Peoples Daily Newspaper, Thursday 18, October, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 9 No. 49

Thursday, October 18, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Kano govt releases N1.7 billion ‘Ram Bonus’ to workers >> PAGE 3

Fire guts part of Ilorin Emir’s Palace

Zhul-Hajj 2, 1433 AH

N150

Pension asset hits N2.94trn

>> PAGE 3

>> PAGE 19

FG scraps promotion exams in civil service

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

W

ith effect from 2013, promotion in the federal civil service will no longer be based on promotion examinations.

This is due to the landmark decision taken by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired

by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House yesterday.

Promotion of officers in the federal civil service will now be based on the performance contract system recently

introduced by the Federal Government.

President Goodluck Jonathan had in August signed a performance contract with his cabinet upon which a bi-annual assessment would be made on the ministers’ performance as a way to ensure that their action actually impacts positively on Nigerians.

The contract signing has since been replicated in the various federal ministries between the ministers, Contd on Page 2

I’ve come to save Nigeria, says Mrs. Jonathan

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule with agency report

T

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, acknowledging cheers from her well-wishers on arrival from Germany, yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

he first lady, Patience Jonathan, has denied being admitted to hospital for “any cosmetic surgery” during her seven weeks stay in Germany, saying he has come back home to save Nigeria.

The media had been awash with reports quoting hospital and presidency sources that Mrs. Jonathan was admitted in the Horst Schmidt Klinik in Wiesbaden, Germany where she allegedly had a tummy-tuck.

But speaking yesterday at the tarmac of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on arrival, she said: “I read in the media where they said I was in the hospital. God almighty knows I have never been to that hospital, I don’t even know the hospital they mentioned.

“I have to explain what God

has done for me. I do not have terminal illness, or rather any cosmetic surgery, more or less tummy-tuck. My husband loves me as I am and I am pleased with how God created me,” she said.

She thanked Nigerians who prayed for her while she was away saying: “Nigerians gathered and prayed for me and God listened Contd on Page 2

PD INDEX

17th Oct., 2012

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

BUYING 154.7 248.5 200.6 0.287 41

SELLING 155.7 250 201.8 0.307 41.5

PARALLEL RATES EURO £ RIYAL $

BUYING 202 254.50 40 157

SELLING 205 257.50 42 158

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

CONTENTS

EFCC docks two fuel subsidy suspects

News

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

18-19

S/Exchange

23

Property

24

Earth

26

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, arraigned two suspects and their companies before an Abuja High Court over their alleged involvement in the fuel subsidy scam.

The suspects namely; Saminu Rabiu and Jubril Rowaye, pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge preferred against them by the anti-graft agency.

The suspects were supposed to take their plea last week, but one of them, Saminu Rabiu was said to be having hearing problem.

Rabiu’s counsel, Blessing Omoghae, informed the court that her client was having a hearing problem which necessitated the trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko to order that the accused be taken to the hospital for medical attention and later adjourned the matter till yesterday.

The accused persons were arraigned alongside their two oil companies, Alminiur Resources Ltd and Brila Energy Ltd respectively which government alleged were used and falsely obtained the sum of N1, 051, 030, 434, 63 from the Petroleum Support Fund as payment for the

purported importation of 10,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS. However, counsel to the accused persons prayed the court to admit them to bail adding that they would not in any way interfere with the trial and not jumped bail.

The court, in its ruling admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N10 million each with two

sureties in like sum adding that that one of the sureties must be a serving director in the Federal Civil Service and that they must show evidence of three years tax clearance to be verified by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

The court added that the sureties must be residents of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with strict evidence and also sign an affidavit of means.

The accused persons are to deposit their title deeds and all their traveling documents with the registrar of the court.

Justice Banjoko also gave an order that the accused persons be remanded in Kuje prisons in the event they are unable to meet and perfect their bail condition.

The court however adjourned till October 29 and 30, 2012 for trial.

L-R: Senate President David Mark, discussing with Chairman, Partnership for Material, Newborn and Child Health, Professor Julio Frenk, during an interactive advocacy meeting with senators, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

FG scraps promotion exams in civil service Mark replies Jonathan’s men: ‘You can’t detract Senate’, Page 3

Inter’l Digest

31-34 36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Contd from Page 1 permanent secretaries and directors.

The decision to commence the use of the contract for promotion formed part of the deliberation by the Council following a formal presentation by the Federal Civil Service Commission on the matter.

According to the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, the Federal Civil Service Commission, which is the brain behind the initiative, has proposed a number of pilot ministries to commence implementation in 2013 including Agriculture, Education, Finance, Health and Works.

He said: “In view of the introduction of the performance contract systems into the MDAs,

the federal civil service commission is now considering the possibility of using performance measure which is the essence of this contract system as a basis for promotion.

“Essentially what they are proposing to do is that, rather than conducting exams for top civil servants like directors, they will wait on the outcome of performance measurement which will be conducted Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs)-wide to determine if the directors have delivered on their mandates. The basis of that measurement will therefore be the basis for the fulcrum on which their promotion will be based.

“The beauty of the system if it comes into effect in 2013 is that the promotion of career officers will therefore be based on the result of the work they do as

measured by the satisfaction of members of the public.

“Of course, you know that the performance contract system is not based on the number of projects we execute but the impact of those projects on the life of citizens. So, this process will therefore mean that the public service will adjust itself especially the movement of its career officers will be based on the result of their own MDAs in delivering service to their project.

“We think it is a step in the right direction and we want to see how the federal and state civil service commission will implement this. In our opinion is a revolutionary step which will change the way the public service will look at itself now and also it will improve standards, accountability, result delivery particularly in terms of service delivery,” he said.

The Minister also announced plans by FEC to do away with analogue operations and embrace automation of all its activities as from January 2013 following a presentation by Galaxy Backbone on egovernance and how to reduce cost of governance particularly at the level of FEC and MDAs. He pointed out that at present, most of FEC’s operations were done manually which entailed the preparation of voluminous memos in hard copies that slowed down efficiency in time management.

“What it means is that all of us in our MDAs will be networked together so that all the memos sent to Council will not go manually any more, they will go straight through the network system, accessed, processed and will be returned to us also electronically,” Maku disclosed.

I’ve come to save Nigeria, says Mrs. Jonathan Contd from Page 1 and heard their prayers, so I thank God for that.

“I will use this opportunity to tell those few ones that are saying that anybody that goes to villa or Aso Rock will die. They mentioned Abacha, they mentioned Stella Obasanjo, they mentioned Yar’Adua and other people.

“But those people why didn’t they mention those ones that went there with their families and succeeded and they still came out alive,” she said.

Mrs. Jonathan, who thanked the president, her children, and her staff for standing by her said

she was happy to be back in the country.

“God has given be a second chance to come and work with women of Nigeria, children and the less privileged.

“I have come to save Nigeria, I have come to work with Nigerians, I am there for them.

Once more I am pleased to be back.

I love Nigerians they are my family,” she said.

Thousands of wishers thronged the Presidential Wing of the airport to welcome her home from her trip to Germany.. However, Mrs. Jonathan neither addressed journalists, nor responded to well-

wishers solidarity songs.

Patience Jonathan who arrived at the airport around 3:50pm, on a Nigerian Air force plane, with number 5N FGW, was visibly looking hale and hearty, and waved to the top government dignitaries on coming out from the plane.

Hundreds of women from Bayelsa, Rivers, Peoples Democratic Party, and other women groups, displaying placards, arrived at the airport early in the morning, and defied the scorching sun for hours before Mrs. Jonathan’s plane finally landed. Several other

officials of the party were also present.

Mrs. Jonathan was guided into an official vehicle straight from the plane. She endured to wave to women supporters, but rarely acknowledged greetings, nor addressed the hundreds of well-wishers waiting for her. No reason has been given for the first lady’s action.

Wives of state governors, ministers and some state governors, including Bayelsa state governor received the first lady, who immediately dispersed when she was eased into the car by security officers.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 3

Fire guts part of Ilorin Emir’s Palace From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he main reception in the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim SuluGambari, was burnt on Tuesday night while property worth

millions of naira was destroyed. It was gathered that the incident occurred around 10 pm as a result of an electrical fault.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, who paid a visit to the palace on

behalf of state government, said government was deeply touched over the incident, and expressed hope that such never recurs again.

Gold, who was accompanied on the visits by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy

Affairs and Community, Development, Alhaji Issa Bawa, Special Advisers, Emergency and Relief Services; Alhaji Musa Abdullahi and Security, Alhaji Yinka Aluko, assured the Emir of government assistance.

Earlier, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, expressed gratitude to The Almighty that no life was lost as a result of the incident and therefore thanked the state government for its sympathy visit.

JTF raids suspected Boko Haram hideout in Yobe

By Adamu Saleh

O

Traders fled and left their goods behind after a bomb blast, yesterday at Kuturu market, in Mubi South Local Government of Adamawa state.

Subsidy scam: Arisekola's son gets N75m bail From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

A

n Ikeja High Court presided over by Justice Lateefa Okunnu, yesterday, granted Abdulahi, son of the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao, bail in the sum of N75 million with two sureties in like sum.

The judge also released his codefendant, Olanrewaju Olafusi, an employee of Sterling Bank Plc, in

the sum of N100 million to be guaranteed by the bank.

Other conditions stipulated for Alao by the court include an order that he must produce two sureties in like sum who must both swear to an affidavit of means; must be resident and employed in Lagos.

Other conditions include that one of them must be a Director of a registered and growing company in Nigeria, and that the sureties must show evidence of tax

Kano govt releases N1.7bn ‘ram bonus’ to workers From Edwin Olofu, Kano

K

ano state government has released N1.777 billion to ministries, department and agencies as Kwankwasiyya bonus to civil servants, also known as ‘ram bonus’.

The Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya, disclosed this in a press statement signed by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Garba Inusa, yesterday.

The commissioner explained that workers directly in the state civil service would receive N520 million, while local government staff would get N410 million. He said staff under the State Primary Education Board would receive N847 million respectively.

The statement enjoined all ministries, department and agencies to ensure prompt

payment of the bonus to their staff in order to comply with the policy thrust of the Kwankwaso administration which places high premium on staff welfare and development.

It could be recalled that a serious controversy ensued in the state over the payment of the bonus, which caused disaffection between the state government and some members of the state House of Assembly who kicked against the amendment of the law for the bonus to be optional to the state government.

The law that was passed in 2005 states in section 3 that 50 percent of one month salary should be paid to civil servants in the state on or before the 27th of Ramadan of each year as bonus, and 50 percent of one month salary to be paid on or before the 5th of every Zhul Hajj as ram bonus.

payment.

She also said one of the sureties must have landed property of "substantive value" within Lagos.

Justice Okunnu also ordered that an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must within 72 hours of submission verify the documents which must also be approved by the Chief Registrar of the court.

He must also not travel out of the country without permission and must deposit his travel documents with the court registrar while he must report at the EFCC office once a month at a specified time.

For Olafusi, the judge ordered that Sterling Bank should, on his behalf pay a bail bond of N100 million as part of his bail

conditions.

The judge said, "The bond should be backed up with a bank guarantee which is to be deposited with the chief registrar of the high court".

She also directed that he should deposit his travel passport and other travelling documents with the chief registrar and must not travel abroad without the court's permission while he also has to report at the EFCC once a month The EFCC had on October 10, 2012 arraigned Abdulahi, his firm, Axenergy Limited, Opeyemi Ajuyah and her firm, Majope Investment Limited, along with Olafusi on eight counts of N1.1 billion subsidy fraud.

The matter has been adjourned till December 13, 2012 for trial.

Again, Kogi flood victims’ camps record 28 new babies From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

T

he plight of flood victims spread across 91 camps in Kogi state occasionally witnessed moments of joy as 28 new babies have been born to the refugees in the last two weeks.

According to findings, out of the 28 babies delivered, Idah camps hosting about 26, 000 displaced persons from Ibaji and Idah, have 18; Bassa camps have 5 while Lokoja camps also have 5.

Commenting on the situation of the nursing mothers during a

visit, the chairman of Special State Emergency Management Agency, (SSEMA) and dputy governor of the state, Arc Yomi Awoniyi, stated that the state government was planning to provide baby beds, nets and other needs for proper care of the babies.

The deputy governor commended the efforts of the local government management teams at being proactive in providing the immediate needs of the people before the arrival of state government, stressing that "it was a commendable effort".

peratives of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), in Yobe state yesterday, raided a suspected Boko Haram hideout at the headquarters of Potiskum local government area of Yobe state.

The JTF were reported to have acted on a security tip-off that some Boko HAram militants from Bauchi state arrived the area on Tuesday night to unleash fresh attack on the town.

Multiple explosions and several gunshots continued to echo for more than three hours at Unguwar Jaji area, along Jos road, where the militants were alleged to be hiding.

However, both military and police sources did not respond to enquiries over the incident.

Casualty figures could also no be ascertained but a witness at the Potiskum General Hospital reported that a corpse and a JTF officer who was badly wounded were brought into the hospital.

Mark replies Jonathan’s men: ‘You can’t detract Senate’

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

S

enate President David Mark has replied the inflammatory remarks being made by aides to President Jonathan, saying that the National Assembly will not allow any detractor to force it away from the cause on which it has set its radar.

He also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to caution his ministers, special advisers and aides against making inflammatory statements on the legislature.

In remarks he made after debating a motion sponsored by Sen. Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi) on inflammatory statements against the National Assembly by Ministers and Aides of the President, he said this was necessary to avoid straining the cordial relationship between the legislature and the executive.

Mark, who presided over yesterday’s plenary, said that the statements that emanated from the Presidential aides were unnecessary and not helpful to the President and the country in anyway, regretting that rather than building bridge among the legislature and the executive, the Presidential aides are doing the direct opposite.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Victims of collapsed church in Benue decry deceit by govt, politicians From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

F

amilies of victims of the collapsed St. Roberts Mission Adamgbe, in Vandeikya local government area of Benue state, have described the state government as deceitful over its failure to remit over N11 million pledged to them after the tragic incident which happened at Easter.

It would be recalled that six months ago, the church collapsed during an Easter vigil mass killing over 22 persons most of whom were children and women.

However, investigation carried out confirmed that pledges made by politicians to families of the victims have not been fulfilled.

Except for the donation of N10 million by Bauchi state governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, to the families of the victims, Benue state government’s N11 million pledge yet to be redeemed.

Similarly, promises by the state government to reconstruct the road leading to the church, construct a model clinic as well as rebuild the collapsed church have not been met.

Mr. James Adasu, 35, who lost his mother, told our correspondent, yesterday in Adamgbe that since the tragedy occurred, they have been left stranded as no money or relief materials that were promised supplied to them.

“Nobody has come to pay us any money and we have not received the rice and beans that they promised to give us”, he regretted.

Confirming this, Parish priest of St. Roberts Mission, Rev. Fr. Cosmas Jooli, said “the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese was yet to access the money for the families of the victims and that the building materials that were promised for the construction of a new church have equally not been seen. The church has only managed within its limited resources to construct a temporary tent and as you can see, that is where we are worshiping now”.

Speaking on the issue, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Adikpo Agbatse, once again assured families of the victims that the money and relief items promised them would be delivered within few weeks.

PAGE 5

PRONACO wants FG, Cameroon to stop Bakassi demarcation From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Pro National Conference Organisation (PRONACO), yesterday in Lagos, called on the Nigeria-Cameroon Mix Commission to stay action on its planned demarcation of the Bakassi Peninsula scheduled to take place between October 19 to November 11, 2012; as it is already collaborating with Project Nigeria – National Consensus Group of eminent political leaders in the country to engage the displaced people of Bakassi and other concerned stakeholders on the best solution to the crisis over the peninsula.

Speaking through their joint spokesperson, Mr. Olawale Okunniyi, the coalitions said their leadership has come under intense pressure to intervene in the heightening tension and tussle over the Peninsula given the current plight of the Bakassi indigenes and the dilemma in which they found themselves after the Federal Government refused to apply for revision of the 2002 ICJ ruling.

Okunniyi also disclosed that, given the group’s relations with ethnic nationalities and indigenous groups, the last one week has been hectic for the leadership of the movement, who have received

strong overtures, emissaries and delegations from Bakassi stakeholders and indigenes, which included chiefs and leaders of the people, who all averred that they were not part of the 1961 plebiscite which resolved to cede Bakassi to Cameroon.

He said Project Nigeria has also re affirmed the need for both Nigeria and Cameroon governments to immediately attend to the socio-economic, humanitarian and security needs of the displaced and homeless people of Bakassi, warning that its secretariat is already talking with its allies in the Niger Delta region on the

need to caution on the planned demarcation of Bakassi Peninsula for the questions around the rights and welfare of the Bakassi people to resolved.

“We have also received a report, which identified the urgent resettlement of most of the displaced people of the oil rich island as uppermost in the heart of some of the leaders of Bakassi.

So we find it disheartening that the Bakassi people are today rendered homeless given the gestapo manner in which Cameroon gendarmes flushed them out of their natural habitat contrary to the Green Tree Agreement.

We need partnership, PCC tells police

By Lambert Tyem

T

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Peoples Media Limited, Malam Ali M. Ali presenting some copies of Peoples Daily to Acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Mr. Fidel Pepple, during the latter's visit to Peoples Media head office, yesterday in Abuja.

PHOTO: MAHMUD ISA

he Public Complaints Commission (PCC), yesterday, told the Federal Capital Territory Police Commissioner, Adenrele Shinaba, that both institutions need to work together for the public good.

