Peoples Daily Newspaper, Monday 17, June, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 11 No. 21

Monday, June 17, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Sha’aban 9, 1434 AH

Nigerians not fleeing to Niger Republic — Jonathan

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>>2

Amaechi to Jang

Stop impersonating

By Lawrence Olaoye

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ivers state governor and factional Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi,

yesterday warned his Plateau state counterpart, Da Jonah Jang to stop parading himself as the Chairman of the body, insisting that he remained the authentic leader of the NGF. Amaechi, in a statement

he personally signed and made available to newsmen yesterday, maintained that the Lagos state governor, Raji Fashola, had already instituted a suit in the court restraining Jang from parading

himself as the Chairman of the NGF. According to him, the meeting slated to hold today is the one between the 36 state governors and President Goodluck Jonathan and

that the other meeting called by the Plateau governor, in his capacity as the NGF chairman, was illegal. He therefore called on his colleagues to ignore the meeting.

Contd. on Page 2

L-R: Oyo state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, son of the deceased, former Lagos state Governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Ogun state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, during the burial of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, yesterday in Lagos. Photo: NAN

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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here was a security scare in Kano yesterday as an Ukrainian air cargo was impounded at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) Contd. on Page 2

Again, arms-laden Ukranian plane detained, released in Kano

Reps lobby Tambuwal over juicy c’ttees >>6

Army relaxes curfew in Adamawa >>5

Sign death warrant, Jonathan tells govs >>5

PAGE 2

News

CONTENTS News 2-10 Editorial 12 Op.Ed 13 Letters 14 Opinion 15 Metro 16-18 Business 19-22 Stockwatch 23 Law 26 Education 27-28 Health 29-30

Widowed and evicted in Ivory Coast, Page 24

Int’l 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest 36 Politics 37-38 Newsxtra 40 Sports 41-45 Leisure 47 Columnist 48

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Nigerians not fleeing to Niger Republic, presidency says

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has faulted reports that Nigerians were fleeing to Niger republic at the wake of the emergency rule in Boro, Adamawa and Yobe states.

“The bulk of those displaced to neighbouring Niger are nationals of that country who are simply retuning home,” the President said in a statement yesterday by his spokesperson, Doyin Okupe.

According to the statement, “also, contrary to a report in some media that 8,000 Nigerians were fleeing to Niger Republic as a result of the emergency rule, the National Emergency Management Agency

and the Borno State government have confirmed that only 126 Nigerians have so far been displaced by the operations and that the bulk of the refugees referred to in the report were Nigeriens returning to Niger.”

The Statement described the President’s decision to declare state of emergency in the three states as “timely, effective and strategically unassailable” as it was clear the war on extremist fighters responsible for thousands of deaths, was being won.

“That success, to a large extent, was possible with the cooperation of residents who have reportedly taken upon themselves to hunt insurgents and turn them over to security

offices,” it said.

The statement denied media reports that thousands of Nigerians were fleeing to Niger, to escape harsh tactics by soldiers sent to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states under the emergency rule he declared a month ago.

The statement applauded the role of some Borno state youths in their efforts at exposing the insurgents in that area as he described them as “heroes.”

“Without doubt, these youths are the new national heroes who have risen up to the occasion in an unprecedented patriotic fashion to work together with their government

by going after their tormentors.

“This is heart-warming and clearly indicative of an awakened consciousness of civic responsibility,” the president said.

The President launched attack on critics who condemned the emergency declaration and his recent proscription of Boko Haram and Ansaru.

“The results have proven that the opposition political leaders who opposed the decision on the emergency rule as well as the proscription of terrorist groups are actually clueless and unfortunately blinded by their political pursuits,” the statement said.

American varsity to digitalize Plateau tertiary instituttions From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

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he President, ICT University Louisiana, United States of America, Prof. Victor Mbarika,has outlined plans by the institution to digitise state-owned tertiary institutions in Plateau with a view to making the state compliant to information and communication technology.

Mbarika said, yesterday in Jos that the project, when completed, would make Plateau a beacon of light

to lead other states in ICT domain.

“Last month, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the Plateau State Government on ICT development in the state.

“The MoU covers equipping the multimedia centres and e-learning laboratories in all the state’s tertiary institutions.

“The agreement will also see the university providing e-conferencing facilities at the government house and the state secretariat as well as

introducing a computer ownership scheme for the state civil servants.

“Other areas covered by the MoU, include the introduction of affordable online ICT courses, facilitation of lecturers and student exchange programme and visas for students who obtained oversea scholarship among others,” he said.

Mbarika said he had visited most of the state’s tertiary institutions and expressed satisfaction with the level of administration and infrastructural development

in the schools.

He said the university’s main goal was to digitize the schools with multimedia centres and e-learning laboratories to bring them at the cutting age of technology.

“I had the privilege as the president of the ICT University to visits quite a number of campuses in the state. They have very wonderful programmes going on, very dedicated lecturers; all we want to do is to give a boost to the great things that are already happening in the state.

Amaechi to Jang: Stop impersonating

Contd. from Front Page The statement read: “On Saturday June 15 and Sunday June 16, reports in the media credited to my brother governor, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State announced that he has called for a Nigeria Governors’ Forum meeting. Ordinarily I would have ignored these reports as I do not imagine that as governors who hold our people’s mandate through the democratic process of free and fair elections, we would do anything to impugn our integrity.

“However as chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, elected by my colleagues to safeguard their integrity and that of the forum it has become imperative for me to request my brother and Governor Jang to remain

within the confines of decorum and cease to impersonate me and to stop parading himself as NGF chairman. There is only one chairman of the forum, duly elected by a vote tally of 19: 16 on Friday, May 24, 2013.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I as chairman of the NGF have not called for any Governors’ Forum meeting for Monday, June 17, 2013. The only meeting scheduled for Monday June 17, is a meeting of all Governors with His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan scheduled to hold at 9pm at Aso Rock Villa. All governors should please ensure attendance at this meeting with Mr. President.

“I wish to reassure my brother governors that this storm shall

pass and we all will be reunited as one family committed to our nation’s unity and supporting Mr. President in his vision for a Nigeria that safeguards the rights of all its citizens to good governance and democratic norms.

“Governor Jang is my brother and friend and I harbor no ill feelings against him, but it is important that he stops this impersonation, as it could threaten all the good work we all have done together.

May I remind Governor Jang that there is a legal action that has been instituted against him by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State from parading himself as the chairman of NGF. As leaders elected by our people, Nigerians are closely watching us. We must

comport our selves according the dictates and principles of democratic and lawful practices and norms.”

Following the factionalization of the NGF after its election with Jang and Amaechi laying claims to victory, the Plateau state governor who got 16 votes against Amaechi’s 19 has consistently maintained that he remained the authentic leader of the NGF. He based his victory on the fact that he was adopted as the consensus candidate of both the Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’s Forum (PDPGF). The Jang faction however is obviously enjoying the support of the PDP leadership and that of the Presidency.

Again, arms-laden Ukranian plane detained, released in Kano Contd. from Front Page

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y security operatives for about twelve hours for carrying suspected military hardware.

But the plane was released 12 hours later after security clearance.

Security sources at the MAKIA told our reporter that the UkraineRussian made Antonovo air cargo was impounded shortly after it landed at about 2.am.

The source added that immediately after the nine crew members were taken to a hotel in the city, a combined team of military men and operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) arrived and cordoned off the aircraft and remained there for about twelve

hours.

The source further revealed that the air cargo made a stop over in Kano to refuel and the crew needed to rest before heading to its destination in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

On their return to MAKIA, the crew members were quizzed by security operatives for several hours before they were allowed to take off at 1.47.pm. An airport official who did not want his name in print told Peoples Daily that the air cargo got security clearance before it made a stop over in Kano When contacted the Military spokesman in Kano, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, declined to speak, pointing out that our reporter should contact the airport authorities.

However, the Regional General Manager, North, of the Federal Airport authority (FAAN), Ibrahim Daiyabu Suleiman, said anything that has to do with weapons is a state issue, clarifying however that as authorities of the airport, the air cargo didn’t violate any of their rules.

Suleiman added that they paid for parking charges, landing charges and other bills and that they have no problem with them.

Meanwhile, similar incidence occurred in June 2009 when the same Ukrainian Cargo plane loaded with weapons was impounded by Nigerian security operatives.

The plane, believed to be heading to Equatorial Guinea had

suddenly made a technical landing in Kano but was subjected to serious search by eagle-eyed operatives who discovered large quantity of arms and ammunition inside it.

A number of arrests were subsequently made when the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) took over the investigation and to date there has not been any official statement from the Federal Government on the issue.

Security sources at the airport then told newsmen that the decision to let the impounded plane off the hook was informed by the prima facie established that the plane belonged to Equatorial Defence Ministry to avoid diplomatic row with a maritime neighbour.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

News

Dosumu laid to rest in Lagos From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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the village of Jigawan Audu and set it ablaze.

He said: “We are seated in Wase town at about 3:30 pm when we saw some people who run away, from the villages of Jigawan Audu and Kamkur.

The source said,Tarok people were the ones that launched the

attack on the villages that are predominately Jukun settlements.

He said as at the time he was speaking with our reporter no report of casualty was, recorded, saying that the attackers were intending to envade Wase town.

Reacting to the incident, the acting information officer, Special

Task Force(STF), on security Navy lieutenant Jude Akpa, said some youths had attempted to attack Wase but were intercepted by men of the STF. He said no report of burning of houses, casualties and arrests were made available to him, and that calm had been restored in Wase.

ommendations and praises were on Sunday showered on frontline politician and Lagos PDP stalwart, Senator Wahab Dosunmu as his remains was laid to rest at his country home in Ajah, Lagos.

Dosunmu, a former Minister of Housing and Environment who died in the United States on June 9, 2013, was aged 74.

The Senator’s remains arrived the Murtala Muhammed Internation Airport at about 6.30 am aboard Virgin Atlantic Airlines and was received by a huge crowd of party members, family and friends.

The corpse was however driven to Eko Club Surulere and later Yoruba Tennis Club Onikan for lying in state.

The Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Mr Seyi Joseph, described him as a staunch NADECO Chieftain and thorough bred politician who was always calm and amiable.

However at his Family House on Oshodi Street, in Epetedo Area of Lagos Island, a short Islamic ceremony was held to offer prayers for the repose of his soul.

Among those present to pay their last respects to the late Dosunmu were, Former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Rasaq Okoya, Chairman Eleganza Group of Companies, Mr Demola Seriki former Minister for State for Defence and Chief Olabode George, the PDP former Deputy National Chaiman (South).

Oyo, Ekiti, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Dr. Kayode F a y em i res pe ctive ly. The re was also the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwa, Business Mogul, Aliko Dangote; former senators Musiliu Obanikoro and Muniru Muse; Senator Annie Okonkwo, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Alhaji Femi Okunnu.

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state was also among prominent Nigerians who condoled the Tinubu over the demise of his mother saying Nigeria has lost a progressive, a woman with distinction in mobilizing citizens for a good course.

Shettima’s Special Adviser on communications, Isa Umar Gusau, in a statement said the governor described the deceased as a promoter of massive self employment which is the ultimate in fighting crimes and insecurity, saying she therefore died though at a celebrated age but at a time when her experienced progressiveness was needed by all of us, her children and grand children.

“She was a great woman who deserved the honourary doctorate degree conferred on her by the Ahmadu Bello University during

its 50th anniversary. I therefore celebrate the legacies she has left for us to emulate.”

Also, Bauchi state Governor, Isa Yuguda, equally commiserated with Tinubu as well as with the immediate and extended families of the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji.

A press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ishola Michael Adeyemi, declared that she died at a moment her motherly role was most needed considering the current situation in the country pointing out that advices from highly respected people like the late human rights activist would have made a significant positive impact.

Speaker of the Kwara state House of Assembly, Razak Atunwa, in his tribute said that the late Habibat Magaji had contributed significantly to the socio-economic and political emancipation Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed utter shock at the death of Hajiya Abibatu Asabi Mogaji , the mother of Nigeria’s prominent opposition politician and ACN leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement of sympathy to the ACN leader, the former Vice President said the death of a mother was one of the saddest events in the life of children. As a

care-giver, protector and character moulder, Atiku said, a mother’s place in the lives of her children could not be compared to anything else.

According to him, one of the greatest pride of a mother is to see her children grow up as responsible adults that realized their dreams or aspirations.

He said the late Mogaji’s pride was to leave behind children that were determined to make their marks in life.

The Turakin Adamawa added that as a pillar of family love, the late Mogaji’s children had a duty to keep her virtues alive and to immortalize her.

The former Vice President noted that the “loss of a mother that made sacrifices to make us happy was an experience words could not adequately describe.”

While praying Allah to grant the deceased eternal bliss in aljanna (paradise), the former Vice President urged Asiwaju Tinubu and his siblings to always remain the living symbols of her virtues of love and family unity.

The leadership and entire members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday commiserated with the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola

Tinubu, and his entire family over the passage of their Matriach, Alhaja Abibatu Mogajia.

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated “Though the exit at a ripe age of 96 is indeed a glorious one, it has nonetheless created a huge vacuum in the nation, Lagos State and the family in particular and we deeply share in the loss.

“A devout muslim, Alhaja Abibatu led an active life worthy of emulation in many ways. She remained a shining example of a mother and a leader whose inner strength, candour and forthrightness served as fountains of tutelage and inspiration to millions across the country.

“As the President General of Lagos Market Men and Women Association, Alhaja Abibatu, showed extra-ordinary organizational skills and influence in the areas of politics and commerce not only in Lagos state but across the country.

“Her contributions in defending the rights of the people, especially the less privilege and the down-trodden and ensuring their economic empowerments, irrespective of tribal and religious affiliations, remain as testimonials to her kindness and selfless service to humanity.”

President Goodluck Jonathan (middle), playing a guitar presented to him by the Fathers’ Day Committee, during a service to mark Fathers’ Day celebration, yesterday at the State House in Abuja. With him are Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Okpara (left), and other personalities.

Photo:JoeOroye

Fresh crisis rocks Wase From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

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resh crisis yesterday engulfed two villages, of Wase local government area of Plateau

state.

A source said that that the crisis started at about 3:30 pm, when some gunmen waged an attack on

Tributes as Tinubu’s mother is buried

By Lawrence Olaoye, Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri, Ayodele Samuel, Lagos, Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi, & Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he remains of Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, the mother of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was yesterday buried at the Vault and Garden Cemetery, Ikoyi, Lagos, Mogaji, who was the President General, Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men died in her home on Saturday at Alausa in Ikeja at the age of 96.

Prayers were offered for her at the Lagos Central Mosque, Lagos by the Chief Imam of Lagos State, Alhaji Garuba Akinola, who was represented by Alhaji Mujitabah Giwa.

In his sermon, the cleric said there were many things to emulate in the life of Mogaji as she lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation and urged all to emulate her good virtue.

“God owns our beginning and the end. She had impacted much in the lives of the people positively and her life was worthy of emulation,” he said.

Dignitaries at the graveside were the Governors of Osun, Ogun,

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

News

Kaduna upgrades Barau Dikko Hospital

From Muhamma Ibrahim, Kaduna with agency report

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he Kaduna State Government says it is upgrading the Barau Dikko Hospital, to serve as the state university’ teaching hospital.

The Commissioner for Health, Mr Patrick Maigari, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Sunday.

Maigari said the hospital would serve that function before the completion of the 300bed specialist hospital at the Millennium City.

The medical school of the

seven-year-old university came on stream about three-years ago. ``What we want to avoid is a situation where the accreditation of courses in the state university’s medical school will be delayed because of the lack of a quality teaching hospital,’’ he said.

According to him, the facilities being upgraded are the Intensive Care Unit, the Pathology Laboratory as well as other key components.

He said that other facilities required would be provided to quicken the accreditation, stressing that Gov. Mukhtar Yero had intensified the supervision of the upgrading to guard against

any delay. ``The governor has already given the handlers the marching order and had told them that all deadlines must be adhered to. ``He has also told them that quality must never be compromised so we expect most of the handlers to turn in their jobs

by July or thereabout because we cannot have our students fighting over accreditation,’’ he said.

Maigari, a pharmacist, promised to work toward an improved health care delivery system by involving all stakeholders as team players with equal importance in the chain. ``We shall respect every player

and expect that such respect must be mutual from the doctor, the pharmacist, to the smallest ward attendant,’’ he said.

Maigari said consultations with professional unions and other key players in the health sector were ongoing to acquaint them of the state government’s mission and its resolve to better the state’s health indices. ``I have also begun consultations with development partners in the areas of malaria, HIV, family health, leprosy and tuberculosis and have briefed them on what the state government expects from them. ``Equally, I have conveyed

L-R: Former Head of state, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, His Wife, Justice Fati Abubakar, during their condolence visit to former Plateau state deputy governor, Mrs Pauline Tallen, on the death of her father, yesterday in Jos. PHOTO:NAN

NASS to deploy legislation to strengthen culture industry – Sen Barata

By Lawrence Olaoye, with agency report

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en. Hassan Barata, Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, on Saturday said the National Assembly (NASS) would deploy necessary legislative tools to strengthen the cultural industry in Nigeria.

Barata said this at the closing ceremony of the 6th edition of African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC), organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).

He said that proper legislation would make AFAC a rallying point that was second to none amongst arts and culture events in Africa. ``AFAC 2013 is part of the tools through which the culture sector has entrenched itself as a major contributor to the nation’s drive for jobs creation and youth empowerment towards economic transformation. ``It is, therefore, significant to note that AFAC 2013 has shown improvement in all parameters when compared to the previous ones. ``With 17 countries coming into Abuja with over 250 exhibitors and officials from Africa and beyond, especially China, South Korea and Pakistan, it is a positive omen for

Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy for Africa economic integration,’’ he said.

Barata said the expansion in volume of participation was accompanied with increase in quality, standard and packaging.

He commended the foreign delegates, exhibitor and participants from Nigeria, especially the states, local governments, NGO’s and higher institutions for making AFAC 2013 a huge success.

Chief Edem Duke, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, said AFAC had the potentials to develop creative talents, promote empowerment and enhance national peace and international understanding. ``As organisers of the expo, we are confident that AFAC 2013 has set a new benchmark to develop the industry. ``We believe that when fully developed, it will be one of the instruments to promote international peace in line with the spirit of ECOWAS and African Union. ``We have confirmed that AFAC has increased both domestic and international traffic to Abuja in the last seven days of this expo,’’ he said.

Duke commended President Goodluck Jonathan for giving the sector a pride of place in the execution of his transformation agenda.

Earlier, Mr Mwajim Maidugu, the Executive Secretary, NCAC, said that the event had recorded tremendous improvement in terms of packaging, presentation and standard of products. ``A critical look at the pavilions reveals the height of creativity and ingenuity of Nigerians and Africans complemented by the presence of their professional colleagues from other parts of the world,’’ he said.

Maidugu commended the Federal Government for the support and interest in the sector, noting that through the support the sector was rapidly taking its place as the avenue for job creation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event ended with presentation of certificate of participation to countries, states and institutions.(NAN)

Former minister urges UN to assist flood victims

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he former Minister of External Affairs, Sen. Ike Nwachukwu, on Saturday called on the United Nations to assist flood victims in the states affected by floods in 2012.

Nwachukwu made the call in Asaba when Baroness Valerie Amos, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief visited Delta. ``What we need is technical assistance to support the efforts of the federal and the state governments in rehabilitating those affected by the 2012 flood. ``This is the first time we are having your team in our country in response to disaster,’’ he said.

He noted that the challenge posed by flood was beyond the capacity of the states

government to handle.

Nwachukwu stressed the need to urgently assist those affected by the flood.

He also called for the assistance of the United Nations in tackling the infrastructure needs of the country to sustain the country’s democracy.

According to him, our country does not only need assistance in the area of disaster management but also in other areas that can help to sustain our democracy. ``Your visit is also an opportunity for you to contribute to the progress of the states and the country at large,’’ he added.

He commended the Delta government for tackling the challenge of insecurity in the state.

Amos assured the people of the state of the United Nations support.(NAN)

the governor’s resolve to meet our obligations in the area of counterpart funding because the governor has asked the economic planning ministry to compile that for prompt payment.’’

He said that he would visit health facilities in the three senatorial districts to ascertain areas in need of urgent intervention.

Maigari said that government was concerned about the souring rates of infant and maternal mortality and was committed to bringing down the figures ``to a tolerable level’’.

According to him, the free maternal and child health care programme for pregnant women and children under five years will be strengthened to cover all. ``We also want to totally eradicate polio by the year 2015, especially since the governor has led by example in presenting his own son for vaccination,’’ he said.

He said that rural health would also receive special attention through the upgrading of 1,000 Primary Health Centres (PHCs). ``We shall equip all of them and ensure that they have sufficient manpower to work with the drug management agencies for effective health care delivery,’’ he said.

The commissioner said that Kaduna had keyed into the Federal Government’s midwifery scheme to meet the medical personnel needs of the rural areas. (NAN)

I can’t tell when Suntai will return, says Acting governor of Taraba

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he Acting Governor of Taraba, Alhaji Garba Umar, says he cannot tell when Gov. Danbaba Suntai will return to the state.

Umar told newsmen in Jalingo on Sunday that only the medical experts at John Hopkins Hospital in America could tell when Suntai would return to the state.

The acting governor was in the hospital to see Suntai as well as in Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser hajj.

He told newsmen that they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries but there was no long discussion between them.

Umar said that he would continue to pursue the programmes and projects embarked by Suntai to ensure continuity in the governance of the state.

The statement came on the heel of speculations that the ailing governor had recovered and would soon return to the state.

Umar, who was accorded rousing reception, use the opportunity to thank the people of the state for their solidarity and support. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Sign death warrants, Jonathan tells govs

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r e s i d e n t G o o d l u c k J o n a t h a n yesterday told state governors that it is their duty to sign death sentences passed on convicted criminals.

“As leaders, your responsibilities

include doing both the sweet and the ugly part as long as it is sanctioned by law,” Jonathan said in a message at the Villa Chapel to commemorate Fathers’ Day. According to him,

“these days, because of modern life, discipline is almost gone.

“Discipline can be in various forms. In the states, it could be admonition.

Magistrate can just admonish and allow him to go.

From admonition to various forms of punishments, it could be imprisonment.

The extreme is capital punishment.

“In the case of capital punishment, the state governors will sign (the death

L-R: Chairman, Executive Board, Al-Ummah Orphans Foundation, Malam Sani Baba, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Al-Ummah Orphans Foundation, Alhaji Mai Aliyu, Imam of Uthman bin Affan Mosque, Sheikh Abduljalil Dabo, representing of Special Adviser to CBN Governor on Non-interest Banking,

U.S. Police begin manhunt of suspects in gruesome killing of Nigerian

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he Police in New York began manhunt of two suspects connected with the gruesome stabbing to death of a Nigerian in Brownsville area of Brooklyn on Thursday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

According to local media, the deceased, Uro Ama Orji, 54, and

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a cab driver in the area, is said to have been stabbed in the eye with an umbrella on Thursday.

After he had been wounded, his vehicle crashed into two parked sport-utility vehicles at Lott Avenue and Boyland Street at about 5:30 p.m.

Orji, who resides in Queens, was taken to

Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Following the development, a 5,000-dollar reward was offered for information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.

The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers offered a 3,000-dollar reward, while the group of

100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care offered another 2,000 dollars.

Police said they were looking for a man and woman who were passengers in the cab and seen running from the scene.

A video showed the man getting out of the cab, opening the front door of

Army relaxes curfew in Adamawa

a l p a b l e happiness has pervaded Adamawa state following a review of the curfew placed in the state by military authorities on

imposition of stateof-emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan.

This is the second time the curfew in the state is being reviewed since the emergency

rule.

Military authorities reviewed the curfew first by adjusting it from 6:00pm 6:00am to 7:00pm 6:00am and now from 7:00pm - 6:00am to

8:00pm - 5:00am.

The review of the curfew timing was due to the cooperation given to the military authorities by the people of the state as contained in a

News

Presidency says First Lady’s Rivers visit not connected with Amaechi’s ordeals

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he presidency said yesterday that Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Rivers state had nothing to do with an alleged plot to unseat the the Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

According to a Special Assistant to the President on Media, Ayo Osinlu, Mrs. Jonathan was in Rivers state for a number of engagements none of which has anything to do with politics.

Osinlu said in a press statement the First Lady was a Special Guest at the official commissioning of the Yitzhak Rabin International School at the weekend where she also received

Yero hails Kano Emir on 50th anniversary From Mohammad

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aduna State Governor, M u k t a r Ramalan Yero, has eulogized Kano Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero, describing him as a man of uncommon integrity and an epitome of humility.

The Governor stated this in a statement signed by his Director Media and Publicity, Ahmed Maiyaki.

He congratulated his Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero on his attainment of 50years on the throne.

“The Emir has over the years won

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

News

Group chides lawmaker over representation From Mohammed Ibrahim, Kaduna

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he Sanga Forum has passed a vote of no confidence on the member Representing Sanga Constituency at the Kaduna state House of Assembly, Hon. Esther Dyaji Habu, over her alleged failure to fulfill her campaign promises.

A press statement yesterday by the group’s leader, Mr. Monday Haruna, also accused her of causing division and fanning the embers of disunity among tribes and stakeholders in Sanga.

According to the statement, “Mrs. Esther has failed woefully to fulfill the promises during her electioneering campaign that she would improve on youth empowerment.

“She reneged on the fulfillment of those promises which endeared her to the Sanga people as she has presently drawn a battle line with almost all the people who helped her during elections including the Sanga stakeholders who stood by her.

“There is nothing loke dividends of democracy in Sanga as Hon. Esther Habu has completely derailed from the expectations of the good people of Sanga.

Polio: Journalists organise theatre in Kaduna as Jigawa re-launches campaign

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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etermined to curb the menace of Poliomyelitis in Kaduna state and country at large, a group, Journalist Against Polio (JAP) in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) has conducted local theatre in Kundensa, in Kawo ward of Kaduna North local government and Unguwar Mu,azu ward in Kaduna South local government aimed at educating and enlightening non-compliant parents.

The focal person of at the Kawo ward, Mallam Halliru Lawal, accused some Muslim preachers of discouraging the people from accepting polio immunization.

He lauded the JAP intervention through the theatres as he explained that, “as we can see now, the special team of vaccinators have recorded about 40 children immunized about 40 children and this a great achievement.”

Reports by JAP show Kawo ward along with Unguwar Mu,azu have remained the most non- compliant areas inKadunametropolisandurged the relevant stakeholders to focus on the areas in order to the communities polio free.

Meanwhile, Acting Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud launched the special polio re-vaccination campaign at Kwarin Makera village in Dutse local government area.

The campaign exercise was part of the on-going five days re-vaccination exercise in 26 local government areas in selected wards in the state expected to immunize one million children against polio virus in the state.

L-R: Jigawa State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Tafida Abubakar, Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi, and Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Jimada Muhammad, Administering Polio Vaccine to a baby, yesterday at the start of Immunisation Plus Days in Korin-Makera Village.

Photo: NAN

Clerics urged to participate in politics From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

C

lerics have been charged to participate in active politics rather than being passive.

Special Adviser to Governor of Jigawa on Religious and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Isa Ahmed Duniya Bahutu, gave the charge yesterday at the closing ceremony of a four-day workshop organized for the training

of first aid members of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa’iqamatis Sunnah sect in Dutse.

Bahutu said, “it is not enough for religious clerics to confine themselves within the circle of criticism but must also participate in active politics so as to contest elective possitions like any other person.

“It is clear that the religious leaders are desirous for change in the polity

but warned that the change may only come through their participatory roles in the country’s democracy.”

He said politicians were often perceived as thieves by some clerics but when asked to join politics to effect a change they often reject that adding that one cannot change a system from the outside.

On his part, the National Chairman of the JIBWIS, Malam

Abdullahi Bala Lau, declared that it is disheartening to note that apart from the voluntary services the organization is providing in emergency cases they are yet to have a single ambulance.

He said the sect had over the years been operating without any utility vehicle that to assist in conveying accident victims to the hospital.

Reps lobby Tambuwal over juicy committees

By Lawrence Olaoye

F

ollowing the report of possible shake up in the House of Representatives committees leadership by the speaker, Hon Aminu Tambuwal,

indications emerged at the weekend that those likely to be affected in the exercise have begun to run from pillar to post to avert the catastrophe.

It was reliably gathered that since the speaker made his

mid-term performance speech recently, members have begun to besiege his residence to get the full assurances that they are not going to be affected in the putsch.

Sources close to the office

Jigawa Federal Medical Centre staff threaten strike

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

S

taff of the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Birnin Kudu in Jigawa state have given an ultimatum of 21days to the authorities after which they will embark on indefinite action payment of the arrears of salaries.

This was contained in a press statement signed by Hamza Abdurrahaman Lawal spokesperson of the Joint Medical Association Federal Medical Center Birninkudu and made available to Peoples Daily yesterday in Dutse.

The statement indicated that the six professional associations of FMC Birninkudu in Jigawa State made

up of Nigerian Medical Association, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Nigerian Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists, medical and Health Workers Union and the Nigerian Society of Physiotherapists have jointly given the hospital management 21days within which to pay all outstanding balances from January till date.

They are threatening to embark on an indefinite industrial action from the first of July 2013 if the management fails to meet their demands.

According to the statement, “the management of the Hospital paid us

74% salary in January and February and 72 per cent in March, April and May. “All efforts by the associations to see that the issue is resolved amicably proved abortive.

“We are still appealing to all concerned to please come to our aid as it is not our wish to close the only tertiary health center in the state.”

