on imported goods, yet they will not compromise the health and the image of our dear country for revenue generation,” she said.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 31

Panama: Village of the damned

ANALYSIS

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ast February, the most famous Panamanian in the world went for a routine medical check-up. The authorities used a decoy, and General Noriega, the country's former military governor, was spirited back to his luxury detention centre, safe from prying eyes and a hungry press.

Nonetheless, acres of news print around the world were lavished on the event, while a far more urgent unravelling Panamanian story dropped under the radar.

Panama's largest indigenous group, the Ngabe, had decided to take a stand against the unlawful encroachment of their homeland.

Since the time of the conquistadors, the Ngabe have been pushed to the margins of the country - forced to live on the land that no one else wanted. Twenty years ago the Panamanian government finally ceded what was considered a useless tract of land to them. The Ngabe had in fact lived there for centuries, so by rights it has always been theirs.

But now this land, rich in mineral deposits and rivers, is considered priceless. And Ricardo Martinelli, Panama's authoritarian president who is a close friend of former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, wants it back.

His plan is to open the Ngabe heartland to foreign mining companies and push hydroelectric power projects onto an unwilling population. The problem is that the Ngabe have nowhere else to go.

Their demand: an audience with the president. Martinelli's response was extraordinary for this relatively peaceful country with a constitution that forbids the formation of an army. The police, who human rights observers say have become increasingly militarised since Martinelli became president three years ago, launched a vicious crackdown, cutting communications with the outside world, and allegedly shooting innocent bystanders as well as peaceful protesters.

Harrowing reports surfaced of rapes and the mistreatment of

Away from its busy capital city and famous canal, Panama is one of the world's most ecologically diverse nations. detainees, as scores of Ngabe men, women and children were arrested. At least two people were killed and many more were injured.

The crackdown lasted for three days and proved so unpopular with Panamanians, that Martinelli was forced into negotiations with the Ngabe.

Opening fire he talks were taking place at the National Assembly building in the centre of Panama City and dozens of Ngabe families had set up camp nearby to show support for Silvia Carerra, their elected leader who is known as the Casica.

It was here that my crew and I set up our camera on my first day in Panama to interview some of the people who had travelled hundreds of miles to make their point. We had just started to interview a young woman and child when gun shots rang through the air.

It is possible that the government was never that keen to talk to the Ngabe in the first place and that this was an attempt to provoke a reaction which would force the cancellation of the talks. If that was the plan, it did not work.

The Casica had no intention of letting the government set the agenda and the talks continued.

But as I flicked through the channels in my hotel room later that night I was given an insight into the less than perfect

T

relationship between the government and the media here.

Panamanian TV media carried the police's version of events - that drunken Ngabe youths had gone on the rampage. It was a story that I knew for a fact was far from the truth.

A piece of paradise he next day one of the so-called 'drunkards', a teetotaller by the name of Ricardo, invited us to his village. It was a six-hour drive from Panama City followed by a gruelling trek through mountain jungle. But nothing could have prepared me for the beauty of Kia - a settlement nestling on the banks of the Tabasara River.

Here the Ngabe have carved out a little piece of paradise for themselves, and I saw at once why they are fighting so hard to protect it. There is an open air school where children are taught in the Ngabe language, which is vital if their unique culture is to survive. And I enjoyed a continuous stream of hospitality as we talked into the early hours under a night sky unblemished by light pollution.

The following morning Ricardo gave us a guided tour of the village, explaining the close bond between his people and nature. I was taken a short distance to the riverbank where a little girl showed us a colony of Tabasara Rain Frogs, one of the rarest species in the world, which are found nowhere else on the

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“

Electricity is a commodity like anything else and if there is spare capacity it can be sold to energy-hungry consumers in neighbouring countries. Someone, it seemed, was going to get very rich.

Unsurprisingly, that document has never been made public.

planet.

Yet a few miles downstream from Kia, the massive construction site of Barro Blanco is an ugly blot on the landscape. As the enormous dam takes shapes, armed guards patrol the perimeter to keep the villagers away. When the dam is complete the village of Kia will be lost.

From Kia I travelled northwest to visit Ngabe villagers who had already lost their community.

They had been made homeless by another hydroelectric project last year, when the mighty Changuinola River was dammed.

Here I met Carolina. Her house had been built on higher ground than those of her neighbours in the village of Guiyaboa, She told me that she and countless others had received no compensation for loss of their land, crops or housing.

I travelled on through Chiriqui province, the scene of the crackdown, and met and interviewed survivors and the relatives of those who had been killed by the police. I found it hard to understand why they had died.

All the Ngabe had been asking for was an opportunity to talk to the government - a concession that the authorities had to make in the end anyway.

A roll call of Panama's wealthy ack in Panama City, Jorge Ricardo Fabrega, the country's powerful minister of government, agreed to meet me and explain the government's side.

He admitted that things could have been handled better at Changuinola, but insisted that during the recent crackdowns the police had behaved very professionally. He was keen to underline the importance of hydroelectric energy for Panama's booming economy and then stated categorically that nothing would be allowed to stop the Barro Blanco project going ahead.

"There's one thing that I have to make clear," he said. "We're not going to cancel Barro Blanco. The

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Barro Blanco project is under construction and it will continue."

As I listened I thought of Ricardo and the other villagers whose future was being decided by the minister and his friends.

By now news had got around that a filmmaker from Al Jazeera was in the country and someone discreetly passed me a lengthy document detailing the government's future hydroelectric plans. It was an eye-opener. The sheer number of the projects is startling; if they all go ahead they will surely produce far more electricity than Panama will ever need, no matter how dynamic or fast growing its economy. Which begs the obvious question: What will they do with all this power?

Alongside each project listed were the names of the company directors involved - a roll call of Panama's wealthiest families. It was not difficult to put two and two together.

Electricity is a commodity like anything else and if there is spare capacity it can be sold to energy-hungry consumers in neighbouring countries.

Someone, it seemed, was going to get very rich. Unsurprisingly, that document has never been made public.

It was then I realised what Silvia Carerra, the Casica, was up against in her negotiations with the government. And on my last evening in Panama, I was lucky enough to meet her. Despite having been up since sunrise debating with other Ngabe leaders, she found time for an interview.

A charismatic 41-year-old, with little in the way of a formal education, she has found herself locked in negotiations with the minister I had just met. This remarkable woman is all that stands between her 100,000 kinsmen and development projects they neither want nor need. It must be a terrible responsibility. I found her candour and determination refreshing. She told me that even after all the government had done the Ngabe would never give in.

Culled from Aljazeera.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 32

Taylor ‘sympathy’ for Sierra Leone victims

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harles Taylor, the former Liberian president found guilty of perpetrating war crimes in neighbouring Sierra Leone, has accused prosecutors of paying and intimidating witnesses as a UN court heard arguments before his sentence hearing in two weeks.

"Witnesses were paid, coerced and in many cases threatened with prosecution if they did not give statements," Taylor told the special court at The Hague for war crimes committed during Sierra Leone's civil war.

"I express my sadness and sympathy for crimes suffered by individuals and families in Sierra Leone," said Taylor, speaking before his scheduled sentencing on May 30.

Seeking leniency, Taylor, who was convicted last month of 11 counts of war crimes including murder, rape and conscripting child soldiers, said he did not condone impunity in any form.

Judges at the UN-backed court said his aid was essential in helping rebels across the border in Sierra

Taylor, was convicted last month of 11 counts of war crimes including murder, rape and conscripting child soldiers [AFP] Leone continue their bloody rampage during the West African nation's decade-long civil war, which ended in 2002 with more

than 50,000 dead.

It was the first time a former head of state had been convicted of war crimes since the aftermath of

World War II. The former president told judges that he sympathised with victims of the war, but stopped short of apologising or expressing remorse.

He insisted his actions had actually been done to help stabilise the region and claimed he never knowingly assisted in the commission of crimes.

"What I did...was done with honor,'' he said. "I was convinced that unless there was peace in Sierra Leone, Liberia would not be able to move forward."

Prosecutors are demanding an 80-year sentence, while Taylor's lawyer Courtenay Griffiths noted Taylor's conviction was for enabling, rather than ordering war crimes, and that the 64-yearold deserved a sentence that gave him hope of release.

Judges found Taylor helped the rebels obtain weapons, knowing they would likely be used to commit terrible crimes, in exchange for payments of "blood diamonds" often obtained by slave labour.

Kenya: Man arrested over deadly attack on Mombasa club

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man has been arrested on suspicion of helping to carry out an attack on a nightclub in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, police have said.

He was one of five people injured after explosive devices were thrown into the popular club.

Armed men lobbed what are thought to be grenades - after they were denied entry to the club for refusing to be frisked by security guards.

No-one has claimed responsibility, and a gun was found at the scene.

"The suspect is one of those injured. He is now under police guard," said police chief Mathew Iteere in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, adding that the police had been watching the suspect for some time "in connection with various other attacks".

He was hit by shrapnel from a grenade and taken to the hospital with other people injured during the attack, Mr Iteere said.

The man had booked a bus ticket for Nairobi to leave Mombasa soon after the attack late on Tuesday night, he said.

"We have retrieved a bus ticket from him and when our officers went to the bus station they found his luggage which had a magazine loaded with eight rounds of ammunition," Mr Iteere said.

The Bella Vista club is on a street known for its night life in Mombasa - a popular holiday destination for both Kenyans and foreigners.

A pool of blood marked the entrance to the club, and spent cartridges and grenade shells were strewn near its gate,

reported Reuters news agency.

Regional police chief Aggrey Adoli told the AFP news agency that armed men tried to barge their way into the club but were barred by security guards.

They then fired off shots from their guns, critically injuring a guard, before throwing in explosive devices, he said.

Ambrose Munyasia, the region's top criminal investigation officer who was at the scene, told Reuters the evidence suggested three grenades had been thrown.

Amnesty cites rights abuses in northern Mali

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mnesty International has accused armed Tuaregs and groups fighting to impose Sharia law in northern Mali of carrying out grave rights abuses such as rape, murder and using child soldiers.

A report released on Wednesday by the London-based rights group said government soldiers had also carried out extrajudicial killings, branding the crisis Mali's worst human rights situation in 50 years.

Tuaregs fighting for the separatist Azawad Liberation Movement (MNLA) and other groups have seized control of much of the north of the country since a military coup in Bamako in March.

"After two decades of relative stability and peace, Mali is now facing its worst crisis since

independence in 1960," said Gaetan Mootoo, Amnesty International's West Africa researcher.

"The entire north of the

country has been taken over by armed groups who are running riot. Ten of thousands of people have fled the region, creating a humanitarian crisis in Mali and

Many Malians have been forced to flee the north after opposition groups took control [EPA]

in neighbouring countries."

The Amnesty researchers collected testimony from women and girls who said they were "raped, sometimes collectively, by armed men including by members of the MNLA, particularly in Menaka and Gao".

"Delegates found evidence of the presence of child soldiers within the ranks of the armed Tuareg and Islamists groups who took control of the north of the country."

The report states that soldiers too, were guilty of human rights violations.

"Malian soldiers beat and then extra-judicially executed three unarmed people accused of spying for the MNLA in Sevare [630km north of Bamako] on 18 April 2012," read a statement from Amnesty.

Seven die in clashes in Libyan desert town - government

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even people have been killed and more than 20 injured in clashes in Libya's western desert town of Ghadames, the government says.

Government spokesman Nasser el-Maneaa blamed an

"armed group from outside the town" for the violence.

He added that the army had been sent to Ghadames and the situation was now under control.