The Commissioner, PCC FCT Office, Obunike Ohaegbu stated this during a courtesy call on FCT police commissioner. Ohaegbu lamented the lack of inter-agency cooperation and understanding that has existed between the police and the commission but solicited for a new partnership.

He called on the police to bridge the communication garb between the agencies, the commission, as well as the public which, he said, will promote peace and harmony in the justice system.

Responding, the FCT Commissioner for Police thanked the PCC boss for the visit but expressed dismay that the Commission's duties, obligations and activities are unpopular. He expressed gratitude that the new helmsman in the commission is bringing it to fore for the first time.

British High Commission, West England University partner with UI

By Maryam Garba Hassan

T

he UK Trade & Investment department of the British High Commission in conjunction with the University of the West of England, Bristol, would

today 18, October host a cocktail reception in Lagos to launch the University of the West of England’s collaborative programme with the University of Ibadan.

A statement issued by David Atile, Communications/Website

Manager, Press and Public Affairs Section,British High Commission, said under the UK Prime Minister’s Initiative (PMI2), the two premier universities have developed a collaborative post-graduate master’s degree programme in Construction

Project Management to be delivered in Nigeria and the UK. The statement further said that the joint Masters degree programme is due to commence this month, with an inaugural launch at the British Residence in Lagos today.

Freed inmates want FG to investigate prisons officials From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

T

he duo of Nathaniel Lucas and Lucky Momoh who were recently released from prison custody courtesy of the Stephen and Solomon Foundation, an NGO, have called on the Federal Government, the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and other relevant agencies to take a second look at the activities of those placed

in charge of prisons.

The duo who spoke with our crime correspondent said they were arrested at the Agbede Odubose quarters of Ikorodu local government area of Lagos state sometime in 2009 and spent three years behind prison walls after being arraigned in the court for alleged armed robbery.

Reprieve however came their

way when officials of Stephen and Solomon Foundation, on knowing their plight, waded into the matter pro bono.

Relieving their experience while it all lasted, Nathaniel said apart from the fact that it was a journey to hell and back for which he remains eternally grateful, he would not wish that his worst enemy goes through such experience."Oga that place na’im

be hell on earth I no wish am for even my enemy", Nathaniel squealed.

Their advise for government and agencies that have to do with the welfare of prison inmates is to regularly pay unscheduled visits to prisons, as they argued that it will afford them the opportunity to unearth the lies being told them by those they describes as green eyed officials

whose pecuniary interest towers above that of the inmates who are not only suffering but are dehumanised.

"These officials not only divert part of the funds meant for the welfare of the inmates, they also go into outright sharing of food and materials also sent to the inmates by kind-hearted NGOs and individuals", a visibly angry Momoh alleged.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Flood: We can’t relocate flood victims, says Kwara From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he Kwara state government has said that without the completion of Hydro-Power Area Development Commission (HYPADEC) by the Federal Government, it will be difficult to resettle flood victims in the state.

The Head of Service (HOS), Alhaji Mohammad Dabarako who stated this during the presentation of N25 million worth of materials to the flood victims in Ilorin, said the lifestyle of the people was associated with water and as such, their

‌ Buys 1800 bags of rice & cement, 400 blankets, 1,000 mattresses, 1,000 wrappers, 400 buckets, 1,000 fish-nets for N25m resettlement would be temporary.

"May be only the youth, but the older ones who had been used to the river will always go back to the riverside to continue their lifestyle and normal business of rice farming and fishing which is their preoccupation. So, relocation for them will be temporary.Hence, the need to dredge the rivers and create dams.

" Also, FG should be serious in making HYPADEC function.

Once HYPADEC starts functioning, they will take care of their own people".

He added that there was need for the federal government to construct dams in the areas, saying "when the dredging is done, the water will go down and the farmers may not have enough water to do farming again.

"But once you have dams in

place, you can do farming twice or thrice and it will lead to increase in production as we desire in this country".

Distributing the relief materials to flood victims in five local government areas of Patigi, Edu, Moro, Kaiama, and Ilorin south, Dabarako said the gesture was not part of the federal government's N300 million assistance to flood victims in the state.

Items distributed include 900 bags of rice, 900 bags of cement, 400 pieces of blanket, 1,000 pieces of mattresses, 1,000 pieces of wax prints (ankara), 400 pieces of plastic buckets and 1,000 pieces of fishing nets.

The HOS suggested the extension of the dredging of river Niger from Lokoja to Jebba in Kwara state, as part of measures to mitigate flood and sustain rice production in the areas.

Kogi Assembly crisis: Police takes over House premises From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

F

ollowing the removal of the Kogi state House of Assembly Speaker, Abdulahi Bello in a shrouded circumstance on Tuesday, the police in Lokoja has surrounded the House with heavily armed men, ostensibly to avoid breakdown of order.

A visit to the Complex yesterday by this reporter from the expressway on Usman Kastina road to the gate of the Assembly revealed that policemen, armed to the teeth, were stationed and

patrolling.

Our correspondent attempted to talk to a Sergeant in charge of the team, who shouted "only policemen are needed here for now and nobody else, go back!".

It was learnt later that the order was not unconnected with the bragging of the embattled speaker that he would stage a comeback today, October 18, 2012.

At the time of filing this report, the new Speaker of the Assembly, Lawal Jimoh and other leaders were in Okene, the palace of Ohinoyi of Ebira Alhaji Adoh Ibrahim, to seek royal blessing.

NTDC showcases Nigerian culture to W/African countries

By Miriam Humbe

T

he Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation has expanded the frontiers of tourism promotion by showcasing Nigerian culture to the 16 nations that make up West Africa.

Using the auspices of a meeting with the West African Journalists Association (WAJA) led by its president, Mallam Muhammed Garba who also doubles as the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Director-General of NTDC presented the now famous book, "NIGERIA", a pictorial compendium on Nigeria to representatives from each of the West African states.

Making the presentation at the tourism village in Abuja, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe also seized the moment to present a gold-plated plaque, a bronze cast representing FESTAC '77 and other NTDCbranded souvenirs to the delegates drawn from West African countries such as the Gambia, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal amongst others.

Furthermore, the NTDC boss promised to sponsor each representative of WAJA on a training programme aimed at capacitybuilding which also include a strong cultural content that would reflect Nigeria's rich and diverse cultures.

In his remarks, Otunba Runsewe said that he intends to vigorously market Nigeria and her destinations to the rest of the world at every given opportunity stating that the meeting

with the West African representatives provided such platforms.

Runsewe expressed delight in hosting the delegation and commended WAJA for creating a standard in the practice of journalism and developing journalism in West Africa and the entire continent.

On his part, Mallam Garba recognized Otunba Runsewe as a senior colleague in journalism recalling his enterprising days as General Manager of New Nigeria Newspaper based in Kaduna saying his background accounts for the present cordial relationship existing between the NUJ and the NTDC. The NUJ/WAJA president admitted he has been enjoying a tremendous working relationship with WAJA members and solicited for sustained efforts in the drive towards creating a better society through vibrant journalistic practices.

L-R: President, National Association of Nigerian Traders, Mr. Ken Ukaoha, member, Citizen Wealth Platform, Mr. Tunde Salman, and Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice,(CSJ), Mr Eze Onyekpere, during the media interaction on analysis of the 2013-2015 medium term expenditure framework of the national budget organised by CSJ, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Court discharges robbery suspect

J

ustice Habeeb Abiru of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, discharged and acquitted a 32 year old man, Bolarinwa Ishola of charges of armed robbery five years after arrest.

The judge freed the suspect for lack of dilligent prosecution.

The office of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution had charged Ishola to court on a two count charge of armed robbery in May, 2011.

The suspect, according to the charge, was alleged to have robbed a house at Ketu

in April 2008.

The offence was said to have been committed with others said to be at large.

During the trial of the suspect on April 29, 2012, a prosecution witness and landlord of the house alleged to have been robbed, denied knowledge of such incidence.

At the resumed trial of the matter on Wednesday, the DPP, Mrs. P.C. Alu asked for adjournment to enable them produce their witness in court.

But counsel to the defence,

Mr. Adigun Orunmila objected to the DPP's request for adjournment.

Orunmila argued that the matter has gone through many adjournments without the prosecutor producing any other witness.

He asked the court to discharge the suspect saying, "if they are not ready to prosecute, why can't they just withdraw the case?".

In his ruling, Justice Abiru noted that there has been no improvement on the matter in spite of several adjournments.

in Nigeria while respiratory infections kill 240,000. The report further stressed that, 88% of the diarrheal deaths are attributed to unsafe water, sanitation and poor hygiene worldwide.

This was contained in a press statement signed by Geoffrey Njoku, Communication Specialist, Media and External Relations, UNICEF Nigeria.

According to the statement,

diarrheal diseases are basically faecal and oral in nature and as such, one of the simplest and most inexpensive method to avoid infection was through hand washing with soap or ash before handling food and after defecation or changing a diaper.

According to Ibrahima Fall, Representative of UNICEF in Nigeria, handwashing has become necessary in view of

the on-going floods in a number of states across the country due to contaminated water supplies.

In Nigeria, UNICEF in partnership with relevant government ministries, departments and agencies as well as donors from European Union and UK Aid is providing water, sanitation and hygiene services including hand washing in communities and schools across the country.

Handwashing very crucial, says UNICEF

By A'isha Biola Raji

A

s the world celebrates the fifth annual Global Hand Washing Day, the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) emphasized the need for hand washing with soap, to save thousands of children from avoidable death yearly.

According to UNICEF report, diarrhea kills 194,000 children under five every year

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 7

Niger security operatives bar Reps at border From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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L-R: Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

UniPort 4: 13 suspects charged with conspiracy, murder

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he Rivers police command yesterday arraigned 13 suspects before a Port Harcourt Magistrates’ Court charged with conspiracy and murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt.

The suspects were arraigned on a five-count charge of murder, felony, conspiracy, lynching, and burning.

Prosecuting police officer, Adiari Idafi, told the court,

presided over by Magistrate Emma Woke, that the accused on Oct. 5, allegedly murdered Chiadika Lordson, Ugonna Kelechi Obusor, Mike Lloyd Toku and Tekena Elkanah.

Idafi named the accused as Hassan Welewa, 59 (Male), Lawal Segun, 28 (male), Lucky Orji, 43 (male), Cynthia Chinwo, 24 (Female), Ekpe Daniel, 30 (male).

Others are George Nwadei, 20

(male), Gabriel Oche, 33 (male) Ozioma Abajuo, 23 (male), Chigozie Evans Samuel, 22 (male), Endurance Edet, 27 (male), and Endurance Okoghiroh, 24 (Male).

Also arraigned were David Chinasa Ugbaje, 30 (male) and Ikechukwu Louis Amadi, alias Kapoon, 32 (male).

Idafi stated that the offence was punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 37

Laws of River State, Nigeria, 1999, and Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. III laws of Rivers State, Nigeria, 1999.

The accused were asked by the court if they understood the charges and they consented, but no pleas were taken.

The magistrate ordered that the accused be remained in police custody for further investigation, and adjourned the case till Dec. 20, for further hearing. (NAN)

FG hosts D-8 directors general meeting in Abuja

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

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he 6th D-8 Working Group on civil aviation and directors general meeting which comprised eight member countries including Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey, would be hosted by Nigeria at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The meeting which will take place between October 18th and 19th has the main objective of bringing together representatives of government

and the private sector in the aviation industry.

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, is expected to deliver a keynote address while the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren will give the opening remarks.

According to a press statement, the meeting would create “a platform for the DGs to deliberate and discuss contemporary issues, latest developments and trends in the areas of safety, security, air

transportation and training.

Other areas of discussion include maintenance, airport infrastructure, airline financing and operations, investments, etc”.

It is expected to also explore potentials, opportunities and challenges confronting D-8 in civil aviation cooperation and collaboration.

The statement further hoped to “as well facilitate interactions and networking among civil aviation stakeholders including government/regulators, service providers, investors and

‘Flood waters could have been diverted into Lake Chad’ From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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he chairman, Advisory Council of the Ahmadu Bello Foundation, Justice Mamman Nasir, has decried the slow action taken by the Federal Government towards nipping the floods which have ravaged different parts of the country in the bud, noting that water from the Cameroonian dam could have been diverted into Lake Chad.

Justice Nasir made this observation yesterday during the donation of relief materials by the Ahmadu Bello Foundation at Government House, Makurdi.

Receiving the donation, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state, maintained that the political class in the northern geopolitical zone of Nigeria is responsible for the insecurity prevalent in the area. He noted that this act

negates the principles of peace and unity which the late Sarduna lived for.

He said people of the North have always seen themselves as brothers, adding that “we never fought each other”.

Suswam expressed appreciation to the foundation for the donation, assuring that they would not be diverted to other uses but will be distributed directly to the flood victims across the state.

financial institutions/banks etc…”

The Task Forces are as follows: safety and security; commercial issues (maintenance, airport and terminal infrastructure, ground handling, leasing etc; air navigation and air traffic management; and training and capacity building.

Member countries will be persuaded to ratify the Memorandum of Cooperation between the D-8, WGCA and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

He also intimated plans by his government to enter into negotiation with the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), to purchase houses for resettlement of some of the victims, disclosing too that those who lost farmlands would be compensated financially.

Furthermore, he expressed fears of imminent food shortage and appealed to the Federal Government as well as the international community to aid the state in this direction. said the donation was a mark of friendship, love and peace which the late Sarduna stood for in the North.

embers of the House of Representatives Committee on Works were on Tuesday at the border area in Kamba, Kebbi state embarrassed by security operatives of the Republic of Niger.

The committee, led by its deputy chairman, Hon. Mohammed Ali Wudil, who were on familiarisation tour of federal roads in Kebbi state, got to the Niger-end of the border post but were barred by the security operatives who requested to see their clearance before entry.

“Please how can you come to this end without security alert?

You did not inform us before coming and we are not happy; so please I want you people to stay at the Nigeria border’’, one of the operatives said.

Nigeria security personnel who were also at the border area, spoke to newsmen and expressed their dismay over the incident.

Responding to the incident, the Hon. Ali Wudil said the Niger security operatives were carrying out their duties and sought their pardon, informing them that the entourage were on tour to see that all Federal Government roads construction contracts awarded in the border area have been completed; most especially N2.176billion road from Kalgo to Kamba and Faika near Niger Republic.

Kogi government set to relocate flood victims From Sam Egwu, Lokoja he Kogi state government says it is considering the relocation of people displaced by the recent flood, in Kogi local government area of the state to a low cost housing estate to be built by the state government within the shortest possible time.

Arc. Yomi Awoniyi, deputy governor of the state and chairman, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), made the disclosure while on tour of relief camps in Kogi local government area, yesterday.

Awoniyi, who was in the company of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isa Kutepa, on a visit to the Ohimege Igu, KotonKarfe, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Gambo Isa Koto, appealed to the royal father to call on his subjects not to get agitated and worried, but to remain patient as government is making efforts to relocate those affected and who were living by the shore line.

The state government, the deputy governor added, is working towards providing seedlings to farmers and providing boats for fishermen, calling on the royal father to appeal to his subjects not to return to Waterline as it was no longer safe.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Life jail awaits terrorists, money launders as Senate passes Bill

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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Borno governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (middle), discussing with a peasant farmer at the new site of Borno Tipper Garage, on Bama Road, yesterday in Maiduguri.

Photo: NAN

errorists and money launderers will henceforth face life jail sentence, owing to the passage of the Terrorism Act Amendment Bill and Money Laundering Act 2011 Amendment Bill by the Senate, yesterday.

This Bill scaled through following the consideration and adoption of the report of the Joint Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes, Anti-corruption and Legal Matters which scrutinised the Bill, as well as the report of the same joint committee on Money Laundering Act Amendment.

Senator Mohammed Magoro led Senate Joint Committee on National Security and Intelligence; Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs, Narcotics, Financial

Crimes and Anti-Corruption, presented the report to the Senate yesterday where it was considered and adopted.

Presenting the report yesterday, the committee chairman said the absence of a national coordinator to tackle the problem of terrorism in the country has affected collaboration among the security agencies in fighting and combating terrorism, adding that there was no acceptable standard definition of terrorism and as such, each country tries to adopt definitions to suit its peculiar situation.

Magoro, PDP, Kebbi South, said the committee, in its findings, discovered the absence of specialised designated prosecutors and judges to try terrorism related cases as well as the absence of specialised prisons, detention facilities for keeping terrorist suspects.

Caustic comments: PDP reads riots act to NASS, others

By Lawrence Olaoye,Abuja

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, warned its elected representatives and other political appointees to forthwith stop making unguarded utterances against the policies and programmes of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration or face severe sanction in line with the party’s constitution.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja after the weekly meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisah Metuh, said that the NWC “frowned at the disagreeable trend where members of the party elected and appointed into federal positions engage in utterances and actions that portray the

. . . as crisis between Tukur, Nyako deepens PDP in bad light and as having no unity of purpose."

According to him, " our manifesto as well as our constitution is abundantly clear on the need for all party members, especially the elected representatives of the people to be on the same page at all times in order to ease the realization of our policies and programmes for the benefit of the people''.

“We therefore warn that the party will invoke the full weight of it’s disciplinary measures on any erring member who further brings the Party to disrepute”, he warned.

When asked whether the NWC was directing its warning to the members of the National Assembly over

the comments of both the Senate President,David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal during the presentation of the 2013 budget appropriation before the joint sitting of the National Assembly, Chief Metuh said that the warning was meant for its all its elected representatives and political appointees including members of the National Assembly.