The FMC Medical Director, Dr. Dauda Muhammed Maigatari, earlier hadreactedwhilespeakingtonewmenin his office that the allegation was not true.

“On the issue of staff salary whether it is the policy of Federal Medical Center BirninKuduorapolicyoffederalministry of Health for the last four to five months it is not true.

of the Speaker disclosed that when the inflow of members was becoming worrisome, Tambuwal had to abandon his house for an unknown residence in Abuja where he would not be disturbed.

Members are said to be confused over this situation when they could not reach Tambuwal as some of were were said to have sent friends and associates close to the Speaker for intervention.

The leadership of the House have discovered that out of about its 92 committees, less than twenty are actually performing while others are struggling under rudderless leadership.

Among those committees adjudged to be working are: committee on appropriation, public petition, Rules and Business, finance, science and technology, pension, environment, media and publicity,works, aviation and a few others.

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

GOVERNMENT OF NASARAWA STATE

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

I

n furtherance to the efforts of the present Administration towards the maintenance of peace and harmonious co-existence, His Excellency, Umaru Tanko Al-makura, Governor of Nasarawa State has scheduled a meeting with selected stakeholders on Monday, 17th June, 2013 at the Government House, Shendam Road, Lafia by 1:00pm.

2. Accordingly, the following categories of persons who have been invited for the meeting are kindly requested to note the change of venue.

They are:

i. All former Governors; ii. Former Deputy Governors; iii. Serving and former Ministers from Nasarawa state. iv. Serving and former Ambassadors from Nasarawa state v. Serving and former Speakers of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly; vi. Members of the National Assembly from Nasarawa state. vii. Serving and former Chief Judges of Nasarawa State; viii. Principal Officers of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly; ix. Former Deputy Speakers of Nasarawa State House of Assembly; x. Former Secretaries to the State Government; xi. Former Heads of Civil Service; xii. Serving and former Federal Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals who are of Nasarawa State origin.

Signed: ZAINAB T. ABDULMUMIN Secretary to the State Government.

16th June, 2013.

Photos Splash

PAGE 8

L-R: Former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Mamman Nasir, being welcomed by President, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Malam Mustafa Shehu, during the 7th Armiya’u memorial lecture, on Saturday in Kaduna.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo (right), condoling with his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Alhaji Sani Umar (left), who lost his wife on Friday in Kaduna. With them is Kaduna state Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero (middle).

Members of Girls Brigade Nigeria, Bauchi state council, during the celebration of the 120 years anniversary (1893-2013), yesterday in Bauchi.

Women removing waste during women special sanitation exercise in Jikamshi town in Musawa local government area of Katsina state on Saturday.

L-R: Director-General, Nigeria institute of social and economic research, prof. Olufemi Taiwo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of youth and social development, Dr. Tunde Olaopa, and Minister for National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, during the minister’s working visit to NISER, on Saturday in Ibadan.

Photos: NAN

News

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17 , 2013

Ramadan: Yuguda distributes food items to the disabled From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

A

s Ramadan period fast approaches,Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state has distributed 9700 bags of food items to disabled peoples in the state.

The Governor who was represented at the distribution of the items by his aide, Alhaiji Salisu Maisuga, said that the gesture was designed to alleviate the suffering of the disabled in the state.

In his response, leader of the disables in the state Alhaji Abdullahi Jibrin expresses his appreciation too governor Isa Yuguda on behalf’s of the disables in the state for this kind gestured accord to disables in the state.

Abdullahi Jibrin assured that the items will be distributed judiciously to his members across the 20 local government areas in the state.

He said the Governor had been trying for the disabled in the state and urged other governors in the north to emulate Yuguda.

Bauchi state governor, according to him, this type of gestured will motivate some of us that move to the southern part of the country looking for what to eat .

PAGE 9

Hajj seats slash: Group urges states to stop sponsoring pilgrims From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna & Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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o cushion the effect of the challenge posed by the 20 per cent cut of Hajj seats allocation to Nigeria by Saudi Arabian authorities, Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society organisation yesterday urged state governments to suspend their policy of sponsoring pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

A statement signed by its National Coordinator Ibrahim Muhammad, and Publicity Secretary Abubakar Mahmoud, said this policy will complement the Na-

tional Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)’s directive of banning old timers from this year’s exercise.

According to the statement, “the 20 per cent reduction in Hajj seats allocation to Nigeria, no doubt, poses a serious operational challenge to Hajj administrators in the country.

“To address this challenge, NAHCON has directed that old timers be barred from this year’s Hajj to bridge the gap.

“It is against this background that we also advise NAHCON to direct State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards (SMPWBs) to

ensure that they give priority to pilgrims who paid with their money as against governmentsponsored pilgrims.

Meanwhile, NAHCON has reduced by 1,404 seats the earlier 7,020 allocated to Kaduna state.

The Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Malam Tahir Umar Tahir, disclosed this while receiving some religious organizations that paid a courtesy visit to the board at the weekend.

Tahir explained that even with the reduction of hajj seats, it would not affect all intend-

Day of African Child: Female genital mutilation on the decline, says UNICEF

From Ahmed Kaigama

I

Sokoto spends N3bn on MDG projects From Mahmoud

Muhammad, Sokoto

T

he Sokoto state government says that it has said that it spent N3 billion to execute various Millennium Development Goals (MDG) projects in the 23 local governments areas within the last three years.

The state Commissioner for Local Governments, Alhaji Faruk Malami, told Journalist in Sokoto that the projects were on health, water supply, women and youths empowerment.

According to Malami, several hospitals and primary health centres have been rehabilitated and constructed, while others were equipped.

He said that, “several other health facilities were also upgraded to the status of general hospitals and others were expanded.

“Assorted drugs and hospital equipment were also provided to several health facilities. Pregnant women and children under five years are also being provided with free drugs across the 23 local governments of the state.”

Malami further said the measure was aimed at drastically reducing maternal and infant mortality across the state.

“The state government is committed to ensuring the attainment of the MDGs goals by the year 2015 in line with the efforts of the countries in the comity of nations,” he said.

ing pilgrims already registered by the board, urging others who could not secure the seat to bear with the situation.

And, from Kogi state, Govrnor Idris Wada, has urged NAHCON to increase the number of hajj seats allocated to the state.

He made the appeal at the NAHCON zonal inaugural workshop on pilgrimage Education and orientation held in Lokoja.

The Governor who described Hajj as an obligation to all Muslims to uphold the tenets of Islam,says the State owe it a duty to ensure the full participation of all of its intending citizens.

L-R: Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, presenting congratulatory message from the Federal Government to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, during the celebration of Emir’s 50th anniversary on the throne, on Saturday in Kano.

FG, World Bank hold summit on healthcare infrastructure

By Etuka Sunday

W

orld Bank through its report at the weekend estimated that the bankable need for private health institutions within Nigeria is about US$3 billion with an available leveraged funding potential of about US$1 billion that could be tapped for investment into health.

World Bank in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and James Daniel Consulting has also concluded plans to organize ‘Nigerian Healthcare Infrastructure Investment Summit’ in Abuja on Monday and Tuesday at the International Conference Centre.

Speaking, the Minister of

Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said, “Nigeria today is an investor’s dream with abundant opportunities and an unprecedented appetite for public private partnership in the health sector of Africa’s largest market for healthcare investment.”

Also speaking, the representative of World Bank Group, Khama Rogo, stated that, “the private sector in Nigeria has a bigger chance of excelling more than other countries both in terms of intellectual capacity and in terms of potential resources that are not harnessed yet.”

The summit would target the private sector in healthcare and showcase the best practices of what works within the private

health sector in Nigeria and other countries.

IFC would provide liquidity support and local guarantees for local financial intermediaries to increase health sector lending.

Among other things, the summit would assess business plans, opportunities and partnerships within the healthcare sector for investment and will provide tips and opportunities to access funding.

Panelists are drawn from the private and public sector and session topics range from investment models for healthcare and business intelligence for healthcare investment to regulation and quality issues.

n commemoration of this year’s Day of the African Child, the United Nations Cultural and Educational Fund (UNICEF) has joined the African Union (AU) to mark the effort by African communities to promote social change and end practices that endanger the lives and health of hundreds of thousands of children each year.

This was contained in a press release made available to journalists by Samuel Kaalu, UNICEFD Field Office, Bauchi, with the world organ asserting that, harmful social and cultural customs such as Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) and the branding of children as witches have deep roots, but persist because they are often not questioned.

“Nothing is as powerful as a community itself seeing the harm being done to its own children and deciding – collectively – to end that practice,” the release quoted Nicholas Alipui, UNICEF’s Director of Programmes as saying, stressing that “Communities are key to the health and well-being of African children subjected to harsh practices.”

According to the statement, evidence shows that engaging entire communities around human rights on FGM/C leads to greater understanding and abandonment of the harmful practice, with UNICEF maintaining that as a result of this approach, fewer girls are subjected to the life-threatening practice of FGM/C. Data released in February 2013 shows that FGM/C is becoming less prevalent overall and the younger generation is less vulnerable to the practice.

UNICEF disclosed further that in the 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East, where the practice of FGM/C is concentrated, on average, 36 per cent of girls aged 15-19 have been cut compared to an estimated 53 per cent of women aged 45-49.

The decline is particularly sharp in some countries: in Kenya, for example, women aged 45-49 are three times more likely to have been cut than girls aged 15-19.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 10

RE: GOVERNOR AL-MAKURA HAS LOST GRIP ON NASARAWA STATE S

eeking political relevance is not necessarily when an individual comes out on the pages of newspaper to discredit his political opponent or to bury facts that touch the lives of the people, just to gain relevance politically.

It is obvious that Hon. Ahmed Aliyu Wadada is ignorant of the happenings in Nasarawa state or he is a sadist who does’nt like to see good things or someone administering good governance to his people, else his comment on Page 21 of Leadership Sunday 16th June May not be necessary.

It was not my intention to respond to Hon, Wadada but because I want to set the records straight and to correction an impression I choose declare thus: It is on record that within the first month that Obatse emerge the Governor, in a security meeting, proscribed Ombatse and any other militia group in the State.

Right from the inception of various attacks on communities by Ombatse, the Governor, has been on top of the situation with all the security agencies in the state; so, where has the Governor compromised his position as a Governor, as alleged by Hon. Wadada.

May be Hon. Wadada has forgotten that the Governor does not have the Police, the Army the SSS or Civil Defence or have also forgotten that we are running a democratic government where some certain procedures have to be followed before any action is taken.

It is unfortunate that a person of Hon. Wadada’s calibre will engage in this kind of cheap blackmail that may, at most, be perpetrated by those calibre of people whose educational and social background is on the disadvantage.

To be fair to Governor Al-Makura in this incident of Ombatse, one will say he has been assertive in dealing with the entire issue, but like I have said earlier, the Governor does not have state Police, Army, SSS or Civil Defence to wake up over night and direct the security operatives, except with some level of consultation.

In the history of Nasarawa State, no Governor has so far prioritised management of security like Governor Al-Makura, who on several occasions visited ongoing crises areas at the risk of his life, Wadada should tell us which Governor ever visited any crises area at the peak of the crises to persuade people to lay down their arms against each other except Governor AlMakura; so it means Al-Makura is not lacking in any aspect as far as management of security is concern.

FEDERAL SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE, KUTA SHIRORO L.G.A. P.M.B. 108, MINNA NIGER STATE. INVITAION TO TENDER 1. INTRODUCTION In line with the procurement rules and regulations, the Federal Science and Technical College. Kuta-Shiroro invites qualified contractors to tender for execution of the fallowing 2013 projects.

2. SCOPE OF WORK LOT PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1.

Construction/Equiping of Motor Vehicle Workshop 2.

Purchase & Installation of 1 No. 250kva Generator set 3.

Procurement of Students Technical Equipments 4.

Construction/Equiping of Brick/Block Laying & Concreting (BBC) Workshop 5.

Construction/Equiping of Carpentry & Joinery Workshop 6.

Construction/Equiping of 1 No. block of College Sick Bay 7.

Construction/Completion of 1 No. Girls’ Hostel.

8.

Construction of 1 No. block of 6 classrooms.

9.

Construction/Equiping of students’ library 10.

Construction of Perimeter Fencing.

REQUIREMENTS All prospective contractors are required to provide the following information to accompany their proposals. i. Evidence of registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission. ii. Tax Clearance Certificate for 3 years iii. Evidence of remittance of VAT in the last 3 years iv. Evidence of financial capability and banker’s support 4. All tender documents are to be collected from the office of the Secretary, Tender’s Board after payment of N10,000 per bid payable in Bank Draft to the College.

5. SUBMISSION OF TENDER All completed tender(s) are to be returned sealed and addressed to the Secretary of the Tender’s Board of the College and marked at the top right hand corner of the envelop” “Tender for any of the lot chosen by the Contractors” The Tender(s) should be submitted to the Secretary of the Board not later than six (6) weeks from the date of this publication.

6. Submission of tenders shall close on Thursday 25th July, 2013 at 12.00noon and all tender(s) shall be opened in the presence of tenders or their representatives on same day in the Conference room of the College at 12.20 noon prompt.

Collation of Tender document will commence on Friday 21st June, 2013.

Secretary Tenders Board 08083590370, 08035873154 For Principal

Talking about opening of roads, which Wadada said Government has not done anything, let me specifically educate Hon. Wadada; may be he is ignorant of what obtains in Nasarawa State or he is being mischievious which will only kill his so-acclaimed political popularity.

The government of Governor Al-Makura has achieved a lot in the area of road construction; this is subject to verification from any quarters.

So far, a total of 50 kilometres of township roads were constructed in Lafia, the state capital.

These include 1.43 KM Abdulkura street and Abdul Shitu Adamu Muazu road, 1.41KM Agwai Anguwar Nungu junction and 4.8KM Lafia East Government Guest House which spurs towards Makonjigi road. Others are 1.2KM peoples bank new market road, 3.5KM UACGonar Mallam Sarki road, as well as 1.2KM Awe street road.

The 3.75KM Stanbic bank-Kurikyo road 600m treda Kurikyo road and 1.2KM INEC office, Alkali street-Adamu Muazu-Kurikyo road.

Others are 10.5 KM Gonar Mallam Sarki Kwandere-College of Agric road and 900m Governor Isa street road.

Other local government headquarters benefited from the road construction project where 3-4 KM of roads were constructed in all the areas, bringing a total KM of Urban road, constructed within the period under review to over 100KM of roads constructed, while rural areas enjoyed a total of 236KM of rural roads across the state for Wadada to undertake a tour of all the roads mention to verify.

For the attention of Hon. Wadada, we have embarked on the construction of rural roads which include Ashige Padama road, Agyaragu Kwarra road, Mararaba Panda road, Garaku Bassa road Lafia BAD road as well as Idadu Agbashi road.

Hon Wadada also spoke about lack of real estate and enabling environment for development in the state; maybe he is still ignorant of the initiative of Nasarawa State Geographical and Information System (NAGIS), which is aimed at addressing the issue of real estate and other initiatives to improve the standard of all the border towns to Abuja standard.

The process has since commenced in earnest.

May I request Hon. Wadada to always get his records straight before going to press, to avoid embarrassing himself.

I also challenge Hon. Wadada to take a tour of both rural and urban roads mentioned, to prove his allegation.

For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state is still in-

charge and control of the security situation of Nasarawa state.

Signed Iliyasu Ali Yakubu Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Nasarawa state.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 11

Money Sense

Single parents and money matters

T

oday’s high cost of living presents challenges for most families, for the single parent there is an additional strain on an already stretched budget. Single parents’ face unique financial challenges in that they simultaneously try to provide for the family, take care of their own financial needs, and must ensure that should anything happen to them, the children will be taken care of.

Budgeting takes on a new meaning, where there is only one income to support a family. Set a realistic budget and try to stick to it as this will form the basis on which you can confront any financial pressures.

Your priorities are likely to include your mortgage or rent, utility bills, food, clothing, childcare, vehicle expenses, insurance and savings.

How much is going to each category, and is there any way in which you can cut back?

Without second income to fall back on, some single parents can be quite vulnerable and may find themselves in a difficult situation in an emergency. The extended family cannot always be relied upon as they are often challenged as well.

Children fall ill, or there may be car or home repairs to worry about; it is impossible to predict such unexpected events so set aside about six months of expenses in a money market account in anticipation of this.

It is always easier to save when the process is automated; start by putting a direct debit in place with your bank so that a sum of say ten percent of your income is debited from your salary account as soon

Money Tip:

Ways to save money

Shop online The internet is gradually taking over. Online grocery shopping is getting better all the time and there are plenty of comparison websites to help find the best prices for bigger items. Give it a try, unless of course you like fighting your way through supermarket crowds.

Use your library The local library is a mecca for the money saver. You’ll never need to buy another cookbook, guidebook or lifestyle manual again and if you can bear to wait a few weeks in the queue for the latest blockbuster, you never need to buy books again. CDs and videos are great value too.

Quote

“The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority.” = Ken Blanchard: Professor, Author

as the money comes in. This can be transferred to an interest bearing savings or money market account.

One of your priorities should be to find a secure and affordable place to live. It can be tempting to try to maintain an expensive home that may have relied upon two incomes to sustain it. Of course there must be a balance between the need to live in a decent home in a safe environment versus having to put up with substandard housing.

Be sure that you can afford to live where you choose to live; it is better to “downsize” in the short term, than to jeopardize the future financial security of your family.

Are you insured? As a single parent, health, life, and education insurance are important. As morbid or pessimistic as it may sound, if you are the primary breadwinner with dependent children, it is your responsibility to try to ensure that there will be some financial cushion should you lose your job, become ill or in the event of your untimely death.

An educational policy will also provide benefits for the payment of their school fees and other incidentals.

By putting in place the right type and amount of insurance you will have peace of mind in the knowledge that you are securing your children’s future. A rough rule of thumb is to buy coverage of eight to ten times your salary. Seek advice from a reputable firm; an agent will help you to determine how much and what type of insurance coverage will best meet your particular needs and situation.

Invest for the future. As a

single parent, it may be difficult to save for both your retirement and other goals and your children’s education, but you cannot afford to prioritize only the financial future of your children and ignore your own retirement needs. By starting to plan and invest early, even a little amount put aside regularly over several years will grow over time into a significant sum. The earlier you start saving for your retirement, the better. Open a Retirement Savings Accounts (“RSA”) with a Pension Fund Administrator (“PFA”).

An estate plan is important for everyone but even more important than ever for a single parent. A will provides clear directions about who will inherit your personal property, bank accounts and investments and

who will execute your affairs after your death.

Carefully determine who would be capable and willing to assume responsibility for your children and that they understand the full implications including the significant financial responsibilities that accompany legal guardianship.

Verbal instructions carry little weight; if you die intestate, that is, without a written will, everything involving your estate and your children will be decided by a probate court and might not be in accordance with your wishes.

You may also wish to consult with a lawyer about setting up a living will which expresses your wishes if you become terminally ill or incapacitated, and a durable power of attorney to

empower someone you trust to carry out your express wishes.

Don’t overindulge your children.

For single parents there is often the additional pressure to do everything possible to keep children happy and content.

Don’t feel guilty about not providing all their “wants”. When appropriate, have an honest discussion with them regarding the family’s financial picture.

As children get older encourage them to start to save and earn some of their own spending money.

Whilst single parenthood often features as one of life’s major challenges, with discipline, careful planning and budgeting, one can emerge confident in ones ability to provide a comfortable and secure lifestyle for your family.

vacation outside the country.

Even accounting for airfare, the couple claimed it’s often cheaper to book a vacation abroad than it is to vacation in a nearby state.

Booking a year or two in advance helps them get package deals and cheap rates. They also don’t usually use a travel agent, saving more money by booking trips themselves over the internet. Comparison shopping

for travel and vacations can really rack up the savings.

Look for all-inclusive deals All-inclusive vacations are a good deal if you like to eat often and eat well. The cost of surf and turf dinners can easily chip into your vacation budget, unless you go for an allinclusive deal. Nightly drinks and access to entertainment are often bundled into all-inclusive packages, saving you even more money if you plan to participate in these activities.

However, if you spend more time eating light meals and taking in the local sights on vacation, the all-inclusive price may not be worth it. Examine your habits and determine if a package deal is right for you.

Save money with impulsive trips While vacationing in Miami, Florida, one family found the cost of eating out to be ridiculously high. To save money, they impulsively booked a threeday cruise leaving from Miami for the weekend. The cruise provided nightly entertainment, safe activities for their teenagers, and all-you-can-eat buffets 24 hours a day — not to mention sights and experiences at ports of call. This was all for one low price that was far less than decent restaurant meals and a hotel room for the weekend.

Tips to help you vacation for less

D

uring a recent trip, I had the pleasure of talking with a retired couple who are spending their golden years touring the world.

Italy, China, Mexico, Hawaii — they’ve seen it all, and some places more than once. While I didn’t want to ask personal questions about how they could afford such luxurious trips, I was amazed that this seemingly-

ave rag e coup le w as able t o achieve travel goals that most can only dream of.

They had some great tips for budget travel that I eagerly soaked up. After all, I’d like to see more than the foothills of Appalachia before my time on earth is up.

Try Vacationing Abroad One suggestion I found particularly intriguing was to

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

EDITORIAL

t the inauguration of the Police Service Commission (PSC) on June 12, President Goodluck Jonathan in a moment of spontaneity, exploded against the situation in the Nigerian Immigration Services. Said he, “Among the six names suggested to me for appointment as Comptroller General for Immigration, only one is qualified to even stay and serve.

Others ordinarily are supposed to be dismissed from the records.

I believe that the story of the Immigration is the same in most of our services. I believe that is why the performance of some of our military and paramilitary officers is abysmal.”

That was not the first time the President would make such a damning public pronouncement.

Not too long ago, he said the executive, legislative and judicial arms of his government have been infiltrated by the deadly insurgent group – Boko Haram.

Specifically, he mentioned the army, the police and other security agencies as agencies under his control that have been overrun by Boko Haram.

Today the same President is raising serious questions about the competence of the security agencies. This time, given the serious security challenge confronting the country, we call on him to take a step further than what he did with the accusation of Boko Haram infiltration. Nigerians

“

A

The President and his security agencies

This President, we must remind him, owes Nigerians the fresh air he advertised during his campaign for election in 2011 would want to know the five officers whose records qualified them for dismissal from service and yet had the audacity to aspire to head the immigration service, a very critical institution in our internal security architecture. What were the offences that qualified them for dismissal? More importantly, who put their names forward for appointment as Comptroller General of Immigration?

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

By the very office he occupies as the President, Commander -In - Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan should be the last person to be accused of spreading rumour. Unfortunately, given his proclivity for raising very serious security related allegations without providing the needed substance, some Nigerians are beginning to see their leader as a mere tale bearer.

The President must realize that the buck stops on his table. The security situation in Nigeria is very grave – by his own account, more grave than the situation during the Nigerian civil war years. He must, therefore, dismiss immediately the five officers from the NIS before they do greater harm. More importantly, he must dismiss and disgrace the man who had the temerity to forward the names of questionable characters to the C-I-C for appointment as Controller General of Immigration.

This President, we must remind him, owes Nigerians the fresh air he advertised during his campaign for election in 2011.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 13

Opinion

Ignored lessons of a struggle

By Abdulrazaq Magaji

F

or Nigerians, June 12, is not a day to be forgotten in a hurry.

It was a year of hope because one man who defeated poverty to become one of the richest persons around had vowed to banish poverty from their country. As a politician and presidential candidate of his party, the Social Democratic Party, Moshood Abiola travelled across the country just like his opponent, Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention, in search of votes. Rights groups also look upon 1993 with nostalgia because the year won them a major trophy in their campaigns to see the back of the military. In every sense of the word, 1993 is a long time even in the history of nations. It looks and sounds like yesterday but 1993 is not exactly yesterday. June 12, 1993 brought out the worst in Nigerians, a time you never knew who to believe.

In the heat of the crisis, a professor of law at the University of Lagos, a man who was later appointed vice chancellor in one of the universities in the south west, caused a stir in his analogy of Newswatch, once Africa’s best quoted newsmagazine, with Ikebe Super, once Nigeria’s bestselling comic on the laughable excuse that Newswatch refused to join the sensational journalism and the highwire politicking that characterized the period!

It was indeed a period when Newswatch recorded high unsold copies, an alarming situation that was informed by the wise judgement of management of the newsmagazine that, June 12, a transient event , should not befog the magazine’s editorial focus. Apparently, our

By Timawus Mathias

J

une 12 has come and gone, a day made significant by the political accident of an annulled election, won most certainly by a great philanthropist and businessman, Chief MKO Abiola. Much has been written on the patriot’s demise and what the annulment meant for Nigeria. Pity I could not identify with Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka when he recently adjudged that May 29th was not apt as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, preferring instead June 12th.

I found it quite irksome that it was again one of those outbursts from the learned professor in which he belittles himself to just the Yoruba nation with adulatory attributions.

I have never had a chance to meet with Prof. Soyinka and I notice that he hardly ever visits Northern Nigeria beyond Abuja. I must also confess I have not read a single one of his books, which must account for my poor English, but it disturbs me that when I look up to the sage for a solution to my country’s problems, all I hear him offer is what over zealously spells such excellence to all that is Yoruba, often leaving me to wonder a lot of things.

As a child, I shook hands with Chief Obafemi Awolowo across the road from our house in my little hometown Numan which offered an Action Group member of the Upper House and the Lower House of Parliament in the First Republic.

I quite understand how it was that my mother had the lettering AWO tatooed on her arm which as expected she carried with her to the grave. Chief MKO Abiola, on the other hand, was family in that same Numan. So loved was he that

professor friend and many Nigerians were not impressed. Few countries can survive the type of events that came with the cancellation of the June 12 presidential election.

Miraculously, Nigeria successfully negotiated a dangerous bend, the type that overwhelmed drivers elsewhere to crash vehicles of state. On a personal note, the year is made even more historic because the second of my three daughters, a toddler at the time the country was thrown into an avoidable political impasse ignited by the cancellation of the presidential election, has just been mobilized for the mandatory one-year national service! How time flies!

Still talking about time and its propensity to fly, June 12 reminds Nigerians of the extra mileage some of their opportunistic compatriots could go for self and group-serving purposes. In the thick of the confusion that surrounded the cancellation of the election, Olusegun Obasanjo, the man who eventually became the main beneficiary of the impasse, told Nigerians, not with his tongue in his cheek, to seek their messiah elsewhere not in the person of Moshood Abiola, his townsman who was duly cleared to contest the election and who many believe was the undeclared winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Unfolding events in the aftermath of the cancellation of the election were to suggest that Obasanjo’s shocker, execrable as they come, was the least that awaited Nigerians as they grappled with the crisis of an inconclusive election is capable of provoking. And the deluge of shockers came in torrent.

By November of the year, the

creaky interim arrangement put together by President Babangida before he had stepped aside three months earlier, no longer able to suck in sustained attacks from rights and pro-democracy activists, was eased out by the military. Before the military struck, lives put at more than one hundred and sixty had been lost after Nigerians trooped out to demand the actualization of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. These were precious lives of Nigerians who hearkened to the voice of prominent Nigerians, among them Nobel honouree, Wole Soyinka, late Gani Fawehinmi and Moshood Abiola who, unable to stomach the usurpation of powers by the interim government, goaded the military into overthrowing it to pave way for the ascension of Abiola. For instance, Professor Soyinka applauded the Movement for the Advancement of Democracy, MAD, a crazy group for advancing ‘a valid reason’ (Swear in Abiola!) to hijack a domestic flight.

On his part, Gani Fawehinmi openly canvassed for the progressive wing of the military, whatever that meant, to overthrow the interim civilian government. The military did strike on November 17, 1993, an action which the coup plotters rationalised by accusing President Babangida of unilaterally annulling the election, an action which the coup leaders, being senior members of the Babangida administration, had canvassed.

The coup leaders failed its first test when, rather than doing the bidding of the pro-democracy activists, they began to entrench their positions by promising to steady the country for a shadowy return to democratic rule in the not-too-distant future. To

pertinent Nigerians, this signalled the abortion of a dream, an indication to Abiola, the unannounced winner of the election, that the coup plotters did risk their necks to cede power to him.

Earlier in July, Abiola after the leakage of a letter he wrote to President Babangida to re-affirm his commitment to their decades of friendship, did say that he had taken his case to the court of God. But within a week, he was propped into exhuming a hatchet he had buried when, at the end of the consultative meeting of his party, the SDP, in Benin City, he picked the gauntlet and subsequently internationalized the struggle to force the government of President Babangida to announce full details of the election. The same manipulative hands, ever- present and ever-devious, were at play again to prop Abiola when the military returned in November, 1993.

Nigerians did not have to wait for too long for proof of the double-dealings, appropriately tagged the betrayal of the century, of the pro-democracy activists.

After all, they have lined their pockets through waging a welloiled, foreign-funded but mainly hypocritical campaign to restore democracy and when it mattered most, especially when the return of the military threatened the source of those funds, most of them dashed, with the speed of lightning, to jump on the military train to feather their own nests; not that of Abiola. And, typically, the spineless pro-democracy activists, typical of barefaced ingratiating talkers, flaunted reprehensible excuses, glossilycoated and sweet-scented from the outside but excessively malodorous

the folks created their own Abiolan Numan. Adorning my mother’s smoky wall is a picture of Chief Abiola besides my aged mother taken after he had visited our squalid home to pay homage to the mother of his Personal Assistant, also my mother. His scion, Kola and his sibling, even as Muslims, have attended worship sessions in the Numan Church just adjacent to our family compound.