Unconfirmed reports say the clashes were between town

residents and Tuareg tribesmen - nomads who roam the desert.

The fighting erupted over control of a checkpoint on the edge of the town - on a route often used for smuggling, local officials were quoted as saying

by Reuters.

Libya's interim government is struggling to control the vast country with numerous tribal groups after former leader Col Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in the uprising last year.

Congo ‘Terminator’ still forcing youngsters to fight, says HRW

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enegade general Bosco Ntaganda, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, is still forcing youngsters to fight, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says.

Over the past month nearly 150 young men and boys have been recruited in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to HRW. Those who escaped talk of being taken at gunpoint from schools and villages.

Gen Ntaganda, also known as the Terminator, was indicted in 2006 by the ICC for using child soldiers.

The alleged recruitment took place in the aftermath of a mutiny from the Congolese army of troops loyal to Gen Ntaganda - former members of the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) rebel group, whose fighters were integrated into the Congolese army as part of a peace deal three years ago.

Gen Ntaganda denies masterminding the mutiny, which led to heavy clashes with the Congolese army in eastern Congo.

In one incident, near the village of Kingi, in Masisi district, about 30 students were rounded up from a school - their hands were tied and they were marched up a hill, a 17-year-old student told HRW. "They told us we would fight for Bosco [Ntaganda]… They informed us that we would liberate our country by giving our support to Bosco Ntaganda," he said.

"Bosco Ntaganda is once again committing the very crimes against children for which the ICC has been demanding his arrest," HRW's senior Africa researcher Anneke Van Woudenberg said.

This week, the chief prosecutor asked the ICC to add more counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes to Gen Ntaganda's arrest warrant.

The new charges include the murder and rape of civilians.

Gen Ntaganda is believed to be hiding in DR Congo's Virunga National Park, home to mountain gorillas.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 33

Colombia blast targets former minister W e condemn this attack ... this government will not be thrown off course by these terrorist attacks. We will stay the course and carry out all the investigations needed to find the culprits," Santos said after Tuesday's attack.

"This was an attack against former minister Fernando Londono.

Unfortunately his driver and a police officer have died," he added, saying both the victims were accompanying the minister as part of a state protection programme.

The Andean country has battled left-wing guerrillas, right-wing paramilitary groups and drug cartels for decades, but a campaign since 2002 against cocaine traffickers

and rebels coupled with the demobilisation of paramilitaries has sharply reduced violence in the capital.

Lucia Newman, Al Jazeera's Latin America editor, said Bogota has not seen attacks on this scale for years.

"Although there have been smaller bombings in past years, and more recently in front of Radio

Caracol in Bogota, this attack is seen as the largest and boldest in many years," she said.

"The bomb was placed on top of the vehicle of [former interior and justice minister] Londono, who is a rightwing and conservative politician, who has a daily radio programme La Voz de la Verdad, or the Voice of Truth, as well as a newspaper column in El Tiempo.

"He uses both to fiercely attack the FARC and is a staunch supporter of ex-president Alvaro Uribe."

Al Jazeera's Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from Bogota, said the bomb exploded in one of the most important thoroughfares connecting the city with Colombia's north.

"Londono was being driven by his driver, who died in the attack.

Londono himself is said to be in stable

condition," Rampietti said.

Local television broadcast images of him walking from the scene of the bomb attack with blood covering his face, flanked by a bodyguard carrying a gun.

Local media said more than 20 people were taken to a nearby hospital for injuries sustained in the blast, which was initially reported to have happened on a bus.

Londono was interior minister from 2002 to 2004 in the government of former President Uribe, who led a crackdown on the FARC, the Marxist group which still controls large areas of the country, and other armed groups during his eight years in office.

Although substantially weakened by a US-funded military crackdown, the FARC remains a force to be reckoned with.

Pakistan president to attend NATO summit

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A bomb targeting a former Interior minister Fernando Londono has killed his driver and a police officer, President Juan Manuel Santos said.

Ties between the United States and Pakistan have been severely strained over the past year [Reuters]

Protesters oppose Putin's return to the Kremlin and question parliamentary elections' results [AFP]

akistan has confirmed its president will attend a summit of NATO leaders this weekend in Chicago as negotiations with US to reopen supply lines into Afghanistan continues.

Nadeem Hotiana, a Pakistani embassy spokesman in Washington, said on Tuesday that Asif Ali Zardari would attend the May 20-21 summit.

Pakistan, which has endured a stormy diplomatic relationship with the US, closed the route in protest against the killing by US warplanes of 25 of its troops.

Washington expressed regret for the incident and has been quietly urging Islamabad to reopen the route.

In a statement, Oana Lungescu, a NATO spokesman, said: "This meeting will

underline the strong commitment of the international community to the people of Afghanistan and to its future.

Pakistan has an important role to play in that future."

But ties between Islamabad and Washington had gone from "from bad to worse", Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder, reporting from the Pakistani capital, said.

Our correspondent said Pakistan had come under "a bit of pressure" from NATO members like Turkey, a major Islamabad ally, to reopen the route.

The killing of the soldiers fanned national anger over everything from covert CIA drone strikes to the U.S. incursion into Pakistani territory last year to kill al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Protesters dispersed from Moscow park

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ussian riot police have dispersed an Occupy-style protest against President Vladimir Putin, forcing dozens of people out of central Moscow park, where they had been camped for more than a week.

The action against the sit-in was the latest step in a government crackdown on protests over Putin's return to the presidency on May 7 for a six-year term following four years as prime minister.

Police converged on the site at Chistiye Prudy Park early on Wednesday and told about 50 people who had spent the night there to leave, citing a court order issued on Tuesday requiring them to clear the area.

Police clashed with demonstrators, beating some on the head with batons in the worst violence since a wave of protests prompted by suspicions of fraud in a December parliamentary vote.

At least 15 protesters had been detained after the swoop, Reuters news agency reported.

"People were ready to gather

their stuff and move, but they did not give us time, they just started pushing people out," Alisa Obraztsova, a protester in her 20s, said.

Protesters said that police had told them they must leave by noon (08:00 GMT) on Wednesday, but Obraztsova said the police who cleared the park said it had to be cleaned by noon.

The small protest became the talking point of Russian politics while testing the ruling elite's desire to put up with a form of dissent that still falls narrowly within the confines of increasingly strict legislation.

The rallies swelled to a few thousand as people finished work but shrank to just a few dozen activists overnight.

The sit-in referred to itself as Occupy Abay a reference to the looming bronze statue of 19th century Kazakh poet Abay Kunanbayuli around which the protesters gathered in a leafy boulevard in the upscale Chistye Prudy district.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Zetas cartel ‘denies’ role in Mexico massacre

Forensic experts have struggled to establish the identity of the 49 corpses found dumped in Monterrey city [Reuters]

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anners have appeared in northern Mexico apparently signed by the country's Zetas drug cartel denying any role in the massacre of 49 people, whose

mutilated bodies were found dumped in the neighbouring state of Nuevo Leon.

An employee of the prosecutors' office in San Luis Potosi state said the banners were

Ratko Mladic goes on trial for genocide

hung from overpasses in the city of Ciudad Valles, according to The Associated Press.

The employee was not authorised to speak on the record, and did not give the

precise wording of the banners.

The bodies were found on Sunday in the city of Monterrey with their heads, hands and feet hacked off.

A slogan scrawled on a stone arch nearby read "100% Zetas", although it was unclear when the graffiti was daubed there.

Authorities have struggled to identify the corpses to gain clues into the latest in a series of massacres from an escalating war between rival drug cartels.

Forensic experts are yet to establish the identities of any of the corpses after the fourth massacre in a month.

None of the bodies examined so far showed signs of gunshots, Jorge Domene, Nuevo Leon state security spokesman, told local Milenio television on Tuesday.

Mexico's interior secretary, Alejandro Poire said on Monday that all those incidents resulted from the fight between the Zetas gang and the Sinaloa Cartel, which have emerged as the two main

forces in Mexican drugtrafficking and other organised crime.

Zetas, formed by ex-military personnel in the 1990s, is present in nearly all of Mexico's 32 states.

Some victims in earlier body dumps have turned out to be bakers, bricklayers and students; seemingly anybody who could be snatched off the streets in mass killings that one captured gang member said were designed to "cause terror".

The 43 men and six women found on Sunday were dumped at the entrance to the town of San Juan in the municipality of Cadereyta about 175km southwest of McAllen, Texas.

There have been 74 killings in the first four months of this year in Cadereyta municipality, compared to 27 over the same period in 2011 and seven in 2010, according to figures from Nuevo Leon state prosecutors.

The massacre follows the discovery of 14 men left in a van in downtown Nuevo Laredo on April 17 and 23 people found hanged or decapitated in the same border city May on 4.

Eighteen dismembered bodied were left near Mexico's secondlargest city, Guadalajara, last week.

Drug violence has killed more than 47,500 people since President Felipe Calderon launched a steppedup offensive when he took office in December 2006.

Belgian halts hunger strike in Dubai

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The trial of General Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army chief accused of orchestrating war crimes and a campaign of genocide, has begun at a special UN court at The Hague in the Netherlands. rosecutors at the "By the time Mladic and his International Criminal troops murdered thousands in Tribunal for the former Srebrenica ... they were wellYugoslavia made their opening rehearsed in the craft of murder," statements against Mladic on Groome told the court.

Wednesday almost a year after Dressed in a dark grey suit and his arrest in Serbia and dark tie, Mladic, now 70, flashed subsequent deportation after a thumbs-up and clapped his years on the run. hands as he entered the courtroom Mladic is accused of 11 counts in The Hague. of war crimes and crimes against In the packed public seating humanity, including area, a mother of one of the orchestrating the week-long Srebrenica victims whispered massacre of over 7,000 Muslim "vulture" several times as boys and men at Srebrenica in prosecutors opened their case.

1995 during the Bosnian war.

Later, Mladic made eye contact Prosecutor Dermot Groome with one of the Muslim women in said the prosecution would the audience, running a hand present evidence showing across his throat, in a gesture that "beyond a reasonable doubt the led Presiding judge Alphons Orie hand of Mr. Mladic in each of to hold a brief recess and order an these crimes". end to "inappropriate "The world watched in interactions." disbelief that in neighborhoods "Ratko Mladic is clearly not the and villages within Europe a stocky, physically imposing, genocide appeared to be in bullish man that we remember progress," said Groome, from images of the early '90s," Al describing the beginning of the Jazeera's Barnaby Phillips war in 1992. reported from The Hague.

P

Belgian man has agreed to halt his hunger strike, after United Arab Emirates authorities promised that they would reconsider his case.

Oliver Loeb, a 51-year-old Belgian businessman, is serving a three-year sentence in a Dubai prison for bouncing cheques after an investor did not pay up on a business deal.

He was taken to hospital on Tuesday and was placed on a glucose drip after he collapsed.

He had begun his hunger strike on April 18.

The chief prosecutor met the Belgian hunger striker that day, a source familiar with the case told Al Jazeera, and he agreed to resume food and drink for one week. Loeb remains very weak.

During this time, the

Oliver Loeb would need to be pardoned by Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum [EPA] authorities have promised to review the case. It would require a pardon from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and

vice-president of the UAE, for the case to be dropped.

"They promised him that they would do something within this time," the source said.

Syria election results show support for reforms, says Assad

S

yrian President Bashar alAssad has said that the results of last week's parliamentary elections prove people support his government's reforms.

Mr Assad told Russian TV they also represented a message that Syrians were "not scared by terrorists' threats".