The lawmakers and the Presidency had engaged in war of words shortly after the presentation of the budget estimates with the two chambers calling on President Jonathan to call his aides to order.

This is coming just as the

Sultan declares Oct 26 as Eid-el-Kabir From Lawal Sadiq, Sokoto

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he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Friday, October 26, 2012 as Sallah (Eid-el-Kabir).

A statement signed by the chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sultanate Council, Prof.

Sambo Wali Junaidu, stated

that the declaration followed confirmation by moonsighting committees across the country.

“The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, at its meeting on Tuesday 16th October, 2012 reviewed from various Moonsighting Committees across the country, duly confirmed the birth of the new moon of

Zulhijja 1433 AH with effect from Wednesday the 17th of October, 2012 which is the 1st day of Zulhijja, 1433 AH”, the statement read.

Accordingly, “Friday, the 26th of October is the 10th day of Zulhijja 1433 AH, which is the Eid-al-Kabir day”, it added.

The Sultan wished all Muslims happy Eid celebrations in advance.

Former minister commends dissolution of Adamawa PDP excos From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

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he Former Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Dr. Aliyu Idi Honghas commended the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the dissolution of the illegal executive in Adamawa state.

A statement signed by Hong, yesterday, said the crises of leadership has been lingering since the voiding by INEC of all congresses purported to have been conducted in nine states including Adamawa.

The statement read: “Since then, as stakeholders of the Party in the state, we stood our grounds and resisted the

continuous stay of this illegal executives led by Umar Mijinyawa Kugama. Today’s decision therefore will further strengthen our resolve to continue to support this great Party to be able to maintain its lead as the largest political party in Africa. The Party in Adamawa will now be stronger and ready for the challenges ahead.

lingering crisis between the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state over the control of party structures deepened yesterday with the dissolution of the Adamawa state executive committee of the party by the NWC which immediately constituted and swore in a new Caretaker Committee led by Ambassador Umar Damagun from Yobe state to run the affairs of the party pending the election of a new exco.

Chief Metuh said that the NWC took the action on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party” in exercise of Article 31, Section 2(e) and 29, 2(b) of the 2012 amended constitution of our party and consequent on repeated breaches of the constitution by the Adamawa State Chapter.

According to him, “Article 31(2) (e) specifically empowers the NWC and where necessary, dissolve a State Executive Committee and appoint a caretaker committee to run the party until another Executive Committee is elected , provided that the period from the dissolution to the election of the new Executive shall not exceed 3 months.”

He pointed out that the dissolved Adamawa executive had flagrantly disregarded the decisions of the NWC. Said he "the dissolved Exco was expressly advised by the NWC to halt further steps towards the conduct of local government elections as agreed at a meeting of 9th October, 2012 between the NWC and the Adamawa State Working Committee.

He lamented that “the exco did not only go ahead with the process, it submitted a list of

candidates to the State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) without the approval of the NWC. " According to him, "this is contrary to the provisions of section 50(1) of the constitution of the party which among others states emphatically that the National Executive Committee which the NWC acts on behalf of in this respect, is the final authority for the formulation of guidelines and regulations for the nomination of candidates for election into public offices at all levels and conveying same to INEC or any other authority to whom it may concern.”

“The NWC also referred to complaints and petitions from principal stakeholders of the party in Adamawa state on various unconstitutional acts of the dissolved state exco, especially the principle of zoning as enshrined in Article 7(3)(e) of the party constitution as well as several letters from INEC complaining of non-compliance with relevant laws in the conduct of the Adamawa State Congresses."

Meanwhile,the Caretaker Committee members who were immediately sworn-in by the deputy national chairman of the party, Dr. Sam-Sam Jaja are Ambassador Umar Damagun, Chairman, Mr. Eli Gamaliel, Dahiru Shehu, Alhaji. Sabo Mohammed, Mrs. Grace Mamba, Hon. Emmanuel Tsamdu. Capt.

(Mrs) Altine Inuwa,Mr. Samuel Zadok,Alhaji. Adamu Wazirin Paka who will serve as Secretary.

Only last week, the NWC suspended the national vice chairman of the party in charge of North East zone, Alhaji Girigiri over the Adamawa crisis citing alleged anti-party activities.

PAGE 9

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

CJN calls for quick passage of PIB

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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he Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mariam AlomaMukthar yesterday called on the National assembly to quickly pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to curb oil bunkering in the country.

Justice Aloma-Mukhtar stated this in a remark at the oil and gas workshop for Nigerian judiciary organised by the International Institute for Petroleum, Energy Law and Policy (IIPELP) in collaboration

with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) held in Abuja.

The CJN said the nation’s judiciary was determined to win back the confidence and trust of Nigerians and other key players in the country’s economy, especially the oil and gas sector.

In his address at the occasion, former CJN, Justice Alfa Belgore accused foreign multinational companies, of aiding and abetting oil bunkering in Nigeria.

Belgore, who doubles as the chairman of the governing

council of the IIPELP said, oil bunkering was highly tempting for the multinationals as they buy at lower prices in the black market.

The security operatives, the former CJN stated are usually bribed to ignore the racket, which makes it difficult for the federal government to arrest the wastages and loss in revenue.

“A country like Brazil has the best oil and gas policy in the

world and therefore there is the urgent need for the Nigerian government to champion indigenous oil policy as well as build refineries”, he stated.

He urged the Federal Government to seek the help of the Soviet Union in the area of gas and pipeline maintenance.

The NJI administrator, Justice Umaru Eri, noted that “the oil and gas sector of the economy is one that calls for

foreign Investors bearing in mind the huge financial and human capital outlays involved.

And taking cognizance of the fact of the inevitability of dispute, foreign investors and all stakeholders would certainly want to be assured that the dispute resolution institution, that is the judiciary in Nigeria is versed in the issues ad intricacies of the oil and gas contracts”.

Reps condemn Kaduna killing

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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he House of representatives yesterday condemned the killing of innocent citizens by yet to be identified gunmen in Dogon Dawa village of Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna state.

A motion raised by Rep. Mohammed Shamsudeen Ango Abdullahi, under the matters of urgent public importance, stated the area had been under constant

attack from the gunmen but no effort has been made by the security agencies to stop or arrest the perpetrators of the act.

The House unanimously adopt the motion and call on the inspector general police to brace up to the security challenges, and ensure the security of lives and property of not only the Dogon Dawa community, but the country as a whole are protected while a police outpost should be build in the affected community immediately.

Ajimobi approves N250m grant to varsity From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has announced the formal take-off of the technical university, with the seed grant of N250 million and the constitution of a management committee for the university.

A statement issued in Ibadan on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said that the formal take-off of the institution was approved by the state executive council at its sitting.

It would be recalled that the bill for the establishment of the university was passed into law by the state House of Assembly

in June.

Adedayo said that the forest reserve along Apete Road in Ibadan, as well as the West-end of The Polytechnic, Ibadan had been chosen as the take-off sites with satellite campuses in the two other senatorial districts of the state.

He said the university would focus on cyber-security, underwater engineering, aircraft maintenance/repairs, biotechnology, tropical agricultural engineering/food processing, state-of-the-art medical practice, mechatronics, robotics, automation and animation among others, adding that the ambience and aesthetics of the institution would be second to none.

FG arraigns LG chairman before CCT

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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he Federal Government yesterday arraigned the Chairman of Biase local government council of Cross Rivers state, Emil Lemke Inyang before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja for alleged membership of the National Association of Buccaneers.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the one count charge when it was read to him. The court however fixed November 7, 2012 for commencement of trial.

Earlier, the accused person challenged the jurisdiction of the Tribunal to hear the matter on the ground that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) did not follow due process in arraigning him before the Tribunal.

The accused had argued that the Bureau did not invite him to admit or deny the allegation before transferring the case to the Tribunal unconstitutionally.

He prayed the Tribunal to quash the charge against him for being incompetent.

Ruling on the objection, Justice Isaac Robert Ewa Odu held that the Tribunal has jurisdiction to entertain the matter so far as the accused person was a public officer .

“The charge is not defective, it cannot struck out prayer one and two cannot be granted”.

On the second objection,the tribunal held that the bureau has the power to receive complaints and refer such to the Tribunal adding that the alleged condition precedence which the accused canvases was unconstitutional.

L-R: Dr. Folasade Yemi Esan, Ambassador Sani S. Bala, Dr. James N.Dbiegbu, Mr. John Femi Jegede and Mr. John Alhassan Gana, taking the oath of office, during the swearing-in ceremony of new Permanent Secretaries, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Jonathan laments flood disaster in hometown

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday gave account of how his country home of Otuoke was on Monday night submerged by flood.

The President was however hopeful that with the assistance of the international community, the challenges posed by the effect of the flood would soon be overcome.

He said this while launching the Nigeria’s Saving One Million Lives Initiative (20122015) at the Banquet Hall of the State House.

“Nigeria is so devastated by the flood. Sometimes when you watch on television, you do not appreciate what we are going

. . .Commits $601m to maternal, child care through. I travelled from north to south.

“On Sunday, I was in my village after touring my state. I left my village on Sunday morning and as at that time water, was about entering my compound. As at this morning, the information is that all my windows are under water. So, you can see what people are passing through within this period.

“But with the assistance development partners will give us and people who are in the humanitarian sector, we will soon get over it,” he said.

The President’s house in Otuoke has been under

renovation since it was bombed

by Niger Delta militants at the height militancy in the region.

Speaking on the Nigeria’s Saving One Million Lives Initiative (2012-2015), the President noted that its launch was a special contribution in the global effort to protect the rights of women and children, noting that Nigeria has committed about $601million in the next four years for the procurement of additional reproductive health commodities, maternal, new born and child health intervention, polio and routine immunization.

headquarters, Col Benson Akin, and Staff Officer 1, STF headquarters as the secretary while operations officer of the task force would coordinate the activities of the committee.

Speaking at the inauguration of the committee at the STF headquarters in Jos, the Commander, Maj. Gen. Henry Ayoola said that the committee was necessitated by a review of security arrangements and the fallout of the last Eid el Fitri celebration.

Ayoola said that the committee would comprise of representatives of all security organisations and some religious groups in the state.

According to him, membership of the committee are drawn from the Airforce, Nigeria Police, department of state security, Operation Rainbow and civil defense as well as the Federal Road safety commission, prisons, Christian Association of Nigeria, Ja’amatu Nasril Islam,and Izala sect.

Plateau crises: STF sets up security c’ttee From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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ollowing the fresh outbreak of violence in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government councils of Plateau state that left over 20 persons dead, the Special Task Force yesterday set up a standing security operations committee to respond quickly to the state’s security emergency.

The committee is to be chaired by Chief of Staff, Special Task Force Command

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Opposition against state police can’t stand, says Aregbesola From Inumidun Ojelade, Osogbo

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overnor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state yesterday restated his call for the creation of state police to properly secure states in Nigeria.

The governor while speaking at the signing of the Security Trust Fund Law, held that the Police Command structure is so centralised that order can only come from the Inspector General of Police.

Aregbesola said that the bogus

identification of governors as chief security officers of their various states,was a mere expression as no Commissioner of Police listens to the directive or instruction of any governor.

He lamented that when there is insecurity, governors are blamed.

According to him, "Those who say Nigeria is not ripe for state police are not sincere. I don’t know where they get their own reasoning from. Even school campuses have their own police to ensure that

criminal activities are curbed in their institutions. If there is any violation of rights, the judiciary is there to handle it and so the argument that state police will lead to abuse of rights cannot be sustained.

"My administration, being a responsive and responsible one, is putting the issue of security of our dear state on the front burner, hence, we are developing a number of strategies to evolve an almost full proof of security for the State of Osun."

The governor stressed that insecurity is no respecter of anybody, adding that prevention of crimes should be a collective enterprise among the citizen of Osun.

To secure Osun, the governor stated that intelligence and warning systems that are capable of detecting impending criminal activities, must be put in place for prevention and protection.

In his words, "As a state, we must enhance the analytic

capabilities of the police and other security agencies; build new capabilities and implement a state Security Advisory system. The Security Trust Fund Law newly enacted takes all these into consideration."

Aregbesola said his government will work with the Federal Departments and Agencies, neighboring states and local governments and private sector to implement a comprehensive plan to protect the state and her citizens.

Flood: Minister urges Nigerians to assist victims

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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L-R: Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, Sokoto state Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Jigawa state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Gumel, and Kebbi state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, during their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on polio eradication in Nigeria, on Tuesday at the State House, Abuja.

PHOTO: JOE OROYE

he Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro has called on Nigerians to be their brother’s keepers as President Jonathan continues his tour of communities affected recently by flood across the country.

Moro in a statement issued yesterday by his Special Assistant on Media, George Udo indicated that the flood that submerged houses and farmlands and displaced many families across the nation could have affected anybody.

He, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to do discard the notion that the disaster was not their business. “We should remember that when one of us his threatened, we are all at risk, so we should learn to be our brother’s keeper, remembering that we are all

Oshiomhole eulogizes Ahmadu Bello’s vision From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has charged Nigerian leaders to build on the progressive policy and vision of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello in order to build a virile, united and indivisible Nigeria.

Governor Oshiomhole gave the charge when he received the chairman and members of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation who were in Government House to donate relief materials to flood displaced persons in the state.

According to Oshiomhole, “what your foundation has done in several ways will help to remind us across the length and breadth of

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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hairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), yesterday denied that his organisation misappropriated N4 billion, even as “there was no mention of such imaginary sum in the handover notes” when he took over from the immediate past

Nigeria that we are indeed one and the same. It is moments like this that you know who are your brothers and your sisters”.

Paying tribute to the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, the governor said he is a beneficiary of the uncommon vision of Sir Ahmadu Bello who laid foundation that Nigerians should live in peace without any form of discrimination whether by reference to tribe, religion or ethnicity.

“He believed rightly too that Nigeria should add value and not export primary commodity. He had a credible vision that Nigerians should set up industries to create employment. I am happy that the foundation is giving

practical expression to his teachings and lifestyle”, Oshiomhole said.

“This kind gesture in such a time that Nigerians are confused about their future, by going round, you are rebuilding bridges and reminding us that we need each other and our unity is not negotiable,” he added.

Oshiomhole assured the team that, “we would ensure that the items are distributed to those who are affected in the various camps across the three local government areas”.

“Let me also say that in future if you are doing anything around his memorial I will like to be invited and make my contributions,” he said.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and chairman, advisory council of the foundation, Justice Mamman Nasir said they were in the state to show affection to those affected by the flood.

According to him, “we have come to specifically identify with the misfortune that affected our brothers and sisters in the state. In many states, a lot of damage was done to our brothers and sisters and we have a duty to come to their aid”.

Justice Nasir who noted that the foundation is in honour of the late premier of the Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahamdu Bello, said it was expected to follow the teachings and footprint of the late Premier.

created by God. Let us learn to show the milk of human kindness to our fellow country men and women whenever they are in need”, he appealed.

He assured the victims, of the present administration’s will to ameliorate the impact of the devastating flood, but called on Nigerians to complement government's effort in assisting the victims.

The minister commended President Goodluck Jonathan's effort at mitigating the pains of the victims with the inauguration of the National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation.

Kogi plans compensation to flood victims From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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ictims of flood disasters in Kogi state, have been asked not to see the damages done to them as the end of their lives.

Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi stated this when he received situation report that four persons in Ibaji Local Government Area, whose massive farmlands and houses were washed away, have committed suicide.

According to him, while efforts are being made to rehabilitate those who lost valuables, the state government would assist the families of those who committed suicide.

Though the losses may be painful, he noted, other victims should be patient and prayerful while government plans “measures to rehabilitate those displaced".

Earlier, David Oguh, Liaison Officer 1, Ibaji Local Government Area, said government support and assurances was most needed, as farmers from the area, have completely lost all they laboured for.

Nasarawa UBEB denies misappropriating N4 billion chairman of the board Malam Abdulkarim dismissed the claim by Suleiman Ubam, education commissioner under former governor Aliyu Doma, that SUBEB under his charge misappropriated N4 billion, as “a spurious claim by people that

mismanaged the opportunity given to them.”

He challenged those making the claims to explain why after leaving behind such amount of money, “we inherited such huge liabilities, with the board unable to settle past contractors including

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains?”

The chairman urged journalists to come over to his office and peruse the handover note, for out any N4 billion.

Former Nasarawa state commissioner of education,

Suleiman Ubam, in a release circulated in Lafia yesterday, claimed that the Doma administration left behind N4 billion in the coffers of the board, while blaming the Al-makura administration for squandering the funds, “without renovating a single classroom”.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 11

Strong tips on how to save for the future in savings and equity shares F

irst, your savings are likely to be held in five major categoriesproperty, equity, debt, precious metals, and cash. Whatever the investment product, however complex it's terminology and working, it is likely to fit into one or more of these categories.

Equity shares, IPOs, equity funds, PMS are all equity. If you have your own business or profession, and money is invested in it, you should classify it as equity, even if it is not a listed company. It is risky capital invested for long-term growth based on the profitability of your venture. Simplify it as equity anyway.

Your investment in the PF, PPF, deposits, bonds, post office, and everything else that returns the principal after a particular time and pays interest, is debt.

Your diamonds, gold, silver, inherited jewellery, and coins can all be classified as precious metals. Whatever lies in your savings account, or in your vault, is cash. Property includes everything in real estate that you buy-residential, commercial or land. As long as you are not spending all that you earn and are putting something aside in any one of these, you have begun well.