In 1985, soon after President Ibrahim Babangida had toppled General Muhammadu Buhari and sent Col. Yohana Madaki to Yola as Governor of then Gongola state, the National Concord carried a story in which Professor Olatunbosun alleged that he had in Ibadan bribed the colonel with the sum of N25,000. It was an early jolt on the Babangida Presidency for Col. Yohana Madaki from the pictures following that coup appeared to have been in the inner caucus of that putsch. If we recall that toppled General Buhari was Mr. Zero Tolerance of Corruption.

The story more than scratched the underbelly of the new regime. Col. Yohana Madaki instantly sued the professor, the Concord, and it’s publisher. Chief Abiola was in Yola to secure an amicable settlement of the matter.

I was then General Manager, NTA Yola and Chairman of the Gongola State Arts Council. I was able to invite Chief MKO to our studio and I carefully pried from him a promise to establish a major agricultural investment in Gongola

if he could secure the required land.

Later that evening at a gala night in his honour organized by my Arts Council, with Col. Madaki and his cabinet in the audience, I let it be known that Abiola had made a promise, and invited him in his remarks to repeat that promise.

“Yes, Your Excellency”, Chief Abiola confirmed. “I promised to Mathias that if I have the appropriate acreage of land, I shall establish Abiola Farms here in Gongola state”.

Chief Abiola had not sat down when Col. Madaki offered what the Chief asked for and the then Commissioner for Lands immediately announced that the Certificate of Occupancy would be ready within 5 days. Abiola Farms was granted 15,000 hectares of excellent farmland way below the 16th Latitude in Bali, now Southern Taraba State. Chief MKO Abiola and Col. Yohana Madaki reconciled, and the philanthropist left, followed by his Certificate of Occupancy. For 3 years thereafter, every Gongola household annually received sacks of Abiola maize for free. My immediate elder brother managed that farm till Abiola’s death.

June 12th is of great personal significance to me as a triumph and a tragedy. My nephew Theodore Zadok was a well decorated police officer who loved his work and even worshiped his uniforms. Tasked with the awesome duty of guarding Abiola, for all the years the patriot was Gongola bound, Theodore was

in charge of his security and made sure his captive was treated with deserved respect and courtesy, and ensured every comfort. The one moment he lost sight of Abiola was when he escorted him to the meeting with Susan Rice and he was ordered on an errand to pick up some insignificant item, he returned and found Chief MKO had been served tea!

Theodore took Abiola’s death personally, lost interest in his work, for which he had lost his abandoned family! He lost it all, suffered retirement for a latter day avoidable misdemeanor and now lives in misery and depression.

Chief Abiola means more to me than Soyinka and his literature.

Abiola loved the North with his mouth, his body and his substance.

When the time came for the North to choose between Abiola and lackluster Bashir Tofa, the North paid Abiola back for his loving kindness and can not now be held in scorn for the annulment of that election.

Were Soyinka to apply his great literary mind to the Abiola saga, he could easily have penned down from its elements, a life changing tragedy of a man who sought and secured fame and fortune from powers that be, and not only lost it all, but paid the supreme price, in the daring effort to take power from the powers that gave him his fame and fortune. Abiola was an unfortunate pawn in the power play of his friends. President Babangida it seems to me, had

from within, for jettisoning June 12; an idea they hitherto claimed was as inviolable as it is sacrosanct!

That was the better-forgotten but painfully recurring era of justifying ethical paralysis with untenable excuses ranging from a dubious urge to serve one’s country, helping to push the frontiers of democracy from within, contribution to the process of national healing to such epidermic claims as pandering to calls of people back home and desire to stop charlatans from hijacking the country. Nigerians cannot rely on such uninspiring men and women, people who are incapable of comprehending the message of June 12, not to talk of promoting its painfully-ignored ideals.

Despite the hollowness that characterized the era, June 12 still holds a major lesson but which, for some curious reasons, the country has continued to ignore. And this is how to replicate the magic that made the June 12, 1993 presidential election the most credible and most transparent election so far conducted in the country. At a time the world is towards electronic voting, Option A4 as President Babangida called it or, whatever name it might be given after it is re-branded, may sound and look like the stone-age electoral idea that it was derisively called by critics who later turned round to applaud it.

Yes! Option A4 is archaic but it has distinguished itself as the antidote for the façade of elections in the country!

And because it works, Option A4 should suffice for a country which, to all intent and purpose, still shows traces of the stone- age! For now, the way forward is not to appropriate billions of Naira for electronic voting machines especially at a time bush lamps are employed to collate election results.

Abdulrazaq Magaji is based in Abuja, Nigeria

Democracy Day, October 1 it is

(mis)calculated that, between Tofa and Abiola, he could foist a political stalemate which would have made extension of his eight-year ruler a better national option. (He must have read too much of the Gammal Abdel Nasser story) But the Nigerian political elite, tired of endless dribbling, overnight ganged up in a mischievous support for the Abiola option and gave it back to Babangida, which military hawks in his regime utterly rejected, forcing him to annul the outcome of the expressed popular will of the nation. Abiola sadly became a victim of this chicanery.

I daresay, it is a continuing treachery that saw to the emergence of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the controversial restoration of General Olusegun Obasanjo, the emasculation of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the scuttling of the 3rd Term bid, the morbid political humour of foisting a terminally ill Umaru Musa Yar’adua and the ascendancy of ill prepared Goodluck Jonathan and the current season of angst and anomie. Thus to me, June 12 just like May 29th poorly qualified for celebration as our democracy day. Nigeria’s Democracy Day is truly 1st October, the day of our independence from our colonial masters, the day of our first national taste of democracy, and civilian politicians should dare make it so through an act of the legislature.

Timawus Mathias via timmathias64@yahoo.com

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Letters & Opinion Between Oristsejafor and Buhari F

By Charles Onunaiju

or the year the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), was led by the venerable scholar-cleric, his eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria was unarguably the most moderate voice of reason on crucial national issues. Christians and non-Christians alike looked in the direction of the CAN to analyze and proffer views on critical national questions. For instance, in the heat of the 2007 thoroughly discredited presidential election, denounced both locally and internationally, Onaiyekan echoed a widespread non-partisan sentiment when he charged that “heavens would no fall” if the election was re-run.

The ‘winner’ of the controversial poll, former president, the late Umaru Yar’adua, could not in good conscience accept the poisoned electoral chalice without remiss and right at the point of receiving the certificate of return at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the setting up of an election reform commission, to make future elections less of a criminal carnival.

The CAN then created and promoted inter-faith dialogue, expanding the frontiers of mutual understanding and even respectable disagreements between the two major religions. Above all, there was a reasonable and respectable distance between the CAN and the government of the day.

However, since Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor became the President of CAN, everything has changed and one would think that CAN, as many people has suggested, has become the religious wing of the ruling party and the government it formed at the Centre. I deliberately chose the word, ‘religious’ and not ‘spiritual’ because under the current leadership the association has become too showy, canal and resembles any lobby group peddling influence and throwing weight around for the material

benefit of its leader and his leaders. The ilk for obvious explosion of partisan reasons Boko Haram pretended not to Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, violence is a see or read the deadly wind more elaborate text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All writthat has blown interview. ten contributions should be concise. Word limits: no good to However, Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please anyone.

General Buhari include your name and a valid location. Letters to the The answered in Editor should be addressed to: crude and the interview, purposeless recalling how violence of “somebody The Editor, the group has recommended Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, hit as many me to represent 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. innocent Boko Haram”.

Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com Christians as it He further said has numerous that “I told them SMS: 08134607052 innocent the honest truth I Muslims. didn’t know who For the misadventure of the ruling PDP party and its corrupt their leadership was and I still don’t group, widely denounced by every government. know who their leaders are. I don’t right thinking person, whether His reason for calling for know their philosophy because Christian or Muslim, the CAN the persecution of the respected no religion advocates hurting the leader has made so much political opposition leader was the latter’s innocent. So, all those people giving capital from deepening the alleged association with the it a religious meaning are wrong. religious divide. He claims that extremist Boko Haram sect whose You cannot kill a person and say the intolerant ideology of the Boko ideology is as reprehensible as it is Allahu Akbar (God is great). It is Haram is shared by the political unattainable. The week that Buhari either you don’t know what you’re opponent of his political principal, spoke in a radio interview which saying or you don’t believe in it. It President Goodluck Jonathan. His was the subject of Oristsejafor is one of the two”. latest antic is to suggest and call for deliberate twisting, the general A purported Christian leader the arrest of General Muhammadu granted an elaborate interview chose to ignore the clearest Buhari, a major figure in the to a national daily where his denunciation of and dissociation emerging pan Nigerian political position was very clear and could from a vile sect by Buhari and alliance aimed at kicking out the be immediately cited. The CAN held on to a deliberately distorted

WRITE TO US

“

A purported Christian leader chose to ignore the clearest denunciation of and dissociation from a vile sect by Buhari and held on to a deliberately distorted version of an obscure radio interview whose transcript is not even publicly available for cross-check. Such fraudulence of intention and purpose cannot be contemplated by the Lord Jesus Christ who admonished that intentions would form the benchmark of judgement more than public actions

version of an obscure radio interview whose transcript is not even publicly available for cross-check. Such fraudulence of intention and purpose cannot be contemplated by the Lord Jesus Christ who admonished that intentions would form the benchmark of judgement more than public actions.

Opposing the political style of Buhari should be clearly different than tarnishing his reputation through deliberate blackmail.

One can openly disagree with his politics, where political investment of support may not be rewarded with things like private jets or huge contracts and that will be clearly understandable. But mispresenting and deliberately tarnishing him by presenting his views and beliefs with the purpose of scare-mongering the public about his intention in politics is wicked. There is still no courageous opponent of General Buhari who has said the real truth that their point of disagreement with him is that the wealth of the nation should remain in the hands of the few as it is now, while the country and the majority of its people sink into the widening hole of misery and poverty.

Nigerians ought to know the truth that it is not Buhari’s perceived religious bigotrythat scars the governing elite to their marrow otherwise they would have no reason of buying choice properties in Dubai, the capital of the Islamic Emirate where a public hug or private kiss of an unmarried person could land them behind bars. The real reason why they are mortally threatened by the prospect of Buhari leadership is that accountability, discipline and order will replace brigandage and the mindless pillage of the commonwealth.

Charles Onunaiju is a journalist based in Abuja

A nation in dire need of functional leadership

By Kerem Kurugh

R

eading Prof. Chinua Achebe’s last and controversial work, “There Was A Country”, what comes to mind is the question as to why and how the nation took the plunge from its lofty heights. By every all economic and political indices, it is evident that the country is on the brinks with social, political and economic institutions in a sorry state. This malady has been traced to sheer lack of effective leadership at all levels of government.

Pundits have continued to present several positions as to what is actually responsible for the lack of effective leadership in the country and a number of reasons have been adduced.

There is a school of thought which holds strongly that the major problem lies in the very foundation of the country as a

nation state. They point accusing at the mode and manner in which the administration of the nation was bequeathed to Nigerians at independence in 1960. Albeit largely unpopular, some Nigerians tend to believe that the nation’s independence from the British was hasty and premature. They posit that the leaders who took over from the colonial masters were not ready for the arduous task of nation building at the point the task of leadership was entrusted into their hands.

Flowing from this, the result was that a few years after attaining independence, the nation became confronted by numerous sociopolitical and economic challenges that seem to have continued to defy strategies applied by the leaders.

It is no longer news that Nigeria is blessed enormously with human and natural resources. It is also no longer

news that these resources have not translated into better living standard for the vast majority of Nigerians. Only a minute percentage of the population forming the privileged class can boast of good living standard.

The rest wallow in abject poverty, lack, disease and insecurity. The inability to convert the natural wealth to better living standards has been the problem and many blame poor leadership for this.

Several factors have been adduced to be responsible for poor leadership. The major factor being the process of emergence of leaders at all levels. The nation’s electoral processes have been identified to be flawed to the extent that it does not provide the veritable platform for the selection of the right type of leaders. The process must be such that have several checks to ensure that the right leaders emerge through majority vote and popular

participation of the people. The people must be allowed to choose the leaders who they know and are able to hold accountable. It is from this point of view that critics and political observers insist that the reforms in the electoral systems must be critically pursued and implemented for the common good. Leadership connotes the ability to effectively manage the resources of the state to bring about political, economic and social development, as well as ensuring a relatively peaceful and stable entity Oftentimes, the level of development on all facets in every society is to a significant extent hinged on how effective the leaders are. The people must therefore be allowed to sieve leaders so as to ensure that only those with the required abilities are allowed into political offices.

This is because the very essence of the state is to provide the common

good for the common benefit for all. Though from the inception of the Nigerian state, things were relatively better it is appalling to note that currently nearly every facet of our development has been bedeviled by abysmal mediocrity and this is the major factor inhibiting that nation from joining the ranks of other nations in the BRICS, a group of country of emerging economics, comprising Brazil, India, China and South Africa. It is hoped that the current crop of leaders will eschew all forms of partisan and ethnic parochialism and start laying another foundation that will effectively put the nation on the path of economic and political prosperity. Only then will they have actually provided leadership to the people.

Kerem Kurugh sent this from the University of Maiduguri

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 15

Comment

Checking overzealous chairmen of boards

By Olumide Bamidele

T

he principal role of the Chairman of the Board in any organisation is to provide leadership to the Board of Directors of the organisation, and acts as a direct liaison between the Board and the management of the company through the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). As the overall policy-making organ of any organisation, the Board of Directors, amongst others, superintends the affairs of an organisation, and also appoints persons who will carry out the day-to-day management and other affairs of that particular organisation. Ordinarily, therefore, there shouldn’t be any conflicts since the functions of the Board of Directors and those of management are clearly spelt out.

The concept of separation of the role of the Chairman from that of the CEO implies that the Chairman should be independent from management and free from any interest or other relationships which could interfere with the Chairman’s independent judgment on issues that will promote the overall interest of the company and its shareholders.

However, one of the biggest challenges confronting corporate entities in Nigeria today, especially government owned organsations, is the inability to properly reconcile the different

By Jaye Gaskia

L

et there be no doubt about it, there were alternative narratives to the NADECO narrative in the June 12 struggle.

Yes there was NADECO, a coalition mainly of the ‘progressive wing’ of the ruling class which had cohered around the winner of the June 12 presidential election [MKO], and which because of its role around MKO in the SDP, during the election, and in the immediate aftermath of the annulment, could be collectively referred to as the mandate custodian group.

But there were also the Campaign For Democracy [CD] then led by Beko, with Chima Ubani as Gen Sec; and much later by 1995/97 the United Action For Democracy [UAD] then led

by Abgakoba, with Chima as Gen Sec – after the 1994 split from the CD; the Joint Action Congress of Nigeria [JACON] led be Gani; and the students’ movement, including NANS then led by Kura, and Unilag SU led by Sowore! We may have coordinated regularly with NADECO, but we were not members of NADECO! Although we were all fighting the military and fighting for Democracy, we had different strategic visions, and different modes of operation.

Within the pro-democracy movement it could be said that there were two versions and visions of democracy that were in contention; the liberal [including its social democratic variant] democracy, and the popular [including its socialist workers variant] democracy. And it can be said clearly that while the NADECO narrative represented the Liberal vision; the other narratives between

roles of both the Board members led by the Chairman and the management team headed by the CEO. Problems often arise when there is attempt by overbearing Board chairmen to interfere with management activities. Such problems cause needless squabbles which often lead to friction, and in extreme cases tend to destabilise government establishments in Nigeria. In most cases, the Board Chairmen are more often than not guilty of usurping the powers of the chief executive through their meddlesome attitude. Sometimes, the relationship between the Board chairman and the CEO is often that of competition, confrontation and antagonism. It is a relationship of two contrasting extremes; it is either adversarial or collaborative.

The consequence of both of these two extreme relationships is that on one hand, an adversarial Board will always usurp or attempt to usurp management functions; overtly and continuously antagonistic towards management powers to take decisions. Usually, the Chairmen of such government entities have connections in high places and tend to use their positions to further their political or business interests. Such personalities ultimately strangulate management initiatives, actions which are to the detriment of the organisations.

Some of these overbearing personalities are among chairmen

and members of the recently constituted boards of federal government establishments. There have been rumbles in some of the agencies about the imperious attitudes and conduct of the Board Chairmen. However, in most cases, the CEOs prefer to suffer and operate in silence other than make their disagreements with their chairmen public, for obvious reasons. The board chairmen, as stated inter alia are either powerful political godfathers or renowned enterpreneurs who have very strong connections within the main source of authority in the land: the Presidency.

Perhaps bearing in mind the potential for such powerful chairmen to usurp the powers of chief executives, the minister of transport, Senator Idris Umar, while inaugurating the boards of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in February this year, warned against any meddlesomeness in the day-to-day administration of the agencies.

Specifically, the minister said: “As members of the governing boards, you are expected to work in harmony with the agencies in implementing government policies and programmes”. The minister was apparently conscious of how a powerful former board chairman of the NPA indulged in series of corrupt practices that

ultimately led to his sacking, as well as prosecution, alongside some members of the management team during his tenure.

Reports from one of the supervising agencies in the banking sector also indicate that the management team is having a herculean task accommodating the current chairman of the agency’s Board of Directors.

Incidentally, the Chairman is one of the powerful politicians who have strong tentacles in the Aso Rock Villa. The excesses of the Board Chairman, sources said, often put the management under much stress. Yet, the organisation’s management bend over backwards to cope, though the man is just a non executive chairman of the Board.

Feelers from another government agency which is a key agency under the Ministry of Trade and Investment also indicate that the management team may soon be heading for a showdown with the new chairman of its board.

A renowned entrepreneur and well-connected to the men and women in power today, the new chairman, in a recent chat with select journalists, went overboard to claim credit for successes recorded in the organisation prior to his appointment. This shows an overzealous tinge that may soon extend to demanding for an expansive office in the agency’s magnificent corporate

office in Abuja, to “monitor” the efficiency and speed with which the organisation carries out its statutory functions.

On the other hand, there are collaborative Boards that unduly support management even when it is obvious that certain decisions should be questioned. Thus, such complacent Boards either inhibit or let loose managements to fiddle to public resources. Both the adversarial and the collaborative Board undermine effective Corporate Governance and management in corporate entities.

In public corporations, the relationship between the Board and the management is occasionally undermined by overzealous ministers who interfere with Board and management decisions, thereby creating avoidable problems for the agencies. What the Nigerian Boards and managements need, therefore, is to strike reasonable balance in their relationships. Both the Chairmen of the Boards and CEOs, as representatives of shareholders should strive to keep within the sphere of their influence and operation. They should not forget the purpose of their appointments: to direct and manage their respective establishments and to protect the interests of government, shareholders, creditors, employees and the depositors in the case of banks.

Olumide Bamidele is based in Surulere, Lagos.

and among them represented the Popular democratic vision and version. This is a very important difference, not a cosmetic one; it is ideological and political.

Let me illustrate the qualitative difference between these competing but also collaborating narratives with a historical occurrence which significantly changed and altered the trajectory and outcome of the June 12 struggle.After the annulment, a new wave of mass protests began across the country, and this was intensifying daily, so much so that the dictator, IBB was forced to abdicate in late August of 1993 and hand power to a hurriedly put together contraption called the Interim National Government [ING]. The ING suffered from a crisis of legitimacy from the onset, it was not accepted by the mass movement or by the mandate custodian groups. Its legitimacy was challenged in the law courts, and in November a court of competent jurisdiction declared it illegal and unconstitutional.

I remember the scene from that historic day; from the court premises, a massive crowd of citizens, a crowd that continued to grow in numbers by the minute, left the court premises and headed for MKO’s Ikeja residence. On arrival at Ikeja, the mass movement had one simple demand which was put to MKO and the custodian group: on the strength of the illegitimacy of the ING, now affirmed by court, Reclaim your mandate, declare yourself president elect, name an interim cabinet, a transitional government, announce dates to

convene the SNC, and call on the international community to recognize your government! The custodians prevaricated, they stalled, and politely rejected the demand of the mass movement coordinated by the alternative narratives, and dispersed the movement!

Days later, Abacha struck, and overthrew the ING of which he was Defense Minister! How did the contending narratives respond? The mandate custodian group, which was to later become NADECO responded with caution.

They somehow had an illusion in the Pro-June 12 character of the coup, perhaps because they had foreknowledge of the coup and were in the know. They sought accommodation with the coup and nominated representatives to serve in the cabinet of the coup

perpetrators in the expectation that within a few months, Abacha would restore the mandate and hand over to MKO. Of course, Abacha would later betrayed them, neither meeting their expectations, nor honouring any formal or informal agreements he may have made with them!

How did the alternative narratives respond to the coup?

They called for and organised mass protests, and inaugurated the anti-Abacha phase of the pro-democracy struggle, which the betrayed Mandate Custodian Group would come back to join after being betrayed. They would respond to being betrayed by Abacha by taking the desperate step of making the ill prepared June 1994 Epetedo Declaration of MKO and formalizing the NADECO structures. Essentially

the Epetedo Declaration was in content and form the very demand that the organised mass movement had put to the custodians back in November 1993. But by this time, it was made before the media, without the mass movement, without the shield of an aroused mass of citizens on the street. In fact the people were as shocked as the dictator by the declaration.

After the declaration was made, without the protective shield of the masses, it was only a matter of time before MKO would be arrested and detained, and virtually all the major actors in the November events would also be harassed, detained, framed, and murdered.

Henceforth the struggle would be waged strenuously and fearlessly on different fronts, in various trenches; increasingly more robustly on the streets inside Nigeria, and on the diplomatic circuit by the exiles. The rest, as they say, is history; we eventually won, a half victory; when by mid 1998 imperialism had to intervene to prevent a radical revolutionary outcome, by taking the two main protagonists [Abacha and MKO] out of the picture, organising their twin murders, and creating what one of NADECO’s leading lights would later on call a ‘Level Playing Field’ from which to resume a less contentious, and therefore less dangerous for Ruling Class interests [both domestic and global], ‘Transition to democracy programme’!

June 12: An alternative narrative

“

Let me illustrate the qualitative difference between these competing but also collaborating narratives with a historical occurrence which significantly changed and altered the trajectory and outcome of the June 12 struggle.After the annulment, a new wave of mass protests began across the country, and this was intensifying daily, so much so that the dictator, IBB was forced to abdicate in late August of 1993

Follow@Jaye Gaskia & @ protest to power

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 16

14 immigrants nabbed roasting corn in Wuye

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Department of Monitoring and Enforcement of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has arrested 14 suspected illegal immigrants, who were engaged in illegal

roadside corn roasting along the city ring road by Finance Quarters, in Wuye District of the FCT. Parading the suspects before handing them over to the Anti Human Trafficking Department of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), FCT Command,

for further investigations, the Ag Director of the board, Mrs. Aishat Adebayo, said the Board had acted on a tip of security information.

Adebayo who spoke through the Head of Information and Outreach Programme, Joe Ukairo, also explained that some

of the suspects who claimed to be Nigerians do not know the name of their local government of origin as at the time of arrest.

The board, in a press statement further disclosed that the joint effort by both the AEPB and FCT command of the NIS to checkmate illegal immigrant

street traders was birthed after a courtesy visit by the new Comptroller of Immigration FCT Command – Alh. A.A Ahmed to the Board.

According to the statement, the suspects are undergoing further investigation with the NIS, FCT command.

Cleric charges women on obedience to God

P

A local manicurist on duty, in Garki, Abuja.

Fathers’ Day: Cleric blames fathers for alarming moral decadence

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

s the world yesterday celebrated Fathers’ Day, a cleric, Rev Daniel Sunday Akingbelure has linked the alarming moral decadence and social ills ravaging the Nigerian society to the failure of fathers to give proper care and training to their children.

He said the society would be rid of social ills like kidnapping, robbery, corruption, violence, among others if only fathers play their expected roles perfectly.

The cleric, who was a Guest Minister at a Fathers’ Day Special service put together by the Foursquare Gospel Church, Asokoro, to mark the Day, said because there are character flaws in the lives of men (fathers), it affects the family; and ultimately causing crisis in the society.

Stressing that a father is the foundation of the home, which is the foundation of the larger society, he noted that “fathers are destined to be the foundation of the entire universe according to God’s agenda.”

According to him, if fathers understand their roles in God and they are playing it perfectly, in line with divine agenda, it will lead to healthy situation in the family and bring health

and stability to our nation.

His words: “The problem of our society today started from fathers, who have negatively affected the home, family and the total package is what is happening in the nation.

“There are fathers that are not taking care of their children, cannot feed them and are not even good examples to them, and many fathers are perverted in character that is why

corruption is at the peak in our society.”

Continuing, he added so, if we can address the issue of fathers to individuals, it will lead to healthy situation in our families and our nation will be made better”.

While urging fathers to appreciate and acknowledge God in their lives, the cleric said: “We must go back to fundamentals of the word of God and change our lives according to the

pattern of the word of God”, he insisted.

Similarly, the President, Excellent Men Fellowship of the church, Mr. Tope Kayode-Ojo, equally attributed the moral decadence in the society to failure of the home front, noted: “If fathers have played their roles, we will not have vagabonds in the society.”

He also urged fathers to go back to their original roles of being a teacher, provider and protector of their homes.

AEPB denies causing death of roadside hawker

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has said it had no hand in the controversial accident at Nicon junction that claimed the life of a roadside hawker - Adamu Shuaibu.

AEPB over the weekend, in a press release signed by Head, Information and Outreach Programme of the board, Joe Ukairo, said its attention has been drawn to a recent newspaper publication alleging that it was the activities of its Enforcement Squad members that caused the accident leading to the demise of

the deceased.

“The board wants to state clearly that is staff of the board was neither pursing the deceased hawker nor had anything to do with the cause of the accident.

“I personally investigated the allegation and found it to be false. it must be noted that the AEPB has a site office directly opposite the accident scene; and the officer in charge of the site office confirmed that that there was an accident but had nothing to do with his staff who were present at the time of my investigation.

“I also went further to interview some “Okada riders” and “Mai

fura” who were at the scene; they confirmed the deceased on sighting an AEPB vehicle took to his heals and ran into an oncoming vehicle.

“The AEPB Vehicle was not after the deceased they confirmed. I choose to believe the eye witnesses because I use an AEPB Branded official vehicle and whenever the hawkers catches a glimpse of my vehicle they do run away, though I was in no way after them.

While warning all those involved in street trading to stop forthwith with their activities, AEPB maintained that street trading/ hawking is illegal, dangerous and must not be encouraged.

astor Oretayo Adetola, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has called on women to be obedient to God, as they are useful instruments in His hand, to produce a good family, which will in turn produce a righteous and good people.

Adetola, who is the Special Adviser on Women Affairs to the church, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja at the 2013 Regional Sisters’ convention of RCCG, with the theme: “Dependable Women and The End Time”.

She said: “In the desperate time that we live in, God is looking for willing and obedient vessels to give positions of responsibility to.

“A good woman will produce a good family which will in turn produce a good nation,’’ she said.

The cleric cited the story of Deborah in Judges 4, as a central example of a woman of faith who lived at a time when there was much trouble in her country.

She said that Deborah was a dependable woman who wore many hearts: that of prophet, poet, encourager, warrior, wife and a ruler.

“God depended on her because she was a courageous, trustworthy, loving, wise, obedient and reliable leader,’’ she said.

Adetola, however, urged Nigerian women to emulate Deborah in the Bible and look up to God to be dependable in our generation.

The convention Convener, Pastor Victoria Olaade, had earlier explained that a dependable woman was approved of God because of her consistency in loyalty, accomplishment and accountability in all her conduct.

Olaade called on the women to endeavour to be salt of the earth and true light of the world to win souls for God. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 17

Metro FCT -PHCDB takes immunization exercise to the physically challenged in Karamajiji

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

Commuters stranded at AYA junction.

Commuters decry hardship from ban on mini-buses – NAN survey

C

ommuters in FCT who now board the high capacity buses to various parts of the capital city have complained about the long queues and delays in accessing the services of the vehicles.

A cross section of them interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) complained about the problems experienced in boarding the buses following the ban on smaller commercial buses

from operating inside the city.

NAN reports that at the Nyanya terminus, commuters usually stand in long queues, waiting to pay their transport fares to conductors before boarding.

A civil servant, Mr Banabas Jonas, said that the hardship caused by the banning of the small buses popularly referred to as ``Araba’’ was taking toll on commuters.

“We are really

suffering now with the stoppage of ``Araba’’ buses to move to town; now we have to queue for a long time before we board the long buses.

“Instead of one bus to Wuse or Area 1, you now board two buses; you have to use the ‘araba’ to come out to Nyanya before you board the long buses to Abuja town.

“Apart from the delay you have to endure, now you pay nearly double for the same

distance which means that more money is now spent on transport.’’

A n o t h e r c o m m u t e r , Mrs Bolajoko Durojaiye, also expressed regret at the inconvenience that commuters faced because of the new policy by the FCT administration.

“Every policy government brings up must make matters worse for the masses; instead of alleviating their suffering they

Principal wants FCTA to fence school

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he principal of Junior Secondary School Sabon-Gari, in Gwagwalada Area

Council of the FCT, Mallam Mohammed Sani Abdullahi, has appealed to the Senator Bala Mohammed led-

administration, to fence the school, in order to arrest the problem of insecurity ravaging the school.

Abdullahi, who

made the appeal in an interview with Peoples Daily in Gwagwalada, said that his administration would continue

he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board (PHCDB), in collaboration with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and other health partners, at the weekend took polio immunisation exercise to the physically challenged colony in Karamajiji along Airport Road.

Inhabited by people with diverse physical disabilities ranging from the cripple, blind, deaf and dumb etc with their families, the colony was said to have being one of the areas noted for rejection and non-compliance with immunisation exercises.