The election commission said on Tuesday that turnout was 51% for the polls, which the opposition said were a farce.

Meanwhile, UN observers who came under fire on Tuesday have been rescued after spending the night with rebel fighters.

UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said other UN personnel had picked up the six-strong

team from the northern town of Khan Sheikhoun on Wednesday and taken them to their team site in Hama.

A commander of the rebel

Free Syrian Army (FSA), Abu Hassan, told Reuters news agency that the observers were "in good health and on their way to Damascus".

Opposition groups inside and outside Syria called for a boycott of the People's Assembly elections

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 35

The horrific moment man set himself on fire outside the courthouse where Anders Breivik trial is taking place

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he burning man ran towards the entrance of the building after dousing himself in a flammable liquid Police officers pulled his jumper off before attempting to put the fire out He was taken to hospital with wounds on his chest and stomach which have been described as 'serious injuries' A man has set himself on fire outside the courthouse where the trial of right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik is taking place.

After dousing himself in a flammable liquid, the burning man ran towards the entrance of the building in Oslo, Norway.

Police officers rushed to his aid, pulling his burning jumper off before attempting to put the fire out.

Police spokesman Kjell Jan Kverme told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that police believe he is a Norwegian citizen

Injuries: The man is seriously injured and has wounds on his chest and stomach following the fire 'but we don't yet know his identity to 100 percent. He is seriously injured. He has wounds on his chest and stomach.'

The man was transported to Oslo University Hospital.

Asked whether the incident was connected to the trial against

Blaze: A man set himself on fire outside the courthouse where the trial of right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik is taking place

Breivik, that has been going on since mid-April, Finn Belle, of Oslo Police, said: 'One would think there is one connection or another but we don't have any information on that.’

Norwegian newspaper VG

Shocking: The man doused himself in a flammable liquid and set himself on fire. He is pictured being taken away by paramedics posted a video clip on its website showing a man running toward the security checkpoint outside the courthouse with flames

Horrific: A man has set himself on fire outside the courthouse where the trial of right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik is taking place

shooting up from his hat.

Another sequence showed police officers tending to him on the pavement outside the checkpoint, removing his burning sweater.

Breivik has admitted to setting off a car bomb that killed eight people outside the government headquarters in Oslo and then killing 69 people in a shooting rampage at the Labor Party's annual youth camp.

He has shown no remorse for the attacks, saying the victims had betrayed Norway by embracing multiculturalism.

The fire was the first incident outside the Oslo district court since the trial began.

Inside the court, an Iraqi man whose brother was killed in the massacre threw a shoe at Breivik last Friday, hitting one of Breivik's defense lawyers.

Petite barmaid, 21, wins £10k compensation after manager, 33, asked her to show off breasts in a push-up bra to boost trade

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hy graduate Kathryn Broughton told she should wear push-up bra Given the nickname 'little t*ts' by her manager Andrew Stephens Mr Stephens wrongly said she had a sexually transmitted disease She quit job after six months of abuse, employment tribunal heard Wins sex discrimination case after judge says 'circumstances serious'

A barmaid who was asked by her manager to show off her breasts in a push-up bra to boost a pub's trade has won £10,000 in compensation.

Kathryn Broughton, 21, was given the nickname 'little t*ts' by her boss Andrew Stephens and asked if she was wearing a push-up bra.

When the shy university graduate failed to reply, the 33-

year-old married man told her: 'Well you really should.'

Miss Broughton told an employment tribunal: 'He then said we will get more customers and you will get more tips.'

The part-time barmaid won her claim for sex discrimination after she quit the real ale pub in disgust following a string of rude remarks.

She claimed on-going sexual

harassment over a six-month period by Mr Stephens, who is a shareholder in the pub company which runs the Rutland Arms in Sheffield city centre.

Miss Broughton said her boss first called her 'little t*ts' to 'curry favour' with a member of staff with whom he was engaging in banter at the bar and repeated it on several

occasions in front of other bar and kitchen staff.

When she was off work sick, Mr Stephens made a comment about her having a sexually transmitted disease and he labelled her boyfriend a transvestite.

In a Facebook message, Miss Broughton was told of a rumour that female bar staff could be asked to wear more revealing tops.

‘She (Miss Broughton) is a relatively quiet-spoken individual whom we believe was pretty upset. The circumstances were serious and caused her to give up her job’

By Judge John Trayler

H 'Intimating': Blonde barmaid Kathryn Broughton (left) has won £10,000 in damages after telling an employment tribunal how she endured six months of sexual harassment from her pub manager Andrew Stephens (right)

e said she had never raised any grievance with him and he did not make any comments about sexually transmitted infections or call her boyfriend a transvestite.

He said the picture she painted of the Rutland Arms was 'far removed from reality' although they did have nicknames for staff.

One was called 'Fat Paul' although he was slim, there was 'Staring Richard' who stared at people and he himself was called 'Steve the man', but he denied calling Miss Broughton 'little

t*ts'.

The tribunal heard a female friend of Miss Broughton's posted on her Facebook wall a message reading 'tits, tits, I love tits.'

Mr Stephens said: 'Perhaps she is not as adverse in talking to her friends in that way.'

But Miss Broughton said she took it as a joke between friends and it was different if an employer had made such a comment.

The panel decided Miss Broughton's sex discrimination claim in her favour after a two-day hearing.

Employment Judge John Trayler said in his judgment that the

panel believed the comments were made as described by the barmaid although the sexually-transmitted disease remark was not an act of discrimination but 'unwelcome' nevertheless.

Mr Trayler said there was evidence that the physical characteristics of employees at the pub were identified and this was a factor that had to be taken into account.

He said: 'There is a possibility the claimant may have been referred to

by Mr Stephens as "little t*ts" either as part of banter which had gone too far or a nickname which had been initiated but not stuck.'

PAGE 36

A

few weeks ago I was at my friend Helena’s house playing with her cat, Mr Fluff, when he suddenly lashed out.

Mr Fluff is a cutie, but he’s a very aggressive moggie — and has been confirmed as semi-feral by a cat behaviouralist.

I’ve never left Helena’s house without a map of scratches on my arm.

This time Mr Fluff flipped and leapt at me with a low growl.

Hanging on to my arm with his claws, he sunk his teeth into my wrist twice.

I flung him off and, while spinning around, whacked my wrist against the door-frame.

Ouch. Helena came running.

Mr Fluff was now crouched, hissing. She tried to pick him up to soothe him, but he shot at her foot and bit it, too.

Thinking little of it (other than that Mr Fluff could do with a relaxing spa day), we washed our bites with soap and water, slathered on Sudocrem and I went to bed.

The next morning my hand hurt. I ignored it. But when I tried to pull my tights on, I couldn’t grip them to yank them up. My hand was red and swollen.

‘I must have fractured my wrist when I hit the door frame,’ I reasoned.

I went to Chelsea & Westminster A & E and regaled them with the tale of human versus cat while I had my tetanus jab.

I couldn’t understand why they kept asking me about the tiny bites on my wrist. And then an X-ray revealed I had no fracture.

‘We think your hand is infected,’ the nurse explained.

‘A cat bite is much worse than a dog or rat bite. It’s the worst animal in the UK to be bitten by.

‘Their mouths are filthy, swimming in bacteria. But because it’s so rare that they bite, it’s not widely talked about.’

I told them Mr Fluff lives in a gorgeous Chelsea townhouse, eats the finest cat food and never goes out, so surely I must be safe.

I listened, half amused, as they told me I would go for a ‘wash out’ the next morning under general anaesthetic. The procedure sounded innocuous, so why would I need a general?

‘We’re just going to explore the wound,’ the surgeon explained.

‘You’ll probably be OK to go home tomorrow.’

They hooked me up to an antibiotic drip while, using my BlackBerry, I changed my Facebook status to a jolly ‘Catherine Gray has been hospitalised by a cat!’ before drifting off to sleep.

When I came round, searing agony gradually set in.

‘We’ve opened up the two bite marks and made two new incisions. There was a lot of pus to drain,’ the surgeon explained.

‘I’ve fed antiseptic ribbons through your hand to fight the infection further.’

These ribbons are gauze soaked in antiseptic, more commonly used after the removal of cysts.

The pain was such that nurses came with vials of morphine for me to gulp down every few hours.

I used my left hand to Google ‘cat bite infection’ into my BlackBerry.

Page after page came up,

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

One bite from a cat can put you on the critical list

Scarred: Catherine Gray, still bearing the marks of her ordeal, with a friendlier cat. 'Nobody had explained the peril I was potentially in,' she said warning that a cat bite, especially to the hand, could cause severe damage.

I learnt that dog bites turned infectious around 15-20 per cent of the time, but cat bites do in 50 per cent of cases because moggies have thin, pointy teeth, which effectively inject you with bacteria.

Even if you wash the wound immediately, chances are you won’t get the bacteria out.

I read of a woman in Wales who died after contracting a rare blood disorder caused by a cat bite.

Now, I was scared. Nobody had explained the peril I was potentially in; presumably because they didn’t want me to panic.

I later learned the danger was particularly severe because the bites were to my wrist.

As Dr Suranjith Seneviratne,

a clinical immunologist from London’s Royal Free Hospital, explains: ‘The wrist is packed with tendons and blood vessels, so infection can be pumped to vital organs very quickly and cause them to fail in extreme cases.’

I’d originally been told I could probably go home later that day.

‘We want to keep you in another night, just to keep an eye on you’ was the casual verdict.

Day after day rolled by. I was regularly pumped with antibiotics and my hand slowly healed. There were four scarlet incisions, each about a centimetre long and deep.

I whiled away the time with The Hunger Games trilogy, and could now waggle my fingers. I was high as a kite on morphine and tramadol and quite enjoying myself.

A test on the third day showed

that the cat had given me Pasteurella multocida and Staphylococcus aureus.

An internet search revealed that both were potentially lethal. I didn’t want to know more.

‘If bacteria such as this travel from the soft tissue of the hand into the bloodstream, they can go to vital organs such as lungs very quickly, and can absolutely cause death,’ Dr Seneviratne tells me now.

This is because they can trigger sepsis, where the immune system goes into overdrive and begins attacking the body, leading to organ failure. I am really, really glad I didn’t know that at the time.

But after four nights came the words of doom: ‘Another washout in the morning.’

I argued against it.

‘But I can wiggle my fingers! It feels all better!’ I pleaded, only to be told sternly: ‘If we don’t get all of the

infection out, the consequences could be extremely serious.’

The previous time I’d been wheeled to theatre I was enjoying the novelty of my first hospital overnighter. This time, my face was ashen and I was trembling from nerves. I was worried I would come out without a hand.

When I came round two hours later, my hand was still there but the pain was excruciating. My teeth chattered.

It took seven doses of morphine for the pain to come down to bearable — usually you only get one dose every few hours.

At night, I barely slept. I begged the nurses for as much morphine as they could administer.

When three doctors swept back my curtain at 11am the next day, I physically winced.

But it was good news: ‘Your tendons are fine. You can go home later today. You’ll need to come back in a week for us to check the wound and for physiotherapy.’

For the next fortnight, I couldn’t really type. My mum or boyfriend washed my hair because I couldn’t get the bandage wet. I would dictate texts to my boyfriend.

Two months on, although full range of movement has been restored, a too-firm handshake makes me flinch.

I’ve been told I might never recover complete function of my hand so may not be able to play tennis or horse-ride again.

My hand is still inflamed, and the scars are blood red. My friends have affectionately dubbed my hand ‘the mutant claw’.

But at least I’m alive.