Second, you are unlikely to build wealth to a formula. The trick is to diversify, or ensure that your wealth is spread well across these categories. You might buy a house early in your career. You may not be conscious about your PF deduction building up as your debt portfolio. You may be churning your money in stock trading and IPOs without a specific plan. You could be investing via SIPs in a dozen funds, hoping they turn out fine in the end. Every time you make an investment, rather than focus too much on it in isolation, try and see what it does to what you already have.

For example, if you have bought a property and it represents all the wealth you have, be conscious about building other categories of wealth before jumping in to buy one more. If all your savings are in deposits, PPF and such products, make sure you add some equity funds. If you are obsessed with gold, ensure you don't invest all your savings in it. It is fine if you have spent a few years of your life building one type of asset; focus on others in the next few. Building debt in the first five years, adding a home in the next 10, adding equity in the next five, and spending the rest of your earning

life building each one of these into a bigger size is not bad at all.

You don't have to do everything at the same time.

Third, learn to focus on making good the imbalances, in a steady manner. In the early days of earning, you may have time and attitude to take risks in equity. However, without the cushion of wealth, that would be risky. In the middle age of low expense and high saving, buying property might become an obsession. In the retired phase, there may be an overt focus on protecting capital and getting an income.

Long-term wealth building needs balance. Always look at your wealth to ask if you have too much or too little of something. If an investment product is offered to you, look at it in terms of how it would add to, or take away from the balance between all the components you already have.

Have a target for making

corrections and work on it. If all your saving is going back into your business, and you have bought property with all the gains you could stash away, recognise the lack of debt in your portfolio, and begin to build it.

Do not worry too much about actual proportions. That keeps changing. Look for extreme positions, such as 80 per cent in property, 90 per cent in gold, 80 per cent in equity. It is fine to keep these for some time, as long as you have a plan to balance it out and implement such plan.

For example, by the time you retire, if you have 30 per cent of your wealth in property, 30 per cent in equity, 30 per cent in debt and 10 per cent in cash, you have balanced your wealth well.

How to use mutual funds to address financial needs Most financial experts will tell you that it is important to plan your investments according to your financial goals and personal needs. These vary from one

individual to the other, with some looking to build a nest egg for their retirement, and others wanting to fund the down payment of their dream house.

Funding children's education and marriage are also prominent goals for most people.

One can plan for these goals with the help of different mutual funds which are suited to various requirements. The choice of mutual funds depends on the time horizon as defined by the proximity of goals and one's tolerance towards risk. Here's how one can plan for specific goals in life by using mutual funds.

Retirement Creating a sizeable corpus for one's twilight years is a key financial goal. Ideally, one should begin saving for it as soon as one begins earning. A systematic investment plan ( SIP) in mutual funds is the best route to help you achieve this goal. If you are in your 20s or

30s, start investing aggressively in diversified equity funds, which carry the potential to create long-term wealth. A mix of large-cap and mid-cap oriented funds with healthy track records should be a part of your portfolio. Remember, however, that you will need to gradually shift your money to safer debt funds as you get closer to retirement.

Children's education or marriage Providing for these goals requires careful planning. Since you cannot compromise on your child's future, your investment should not be subjected to high risk, but should still leave scope for good returns. Balanced funds, which invest in a mix of debt and equity, are the ideal choice for these. Index funds can also be used in a smaller proportion. For your daughter's marriage, the need for gold jewellery can be met by buying gold ETFs at regular intervals. Since you cannot predict the price of gold at a given time, the least you can do is keep pace by accumulating gold ETF units.

Down payment for house / car If you are saving to buy a car or make the down payment for a house a year or two down the line, steer clear of equity investments. Such short-term goals can be met through debt funds, which invest purely in fixed income instruments.

Income funds or short-term bond funds should be used to ensure that your money grows at a steady pace. These work best when interest rates are heading southwards.

Meeting recurring expenses If you want to earn a regular income to meet certain recurring expenses, monthly income plans could be the right option. These are suitable for investors who don't want to take too much risk as these invest up to 20% in equities and the rest in debt instruments. These are fairly stable and can provide a steady stream of income by way of regular dividends.

Tax planning If you want to reduce your taxable income and also build long-term wealth, you can invest in equity-linked saving schemes or ELSS funds. This investment is eligible for tax deduction, with the income from dividends and capital gains being tax-free even though these plans come with a lock-in period of three years. These can be used to supplement other equity fund investments meant for your retirement goal.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

Ondo 2012: Will it be second feather in INEC's cap?

S

ince the relative successful conduct of the April 2011 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), headed by Professor Attahiru Jega, has made steady progress in sanitizing the country's badly soiled electoral system. First proof of this was the near rancour-free, transparent and generally accepted Edo state governorship election held in June this, year.

That election returned Comrade Adam Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN) to an office which he first won through a court decision.

The Edo election, in spite of the violence that characterized the build-up to it (Governor Oshiomhole's political aide, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, was hideously killed on the eve of the polls), was adjudged to be a huge success. Of course, there were the usual problems of logistics such as late arrival of balloting materials and officials at voting centres and opposition complaint of underhand activity by the party in government.

However, when the result did emerge, it was indisputable who the winner was. Not even the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which had hoped to regain control of Edo it had lost to ACN

in a 2009 court decision, contested the result.

Indeed, President Goodluck Jonathan, leader of the PDP behemoth, was one of the very first to congratulate the ACN governor on his re-election. The PDP read the no-nonsense mood of the Edo electorate and promptly dissuaded its candidate in the election from appealing the

“

We must get Ondo right to set the right tone for the general elections three years away result. He listened and all is peaceful in Edo today!

To be sure, there were several winners of the Edo governorship election - Governor Oshiomohle and his ACN, the state's electorate, security agencies, particularly the police, and, of course, Jega's INEC. Now, we expect INEC to build on the Edo success in the Ondo governorship election coming up this Saturday, October 20. It pitches incumbent Governor

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Olusegun Mimiki of Labour Party (LP) against PDP's Olusola Oke and ACN's Akeredolu, a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president.

Mimiki, who is seeking reelection, and seems the favourite of the people, however, has a battle on his hands, not from the PDP but his erstwhile political ally, ACN. The latter wants Ondo to complete a clean sweep of the six South-west states it controlled between 1999 and 2003. This desperation has snowballed into a war of words between Mimiko and Chief Bola Tinubu, the national leader of ANC. Their fight may turn out to be PDP's blessing though.

At the same time, it could be big trouble for the security agencies and the police. This is why we urge that they insist on everybody observing the rules of the game to the letter. Security must be beefed up in the state before and after voting. There is the risk, however, that an unusually high security presence may scare voters away from polling booths. But if this is the price to pay to have a peaceful and transparent poll, so be it.

We must get Ondo right to set the right tone for the general elections three years away.

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OUR VISION

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 13

Africa’s next war does not have to be over Bakassi

By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu & Agnes Ebo’o

T

he decision by Nigeria’s government, announced on 8 October 2012 by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, to abide by the 2002 ICJ judgement in respect of the Bakassi case was eminently sensible.

There, however, remain serious issues that require urgent exertion of the leaderships of both countries if they are to avoid a war over Bakassi.

Reflecting a new tone of narrow nationalism on the issue, Nigeria’s media has mostly treated the government’s position as a form of capitulation to adverse influence under headlines such as, “Nigeria finally gives up on Bakassi”. Beyond the media backlash, there are worrying developments around Bakassi that can only be faced down when the leaderships of both countries prioritize in concrete ways the best interests of the people in Bakassi.

On October 2, a group known as the Free Bakassi Association initiated legal proceedings before Nigeria’s Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the government to resume full control of the Peninsula. In early August 2012, a group calling itself the Bakassi Self-Determination Front announced that it had established a pirate radio station and a flag for an autonomous territory of Bakassi, threatening major disruption in the area and to transactional life with the rest of Nigeria.

These developments inspired a vociferous coalition of Nigeria’s civic

and political leaders, including notable voices in both chambers of Nigeria’s Parliament and Nobel Literature laureate, Wole Soyinka, who set about a campaign to unilaterally nullify the ICJ judgment and reclaim Bakassi at the risk, if necessary, of triggering a needless new war between Nigeria and Cameroon.

In a nod to this campaign, Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, on October 4, ordered a review of the country’s options with respect to Bakassi. The Nigerian media widely interpreted this to mean that Nigeria would seek an improbable review of the ICJ judgment. The Federal Government of Nigeria’s official statement of October 8 finally put an end to all speculation, stressing that “an application for a review is virtually bound to fail” and that “a failed application will be diplomatically damaging to Nigeria”. But the real news in the Nigerian announcement was a little-noticed line in which the government promised “…. to explore all avenues necessary to protect their interests including but not limited to negotiations aimed at buying back the territory, if feasible.”

On the 10th anniversary of the Judgment by the ICJ, such calculated implausibility casts a long shadow over one of Africa’s least known citizenship crises with thousands already rendered stateless, and threatens to unleash the Continent’s next protracted conflict and subsequent internal displacement and refugee crises.

It is not as if the region is in short supply of tension. The violence in

North-Eastern Nigeria has already brought relations between the two countries to an exceptionally low level. Unless both countries wake up to the human tragedy unfolding in Bakassi, amid growing maritime piracy and militia threats, the area could become the site of Africa’s next inter-State war.

Both countries have had a decade to prepare for compliance with the ICJ judgment. With no regard for interests of the people of the Peninsula or the niceties of international law and diplomacy, those seeking to “reoccupy” Bakassi espouse a dubious but evangelical belief in Nigeria’s exclusive territorial and proprietory interests in the Peninsula, oblivious of the fact that they have Cameroonian opposite numbers.

It bears recalling that on October 10, 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decided in favour of Cameroon in its dispute with Nigeria over control of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula. Following the judgment, Nigeria and Cameroon reached an agreement -the Greentree Agreement- in June 2006, to govern implementation of the ICJ ruling.

Subsequently, Nigeria lowered its flag, withdrew its troops and evacuated its personnel from Bakassi. Under a voluntarily schedule agreed by both countries, final transfer of sovereignty to Cameroon will take place in August 2013.

The judgment of the ICJ compelled the adjustment of territory between Cameroon and Nigeria along a border territory of

about 2,000 kilometres in length stretching from the Atlantic coast in the South to the Lake Chad Basin in the North. By the end of August 2012, about 1,978 kilometres of border territory had been covered in the adjustment. A Mixed Commission facilitated by the United Nations and comprising senior officials of both countries has worked for the past decade to adjust boundaries in the affected border areas. Both countries have gained and lost territories in this process.

In addition to this, the mandate of the Mixed Commission also extends to demilitarization of the Peninsula, protection of the rights of the population, and identification of projects to promote their wellbeing, including “joint ventures between the two countries and cross-border cooperation”.

It is on this last point that both Nigeria and Cameroon, and the nationalists on both sides, have failed the people of Bakassi. Neither country has disguised the fact that its design was over the territory and resources of the area. There has been no effort to address the community’s huge and overwhelming citizenship, human rights, and development crises.

Despite its rich endowments in natural resources, Bakassi is a desperate place. It has no transactional life, few schools and abysmal skills. Adrift from its main source of economic life in Nigeria, it will require years, computed in decades, to achieve any meaningful integration into Cameroon.

The majority of Bakassi

inhabitants are Nigerian nationals.

When the full transfer of sovereignty to Cameroon scheduled to take place in 2013 happens, the people of Bakassi will be faced with a choice as to their nationality, since Cameroon does not permit dual nationality. Those who choose to remain Nigerians will become aliens on their own land.

Although the Greentree Agreement promises to respect their rights to citizenship and residence, there is no obligation on Cameroon to grant residency permits to anyone. As a fact, Cameroon is currently not issuing any identification or citizenship documents in Bakassi. It can also choose to impose impossible conditions for doing so.

This impermissible state of affairs can be addressed through a citizenship and residency rights protocol to the Greentree Agreement. Such a Protocol would clearly state the entitlements of the people of Bakassi and govern the obligations of both Nigeria and Cameroon past the handover date in 2013. Absent such a supplement to the Greentree Agreement, further deterioration in relations between Cameroon and Nigeria towards active hostilities cannot be ruled out. This is eminently foreseeable and avoidable.

Chidi Anselm Odinkalu chairs the Governing Council of Nigeria’s Human Rights Commission and Agnes Ebo’o is Coordinator of the Gulf of Guinea Citizens Network (GGCN) Secretariat in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Alex Ekwueme: Celebrating an uncommon Nigerian

By Kanu Agabi

Y

our name alone is suggestive – a good man; a man who keeps his word, a man of excellence.

You are a pre-eminent Nigerian, distinguished in every respect, a man of character and discipline, a worthy ambassador of our nation and of God, fearless, courageous and upright.

Unlike the other Alexander, who also like you, great, you set out not to conquer the world but yourself. That we celebrate your life in your lifetime is proof indeed that you conquered yourself. The modesty and austerity of your life is a worthy example in this age of ostentation. At a time when men of your rank and position have come under justifiable suspicion, you have lived above suspicion. Your outstanding achievements, rather than make you proud and distant, have made you the common property of all. In this, you are an example to all our leaders – “Remember that thou art but a man.” There being little that we can add to the blessings that God has showered upon you already, we can only add our humble prayers, that He bless you even more and grant you a place in that other kingdom appointed for those who make God their strength and put not their faith in their eminence or in the abundance of their riches.

We do not honour you as an Ibo man. We do not honour you as a dignitary from the South-East. We do not honour you as a Christian.

We do not honour you as a Nigerian.

We do not even honour you as a former vice president of our country.

We honour you as a humble, faithful child of God, who spoke for Christians as well as Moslems. We honour you

as one who spoke for the north as well as the south, for the east as well as the west. Indeed, we honour you as one who spoke not only for our generation, but also for generations to come. Because you did so, you shall be remembered and honoured, not only by this generation but also by generations to come.

And we are consoled that, however uncertain it becomes in our country there will never be a shortage of men and women like you to plead our cause and to lead us out of the darkness we find ourselves in.

We will always have faith in your leadership. It is with that faith, that we shall leave this darkness, obeying your injunction that we stand not still. If we are going to get out of this darkness, this is the time for us to move. And if we choose to persevere in this darkness, as we have always done, we must then do as the plants do – grow in the dark.

As it is never ever late to acknowledge our parents, a tribute to you is a tribute to your father and your mother. We remember them and honour them for the pains they took to make you, by God’s grace, see who you have become. A tribute to you is a tribute to your tribe – a worthy, hardworking and persevering people. You and many others of that tribe are a proof of the stern stuff of which the tribe is made of. A tribute to you is a tribute to the nation. A tribute to you is a prayer of gratitude to God from whom all things proceed. We thank him for our country. We thank him for the hope that we have that our unity shall not be broken simply because we speak different languages or worship God in different ways or belong to different political parties.

Honour came to you very early.

And it will reside with you to the end. We yearn for, but often never get, the acclaim of family, friends, and kinsmen. You have been acclaimed not only by family, friends and kinsmen but also by the entire nation. Indeed, the entire world. We bear witness that once power was entrusted to you; you used it to advance the cause of our nation. You were able to lead successfully because you had yourself experienced the adversities from which you sought to save the people. Unlike many of us, you learnt to lead by first learning to serve.

You have been consistent. You have been outspoken in your condemnation of the ills of our society and you have never relented in urging us to move out of our narrow confinements into the political and economic mainstream of the world.

Even though we are still a long way from that goal we are consoled that there are still many men and women who, like you, have faith in the nation and do not regard it as an artificial creation – men and women who are struggling and sacrificing to unite the nation and who continue to propagate those principles, which alone enabled the men and women of your generation to rise to eminence and to bequeath

to us the great heritage, which we are now dissipating. May the spirit that guided the men and women of your generation guide us too.

We celebrate your life because you worked for peace and justice. The fact that both peace and justice continue to elude us is not owed to anything that you failed to do. It is in spite of all that you and others with you have done and continue to do. We celebrate you because you labored and sacrificed for a just nation – a nation where peace and justice reigns. Convinced that your labours shall not be in vain, we shall continue to live, not by our fears but by our hopes. Those hopes, rooted as they are in God, shall not be disappointed forever.

We commend your sense of family. We do so at a time when our affairs are characterized by a total disregard for life. No time is more appropriate than now to commend those who respect life – now when the nation is proliferating with assassins and murders – none of whom are ever called to account.

No one is at liberty to take the life of another. This celebration of your life is an appropriate opportunity to urge the nation to resist violence and not to stand helpless in the face of nihilism. I do not know of anything

“

We commend your sense of family. We do so at a time when our affairs are characterized by a total disregard for life.

No time is more appropriate than now to commend those who respect life – now when the nation is proliferating with assassins and murders – none of whom are ever called to account. No one is at liberty to take the life of another

that peace and non-violence cannot achieve. I know of nothing that violence can achieve. We must come together as brothers and sisters and resolve our disputes amicably. God has called us to be one, to live in peace and harmony. We ought not to be divided, state from state, tribe from tribe, faith from faith, the rich from the poor. Let us begin now to break down the walls that separate us and tear down the fences of differences and hatred. We cannot do so until we free ourselves from pride and selfseeking, and overcome our prejudices and fears. The time has come when we must cease to treat one another as strangers in our own land. Peace is not going to spring out of the ground. We shall have to make it.

Now more than ever before, we look up to our leaders to speak. As important as infrastructures are, let our leaders be reminded that they shall not be remembered for the roads and bridges and hospitals they build if at the same time they do not speak, pointing out the direction in which the nation ought to go. Time shall wear out the roads and bridges that we build but the words of our leaders shall never be forgotten. The nation is yearning to hear from her leaders. Which way shall we go?

Let us acknowledge that we all have, in various ways, contributed to the decline of our country. Let us acknowledge that we all share in the guilt of corruption and dictatorship.