Speaking at the flagoff of the June 2013 State Immunisation Plus Days at the colony, the Executive Secretary, FCT PHCDB, Dr Rilwan Mohammed said the exercise was kick started in the area as a result of this.

“Actually, we realised that there is a lot of ignorance, no education here. There is a lot of rejection and non compliance to immunisation here so, we decided to come to this community where we have problem, to flag off the exercise”, he said.

While lamenting that a huge number of eligible children were missed in the community during the last exercise, Dr Mohammed said the board had decided that forthwith, immunisation exercises would be flagged off in

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 18

Metro

INSIDE FCT COURTS

Man remanded in prison over rape of 13-year-old housemaid

A

Mararaba Upper Area Court has ordered one Freeman Emmanuel of Aku Base 5, Tudun-wada, Mararaba, to be remanded in prison

custody for allegedly raping a 13-year-oldgirl.

The presiding judge, Mr Vincent Gwahemba, ordered that the accused be remanded till July 15.

Earlier, the

prosecutor, Insp.

Jospeh Ahwa, told the court that the victim’s guardian, Mr Barnabas Agwaza, of the same address, reported the matter at the ‘A’ Division Police

Station on Tuesday.

Ahwa alleged that on the same date, the accused called the victim, forced her into his room and had carnal knowledge of her.

Theft: 22-year old arraigned over Mosque’s generator, praying mat

T

he police have arraigned one Ibrahim Mohammed, 22, before a Grade 1 Area Court in Mararaba, for allegedly stealing a generator and prayer mat from a Mosque.

Prosecutor Inuwa Maigida told the court that Mohammed Abdull of Illa-llah Islamic Foundation Mosque, Aku village, Mararaba, reported the matter at A Division Police Station on May 5.

Maigida alleged that the accused broke into the store of the mosque and allegedly stole half bag rice valued at N6,000, a Tiger generator, valued

Man jailed nine months for stabbing another

A taxi involved in a road accident, yesterday at the Federal Housing Authority junction along Airport

Theft: Court slams student with one year imprisonment

M

agistrate S a m u e l Edhuiarhi of Kubwa Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 29-year old student, Michael Zuq, to one year in prison for

criminal breach of trust and theft.

D e l i v e r i n g judgement, Edhuiarhi ruled that the convict should also pay a fine of N10,000 in addition to the jail term.

By the provision of Section 314 of the Penal Code, a fine and a term of imprisonment must both be imposed.

“The convict is, thereby, sentenced to

a prison term of one year. He is also to pay a fine of N10,000,’’ he said.

Police prosecutor Arziki Kaura had told the court that the case was reported

trespass and attempt to commit an offence.

Presiding judge Ahmed Ado, granted him bail in the sum of N10,000 with one surety in like sum.

Ado adjourned the case to July 1 for further hearing.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Sgt. Abdullahi Alhassan, told the court that Mr

Adeshina Taofeek of Tiper Garage, Jahi 2, Abuja, reported the matter at the Mabushi Divisional Police Station on May 27.

Alhassan said the

Court grants bail to accused charged with criminal trespass

A

n Abuja Grade 2 Area Court, sitting in Kado, has granted bail to one Ismaila Lawal, 15, of no fixed address, accused of alleged criminal

A

Zuba Grade 1 Area court has sentenced a 25-year-old man, Yusuf Lawal, to nine months in prison for stabbing another man on the hand and neck.

The judge, Alhaji Alhassan Kusherki, sentenced Lawal after he pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of causing hurt and public nuisance.

Kusherki, however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N30, 000.

He said the court gave him an option to pay a fine because he was a first-time offender.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 19

INSIDE

Union Bank Q1 Profit before Tax hits N7.7bn

- Pg 20

Access Bank GMD, Aigboje AigImoukhuede, appointed as - Pg 21 VP NSE L-R: Deepak Srivastava, Chief Operating Officer & Executive Director, Airtel Nigeria, Unyime Idem, Managing Director/CEO of Idems Ultimate Ltd, winner of CEO Award and Best Channel Partner for 2012, receiving his award from Segun Ogunsanya, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, recently at a Gala Night hosted by Airtel Nigeria for its Channel Partners at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

External reserves remain stagnant at N48bn

By Abdulwahab Isa with agency report

N

igeria’s external reserves have remained stagnant at N48bn for over three months, an investigation by our correspondent has shown.

It was learnt on Friday that the swing in the external reserves was as a result of the volatility in crude oil prices.

The reserves, which stood at $48.47bn during the week, hit the N48bn mark on March 11, 2013.

And since then, they have been up and down within the mark.

According to financial analysts, the domestic oil output has been negatively affected by several disruptions such as pipeline vandalism, bunkering and force majeure.

Financial Derivatives Company Limited, in its monthly publication, warned that a further decline in global oil prices to $90 per barrel would be devastating for the Nigerian economy, as the reverberations of the shocks would hamper any form of growth across all sectors of the economy.

FDC said, “As the value of the naira falls towards N165 to a dollar at the parallel market and the likelihood for capital flight increases, external reserves will be depleted by about $10bn to $15bn from the current level of $48.5bn. The resultant $33.5bn to $38.5bn will only cover an average of eight months of exports which may lead to increase

in the country’s borrowing.”

Brent crude oil for Wednesday closed at $102.96 per barrel while the United States crude stood at $95.75 per barrel. Global oil prices had declined by six per cent from 107.23 per barrel at the end of the first quarter. Similarly, Nigeria’s bonny light crude stood at $105.5 per barrel on Wednesday, 0.96 per cent higher than $104.5 per barrel recorded last week.

Data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN)’s website on Friday showed that the reserves recorded $2.68bn in seven weeks, from $44.34bn recorded from the beginning of the year to $47bn in February 2013.

The external reserves, which rose steadily since last year due to reasonably high oil prices and stability in the foreign exchange market, however, started dropping in April.

Contrary to the Federal Government’s plan to raise the country’s external reserves to $50bn by end of last year, the reserves closed 2012 at $44.26bn as at December 24.

Figures obtained from the CBN showed that the reserves closed the year $6bn below the Federal Government’s $50bn target.

Although the reserves rose by $11.34bn, representing a 34 per cent increase in 2012 from $32.92bn in 2011, it failed to meet the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala’s desired goal.

The minister had said in

July last year that the Federal Government had set a target of $50bn external reserves by the end of 2012 from the July figure of $36.37bn.

Okonjo-Iweala, at a meeting with the Organised Private Sector in Lagos, stressed the need for the country to shore up its external reserves, saying that there was the need to build up the reserves to $50bn before December.

She pointed out that this would help the country to stand on its feet in the event of any global economic recession.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said apart from the external reserves, Excess Crude Account balances were expected to hit $10bn before the end of the year.

The Governor, CBN, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, recently said the outlook for the country’s foreign reserves was mixed.

He said the foreign-currency reserves would probably keep expanding while facing risks from lower-than- projected oil output and falling prices.

He said, “Quantitative easing by central banks in the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan all point to a likelihood of strong capital flows to emerging and frontier markets that may benefit Nigeria. Still, the combination of lower global oil prices and weak output performance in Nigeria may lead to a slowdown.”

Oil production in Nigeria fell to 1.81 million barrels

a day in March, the lowest level since September 2009.

Nigeria relies on crude exports for about 80 per cent of government revenue and more than 90 per cent of foreign income, according to the CBN. The National Bureau of Statistics had earlier said the country’s external reserves would experience less pressure this year due to a reduction in the demand for foreign exchange to settle high import bills.

The bureau said in a report released in Abuja that the projected increase in the value of total merchandise trade was expected to generate higher external reserves through exports. This, it hoped, would lead to a higher increase in the supply of foreign exchange than the demand.

Warning: Your future job may be in decline - Pg 22

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY Customers need more than products

T

he best salespeople see a sale as a consultation, not a transaction. They find ways to benefit the customer beyond what the product offers. Here are three ways you can be more valuable to your potential clients: Help clients see issues they hadn’t considered. Don’t start by lecturing a customer about the problems you see in her business.

Lead a conversation, prompt her to explore deeper issues, and then offer thoughtful diagnoses as the discussion progresses.

Point out opportunities

they’ve missed. If you can identify them, help your customer see untapped possibilities – markets, technologies, trends – that will allow his business to grow.

Refer them elsewhere, when necessary. Not every client needs what you’re offering. When that happens, connect them with people who can help think through a complex issue or point them to another vendor who has what they need.

Source: Harvard Business Review

Money Market

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 20

Company News

Tinapa Business Resort

T

inapa Business Resort in Calabar, Cross River State, the city’s top business tourism destination is said to be receiving at least 60 percent off-peak visitors with appetite to invest in Nigeria, an independent on-line poll report said.

Also, the on-line poll survey said Tinapa’s Lakeside Hotel is recording at least the same percentage of off-peak occupancy rate; and now ranked among Nigeria’s best used hospitalities.

The managing director of Tinapa, Bassey Eyo Ndem, while confirming this at the weekend in Calabar, said, the management was happy that the place was doing well, despite challenging business climate.

Sharp Electronics

S

harp, an electrical giant is expanding the frontiers of visual communication as it introduces into the Nigerian market Information Display Products (IDP).

Sharp IDPs are wide array of cutting edge display solutions meant to convey business messages to the target audience with brilliant clarity.

Speaking at the presentation of the innovation, the Commercial Manager (Service and Support) CFAO ElectroHall, Opeoluwa Akintomide noted that Sharp IDP comes in different range such as Digital Signage Professional Display Monitors, Interactive Touch Screen Display Panels, Sharp Video Wall Monitors and Sharp Digital Signage Software.

African Development Bank The African Development Bank (AfDB) formally signed on May 29th in Marrakech, Morocco, in the prelude of the 48th AfDB Annual Meetings, a $ 100 million unfunded Risk Participation Agreement (RPA) with Commerzbank AG. Under the agreement, the two banks will share the default risk on a portfolio of eligible trade transactions originated by African issuing banks in Africa and confirmed

by Commerzbank AG. This facility will help address critical market demand for trade finance in Africa by providing support for trade in vital economic sectors and increase government revenue generation ultimately improving Africa’s sustainable economic growth.

FBN renews commitment for sustainability

Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

F

BN Holding Plc. has renewed commitment for sustainability in the profitability and growth recorded by the group in the recent time.

Addressing brokers while presenting the banks ‘Fact behind the Figures’ at the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of the group, Bello Maccido, said FBN Holding has put in place strong measures that will ensure that the group remained one of the most reliable financial institutions of choice across the country, in terms of quality of service delivery and returns to stakeholders.

These measures, according to him, include branch network expansion, enhanced and increased ATMs and point of sales terminals. “If we look at the branch network and customer count, last year, we have an additional 70 branches and in the first quarter of this year, another additional 17 branches bringing the total to 807 and this year we are still adding another 45, all objective of enhancing our physical branches is to drive push, to drive low cost deposit liability generation across the country.

“On the alternative channel, we have been very strong as a group. We have presently 2,200 ATMs across the country and we have enhanced our presence

in the corporate market by deploying 4,500 point of sales terminals across the country”, he assured.

He further stated that the group is focusing and investing heavily business ranging from investment banking, insurance, mobile money to microfinance business for further improved performance.

Specifically, for insurance, Maccido said the Group is partnering with renowned company from South Africa focusing on developing customer friendly, problem solving but timely insurance products aimed at attracting policy holders for deeper penetration.

Highlighting some major achieved recorded by the

Union Bank Q1 Profit before Tax hits N7.7bn

U

nion Bank Plc. has recorded a Gross Earnings ofN29.8 billion (Group) for the first quarter, while Gross Earnings for the bank stood at N25.4 billion.

The bank’s Profit before Tax for the Group was N7.7 billion, up 40 percent from N5.5 billion in Q1 2012, while the bank recorded Profit Before Tax ofN4.6 billion, up 16 percent from N4 billion in Q1 2012.

Profit after Tax for the Group was N7.8 billion, up 49 percent from Q1 2012. Profit after Tax for the bank was N4.8 billion, up 21 percent from Q1 2012.

Earnings per Share for both the Group and the bank improved, with the Group recording 52 kobo in Q1 2013 compared to 28 kobo in Q1 2012, and the Bank recording 28 kobo in Q1 2013 as against 23 kobo in Q1 2012.

Customers’ deposits with the Bank stood at N483 billion at the end of Q1 2013, versus

N482 billion at the end of 2012. The bank’s Shareholders’ Funds at the end of Q1 2013 stood at N176.8 billion, versus N171.7 billion at the end of 2012. The bank’s Total Assets stood at N851.2 billion while Group Total Assets stood at N997.3 billion.

Operating expenses improved for both the Group and the Bank, with the Group recording N16.2 billion in overhead expenses as against N18.4 billion in Q1 2012, and the Bank recording N14 billion compared to N15.6 billion in Q1 2012.

“2012 financial year marked the return of Union Bank to profitability,” said Emeka Emuwa, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of Union Bank. “We are pleased, in the first quarter of 2013, to have built upon that accomplishment. We are encouraged as we continue in our efforts to build a reliable institution – one

which delivers the best service possible to its customers and consistently creates value for all its stakeholders”.

“Our first quarter 2013 results show that we have sustained our return to profitability,” said Oyinkan Adewale, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer.

“We believe that, as we continue to implement our Transformation Programme, we will maintain this trajectory”.

The Bank is continuing with the execution of its Transformation Programme, which revolves around seven critical areas - Business Model, People and Culture, Risk Management, Finance and Performance, Operations, Information Technology and Cost Management.

Some of the transformation initiatives implemented in Q1 2013 include investments in technology and strategic hires in a number of key areas.

Earnings Report for Banks

group last financial year, Maccido expressed, “In spite of the difficult environment we operate, what has been our story is that we maintained our first position by being first in number of areas, in our total assets, in growth loans and most significantly, on the deposit side, we grew by 23 percent, adding an additional 449 billion to our deposit base to over 1.519 trillion, so we close the year with 2.4 trillion deposit base.

“We continue to support the Nigerian private sector, and also from the number, you can see our loan portfolio grew by 23 per cent which we added to loans and advances to the various sector of the economy”, he said.

CBN licences 2 financial institutions

O

ne of the major developments in the money market last week was the announcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), that it would license more banks.

The Head, Corporate Communications of the CBN, Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor, disclosed this during the week.

He said that more banks would be licensed provided they met the requirements.

According to him, two banks, Rand Merchant Bank and First Security Discount House Ltd., had just been licensed with a capital base of N15 billion each.

Also during the week, the CBN said it had embarked on fresh public sensitisation to aid the cashless policy expected to commence in Abuja and five other states in July. The five states are Ogun, Anambra, Abia, Kano and Rivers.

Okoroafor said this was part of the apex bank’s commitment to ensure that the cashless policy achieved its purpose.

He said that the CBN had started direct stakeholders’ engagement to enhance public awareness about the cashless policy.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 21

TOP GAINERS

Capital Market Source: NSE/Proshare

TOP LOSERS

Investor’s Newsbit

Chams Plc

C

1.808 billion new shares recorded on NSE

Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

D

riven by the activities in the financial service sector, transactions on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange last week recorded additional 1.808 billion new shares, as a turnover of 3.725 billion shares worth of N75.874 billion in 39,060 deals were traded this week by investors in contrast to a total of 1.917 billion shares valued at N25.133 billion that exchanged hands in 32,368 deals previous week.

However, the NSE All-Share Index depreciated by 5.85% to close on Friday at 37,249.93 while the market capitalization of the listed equities on the main board also declined by 5.33% to close at N11.967 trillion. Also, the NSE 30 Index inch down by 5.86% to close at 1,779.74.

All the NSE indices depreci-

…ASI drops by 5.8%

ated during the week: NSE Consumer Goods (7.05%), NSE Banking (7.23%), NSE Insurance (2.87%), NSE Oil/Gas (5.82%), NSE-Lotus II (7.21%), NSE Industrial Goods (6.59%) and NSEASeM (1.24%). .

The Financial Services sector (measured by volume) led the activity chart with a turnover of 1.702 billion shares valued at N14.698 billion traded in 19,826 deals. The Financial Services sector represented 45.68%, 19.37% and 50.76% of the total traded volume, value and deals respectively.

The Conglomerates sector followed with a turnover volume of 597.153 million shares worth N1.052 billion in 1,410 deals contributing 16.03%, 1.39% and 3.61% of the total equity turnover volume, value and deals respectively.

The ICT sector came third with a turnover volume of 516.087 million shares worth N1.007 billion in 264 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, IHS Plc and Dangote Cement Plc (measured by turnover volume) accounted for 1.348 billion shares worth N48.722 billion in 1,692 deals contributing 36.19%, 64.22% and 4.33% to the total equity turnover volume, value and deals respectively.

Thirty four (34) equities appreciated in prices during the week lower than fifty eight (58) equities of the preceding week. Fifty-two (52) equities depreciated in prices higher than twenty-six (26) equities of the preceding week, while one hundred and seven (107)

equities remained constant lower than one hundred and nine (109) equities of the preceding week.

Traded during the week were 197 units of NewGold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), valued at N421, 356 executed in 4 deals compared with a total of 234 units valued at N504, 991 transacted last week in 5 deals.

Also, 1,770 units of FGN bonds valued at N194, 830 were traded during the week in 15 deals, in contrast to 1,100 units valued at N123, 765 transacted last week, in 7 deals.

On the report on the OTC market for FGN bonds, a turnover of 184.033 million units valued at N206.534 billion in 1,179 deals were recorded this week, in contrast to 239.266 million units worth N273.295 billion in 1,076 deals recorded in the preceding week ended June 07, 2013.

Access Bank GMD, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, appointed as VP NSE

T

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced the appointment of Aigboje AigImoukhuede CON as the first Vice President of the Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The appointment was made after the 52nd Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Stock Exchange held in May 2013.

The Council of the Nigerian bourse is made up of 14 members, consisting of the President, Aliko Dangote, GCON, the Chief Executive Officer, Oscar Onyema and other members including representatives of dealing member firms, who are highly qualified in their respective professions with a wealth of

diverse experience.

Speaking on this appointment, the CEO of the Nigerian Stock Exchange Oscar Onyema said that “The Council recognises his sterling qualities and wealth of experience, and is delighted with the appointment. We believe that he will not relent in his efforts as an ambassador to move The Exchange forward”.

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the first Vice-President, is the current Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc. He resigned as an Executive Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GT Bank) to lead a team as the MD/CEO

of Access Bank with the mandate to transform the bank into a world-class financial services provider.

His leadership has seen the Bank’s rapid rise to rank among Nigeria’s Tier1 banks.

In 2012, he won the 2011 Ernst & Young ‘West Africa Entrepreneur of the Year’ award and was recently conferred with the prestigious ‘African Banker’ award by the African Banker Magazine.

Aig-Imoukhuede is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Executive Management Programme. He holds LLB and BL degrees from the University of Benin and the Nigeria Law School respectively.

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede

Total affirms commitment to Nigeria

A

t a time when the downstream sector of the petroleum industry in Nigeria, is experiencing challenges in terms of investment from the major players in the Joint venture operations, Total Nigeria Plc has once again demonstrated its resolve to be part of the drivers of what has been a lucrative sector in the past 4 decades.

This was manifest in its performance for the 2012 financial year, a story of expansion and strategic operations that translated into a N3.7 billion payment for shareholders at its 2013 AGM, earlier in the morning at the Muson Centre, Lagos.

To further buttress the fact that it is committed to its investment in the Nigerian market, the Chairman of the Group Mr. Momar Nguer visited the stock exchange to perform the cer-

emonial closing bell ringing for the day.

Mr. Nguer hinted that there was remarkable improvement in Total’s value for shareholders, with an increment in dividend payment from 9.00 in 2011 to 11.00 in 2012.

The Total boss accompanied by the Managing Director Mr. Francois Boussagol, Company Secretary Mrs. Olubunmi Popoola-Mordi, Engr. Felix Majedokunmi, Director and Engr.

Kanu Ukonne, Director, was received by the Executive Director of the Market Technology of the NSE, Mr. Ade Bajomo who represented the CEO Mr. Oscar Onyema, Executive Director Business Development, Mr. Haruna Jalo Waziri NSE, Mrs. Taba Peterside GM Listing NSE and Mrs. Cynthia Akpomodiare, Head of Administration.

hams Plc has notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange of the appointment of Prof.

Oladipo Afolabi, OON, CFR to the Board of Chams Plc, effective May 30, 2013.

Professor Abraham Afolabi, an Applied Chemist/ Biologist with specialization in environmental and Food/ Nutritional Chemistry was born on the 3rd of October, 1953.

He is a recipient of many awards both within and outside the country and has written many international journals and Academic books.

Prior to this appointment, Prof Afolabi was a Management Consultant and an Entrepreneur.

Securities and Exchange Commission

I

n move to forestall a recurrence of the 2008 stock market downturn, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday unveiled 32 securities that can be used as collateral for margin loans.

Realising that unsupervised use of margins to fund investment in listed equities contributed to the share price crash in 2008, the SEC and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced a set of rules to regulate margin lending going forward.

Unveiling the list of securities that can be used for margin loan facilities, SEC said the list is not an investment recommendation but rather a guide to those who wish to engage in margin activities.

Nigerian Stock Exchange

T

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced the regulatory delisting of two companies from its daily official list.

The companies are African Aluminium Plc and Nigerian Wire Industries Plc. The two companies were delisted effective June 3, 2013 due to their persistent noncompliance with the PostListings Rules of the Exchange.

The Council of The NSE had previously endorsed the delisting via a notice published in national dailies late last year.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Business Extra

Warning: Your future job may be in decline Before you make any sudden moves, check out these smarter, more stable alternatives.

Y

ou’ve heard it before - all jobs aren’t created equally.

But what does that mean?

Salary is one obvious point of differentiation, as is the type of labor, bosses’ management styles, and office culture. But have you considered the health of a job’s industry on the whole?

Turns out this factor is pretty important for anyone seeking employment these days, as some jobs are slowly fading into history while others are hurtling toward a much brighter future.

So what’s the great agent of change among these professions? “Many roles are evolving and being created every day because of technology,” says Megan Pittsley-Fox, a career coach and resume writer for WorkLife, a career advising company. “While some are changing, others are completely disappearing.”

And the numbers don’t lie, folks. We’ve taken a look at five professions that the U.S. Department of Labor predicts are in decline and paired each with a similar job that’s anticipating steady growth over the next couple of years.

Intrigued? Keep reading for five careers that are on their way out and five more that are here to stay.

Career 1: File Clerk You’ve got an uncanny knack for remembering details, staying organized, and you’ve never lost a receipt in your life. Sounds like those propensities would make you a great candidate for pursuing a job as a file clerk.

There’s only one down side to taking this kind of job: It’s shrinking.

Why It’s Declining: The routine daily tasks involved in this job make it a prime place for technology to start replacing

humans. “Working as a file clerk is one of the industries that’s going to be removed or deskilled through heavy automation,” says Tim Ragan, owner of Career Coaching International.

To put a numerical value on technological automation, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts this field will experience a 5 percent loss over the 2010 to 2020 time period.

What to Do Instead: Accountant/Auditor Pushing papers as a file clerk likely won’t be as lucrative as crunching numbers as an accountant. And fortunately, as an accountant, you could do much more than that. In fact, the job might involve everything from analyzing a company’s financial statements to computing taxes and suggesting cost-cutting strategies to supervisors, notes the Department of Labor.

Even better news, the Department says this field is expected to grow about 16 percent by 2020.

Career 2: Reporter, Correspondent, or News Analyst “All the Presidents Men,” HBO’s “News Room,” “Anchorman.” Being a reporter may be cool enough to portray and gently mock - on the screen, but sadly, in the years going forward, there will be far fewer Ron Burgundy’s reporting than you think.

Why It’s Declining: The U.S. Department of Labor attributes the decline in this field to “the consolidation of news organizations, decreases in the readership of newspapers, and a decline in viewership for many news television shows.” As the

media landscape changes, the Department of Labor predicts that organizations will cut staff in order to cut costs.

How deep will those cuts run?

The Department reports a 6 percent contraction throughout the field, accounting for 3,200 jobs over the period from 2010 to 2020.

What to Do Instead: Public Relations Specialist If you’re a people-person who thrives in a fast-paced, newsroom-style environment, a better bet in this economy might be a position as a public relations specialist. The good news? You’ll still be writing.

As a matter of fact, you might put together press releases

obsolete, the Department is sure projecting a steep decline: The field should see a 15 percent drop overall from 2010 to 2020.

What to Do Graphic Design

Instead:

Don’t be so glum; why not try your hand at graphic design instead? You could work one on one with clients to make images that convey a message about their products or integrate text with images for websites, ads, logos, and more, says the Department.

Controller Do you get a rush when thinking on your feet or making split decisions? Pursuing a job as an air traffic controller could be the right fit for you. There’s just one big problem: This career seems to be going the way of the buffalo.

Why It’s Declining: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, due in part to federal budget constraints limiting the hiring of new controllers, the career is expected to decrease by 3 percent, by 2020.

But technological advances play a role here, too. “Air traffic controllers certainly will lose some positions as the industry experiences some automation over time,” he says. Essentially, better tools will enable single controllers to monitor more air traffic successfully.

What Airline Pilot

or speeches to create a public image for a particular company, client, or employer, notes the Department.

The best part is that you’ll be shaping the media’s viewpoint in a profession that, according to the Department, is growing at about 23 percent, or by 58,200 positions, between 2010 and 2020. This may sound like a lot, but the growth makes sense.

“We’re living in a world where communication is increasingly important, so companies need these workers,” he says.

Career #3: Desktop Publisher You love getting on your computer to blog and post images, and if you could pay the bills with your creative output, you would. Well, before you go thinking a career as a desktop publisher is right up your alley, consider where it’s headed over the next few years.

Why It’s Declining: As the printing and publishing industries see an overall decline, one stream of this job’s potential employers will dry up, reports the U.S. Department of Labor. And for the others that don’t dry up, the Department of Labor predicts some of the desktop publisher’s tasks will be absorbed by graphic designers, Web designers, and copy editors.

And while the job isn’t yet

What’s more, instead of employment opportunities decreasing by 15 percent like in desktop publishing, you’ll be looking at a 13 percent increase from 2010 to 2020, says the Department, making graphic design a much better creative profession by the numbers.

But why are employers hiring graphic designers? They’re part of the future of advertising.

“Smaller corporations and businesses are going to need graphic designers to arrest people’s attention,” says David Reynaldo, owner and founder of counseling website Collegezoom.us. “That’s where advertising is moving, so there’s a lot of growth here.”

Career

4:

Air

Traffic

to Do Instead: or Commercial

Instead of going after a grinding career as an air traffic controller, consider the slightly more glamorous path of airline or commercial pilot. And don’t worry, you’ll still be able to geek out over how cool the radar is.

The U.S. Department of Labor projects an 11 percent growth rate and 11,500 new jobs between 2010 and 2020, which isn’t jaw-dropping, but it’s certainly more hopeful than air traffic control. Ragan sees the growth as a result of our constant need to travel, especially as business becomes increasingly global. “We’ve certainly got a lot of planes in the air,” Ragan says. “And there likely will be growth in small commercial jets - the executive jet range, rather than the bigger stuff.”

(Source: Times.com)

Financial

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 23

Stock Watch

Report as at Friday, June 14, 2013

Special Report

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Widowed and evicted in Ivory Coast

By Tamasin Ford w o m a n in rural I v o r y Coast has been called to a meeting under the shaded veranda of the local chief’s house to defend her right to inherit her husband’s property.

Barely in her forties, she sits quietly with her head down; the town chief in the small village of Guinkin, close to the Liberian border, is doing much of the talking.

Occasionally she speaks up to give her side of the story: “My name is Helene Tiro.

“I lost my husband two years ago and I don’t know where to go with my children,” she explains, beginning to look desperate.

“My husband’s brothers have sold all the

A

Helene Tiro

In rural areas, women often do not know their new rights farmland. I even don’t know where to find food for my children.”

E v e r y o n e looks at Mrs Tiro, somewhat stunned - not at what she is saying but the fact she is saying anything at all.

It is unusual for a woman in these remote rural Helene Tiro areas to have such confidence family.

“Today I am to speak out looking for a way against her own to take back my

land and feed my children,” Mrs Tiro finally says defiantly.

She adds that she has seven children and no access to the land she has farmed on every day since she got married more than 20 years ago.

Her husband was among the more than 3,000 people who died during the six months of violence that erupted after the

2010 presidential elections when incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to step down.

Mrs Tiro not only lost her husband, but her means of earning her living too.

Marriage law row Her story is not uncommon in Ivory Coast where tradition and culture dictate a woman’s role in the family.

Last November,

P r e s i d e n t A l a s s a n e Ouattara - who took power following Mr Gbagbo’s capture in April 2011 dissolved the entire government over an argument about amending the marriage law, which specified that men were the head of the household and so in charge of assets such as land and property.

After the p r e s i d e n t appointed a new prime minister, the bill was passed making women joint heads of the household.

But this has done little to change centuries of patriarchal traditions and cultures in rural areas.

“Today our

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 25

LAW

Court awards N4m compensation to fuel subsidy protest victim Stories by Sunday

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Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered the payment of the sum of N4 million as compensation to families of four protesters, who were shot by former Divi-

sional Police Officer of Pen Cinema Police Station, Agege, Lagos, Mr. Segun Fabunmi, during last year’s protest against subsidy removal.

The trial Judge, Justice Bola OkikioluIghile in her ruling de-

livered on Friday, held that the Police and Fabunmi are liable for, “recklessly shooting and inflicting bodily injury” on the applicants and ordered the Police to apologise to the applicants on a national daily.

Fabunmi, allegedly shot at the protesters at about 9.30am on January 9, 2012 in Yaya-Abatan Junction, Agege, Lagos, during the protest.