‘People underestimate the danger a domestic cat bite can do,’ says Dr Seneviratne.

‘Obviously being bitten by a stray cat is far worse, due to rabies, but bacteria such as Pasteurella are often missed by GPs, so it’s crucial to go to A & E with a cat bite.

‘You would have been at risk of death had you not received the right treatment so promptly.

‘Those with a low immune system, say someone ill, are even more at risk.

‘I’m not remotely anti-cat,’ he adds. ‘A human bite is far more lethal, because we have more bacteria in our mouths than any other animal, yet no one would suggest all humans should be banished.

‘But people do need to be educated that cats are the most dangerous animal in the UK to be bitten by.’

The only thing I’m bitter about is that I’m now slightly nervous around animals. Recently a feisty spaniel play-nipped me, not hard, but I burst into tears.

I still love cats, but the nation does need to know that our furry best friends are potentially lethal.

As for Mr Fluff, I’ll never darken his door again.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 37

FG should review border closure to save Borno economy, Rep pleads INTERVIEW Hon Abdul-Rahman Terab is the member, House of Representatives, representing Bama/Ngala-Kala/Balge federal constituency of Borno state. In this interview with Umar Mohammed Puma, he speaks on the security challenges facing his state and berates President Goodluck Jonathan for not paying an official visit to Borno to commiserate with the people who are victims of attacks by insurgents.

Excerpts:

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he 7th Assembly is one year old; as a legislator, what has been your achievement so far in terms of legislative input and the constituency project delivery?

I think what our people expect from us is to ensure that the activities of the Federal Government is spread across my constituency. At the moment, when we came in 2011 we were not part of the appropriation so we have to stand on what was existing within the 2011 appropriation.

So what I did was to ensure that the existing projects were implemented to a larger extent and our coming at that time has helped a lot. For example, there are lot of road projects in my area which contractors have almost abandoned; so when I came, I raised the issue which saw the contractors rushing back to side to ensure that they do what was expected of them.

This are some of the things I did first, and of course, coming to the 2012 appropriation, I made sure that two major roads that were taking place in my constituency have gotten the desired attention; it is not actually to my satisfaction but in any case, it is better than what was obtainable at the initial stage. So we ensured that in the 2012 appropriation, they got more money to do their work. Of course, I have some other rural projects cutting across my constituency which include nine motorized boreholes, and the poverty alleviation projects which consist of the provision about 1500 sewing machines for women and about 1800 water tanks for irrigation farmers and a lot of other things. What we are ensuring, as a lawmaker, is to make sure the things that our people are supposed to get from the Federal Government are given to them and as I'm taking to you, I have been moving from one agency to the other to ensure that other projects are awarded to my constituency.

And in terms of legislation on the floor, I'm sponsoring four bills which I have already submitted and I'm sure any moment they would be debated; and I have sponsored three motions and three more are underway which, before the end of this year, I would have about average of six motions personally to my credit apart from the one I have seconded.

One of the motions I'm sponsoring is the need to review the closure of our border by the Federal Government. Borno State virtually survives on the trans-border trade because neighboring countries like Niger, Chad, and Cameroun and even as far as Sudan do usually come to Borno state for business and now that the border is close, a lot of businesses are dying. The businesses that employed three to four hundred people cannot manage more than twenty to thirty people and when two hundred people are off the payroll, where are they going to go? These people can be available for anybody's recruitment; so the security challenges has to do with the economic aspect; the number one security is the economy, so long as there is good and stable economy, then you can fight insecurity. So day in, day out, if we are given the opportunity, we would try as much as possible to ensure that the

Hon Abdul-Rahman Terab yearnings and aspirations of our people are met.

Nigeria is facing a very serious challenge at this time especially in your state; how are you hoping to achieve all theses considering the security threat?

Developmental projects are going on right now. If you go there you would see for yourself; there is nothing that would stop development, some of the primary root causes of the problems we are seeing today is just lack of development. Both the insurgents and the Government are only trying to win the heart of the people; everyone is saying that he is on the side of justice and for the betterment of the people and there is no sane person that would go against the people oriented development projects; and nobody or group of persons going to my state in good faith, to do a good work would be affected by anything and development is what people would see and feel that would affect their daily lives. As I'm taking to you now, all the road projects that are still ongoing are there, the construction companies are also there they have

“

The state government on its own is there embarking on different developmental projects even within my constituency and in various places.

Works are going on and some of the contractors are always available in my place doing what they know best.

not left and they are doing their job.

The state government on its own is there embarking on different developmental projects even within my constituency and in various places. Works are going on and some of the contractors are always available in my place doing what they know best. So if you have a requisite qualification that meets the standard of our people you would always be welcome to my place. As a matter of fact, this would not be a reason for anybody to shy away from bringing development to the people as part of his primary responsibilities.

There have been complaints that despite all the security challenges facing Borno, the President has not for once visited the state in order to commiserate with the people. Is it because Borno is controlled by the opposition ANPP? Let me inform you that there are two Senators from my state that are in PDP and we have few members of the House of Representatives that are PDP members. This does not make Borno a total opposition state. We saw what it cost George Bush when he decided not to visit the state that was hit by Katrina and it became an issue. So it is everywhere in the world, it is a gesture, a show of concern, it shows that a leader is very much concerned with the welfare of his people. Even if it is a small food that is causing problem, the leader must show his concern not thinking that it is other people's problem not his. I would not want to go deep into this but it is a matter of responsibility of a leader, and leaders should be alive to their responsibilities, no matter the situations.

Nigeria's image abroad is very bad, as a member of the committee on Diaspora, what is your committee doing to change that?

Interestingly, this is the first committee of its kind in the whole world that we know. From the inception of that committee barely three years ago, I think what it has done is too numerous to mention. For the first time foreign governments are clearly saying that Nigeria is becoming concerned about its own citizens outside Nigeria. Everywhere in the world you would find Nigerians in one problems or the other without the government coming to their rescue or finding out how they are faring abroad.

This committee is the one that brought this to lime-light.

Every day we are flooded with various applications by Nigerians in Diaspora asking us to allow them or to give them the opportunity to come to the House and tell us their plights in their respective places of stay; this is to tell you that there are something positive about the committee, if it is not positive people would not bother to come all the way.

For example in one of our trips to Brazil, quite a number of Nigerians are in Brazilian prisons with drug related crimes. Nigerians in Brazil believed that if there is anybody that could come to their rescue, it is the House committee on Diaspora. They decided to come here and because there was no prior appointment, they have been loitering in this area for about four or five days because of the security situation in the country. Eventually they got their way, and by the time they came in, it was as simple as ABC, they started crying and weeping that it could be that simple to meet the chairperson and the committee members and the Speaker of the House in less than two hours and lay their complaints; and were given assurance that we are coming to Brazil, and we went, and they saw the level of impact we made in Brazil.

This is to tell you that this committee is one of the most positive committee of the House today and I believe the House must be proud with the committee and its composition.

We are trying to see that everywhere we go, we ensure the betterment of Nigerians everywhere they are in the world. That is commendable, and I must commend the leadership of the committee headed by the Chairman in person of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa who is doing very well. I believe with that kind of spirit, the sky is our limit.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Lagos doctors’ sack: Fashola, ACN must account for casualties - PDP

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he South West zone of PDP on Tuesday berated the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola over the ongoing crisis in the State health sector.

A statement by signed by the Zonal Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Lere Olayinka in Lagos said that Fashola should be held responsible for the causalities.

Doctors in the State hospitals under the aegis of Medical Guild had on April 24 embarked on an indefinite strike demanding for the implementation of the

Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS).

They also wanted a downward review of taxes and payment of teaching allowance for medical doctors on internship.

But the State government on May 7 sacked 788 doctors for insubordination and absence from their duty posts.

“Fashola and his party must answer for the blood of Lagosians that are dying daily as a result of the sack of 788 striking doctors in the State.

“The doctors' strike and their eventual sack by the State government have also exposed the lies of the Lagos State Government as regards provision of health care facilities in the State.

“Even though thousands of patients have died as a result of the crisis, it is important to note that the casualties would have been higher if government owned health institutions were to be responsible for the provision of healthcare services to 50 per cent of Lagosians.

“That there is no outbreak of epidemic and patients are not dying in hundreds of thousands yet is because Lagosians do not rely on government health institutions in the first instance.

“They patronise private hospitals because the existing government health institutions cannot cater for up to 10 per cent of the people.

Wada lists conditions for reaping democracy benefits

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Member, House of Representatives, Hon. Simon mwadkwon (middle), briefing newsmen on the crisis in his Barkin-Ladi Riyom Federal. Constituency in Plateau state, on tuesday in Jos. With him are Editor, Daily Independent, Jos, Chief Audu Ojogbane (left), and Editor, Silver Bird Television, Jos, Mr Samson Omale (right).

Photo: NAN

or Nigerians to reap maximum benefits from civil rule, they must exhibit the right attitude to democracy and fully participate in electing their leaders, Kogi Governor, Idris Wada has said.

Wada gave the admonition on Tuesday in Lokoja while opening a one-day workshop on voter education, organised by INEC for selected principals of public secondary schools.

According to him, far less voters have been determining the outcome of elections being held since 1999 and the trend can best be described "as the imposition of the will of the voting minority on the country."

He expressed regrets that low turnout of voters had taken the shine off democracy as election had constituted its hallmark.

The governor noted that the election that brought him to power and other elections held at various levels had been marred by low voter turnouts.

"Voter turnout in all elections

ACN denounces crude attacks on Buhari, urges FG to heed his warnings

By Tobias Lengnan Dapanm

T

he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has denounced the crude, vitriolic and impudent verbal attack on a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, by the presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for no other reason than his timely warning against election rigging in 2015.

ACN in a statement issued yesterday in Osogbo, Osun State,

by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the statement for which Gen. Buhari is now being mercilessly savaged was nothing but a warning against those who may be planning to rig the 2015 general elections, hence should not have rankled anyone who believes in free, fair and transparent polls.

It said the viciousness of the seemingly coordinated attacks by the presidency and the PDP raised a lot of concern regarding their plans for the 2015 elections.

''We hold no brief for anyone. But it is true that if elections are rigged, as they have been so shamelessly and brazenly done by the PDP since 1999, naturally people will react, and in doing so it is impossible for anyone to predict how far things can go. This is what, in our opinion, Gen. Buhari warned against. If the presidency and the PDP have no intention to rig in 2015, why are they so worried about the consequences of such action?'' ACN queried.

The party said Buhari's warning

was in order, considering that the 2011 general elections remain the most systematically-rigged polls in Nigeria's history, irrespective of the so-called endorsement by some visceral foreign election monitors. ''The 2011 elections also left Nigeria divided along ethnic and religious lines, more than any other time in the history of Nigeria, hence no one should tell us about the polls being the best since Nigeria returned to civil rule, just because some self-acclaimed monitors said so!'' ACN said.

Fayemi warns Oni to stop parading himself as former governor of Ekiti

G

ov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Tuesday threatened to prosecute Mr Segun Oni if he continued to parade himself as a former governor of the State.

Fayemi gave the threat during a rally held in solidarity with Justice Ayo Isa Salami in Ado Ekiti.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) with other groups organised the rally.

They displayed placards of various inscriptions and marched from the Fajuyi Park to Governor's office as the groups urged President Goodluck Jonathan to reinstate

Justice Salami.

They comprised the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, youth bodies, artisans, ``Okada'' riders, market women and leaders of some political parties.

Fayemis said that appropriate steps would be taken against Oni for failing to stop parading himself as former governor of the State in spite of judicial pronouncement that he was never elected as a governor.