Let us repent and work together for the transformation of our nation. I know of no better way of honouring Dr. Ekwueme who has been steadfast in advancing our nation.

Kanu Agabi is a former Justice Minister and Senator.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

The benefit of missing the President’s 2013 budget speech

By Ifeanyi Uddin

I

t was about 10.00am Wednesday last week that a friend reminded me that Mr. President was before a joint session of the National Assembly outlining his administration’s tax and spending provisions for next year. My initial response was censorious. How could I have missed the unveiling of budget 2013. Time was when the budget speech, the New Year and Independence Day addresses were anticipated and much trawled thereafter. One actually woke up early to hear them out.

These speeches used to lay road maps down, along which the respective administrations invited the citizenry to come. By the mid-1980s, though, they had become more beautiful than useful. Institutions whose purpose was not so much the definition of a desired pathway; but rituals, rites of governance whose very existence now lent a crumbling state the pretence of coherence and purpose.

The Ibrahim Babangida administration, a bellwether of those trends that have come to define this nation was as usual at the centre of this transition – there will of course be those who argue that it was, indeed, the

By Na-Allah Mohammed Zagga

K

enya was recently in the news when President Mwai Kibaki, bolstered by public outrage, rejected the attempt by the country’s legislators to raise their salaries and allowances to $110,000 per month. Moved by public outrage, the President firmly told the lawmakers that he wouldn’t accept such egregiously selfish demand when millions of other poor fellow citizens are struggling to make ends meet. The people are central to the democratic system and, therefore, their interest is the soul of democracy.

In Nigeria, however, the reverse seems to be the case. Here, our National Assembly members are paying themselves whopping salaries and allowances outside the recommendations of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission. The former Chairman of the Commission, Engineer Hamman Tukur publicly accused the legislators of paying themselves illegal salaries and allowances.

What we have here is a situation where lawmakers abuse their powers by fixing their own salaries without regard for the state of the economy or the tough living conditions of the voters that put them into office.

Our lawmakers here are no more than an albatross on the economy and our democracy. How do you justify our 109 Senators collecting N45 million per quarter each? How do you also rationalize every member of the House of Representatives collecting N27 million each every three months?

I deliberately avoided the word “earn” because to earn something, means you have worked hard for it and deserve it as a result. With 109 Senators and 360 representatives collecting such

catalyst for this change. Arguably, the electorate for whom it is Against the huge shortages that the elevated language, and the intended. After innumerable the people have to contend with, carefully worded argument that iterations at the different levels of of course, this new “normal” is under-girded most of its initiatives governance every year, there is nonsensical.

Against this background, contributed to the beautification no doubt any longer that the of the speeches from the throne. dissonance between budgets and what does it mean that the total By the mid-1990s, however, not the people’s needs is cavernous. appropriations for the next fiscal just had these institutions of From their fancy rubrics – year (N4.93tn) is 5% up on the number for governance lost this year their purpose.

(N4.697tn), if They had ceased the federal either to be government beautiful by Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text did not meet, themselves, or to messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written or exceeded the lend beauty to the contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 latter target? apparatus of words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and Maybe the governance. A a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed p r o p e r new quality, to: question to ask consensus at this point is: o p i n i o n The Editor, “what is a eventually b u d g e t ” ? defined it as Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, Definitely not a “ r a n k 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. self-fulfilling impunity”, now Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com pronouncement, infused the public SMS: 07037756364 not even a space. guide.

A S i n c e government has become an “Budget of Progress”, “Budget of statement of hope, then? The authority by and unto itself Consolidation”, etc. – the people only reason for instance why the (immune even to counsel from its have come to expect nothing of eventual budget deficit for 2012 enlarged cortege of advisers) is it sorts. Beyond these loud might be within the initial any surprise that targets are shortcomings, our budgets fail, 2.85% of GDP estimate, is that apparently set in order to be today, because even their the price of our main export held missed? Today, the budget, at fashioners expect very little of up well throughout the year.

Governments now Such was the nature of spending whatever level of governance, is them. an act of fiction. I do not speak here celebrate 50% attainment of the last year that lower oil prices to the relevance of the many targets contained in their budgets would have doomed the At US$33.6bn targets it contains to the lives of as if this is the new pass mark. economy.

government’s domestic debt is intimidating. Add the foreign component, and total official indebtedness is close to 25% of GDP. Every day, therefore, the economy resembles Nigeria preParis Club debt exit. At 14%, the coupon on the domestic debt should soon push this budget line into unsustainable territory.

In this light, the most useful background to the new hope of keeping the deficit for fiscal 2013 under 2.17% of GDP is that the federal government expects Iran’s cack-handed approach to diplomacy, Syria’s ineptitude, and an increasingly bellicose Israel to continue to put pressure on oil prices. Buoyed by such rosetinted optimism, it is little surprise that the budget is based on an increase in oil production.

Debate proceeds ad nauseum over how much effective installed capacity there is in the upstream sector of the oil industry. But few will deny that concern over an enabling legislative environment has denied the industry of the needed investment in new capacity.

In other words, I need not have bothered too much about not listening to the president’s budget address.

Ifeanyi Uddin is on www.facebook.com

outrageous salaries and allowances in a developing country like Nigeria, how can democratic governance make any positive impact on the lives of the ordinary people or the voters?

How do you explain a Nigerian Senator receiving salaries and allowances two times higher than the American President? The United States has a higher GDP than Nigeria, but ridiculously, a Nigerian Senator pays himself higher than the U.S. President.

Public outrage does not move our lawmakers here because our electoral system is so rotten that it is almost always impossible to remove bad and selfish leaders from office, using the power of your vote. If the dictatorship of the President is not acceptable, the despotism of the lawmakers by defying public opinion over their salaries is not good for our democracy either. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recently lamented that Nigeria’s President is the most powerful in the world and, therefore, we must put a curb on his excessive powers, which are subject to abuse. The excessive powers of our lawmakers are just as dangerous for the good of democracy. Abuse of power or breaching public trust for personal advantage or making laws to advance the selfish interest of the lawmakers couldn’t have been the noble intention of the original framers of the 1979 and 1999 constitutions.

The former Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the Second Republic, Chief Richard Akinjide, once said that the problems of our democracy today have nothing to do with whether we are operating a presidential or a parliamentary system of government. Instead, he said, the problem lies in the character of the people we are

surprised why the National Assembly members are amending the CBN Act of 2007 to get back at Sanusi by whittling down the powers of the Governor of the apex bank? Former CBN Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, reminded the lawmakers that legislation should not be done in anger.

Our constitution should be designed in such a way that nobody should enjoy the powers to fix their own salaries or make laws for their own advantages.

Unfortunately, such hope is remote because the current crop of lawmakers can never give us the constitutional amendment that we deserve. The number of our federal lawmakers is too unwieldy for the economy. Lawmakers should not collect salaries like civil servants or other professionals in government.

Democracy is for selfless and honest service and not for making overnight fortunes at the expense of the public. Former American President Bill Clinton didn’t make money in office because that was not his mission for seeking power in the first place. He started making money after leaving office. His memoirs, “My Life” earned him $15 million. In fact, the former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair also received 17 million pounds for his memoirs, entitled, “A Journey.” They also earn big money as conference speakers. In Nigeria, however, elective offices are avenues for self-enrichment.

That is why politicians can kill you if your ambition threatens their seats, where they are making millions.

Na-Allah Mohammed Zagga is reachable on muhazagga@yahoo.com

WRITE TO US

Kenya: A lesson for Nigeria electing to power. He hit the nail on the head. If we elect those who perceive public office as a gravy train rather than a call to honest and selfless service, then we shouldn’t expect different results from the selfish lawmakers we have today.

If their salaries and allowances are legitimately deserved, why do members of the National Assembly shroud their pay in secrecy? A civil society organization recently had to go to court, seeking an order to compel the Clerk of the National Assembly to reveal the salaries and allowances of our Senators and Representatives. When a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, went to court to challenge the salaries and allowances of these greedy lawmakers, he was told by the Judge that he had no locus standi in the issue and he was dismissed as a “busybody.”

This is not our idea of peopleoriented democratic order. How can lawmakers be more powerful than the people when their authority derives from the voters?

Unfortunately, such is the disturbing reality of our so-called democracy today. In fact, when has projects execution become part of legislative function? Our federal lawmakers are hiding behind the so-called constituency projects to rip off the people by paying themselves outrageous salaries and allowances, which are inconsistent with legitimate labour.

In a country where leaders are complaining about their inability to pay N18,000 minimum wage, how do you justify our lawmakers taking such staggering salaries in a country where poverty is ravaging the land like a wild fire? A University Professor earns about three million

per annum, but each of our federal lawmakers receives more pay than the Chief Justice of the Federation and other very senior hard working professionals holding public offices.

During the Faruk Lawan bribery scandal, I participated in a BBC Hausa Service programme on the issue and when we left the studio, I tackled a lawmaker who had participated on the show to tell me honestly how much they are receiving as salaries and allowances. He said the perception of their pay was based on exaggeration. And then I asked him as a follow-up, what exactly are the figures of their actual salaries since he denied the figures in the public domain. Again, he resorted to prevarication, reminding me that lawmakers have many responsibilities because they are close to the grassroots, which never answered my question. We parted without the lawmaker answering my question honestly, after fellow participants on the programme appealed to us to end the argument and agree to differ. He told me that critics like me are “ignorant” but without confirming precisely how much they are paying themselves.

Don’t these lawmakers have a duty to clear our “ignorance” by being upfront about their salaries and allowances? When are we going to have a public hearing by the National Assembly to enable Nigerians debate the necessity of lawmakers paying themselves outrageous salaries and allowances? When CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, questioned the rationale of 25 percent of our national budget going to the welfare of our federal lawmakers, he became their marked man from that day. Are Nigerians now

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

By Ose Oyamendan

I

haven’t read Chinua Achebe’s There Was A Country. You see, I’m so old now the only way I keep young is by imitating the young folks. They don’t read anymore, so I don’t either. If it’s not gossip, it’s not news. I will do what they would have done if Achebe’s book were encyclopedic gossip – wait until I can read it on my phone.

I just love the barbs being thrown across regional lines because of the book. It reminds me of this southern joke about the problem of Nigeria being the north, so if the country splits, the south would be better and more prosperous.

They often forget that without the north, the south would probably starve or spend a bulk of its GDP importing more food.

Since Nigerians have intermarried across regional lines for decades, it would be fun driving by the visa lines in both countries during the holiday seasons.

I know before reading Achebe’s book that I will not like it. I grew up in the part of Ibadan where Obafemi Awolowo was a god. As a kid in 1979, we couldn’t wait till

PAGE 15

There was a country night time so we can see Awolowo flashing his famous victory sign from the moon. It was better than dinner.

One day, Awolowo had a campaign event at Liberty Road.

Everyone in the neighbourhood was excited the great man was going to take the ten-minute drive over, especially since this was campaign season – the season a smart man would take over from the pot-bellied Egba man.

Us kids hung on the balconies waiting for Awolowo to take off for the moon from the stadium. But the man drove away which was a big bummer. We got over it because we figured he had a great spacecraft at home that didn’t fit into the Liberty Stadium parking lot. Sure enough, a few minutes later, the moon came out and Awolowo was there flashing the victory sign.

I remember asking how he could fly from Oke-Bola to the moon faster than it would have taken us to drive down to his house in Oke-Bola. I was told Awolowo can do anything he set his mind

to. I believed it. I believed and I believed that it was his destiny to trounce Shehu Shagari, Nnanmdi Azikiwe and Adisa Akinloye. I didn’t even know Akinloye wasn’t running for anything. It was bad enough that an Ibadan man was at the enemy’s table.

Achebe is right though. There was indeed a country; a country that millions died fighting to keep together; a country that millions danced and shed tears of joy at independence because they all felt the future was rosy; a country that the world expected to be one of the greatest on earth. A country that was Nigeria.

You look everywhere now and you don’t even see a shadow of that country. It looked like it has disappeared in a fog of corruption and mismanagement.

The leaders seem to be set on fighting for who can destroy the nation best. And every time the National Assembly shows some teeth, some spokesman from Mount Aso comes out spewing bile.

There was a country that once

took care of its neighbours. Now there is a country where flood is ravaging the country, some of it out of mistakes that would have been fixed with a dam and bilateral talks. Worse, the president’s handlers must have thought that bodies floating in the flood were swimmers and rightly that Governor Wada of Kogi state was a court jester with his bulletproof vest. The president, being the homeboy he is, finally realized those were not pools when his state got buried in the ravaging flood.

There was a country where the youth couldn’t wait to go on the National Youth Service program so they can discover other parts of Nigeria. Now, we have a country where those kids are slaughtered in parts of the country for not being indigenes.

There is now a country where terrorists kill people and the government looks on like a punchdrunk boxer in the middle of the ring.

There was a country that was going to lead Africa into the

21 st century, a country where African countries waited on the leadership of Nigeria. Now, there is a country where once minnows like Benin Republic, Togo and others routinely dare Nigeria. It’s worse sometimes because the Nigerian leadership doesn’t even realize it’s been dissed until the foreign countries announce it in the newspapers.

There was indeed a country once destined for greatness. A country that many hoped at independence would be on par with today’s South Korea. But, it’s a dream derailed. The only thing left seems to be the unbending will of the people to survive and thrive. Sometimes, it’s for good.

At other times, it lands them on the opposite side of the law.

What you can’t ignore is the fact that there was once a country called Nigeria. And, this is not it. You would have wished that instead of the barbs thrown at Achebe and his book, people would have talked more about that country called Nigeria. And how it got lost on the way to the future.

Ose Oyamendan, a filmmaker, lives in Los Angeles, USA.

Pioneering securities market jurisprudence

By Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

T

o the best knowledge of this writer, the likelihood that Dr. Nnenna Adaeze Orji, the Executive Chairman of Nigeria’s Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST) had ever met Sally M. Abel, Partner, Fenwick & West LLP of the Silicon Valley California is very slim. This is, even though, both two of them are distinctively successful lawyers in their chosen fields of specialisations in the legal practice. I was amazed at the similarities of the answers these outstanding women gave to questions revolving around their legacies or their proudest professional achievements.

I was going through the list of outstanding women lawyers compiled by the authoritative publishers and ranking agency of the legal professions, Chambers and Partners, when I came across an entry for Sally M. Abel. She was asked what her proudest professional achievement was and why. “My proudest professional achievement has been building the firm’s trademark practice from nothing into a highly diverse, world class, internationally recognized team, managing portfolios and enhancing the brands of a number of the most cutting-edge technology, life science and new media companies on the planet...”

Great minds think alike! Both women are institution builders; building their respective organisations from nothing! Both, equally, have accomplished their goals. The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, goes the sayings.

The two are, without doubt, a happy lot. Orji came to the Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST) as the pioneer Chairman, a position equivalent to that of Chief Judge of this specialised court in 2002. She came to meet a barren land, so to speak. Her

appointment letter, the experiences she garnered back at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s Legal Department and the team she will put together were the only initial tools she had to build, almost from ground zero, a magnificent institution that hitherto did not exist in the country.

Ten years after, a glorious institution is now in place, adjudicating various types of investments and securities civil cases. But more significantly there are now body of laws, cases and precedence to refer to — jurisprudence on securities market has evolved, which hitherto did not exist. When the IST took off Orji, recalled in an interview with Sunday Trust, “we didn’t start up with [the] luxury [of spacious court houses]. We had no building at all; we had no office at all to start with.

We didn’t even have a rented office”.

But today, ten years down the road, IST operates comfortably from its own buildings in its Head Office in Abuja, and in four of its five zonal offices in the country. The challenges of office accommodation and initial funding were, in retrospect, minor challenges in the face of daunting challenge of establishing the tribunal not knowing “what it will become and how it will be” to use Orji’s words.

The fact that the IST is now a reality, a vital part of the capital market and exerting the desired impact is no mean achievement for the pioneer chairman of a novel institution - the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.

From its commencement hearing in February 2003 over the controversial Bonkolans Investments Limited share scam, the tribunal has handled over 350 cases to date. Of this number, 170 have been handled to their logical conclusions. This is made possible because of the wide spread of the

tribunal offices. Apart from its Abuja Head Office, the tribunal has opened zonal offices with courtrooms in Lagos, Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt and through collaboration with State judiciaries; it has offices/courts in Awka and Yenagoa. In monetary terms, the Tribunal has resolved, as at 2011, contested cases worth over N350 billion. Only fifteen out of over 350 cases resolved by the Tribunal have been appealed to the Court of Appeal. One case has gone to the Supreme Court and was decided in favour of IST. Orji did not lose sight of the place of knowledge and capacity building as a requisite for world class performance of the IST. To achieve this she initiated collaborative exchange programmes with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (USSEC), the National Judicial College, Nevada USA; the New Jersey Superior Court, Essex Vicinage, the Financial Services and Market Tribunal (FSMT), UK; amongst others. The premium she gave to the development of the jurisprudence of capital market laws has its roots in her years at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Orji joined the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1984 as a Senior Legal Officer and Head of the Legal Division. In the 18 years she spent at the SEC, from 1984 – 2002,

she developed the Legal Division into an efficient and effective Department. Through her legal knowledge of the securities law, she transformed the SEC into a strong regulatory institution that promotes sanity and entrenches the rule of law in the capital market.