The four applicants were said to have been injured while one oth-

Court sentence four fraudsters to 160 years imprisonment

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Federal High Court in Benin has convicted and sentenced four fraudsters to 160 years imprisonment.

The convicted fraudsters, sentenced by the court sitting before Justice Adamu Hobon are, Aimuamwehi Friday Osareren, Omorede Darlington, Iyokho Nosa and Agugba

Chukwuemeka.

The convicts were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 18th July, 2011 and 7th December, 2011, on separate charges bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

While the first three convicts,

(Aimuamwehi Friday Osareren, Omorede Darlington, Iyokho Nosa) were arraigned on an 11-count charge, the fourth, Agugba Chukwuemeka was prosecuted on a 2-count charge. They were however found guilty and convicted accordingly.

Justice Hobon convicted Aimuamwehi

Friday Osareren on all the eleven charges and sentenced him to ninety eight years imprisonment.

Omorede Darlington and Iyokho Nosa got twenty one years jail term each.

The fourth convict, Agugba Chukwuemeka who was prosecuted on a 2-count charge bordering on obtaining money un-

The Acting Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, Justice I.M. Bukar taking

Alleged 1.6m fraud: Spaniard petitions EFCC, IGP against Imo govt, partner

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Spanish businessman, held by the Police over alleged $1.6 million fraud has petitioned the Inspector General of Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the Imo State government and his Nigerian partner alleging misrepresentation and fraud.

It would be recalled that Mr Jose Lopez-Pepe, the manager of New International FPS SL, was recently arrested by the Interpol and transferred to the Imo State Police command following a peti-

tion by his Nigerian partner and Managing Director of Hormipresa Nigeria Ltd, Benjamin Emenike alleging diversion of the contract sum for the supply of equipments to execute a project in the state.

In a letter signed by his lawyers, Abiodun Oduwole and David Ashaolu, Mr Lopez-Pepe, who claims he never received the payment by the state government for the job, prays the IGP and the anti-graft agency to investigate Emenike and some officials of the Imo State government and make them account for the project

funds.

Lopez-Pepe, who explained that his company decided to partner Hormipresa as an agent for the project which was awarded on November 8, 2011 at the value of N3.6 billion, added that while he returned to Spain to procure technical drawings and other equipments for the project, the agent failed to transfer the advance 30 per cent payment valued at N1.2 billion.

The Spaniard alleges that Emenike connived with some staff of Zenith Bank Plc in Owerri to

change the account mandate to become the sole signatory.

He further explained that when he threatened to report Emenike to the Nigerian authorities, he resorted to remitting small amounts to his Spanish account, routed through some spurious companies in Hong Kong, Russia and UK. He added that this pattern “flagged” the monies for money laundering and the transactions were therefore refused by his government until he produced a letter from the Imo State government.

er protester, Adedamola Daramola, allegedly died instantly.

The applicants in the matter are, Egbuzor Samuel, Alimi Abubakar, Joy Monday and Chibuzo Udo. The suit was instituted on behalf of the four applicants by the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender.

Justice Okikiolu-Ighile held in her judg-

Court hears argument on Teidis bail application tomorrow

A

Federal High Court in Abuja will tomorrow hear argument on the bail application of the former Director, Pension Accounts Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu, who is standing trial over a N6 billion pension fraud.

Teidi was last week arraigned afresh alongside, Omoefe Uduesegbe and nine companies, before a Federal High Court sitting before Justice Adeniyi Ademola on a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy and allegedly defrauding the pension funds of about N6 billion.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the 22-count charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Consequent upon their, “not guilty plea” to the charges, their counsel, Sunday Ameh (SAN) made an oral application for their bail, but the trial Judge refused to grant the application and asked the Defence to come before the court formally with the application for the accused persons.

Justice Ademola then ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody till June 18, 2013 (tomorrow) when the court will hear argument on their bail application.

Count one of the 22-count charge reads: “That you, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu, former Director, Pension Accounts, office of the Head of service of the Federation of Nigeria, Udusegbe Erik Omoefe, Gozinga Enterprises, Uthathak Nigeria Limited, Krasiva Nigeria Limited and Riba-lle Petroleum Limited at various times between 2009 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired together to obtain by false pretence and with intent to defraud from Pensions Account Office of the Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria various sums in the aggregate amount of N1, 951, 592, 000.00 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related offences Act 2006 and Punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act 2006”.

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Education

wallybabe2010@gmail.com, 08050639900

FG ready to pay SSSANU allowances, says Ugwoke

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

T

he National President of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSSANU), Comrade Samson C. Ugwoke, has appealed to its members to be patient as arrangement has been concluded by the Federal Government to pay the associations 2009/2012 allowances.

Ugwoke made the appeal at the weekend in Birnin Kebbi, while delivering a speech at the Northern Zonal Executive Council meeting of the union in the state’s University of Science and Technology, Aliero.

He assured that leadership of the association is doing its best to ensure that all problems face by its members are solved. ‘’We are fighting for the union and the universities at large, if the Federal Government is able to fulfill our requests then students in the universities in the country will have a better and sound education and there will be no more strike action. ‘’Our meeting with the Minister of Education over the issue revealed that, all arrangements have been concluded for the payment of our allowances and I promise you that very soon every one of us will smile’’ he added.

Ugwoke further explained that the union has also introduced live insurance for its members adding that this will enable each member to be protected by the insurance in terms of death and other eventualities.

Speaking earlier, the state branch Chairman of the union, Com. Ahmed A. Mungadi, who expressed delight with the achievements recorded by the association at the national and state levels from 2009 to date, assured its members that more good things are on the way for the betterment of the members. ‘’We will continue to deliver what is acceptable, provided we remain united. But there is a greater challenge ahead of us; I mean the entire trade union in this country because governments see the Nigerian civil servants as a problem that consume too much and give too little. This outlook turns the labour sector to an insignificant economic variable contrary to the fact that labour is the instrument for development of every nation’’ he said.

He however condemned the present contributory pension scheme as ‘uncertain, exploitative and unfavorable to workers”, adding that it doesn’t give full access to the contributions one make from his earnings when in the service and urged the federal government to abolish the system for the interest of the masses.

L-R: Lagos Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, special adviser to the governor on environment, Dr Taofeek Folami, and school children cutting anniversary cake, during the 5th anniversary of climate change club for schools, recently in Lagos. Photo: NAN

UNESCO, UNN to hold science fair for schools

By Maryam Garba Hassan

U

niversity of Nigeria Nsukka in collaboration with UNESCO and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) will today mount a three legged Science Fair where it will display the most recent advances in methods of teaching and learning science.

The science fair which is slated for 17-22, June, 2013 and organised for undergraduates and secondary school students, would also feature a microscience and global water experiment, mobile learning

science workshop as well as engineering without borders science outreach training for science teachers and students.

About 1200 students and 85 teachers from secondary schools in the neighbourhood of the University would participate in the workshops and carry out practical experiments with the latest tools. They would participate in the UNESCOIUPAC micro science and global water experiment designed to offer secondary school students the opportunity to conduct practical works in physics, chemistry and biology, using kits that come with booklets describing the experiments.

According to UNESCO the kits are veritable minilaboratories that are compact, affordable and reused, developed by them in the late 1990s within the framework of International Basic Science Programme.

The UNESCO-ICTP MobileLearning Workshop which is the first of its kind in Africa, is targeted to guide academic staff in developing countries to be conversant with the newest mobile educational possibilities and the creation of scientific contents for mobile devices.

The programme offers a balanced mix of technical details, general overview, societal impact and a sense

of possibility with “Scientific Mobile Learning” while the training will accommodate 100 members of the academic staff and will be held in UNN. Vice Chancellor Prof. Bartho Okolo said the University is collaborating with UNESCO on the projects as part of its efforts to ensure that UNN operates at the highest global standards in teaching and learning.

It would be recalled that in February UNESCO inaugurated a Scientific Advisory Board and flagged off commencement of the International Biotechnology Centre UNESCO Category 2 at the University of Nigeria.

Sokoto Varsity to commence academic activities June 19 From Mahmoud Muhammad, Sokoto

S

enate of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) has approved the immediate resumption of academic activities in the higher institution as from Wednesday 19th June, 2013.

The Senate has also approved the commencement

of the semester examinations on Monday the 24th of June, 2013.

A statement signed by the institutions’ Registrar, M. K. Jabo, in Sokoto, stated that all students most obey the school guideline which include payment of 1,000 Naira to the administration and signing of a letter of undertaking to be of good behavior throughout their stay in the University.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.

Riskuwa Rabu Shehu, in a reaction to the students’ action, described the situation as unfortunate, saying a committee has been set-up to find out the real cause of the problem.

He further said as soon as the committee completes its findings and made its recommendations, anybody found wanting will be dealt with.

It would be recalled that the institution was closed down two weeks ago, following a demonstration by the students of the school over lack of potable water, power supply and diesel to power the school generator set in the class premises. The incident happend few weeks to the commencement of the University examinations but no property was reported to have been destroyed during the protest.

Plateau threatens to sack 11,000 unqualified teachers

T

he Plateau Government at the weekend threatened to sack 11,000 unqualified teachers in its payroll.

Gov. Jonah Jang, who made the pronouncement in a media interaction in Jos, said, ``government cannot continue to harbour people who cannot add value to the education sector in the state. ``We have 7,000 teachers in the primary schools that are not qualified and another 4,000

that have no business going near our schools at all. The 7,000 were asked to improve upon their status but they have failed to do so and we have made up our minds to do away with the 11,000 put together. ``This administration had established some pivotal institutions that will help in training and churning out qualified teachers that can teach our primary pupils”, he said.

Jang said that his administration had paid over N3.4 billion as

counterpart funding to Universal Basic Education Commission and attracted a lot of projects as well as other benefits to the sector adding that the drive was aimed at transforming the educational sector and that anyone who was not fit for the journey must give way.

The governor said that lifting the standard of education in the state was ``paramount`` to the goals of his administration and that the government was ready to do all it could

to give hope to the young generation.

He said that it was in that line that he established three special science schools and upgraded Government Technical School, Bukuru. ``Only qualified candidate will be admitted into the technical school and nothing less, no matter whose child is involved. Our goal is to ensure we do away with the rot in our educational system in the state knowing well that education is the bedrock of any nation,’’ he said. NAN

PAGE 28

Education

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013 wallybabe2010@gmail.com, 08050639900

Parents protest non-graduation of midwifery students years after admission Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

S

ome parents of students of Kaduna State School of Midwifery at the weekend protested against the non-accreditation of the school and graduation of the students five years after it started operation.

The parents who were in group stormed the school and met with the management, said they were concerned about the fate of

their children admitted into the institution since 2008 but had yet to graduate due to accreditation problem the school is facing.

Dr. Aliyu Garba, spokesman of the parents demanded for explanations from the school on what it described as “unnecessary delay” of the accreditation of its courses adding that many of the students are supposed to have graduated since the courses are

supposed to run for about three years.

He however said that parents would be forced to take appropriate measures if the situation did not change by the end of the year.

The Principal of the school, Hajiya Safiya Musa, acknowledged that the nonaccreditation of the courses run by the institution had forced the school to stop admitting new students since 2011 saying that

the school which has 194 students is trying to meet the conditions for its accreditation.

According to her, the school authority had sent a request for the facilities required to be put up at the institution to qualify it for accreditation to Gov. Mukhtar Yero in April and assured the parents that the management of the school was making efforts to overcome the challenges and urged them to exercise patience.

Melaye decries falling standard of education

F

ormer member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye, has expressed concern over the falling standard of education in the country.

Melaye said this during the Gala/Award night of the Students Union Government, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike at the weekend where he spoke on ``Democracy, Corruption and the state of education in Nigeria’’.

He however expressed regrets that the education sector was left in ``ruins’ adding that the performances of Nigerian students in national and international examinations had brought to fore the enormity of the challenges that bedeviled the sector.

Melaye said that the incidence had direct bearing of the democratic process as future leaders were trained under a `shaky’ foundation embedded in corruption. ``Education is key to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy and the continuous fall in the standard can be attributed to corruption among the political class,” he said.

He called on stakeholders to stand and speak out against the ills that had pervaded the system. ``The reason why we don’t have proper understanding of democracy is that we have failed to understand and appreciate our fundamental human rights as a people,” he said.

He said that students held the ace in the march toward a change in the moral value.

According to him, Nigeria shall be great again, but first as students, you need to prepare yourselves to be change agents. ``We have a system that is faulty, and therefore, needs to come out of our cocoon if not the system cannot be better. Our education sector is expected to be at the vanguard of saving our dear country from mediocrity, and the students need to form cells in order to propagate this gospel of reformation,” he said. (NAN)

Anambra state governor, Mr. Peter Obi (Middle), laying foundation for the construction of medical hostel for students of Anambra state University, recently in Awka. PHOTO: NAN

Oditah advocates PPP in funding legal education

R

enowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Queen’s Counsel Prof. Fidelis Oditah has advocated a joint public and private sector funding to bring legal education to the desired standard in Nigeria and the African continent.

Delivering a key note address at the 2nd African Regional Conference of the International Association of Law Schools at the University of Nigeria, Oditah stated,

Communication experts call for increased research, documentation of social challenges in Nigeria

C

ommunication scholars and practitioners have called for a more focused effort at research and documentation of socio-economic and behavioural issues in communication and other social sciences as they began a three-day “Dialogue on Media and Communication” at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Prof Robert White, a renowned communication scholar at the Institute of Peace Studies and International Research, Hekima College, Nairobi, Kenya led the charge as he called on Nigerian scholars to use their enormous research potentials to solve the country’s problems. White stressed that the position of Nigerian universities would also improve as scholars publish their research results in the highly rated Impact Factor journals.

Speaking on the theme “Research Methods”, Prof White urged researchers to mould their researches to solve pertinent policy problems in the country.

Community Relations Manager of Nigeria LNG Limited Mr Ifeanyi Mbanefo urged academics to tailor their researches to solve industrial and social problems in the Nigerian society. He maintained that every meaningful research exercise should offer solutions to particular challenges without which such exercise would not attract support or sponsorship from industry.

Mr Mbanefo challenged academics to make themselves relevant to Nigerian industries instead of confining their activities to Ivory towers.

The Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof Uchenna Anyanwu, who represented the Vice Chancellor at the occasion, said that the topic of the Dialogue-Research Methods- was apt and relevant to the present Nigerian situation where solutions to myriads of problems bedevilling the country must be unearthed through research. He urged participants of the workshop to use the medium to equip themselves with the relevant academic amour needed to confront the challenge.

“Strengthening our legal education obviously requires putting more money into our legal education. Increased funding requires a partnership between the governments and other stakeholders and donors.

“Law firms and lawyers have a big role to play. What is needed is a public-private partnership where the government provides the lion’s share of funding supplemented by private money,” he said.

He further challenged African lawyers to rise to the defence of democracy in their countries, maintaining that it was the responsibility of African lawyers to promote democratic ideas in their countries, provide basic structure for economic growth of their nations, and position themselves as instruments of social engineering in their societies.

According to him, “The extent to which Africa can attract business and foreign direct investment depends in part upon investor perception of the quality of our civil and criminal justice system. Like many other developing countries, Africa needs a strong, independent and effective legal profession and judiciary to trade itself out of poverty and into prosperity”.

Oditah spoke on “Legal Education in Africa in the 21st century and the challenge of globalisation” and bemoaned the insignificant involvement of African lawyers in top legal services involving African businesses and governments.

He said that even when African lawyers are involved, their roles were often limited to offering advice on local regulations and licensing requirements that have to be complied with while African governments sought advice on the substance of transactions and investments from foreign lawyers.

Prof Oditah therefore suggested an

improved content in the teaching of Law as a panacea to deficiencies of legal education in the African continent and that legal education in Africa should be students-centred, as opposed to the prevailing lecturer-dominated approach.

He urged teachers of law in Africa to pattern their lectures in form of vocational training by ensuring that their students “learn by doing rather than being told what to do”.

He stated that the conference would help strengthen the tie between his university and the University of Nigeria, as well as help participating faculties to make friends.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the ViceChancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof Bartho Okolo thanked the Association for choosing to host the conference at the University of Nigeria.

Prof. Okolo, who spoke through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Malachy Okwueze, said that University Administration at UNN is working hard to reclaim the pride of the university and establish new benchmarks of excellence.

According to him, the strategy included collaborations with other renowned universities in the world to enhance exchange of scholarly ideas.

Also speaking, the Director General of Nigerian Law School, Dr. Tahir Mamman said that the conference was important because it would help boost the opportunity of Nigeria and Africa to be relevant players in global legal practice.

The Law Faculty of the University of Nigeria is hosting deans of more than 35 Law Schools from across Africa and the world under the auspices of the International Association of Law Schools to examine new paradigms for legal education across Africa.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 29

Healthy Living

Safe blood: Most Hospitals are still using rapid test,says expert E Stories by A’isha Biola Raji

ven though Nigeria has the potential to achieve safe blood in abundance, it has come to notice that, most hospitals are still using the unsafe rapid test kit in screening collected blood.

This was brought to attention on Friday in Abuja, by experts at a media dialogue in celebration of Blood Donation Day. Dr. Abigail Bozegha, Chief Medical Officer, National Blood Transfusion service said one of the challenges of blood transfusion in Nigeria is the use of the unsafe rapid test kit. “Rapid test may be done to

certify the blood but will end up not safe for transfusion,” she called According to her, a lot of people are dying unnecessarily because of lack of blood in blood bank hence the need to encourage voluntary blood donors with an advantage for the donor to know his/her state of health. “Donating blood is an opportunity for donor to know how physically fit he/she is,” she advised.

She said it has however come as a surprise that, smaller countries have centrally organized blood service system delivering blood to rural areas unlike what is obtained in Nigeria.

In his words, Dr. Tunde Segun,

Country Director, Evidence for Action (E4A) called on the need for all hands to be on deck, to encourage people to rise up to the challenge, especially in saving the lives of mothers and babies in the case of post-partum hemorrhage.

Dr. Mansur M. Tukur of Safe Blood for Africa Foundation, Nigeria called on the need to use religion predisposition of Nigerians by creating awareness on the need to donate blood.

He said, “The large population we have is our power, there is religion inclination that can move Nigerians to donate if awareness is generated.”

that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate smoking.

He asked, “Why are you smoking?

Why are you taking what will kill you? What benefit do you derive from smoking?”

He listed his achievements in the Ministry to include establishment of National Trauma Centres in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and the National Hospital, Abuja, completion of Federal Staff Hospital, Jabi, Abuja, completion of Laboratory and Administrative building of Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja, and rehabilitation and equipping of several Teaching Hospitals in the country.

He noted that President Jonathan doubled the funding of polio eradication activities to N4.7billion and in 2013 and made a further commitment of N2.5billion with a Presidential Task Force on

Polio Eradication constituted to help in the fight against the disease.

“Today, in Nigeria, seven of our Teaching Hospitals can do kidney transplant. This month, we are expecting International Certification Team on the Elimination of Guinea Worm in Nigeria,” he said.

In his contribution, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Ali Pate said the Save-One-Million-Lives recently launched by the President would help save more than the target figure, as according to him, the logistics, professionals and infrastructure on ground in the country would help achieve the result. “Maternal mortality dropped by 50 percent between 2009 and 2012,” he said.

Pate added that 25 cases of polio cases were recorded since January this year, which he said was as a result of security challenge in Yobe and Borno where the cases were reported.

FG to hold universal health coverage summit, vows to ban tobacco smoking in Nigeria

I

n attainment of 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Federal Government will soon convene a Universal Health Coverage in order to enhance its strategies.

It has also reiterated its intention to ban smoking in the country when the Anti-Tobacco Bill at the National Assembly is passed into law. Smokers have however been advised to look for alternative place to smoke when the bill is finally passed.

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, said this in Abuja during the Ministerial Platform where he briefed on his two-year leadership of Ministry since President Goodluck Jonathan was elected President of Nigeria.

The Minister, who has in the recent weeks been emphasizing the need to ban smoking, emphasized

“FCTrecords10%dropinHIV/AIDSprevalenceratiointwoyears”

By Stanley Onyekwere

I

t has also reiterated its intention to ban smoking in the country when the AntiTobacco Bill at the National Assembly is passed into law.

Smokers have however been advised to look for alternative place to smoke when the bill is finally passed.

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, said this in Abuja during the Ministerial Platform where he briefed on his two-year leadership of Ministry since President Goodluck Jonathan was elected President of Nigeria.

The Minister, who has in the recent weeks been emphasizing the need to ban smoking, emphasized that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate smoking.

He asked, “Why are you smoking?

Why are you taking what will kill you? What benefit do you derive

…targets below 5% ratio by 2015 from smoking?”

He listed his achievements in the Ministry to include establishment of National Trauma Centres in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and the National Hospital, Abuja, completion of Federal Staff Hospital, Jabi, Abuja, completion of Laboratory and Administrative building of Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja, and rehabilitation and equipping of several Teaching Hospitals in the country.

He noted that President Jonathan doubled the funding of polio eradication activities to N4.7billion and in 2013 and made a further commitment of N2.5billion with a Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication constituted to help in the fight against the disease.

“Today, in Nigeria, seven of

our Teaching Hospitals can do kidney transplant. This month, we are expecting International Certification Team on the Elimination of Guinea Worm in Nigeria,” he said.

In his contribution, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Ali Pate said the Save-One-Million-Lives recently launched by the President would help save more than the target figure, as according to him, the logistics, professionals and infrastructure on ground in the country would help achieve the result. “Maternal mortality dropped by 50 percent between 2009 and 2012,” he said.

Pate added that 25 cases of polio cases were recorded since January this year, which he said was as a result of security challenge in Yobe and Borno where the cases were reported.

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu

Hypertension: Church holds seminar for members

C

oncerned that hypertension is the root cause of most avoidable illnesses and diseases today, the Four Square Gospel Church, Asokoro decided to hold a Health Seminar on healthy living for its members and other residents of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) to encourage them to take responsibility for their health.

The four-day seminar which ran through Monday June 10, to Thursday June 13, 2013 aimed to encourage Nigerians to adopt a healthy diet and life style that prevents ailments like cancer and diabetes, hypertension among others.

The Guest Speaker, Rev Tony Akinyemi of Shepherd Flock International Church, Lagos who is an authority on scriptural principles and rules on health issues, highlighted good and necessary dietary habits that can enhance positive and healthy lifestyles on the theme: “Vibrant Health; your heritage” Organised by the Excellent Men’s Fellowship of the Church,

the Healthy Living Seminar which also held last year, according to the church, was designed to assist in raising a healthy population of Nigerian citizens.

Senior Pastor of the church, Rev Babajide Olowodola testifying to the efficacy of the teaching on healthy living, said since last year’s series, there had been a remarkable improvement in the health of members of the church.

He said, “By this seminar, the morbidity rate in this church has been zero level-no death in the last 12 months. We have had more people living healthy and getting well. What people say is the diseases of the rich man; cancer and diabetes are diseases of ignorance. “We will not have all these if we have the simple information about healthy lifestyle because there are things we can avoid and stay healthy by eating well.”

Rev. Akinyemi, who trained from the university as a Computer Engineer and holds a degree in Theology, flagged-off the seminar by enumerating the existing cardiovascular diseases.

PAGE 30

Healthy Living

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Curbing the rising menace of hepatitis via effective management

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

T

he National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) recently raised concern on the perceptible increase in reported cases of hepatitis B among voluntary blood donors.

Medical experts have also expressed concern over the upsurge in hepatitis cases, saying that the development poses a threat to the health of future generations of Nigerians if not managed effectively.

They observe that hepatitis, which is an inflammation of the liver, is categorised into types A, B, C, D and E. They, however, note that the most common categories are hepatitis A, B and C. Dr. Baba Ahmed, a public health physician at the NBTS, says that hepatitis B is the main communicable disease that is often discovered during the screening of voluntary blood donors by NBTS. He recalls that in a blood screening by NBTS in 2012, hepatitis B alone accounted for 15 per cent of the discovered communicable diseases, HIV accounted for 4.2 per cent, hepatitis C accounted for 6.3 per cent, while syphilis accounted for 0.89 per cent.

Ahmed adds that the hepatitis virus was detected in the blood of persons with ages ranging between 18 and 30 years old.

“These are people who came willingly for blood donation, they did not know that such virus is in their system and they represent just a small fraction of the society,’’ he says.

Ahmed, nonetheless, stresses that hepatitis cases are so rampant because hepatitis has not attracted much public enlightenment campaign just like HIV and AIDS. “To prevent it, people need to ask questions; let there be increased public awareness on

Effect of Hepatitis on the liver

hepatitis; mode of contracting it and how it can be prevented.

“Once you are aware, then, you know what to do; after all, it will take six months to treat those who have hepatitis without symptoms, while those sufferers with symptoms would be managed based on the symptoms,’’ he said.

Ahmed therefore, urged the public to strive to know more about the disease, noting that more than 10 per cent of people screened at any given time are usually infected with hepatitis B.

On its mode of spread, Dr Kayode Obende, a gynaecologist at Garki General Hospital, Abuja, says that hepatitis B can easily be transferred from positive mothers to newborns during childbirth.

“But if given vaccination at birth, the incidence is reduced to 20 per cent; the vaccine reduces the babies’ chances of becoming chronic carriers,’’ he said.

He, nonetheless, emphasised that the virus could not be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy, saying, “It cannot

cross through the placenta; the transfer can only take place through the process of delivery.

“It is contagious and can be transferred through blood product; one can get the virus through blood transfusion, sexual intercourse and sharing of needles, among others,’’ he added.

All the same, Obende advised pregnant women to undergo routine checks for hepatitis B whenever they attend ante-natal clinic, so as to know their health status.

He stresses that more than 400 million people worldwide are hepatitis positive, adding that the major problem with the virus is that some people may not even be aware that they have contracted the disease.

The gynaecologist said that in some cases, the virus would not manifest immediately as an acute infection and as a result, some people could retain the virus as chronic carriers.

Obende, however, warned that, if the infection becomes chronic, it could lead to destruction of the liver and cause death instantly.

Recounting his ordeal, Mr. Chukwu Emmanuel, an Abujabased businessman, said he once had hepatitis about 12 years ago, adding that the disease nearly killed him then.

He recalled that he initially had some malaria symptoms and after much treatment, it was discovered through blood screening that he had hepatitis, typhoid and pneumonia.

“The virus had even affected my kidney before I got to hospital but I thank God that I am still living,’’

he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr. Godwin Solomon, another Abujabased businessman, recalled how he fell sick in July last year and he was later diagnosed of hepatitis B. His wife, Mrs. Uchenna Solomon, however, said that she did not contract hepatitis B in spite of the fact that it is a communicable disease.

What then are the measures which could be put in place to control the growing menace of hepatitis infections?

Mr. Theobald Owusu-Ansah, the President of Theobald Hepatitis B Foundation, Ghana, and a columnist, underscores the need to incorporate counseling into any medical procedures used in the therapy of hepatitis.

“When a person is diagnosed of hepatitis, he or she might suffer great physiological stress through fear of rejection, social stigma and the uncertainties associated with it. Counseling can minimise morbidity and reduce its occurrence.

“There is no specific treatment for an acute hepatitis infection; symptoms are usually treated with supportive care.

“Treatment for chronic hepatitis does not cure the disease but suppresses it or manages it like diabetes.

“The goal of treatment is to improve quality of life and survival by preventing progression of the disease and reduce the ability of the virus to reproduce in the body; medications do not cure it,’’ Owusu-Ansah wrote in an online publication. NAN

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

International

Restoring peace in Guinea Bissau is hinged on Union of Portuguese Language Countries INTERVIEW

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he African Union (AU) is holding a high level consultation on Guinea Bissau IN Nigeria, what is the aim of this move?

We are here for Guinea Bissau, as you all know, the country has been plunged into a socio-political crisis. The standard of living among the people has been deteriorating despite concerted efforts by the international community, notably the ECOWAS, African Union, the Community of Portuguese Language countries (CPLP), the UN and Nigeria.

This consultation that we are having is coming after a new chronogram has been made out by the major political actors. So we are just trying to fast-track and ensure that we comply with the chronogram so that we shall have not only free, fair and credible elections in Guinea Bissau, but also have stability, peace and development in the country.

The experts that we have are from all over the continent, we have representatives from the African Union, ECOWAS, professors from various universi ti e s, c i vi l s ociet y is also represented, we also have the regional community bodies here too and representatives from Guinea Bissau itself. We are bringing in these experts to help us study the case and chart a way out on the present impasse in Guinea Bissau.

Earlier in your speech, you spoke on financial challenges facing the roadmap. What is the AU doing to counter this?

Yes I made mention of this in my address, and I must emphasize that the AU is seriously committed to ensure that the process goes on. Nigeria almost on monthly bases do send her support, paying salaries of retired soldiers, retired workers, supporting the country in whole. Nigeria has been involved in the crisis in Guinea Bissau from the onset and this has helped in reducing the possibility of war in that country.

From the controversy in Guinea Bissau, consultations have revealed what the people want, what the parties involved want and what the African Union wants.

Is the African Union doing what the people want or what it thinks is best for them?

What the poor helpless people in Guinea Bissau want is peace, stability and development. This is what the AU and ECOWAS also wants for them.

Dr Aisha Laraba Abdullahi is the commissioner of political affairs at the African Union (AU). She speaks to Abdulkadir Isa on efforts being made by AU to restore peace in Guinea Bissau, Mali and the challenges involved to safeguard these countries from total system collapse. in the government, where the institutions, the public service, the local governmentis weak, then the country becomes a fragile state and this is the situation in Guinea Bissau.