“The judgment of the Appeal Court was very clear and unequivocal that Oni was not

validly elected in 2007 and was never a governor in the face of law.

“Because no law, either at the State or Federal level, recognises him as a former governor.

“And appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that those that are impersonating are prosecuted and brought to justice.''

In his reaction, the media aide to the former governor, Mr Lere Olayinka , described Fayemi as “someone who is dancing naked in the market place to give the impression that he has something in his head.

“If Fayemi is truly an intellectual, he must be aware of the recent

“The question to be asked therefore is; where is the over N30 billion that Lagos State gets monthly going to,'' the party asked.

Olayinka berated the ACN for supporting the doctor's sack, saying that it was inhuman, wicked and tyrannical to support a government decision sending hundreds of Lagosians to the grave on a daily basis just because of party affiliation.

“Once again, the ACN and its functionaries have demonstrated their contempt for the welfare of the people, and they are worse than military dictators,'' the statement quoted him as saying.

judgment of the Supreme Court on the tenure of former governor of Kogi, AlhajiIbrahim Idris and others.

“We also expected him to have also availed himself with the Supreme Court's decisions in AG. Anambra V AG Federation (2007) 12 NWLR Pt 1047 and Balonwu V Governor, Anambra State (40 NSCQR pg 514),'' Olayinka said.

NAN recalls that Fayemi upon assumption of office Oct 16, 2010 ordered the removal of all Oni's effigies and pictures in the governor's office, ministries, parastatals, departments and agencies.

held in the country has always been below 50 per cent of the total number of registered voters and this is not good enough for the country's democracy."

Wada said that democracy was the best form of government, describing it " as a major plank for development and growth in many developed and developing countries."

He commended INEC's initiative at inculcating good values in the nation's youths, right from the secondary school level, saying that the efforts would go a along way in reducing electoral violence.

He noted that the initiative would also improve quality of mobilisation and enhance civic education.

Wada said that INEC's involvement of youths in the electoral process would likely discourage politicians' habit of being bad losers and reduce the number of litigations that follow the outcome of elections.

The governor assured that the State Government would give INEC necessary support and encouragement to make a success of the programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 72 out of the 302 principals of public secondary schools in the state are attending the workshop.

Earlier, the state's INEC resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Segun Agabje, said that the decision to involve youths in the commission's voter education programme was aimed at ensuring efficiency and productivity in election management.

"Voter education will help provide important information and knowledge to enable a voter get properly equipped to take the right decision at the right time and in the right manner. '' According to him, the workshop will enhance the capacity of teachers to deliver factual information on electoral issues to students in addition to managing and sustaining the clubs that will be formed in all the 302 public secondary schools in the state.

Agbaje said that youths outside the school system would also be brought into the net in the commission's march towards 2015 under the scheme.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

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Constitutional amendment: Lagos Assembly sets up committee for memoranda From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Lagos State House of Assembly on has set up a committee that will be responsible for the drafting of the state memoranda for the constitutional amendment

Taraba CPC governorship candidate decamps to PDP

being proposed by the National Assembly.

Members of the committee include the Leader of the House, Ajibayo Adeyeye as its Chairman; Adefunmiilayo Tejuoso (Mushin Constituency 1); Kabir Lawal (Surulere 1); Abdulbaq Balogun (AjeromiIfelodun 2); Segun Olulade (Epe 2); Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1); Chief Whip of the House, Rasaq Balogun (Surulere 2) and Deputy Leader, Lola Akande (Ikeja 2).

The committee was set up by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Taiwo Kolawole, who

presided over the day's sitting, after Adeyeye brought a Notice of Motion before his colleagues on the advertorial of the Senate calling for memoranda towards the amendment of the 1999 constitution.

Adeyeye in his motion noted the provision of Section 9 (1) and (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He further noted the advertorial of the Senate, calling for memoranda towards the Amendment of the 1999 Constitution to be submitted within 50 days to the committee on the review at the

1999 constitution.

He observed that previous amendment of the constitution did not address the salient and topical issues in the constitution thereby not meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Lagosians and Nigerians in general.

He stated that there was a need for the Lagosians to state unequivocally "our position on the proposed constitutional amendment, highlighting clearly, areas in the constitution that require urgent amendment as dictated by our interaction with the

Executive, Judiciary and Lagosians at large," he added.

The House however, resolved that a committee be formed for drafting of a Lagos memoranda for constitutional amendment.

"The House should empower the Committee to meet with stakeholders and consult with Lagosians through a well advertised public hearing; and there should be a formal presentation of the resolution arising from Committee's Report to all quarters as may be determined by the House," Adeyeye added.

From Yusha' Alhassan Jalingo

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gubernatorial candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in last year’s general election in Taraba state, Ahmed Yusuf Gamaliya, has formally returned to People's Democratic Party, PDP. Gamaliya who made the pronouncement yesterday in Jalingo while briefing newsmen said he decided to go back to the PDP after due consultations with Governor Danba Suntai, the PDP, individuals, groups and his supporters.

According to him, the circumstance that led him and his supporters to leave the PDP in the past were no longer there and his return was unconditional but to join hands with the government to move the state forward.

He said as a strong member of the PDP who contributed immensely to the growth of the party, not only in Taraba state but in Nigeria, he had moral justification to go back to the party.

Gamaliya said he was sure that his return to the PDP would generate positive and negative comments from the public and assured that his return was for the betterment of the people.

He thanked God for the opportunity to serve in various capacities since the creation of the state and promised to keep the people abreast of happenings in his political career as they unfold.

He said he remained grateful to the CPC for giving him the gubernatorial ticket at the time he needed it most and said he has no grudges against anyone and commended the leadership of the party at the National level and in Taraba State.

He commended the Chairman of the party in the state, Uba Ahmed, for supporting him while he was in the CPC.

Taraba state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Hon. Victor Bala Kona, casting his vote in a local government council election on Saturday, at Sarkin Dutse ward in Ardo Kola Local Government Area.

INEC to start nationwide voter registration soon From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would soon kickstart the continuation of voter's card registration exercise in the country The INEC Publicity Affairs Officer Bauchi office Alhaji Yahya Saliu Mohammed disclosed this in an interview

with newsmen in his office, saying that very soon registration of voters cards will commence we are only waiting for the INEC headquarters to give us go ahead and make the necessary arrangement before we start .

He said INEC has been waiting for the cases in the tribunals to be effectively done with in the country

before the commencement of the registration. "Now that all is concluded we are waiting for the head office to give orders."

The Publicity Officer said some of the youths have turned eighteen now and there would be need for them to get the voters card because of their eligibility to vote in the future According to him, we are on

the process of the voter's registration; that is why we are going to organize a sensitization workshop for about sixty headmasters across the state over the need of voter's registration and also to sensitize them on the democratic process and the involvement of youths in the democratization process in the country.

Amaechi counsels North to embrace agriculture From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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he Chairman Nigeria Governors' Forum and Rivers' State Governor Mr. Rotimi Amaechi has advised the Northern state governors to exploit the vast land available for

agricultural use.

Amaechi stated this yesterdy whjile on a courtesy visit to the Emir of Gumel for the commissioning of GumelBabura Road.

The Governor said he was amazed with the endless vast of arable land that he saw on

his way from Birnin Kudu to Gumel and wondered why most of it had not been Cultivated.

He said, "If the Jigawa state governor would pay more deserved attention to agricultural sector he would go a long way in solving

indolence amongst unemployed youths in the state"' he said.

He said, "the North is undoubtedly blessed with fertile lands of which if tapped would transformed the lives of the people of the state".

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PDP calls for prayers, fasting in Edo to ward off violence

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he Edo chapter of the PDP has appealed to the people of the state to embark on a seven-day fasting and prayer session to ward off the increasing wave of violence in the state.

The party made the appeal in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Mr Mathew Uruokhide, in Benin on Tuesday. ``The party is very concerned about the increasing spate of deaths arising from political activities in the state. ``We, therefore, call for a seven-day fasting and prayers from all Edo people and indeed the entire nation, for the Almighty God to intervene in the forthcoming elections in EdoState.''

The statement noted that Edo had witnessed in the past few weeks, unprecedented and increasing rate of violence from activities related to politics in which about six people had. It said that the seven-day fasting and prayers should take place between Monday, May 21 and Sunday,May 27.

According to the party, the prayer and fasting have become necessary to implore God to have mercy and avert further calamities in the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Edo PDP accuses Oshiomhole of unlawful protests

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he Edo chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of uncivil and violent protests, and said that such actions were capable of causing anarchy in the state.

A press statement signed by Chief Dan Orbih, the state PDP Chairman, in Benin on Wednesday stated that there had been three unlawful protests

organised by the Edo governor.

Orbih described the action as executive rascality, and said that Adams Oshiomhole led the first protest to the Palace of the Oba of Benin.

He pointed out that the second protest was to the State Police Command and thirdly to the INEC office.

Orbih said, “These actions by a chief executive of a state are

condemnable and an impeachable offence.''

“Gov. Oshiomhole needs to be reminded that he is no longer a labour leader, but a serving governor and, therefore, cannot lead unwarranted protest marches in disregard to the rule of law.

“Gov. Adams Oshiomhole and the ACN have lost direction, hold and initiative, as the first citizen

Wamakko directs LGs to mobilise religious leaders for polio eradication

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ov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has directed local government chairmen to mobilise religious and traditional rulers to sensitise the people about the importance of polio eradication in the state.

Wamakko made the call on Wednesday in Sokoto at a meeting with local government chairmen, the Federal Task Force on Polio Eradication and the state Committee on Polio Eradication.

He said the state government would review its method of

fighting the menace with the active participation of all stakeholders.

Wamakko said the government would continue to accord priority to the eradication of polio, stating that the support of traditional and religious leaders would fast track the fight against the disease.

"You must set up a committee in your respective local government areas to reach to the people on the need to allow their children to be immunised."

The Governor urged them to partner with religious leaders on the need to always preach special sermons on the importance of the immunisation.

Earlier, Dr. Emmanuel Abonida, Director, Disease Control, Federal Ministry of Health had said that a new case of polio was recorded in Sokoto North Local Government Area.

He called for full participation of all stakeholders in the fight to eradicate the disease.

of the state,'' the PDP boss stated.

He said that the PDP was focused, prepared and determined to give its best in the election and that Oshiomhole and his ACN's fears notwithstanding, the party was poised to win the election.

“And instead of unthinkingly accusing the PDP of any clandestine moves, Oshiomhole should go and prepare, as the PDP had done and was doing to contest the election decently.

In his reaction, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Director-General, Oshiomhole Campaign organisation, said that Oshiomhole did not lead any unlawful protest to INEC. Ize-Iyamu also said that there was freedom of movement and expression, adding that before Oshiomhole embarked on any campaign exercise he alerted the police and other security agencies.

“Oshiomhole like any other citizen has the right to protest over irregularities of INEC, especially when INEC is been funded with tax payers money.

Road traffic bill passes second reading at LAHA

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Bill for an Act to repeal and re-enact the Lagos State Road Traffic Law has passed through the second reading at the state House of Assembly.

The Bill, read by the Deputy Clerk of the House, Shola Ogayemi, seeks to make provision for road traffic and vehicle inspection in the state.

Contributing to the debate on the bill, the Deputy Whip of the House, Mr Rotimi Abiru, said that it would bill will bring sanity to the roads.

Abiru added that it would prevent indiscriminate packing of commercial vehicles and check traffic gridlock on the road.