Little did she know, back then, that she was laying a foundation of a greater institution to come —the Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST). What she was doing back then was giving her whole self to the task before her. And, perhaps, that was the secret formula of her successes. At the SEC she devoted her first years to reviewing the securities laws of Nigeria and proposed a comprehensive restructuring of the existing legal framework. She crafted the 1988 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Act which replaced the deficient 1979 SEC Act. In fact the 1988 SEC Act laid the foundation of the modern day SEC. She was instrumental to the introduction of formal registration of capital market instruments and operators as a pre-requisite to engaging in capital market transactions.

This innovation strengthened the rule of law, and promoted investors’ confidence in the Nigerian capital market. She supported this initiative with the publication of legal and educational

“

The US-educated economist and lawyer, Orji, proved the truism in the saying that the inventor requires more time, but his work is more valuable.

It is not how much we do, but how well we do it that determines worth. She has proved too that skill is power; power which belongs to talent, devotion and endurance

brochures on the various areas of securities laws and the regulations issued by the Commission. And most importantly, the SEC Law Report she started was the first successful attempt at developing capital market jurisprudence.

In a sustained effort to entrench the Rule of Law in the market process, she advised the Commission to establish the SEC Administrative Hearing Committee (AHC), which was later changed to Administrative Proceedings Committee (APC). Through this mechanism, the Commission institutionalized enforcement of sanctions in line with due process of the law. When the Odife Panel on the restructuring of the Nigerian Capital Market recommended a new Investments and Securities Act, (ISA), Dr. Orji was on the team set up by the Ministry of Finance to finalize the draft law. Her knowledge and experience of the subject was brought to bear in the production of the Investments and Securities Act of 1999. One of the innovations included in the ISA 1999 by the Odife Panel was the Investments and Securities Tribunal, (IST), a specialized court that would resolve capital market disputes speedily with the required professionalism and excellence. And when the IST was established in 2002 no one was more qualified to head it than its architect, Dr. Nnenna Orji.

The US-educated economist and lawyer, Orji, proved the truism in the saying that the inventor requires more time, but his work is more valuable. It is not how much we do, but how well we do it that determines worth. She has proved too that skill is power; power which belongs to talent, devotion and endurance.

Bashir Ibrahim Hassan, a Business Development Executive, can be reached on bash7474@gmail.com.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

30 ladies convicted of prostitution

By Josephine Ella

T

hirty eight ladies were on Tuesday, arrested by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) for prostitution.

Peoples Daily gathered that they were picked up by task force

officials of the board from hot spots such as Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Garki, Lagos Street, Amigo, Wuse 2, Eden Garden in Jabi and Gwarimpa.

The Head of Information, AEPB, Mr Joe Ukairo, who confirmed the arrest said 29 out of the ladies have since been

convicted and sentenced to one month imprisonment with an option of N5000 fine each by an AEPB Mobile Court sitting in Abuja, while one other who was a second offender was fined N8000.

According to Ukairo, while four of the suspects were absent

from the court during the sitting, four others pleaded not guilty of the act which constitutes nuisance to FCT residents.

He said the court, therefore adjourned further hearing into the matter to a later date.

In a related development, the board also arrested 26 hawkers

Angwan Dodo community requests for Police Out Post

Entertainers displaying their talent in acrobatic during the closing ceremony of 2012 National Agricultural Show on Tuesday in Tudun Wada Nasarawa state.

By Usman Shuaibu

T

Photo: Mahmud Isa

FCT Sports Department donates equipment to area council

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Department of Sports in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has donated sporting equipment to Gwagwalada Area Council.

Addressing the top management of the council at the presentation of the equipment in

Gwagwalada, the Director, FCT Sports Department, Alhaji Mohammed Alim Musa, said that the essence of providing the materials was to encourage youths at the grassroots level to participate actively in sporting activities.

Musa reiterated the Department’s commitment

towards repositioning sports in the six area councils and urged the council chairmen to contribute their quota towards the development of sports.

The director charged the sports officers to distribute the materials to the ten wards of the area council.

Responding, the secretary of

the council, Alhaji Yahaya Usman thanked the director for providing the materials for the Under-13 players in the rural areas.

He told the director that the council had organised two football competitions tagged chairman’s cup and Zakari Angulu Cup among youths in the area.

Teenager bags six months imprisonment for stealing

A

n Upper Area Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa state has sentenced one Daniel Fredick, 19 of Amigo Park Mararaba to six months imprisonment for stealing a barrow filled with goods.

Fredick, who was charged with theft, pleaded guilty to the offence.

The presiding Judge, Mr

from various parts of the city yesterday. the head of information said 25 of them were fined N4000 each by the court which convicted them, while the 26th person, a minor, 17 year old was given 10 strokes of cane before he was set free.

Abdullahi Ibrahim, sentenced the accused to six months in prison, describing him as “a first offender”.

The court, however, gave Fredrick an option of N5,000 fine and ordered him to pay N10,000 to the complainant as compensation.

According to the court, the money will serve as the value of

the stolen goods as some of them have been recovered by the police.

The court warned that failure by the convict to pay the money would earn him another three months in prison.

The Police Prosecutor, Abdul Abu, had told the court that one Biliatu Mohammed of Mararaba Shopping Centre reported the case at ‘A’ Division Police Station

Mararaba on October 12, 2012.

Abu said that on October 10, Mohammed parked his barrow filled with goods, valued at N50, 000 and the convict stole it along with the goods before he was arrested at Masaka Market where he was disposing of the items.

The prosecutor said the offence contravenes Section 287 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

he village head of Angwan Dodo in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Yahaya Mohammed Abako, has appealed to the FCT Police Command to construct a police out post to fight crimes in the area.

Abako, who made the appeal in an interview with Peoples Daily in his palace in Gwagwalada, noted that the people of the community were faced with the challenge of security for so long.

He said that his administration had been partnering with tribal chiefs to overcome the security situation in the area.

He alleged that a lot of criminal activities were masterminded in the area without intervention of the police.

Speaking on the state of social amenities in the area, the monarch called on the authorities of Gwagwalada Area Council to provide potable drinking water, electricity and good roads for the residents to pave way for economic development.

He appealed to the FCT Education Secretariat and the area council to build a junior secondary school in the community to prevent the children from crossing express road to attend school elsewhere.

2,688 FCT Muslim pilgrims airlifted to Saudi Arabia, says Akinjide

By Josephine Ella

N

o fewer than 2,688 Muslim pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been successfully airlifted to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Hajj, the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke

Akinjide has confirmed.

This represents 85 per cent of the 3,164 pilgrims approved for FCT for the Hajj.

A Statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister of State for FCT on Media & Publicity, Mr. Oluyinka Akintunde, said that about 400 pilgrims were Tuesday

night airlifted to Saudi Arabia

by Kabo and Max Airlines.

“The airlifting of Muslim pilgrims from the FCT for this year’s Hajj commenced on September 25. Six out of the flights allocated for FCT have successfully airlifted our pilgrims to Jeddah Airport from where they were

transported to Madinah.

“The sixth batch of 2012 FCT Muslim pilgrims took off to Jeddah by Kabo Airline at about 4:35am on Tuesday, October 16 with 499 passengers on board. This brings the total pilgrims from FCT airlifted to Saudi Arabia to 2,688, out of 3,164

pilgrims expected to participate in this year’s Hajj,” the minister was quoted to have stated.

She appealed to the pilgrims from the territory to adhere strictly to the operational guidelines and the laws of the host country governing the pilgrimage.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Corps members provide learning materials for pupils

By Etuka Sunday

T

wo corps members serving under the platform of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) MAC group, Mr. Abdulafeez Miftaudeen and Miss. Sylvia Adebayo have provided uniforms, books and other instructional materials for pupils of L.G.A Primary School Gishiri as part of their personal projects for the service year.

The corps members donated five exercise books each for the 213 pupils

at the primary level and instructional materials for 41 pupils at the nursery level. other items donated yesterday by the corps members are chalks and sharpeners to the schools, verbal and quantitative reasoning for five best pupils in primary five, mathematical Sets for seven best pupils in primary six, English Language textbooks for five best in primary four and uniforms for twenty- five orphans.

According to them, the provision of learning materials to pupils of

L.G.A Primary School Gishiri was in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)’s Goal two which is to enhance achievement of the Universal Basic Education (UBE), urging the pupils to make good use of the materials for their mental reformation.

While speaking, the representative of the Coordinator, NYSC MDGs MAC group, Mr. Tunde Omokri said the main objective of the MDGs is to ensure a sustainable development, adding that education was one of the ways through which

the objective could be achieved therefore appealed to the management of the school to provide the quality education deserved in that regard.

In response, the Head Teacher of the School, Mrs. Azike Appolonia thanked the NYSC body especially the Coordinator, NYSC MDGs MAC group and the corps members for finding the school worthy of their help, assuring of her commitment to provision of quality education while praying God to bless them richly.

L-R: Miss Sylva Adebayo, Mr. Addulhafeez Miftaudeen and Mr Andrew sharing school uniforms and other learning materials to pupils of Gishiri L.G.A Primary School yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Sunday Etuka

‘Abuja sewer treatment plant is undergoing routine service’

By Josephine Ella

T

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has dismissed as falsehood a media report on a national daily(not Peoples Daily), alleging that contractors handling the Abuja water treatment plant have abandoned the project.

The report titled: “Contractor Abandons Treatment of Abuja Water” had alleged that the contractor handling the Wupa

Sewer Treatment Plant had abandoned the job for nonpayment of contractual fee.

However, a statement yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Hazat Sule explained the plant is undergoing routine service and other technical repairs which is normal and would not affect its operations. ”The current heavy down pour also brought the challenges of eroded material with plenty of

sharp sand within the system, hence the need to clean up the entire system to enhance the operation of the plant,” the statement said.

It explained that the FCT Administration has before now, paid the contractor handling the job the sum of N500 million with outstanding of N196 million, which has also been released. “ The FCT Administration wishes to assure the residents of the Federal Capital Territory that the

Administration is not owing the contractor and that the contractor is still working at the plant; thus any media organization that want to verify can as well visit the plant to ascertain this fact or clarify from the authorities.

The residents of the Federal Capital Territory are hereby called upon to be calm and carry on with their lawful businesses; and ignore unnecessary false alarm of impending epidemic raised by the publication,” the statement said.

AEPB warns residents against illegal excavation, encroachment effectively enforce environmental effective house-tohouse sanitary on conservation areas laws in the FCT. inspection of premises in the FCT.

By Adeola Tukuru

A

buja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has warned residents against illegal excavations and encroachment on the conservation areas in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT). The board also warned against illegal cutting of trees.

The Head of Information and Outreach Programme of the board, Mr Joe Ukairo, who gave the

warning noted that environmental abuses were detrimental to human existence and capable of causing flood and other environmental disasters.

He said that the FCT Administration (FCTA) had promised to strengthen the capacity of Environmental Health Officers (EHO) to ensure effective house-to-house sanitary inspection.

He said the minister had also promised to increase the number of enforcement manpower to

“The Honourable Minister and the Minister of State; Senator Bala Mohammed and Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide respectively, have given us their unequivocal support administratively and financially to ensure that the city is clean all the times.

“The two ministers have promised to increase the number of enforcement manpower through the SURE-P programme, and to increase the capacity of our Environmental Health Officers for

Ukairo assured residents of regular evacuation of waste, adding that the AEPB was able to address some of the challenges inhibiting effective service delivery.

He advised residents to desist from street hawking, stressing that the board would not spare anyone going against the law.

According to him, the police and other law enforcement agents have been properly briefed and are ready for adequate enforcement.

Man in court for defaming police

T

he Police has arraigned one Musibau Abdullahi, 34, for defaming the Nigeria Police Force.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Amby Ayuba, told the court that the accused deceived one Emmanuel Ahmadu of Jabi Garage who had earlier been arrested and detained by the police in connection with a case of stolen property.

The prosecutor said that Ahmadu was arrested on September 29, 2012 and was detained at the Garki Police Station to enable the police complete investigation on the stolen property he was alleged to have received.

The prosecutor said that Abdullahi collected N30, 000 from Ahmadu under the pretence that he was going to settle the police.

Ayuba said the accused converted the money to his personal use, adding that the action defamed the image and character of the Nigeria Police Force.

The prosecutor also said the crime was contrary to section 392 of the Penal Code.

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

In his ruling, the Magistrate, Emmanuel Iyana, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety who must be reasonable.

He adjourned the case to November 5, 2012 for hearing. (NAN)

Man bags two weeks imprisonment for attempting to steal

A

n Abuja Senior Magistrates Court has sentenced one Stephen Emmanuel, 20, to two weeks imprisonment for attempting to commit an offence of housebreaking and mischief.

Magistrate Njideka Duru, who sentenced the accused after he pleaded guilty to the charge, also gave an option of N2,000 fine.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Abdullahi Adamu, told the court that the accused was reported at the Wuse, Zone 3 Police Station on Oct. 11 by one Abiodun Sunday of Suite 205, Garahi Plaza, Wuse, Zone 3, Abuja.

Adamu said the accused mischievously broke and attempted to enter the complainant’s office before he was caught by a security man, Mohammed Ibrahim.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravenes Sections 95 and 327 of the Penal Code.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 17

1. Three elderly men weaving local mat,

yesterday in Dobi village, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

2.

Two teenage girls hawking banana in Nyanya.

3. School pupils in a good mood as they

set out for school, yesterday in Garki, Abuja.

4

. Fuel black marketers having a field day, opposite NNPC filling station yesterday in Wuse, Abuja.

1

5.

Young men patronizing second hand clothes on the roadside, beside the former demolished Mpape market, yesterday in Mpape, Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-owo

2 3 5 4

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

NNPC/PPMC Cautions Marketers against Product Diversion

Mob: 08033644990

Nigeria inflation eases to 11.3 pct yr-yr in Sept-stats bureau

N

igeria’s consumer inflation fell for the third straight month in September, mainly due to a drop in the underlying “core” price growth that is closely watched by the central bank.

Headline inflation eased to 11.3 percent year-on-year in September, down from 11.7 percent year-on-year in August and a 2012 peak of 12.9 percent in June, official statistics showed on Wednesday.

Food inflation, the largest contributor to the headline index, rose slightly to 10.2 percent yearon-year in September, from 9.9 percent in August, NBS numbers showed.

But core inflation, which excludes volatile items like food, dropped to 13.1 percent year-onyear in September from 14.7 percent the previous month.

“The moderation in the Core index was partially as a result of base effects, as the sharp rise in the index exhibited in September 2011 implies that the relative rise in September 2012 may be muted,” an NBS document said.

Nigeria’s central bank kept its base interest rate on hold at 12 percent last month for the sixth time in a row, citing the high rate of core inflation as one of the reasons for keeping monetary policy tight.

However, the central bank has for months prioritized supporting the volatile naira currency and building up foreign exchange reserves, running a relatively tighter monetary policy as a result.

“Assuming nothing else changes, inflation is likely to continue to decelerate in the months ahead as tight money supply has more of an impact,” said Razia Khan, Head of Africa Research at Standard Chartered.

L-R: Coordinator, Nigerian Non-oil Export Conference, Exhibition and Awards (NNECEA), Mr. Bayo Ayo, Director, Special Services, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Chairman, Implementation Committee, NNECEA 2012, Mr. Olajide Ibrahim, and Convener, NNECEA, Mr. Femi Boyede, during the press briefing on the 3rd NNECEA 2012 conference, yesterday in Abuja.

Pension asset hits N2.94trn

By Abdulwahab Isa and Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

…RSA transfer window opens December 2012

ension total asset under the contributory pension scheme has gross N2.94 trillion and could hit N3 trillion before the end of 2012, DirectorGeneral of National Pension Commission (PeNCOM) disclosed yesterday.

The development comes as over 3,000 contributors are registered daily under the scheme introduced in 2004.

The Commission has concluded plans to introduce a software application that will

enable seamless transfer of Retirement Savings of Accounts (RSAs) from one Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) to another by savers who may wish to explore this window.

Director General of PenCom, Mr. Mohammed Ahmad, made the disclosures yesterday in Abuja at a one-day workshop for finance, labour and insurance journalists in Abuja. He gave December 2012 as dedicated date for the opening of the transfer window.

P

W/Bank boss commends AfDB, Korean govt. for commitment on Africa

By Muhammad Nasir, with agency reports r. Jim Yong Kim, the President of the World Bank has commended the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Korean Government for their commitment in expanding global frontiers for wealth creation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Kim made the commendation at a reception hosted by Korean Government for delegates attending the 2012 Korean-African Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Ministerial Conference in Seoul, South Korea.

He said that AfDB and Korean Government economic initiative was an attestation of their commitment to globalization and South-South Development Programme.

He said that the World Bank

M

support for KOAFEC was as a result of its focus on the three key drivers of African growth, infrastructure, agriculture and the provision of employment for the continent's youths.

Kim also urged KOAFEC to address the pressing needs of the fragile states and overhaul its financial approach to development.

Dr Donald Kaberuka, AfDB President said that the economic cooperation was to share ideas on development obstacles and successful models of economic transformation.

“Africa in the economic cooperation is not looking for aid but to understudy the development success profile of South Korea,''

He said the commission will be organizing series of workshop for PFAs and Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs), who are the major stakeholders in pension administration in the country to ensure their full understanding and integration into the transfer process.

Ahmad noted that the N2.94 trillion so far accumulated under the scheme will provide long term investment for the economy. He added that so far, N151.52 Kaberuka said.

He said that the six years economic cooperation between Africa and South Korea had provided African economic development experts insight on how to replicate it across the continent.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Korean Minister of Strategy and Finance, Mr. Jaewan Bahk restated the commitment of his government to sustain the development partnership between Korea and Africa.