Wecannot hold elections in Guinea Bissau and move out immediately,the department of political affairs which I supervise is also in charge of public service and also local government and decentralisation will be involved to make sure that these institutions are have been weakened as are strongly back.

Usually after the elections we do have a donor round table, where organisations, member states donate to help kick-start activities for the country.

Dr Aisha Laraba Abdullahi The major problem is that, anytime a government is put in place in Guinea Bissau, it doesn’t last and that is why we are having this consultation because until we contain these forces in Guinea Bissau, we can’t ensure stability. These are the issues and what the people want is not different from what the AU and the rest of the international community wants. But we always have these intervening forces coming in to create instability.

This time around we’ll have a stable government and the one that will last. This is our aim.

Is there any role the five parties involved are playing to facilitate the process and making sure that post-election peace is maintained?

Where that commitment is lacking, there might not be peace. So we want to make sure we get them to commit themselvesto the code of conduct that they have signed.

So they will all be there.

We also want to make sure

that we are mindful of the process –before, during and after the elections. The AU now is not only involved in short term monitoring. We are embarking on long-term plans as is obtained in Mali.

Already our long-term team is scheduled for Mali in July and they will be there until after the elections. The short-term team will join them later and leave after the elections.

The major problem in Guinea Bissau today is more of security, in your on-going consultations, h a s t h e r e b e e n anycommitment from both serving and ex-service men to a smooth process?

This consultation that we are having is just one of a series to come. It is not going to be the final. This one is geared to bring in all those that have been observing the country to bring in their own view, so we all understand the situation.

For sure we will meet people of the armed forces and get them committed as well.

“

The colonial masters have a vital role in cases like this as was seen in Mali by the French. What has Portugal done to address this and possible plans it has outlined?

Everybody says that until we get not just Portugal, but the CPLP involved, we cannot solve the problem in Guinea Bissau because they are a major stakeholder. They are the equivalent of the commonwealth and subsequent consultations that we are going to have will involve them.

ECOWAS, the CPLP and the AU are the major players in this and will see to more parties in future discussions.

You complained about instability of governments in Guinea Bissau. What are the major steps the AU is taking to ensure a stable government?

Political stability goes along with development. Where you have poor infrastructure, where the people feelleft out

There was a lot of displacement in Mali and a lot of them left to neighbouring countries to seek refuge particularly from the northern part of Mali.

In Mali today, there have been concerns on human rights abuse. What is the AU doing to make sure that humanitarian challenges re dealt with?

There was a lot of displacement in Mali and a lot of them left to neighbouring countries to seek refuge particularly from the northern part of Mali. The international community is doing all it can to address the these needs of the refugees, but most importantly, the AU as it has deployed human rights observers coordinated by Commissioner Gansu, a commissioner in the African commission for human and people’s rights an organ that relates with the political department of the AU. These observers have been to most parts of Mali and reports reaching us suggest that human rights abuses have been on the decline and this is positive news. The territorial integrity in Mali has been restored except in Kidal, but recently the Tuareg’s have agreed to a seazefire with the Malian government and to hold elections. So we hope that things will get better to ensure a stable government.

Is the AU financially prepared to match the challenges ahead of the elections in Guinea Bissau?

The AU is giving all it can to ensure a smooth transition.

Most of AU’s funding comes from its development partners until lately during the 50th anniversary summit when it was declared that there is a need for a paradigm shift for the AU to fund its own activities. The AU willmake available what it has to restore peace and stability in Guinea Bissau.

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

International

Nelson Mandela improvement sustained, says Jacob Zuma

F

ormer South African President Nelson Mandela continues to get better in a Pretoria hospital, current President Jacob Zuma has said.

He added that the revered ex-leader remained in a serious condition as he recovered from a lung infection.

“Over the last two days, although he remains serious, his doctors have stated that his improvement has been sustained,” Mr Zuma said.

He added that Mr Mandela “continues to engage with family”.

Mr Zuma made his remarks while addressing a gathering for Youth Day in KwaZulu-Natal

province in remembrance of the 1976 Soweto uprisings against apartheid.

He asked the audience to join him in wishing Mr Mandela a happy Father’s Day. The BBC’s Mike Wooldridge in Johannesburg says that Mr Mandela’s grandson Mandla spoke in a similar vein on Saturday, talking of good progress - but no-one has yet indicated when he might leave hospital.

While they might hold out hope, our correspondent adds, many South Africans clearly recognise his continuing vulnerability.

Mr Mandela became South

Africa’s first black president in 1994 after leading the struggle against apartheid. He stepped down five years later.

He has been in intensive care since he was taken to hospital on 8 June for the third time this year.

Each visit has provoked greater concern in South Africa and around the world over the welfare of the global icon, who will be 95 next month.

Mr Mandela’s wife Graca Machel has been at his bedside regularly since calling off a trip to London last week.

In December, Mr Mandela spent 18 days undergoing treatment

LRA rebels ‘kill villagers in Central Africa’ LRA leader, Joseph Kony

M

ilitary source says 16 people dead in clashes between Lord’s Resistance Army and villagers in Central African Republic.

At least 16 people have been killed during clashes between rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and villagers in the Central African Republic (CAR),

a military source from the CAR has said.

LRA fighters - on the run from Uganda where they fought the government for decades before being defeated - attacked two villages in the central mining region of Bria on Thursday, initially killing six people and wounding about 10 others as they looted houses, the

source said.

“The rebels were pursued and caught by villagers armed with rifles ... who killed four of them,” the source added.

The LRA fighters responded with a fresh attack during which they killed six more people, who they decapitated, placing their heads on tree trunks, he said.

for either media or security reforms demanded by the MDC party of Tsvangirai, the president’s arch-rival.

Tsvangirai has previously said Mugabe should approach the courts to extend the election deadline.

Mugabe told the Sunday Mail the government would do so through the justice minister but accused his opponents of running scared of elections.

“The other parties do not want elections, they are afraid of elections.

They know they are going to lose and it’s a sure case that they are going to lose,” Mugabe told the stateowned Sunday Mail newspaper. His spokesman was not available for comment.

Finance Minister TendaiBiti, the MDC secretary general, countered that it was ZANU-PF that was not ready for elections as factional fighting

over who should succeed Mugabe preoccupies the party.

Biti said he expected parliament to change restrictive media and security laws and for the military to sign a code of conduct pledging not to interfere with the election process.

“We will attend to those amendments of the media, security and reform the security sector.

This is the hard message coming from SADC and Chinamasa must stop misleading people,” he said.

Leaders of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) who met in Mozambique on Saturday fear that a hurried election in Zimbabwe would increase the chances of a disputed result and violence.

Chinamasa said he would approach the Constitutional Court seeking an extension to the July 31

for a lung infection and gallstones.

Before his latest admission to hospital, he had been ill for some days, with a recurrence of his long-standing lung problems.

Mr Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for his role in the fight against apartheid and is believed to have suffered damage to his lungs while working in a prison quarry.

He contracted tuberculosis in the 1980s while being held in jail on the windswept Robben Island.

He retired from public life in 2004 and has rarely been seen at official events since.

The group committed similar atrocities when they fought in northern Uganda from 1987 to 2005, but have since been forced to flee after suffering a series of defeats.

Joseph Kony, the LRA leader, as well as his senior commanders have been indicted by the International Criminal Court at The Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Kony is said to be holed up in the jungles between Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and CAR. After the Seleka rebel coalition ousted Francois Bozize, the president of the CAR, in a March coup, interim leader Michel Djotodia vowed to put an end to LRA incursions.

The LRA has killed more than 100,000 people in Central Africa over the past 25 years, UN leader Ban Ki-moon said last month.

The group is also blamed for the abduction of between 60,000 and 100,000 children, many of whom have been forced to fight as child soldiers, Ban said in a report on the region.

The LRA is notorious for the brutality of its attacks and has been held responsible for the rape, murder and mutilation of civilians.

Children, as well as being forced to fight for the group, have also been used as sex slaves.

AMISOM concludes Gender Workshop on drafting Somalia’s National Gender Policy

T

he African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Gender Unit has concluded a four-day workshop on drafting Somalia’s National Gender Policy held at the at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala, Uganda .

The workshop mapped out and formulated Somalia’s first National Gender Policy to be approved by the Federal Government of Somalia through its parliament.

Participants engaged in roleplaying and group work to put in effect the identified economic empowerment, health, education, political participation and decision making as four priority areas. It also adopted strategies to harmonize the Gender policy plans and mitigate challenges in the development of these policies aimed at eradicating gender inequality, and empower women and the people of Somalia.

In closing the workshop, H.E Siyad Ahmed Sheikh Dahir, Somali Ambassador to Uganda, on behalf of the Somali Government thanked AMISOM for supporting the Government of Somalia and reaffirmed that the draft formulation of this Gender Policy will go a long way in strengthening the development of Somalia.

Source: Xinhua

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe says rivals scared of ‘sure’ defeat

P

resident Robert Mugabe accused political rivals of seeking to delay elections in Zimbabwe because they fear defeat, after regional leaders urged his ruling coalition to ask the courts to extend a July 31 deadline for holding the vote.

His rivals said reforms to restrictive media and security laws were essential for any fair election to be held and that it was Mugabe’s party that was not ready to go the polls.

Mugabe, Africa’s oldest leader at 89, last week used a presidential decree to bypass parliament and fast-track changes to election laws and declare the voting date, drawing a sharp rebuke from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

In a clear sign that Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party would not give ground on reforms, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa denied any need

deadline but that the court could just as well refuse that request. The country would then go to the polls under the current conditions, he said.

“As ZANU-PF, we are contesting

President Robert Mugabe

the idea that there is any need for reforms, whether its media reforms.

We made it clear in the summit (in Mozambique),” Chinamasa told the Sunday Mail.

PEOPLES DAILY , MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 33

International Asia & Iran election: Israel issues Middle East warning after Rouhani win

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sraeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that international pressure on Iran must not be loosened in the wake of the election of reformist-backed Hassan Rouhani as president.

Mr Netanyahu said Iran’s nuclear programme must be stopped “by any means” and there should be no “wishful thinking” about Mr Rouhani’s victory.

The cleric won just over 50% of the vote in Friday’s election.

He said his election was a “victory of moderation over extremism”.

North Korea offers ‘high-level talks’ with US

N

orth Korea has proposed highlevel talks with the US aimed at discussing the countries’ nuclear weaponsprogrammesandeasingtension on the peninsula, state media has said.

“Weproposehigh-leveltalksbetween the North and the US to secure peace and stability in the region and ease tension on the Korean peninsula,” the North’s National Defence Commission said in a statement on Sunday, carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

The North is willing to have “serious discussions on a wide range of issues, includingtheUSgoaltoachievetheworld free of nuclear arsenal”, it said, urging the US to set the time and venue for the talks.

There was no immediate response from Washington, but President Barack Obama’s envoy on North Korea said on Friday that while the US is not averse to talking with Pyongyang, the bar for resuming engagement is higher in the wake of repeated threats and provocations.

TheinvitecomesdaysaftertheNorth reportedly called off talks with South Korea.

But overall, the rare proposal comes amid subsiding tensions, which softened in May and June, as Pyongyang made overtures to re-establish dialogue with South Korea and the US. In a notable shift in propaganda in Pyongyang,postersandbillboardscalling on North Koreans to “wipe away the American imperialist aggressors” have been taken down in recent weeks.

Foreign analysts say impoverished North Korea often expresses interest in talks after raising tensions with provocative behaviour in order to win outside concessions.

The Korean Peninsula remains divided by a heavily fortified border.

North Korea is expected to draw attention to Korea’s division in the weeks leadinguptothe60thanniversaryinJuly marking the close of the Korean conflict, which ended in an armistice.

A peace treaty has never been signed formally ending the war.

Washington’s biggest worry is North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.

Pyongyangisestimatedtohaveahandful of crude nuclear devices and has been working toward building a bomb it can mount on a missile capable of striking the US.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

One of Mr Rouhani’s main election pledges was to try to ease international sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme, and he has also promised greater engagement with Western powers.

ButMrNetanyahusaidonSunday: “The international community should not fall into wishful thinking and be tempted to ease pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear programme.”

He added: “Iran will be judged on its actions. If it insists on continuing to develop its nuclear programme the answer needs to be clear - stopping its nuclear programme by any means.”

Israeli President Shimon Peres said he hoped Mr Rouhani’s election would bring about change, telling Reuters: “He said he will not go for these extreme policies. I am not sure he specified his policies. But it will be

better, I am sure, and that is why the people voted for him.”

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said: “If what truly happened is that the Iranian people want more moderation and if there is also pressure to have better relations with the West, then the test will move to the West.”

The international sanctions have contributed to economic hardship in Iran, which is suffering from rising

unemployment, a devalued currency and soaring inflation.

Israel and some Western powers suspect Iran’s nuclear programme may be a front for making weapons, but Tehran insists it is purely peaceful.

Israel has not ruled out military action if international sanctions and diplomacy fail to stop Tehran producing highly enriched unranium.

Western powers have indicated that they are willing to engage with the new Iranian president.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said: “President-elect Rouhani pledged repeatedly during his campaign to restore and expand freedoms for all Iranians. In the months ahead, he has the opportunity to keep his promises to the Iranian people.”

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she hoped for a “swift diplomatic solution” to the Iranian nuclear issue.

Russia on Sunday congratulated Mr Rouhani on his victory. President Vladimir Putin “expressed confidence Hassan Rouhani’s work will... further strengthen Russian-Iranian relations”, the Kremlin said.

Tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets after the results were announced on Saturday, many wearing Mr Rouhani’s election colour of purple, but others dressed in the green of the reformist movement.

Deadly blasts rock southern Iraqi cities

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wave of car bombs in southern Iraq has killed 30 people as the country grapples with a spike in violence and prolonged political deadlock, sparking fears of a sectarian war.

A total of seven vehicles rigged with explosives went off on Sunday in five cities south of Baghdad, the capital, during morning rush hour, leaving 56 people wounded in primarily Shia Muslim areas of Iraq.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Sunni groups linked to al-Qaeda frequently target Shias, whom they regard as apostates, in coordinated attacks.

Car bombs went off in Kut, Aziziyah, Mahmudiyah, Nasiriyah and Basra, officials said.

In Kut, the provincial capital of Wasit located 160km south of Baghdad, a car bomb exploded outside a restaurant in an industrial area packed with vehicle repair garages, killing seven people and wounding 15.

Another car bomb in nearby Aziziyah, in the town’s main marketplace and near a Shia mosque, killed five and wounded 10.

Twin blasts in the southern port city of Basra, meanwhile, killed five people, including a bomb disposal expert looking to defuse one of the rigged vehicles.

At least three others were killed in bombings in Nasiriyah and Mahmudiyah.

The violence was the latest in

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Damascus Embassy in Cairo to be closed.

Morsitoldthousandsofsupportersina rallyheldonSaturdaythathisgovernment is also withdrawing the Egyptian charge

The scene at one of the bomb sites In Iraq.

a sharp rise in attacks nationwide, with last month registering the highest death toll since 2008, sparking fears of a return to the allout sectarian war that blighted Iraq in 2006 and 2007.

There has been a heightened level of unrest since the beginning of the year, coinciding with rising discontent among the Sunni Arab minority that erupted into protests in late December.

d’affaires from Damascus.

Morsi also called on Lebanon’s Hezbollah armed group to leave Syria, wherethegrouphasbeenfightingalongside troopsloyaltoembattledPresidentBashar al-Assad against the rebel forces.

“We stand against Hezbollah in its aggression against the Syrian people,” Morsi said. “Hezbollah must leave Syria these are serious words. There is no space or place for Hezbollah in Syria.”

The Egyptian president also called on theinternationalcommunitytoimplement ano-flyzoneoverSyria,wheretheUNsays that more than 93,000 people have been killedsinceapopularuprisingescalatedinto civil war more than two years ago.

The rally that Morsi addressed on Saturday was called for by loyalists to the

Egyptian president to show solidarity with the people of Syria. However, Morsi also used the occasion to warn his opponents at home against the use of violence in mass protests planned for June 30, the anniversary of his assumption to power.

Morsi repeated the allegation that Egyptians loyal to the now-ousted regime of autocrat Hosni Mubarak were behind the planned protests and that they were workingagainsttheJanuary2011uprising that toppled Mubarak.

“Some who are delusionary want to pounce on the January revolution and think that they can undermine the stability that is growing daily or undermine the resolvethatpeoplehaveclearlyforgedwith their will,’’ he said.

Egypt cuts diplomatic ties with Syria ohamed Morsi, Egypt’s president, has announced that Egypt is cutting off diplomatic relations with Syria and has ordered that

President Mohamed Morsi

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

International Fresh violence in Turkey as PM Erdogan holds rally

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resh unrest has erupted in Ankara and Istanbul, with police firing tear gas and water cannon amid continuing anti-government protests.

The unrest flared as PM RecepTayyipErdogan’s supporters gathered for a huge show of strength in Istanbul.

Some 1,000 riot police from Turkish provinces have been flown in to the city to try to curb the protests.

Police broke up a protest camp in the city’s Taksim Square, the focal point of the unrest, on Saturday evening.

The protests began on 28 May against a plan to redevelop nearby Gezi Park, but snowballed into nationwide anti-government protests after the perceived high-handed response of the authorities under their threeterm prime minister.

Medical officials estimate that 5,000 people have been injured and at least four killed since protests began.

Police fired tear gas and water cannon to clear demonstrators

in Ankara’s Kizilay Square on Sunday afternoon.At least four people were injured.

Police earlier dispersed a memorial service in the capital for a protester who died of injuries during a demonstration.

Tear gas and water cannon were also fired in Istanbul’s Taksim Square.

Activists have been calling on protesters to return to the area after the police action on Saturday night.

However, there is a tight police cordon at the square, with bag searches and identity checks.

Istanbul’s governor, HuseyinAvniMutlu, said the public would not be allowed into

the square, adding that it would be “unsafe” for protesters to try to gather.

He also said two security officials were wounded “by a pistol” during the clashes.

Witnesses say Saturday was one of the worst nights of unrest since Gezi Park was occupied 18 days ago.

A protester is bashed by the water canon from the police.

U.S. NSA says fewer than 300 phone numbers closely scrutinized

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ccording to a Government paper, the U.S. government only searched for detailed information on calls involving fewer than 300 specific phone numbers among the millions of raw phone records collected by the National Security Agency in 2012.

The unclassified paper was circulated Saturday within the government by U.S. intelligence agencies and apparently is an attempt by spy agencies and the Obama administration to rebut accusations that it overreached in investigating potential militant plots.

The administration has said that even though the NSA, according to top-secret

documents made public by former agency contractor Edward Snowden, collects massive amounts of data on message traffic from both U.S. based telephone and internet companies, such data collection is legal, subject to tight controls and does not intrude on the privacy of ordinary Americans.

The paper circulated on Saturday said that data from the NSA phone and email collections programs not only led U.S. investigators to the ringleader of a plot to attack New York’s subway system in 2009, but also to one of his co-conspirators in the United States.

The paper discusses an NSA program that collects “metadata”

- raw information that does not identify individual telephone subscribers - from major U.S. phone companies showing all calls made by those companies’ subscribers to phones within the United States and overseas.

It also mentions another NSA program, called Prism in leaked documents, that collects from internet companies what the paper says are emails of foreigners who might be of interest to counterterrorism or counterproliferation investigators.

Millions of phone records were collected in 2012, but the paper says U.S. authorities only looked in detail at the records linked to fewer than 300 phone numbers.

Western diplomats said on Friday Washington was considering a limited no-fly zone over parts of Syria, but the White House noted later that it would be far harder and costlier to set one up there than it was in Libya, saying the United States had no national interest in pursuing that option.

Russia, an ally of Damascus and fierce opponent of outside military intervention in Syria, said any attempt to impose a nofly zone using F-16s and Patriots from Jordan would be illegal.

“You don’t have to be a great expert to understand that this will violate international law,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

The idea of a no-fly zone was endorsed by Egypt, the biggest Arab nation. President Mohamed

Mursi, an Islamist more distant from Washington than his deposed military predecessor, made a keynote speech in Cairo throwing Egypt’s substantial weight more firmly than before against President Bashar alAssad.

Despite their differences, the United States and Russia announced in May they would try to convene peace talks involving the Syrian government and its opponents, but have set no date.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said chemical attacks by Syrian forces and Hezbollah’s involvement on Assad’s side showed a lack of commitment to negotiations and threatened to “put a political settlement out of reach”.

Kerry had not previously

A person familiar with details of the program said the figure of fewer than 300 numbers applied to the entire mass of raw t ele p h o ne “ me tad ata” collected last year by the NSA from U.S. carriers - not just to Verizon, which is the only telephone company identified in a document disclosed by Snowden as providing such data to the NSA. The paper repeats assertions by administration spokesmen that NSA email and telephone data-collection programs contributed to the disruption of “dozens of potential terrorist plots here in the homeland and in more than 20 countries around the world.”

Europe and Americas

EgyptAir flight bound for JFK is diverted to Glasgow

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n EgyptAir jet heading to New York from Cairo was diverted and landed in Scotland after a passenger found a note in a toilet containing a threat to set the plane on fire, the Egyptian airline told Reuters.

The pilot informed air traffic control on Saturday and landed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, where the 310 passengers disembarked, TawfikAssy, chairman of the stateowned airline, said in Cairo.

British Typhoon fighter jets escorted the plane to Glasgow’s Airport, where the flight was met by a heavy police presence. It stayed there for several hours before passengers were able to disembark, at which point officers searched the plane.

A note written in English and reading “This flight will be on fire” was found next to a pencil in one of the plane’s toilets by a woman passenger, Assy said.

Once the crew were made aware, the pilot diverted.

“According to the rules, we have to be on the ground as soon as possible,” Assy said.

Scottish police confirmed the incident.

“At around 1420 BST (1320 GMT) today an Egyptair aircraft was diverted to Prestwick airport after a suspicious note was discovered on the aircraft,” they said in a statement.

“There are no reports of anyone injured.” No comment was immediately available from the airport but a statement on its website said flights were operating normally after the incident.

Detective Superintendent Alan Crawford said there have been no arrests, and that police are working to determine where the note came from, who put it on the plane and under what circumstances.

U.S. puts jets in Jordan,Russia opposes

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he United States said on Saturday it would keep F-16 fighters and Patriot missiles in Jordan at Amman’s request, and Russia bristled at the possibility they could be used to enforce a no-fly zone inside Syria.

Washington, which has long called for President Bashar alAssad to step down, pledged military support to Syrian rebels this week, citing what it said was the Syrian military’s use of chemical weapons - an allegation Damascus has denied.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has approved a Jordanian request for American F-16s and Patriot missiles to remain in the Western-backed kingdom after a joint military exercise there next week, a Pentagon spokesman said.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry

expressed such pessimism about prospects for the conference, which has run into many obstacles.

These include disarray in the

Syrian opposition and military gains by the Syrian army and its Lebanese Hezbollah allies against rebels who have few ways to counter Assad’s air power.

PAGE 35

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Strange World

Live like a genuine convict at Latvia’s prison hotel

be treated like actual inmates.

Located in the city of Liepaja, Karosta Prison is one of Latvia’s most unique tourist attractions.

Visitors can take tours of the

old prison facility and learn the gruesome history of this place, visit the prison museum and even book a stay in one of the old cells. Karosta is certainly not the only prison converted to a hotel in the world, but it sets itself apart by allowing visitors to experience authentic prison life in Communist Era conditions.

It might sound like a gimmick to attract tourists, but a stay at Karosta Prison is actually no walk in the park. To make sure there are no complaints, the hotel requires guests to sign an agreement acknowledging they are to be treated like prisoners by the trained staff. That includes sleeping in a cell on an old mattress laid over wooden boards, eating prison food served through the barred doors, getting verbally abused by the guards and following orders to the letter.

Failure to comply to the strict code of conduct is punished through physical exercise and cleaning work around the prison.

The Karosta Prison website reminds wannabe prisoners that going through this experience can be considered brutal, but that it is entirely their choice.

And if the treatment they are

subjected to isn’t enough to scare guests away, the staff is more than happy to tell them stories about paranormal activity on the prison grounds. Light bulbs screwing out of their sockets, cell doors opening by themselves, the sound of chains echoing from the halls and the disturbing cold of a presence not of this earth are just some of the things guards talk about during tours. Karosta Prison was actually featured on an episode of the SciFi Channel’s Ghost Hunters International, and they claimed it was one of the most active locations they had ever visited. If such things as ghosts actually exist, you’d find few better places to look for them than Karosta. Originally built as an infirmary in 1900, this place was used as a military prison by both the Soviet and Nazi regimes. During World War II, the Nazis sentenced Latvian deserters to death here, and executed them in the yard.

To give you an idea of how the inmates felt about this place, the solitary confinement room features a cryptic message above the door: ‘izeja no elles’, Latvian for ‘exit from hell’. Enjoy your stay!

pairs of walking shoes.

“There were times when I felt my life was in danger, but the journey also gave me the chance to experience people’s kindness,” Yoshida told Chinese reporters, on his triumphant return. ”I realized that there are certain things in life you just can’t achieve without taking risks.” Covering tens of kilometers a day, through the wild country, or on the side of busy roads wasn’t easy, but even after suffering a stroke in

Vietnam, he continued to walk 30 kilometers daily, because his visa was about to expire. Now, after spending a few days in Shanghai, Masahito is ready to drag his 50-kg cart for an extra 500 km to Taiwan, before returning to Japan in August.

The first thing he wants to do when he gets home is walk his dog. Then he plans to save up some money for a new walking adventure.

Every year, during the Imbayah Festival, Banaue’s woodcarving

artisans showcase their most intricate wooden scooters in a traditional race that attracts visitors from all around the world. Barefoot and wearing nothing but their simple ethnic attire, these Ifugao daredevils race down a sevenkilometer windy road down to the town of Banaue. Powered only by the force of gravity, the home-made scooters reach speeds of 50 kph, meaning one wrong move could cost racers their lives.

The Karosta Prison Hotel is open every year, from May 1st to October 30th.

For out of season tours, visitors have to call in advance.

A tourist being dragged to her suit

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atvia’s Karosta Prison was used as a Nazi and Soviet military prison for most of the 20th century. Hundreds of prisoners are said to have died

here, many of them shot in the head. Nowadays the nightmarish facility has been transformed in a prison-themed hotel where guests can sign an agreement to

Only in the Philippines: riding on wooden scooters at 50 kilometers per hour

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he municipality of Banaue, in the Philippines, is widely known for its spectacular rice terraces, but few people know it’s also the setting of a traditional race that has daredevils riding wooden scooters downhill at speeds of up to 50 kph, without any kind of protection.

The wooden scooter has long been the preferred means of transportation for Ifugao (Philippine for “people of the hill) in Banaue, and is still used today, as a cheaper alternative to gaspowered motorcycles and scooters.

They were created centuries ago to help people travel downhill faster.

The men-folk had to walk up the surrounding hills almost every day to gather firewood and tend to their rice crops, and carrying the load back down was an exhausting task that took them hours to complete.

People started making light scooters almost entirely out of wood, and pushed them uphill whenever they had something to transport back to their village. At the top, they would simply strap the load on both sides of the vehicle and let gravity take them back down in a matter of minutes.

In time, making wooden scooters became an art form, and masters of the craft began decorating them with all kinds of designs, from local animals and birds to human heads.

Today, the Ifugao still celebrate this

useful invention by participating in a seven-kilometer wooden scooter race down a steep road along the famous Banaue Rice Terraces. walked a total of 40,000 kilometers across four continents carrying with him a two-wheeled cart full of baggage.

On New Year’s Eve, in 2009, Masahito Yoshida, an average Joe from the city of Tottori, Japan, set out from Shanghai to explore the world on foot. He had always wanted to travel and see all the wonders of the globe, but knew that doing it by plane or train, he would miss the small, sometimes isolated towns of the world, and the people that live in them. So he decided to walk instead. His first destination was Cape Roca, on the Portuguese coast, where he arrived in August of 2010, after covering 16,000 kilometers through central Asia and Europe. He then hopped on a plane to America, where he spent another year walking 6,000 km from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Vancouver, Canada. By the end of 2011 he exhausted most of his travel funds, so he started taking part-time jobs to finance the rest of his trip. From Canada, he flew to Melbourne, Southern Australia, and made his way north, to Darwin, then Singapore and back to Shanghai, China. During his memorable journey, Masahito worn off seven

Photo: David Lopez/iReporters

PAGE 36

Digest

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Fish oil ‘can restore the brain after junk food’

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ish oil can counter the negative effect junk food has on the brain, say scientists.

More than a decade of research has shown that high-fat diets can impact the brain by disrupting ‘neurogenesis’, a process that generates new nerve cells.

Now University of Liverpool

Research: Scientists say fish oil can counter the negative effect junk food has on the brain

Study: Diets rich in omega-3s prevent the negative effects by stimulating the area of the brain that controls feeding, learning and memory

researchers have discovered that diets rich in omega-3s, such as fish oil, can prevent these negative effects by stimulating the area of the brain that controls feeding, learning and memory.

The team from the University’s Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease originally set out to look at research from across to world to see whether the data suggested that omega-3s had a role to play in aiding weight loss.

However, although data from

the 185 research papers indicated fish oils do not have a direct impact on this process, it found that they play a significant role in reversing the damage high fats can cause the brain.

Researcher Dr Lucy Pickavance explained: ‘Body weight is influenced by many factors, and some of the most important of these are the nutrients we consume.

‘Excessive intake of certain macronutrients, the refined sugars and saturated fats found in junk

food, can lead to weight gain, disrupt metabolism and even affect mental processing.