He explained when passed into law, the bill would also make offenders face severe penalty for flouting the law.

Mrs Funmilayo Tejuosho, (ACN- Mushin II), described the bill as vital to the efforts aimed at reducing accidents in the state.

Tejuosho expressed concern over the challenge posed by commercial motorcyclists, tricycle operators and other illegal commercial means of transportation

L-R: Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Treaties and Agreement, Hon. Emeseye Akpodiogaga, Committee Chairman, Hon. Yacoob Alebiosu, and member of the committee , Hon. Jagaba Adam Jagaba, during an interactive session with Minister of Foreign Affairs, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

National Assembly favours regional govt, says Lanlehin S en. Olufemi Lanlehin, representing Oyo South Senatorial District, on Tuesday in Ibadan said the National Assembly would soon amend the constitution to favour regional government.

Lanlehin, who said this at the inauguration of solar-powered boreholes he donated to his constituency, noted that regional government under the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo brought meaningful

development.

“An egalitarian western Nigeria was built under Chief Obafemi Awolowo without being at the mainstream,'' Lanlehin said.

The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reports that Lanlehin inaugurated seven solar-powered boreholes at Kudeti, Foko, Oke-Itunu, Igangan, Lanlate, Nalende and Opo Yeosa.

“I have built the seven

boreholes I am inaugurating today from my purse and six others will be built and inaugurated in the next two weeks,'' he said.

Chief Mogaji Oluokun, Mogaji of Kudeti, commended Lanlehin over the project, adding that it was a welcome development.

“We are happy that such wonderful developments are happening again in our society,'' Oluokun said.

He, however, said the

constituency needed modern public toilets while the dilapidated classroom blocks in various schools needed to be renovated.

NAN reports that the inauguration ceremony was performed by a former governor of the state, Alhaji Lam Adeshina.

The forum was graced by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Suara Haruna as well as ACN executives and members in the senatorial district.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

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he presence of Samsunspor’s forward, Ekigho Ehiosun and the return of Warri Wolves and Heartland FC players increased the tempo of the team’s training yesterday as the players intensified efforts to secure places in the 17-man squad head coach, Stephen Keshi will take to Lima, Peru for an international duel.

Ehiosun, one of the five foreignbased players Keshi called up for the

PAGE 41

Ehiosun heightens tension in Eagles camp May 23 friendly game, arrived in the camp Tuesday evening and trained with the rest yesterday.

Also defender, Azubuike Egwueke, midfielder Uche Ossai, striker Sunday Mba, who scored twice against Liberia Lone Star in a friendly and goalkeeper and skipper, Chigozie Agbim, returned

to the camp after their continental clubs engagement as did the duo of Heatland’s goalkeeper Dan Akpeyi and winger Obinna Nwachukwu. Their presence added filip to the training as all the players put in extra effort to impressive the technical crew who were busy consulting from time to time

as the training hots up.

Keshi, who concentrated on team discipline and tact as he shapes the players up for depth against their South American opponents said later, “any South American team play possessional football, they won’t allow you touch the ball but when they

Eagles shift base to Calabar May 27

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igeria will storm Calabar May 27 ahead of a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Namibia next month, officials disclosed. The qualifier will be played on June 3 and six days later, the Eagles will be hosted by Malawi in continuation of the series.

FIFA have already named Sudanese referee Khalid Abdel Rahman for the Namibia game, while Mauritian referee Rajindraparsad Seechurn will be at the centre when the Super Eagles battle Malawi in Blantyre on Saturday, June 9.

The match will be played at the Kamuzu Banda Stadium in Blantyre, starting from 2.30 pm local time (1.30pm Nigeria time).

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) also announced that coach Stephen Keshi, will on Thursday in Abuja unveil his hit squad for the three qualifiers next month.

Keshi is also expected to name same day the 17 players from the domestic league who will be joined by the five foreign-based players for the trip to Lima, Peru.

Turkey-based striker Ekigho Ehiosun already joined the squad in Abuja Tuesday evening. The team to Peru will depart for Madrid from Lagos on May 19 and connect a direct flight from Madrid to Lima on May 20 – an 11-hour flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

LIKELY LIST OF FOREIGN-BASED PROS Mikel Obi, John Utaka, Brown Ideye, Victor Moses, Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Sone Aluko, Taye Taiwo, and Joseph Yobo, Ahmed Musa and Ekigho Ehiosun

know you can match them skill for skill, they respect you. That is what I’m preparing your minds Peru”, he told the players.

Ehiosun looked fresh from his exploits in the Turkish league and was quick on the ball when he played for the possibles against the probables, later at training. It was an interesting sight to behold as Keshi assumed the role of referee in the game won by the probables 3-1.

Meanwhile, Kwara United striker, Barnabas Imenger, may have ruled himself out of considerations for the trip to Lima, as he was yet to resume training by yesterday morning. The medics were still working on his troublesome knee and even Keshi took several minutes during training to personally assess the player’s recovery rate.

In all, 25 players trained yesterday and the list is expected to be pruned to 17 by the weekend for the trip to Lima, the Peruvian capital.

Utaka, Ejide, Aluko return, as Keshi set to call up 10 foreign pros Stories by Patrick Andrew

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uper Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, will today unveil the John Utaka, Austin Ejide, Mikel Obi, Joseph Yobo and Victor Moses plus five other foreign-based members of the Eagles who will do battle for Nigeria in the 2013 and 2014 World and Nations Cups qualifying matches, next month.

Keshi, who disclosed this yesterday at the weelky media parley, said he intends to call up the 10 foreign-based players, ought the 17 domestic league players who are currently preparing to tackle Peru in Lima on May 23.

Though Keshi did not specifically listed the players, Peoples Daily Sports however recalled that the coach had previously dropped the hit that Yobo, Utaka, Ejide and Moses would be considered for the Eagles’ World and Nations Cups qualifiers.

And only recently, he called up Ekigho Ehiosun, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Gege Soriola, Obiorah Nwankwo and Raheem Lawal, who are to join 17 domestic league players out

Sone Aluko

Victor Moses

of the current 24 in camp battling for shirts for the Lima friendly duel.

Meanwhile, high-flying Glasgow Rangers winger, Sone Aluko, is likely to be recalled for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Namibia and Malawi.

According to a wire service, a top official of the team has disclosed that Aluko, who has scored 12 goals for Rangers including a hat-trick last weekend, will be one of the foreign professionals that will be named by Coach Stephen Keshi.

Aluko,who featured for the country at the 2009 FIFA U20 World Cup in Egypt, will therefore be given the chance to add to his one cap against Republic of Ireland in May 2009 after he represented England at various age-group levels.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that Keshi had soon after the Nigeria versus Egypt friendly game applauded the domestic league Eagles but gave indication that he would beef up the attack with experienced and visionary players.

Accordingly, he praised Wigan Athletic winger Victor

John Utaka

Brown Ideye

Moses, John Utaka, who has been in tremendous form for his French club Montpellier, Chelsea’s Mikel Obih, while goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu said Austin Ejide would be recalled to challenge Vincent Enyeama and Chigozie Agbim for the safehands’ first choice shirt. trainer is also in line to add to his first cap against Rwanda in February, when he made his long-awaited debut for Super Eagles.

Top team officials also informed that the five foreignbased pros for the friendly against Peru next week Wednesday could also be considered frican youth champions for the qualifiers Nigeria will rekindle old rivalry based on their with Argentina and Ghana at performances in an invitational tournament in Cape Lima.

Town next week.

Ekigho Ehiosun

F/Eagles draw Argentina, Ghana

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Nigeria Flying Eagles have been drawn against old foes Argentina and Ghana in the first round of the competition, which kicks off on Wednesday, May 24.

Argentina denied the Flying Eagles the chance to win the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup in The Netherlands, while the rivalry with Ghana has been extended from the full international level.

Last year, Nigeria defeated defending world champions Ghana 1-0 in a group game on their way to a sixth AYC title in South Africa.

According to the official website of Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Black Satellites will take on the Flying Eagles on May 25.

The Nigeria U20s will then come up against Argentina two days later, before they complete their first round engagements against host nation South Africa.

The Flying Eagles are the defending champions having won the inaugural edition last year.

The final of this year’s competition will be played on June 3.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Sunshine Stars wary of North Africans

CAF Champions League

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unshine Stars have acknowledged that they are in a difficult group in the raw that was conducted for the group stage of the 2012 CAF Champions League.

The Akure Gunners will face Esperance of Tunisia, Etoile du Sahel Sportive and AS Chlef of Algeria - all North African clubs - in the group stage of the continent’s biggest club football competition this year.

Reacting after the draw, Sunshine Stars’ head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote agreed that the group is a tricky and tough one with experienced teams but added that the Stars would do their best to match every other contender strength for strength and depth for depth.

“No doubt the other teams in our group are quality sides and surprisingly they are all North African sides. At least we know our opponents before we kick a ball and now we will work towards reaching the semifinals.

“I agreed, we are the only team in the country remaining on the continent. We will have to give everything to fly the country’s flag well and I am confident we have the team to do so,” he said.

Midfielder Ekundayo Ojo believes his side’s home form in the group stage will be key in reaching the last four.

“Well, we are in a very tough group. If we can win all our three home games and get one away win, we are through to the semifinals,” he said.

Stephen Keshi

Samson Siasia

Gbenga Ogunbote

Onigbinde says good coaching breeds quality football A

Shehata unfazed by tough draw, relishes derby

degboye Onigbinde, a former Head Coach of the Super Eagles, has said that the quality of a country’s football is a byproduct of the quality of training the coaches have received.

The CAF/FIFA instructor said there was no magic to tactically disciplined team other than what the coach impacted on the players stressing that when coaches are not put through regular refresher courses, to improve their profile, it reflects negatively on the domestic football.

Further, he argued that there were several measures that could be taken, to compel coaches to take up refresher courses, especially when they show reluctance to upgrade themselves.

“In football, we say a player is as good as his coach, if he does not know the best lesson to give a player to deliver on the pitch, what do you expect?

“If coaches who are supposed to be the technical men, do not improve themselves, then the chances of having quality class football is not feasible. “Two years ago in CAF, we took a decision that any coach who does not have a CAF license, will not be able to seat on the bench for CAF competitions, and they all rushed to get it.

“The same stringent measure could be taken in Nigeria, if you don’t have a license A you don’t handle any premier league team, if you don’t have B you don’t handle professional league side”, Onigbinde said.

He further stated that, by so doing, it will compel coaches to get back to the classrooms to keep them abreast with the current trends in football management.

To buttress his point, Onigbinde said that for a nation to improve on its level of education, the foremost thing to do is to groom the teachers to perform maximally.

“If you want to improve the level of education in any country, the first thing to do is to educate teachers, obviously because they are the source from which the students tap from.

“Same goes for football, if you get it right with the coaches, then the country’s football will be better off for it,”the former Super Eagles coach said.

On his assessment of the level of grassroots football development in the country, he stressed that emphasis should be on the impartation of the rudiments of the game before exposure to competitions.

He said competitions are opportunity for coaches to assess players on their level of

understanding of the game and would spur them to they perform better.

“Competitions are used as venues to assess the development of players, to see how well the players are imbibing what they are being taught, if you don’t develop them, what do you assess in competitions?

“Everybody is talking about competitions, but there should be a level of development put in place before you can evaluate their performance in competitions.

“Competitions are like examinations in schools, why do we set up examinations, because you want to know what your student’s have learnt. “In a competition you can bring in my mother’s age group to play, somebody will win, we will all clap and everybody goes home, but the question is have the players learnt anything?”, he said.