Management Tip of the Day

A

Start your new job the right way

new job is stressful. You're not sure what's expected of you or how to prove yourself. Here are three things you can do to increase your chances of success: Plan your own onboarding process. Take responsibility for learning what you need to. Work with your

manager to identify people you should get to know, locations you should visit, and products and services you should be familiar with.

Give advice. Because you're still technically an outsider, offer your perspective on how the business is run and the key challenges it faces. Do this in a

humble way so as not to offend.

Get an early win. Set one or two short-term goals that you can achieve early on.

These should stem from your unique perspective and experience.

Source: Harvard Business Review

billion had been disbursed in lump sum to retiree contributors as at September 2012 while N1.77 billion is being currently disbursed as monthly pension to retirees.

Going further, Ahmad said that no fewer than 5.28 million Nigerians in both the public and private sectors of the economy had been registered under the scheme by September 2012 with 54,558 as retirees “who have collected over N151.52 billion as lump sum and are collecting N1.77 billion as monthly pension,” Ahmad said, adding that at least 3,000 contributors are being registered daily.

In addition, he said “as part of our consolidation efforts during the year under breview. I am pleased to report that recapitalition exercise which required PFAs to raise their shareholders fund from N150m to N1billon has been successfully completed,” The commission, he informed is also aggressively intensifying compliance efforts by pursuing legal action against defaulting employers, while compliance by the informal sector has received a boost with the appointment of recovery agents.

Efforts, he said are also being intensifying in collaboration with state governments and relevant federal agencies such as the CBN, BPP, NDIC, SEC, NAICOM and Debt Management Office (DMO) in making it easier for state governments desirous of obtaining bonds to key into the contributory pension scheme.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS

Dollar use

T

he Federal Government is worried by the use of dollar as means of payment or legal tender in the local market in Nigeria. The practice is seriously undermining the naira as most Nigerians are fast losing confidence in the local currency as a store of value.

The naira is the only legal tender in the country, but in most parts of Nigeria, Lagos in particular, lands are sold in dollars, prices of some products are denominated in dollars, school fees are quoted in dollars, hotels charge dollars for rooms – same is true for other services.

NNPC/PPMC cautions marketers against product diversion

By Muhammad Nasir

T

he management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has warned petroleum products marketers against products diversion and hoarding. A statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Fidel Pepple explained that NNPC through the

Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) has released enough petrol to sufficiently meet the demand in Abuja and its environs and that the continued existence of long fuel queues at filling stations across the city makes the warning necessary.

“Going by the quantity of PMS that has been released by PPMC from the Kaduna Refinery for distribution to Abuja, we are not supposed to have queues at all in any filling station. On Monday, 71

trucks of PMS were loaded from the Refinery in Kaduna designated for Abuja, but the report we have shows that only 18 trucks arrived Abuja.

On Tuesday, 45 trucks of PMS were loaded from Kaduna to Abuja, only 25 arrived. This clearly shows that some marketers are diverting the product thereby causing unnecessary hardship to Nigerians,” he explained.

He said, NNPC has alerted the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) about the

development and that PPMC is working in conjunction with the DPR to unravel the identity of those involved in the unpatriotic act, adding that all those found to be involved will be severely sanctioned.

Mr. Pepple called on motorists to avoid panic buying as there is enough stock of PMS in the country to meet demands and that NNPC was doing everything within its powers to resolve the distribution challenge being experienced as a result of pipeline vandalism.

Agribusiness

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and banks are working on the implementation of new plans aimed at helping farmers financially, and making available encouraging fiscal policies for their operations.

CBN said the Agribusiness sector needs encouragement and the moves would secure more funding for the sector, adding that to take agribusiness to the desired level, an investment of $6.5 billion is needed yearly, opposed to the present annual supply of $1.5 billion To further buttress the idea, the CBN had fixed zero tariffs for the importation of agricultural machinery and equipment. It is necessary to provide an enabling environment for agribusiness to grow, the banks said.

L-R: General Manager, Media Relations Department of NNPC, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Manager, Media Relations Department, Barrister Uche Nwakwu, Media Relations Officers, Alhaji Umar Mohammed and Mr. Frank Alu, during their visit to Peoples Media Ltd’s head office, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

NAMA boss harps on industrial harmony From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

Nigeria

N

igeria will award new licenses to provide fixed-line internet services early next year as Africa’s most populous country aims to transform its underdeveloped and unreliable network.

Nigeria is forecast to have 120 million mobile subscribers by 2013-end, out of a population of 170 million, but its internet network is undeveloped. The West African country had 216,000 fixed broadband connections in 2011, according to data from the International Telecommunications Union.

Fixed-line licenses will be sold via an auction, whereby winning bidders will be those requesting the lowest government subsidies to build the network, Eugene Juwah, chief executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission, told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference in Dubai.

T

he managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency NAMA Engr. Nnamdi Udoh yesterday stressed the need for the spirit of team work between unions and the management of the agency for the progress of Nigeria aviation industry.

Speaking at the meeting of the National Union of Air Transport Employees NUATE, NAMA branch chairmen and secretaries, he said the agency has continue to forge ahead in spite of all criticisms based on solid foundation and a focused management.

Udoh explained that the era of unions banging tables to settle issues was over adding that issues were settle at the table strategically and urged them to embrace technology.

He called on the unions to wade into the wages commission in order to give workers sense of direction adding that the only way forward was to find alternative source of funding of NAMA. The NAMA boss explained that workers will get their

salaries as at when due as it was the right of the workers to get their dues.

Udoh reiterated that the current automation will never lead to job losses in his agency adding that he will not be party to signing any dismissal letter of any of his workers.

He said N34 million was set aside every month to meet workers pressing needs as a

result of the management response to workers plight and warned against frivolous requests from workers.

Coordinating chairman of NUATE, NAMA, Comrade Ade Adekoya noted that the challenges facing the aviation industry was utmost in priority and urged the unions to see the need to work together to move the industry forward.

Adekoya commended the NAMA management for regularizing casual workers as permanent staff in the organization expressing the hope that the workers regularization will add new impetus to the efficient and effective service delivery in the agency.

Among challenges he enumerated include life insurance, pension matters, airmen allowances, airlines indebtedness among others.

Discovery of crude oil killed our creative thinking’

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he co-chairman and convener of the upcoming 3rd Nigerian Non-oil Export Conference, Exhibition and Awards (NNECEA 2012), Mr Femi Boyede has blamed the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantity for the bad economic situation of the country.

The expert equally blamed crude oil, which he called a curse, for the myriads of socio-economic challenges like poverty, unemployment, kidnapping, militancy and terrorism which the country is presently facing.

Addressing reporters at a preevent briefing for the NNECEA 2012 scheduled to hold in Abuja

between the 4th and 6th of November, 2012, Boyede, who is the managing director of Koinonia Ventures Ltd emphasized the need to focus more attention on the non-oil sector and observed that: “Crude oil is a wasting resource which we can’t control or determine its increase neither can we influence its price in the international market. It killed our creative thinking which we have to go back to now.”

He added that the non-oil sector if properly harnessed by government and the private sector is capable of creating jobs, enhancing rural development, boosting real sector growth and contributing significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product

(GDP). According to him, the aim of the exhibition which is themed: “Enhancing non-oil sector opportunities: Strategic imperatives,” is to stimulate discussion and ideas from both local and foreign experts for the development of the non-oil exports as well as the eradication of all hiccups to the effectiveness of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG).

Also speaking, the cochairman of the joint planning committee and Director of Special Services in the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Olajide Ibrahim said: “Unlike the two previous editions, key issues to be discussed at the next forum will be quality, packaging, branding and incentives.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 21

Germany partners Dangote Academy, ITF to develop manpower A

trade delegation from Germany has expressed its willingness to partner the Dangote Academy and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), in the provision of vocational and technical training for Nigerians.

Head of Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, Mr. Andre Ronne made this known at the end of a recent working visit to the Corporate Head Office of Dangote Group and the ITF, in Lagos.

He said Germany was willing to assist Nigeria to promote industrialization and infrastructure development because both countries share similar goals, particularly in terms of using private industrial sector to drive economic growth.

Noting with satisfaction the structure of the Academy and the existing facilities at the ITF, which he said are of world-class standards, he expressed the view that Nigeria will in the next few years, become a major industrial power in the world given the efforts organizations such as DIL and ITF are making to upgrade vocational and technical skills of Nigerians.

Ronne, who also disclosed that his organization had concluded plans to set up the pilot phase of its project sites in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun to train Nigerians, added that retired highly skilled experts from the German industrial sector will be invited to assist Nigeria to enhance the quality of her vocational and technical training.

In their presentations, Mrs. ElkeEhlen and Robert Malzacher of the German Chamber of Commercealso expressed satisfaction with what they saw on ground at Dangote Academy.

They said Nigeria can benefit from the German system of dual vocational training, which is provided on the job, and in vocational training schools, in close collaboration with the local chambers of commerce pointing out that such training increases the employability of young school leavers because it facilitates smooth transition from academics to work life.

Expressing confidence that the scheme will boost industrialization of Nigeria, if implemented, they said Germany was ready to offer

expertise in this direction. Mr. Rainer Klinscher, another member of the delegation, also scored Dangote Academy and ITF high on professionalism.

Earlier in his own presentation, the Dangote Group Chief Human Resource Officer, Paramjit Pabby thanked the German delegation for the visit, which he said was meant to explore areas of mutual interest between both countries.

Said he: “We will continue to partner top training organizations and institutions overseas and get their instructors to help train our local instructors in world-class practices and methodologies.

They will in turn, train our local trainees. With that, we will constantly improve on our

programmes, and continuously build them to world-class level.”

The Special Adviser to the President/Chief Executive, Engineer Joseph Makoju and the Group Executive Director, Mr. Knut Ulvmoen, both of Dangote Group, who were also part of the meeting, welcomed the collaboration between the two countries, saying this is in line with the company’s vision of being a world-class enterprise.

While receiving the team, the Deputy Director/Training Manager, Industrial Skills Training Centre (ISTC), Mr. AzeezNafiu said the Centre, which is the technical training arm of the ITF, was set up to ensure that the right kind of skills needed by the local industries are available. Noting that the Centre has impacted positively on the Nigerian economy since it was established, he added that it has turned out 620 graduates in six trade areas, between 2005 and 2011.

Mr. Nafiu, who used the opportunity to solicit for Germany’s technical assistance in terms of equipment donation and training for the Centre’s instructors, said it will further enhance its efficiency.

Nigeria to award fixed telecom licences early next year

By Muhammad Sada (L-R)Airtel Nigeria's Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Emeka Oparah, Chief Marketing Officer, Olu Akanmu, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, Deepak Srivastava, Principal Character in the newly unveiled TV Commercial, Half Dollar, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Africa, Andre Beyers and Chief Sales Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Inusa Bello at the media launch of the company's new Thematic Campaign at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers recently.

GTBank online channels get international certification From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he integrity of Guaranty Trust Bank’s alternative banking channels received a boost recently with the Bank’s receipt of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard certification (PCIDSS).

PCIDSS certification is the worldwide security standards maintained by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCISSC) to detail acceptable technical and operational requirements, which helps organizations that process card payments, prevent credit

card fraud, hacking and various other security vulnerabilities and threats.

A certificate of compliance has since been issued to the Bank validating its compliance as a level 1 Acquirer and Issuer under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, version 2.0.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank plc assured customers that the Bank’s card products, internet banking platform and other alternative channels are safe and reliable.

Mr. Agbaje said “we will

continue to ensure that our channels are safe and reliable.

This has influenced the various new service offerings we have pioneered recently and the security upgrades our internet banking platform has undergone. I am happy to say that this channel is now at par with platforms of foreign banks and our savings account customers have been performing 3rd party transfers and other transactions via the channel.”

The bank also holds a Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)’s International Standards Organisation (ISO)

9001:2000 certification in recognition of quality management systems and conformity with global best practice.

The bank was recognized earlier in the year as the 2012 Bank of the Year for Nigeria by Euromoney Magazine for the 4th consecutive time.

It also received the Bank of the Year Award from the Banker Magazine, the Best Bank in Nigeria Award from World Finance and its Managing Director emerged the 2012 African Banker of the Year at the African Banker Awards.

N

igeria is set to award new licenses to provide fixedline internet services early next year as Africa’s most populous country aims to transform its underdeveloped and unreliable network.

Nigeria is forecasted to have 120 million mobile subscribers come year 2013 end, out of a population of 170 million, but its internet networks underdeveloped. It could be recalled that Nigeria 216,000 fixed broadband connections in 2011 as reported by a data collated by the International Telecommunications Union.

According to NCC boss, Eugene Judah, while speaking to Reuters, “fixed licenses will be divided into 3 tranches, while the first two will be to operate the electrical and non electrical infrastructure, the third will be for licences to sell services to end users and all will be sold on regional basis”.

Juwah also added that some frequencies used by television broadcasters will be allocated to telecom operators by 2015

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 22

Cargo throughput up by 4.9% in Nigerian ports

Dangote Foundation to empower Jigawa women with N270m grant

T

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

he Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that Nigerian ports had recorded a 4.9 per cent increase in cargo throughput.

Chief Micheal Ajayi, the General Manager, Public Affairs of NPA, said this in the monthly performance report made available to newsmen in Lagos.

It said that a total of 6.8 million tonnes of cargo throughput was recorded in August 2012, up from 6.6 million tonnes recorded in the corresponding period of 201.

The report said that in the month under review, a total of 1.31 million tonnes of general cargo were handled.

“The laden container throughput stood at 75,056 TEU’s in August 2012 over 71,263 TEUs recorded in August 2011’’ it said.

The report indicated that empty container throughput was 67,739 TEU’s , representing 34.3 per cent increase over 50,456 TEUs recorded in August 2011.

According to the document, vehicle traffic was 25,531 units in August 2012, up from 22,722 units recorded in August 2011.

The report said NPA had increased gross tonnage of ocean going vessels which was put at 10.80 million compared to 10.02 million recorded in August 2011.

The document said that 1,809 coastal vessels arrived the ports in August 2012, representing a four per cent increase over 1,739 vessels recorded in August 2011.

It said that the gross tonnage of the coastal vessels was 708,584, a rise of 8.6 per cent over the August 2011 figure of 652,437.

The NPA Managing Director, Alhaji Habib Abdullahi said that the operational statistics would still improve, given the efforts of the Federal Government.

Abdullahi said that some government’s efforts included revamping of the rail and road networks as well as the speedy clearance of goods from the ports.

“The NPA has continued to attract bigger vessels with large volume of cargo as a result of its consistent effort in regular dredging and maintenance of our channels,’’ he said.

Abdullahi said that more efforts would be put into ports infrastructure, road, and removal of wrecks.

He assured that efforts would also be put into rehabilitation of the rail system to encourage quick turnaround time of vessels, speedy clearance of cargo and greater efficiency in all ports in Nigeria. (NAN)

D

angote Foundation has c o n c l u d e d arrangement to disburse N270 million to empower 27, 0000 Jigawa women as part of the effort by the Foundation to empower the down trodden women of the

state.

To ensure proper disbursement of the fund, Dangote Foundation is collaborating with Jigawa Ministry of Economic Empowerment for a workshop to equip Local Government committees that will handle the disbursement of N270

million empowerment package.

Permanent secretary in the state ministry Alhaji Jamil Abubakar who spoke to newsmen at the State library complex, Dutse said the interministerial committees are of three folds: State, local government and ward

L-R: Bauchi state Commissioner for Finance, Malam Mahmoud Maijana, and Kebbi state Accountant General, Malam Mohammad Dakingari, during the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

committees.

He said the local government committees will in turn organize workshops for the word committees at the various local councils.

Abubakar said the Dangote foundation grant is nonrefundable meant to empower women overcome their challenges and enhance their sources of livelihood.

“The N270 Million is meant to be disbursed to 27,000 women at the rate of 1000 women per local government at N10, 000 per woman making N10 million per local.

“The criteria stipulate that the beneficiary must be a woman who must be resident in the local Government as well as being an indigene of Jigawa State and must be engaged in a trade.”

He disclosed that 5% of the slots is reserved for physically challenged women in Jigawa which means 50 physically challenged per local Government.

“Political interest cannot take over because the governor does not condone any form of discrimination regardless of his political leaning”, he warned.

He said the workshop is purely government affairs hence they invite the local Government chairmen and the councilors of the local Governments.

He said the oppositions were not invited because it was not a political gathering but official government function.

ICT Stakeholders converge at Tinapa for software conference

By Chris Alu

T

he National Software Conference and Competition (NSCC), an initiative of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) is set for meeting with over 25 resource persons drawn from USA, Europe, Ghana and Nigeria.

Stakeholders are exploring the meeting as platform to thrash out numerous problems bedeviling the sector and provide solution for same.

The meeting is billed for Tinapa Knowledge City, Calabar, Cross River State from October 29 to 30 and has as its theme: ”The Cloud and the Future of Software Nigeria”.

M a n a g i n g Director, MainOne Cable Company Funke Opeke, will deliver a paper on “Broadband Infrastructure – Imperatives for Cloud Computing” while Wale Ajisebutu, chief executive officer, 21st Century Technologies Ltd,

would be speaking on “Information Technology Park – Imperatives for Building Software Engineering”.

Also, Prof. Bill Megalos, a professor at UCLA and, Daniel Molina, Director of the award winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” are also billed to speak.

ISPON spokesman Syvester Mba said that Sen. Liyel Imoke, governor of Cross River State, would be on hand to host while some of Nigeria’s

finest brains including Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology; Prof Cleopas Angaye; Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); Ernest Ndukwe, distinguished other special guests will grace the occasion.