‘These changes can be seen in the brain’s structure, including its ability to generate new nerve cells, potentially linking obesity to neurodegenerative diseases.

‘Research, however, has suggested that omega-3 fish oils can reverse or even prevent these effects. We wanted to investigate the literature on this topic to determine whether there is

evidence to suggest that omega-3s might aid weight loss by stimulating particular brain processes.’

The research papers showed that on high-fat diets hormones that are usually secreted from body tissues into the circulation after eating - which protect neurons and stimulate their growth - are prevented from passing into the brain by increased circulation of inflammatory molecules and a type of fat called triglycerides.

M ol ecu l es tha t sti mu l a te nerve growth are also reduced.

But it appears - in studies with animal models - that omega-3s restore normal function by interfering with the production of these inflammatory molecules, suppressing triglycerides, and returning these nerve growth factors to normal.

Dr Pickavance added: ‘Fish oils don’t appear to have a direct impact on weight loss, but they may take the brakes off the detrimental effects of some of the processes triggered in the brain by high-fat diets.

‘The y se e m to mimic the effects of calorie restrictive diets and including more oily fish or fish oil supplements in our diets could certainly be a positive step forward for those wanting to improve their general health.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Low levels of vitamin D ‘could cause high blood pressure’

By Jenny Hope

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ow levels of vitamin D can trigger high blood pressure, researchers claim.

The world’s largest genetic study has proved a strong link between changes in blood pressure and a person’s vitamin D intake.

Known as the sunshine vitamin, it is essential for the immune system, healthy bones

and teeth, and the absorption of calcium.

Researchers used data from 35 studies involving over 155,000 people across Europe and North America to come up with their findings.

The study showed those with high concentrations of vitamin D in their blood had lower blood pressure.

This meant they had less chance of developing

hypertension, the medical term for high blood pressure.

During the study researchers used genetic variants associated with hypertension as markers to chart an individual’s vitamin D status.

F o r e ve ry 10 p e r cent increase in vitamin D concentrations, there was an 8 per cent drop in the risk of developing hypertension.

Dr Vimal Karani, who led the study, said he was Health trouble: It is confident of the common for people findings. ‘To put throughout the it in simple terms, western world to by using this have low vitamin D approach we can

determine the cause and effect and be pretty sure that we’ve come to the right conclusion on the subject,’ he said.

Dr Karani, from the Institute of Child Health, University College London, will present the study today at a European Society of Human Genetics conference.

Danish research last year suggested that taking vitamin D supplements for five months in winter could cut blood pressure as effectively as some drugs.

Dr Karani said: ‘Our study strongly suggests that some cases of cardiovascular disease could be prevented through vitamin D supplements or food fortification.

‘Our new data provide further support for the important non-skeletal effects of vitamin D. ‘We believe that we still have a lot to find out about the effect of vitamin D deficiency on health, and we now know that we have the tools to do so.’

It is common for people throughout the western world to have low vitamin D. Deficiency has been linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, several cancers, and auto-immune conditions as well as osteomalacia, or the painful condition of soft bones in adults.

The best-known condition

Oily fish: Vitamin D, found in salmon and other fish, is essential for the immune system and healthy bones

caused by the deficiency is the childhood bone disease rickets.

Doireann Maddock, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, was cautious about the findings.

‘At the moment, there’s not enough evidence to recommend that people should increase vitamin D levels to reduce their blood pressure and risk of heart disease,’ she said.

‘However, if future research does prove vitamin D is effective in this way, it has the potential to benefit a large number of people.

‘There are other ways to tackle high blood pressure such as being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight

and cutting down on salt in your diet.’

Vitamin D is often called the ‘sunshine vitamin’ because it is made by the action of sunlight on the skin, which accounts for 90 per cent of the body’s supply.

It is also found in foods such as oily fish, eggs and liver, and in fortified foods such as margarine, breakfast cereals and powdered milk. In the UK, the Food Standards Agency does not recommend a specific daily dose of vitamin D unless you are elderly, pregnant, Asian, get little sun exposure or eat no meat or oily fish.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 37

PDP sulking from defeat, says Nasarawa Info Comm

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ollowing a press conference organized by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa state, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has reacted saying that the ‘factional chairman’ of the PDP was only “sulking from defeat.”

Reacting over sundry allegations laid by Chief Yunana Iliya, state chairman of the PDP, Hamza Mohammed Elayo, state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, yesterday dismissed the claims of the opposition party as mere tantrums of a loser sulking from defeat two years after.

Elayo , accused the PDP of mal administering Nasarawa state for the past 12 years, leaving the state underdeveloped, with the CPC restoring hope in the people after just two years in office.

On the claim that that the CPC assumed power “on a crest of stolen mandate”, Elayo, pointed out that the 2011 election was held while the PDP was on the seat of power, with the judiciary upholding the victory of the CPC, even as he described the PDP as a “known rigging machine.” He described as total fallacy claims that the CPC stole its mandate when the electorates showed their preferences by voting for PDP legislators but voted out former Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma.

On the issue of peace and security, where the PDP blamed Governor Al-makura for what it described as the “continuous murder of our people in the state”, the information commissioner, cited Section 215(4) of the constitution which he said, gives conditional control of security to state governors, giving an example

when embattled governor of Plateau state, in his midterm speech, complained that, “Can you imagine as Governor, I cannot command a fly to act during crisis until orders come from Abuja.”

He pointed out that contrary to the claims by the PDP, the crises between Igbira/Bassa, Tiv/Azara, Tiv/Alago that of Nasarawa South in Assakio, Adogi, Agyaragu, as well as the Benue border skirmishes, all occurred during the regime of the PDP. Elayo noted that communal or ethnic clashes should not be politicized but condemned, even as he observed that the PDP at the federal level, control security, urging the state PDP to assist the state for more federal presence. He urged the federal agencies to effect the arrest of all those indicted by the government white paper.

Commenting on the alleged confiscation of 150 hectares of land along Karu-Panda road from villagers to be donated to the former Minister of the FCT, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai as a gift, Elayo dismissed the claim by the PDP as strange and bizarre, adding that government acquired lands for the federal university, Lafia layout, the army barracks, etc, and compensated the owners.

He stated that with the PDP scared of the monumental achievements of the present administration, in the forms of roads, electricity supply, completion of abandoned projects by previous administrations, skills acquisition, etc, it resorted to inciting violence over the land earmarked for the Lafia airport project, warning perpetrators against worsening the security situation in the state.

L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, during the 50th anniversary celebration of Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero on the throne, on Saturday in Kano.

Former Senator doubtful of APC’s survival

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s the All Progressive Congress (APC), submits its documents with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in Oyo state, Lekan Balogun, raides doubts on the survival of the party.

Mr. Balogun, a former senator, dismissed the coming together of opposition parties to form the APC as a “mere marriage of convenience”.

Speaking in Ibadan at the weekend, the Ibadan chief premised his argument on the inability of the APC leaders to submit the names

of their national executive with the application as required by the Electoral ct.

“The union will not last. The motive behind the formation of APC is self-serving. The leaders are being driven by self interest and unbridled ambition. So the union is bound to collapse,” he said.

The former legislator noted that similar move was made by the opposition parties in the second republic to dislodge the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN), but failed for similar situation happening to the newly formed APC.

“Why could they not agree on the composition of the leadership structure? That is to tell you that they are not likely to agree on more sensitive issues that will surface as time goes by.”

Until it finally submitted its name for registration last week, APC, an amalgam of major opposition parties in the country, has lurched from one controversy to the other.

According to him, since both leaders failed to carry along those who stood by them in their trying periods before taking the decision, they have dug for themselves, a

dungeon in politics.

“Alao-Akala failed to consult with those who worked for him during the impeachment that paved way for him to be the governor in his first 11 month, while Ladoja did not deem it fit to seek the opinion of those who stood by him,” he said.

“What they are doing is mere facade. They thought the fact of being former governors in the state is enough to give their coming together any political boost? Let us wait and see. The truth is that the two of them put together cannot equal one in politics.”

Ajimobi endows chair for Adebo at Oyo technical varsity From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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he fond memories of renowned technocrat and former Head of Service in the old Western Region, Chief Simeon Adebo was relived at the week-end as Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State endowed a professorial chair in Public Management in the Department of Management of the newly-established Technical University, Ibadan.

To demonstrate his commitment to the course, the governor donated N20 million on behalf of the government and N1 million personally to ensure the quick take-off of the Chair.

A renowned Professor of Public Administration and World Bank Consultant, Professor Ladipo Adamolekun had, at the Oyo State Public Service Forum Lecture held in Ibadan, expressed the regret that efforts at endowing the Chair at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife some years back had not yielded result.

Ladipo, who was the Guest Lecturer at the occasion, said that although Chief Adebo, a lawyer and former United Nations Under-Secretary General, had cited lack of enough resources as incapacitating him in endowing the Chair but added that his efforts to garner funds through friends of the late administrator for the project could not materialize.

He then appealed to Governor Ajimobi to consider endowing the Chair at the state-owned university and then announced the donation of N100,000 to hasten the effective takeoff.

Governor Ajimobi, while speaking at the occasion, lauded the initiative and said that his government would take up the challenge as a mark of respect to the former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

The governor had earlier hailed the state civil service which he described as the pivot of his administration’s restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda.

He said that working closely with the civil service as the engine room of his government had helped in delivering his electioneering promises and recording monumental achievements in the last two years which had received wide applause.

The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Emeka Anyaoku had commended the state government for the annual public service forum lecture, saying it was a manifestation of the great importance that government attached to tackling the developmental challenges in the state.

Chief Anyaoku, a former Commonwealth Secretary-General, said that civil service could be a virile instrument of nation building if it eschewed politicization and guaranteed humane reward system.

He also warned politicians against politicizing the security challenges currently facing the country, saying this could create an conducive environment. for criminal activities to thrive.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Politics

INEC replies APC’s request for registration

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he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has responded to the request by the All Progressive Congress, APC, for registration as a party and demanded relevant documents to back the claims made in its application.

APC, which is the merger of some opposition parties, had on June 5 applied to the electoral body seeking to be registered as a political party.

The merging parties as presented to the electoral body are the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP; and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. Other opposition parties in the merger are the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, and a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. The application was signed by the National Chairmen, Secretaries and Treasurers of ACN, ANPP and CPC as the other two did not hold special conventions to authorise their dissolution into the the APC. In a letter dated June 12 and signed by its Secretary, Abdullahi Kaugama, the Commission asked APC to forward 35 copies of its constitution and manifesto to it. It also demanded an affidavit in support of its claim in Form PA 1.

The letter addressed to the national secretariat of the association at 6, Bissau Street, Wuse reads, “Re” Request for Merger of the ACN, ANPP and CPC. “Please, refer to your letter dated June 5, 2013, and find forwarded herewith 35 copies of the Commission prescribed Form A1 for your completion and return to the Commission.

“You are therefore requested to submit the under-listed documents – 1. 35 copies of proposed constitution 2. 35 copies of proposed manifesto 3. Affidavit in support for the claim in Form PA 1; “You may note that the Commission shall verify the proposed headquarters address and claims in the Form PA 1.

“Kindly revert to enable the Commission commence the process of your request.”

It is not clear whether the association has responded to INEC’s demands.

R-L: Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Delta state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, during the public lecture marking the second anniversary of the 5th Assembly of the Delta State House of Assembly, on Friday in Asaba.

Photo: NAN

Group says pictures, clips of Gov Suntai’s recuperation are fake

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political pressure group, Taraba Justice Forum has challenged those sharing pictures of ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai to come up with credible evidence of recuperation or stop sharing false pictures and clips ,affirming that `` the nation and Tarabans have seen through the falsehood.`` Reacting to a recent clip shown on NTA of the governor and the Acting Governor, the group in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Barrister Abulus John recalled that the NTA circus was

the sixth with all the previous ones turning out to be false and mere propaganda. ``The game started when a picture of Governor Jonah Jang with Governor Suntai was released with the Plateau governor assuring that Danbaba will soon return to the country to resume work. Four months after,Danbaba is yet to return. That is false propaganda one. ``Few months ago and in more than three occasions, Emmanuel Bello, the commissioner for nformation, went on air to boast

that he will put the governor on telephone once he reached Germany. Danbaba is well and he will soon be back, Bello told the whole world.

The next thing we heard was that the governor has been flown to USA for intensive cure ``Up till date, Bello has not put the governor on telephone for Channels or any other medium. The next thing was a picture of the governor and his wife and another of the governor cutting birthday cake. All such pictures confirm that all is not well with Danbaba``, the group said.

2015: AREWA youth shops for northern president

By Oyelola Femi

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non governmental organisation, Arewa Youth Agenda (AYA), has vowed to search for a credible Nigerian President of Northern extraction come 2015.

The National chairman of the group Hon Al-Mustapha Sani, who

made the assertion in his opening remarks at the one-day 5 th National Executive Committee and sensitization, in Kaduna, said for the North to achieve this objective, it will use its solid structure spread across the 19 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said, “Though the group

believes and still stand on the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a nation, the group want to say it loud and clear that the Nigerian President from the North come 2015 is not negotiable and it is within the ambit of the law and democracy norms and no any oil thief should think that the North

Sambo media aide’s wife buried amidst tears

By Oyelola Femi

I

t was all tears and wailing as the corpse of Hajiya Sahura, the late wife of Alhjai Umar Sani, Senior Special Media to the Vice President Arc Namadi Sambo, was laid to rest at the Bacham Road Cemetery, Tudun Wada, Kaduna South Local government last Friday.

``The last circus show was on NTA. It was so embarrassing that even the NTA had to apologise that the audio quality was bad.

Why will there be a good visual without good audio? The fact is that the governor cannot talk or converse correctly because he is brain damaged.

“If truly the governor is ok and recuperating, why not take Channels and NTA along to USA so that they can independently interview the governor? Why are they bringing all these fake clips to further embarrass Taraba.

The corpse of late Hajiya Sahura, aged 32, who died in an Egyptian hospital after a brief illness arrived at the Kaduna international airport around 2pm was immediately moved to her husband residence where the corpse was received by her husband, relations and close associates amidst tears and wailing.

The funeral prayer was held at the husband’s compound along Damaturu Road in Kaduna North local government, saw in attendance the Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Ramalan Mukhtar Yero, the former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, Senator Ahmed Sani Saleh, the former Kaduna State PDP

Chairman, Alhaji Yaro Makama Rigachikun and top functionaries.

The funeral prayer which was led by the Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Mosque Agwan Seriki, Sheikh Balele Wali was well attended by moslem faithful and other well wishers.

The corpse was escorted to her final resting place by several sympathizers.

cannot go it alone if that is what they want.”

In its communiqué at the end of the meeting, the group said that it has set in motion adequate machinery to sensitize the northern youth and mobilize them to search for a new leader who shall be a father and rallying point for all Northerners.

The communiqué issued signed by its National Media and Publicity Director, Musa Ibrahim Bere, added that it is time for the Northerners to see themselves as they were in the days of the leadership of the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello who the group described as “the foremost leader of Northern Nigeria”.

The group added that such a leader should be credible, transparent and intrinsic to the Northern cause.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 39

Shettima’s agricultural revolution and job creations in Borno

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From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

results are derive by the team, the governor led some members to some countries comprising ince his election and subsequent swearing of Egypt Thailand, Turkey, Pakistan and India -in as the 6th democratic Governor of to shop for expertise, transfer of technology and Borno state, Alhaji Kashim Shettima equipment on modern agriculture as well as had not only talked on which effective entered into partnership with agric firms in those measures would be unveiled to restore peace countries, in addition to the other partnerships and harmony to the home of peace, but ravaged entered into with some local organizations.

by Boko Haram insurgency which claimed The partnerships he said has indeed started several lives and destroyed properties. Governor yielding positive results especially the one Shettima had not always sing out his belief in entered into with the Chad Basin Development the restoration of peace as the major criteria Authority, in which government has funded that guarantees meaningful development in the setting up of new farm, measuring 5,000 any society, but equally outlined abject poverty hectares with aim of cultivating wheat alone. and unemployment among the state’s teeming Similarly a processing plant was established youths as the primary factors were being used as and that created 20,000 jobs were so far created a cover up for engaging the youths in insurgency from the project because a farming family of a and other social ills in the society. Having minimum of four members was apportioned a identified poverty and unemployment as the hectare to do the labour from the 5,000 hectares major roots attracting youths into insurgency to farm. Zanna added that government is and other social vices, the governor vowed to currently working to establish processing Governor Kashim Shettima adopt aggressive agricultural transformation factories for tomatoes, onions, pepper also which serve as a platform for jobs creation Executive Governor of Borno State cottage industries for famers’ cooperatives. among youths as a technique to be unmasked “Determined to stem unemployment among youths, comprising to divert their attention from joining any insurgent group. The graduates, government has trained young agric entrepreneurs, so governor also noted that agriculture is one of the critical sectors far, 50 unemployed graduates had acquired three-month-training that provide jobs to over 70 percent of the state’s population; hence on modern agricultural techniques and processing at the University the government will continue to deploy resources to it so as to of Kasestrar in Thailand. The idea is that each of the trainees upon enhance economic development. completing the course will train at least 50 farmers while farm Shettima later swung into action by adopting concrete mechanism centers were set up for them. Similarly 50 others were sent to India to quell poverty and unemployment among youths, which he earlier for similar training”, he added. identified as the root causes of the insurgency, saying “a hungry Similarly as parts of strategies for jobs and wealth creation, the man is an angry man, he can be worst than devil if not appropriately governor has embarked on massive irrigation scheme around tackled”. Apparently realizing that the more youths are allowed to the riverine communities across the state to enable farmers and wallow in poverty the worst they engaged in insurgency, Shettima’s the jobless youth engage in self- reliant and economically stable government vowed never to allow this to continue unchallenged. venture. While flagging off free distribution of varieties of vegetable He initiated short and long terms solutions through unveiling a seeds to100 irrigation farmers in Konduga local government area, gigantic agricultural transformation marshal plan which will among the beneficiaries of the ongoing irrigation project with a provide jobs for the youths in order to arrest the rising spate of view to creating job to the unemployed youths, Shettima stated that poverty and unemployment among them. As parts of strategies to his administration will leave no stone unturned to economically see to the successful implementation of the job creations through transform their lives within the scarce resources at its disposal. agricultural revolution, Shettima constituted an Agricultural Shettima urged the farmers to key in into the government policy Transformation Team, consisting of experts with vast experience of agricultural transformation by being more committed to the and other relevant stakeholders that he would lead an agricultural scheme, adding that, the government is ever ready to assist farmers revolution in the state, taking advantage of the availability of 67,000 in whatever capacity. The commissioner also said the Konduga hectares of land for irrigation under the Chad Basin Development Irrigation Scheme which covers 25 hectres of land mass, is not Authority, CBDA, which was waiting to be tapped. The Team is the only scheme that has undergone the “Kashimic Agricultural made up of Engineer Ibrahim Ali, a former minister and honorary Revolution” as similar resuscitation has taken place in Damasak adviser to governor on Agriculture as chairman, with former town, the administrative headquarters of Mobbar local government national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Chief area with the installation of three units of brand new irrigation Audu Ogbe as member, while engineer Garba Iliya, the Managing pumps, as well as the replacement of ten old pumps with brand Director of the Chad Basin Development Authority, (CBDA) as new ones at the Yau irrigation scheme which also covered Abadam, vice chairman. The team also comprised of senior academicians Arege, Daya and other communities boardering Niger and Chad in the field of agriculture including five professors and PHD Republic. He said the 25 hectres in Konduga, 50 percent of it has holders. The team was formed with the mandate of developing a being demarcated to 120 plots of various sizes, which are currently clear and achievable road map aimed at massively creating jobs under cultivation ranging from 1000 to 1500 square through numerous agricultural activities from rain-fed farming to metres each, whereby vegetables ranging from onions, pepper, irrigation, livestock production, poultry, agro- products processing lettuce, cabbage, carrot including wheat are being cultivated. Zanna and packaging amongst others. said with the support from the state government, arrangements The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural have been concluded to revamp all minor irrigation schemes of Resources, Usman Zanna said in a bid to ensure that fruitful Valengede, Ngabu and Jaffi in Borno South Senatorial District.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

News Extra

Alakio killings: Group demands arrest of Ombatse priest, members From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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he Gwandara Educational Development and Cultural Association (GWADECA), an umbrella organization for the people of Gwandara people of Nasarawa state, has added its voice to the call for the immediate arrest of the chief priest of the outlawed Ombatse cult, along with members of the sect who were alleged to have murdered over 100 security operatives in Alakio.

The youth wing of GWADECA,

at a press briefing at the weekend in Lafia, said it had observed with the “desperate attempt” by the apologists of the Ombatse cult and leaders of the Eggon ethnic group to downplay the killings by embarking on a smear campaign against Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura.

“It is an insult on the collective sensibilities of all indigenes of the state and the nation at large,” the group’s President, Alhaji Ibrahim Kyari Yahuza, said even as he described the killing of the security men as “primitive, archaic, wicked,

barbaric and criminal.”

According to him, “there is no justification whatsoever for the killings and no amount of blackmail, falsehood or politicization should be allowed to bury this incident without binging the culprits to trial.

“The Governor and the security agencies acted within their mandate of ensuring freedom of association and religion, protection of lives and property and their sacred duty of promoting public peace and harmony.

“But their sincere motive of

ensuring communal peace has not only been grossly politicized but has also been mischievously attributed to a non-existent voodoo power for the sole aim of downplaying the criminal act and allowing the culprits go scot free.

“We therefore call on the state and federal governments to immediately nip this trend in the bud before other tribes may be forced to seek self-help to defend themselves because the use of violence is not the monopoly of any ethnic group.”

Briefs

Sack fever grips Kogi workers

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alpable fear has gripped workers in the 21 local government councils of Kogi state have following reports of imminent sack and retrenchment by government.

Even though the National Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) have made desperate efforts at dousing the tension, Peoples Daily investigations showed the recent result of screening conducted by Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs revealed a number of anomalies with ghost workers collecting salaries in some of the local councils.

Categories of those that may be affected include those who are due for retirement and are still in service, those with questionable or inappropriate employments and those whose present placements do not tally with their qualifications.

From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

FG set to tackle youth unemployment

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L-R: Chairman, Men Missionary Union (MMU), Mr. Oyeniyi Dosu, presenting a souvenir to Reverend Timothy Akanbi, during the Fathers’ Day celebration, yesterday at the Faith Baptist Church, Lugbe, in Abuja.

2015: Gombe House endorses Dankwambo From David Hassan, Gombe

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embers of Gombe state House of Assembly have endorsed Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Speaking at the weekend in Gombe, the House Majority Leader, Hon. Mamman Alkali, said the endorsement was in line with the majority view of people of the state.

According to him, the House passed 27 laws including 31 resolutions which have allowed the Executive to carry out developmental projects in the state.

Alkali noted that most of the projects that have already been approved by the Dankwambo administration have reach advanced stages of completion while others have been completed.

He said there was cordial working relationship between the Legislature and the Executive.

According to Alkali, the Dankwambo administration has brought harmony among people in the state through interaction regardless of political party affiliations.

Dahiru Bauchi, Nyass, others offer special prayers for states under emergency rule From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

L

eader of Tijjaniyyah Movement in Nigeria and West Africa Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, has offered special prayers for quick restoration of peace and stability in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, currently under state of emergency rule.

Receiving a team of journalists and Islamic scholars led by Sheikh Mukhtar Ibrahim Nyass from Senegal in Bauchi at d weekend, Bauchi explained

that the prayers had become necessary in order to ask for God’s intervention not only in troubled spots in Nigeria but across other nations including Syria, Somalia and Niger.

He said people should blames themselves for all the problems and security challenges bedeviling the country arguing further that there is an abuse of the Islamic legal system.

The option, according to him, “is for the Muslims return to Allah, recite the Qur’an regularly and seek Allah’s

forgiveness.

Bauchi thanked the scholars for the visit and described late Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass as a great scholar who excelled during his life time and left millions of his followers on the right path of memories the Holy Qur’an and glorified the name of Allah all over the world.

Leader of the scholars, Sheikh Mukhtar Ibrahim Nyass, said they were in Bauchi to express solidarity with him for his efforts towards the development of Islam.

UNICEF trains journalists on sanitation From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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he UNICEF office in Bauchi state has trained some media practitioners in the area on the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and the menace of open defecation in communities.

The training which lasted for

four days was aimed at inculcating the idea of how defecation outside the latrines often become a source of calamity to the inhabitants of such communities.

The workshop drew participants from both the print and broadcast media from Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Plateau, Borno and

Taraba states.

The workshop was aimed sensitizing the populace on achieving the Open Defecation Free (ODF) society that will end the scourge of the deaths of thousands of children due to preventable water and sanitization related diseases.

he Federal Government’s policy on the sustainable modalities of tackling the raging problem of youth unemployment in Nigeria is underway, the Minister of National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsudden Usman, has said.

He unfolded this at the weekend at a session with members of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan during which the draft document of the policy frameworks was being assessed.

According to the Minister, “NISER, being the brain power of the country in terms of economic policy formulation is already articulating a very clear set of policies and programmes that the Government can use to address the problem of youth and employment in the nation.”

Speaking earlier, the NISER Director General, Prof. Olufemi Taiwo, hinted that the institute is collaborating in the on-going research efforts with other agencies including the Ministry of Youth Development.

From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

Kogi teachers vow to sustain strike

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he Nigeria Union of Teacher (NUT) in Kogi state has said that the current strike by teachers would go on until further notice.

The state chairman of NUT, Alhaji Sani Mohammed Amin, stated this in Lokoja during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected local government branch trustees of the union.

He said the union acknowledged the genuine efforts recently made by the governor Capt Idris Wada to issue appropriate directive for immediate take-off of the long awaited biometric data capturing exercise.

He said despite that effort, the industrial action was still in force as the power to suspend it was vested solely on the national secretariat.

From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 41

FIFA Confed Cup

Nigeria tackle Tahiti in Brazil today

By Patrick Andrew

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frican champions, Nigeria, take to the pitch today against fledglings Tahiti in their opening match of the on-going FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil.

The Super Eagles, who only arrived in Brazil some 36 hours to the match and have only trained twice, will hope to impose their Africa status on their less endowed opponents.

The Eagles, whose row over bonus was only resolved by the Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi opted to make up for the balance of the $10,000 winning bonus, are likely to press for victory ahead of Thursday’s crucial game against Uruguay.

Though Head Coach Stephen Keshi has openly said the 2014 World Cup rehearsal is less important than actual qualification for the mundial, he may want to use the tournament to experiment with some of the rookies in the team.

It means that a good result in the first half would create

Eagles celebrating after Sunday Mba scored during the AFCON tournament. They hope to celebrate victory today against Tahiti. room for that. But the Eagles have struggled against weak oppositions as was the case against Kenya and Namibia.

True, Ahmed Musa’s

backbreaker seven minutes from time gifted Nigeria the maximum points against the Harambee Stars in Kasarani, Nairobi, it took the sheer gut of Godfrey

2014 World Cup: CIV, Egypt in next round as Ethiopia shock S/Africa

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gypt, Ethiopia and Ivory Coast yesterday became the first countries to reach the play-offs in the Africa zone of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

A spectacular own goal by Bernard Parker gifted lowest Group A seeds Ethiopia a 2-1 triumph over 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in Addis Ababa and an unassailable five-point lead with one round left.

Mohamed Salah followed up a hat-trick against Zimbabwe last weekend by scoring the goal that earned Egypt a 1-0 win over Mozambique in Maputo and established an eight-point Group G

gap over Guinea.

The ‘Pharaohs’ maintained the only perfect record in the African qualifying competition with a fifth consecutive victory and finish their schedule at home to second-place Guinea.

Reigning African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure netted twice in Dar es Salaam as Ivory Coast recovered from conceding a secondminute goal to defeat Tanzania 4-2 in Group C and they cannot be overtaken.

Ghana, 2010 World Cup quarterfinalists, took a significant step toward reaching the play-

offs with a 2-0 win over Lesotho in Maseru with goals from Christian Atsu and captain Asamoah Gyan.

The ‘Black Stars’ moved one point ahead of Zambia in Group D and host the shock 2012 Africa Cup of Nations champions in the final series of mini-league fixtures during September.

DR Congo and six-time World Cup qualifiers Cameroon drew 0-0 in Kinshasa – a result that eliminated the Congolese and left Libya with a two-point Group I lead.

Saphir Taider scored early in the second half as Algeria triumphed 1-0 in Rwanda.

Oboabona to save the Eagles the blushes in Windhoek.

The Eagles seem to lack the bite and could be punished severely should the French

for his fourth goal of the campaign, before Mustapha Musa made it two on the stroke of half time.

Umar later expressed his delighted by noting that the goals came because he has had some reasonable playing time lately.

“I am happy things are going as I wanted, I have more playing time now and getting the goals. I will keep doing my best to get more,” Umar said Elsewhere, Gombe United

thrashed Akwa United 4-1. The visitors had given the hosts a scare by taking the lead. But Bishop Onyeudo equalised for Gombe United to take his goal tally to eight points this season. Barnabas and Babangida with a brace were the other goal scorers Two strikes by Yahaya Adamu was all hosts Kwara United needed to send back 3SC empty handed yesterday.

‘The Afonja Warriors’ thus

Result Italy 2 Mexico 1

Mali send Algeria to knock out stage

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he Desert Foxes of Algeria only needed few hours to confirm their qualification to the knock out stage of the 2014 World Cup following Mali’s failure to secure a much needed win over Benin Republic.

The hosts had to force Benin to 2-2 and certified their exit from the race to Brazil 2014 World Cup. Algeria thus went through to the final round of the qualifiers courtesy of their 1-0 win Rwanda earlier yesterday.