He called on corporate organisations, to get involved in the developmental process of football and not only funding football competitions, which does not serve its developmental aspirations.

“People are just making money from the sponsors of such competitions, I look forward to a day when a corporate body would sponsor a nationwide coaching programme,” he said.

amalek head coach Hassan Shehata has assured that he’s not worried about the quality of opposition in his CAF Champions League group.

Shehata told SuperSport.com that he wants win with the African cup so he doesn’t care against who he will play in the group stage.

“I respect the draw , I will play with tough teams like Al Ahly, Berekum Chelsea and with TP Mazembe , I will do my best to win and progress in the tournament” Shehata said. “ I hope the Ministry of Interior in Egypt make our fans attend our matches especially against Al Ahly , I think that will be good for the Egyptian football” On the other hand Al Ahly board member Hadi Khashaba told SuperSport.com “ the draw very tough , we will play hard matches “ “ We will buy new players in the next months to Support the team , Jose has submitted a list of the players he wants to sign, and we will do our best in that” he added.

Okey Emordi

John Obuh

Edwin Okon

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Transfer The season is over. Clubs are counting their blessing as well as losses and would like to make amends and even beef up their squads where noticeable lapses exist. And the transfer market is agog barely 24 hours after major European leagues dropped the curtain.

And so to keep abreast with latest rumours, we begin daily doses of movements within the market both for players and coaches like.

PAGE 43

Inter set to pip Liverpool, Chelsea to Brazil starlet

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helsea and Liverpool look set to miss out on Brazilian starlet Lucas Moura, with Inter Milan looking the strong favourites to clinch his signature.

Both Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for the 19-year-old Sao Paulo midfielder, but no side is believed to have made a

firm offer for him yet.

Inter head coach Andrea Stramaccioni has finally admitted that Lucas is one of the club’s top targets.

The Italian boss told newspaper Corriere dello Sport: “He is a world class player. For me he is one of the most interesting talents on the transfer market today and would be great for us.

Karim Benzema

Lucas Moura

Benzema happy to end career at Real

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arim Benzema has said that he is enjoying life at Real Madrid so much at the moment that he would consider spending the rest of his career at the Bernabeu.

Benzema, 24, scored 32 goals in 52 appearances for the club this season as Real reached the 100-point mark to set a Spanish record on the way to the Liga title.

The Frenchman endured criticism of both his fitness and his commitment during the campaign, but he insists that he is not looking to leave anytime soon.

Madrid sporting director and France legend Zinedine Zidane has played a role in helping Benzema to adjust to life in Spain, as has Coach Jose Mourinho.

City table £25m for van Persie

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an Persie will hold crunch talks over his future today and Arsenal fear he will tell them he wants to leave. City is leading a three-way battle for van Persie with Manchester United and Juventus but it is believed the newly-crowned Premier League champions are in pole position.

Big-spending City are prepared to more than treble his wages to £250,000-a-week to snap up another Arsenal player after already signing Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Kolo Toure.

Wenger has already insisted he will not sell van Persie to City for any price but Arsenal will not be able to match the contract on offer and then must decide whether to hold him to his contract or sell and cut their losses.

Spurs need Bayern to beat Chelsea to seal £20m Remy deal T

ottenham’s bid for France striker Loic Remy all hinges on Bayern Munich beating Chelsea in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Harry Redknapp tried to sign the £20m-rated

Remy in January but his club Marseilles are now ready to deal after failing to qualify for European football next season.

R e m y ’ s representatives had told Spurs they wanted to wait to see if the North

London club had qualified for the Champions League before continuing with negotiations, meaning Spurs must now hope Chelsea get beaten in the showpiece match on Saturday night.

Harry Redknapp’s side will take England’s final Champions League spot, If Chelsea win, they will go into next season’s competition as winners and Spurs will have to settle for the Europa League.

Man United, Arsenal and Newcastle face bidding war for French defender

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rsenal, Tottenham and QPR have been put on red alert after Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero revealed he would love the chance to play in England. Del Piero, 37, is set end his memorable 19year association with Juventus after helping them win the Serie A title this season.

Arsenal, Tottenham and QPR have been strongly linked with a move for Del Piero and he hopes to finalise his future in the next few weeks.

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orussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa is set to leave the club this summer after turning down the offer of a new contact.

The Japan international still has a year left to run on his current deal with the Bundesliga champions, but he is a player in demand. He has been heavily linked with Manchester United and Dortmund is unlikely to want to run the risk of losing him for nothing next year.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and assistant Mike Phelan were present at the DFB-Pokal final at the weekend as 23-year-old Kagawa scored in Dortmund’s 5-2 win over Bayern Munich.

Kagawa will command a significantly higher fee than the £280,000 Dortmund paid Cerezo Osaka for him in 2010.

He has scored 21 goals in 49 Bundesliga matches, playing a key role in the club’s backto-back league titles.

Liverpool, Spurs lead chase for Diame

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anchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle are locked in a battle with Borussia Monchengladbach to sign Montpellier defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

Yanga-Mbiwa, 22, is rated one of the best young defenders in Europe and has been a star performer in the French League this season.

The talented youngster has earned a surprise callup to the France squad and is in the preliminary 26man party for Euro 2012.

There have been no shortage of Premier League clubs chasing his signature, but reports in German magazine Kicker claim Borussia Monchengladbach have now entered talks to sign the 23-year-old defender.

Del Piero: ‘I want to play in England’

Kagawa close to Old Trafford

Drogba

Barca line up Drogba

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he Spanish giants want to offer Drogba, 34, a two-year deal worth up to £5million a season to quit Chelsea and snub a move to China, Milan or the USA. Chelsea has also offered the striker a new twoyear deal with owner Roman Abramovich pulling out all the stops to keep him.

But Drogba is out of contract and could quit the Blues after the Champions League final on

Saturday.

Though a move to Shanghai FC could be far more lucrative, the lure of playing alongside Lionel Messi and Co could prove irresistible for the Ivory Coast star.

Italian giants AC Milan, who have wanted Drogba for years, were also in touch to declare their interest just after Chelsea beat Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final.

igan midfielder M o h a m e d Diame is attracting attention from the Premier League’s elite clubs.

L i v e r p o o l , Tottenham, Arsenal and Aston Villa have all shown interest in the Senegal international that is considered one of the bargains of the window as a free agent.

Liverpool is keen to add energy to their midfield and Tottenham recognise the need to maintain a big squad with improved quality if they are to launch another serious offensive on the Champions League and the Premier League.

Wigan also expects to lose Hugo Rodallega while Victor Moses continues to be courted by clubs such as QPR.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Cooreman blames players for Warri Wolves’ Confederation Cup exit

B

elgian coach, Maurice Cooreman, has angrily tore into his players for failing to put up a fight against South African club, Black Leopards last weekend.

Warri Wolves were bundled out of the CAF Confederation Cup on away goals’ rule following a 0-2 loss in the second leg against the PSL team.

Cooreman’s men had won the first leg in Warri 3-1 in April before they lost in the reverse match.

The Warri Wolves’ manager is now livid that his players did not turn up against the Polokwane-based team in the reverse fixture.

“It was a disgraceful performance from my players. We won the first leg 3-1 and we just needed to play well and score at least a goal but my players didn’t do that,” said Cooreman to SuperSport.com.

“Some of our players are in the national team and this result is just unacceptable. The national team players (in the Wolves’ team) disappointed me the most, but that is football.”

The former Kaduna United manager now wants his team to focus on the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) and salvage their season by fighting to finish among the top three.

“Now we have to go back and work hard and make sure we finish in the top three. That’s the only way we can win a place back to continental club football,” a disappointed Cooreman remarked.

Warri Wolves are in 14th position in the Premier League standings on 30 points from 22 games and are 13 points behind Maurice Cooreman leaders, Enugu Rangers.

T

he Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has promised to organise regular workshops and seminars for elite clubs coaches with a view to deepening their technical grasp off the game.

The NPL’s Acting Executive Secretary, Tunji Babalola, said that the body has resolved to provide these training programmes to shore up teams’ technical competence continental competitions.

Babalola debunked the notion that the country’s club sides, that recently got eliminated from the ongoing CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup were humiliated, noting that their coaches just needed to strengthen their depth.

“What the clubs needed to do in subsequent editions of the continental competitions was for them to reinforce their teams with quality and experienced players.

“On the part of the NPL we are trying to support them in terms of logistics, for instance we make sure their domestic league competition does not clash with their departure dates for

Gatlin wins again, clocks 9.93 secs, Jeter also

RESULTS

A

merican sprinter Justin Gatlin continued his recent resurgence ahead of the London Olympics with victory in the men’s 100 metres at the IAAF World Challenge meeting yesterday.

The gold medallist from the 2004 Athens Games won in 9.93 seconds ahead of compatriot Michael Rodgers (10.06) and Jamaica’s Jacques Harvey (10.16).

Gatlin, the world indoor 60 metre champion who has enjoyed a revival of late after his four-year ban for doping ended in 2010, followed up his success in the Diamond League meeting in Doha on Saturday, where he beat Jamaica’s Asafa Powell. In the women’s 100, Carmelita Jeter sprinted to victory in 11.11 seconds to finish ahead of Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare (11.21) and Aleen Bailey of Jamaica (11.34).

Jeter, who won the world title on the same track last year, was short of her season best of 10.81 but the American still extended her winning streak in finals to 10 races.

Another world champion who enjoyed a happy return to Daegu was Grenada’s Kirani James, who won the men’s 400 metres.

James finished almost a second ahead of Renny Quow of Trinidad & Tobago to claim victory in his first race of the season. There was also success for America’s world indoor 60 metre hurdles champion Aries Merritt (13.21), who pipped compatriot David Oliver (13.22) to win the men’s 110 metres hurdles, while Ethiopia’s indoor 800 world champion Mohammed Aman proved too strong over the distance to edge Kenya’s Leonard Kirwa Kosencha.

Jamaican sprinter Sherone Simpson was disqualified in the women’s 200 allowing American LaShauntea Moore to claim victory in 22.71, just ahead of her compatriot ChaRonda Williams.

Men’s javelin world champion Matthias de Zordo of Germany only managed 79.39 metres in his season opener to finish a disappointing fourth in the event, which was won by Russia’s Dmitri Tarabin with an 82.75 effort.

De Zordo will be among those athletes heading to Shanghai for this Saturday’s second Diamond League meeting of the year.

Justin Gatlin

Kirani James

NPL to organise regular training workshop for coaches continental assignments.

“Its quite unfortunate that we are out, but we still need to appreciate the fact that they tried their best, they were not disgraced; no matter the level of preparation a team must win and a team must lose.”

Babalola said.

When asked whether the elimination of Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt the defending of the NPL does not question the authenticity of their status as defending champion, he said the question was out of place.

“You can’t conclude based on this, for instance Chelsea did not perform well at their domestic league, but they have performed well at the Champion’s League which brings me back to the luck factor. “The absence of the Spanish La liga clubs in the finals of the forthcoming UEFA Champions League, does it mean their league is bad,” he said.

He added that current developments in football had made it mandatory for coaches to develop

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AISHATU S. ALIYU, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SADDIYA A. IBRAHIM. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. P.H.C. DARAZO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL HOSPITAL JAKUSKO AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

themselves, in order to keep abreast with the contemporary demands of the game. “As a coach, there is the need to constantly update yourself with the current trends of the game, because football is dynamic.

If you are not current with the trends as a coach you will not be able to pass these new skills to your players,” he said.