The North Africans won

Champions Pillars remain tops as NPFL goes on recess Defending champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) kano Pillars extended their leadership of the league by three points following a 2-0 defeat of El Kanemi Warriors yesterday.

The victory means that Pillars increased their points haul to 36 points from 19 matches, and ended the first round of the league as the deserved winners.

Kabiru Umar opened scoring for the home team in the 33rd minute

Polynesian islands in the south Pacific, which have a population of just 270 000, capitalise on their clay footedness to take the lead.

Tahiti have no previous senior tournament experience, but that may be irrelevant because football is neither dependent pedigree nor accumulated experiences. A strike at the right moment, and dogged defence of one’s vital area could to frustrate fanciful display that lacks bite.

The Super Eagles have nonetheless gone 17 games unbeaten and will expect to open their campaign with victory against a side ranked 138th in the FIFA ranking.

With the likes of Mikel Obi, Vincent Enyeama, two very experienced players in their fold and the young guns such as Oboabona, Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Sunday Mba and John Ogu, working meticulously to twinkle at the world stage, the Eagles may spring surprise against tiny Tahiti.

remained third on the league table with 32 points, while 3SC are on 25 points.

Former Flying Eagles star Adamu broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute to send home fans into celebration to end the first half 1-0 and took it beyond 3Sc with another goal in the 69th minute to complete his brace.

Kaduna United defeated ABS 3-0 with John Uche scoring a first half hat-trick.

Group H on 12 points, while second-placed Mali are four points adrift with a game still to be played.

Incidentally, the final game will be between Algeria and Mali in Algeria and even if the West Africans win, they will still fall short of reaching the next stage of the qualifying series.

The Eagles of Mali, who finished third at both the 2012 and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, therefore needed to beat Benin to keep their qualification hopes alive, but turned out to be a mirage.

But instead they had to come from behind early on in this Group H game when Sunderland star Stephane Sessegnon put the visitors in front after just eight minutes.

Mamadou Samassa drew Mali level on 15 minutes from the penalty spot only for Benin to again take the lead through striker Razak Omotoyossi in the 32nd minute.

Bordeaux striker Cheick Tidane Diabate, who enjoyed cup glory with his French club this past season, saved Mali their blushes in the 69th minute with the equalising goal.

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 42

Sports

Galatasaray offer Mikel 4-year deal for £18m T urkey champions, Galatasaray, are willing to cough out as much as £18 million to land Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, according to the Mirror of UK The Istanbul club’s sporting director, Bulent Tulun, confirmed after meeting with Chelsea officials in London, even as he expressed confidence that Mikel would team up with old pal Didier Drogba in Turkey.

Mikel -currently in Brazil as part of Nigeria’s Confederations Cup squad - is understood to be prepared to consider leaving the Premier League. Chelsea would demand a fee of at least £18 million for the player.

The prospect of being

reunited with former Blues team-mate and good friend Didier Drogba in Istanbul and the Turkish champions’ financial muscle - have apparently persuaded Mikel to give the idea full consideration.

So far, there have been no concrete talks about a fee or even personal terms for a player who has not always been popular with the Stamford bridge club fans, yet has played a key role since his arrival from Norwegian club Lyn Oslo in 2006.

Chelsea had to pay Manchester United £12 million to complete the deal, after Mikel initially signed for the Reds, but since then the Nigerian has won the European Cup, Europa League, Premier League, FA Cup

(four times) and League Cup. If Mourinho does sanction the departure of one of Chelsea’s few survivors from his first reign in west London, it will force him to make a significant central midfield acquisition with Sami Khadira, Xabi Alonso and Daniele De Rossi top on the list. It is also believed that Galatasaray have offered Mikel a four-year deal worth about £13m.

According to the Express of UK, Chelsea are keen to recoup the full £16m paid out to price Mikel from Lyn Oslo, hijacking a move to Manchester United in 2006 during Mourinho’s first spell in charge which the actual amount Galatasaray is reported offering Chelsea to land the Nigeria international.

the regulars in camp in Calabar for the World Cup billed for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He added that the exercise would afford the technical crew the opportunity to try out some new set of players for the team. ``The open camp will be in Calabar and the team will be taught the spirit of unity in playing, and also get familiar with each other’s style of play.

It is meant to build up the players ahead of the rigorous engagement that the team is expected to encounter at the UAE. “There are ten new players that will be joining the camp because they were not part of the team that participated in the CAF U-17 Championship,’’he said.

Ugbade, who won the maiden edition of the U-17 World Cup

Mikel Obi

10 new Golden Eaglets to join open camp July

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duka Ugbade, an Assistant Coach of the Golden Eaglets, has confirmed that the team’s open camp would commence as early as next month ahead of the 2013 U-17 World Cup in October.

According to him, 10 new players who did not participate in the U-17 CAF Championships in Morocco in April, will join

Flying Eagles land in Turkey for FIFA World Cup tournament

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he Flying Eagles departed their Postwirt Hotel in Ebbs/Tirol in Austria yesterday to Munich, Germany from where they took off to Istanbul, Turkey after four hours flight.

The team of 21 players and 10 officials will then connect a domestic flight from Istanbul to Kayseri, which is estimated to be for 45 minutes.

The team of 21 players and 10 officials then connected a domestic flight from Istanbul to Kayseri, a 55 minutes journey and would beginn training this morning. The team are booked into Hilton Hotel in Kayseri.

The team trained in Germany and Austria and also featured at the Toulon International Tournament in France in preparation for the World Cup. The Flying Eagles, who defeated German third division side Unterhaching 3-0 in a final test game on Saturday, will open their 2013 World Cup campaign on Friday, June 21 against Portugal.

Three days later they face debutants Cuba also in Kayseri, before they play their final group game on June 27 against South Korea in Istanbul.

World football governing body FIFA have assured all teams at the U20 World Cup of their safety despite the on-going anti-government protests in Turkey. Two years ago, the Flying Eagles reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Colombia.

as skipper of the Golden Eaglets in China in 1985, assured that the team would leave no stone unturned in its preparation.

The 15th edition of the U-17 World Cup will take place in six cities across the UAE. They are: Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

A total of 52 matches will be played in the UAE’s top stadiums:

Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Emirates Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah Stadium in Fujairah.

The other venues are: Sharjah Stadium in Sharjah, Rashid Stadium in Dubai and Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain. The competition will hold from Oct. 17 to Nov. 8 and is set to be the largest football event in that country’s history.

Emenike confirms Spartak stay Torres turns

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ecuperating Emmanuel Emenike has rested speculations that he would be transferring his services from Spartak Moscow to his former Turkish club Fenerbache.

The player, who was sidelined for months because of knee injury which needed surgery in Italy, confirmed yesterday that he was not only raring to return to action but for his Moscow club.

“It’s great to return to training but I can’t wait to start playing matches and scoring goals. I must confess that I missed everything on the pitch. So, I am not leaving Spartak except my club say I am not needed,” he said.

“It was as if it’s now many years that I last played the game. We can’t do without injury though it hurts when it takes long. I am looking forward to a bigger return. I am tired being off football. I am getting better than expected and I hope to make it back as quickly as possible.”

Emmanuel Emenike “The truth is that I am not thinking about transfer for now even though there are offers, but my club have the final say on the issue and they have told me they are not interested in selling me which means I am still very much important for the team.

The power-playing forward said he delighted with the show of support for him while he was on the treatment table.

to Mourinho to recover best form again

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pain forward, Fernando Torres, believes that under new Chelsea coach, Jose Mourinho, he will be able to rediscover the form that made him one of the world’s most feared strikers.

Mourinho has said Torres can still play an important role at the London club in spite of a disappointing run since he left Liverpool two-and-a-half years ago for a British record fee of 50 million pounds.

Torres, who is with the Spain squad at the Confederations Cup in Brazil, told As sports daily he wanted to complete his Chelsea contract, which expires at the end of June 2016.

“I want to see out the contract I signed, carry on winning titles and I would like to be the best in my position again,” the 29-year-old said.

“There is no better place and better conditions than with Mourinho at Chelsea. `His words are a motivation for me.”

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

PAGE 43

Sports

Garcia stops Lopez in fourth, loses WBO title

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ikey Garcia stopped Juan Manuel Lopez in the fourth round of their WBO featherweight title fight in Dallas, Texas, over the weekend.

However, for failing to make weight on Friday, that left the title vacant. He had been comfortable in the fight as he landed series of jabs to the delight of spectators who chanted his name.

In the second round, he knocked Lopez down with a right cross. Lopez quickly rose to his feet and completed out the round. Garcia finished off the 29-year-old Lopez two rounds later.

Garcia took his record to 32-0, including 26 knockouts and Lopez dropped to 33-3, with 30 knockouts. The official weights were 58 kg for Garcia, 1 kg over the limit, and 57 for Lopez, who would have regained the title had he won the fight.

Garcia had won the title from Orlando Salido on a unanimous decision in New York in January.

Lopez appeared wobbly early in the fourth after Garcia landed a combination of punches. Garcia finished the bout with a powerful left cross. Lopez slowly got up and referee Rafael Ramos quickly called the match over, one minute 34 seconds into the round.

Garcia was to express his

disappointment later.

“The disappointment was there because I lost my title. I was crying a little because I knew I wasn’t the champion. But everybody got a chance to see I’m a good fighter. This was a satisfying victory,” Garcia said.

Also, he spoke about his spirited jabs stressing that he had been comfortable doing that throughout the fight.

“I was able to land my jab and stand pretty comfortably. When I knocked him down, that gave me confidence that I could put him out early,” Garcia said.

Garcia had won the title from Orlando Salido on a unanimous decision in New York in January.

The only two previous defeats of Lopez’s career were to Salido. The first cost him the WBO belt, and the second led to a one-year suspension by Puerto Rican officials when he accused the referee who stopped the fight of betting on the match.

On the undercard, Terence Crawford (21-0) won the vacant NABO lightweight title, stopping Alejandro Sanabria (34-21) in the sixth round. Crawford dropped Sanabria with a left hook 17 seconds into the round.

Sanabria got up, but the referee stopped the fight, giving Crawford his 16th knockout victory.

...Dogged Budler beats Joyi in IBO title fight

H

ekkie Budler put up the performance of his life retained his IBO strawweight title by outscoring his fellow South African,Nkosinathi Joyi, over twelve brilliant rounds at Emperors Palace east of Johannesburg.

He won by split decision. Judge Arthur Ellensohn from Germany made Joyi a 116-112 winner but Reg Thomson of the UK had Budler 116113 ahead and Tony Nyangiwe from South Africa scored it 115-113 for Budler.

Budler, seemingly borrowing a nickname from former SA cricket star Allan “White Lightnight” Donald for the night, used his hand speed and dazzling footwork to defeat the always threatening Joyi, a former IBO and IBF champion.

Setting himself up for title unification fight later this year, Budler took some serious punishment as he dashed in and out, throwing punches from all angles as Joyi tried to keep track of the moving target.

The more experienced southpaw found the target often enough with blows that seemed to slow Budler down after the seventh round. But a grand-stand finish from the champion

ensured that he kept his nose in front.

Joyi, bleeding from a cut near the right eye, was cautioned several times for straying below the belt as Hall of Fame referee Stan Christodoulou kept control, immaculately, as always.

The 30-year-old Joyi is still good enough to beat many of the leading fighters in the division but even he must have been astounding at the speed the 25-year-old champion from Brixton, west of Johannesburg, maintained.

The fight, as exciting and intriguing as any bout seen between two SA fighters for some time, was broadcast live on SuperSport and did much to restore the image of the sport in South Africa.

Even though Budler was defending his title, many critics and supporters thought the hard-hitting Joyi would be too strong for him.

Many predicted a stoppage win for the challenger.

But in the end Budler took everything Joyi threw at him, and returned most of it with interest.

Budler improved his record to 24-1 with 6 knockouts and Joyi ‘s dropped to 23-1, with one no-contest and 16 knockouts.

Mikey Garcia, wins but loses WBO title

Kickboxing coach lauds ex- Amuda seeks equal president for sponsorship opportunity for

T

he Kickboxing Federation of Nigeria (KBFN) has commended its former President, Mykel Eneduwa, for sponsoring three athletes to the justconcluded Kickboxing International Open Championships in Libreville, Gabon.

KBFN national Coach Cletus Okagbe, who made the commendation over the weekend in Lagos, said the support had helped the federation to expose the athletes to international tournaments. ``We approached lots of individuals for sponsorship, but thank God that Eneduwa responded positively to our proposal, which enabled us to make it to the championships. ``I personally commend him because lack of sponsorship has prevented us from going for many international tournaments and accomplishing our local programmes,’’ he said on telephone.

Okagbe, who led the contingent, said that three male kickboxers represented the country at the championships organised by World Association of Kickboxing Organisation (WAKO) from June 8 to June 10.

He said the kickboxers were Emmanuel Onoja (-91kg), Menia Jack (-81kg) and Olakunle Awoyele (-71kg), and that they won gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. ``It was a good outing, Onoja won gold, Jack got silver, while Awoyele grabbed bronze medal. I am impressed with their success and their participation is worth it. ``Exposure is essential for the development of athletes’ skill and enables them to interact with their contemporaries from other parts of the world,’’ he said and urged other stakeholders to lend their hands of support to the development of the sport in the country.

Hekkie Budler, fought hard to beat Joyi in a IBO contest (lead)

deaf athletes

Y

usuf Amuda, President, West Africa Deaf Association, on Friday in Lagos appealed to the Federal Government to accord equal opportunity to Nigerian deaf athletes as their able-bodied counterparts.

Amuda, a member of the Nigeria Deaf Sports Federation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that deaf athletes were intelligent people who could lift the country’s image at international competitions.

He noted that the only issue they had was that they were deaf, but could do what able-bodied athletes engaged in and even perform better. ``Government and other people should treat us like those that can hear; we should not be looked down on. Our hearing impairment does not make us dumb. ``If government gave us equal recognition like the able-bodied, it could not have allowed us to feature in just three sports at the upcoming Deaflympic Games in Bulgaria. ``I am not saying that government is not trying but it needs to do more by helping us to attend international competitions apart from the Deaflympics,’’ he said.

Amuda also said that sports had improved the standard of most deaf players and had taught them that they could relate with others without resigning to their impaired situation.

PAGE 44

Sports Jamaican’s Campbell-Brown may have failed dope test, says sources

J

amaica’s 200 metres world champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown, may have tested positive to a banned diuretic, sources close to Jamaican athletics told Reuters yesterday.

The sources said the doping violation occurred at the Jamaica International Invitational meeting on May 4 in Kingston.

The head of Jamaican athletics had dropped the hint on Saturday that one of its athletes had failed a doping test but was quick to add that they were awaiting the result of the backup sample.

President of the Jamaica

IAAF says Kiryu’s 100m junior world record can’t stand

Y

oshihide Kiryu’s sensational 100m record at junior world championships in April has lost its prestige and rating because its measurement was below standard.

The Japanese teen sprint sensation had on April 29 set a joint junior record, the IAAF said over the weekend that the equipment used for measuring wind speed was not up to international standards, according to a report.

The 17-year-old clocked 10.01-seconds at a meet in Hiroshima, sparking hopes in Japan he could become the first native Asian to dip under the 10-second mark.

But the athletics world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), has informed the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) that the time was not valid, Kyodo news reported late Friday.

Kiryu had run with a tail wind measured at 0.9 metres per second, but the measuring equipment was not up to current international standards, which call for an ultrasonic wind gauge, Kyodo said.

The time, which makes him the ninth fastest 100m sprinter of the year, will continue to be listed in the IAAF rankings, Kyodo said.

The JAAF has now requested that future meets featuring Kiryu are measured using the proper wind gauges, in anticipation he could break the 10-second barrier.

Athletics Administrative Association, Warren Blake, had however declined to disclose a name until the B sample result was known.

Blake, who managed the Jamaican association’s antidoping efforts before becoming president, said he expects the association to provide more information in a few days.

The positive test was apparently returned at the Jamaica Invitational in May. The competition at the island’s national stadium was part of the International Association of Athletics Federations’ World Challenge events.

But sources revealed to Reuters yesterday that the alleged culprit may be Campbell-Brown, who won the Olympic 200 title in 2004 and 2008.

She is Jamaica’s most successful female athlete and the biggest name in track and field to fall foul of the drug testers since disgraced American sprinter, Marion Jones.

Jones served a six-month prison sentence and was stripped of the five medals, including three golds, she won at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, after admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs.

Local media reports said

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

Veronica Campbell-Brown Campbell-Brown had been present at the laboratory in Canada when her B sample was tested earlier this week.

The finding comes after Jamaican 400 metres runner, Dominique Blake, received a six-year ban on Thursday for her second doping violation since 2006.

Diuretics, which promote the production of urine and treat medical conditions, including high blood pressure, are viewed as masking agents by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The penalty for a positive result ranges from a public warning to a two-year suspension, depending on the circumstances.

The coach explained that the election of some of the new board members would bring about a turnaround in the affairs of the federation. ``I believe the new board is ready to take chess to a higher level, and also hope that there will be programmes for coaches and athletes from now henceforth,’’ he said.

According to him, most of

the coaches lack the means to sponsor themselves to international seminars and as such are not too conversant with the current trends in chess. ``Implementation of new rules are usually discussed in FIDE seminars and some of us are not privileged to travel abroad to attend such seminars. ``We do not have to go to seminars aboard, it can be

arranged and organised locally. ``All we need is a resource person from FIDE, through this, majority of us can benefit and become conversant with current developments in the sport,’’ he said.

He also urged the NCF board to ensure that athletes were given the required exposure to get them more committed to the sport.

match whether in competition or friendly encounters. ``We are confident that with the current form of the Super Eagles, there is a big chance we will do well at the tournament. ``Our first game is against Tahiti on Monday (today), so, we are optimistic that we will win that first game. The second game is against Uruguay and we should do well against them. ``The next is Spain. We have beaten Spain before and there is no reason we can’t beat them again,’’ Abdullahi said stressing that the Eagles would do well.

The host Brazil, Japan, Mexico and Italy will play in Group A, while Nigeria, Spain, Uruguay and Tahiti are in Group B. Brazil won the last edition in South Africa in 2009 and

this tournament will serve as a preliminary event for their

Coach wants NCF board to revamp Chess in Nigeria

E

ugene Akliwu, a coach with the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), says athletes and coaches are expecting a significant change from the new board.

Akliwu said he expecst the new administration to revamp the NCF, through regular competitions, refresher courses and the provision of requisite equipment.

Minister sure Eagles will contain oppositions at Confederations Cup

T

he Minister of Sports, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, has expressed optimism that the Super Eagles would excel at the FIFA Confederations Cup, which began over the weekend in Brazil.

Though the Minister acknowledged the quality of oppositions the Eagles would face at the competition, he was however confident that the Super Eagles could upset even the most respected team in the world.

He said the team had all that was required to win the tournament going by their performance since Stephen Keshi took over as coach.

The minister urged Nigerians not to lose sleep over the team’s chances of excelling at the tournament as it had yet to lose a

preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Enyeama, Eagles stand-in skipper

PEOPLES DAILY| WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

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TRUSTEES ARE: 1. REV. WILLS DIAMEN ASUELIMEN 2. REV. (MRS) CHARITY WILLS DIAMEN ASUELIMEN 3. REV. EMMANUEL OMOZOJIE 4. DEACONESS OLUBUNMI DAPO-SOKAN 5. MR KINGSLEY EMEKA ARUKWE 6. MR JOHN ENI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO GIVE LIGHT TO A DYING WORLD DARKNESS THROUGH THE TEACHING AND PHYSICAL LIFESTYLE OF GOD WORD. 2. TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD. 3. TO RESTORE HOPE AND FAITH IN GOD THROUGH CHRIST. 4. TO INCULCATE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL DISCIPLE IN ALL MEN ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. CHRISTIE MAKAR (08023353295)

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST 2. TO PREACH AND REVEAL CHRIST JESUS AND HIS GOSPEL, WHO ALONE IS THE WAY, TRUTH AND THE LIFE TO THE WORLD. 3. TO SET THE CAPTIVE FREE THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD, AND TO TURN MEN FROM DARKNESS TO THE LIGHT OF GOD

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TRUSTEES ARE: 1. REV. OLUWADARA KESHINRO GENERAL OVERSEER 2. PASTOR (MRS) FAVOUR KESHINRO ASSOCIATE PASTOR 3. DCN. CHRIS IRIA SECRETARY /FINANCIAL SECRETARY 4. MINISTER OLALEKAN BELLO TREASURER 5. BRO. OLAYEMI DAVID KESHINRO EXECUTIVE MEMBER 6. BRO. VICTOR SANYAOLU EXECUTIVE MEMBER 7. DCN. MICHAEL AKHIREBHU EXECUTIVE MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH AND REVEAL CHRIST JESUS AND HIS GOSPEL, WHO ALONE IS THE WAY, TRUTH AND THE LIFE TO THE WORLD. 2. TO SET THE CAPTIVE FREE THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD, AND TO TURN MEN FROM DARKNESS TO THE LIGHT OF GOD

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA, WITHIN TWENTY EIGHT DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: CHINENYE MARCEL CHUKWUMA: PRESIDENT

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROCLAIM THE SOLE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST AND TO SEEK TO FULFIL HIS PROGRAMME IN THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE NATION, AND THE WIDER WORLD BEYOND. 2. TO NURTURE AND EDUCATE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH THROUGH PRAYERS, STUDY, WORSHIP AND EVANGELISTIC OUTREACHES. 3. TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF GOD’S CALL ON BELIEVERS’ TALENTS, GIFT AND TIME IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: FRANK TIETIE, ESQ (SOLICITOR) 08036286435

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-CHAIRMAN -SECRETARY -MEMBER

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MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

SPORTS LATEST

Murray wins Aegon Championship at Queen Club

A

ndy Murray won his third Aegon Championships title and completed the perfect preparation for Wimbledon with victory over Marin Cilic at Queen’s Club.

The Briton’s serve was especially impressive as he won the raindelayed final 5-7 7-5 6-3.

Murray made the first breakthrough with a whipped cross-court forehand in game two and served his way out of trouble facing three break points in the next, but from 4-1 the tide began to turn.

Two forehands dragged down into the net saw the Scot give up his advantage, and when he fell awkwardly while trying in vain to convert a break point in the next game, a shriek of pain rang around the Centre Court.

Murray dusted himself down and carried on, albeit rather cautiously, but the momentum was now with Cilic and the fifth seed broke again for 6-5, before fending off two break points to take the set.

The sun was finally shining as the second set began, and Murray’s fortunes brightened as his serve clicked into gear.

The Croat almost made it to the shoot-out of a tie-break but a brilliant lob set Murray on the way to a break in game 12, and Cilic netted a forehand on set point.

It was Cilic errors that led to the decisive break in game four, but they came amid a string of wonderful shots from Murray, who followed a deft backhand volley with a searing pass down the line in game five.

The Scot narrowly missed out on breaking again at 4-1 and 5-2, when he netted a backhand on his first match point, but his serve remained impregnable.

Andy Murray ADVERT: 0803 BUSINESS: 0805 NEWS: 0814 LAGOS: 0805 0803

QUOTABLE QUOTE When I was crowned as the Emir of Kano in June 1963 I received the honour with mixed feelings as I was happy, and then I was not happy — Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero on his 50 years on the throne

Like Amaechi, unlike Wamakko

F

irst, it was Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state that was ‘sledgehammered’.

The embattled governor had the ‘temerity’ to stand eyeball to eyeball with an imperial Presidency without blinking. He also had the balls to go against “party convention”. Never mind that his party, the PDP, has explained to disbelieving citizens that his fate was not connected to his effrontery to refuse to bow to an incipient emperor who was actually the first person to breach convention by flatly repudiating an agreement.

Before the hammer fell, Amaechi had been dispossessed of PDP structures in his state. A rival faction led by a rebellious group funded by his political foes is bandying the ‘impeachment’ card. Amaechi’s foremost ally and estranged mojo domo now cozying up to his new masters in Abuja is the arrowhead. Politics is certainly not for the squeamish. Unless she had taken off this morning or overnight which is unlikely, the media reported that the wife of the President had relocated to Port Harcourt to seal the “operation flush Amaechi out” deal.

Emboldened by the Rivers “success”, the party suspended Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto state. The governor must have chuckled when he heard of this by his ‘party’ in far away Netherlands. I imagine the governor who rarely travels out asking what could possibly be his offence to warrant this kind of high handedness. But this was PDP. Its ways are truly confounding. One of the founding fathers of the party who nursed presidential ambition in the past told me, in a moment of Freudian slip in 2010, that the party he literally funded via cronies had become a “stranger” stoutly rebuffing his beckon.

In suspending Wamakko, the party has confirmed what has long been in the market square - that it is a party irretrievably hooked on drugs. Unlike Amaechi, there is no chink in the armour of this remarkably popular governor.

If anyone is still in doubt, they should first, assess the crowd that came to welcome him from his sojourn abroad on behalf of the people of the state. They should reckon with the weighty declaration of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. They should consider the words of the fiery governor, Sule Lamido of Jigawa state. They should remember how the zonal PDP has dissociated itself from the suspension. And

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MONDAY with

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Gov. Aliyu Wamakko more importantly, they should be mindful of the political antecedents of Wamakko.

Now in his second and final term, Wamakko is a grassroots politician to the core. In 2007, departing President Obasanjo, realizing that he needed Sokoto at all costs, looked around and persuaded Wamakko to join the PDP. The party’s candidate at the time was not as popular as the estranged deputy governor Wamakko who had had a running battle with Attahiru Bafarawa, the governor at that time who wanted to install a handpicked successor. Obasanjo and the PDP apparatchik were convinced of Wamakko’s towering profile. The rest is history.

Unlike other governors who had frosty relations with federal lawmakers that become Speakers, Alu as he is fondly called, has maintained very good interactions with Tambuwal. That may explain why in last year’s rerun election his challenger, Yusuf Suleman, who resigned as minister at the prodding of some Abuja elements, couldn’t even dare to contest the primaries.

In suspending Wamakko, the PDP may have shot itself in the foot. This is not surprising. Under the umbrella, elephants daily pass through the eye of the needle without anyone batting an eyelid.

I know conventional wisdom calls it a camel but in this party’s high tech huggermuggers, it will amount to “culture shock” for

a whale to get stuck in the eye of a needle. Unless the “ogas at the top” don’t desire it, that whale will either shrink to size or the eye of that needle has to be expanded to let it through. In this party, boundaries are mere parameters. They can be violated.

Agreements, written or verbal, are only temporary conveniences.

Party leaders are errand boys for the man in the executive mansion.

Nothing is sacrosanct. Its history is replete with amazing intrigues.

It was a PDP Senator, for instance, in 2003, who became Senate President without standing in an election. It was in this party, too, that Senators who stood and won election were not the ones that were inaugurated. It was in the PDP that a man who did not contest the primaries eventually won the gubernatorial election.

Political parties seek to have more members their folds, but the PDP sends its own packing in droves. In the run up to the 2007 election, for example, the party cleverly expelled its “belligerent” members in multitudes through a unique process of “registration”.

And typically, registration cards were restricted to those who could call a spade a shovel to please the Oga at the top.

By now all Nigerians old enough to know the difference between “action” and “shakara” could discern that the biggest, largest party in Africa is actually a “ruining” one.“Action” and “Shakara” found expression soon after former Inspector-General Hafiz Ringim boasted that the days of dissident group Boko Haram were numbered. A few days later, Nigeria’s first officially recognized suicide bomber struck, missing the police chief by whiskers. Sardonic Nigerians refer to that as the difference between “action” and “shakara”.

This may not go down well with Bamanga Tukur, the party chair.

His ascension held a lot of promise of reform. He also mouthed a lot of such talks. He flaunts impeccable credentials. Except for a few, most of the governors in the PDP were

school kids at the time he was elected governor of old Gongola state thirty years ago. Before then, he had made his mark as an excellent administrator of Nigeria Ports Authority for an unbroken period of 15 years.

In 1992, he was a presidential front-runner in the defunct NRC. So with a resume like this, no one thought that BMT was not the ‘mechanic’ that would fix the asphyxiated engine of the party. This, again, may not go down well with the rest of the ruinous family members. But the story in town is that the PDP is a junkie addicted to raw power.

It is in the DNA of junkies to act irrationally. And the PDP has been anything but sane. This may seem uncharitable. I am aware that opposition parties betray varying degrees of the PDP affliction. They all suffer, for instance, a lack of internal democracy, which to me, is a patently PDP malady.

Bamanga has not walked his talk. And he clearly doesn’t seem to appreciate the history of his party and the power of the governors elected on its platform. They are the real owners of the party. Since Obasanjo exited, governors have controlled the affairs of the party as they wished. It was from their rank, for instance, that late President Umaru Yar’adua and incumbent Jonathan sprang.

And it was from their rank that Namadi Sambo was made Vice President. The Amaechi treatment of Wamakko will certainly backfire. I am skeptical that there will be a politician confident enough to play a spoiler in Sokoto state.

Adieu Suleman, till we meet again

Few deaths had shocked me like the death of Suleman Ibn Muhammad, the late Managing Editor of Daily Trust, lastThursday. We spoke often.

Frequently on Fridays, he would send “juma’a Mubarak” regardless of my response which was irregular. Our friendship dated back to the mid 90s.Then I was in the Triumph while he was in the Democrat, both now rested. What stood him out then was his remarkable wit but years later, his kindness and worship stood him out. It was Zakari Nadabo who broke the tragic news of his passage when he called. May ALLAH (SWT) grant him eternal rest, Amin. Adieu, Suleman, till we meet again!

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