Babalola applauded the

recent training programme organised by FIFA and CAF, for NPL coaches to enhance the quality of the game, he called for more of such training.

“I appreciate the fact that FIFA and CAF are trying to upgrade coaches, because if such training are periodically done it would surely affect the quality of play. Refresher courses are compulsory for quality football,” he said.

He added that the NPL on its own would organise training workshop for coaches, he said the last was done during the previewing programme.

“We organised training for our coaches for instance the last training we had was during our previewing of matches, we got an instructor from Holland, we are planning another workshop in July,” he said.

Liverpool ease Dalglish out of saddle

L

iverpool have adopted Aston Villa’s style by sacking its manager Kenny Dalglish in a manner that showed displeasure with his performance during the season.

The 61-year-old Scot, who had returned for a second stint as manager at Anfield in January last year, paid the price for a dismal season which saw Liverpool finish 37 points behind champions Manchester City.

The Merseyside club’s American owners the Fenway Sports Group had given Dalglish more than £100 million (159 million dollars) to spend in the transfer market since he took over from the sacked Roy Hodgson in 2011.

But expensive signings such as Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson

and Charlie Adam have largely flopped, with Liverpool’s eighth place finish their worst season-ending position for nearly two decades.

“Fenway Sports Group and Liverpool Football Club announce that Kenny Dalglish is to leave his post today as manager after having his contract terminated,” a joint statement said.

“After a careful and deliberative review of the season the club came to the decision that a change was appropriate. It is not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily. The search for a new manager will begin immediately.”

Although Dalglish ended Liverpool’s six-year trophy drought this season with victory in the League Cup, the club were comfortably

beaten by Chelsea in the FA Cup final earlier this month.

Liverpool lifted the gloom with a 4-1 win over Chelsea in their final home game of the season, but a 14th loss against Swansea in their last game of the campaign on Sunday was the last straw.

The defeat against the newly promoted Swans, whose squad cost a fraction of Liverpool’s to assemble, left Liverpool in eighth – their worst finish for 18 years, with their lowest points tally since 1953/54.

British media reports have already linked several younger up-and-coming managers to the vacancy at Anfield, with Wigan’s Roberto Martinez, Swansea’s Brendan Rodgers and Norwich’s Paul Lambert all mentioned as possible candidates to succeed Dalglish.

Men’s 100m 1. Justin Gatlin (U.S.) 9.93 2. Michael Rodgers (U.S.) 10.06 3. Jacques Harvey (Jamaica) 10.16 Men’s 400m 1. Kirani James (Grenada) 44.72 2. Renny Quow (Trinidad and Tobago) 45.65 3. Calvin Smith (U.S.) 45.70 Men’s 800m 1. Mohammed Aman (Ethiopia) 1:43.51 2. Leonard Kirwa Kosencha (Kenya) 1:44.74 3. Andreas Bube (Denmark) 1:45.27 Men’s 110m Hurdles 1. Aries Merritt (U.S.) 13.21 2. David Oliver (U.S.) 13.22 3. Jason Richardson (U.S.) 13.34 Men’s 4 x 400m Relay 1. Japan 3:01.04 2. Australia 3:01.58 3. Australia B 3:07.29 Men’s High Jump 1. Trevor Barry (Bahamas) 2.25 2. Jamie Nieto (U.S.) 2.22 3. Samson Oni (Britain) 2.22 Men’s Long Jump 1. Ignisious Gaisah (Ghana) 7.99 2. Elvijs Misans (Latvia) 7.96 3. George Kitchens (U.S.) 7.92 Men’s Shot Put 1. Ryan Whiting (U.S.) 21.14 2. Dylan Armstrong (Canada) 20.72 3. Adam Nelson (U.S.) 20.34 Men’s Javelin Throw 1. Dmitri Tarabin (Russia) 85.75 2. Ari Mannio (Finland) 81.06 3. Igor Janik (Poland) 80.23 Women’s 100m 1. Carmelita Jeter (U.S.) 11.11 2. Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) 11.21 3. Aleen Bailey (Jamaica) 11.34 Women’s 200m 1. LaShauntea Moore (U.S.) 22.71 2. ChaRonda Williams (U.S.) 22.82 3. Aleen Bailey (Jamaica) 23.15 Women’s 1500m 1. Eunice Sum (Kenya) 4:05.99 2. Meskerem Assefa (Ethiopia) 4:06.52 3. Kaila McKnight (Australia) 4:06.54 Women’s 100m Hurdles 1. Dawn Harper (U.S.) 12.65 2. Kellie Wells (U.S.) 12.66 3. Brigitte Foster-Hylton (Jamaica) 13.00 Women’s Long Jump 1. Janay DeLoach (U.S.) 6.79 2. Karin Mey Melis (Turkey) 6.48 3. Saeko Okayama (Japan) 6.45 Women’s Pole Vault 1. Anastasiya Savchenko (Russia) 4.60 2. Lacy Janson (U.S.) 4.50 3. Silke Spiegelburg (Germany) 4.45 Women’s Hammer Throw 1. Betty Heidler (Germany) 77.24 2. Tatyana Lysenko (Russia) 76.14 3. Zhang Wenxiu (China) 75.68

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

PAGE 45

A. Jonny Bairstow will grow in international cricket and become an England Test regular in the future, says former skipper Alec Stewart.

Pictorial

a

B. Natasha Jonas is the first female British boxer to qualify for the Olympics after reaching the World Championships semifinals.

d

C. Coach Robbie Deans admits his Australia side are wary of the threat posed by Grand Slam champions Wales ahead of the summer tour. b

D. Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has confirmed that England boss Roy Hodgson has omitted him from the Euro 2012 squad.

E. Andy Murray overcomes David Nalbandian 6-1 4-6 7-5 to make it into the third round of the Masters series event in Rome.

c

f

F. England manager Roy Hodgson is set to select Andy Carroll in his squad for Euro 2012 while Rio Ferdinand is certain to miss out.

G. Chief F1 writer Andrew Benson asks whether seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher can still compete with the best.

e

g

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

We want to win gold Failure to attend Championship cost for Lagos at festival, Nigeria Olympic slots, says NWF says Coach declares

A

nthony Idolor, the Head Coach of the Lagos State Handball Association, has said that his team is determined to win the gold medal on offer at National Sports Festival (NSF).

The festival tagged ‘EKO 2012’ to be hosted by Lagos State has been scheduled to hold from Nov. 27 to Dec. 9.

Idolor said at the Lagos State Sports Festival, ‘Ibile 2012’ on Tuesday that the state’s handball teams were already training hard to win the men and women title at the festival.

“My target is to win the gold medals. We are working toward that and by the grace of God, He will give us what we are working for,” he said.

Idolor explained that the ongoing Ibile Games was aimed at showcasing the talents available as well as identifying new talents that would represent the state at the event.

“The aim of this tournament is to showcase the talents available within the local governments, where each sports association will discover hidden talents.

“This is also an avenue to assess the players. Some of them are already representing the various LGs, we all know them, but here is another opportunity to assess their performances,” the coach said.

U

che Onwumeh, the Secretary, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, has reiterated the need for athletes to participate in World Championships to enhance their chances of taking part in major competitions such as the Olympics.

Reacting to the award of two slots to Nigeria in the event at the London Olympics, Onwumeh said the fact that the country’s weightlifters did not participate in the championships was responsible.

The secretary, who spoke on Tuesday in Lagos, urged the National Sports Commission to ensure that the country’s athletes competed at the World Championships.

“Our non participation at the 2010 Weightlifting World Championships held in Antalya, Turkey, reduced our points to secure more slots to represent the country in London” she explained.

According to her, regular participation in both continental and world championships will help athletes to acquire points and have better chances of getting more slots for the Olympic Games.

Onwumeh said that all the weightlifters that participated at the qualifiers in Kenya in April were outstanding “but due to our low points, only two could make it to the Games.

“Our athletes are exceptionally good, especially the females who broke the African record. However, the

A female Nigerian weightlifter, Hadiza Zakari fact that we participated in a few major competitions affected us,” she added.

The secretary disclosed that the athletes currently in camp in Abuja were responding to training.

She explained that apart from the two to compete in the Olympics, other lifters who do well while in camp would also be in London. Onwumeh disclosed that the lifters will undertake a training tour to hone their skill before the Games, but suggested that immediately after the London Olympics, preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games should start.

Fatima Abinu and Sadiq Abdullahi former CBN tennis aces

CBN Senior Tennis Open: winners stage come back T

he 34th edition of the just-concluded Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Tennis Open took a different turn as it recorded come-back winners in the Men’s and Ladies singles events.

The tournament, organised by the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) was held between May 3 and May 12 at the National Stadium, Lagos.

Favourites Abulmumuni Babalola, seeded two and Fatima Abinu, seeded one, returned as the Men’s and Ladies Singles champions respectively at the end of the competition.

Babalola beat Shehu Lawal, seeded three, 6-3, 6-4 to lift the Men’s Singles trophy while Abinu defeated unseeded Sarah Adegoke, current African U-14 champion, 6-4, 6-3 to lift the Ladies Singles trophy.

Babalola had earlier won the competition three times, in 2002, 2006 and 2009 to record the second highest winner after legend David Imonite who had won it seven times.

The annual competition began in 1979 with Kehinde Ajayi as the maiden champion and also retained the trophy in 1980.

Remi Osho dethroned Ajayi in 1981, but Imonite took over in 1982 and won it three times consecutively.

He was dethroned by Sadiq Abdullahi in 1985 who also retained the trophy in 1986, but Imonite in 1987 dethroned Abdullahi and came back to win the competition again three times consecutively.

Imonite was dethroned by Segun Balogun in 1990 before he won it for the last time in 1991 to complete his seven times record.

“It will be difficult for me to break Imonite’s record, he has won it three consecutive times twice, but I have not. “I will need to break the three times consecutive record first before meeting his record of seven times champion,” Babalola told NAN after defeating Shehu.

Tournament’s referee, Saidu Musa, described Babalola’s performance in the tournament as ‘really a come-back one’ as he played the game with his heart. “I commend his effort.

He played the game with much determination and zeal, he was more reserved and did not allow for detraction throughout his matches,” he said.

In the Ladies, Abinu has only tallied with the record of Osaro Amadin who has won it four times but was yet to meet the record of Veronica Oyibokia won has won it record eight times.

Anne Abimiku, was the maiden champion in 1979 and retained it the following year before Esther Onyekwelu dethroned her in 1981.

Rolake Olagbegi dethroned Onyekwelu in 1982 but Onyekwelu returned in 1983, only for Oyibokia to win it four record times between 1984 and 1987.

Oyibokia was dethroned by Nosa Imafidon in 1988, came back in 1988 and won it three consecutive times between 1989 and 1991 to complete her seven year record.

Amadin achieved her four times record by winning it in 1997 and three times running from 2003 to 2005.

Abinu first won it in 2007, she was dethroned by Christy Agugbom in 2008 but regained her title in 2009.

She successfully defended her title in 2010, was again dethroned in 2011 by Biola Akewula, but came back to win it in 2012 to complete her four times winner.

“I am looking forward to meet Oyibokia’s record; I still have age on my side. “This remains the source of my confidence to meet that record and even beat it,” Abinu said, while another female player who made record in the competition was tennis prodigy, Adegoke. Unseeded Adegoke stunned spectators as she rode on the back of other seeded players to qualify for the final.

Adegoke’s coach, George Odiong, said that Adegoke would definitely next year emerge the tournament’s champion.

The Men’s and Ladies Singles champions went home with N600, 000 each while their runners-up went home with N400,000 each.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

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