ISPON also said that this year’s competition is also going to be tough as the competition is for tertiary institutions that perform well in the ICT quiz competition.

Amadi expressed concern about low intra-African trade

P

an-African Parliament President (PAP), Mr Bethel Amadi has expressed concern over low intraAfrica trade.

Amadi, who stated this at the presentation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’S) reports to the First Session of the Third Parliament in Midrand, South Africa said that Africa remains the most fragmented continent.

“It is with deep sense of concern, that I say that Africa remains the most fragmented continent in the

world, and a continent with 54 countries that have numerous border crossings,’’ he said.

According to a report by the World Trade Organisation, intraAfrica trade remains very low and as at last year this trade stood at only 10 per cent, while the EU have achieved 70 per cent, Asia 52 per cent, North America 50 per cent and South America 26 per cent.

“Currently, the biggest trading partner of every African country is either in Asia, Europe or America.

The low level of intra-African

trade is a missed growth and development opportunity,’’ he added.

He said that the dialogue which had a special focus on MDGs, explored various ways in which Africa can address challenges such as poverty and food security.

“I have always cherished and found truly rewarding moments such as these when I engage in collaborative dialogue with entities directly connected with championing sustainable developments at the grassroots.

“Civil society is an

indispensable partner in a true representative democracy and remains an integral part of any meaningful social dialogue on poverty alleviation initiatives such as the Millennium Development Goals.

“As we begin our dialogue with a focus on the Millennium Development Goals, I believe that it is equally important to explore other continental indirect avenues of addressing poverty eradication such as boosting intra-African trade and enhanced utilisation of our natural resources,’’ he said.

PAGE 24

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

My father disowned me for marrying a Nigerian, says American woman C

rystal Ellis Owonubi lives in Jos with her family.

She has been sharing her story with other Americans and people from other parts of the world via a popular Facebook page which has more than 23,000 likes, ‘Mixed and Happy: I support mixed-raced families!” Here’s something she wrote.

“I am a white American that married a Nigerian. I grew up in Bauxite, Arkansas. I have lived in Nigeria for the past 7 years with my husband. We

have two children together. We have been married for 12 years now. My father has never met my husband and has refused to accept my children also.

When I had my first baby, a little girl that is now 12 years old. I called my father and said that I wanted to come and see him for Christmas with my baby. He said, “I don’t want any black people in my home!” and hung up the phone!

I grew up in an all white school with only one mixed girl in the school. I was treated

Crystal Ellis Owonubi with her family horribly in school because I dated a black boy that lived in the next town at the age of 16.

My father told me that he would disown me and to this day, I have never received a phone call from him.

I was called nigger lover in school and nobody wanted to sit by me. I knew what it felt like to be rejected. I was sent away to several different homes for troubled children because my mother did not want me to be with a black person. She would lock the phone up in her room.

But, today I live in the blackest

Crystal Ellis Owonubi

nation, Nigeria. And today I am happy that I did not end up racist like them or should I say ignorant.”I am holding back my tears.

“I thank God that he gave me a family of my own! He has blessed me with a wonderful man that understands me and loves me for who I am. He has blessed me with a wonderful family that accepts me regardless of my skin color and regardless of where I come from. Even though my mother and father in law are both deceased now, I thank God for

their lives and how they were able to show me love before they went on to be with the Lord.

“Many people have been amazed that I am been able to stay in Nigeria for this long, but now I am ready to share my story. This is not the full story nor is it the ending of the story, so watch out for my book… coming soon! God wrote my story, but I wrote the book. I pray that many people’s lives will be touched by my story and that lives will be changed.” africanspotlight

Nigeria: Chelsea Clinton takes on discomforting issue of diarrhoea

C

helsea Clinton is taking on the discomforting issue of diarrhoea, throwing her family’s philanthropic heft behind a sweeping effort in Nigeria to prevent the deaths of 1 million mothers and children each year from preventable causes, including 100,000 deaths from diarrhoea.

The 32-year-old daughter of President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joined Nigerian officials, the prime minister of Norway and other leaders on Tuesday in promoting expanded access to zinc and oral rehydration solutions or ORS, a treatment that could prevent more than 90 percent of diarrhoea-related deaths in the country.

“It is unconscionable that in the 21st century, children still die of diarrhoea,” Clinton told Reuters in an exclusive interview by phone from Abuja, Nigeria.

The ORS and zinc work in Nigeria is in coordination with the Clinton Health Access Initiative or CHAI, on whose board Clinton serves. She has stepped up her public role in the family’s global philanthropic efforts and in July took a six-day

tour of Africa with her father, who founded the William J. Clinton Foundation in 2001.

The goal of the initiative in Nigeria is to help drive down the cost of high-quality ORS and zinc treatments and increase awareness for them, said Clinton, currently a doctoral candidate in international relations at the University of Oxford.

Currently, fewer than 2 percent of children in Nigeria have access to the World Health Organization-recommended treatment.

Increasing the number of children with access to the therapy to 80 percent by 2015 would help prevent an estimated 220,000 deaths in Nigeria.

“I would like to see us make real, measurable progress here in Nigeria and in the other countries where we are working on ORS zinc,” said Clinton, including Uganda and parts of India, as part of the Clinton Health Access Initiative’s new push to improve access to essential medicines for children.

“For me, it’s not complicated.

We know what works and we should be doing more of it. And when we don’t know what works, we should be innovating and

spending time and energy on designing these solutions to solve problems that haven’t been solved yet,” said Clinton.

“That is what I love about the work CHAI does and the work of the foundation more broadly,” she said.

Bringing companies on board As part of its push, CHAI is meeting with companies like

Chelsea Clinton

Unilever, which has big distribution networks in Nigeria, to get the message out on ORS zinc, Clinton said.

The hope is to increase demand for the treatment and drive down costs, which should put the price of a single dose of the treatment at about $0.50.

CHAI began working in Nigeria in 2007 with efforts in the Niger Delta to bolster the

region’s HIV/AIDS infrastructure, which has helped increase paediatric HIV testing by 350 percent, and resulted in a 70 percent increase in paediatric access to powerful antiretroviral drugs.

Clinton conceded that diarrhoea treatment is something many people would rather not talk about.

“It makes them feel squeamish,” she said, adding, “It’s important that we shine a light on these problems and then get to the business of solving them.”

Clinton said it’s hard to know just how much of her interest in charitable work has been influenced by the careers of her powerful parents, but in a way, it doesn’t much matter.

“I couldn’t imagine not doing work like this,” she said. I define success in my life by how much of a difference have I made in a given day, whether that is being a good wife to my husband, a good daughter to my parents, a good friend to my friends, or helping push forward our work at CHAI or the Alliance for a Healthier Generation or any other facet of the foundation.”

“I couldn’t imagine it any other way, and I don’t want to.”

(Reuters)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 25

R-L: President Goodlck Jonathan, in a handshake with ICPC Chairman, Professor Ekpo Nta, after his swearing-in during the Federal Executive Council meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo:Joe Oroye

L-R: Director General, Legal Aid Council (LAC), Mrs Joy Bobmanuel, Chairman, Governing Board, LAC, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, and chairman, Conference Planning Committee, Alhaji Adebayo Adelodun, during a pre-conference Press briefing on 'Access to Justice in a Democracy', yesterday in Abuja.

Photo; Justin Imo-Owo

, L-R: FCT Acting Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Nuhu Ahmed, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, and Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation, Miss Josephine Washima, during the latter visit to the minister, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

L-R: National President, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Micheal Alogba, Minister of State for Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, and Director General, National Teachers Institute (NTI),Dr. Ladan Sharehu, during the minister's meeting on teachers training programme with NTI and NUT officials, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

, L-R: Director, DG's Office, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoba, Director General, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri, and Director, Political and Civic Education, NOA, Prince Afam Anene, during a meeting with political editors on the forthcoming All Political Parties Summit organised by NOA, recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE

Taraba flood: NEMA delivers relief materials to 2, 332 displaced victims

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

A

bout 2332 people were reportedly rendered homeless by the ravaging flood which recently sacked many communities in Taraba state, even as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) took relief materials to the victims who were relocated to Lau Local Government Area of the state.

The relief materials distributed to the victims were food and non food components, including mosquito nets, building materials, rice, beans, millet, indomie packets, mattresses, blankets, gallons of groundnut oil, detergent, among others.

However, ahead of the scheduled Presidential Visit to

the consolidated camp in Lau local government area of the state today, the nooks and crannies of the state, particularly Lau LGA, has been overwhelmed by heavy security presence.

These security operatives include: the State Security Service (SSS), mobile police officers, in addition to anti bomb squad which has cordoned off the grassy field where the President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to land.

Though some displaced persons who spoke to Peoples Daily lamented over poor treatment and unavailability of food as at when supposed, the Head of Administration, Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), James Abama, said the state government had released about N30 million to the agency to respond to the flood emergency.

“We have our representatives in all the local

governments affected by flood who distribute this material to the affected people,” he said.

Chairman of Lau local government, Bar. Anthony Danburam, said the state government has released N10 million to the local government to take care of the welfare of the displaced people.

“We are appealing that more money should be made available so that we can be able to build houses for the displaced people, so that as the dry season

is setting in they will be able to have a place to stay, while they continue with their fishing occupation,” he said.

However, there were hiccups arising from few people preparing food to serve the 2332 victims, in addition to the fear that the four nets provided at Lau LGA may not contain them.

Meanwhile, registration of victims and dispensing of drugs to victims were going on as at the time of filing this report.

NEMA records 88, 740 displaced persons in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa

By Mohammed Kandi ational Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the registration of 88, 740 Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) in Adamawa, Benue and Taraba states, where floods were triggered by the release of water from the Ladgo Dam in the Republic of Cameroon.

The IDPs, according to a statement issued by NEMA’s Head of Public Relations, Yushau Shuaib, were registered by the Emergency and Rescue Workers of the Agency after the floods that consumed houses and washed away farmlands.

“In Adamawa State which was worst hit, emergency workers recorded 46,030 Internally Displaced Persons in seven affected local government areas.

“In Benue State 19505 IDPs were recorded from six affected local government councils, while in Taraba, the emergency workers registered 23,205 IDPs in camps that are spread in seven local government areas of the state,” it explained.

The statement added further stated that NEMA officials had collaborated with major stakeholders especially the respective State Emergency Management Agencies, response agencies, Red Cross and recognised volunteers in the establishment and management of the camps where the displaced persons are temporarily accommodated, saying relief materials have also been provided to the victims.

N

Some relief materials donated by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Bayelsa to assist victims displaced by the recent flood in Yenagoa and environs.

Flood: CAN urges transparent disbursement of funds

T

he President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has called for transparent and prompt disbursement of the funds earmarked for flood victims.

This is coming just as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the registration of 88740 Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) in Adamawa, Benue and Taraba States where floods were triggered by the release of water from the Ladgo Dam in the Republic of Cameroun.

Oritsejafor, while applauding President Goodluck Jonathan for quickly responding to assist victims in the affected areas, said those that the N17.6 billion relief fund was meant for could only benefit, maximally, if it was treated as Special Intervention Fund and disbursed directly.

Oritsejafor, in a statement signed by Kenny Ashaka, his Special Assistant on Media, urged

government not to channel the funds through Ministries, Departments, Agencies.

He said channeling the funds through bodies other than the Federal Government Committee set up for that purpose would create a bureaucratic bottleneck that may end up reducing what should accrue to the victims.

He added that if the fund was disbursed through ‘middlemen’, it may be wasted on items the direct victims do not require.

According to him, at this point of their need, what the victims require is direct financial assistance.

The CAN president, who said he was horrified by the magnitude of this year’s floods, particularly noted the traumatic conditions of victims in the various refugee camps.

He said places, hitherto known as markets, major roads, schools, bridges and houses; including two-storey buildings had been submerged.

He said he was also dismayed by the fact that farmlands, which had been the working arena for most Nigerians in the rural communities, had been washed away.

The CAN leader said with the magnitude of destruction of property, displacement of people and disruption of farming activities by the floods, there was a possibility of famine and nationwide hunger next year.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to do everything possible to avert the looming nationwide hunger and public health challenges by being proactive.

Pastor Oritsejafor noted that the magnitude of destruction and displacement of Nigerians from their places of abode is a direct consequence of the Federal Government’s negligence to listen to predicted expert advice.

He therefore advised Federal Government to come up with enduring solutions by involving

experts and researchers to handle post-flood challenges in order to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians, especially the children.

According to NEMA Head of Public Relations, Yushau Shuaib, “in Benue State 19505 IDPs were recorded from six affected local government councils, while in Taraba, the emergency workers registered 23,205 IDPs in camps that are spread in seven local government councils of the state.”

Meanwhile, the NEMA officials have collaborated with major stakeholders especially the respective State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), response agencies, Red Cross Society and recognized volunteers in the establishment and management of the camps where the internally displaced persons are temporarily accommodated. Relief materials have also been provided to the victims.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE

NEMA's Director dies at 56

By Mohammed Kandi

D

irector, Relief and Rehabilitation of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Edward Maigida is dead.

Maigida, according to a statement issued by the Agency's Head of Public Relations, Yushau A. Shuaib, passed on after a brief illness at the weekend in the National Hospital, Abuja. He died at the age of 56.

Expressing his deepest sympathy at the deceased's residence in Abuja, Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, recalled that Maigida's last assignment was when he led a team of emergency officers to assess impacts of flood disasters in Plateau, Adamawa, Benue and Yobe States.

Sani-Sidi described the late Director as "very honest and hardworking officer who was committed to humanitarian

Late Mr. Edward Maigida

services against all odds including the time of his ill health", and said the agency would continue to miss him, especially now that NEMA is actively involved in Relief and Rehabilitation of many communities that have been devastated by the flooding in the country.

Meanwhile, Maigida joined NEMA in 1999 and was appointed the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation in 2011, having served in various capacities such as Deputy Director Administration, as well as Coordinator of the North Central Zonal office, Jos. A devout Christian, Maigida hailed from Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State and he is survived by his mother, wife, four daughters and many relations.

Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Muhammad Sani-Sidi during his condolence visit to Mrs. Helena, wife of late Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Edward Maigida yesterday at his Abuja residence.

Communities to prepare for imminent outbreak of epidemic, says NEMA

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised communities affected by the recent floods in Kano State to guard against an imminent outbreak of epidemic.

NEMA North-West Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Musa Ilalla, gave the advice during a one-day sensitisation workshop on epidemics in Kano.

The workshop was organised by the agency for teachers, district heads and health workers at local government level.

Ilalla stressed the need for

stakeholders in disaster management to work together to build a culture of preparedness, prevention, response and resilience to disasters in their various communities.

He said that unless disaster management and risk reduction were effectively driven at all levels, their impacts would be extremely difficult and costly to address without planning at local and community levels.

“The need to involve all stakeholders in developing preventive, mitigation and response strategies cannot be

over emphasised,” he said.

Ilalla said the high rate of infection and fatality from CSM, measles, cholera and other epidemics was largely due to ignorance, illiteracy and poor state personal and environmental hygiene.

He also attributed the high rate of fatality to the absence of community based early detection; reporting and surveillance systems.

Dr Bilkisu Bebeji of the state’s Ministry of Health urged the participants to sensitise the people, especially rural dwellers, to the dangers of open defecation. (NAN)

YOUTHS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

By Abubakar Jimoh abujimoh01@yahoo.com

Breast cancer: Averting the killer disease (II)

A

s a people, we also need to consider view of specialist in the medical realm while we search for solutions for breast cancer.

For instance, former President of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Idris Omede, once states that breast feeding could reduce the incidence of breast cancer because of the hormone inside the blood stream; and women that do not breast feed are more vulnerable to having breast cancer. The longer a woman breast feeds, the more her chance of not having breast cancer.

According to him, it is advisable for woman to breast feed for one and half years to reduce the chance of having breast cancer.

Globally, women have been warned to have a clear view of some drugs or therapy that could increase the risk of breast cancer.

For instance, women who took diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage are at high risk of contacting breast cancer after the age 40, as well as women that received Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) with estrogen for several years.

In the same vein, women that often under the influence alcohol are reported to have high risk of breast cancer, so also are women that are obese or those that have never had children or had them only after age 30. Impeccable scientific evidences have indicated that women who get pregnant more than once or at an early age reduces risk of breast cancer.

But, in the thinking of Janet Gray, analyst and director of the Environmental Risks and Breast Cancer project at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York in the U.S. “exposure to a combination of common chemicals and radiation alone has contributed to the unacceptably high incidence of breast cancer if the timing of these exposures takes long.”

Also, these chemicals may pose unpleasant consequences to a pregnant mother and her child since the breast structures that have not gone through the full sequence of development during pregnancy are particularly sensitive to the detrimental effects of environmental toxins. It is important for mothers to avoid contact with such environment; and if mandatory nose glove should be used throughout her time of stay.

Every woman is encouraged to advance her fruits and vegetables intake as possible daily.

She may option for such cruciferous vegetables as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower; dark leafy greens; carrots and tomatoes. The fruits may include citrus, berries and cherries. It is best to eat

cruciferous vegetables raw or lightly cooked, as some of the phytochemicals believed to offer protection against breast cancer are destroyed by heat.

A few studies have also shown that regular exercise help to provide powerful protection against breast cancer. In this case, 30 minutes or more of moderate aerobic activity (brisk walking) five or more days a week is recommended against the risk of breast cancer.

Considerable effort must be made to minimize the consumption of omega-6 fats like sunflower, safflower, corn and cottonseed oils; saturated fats.

Instead, maximize your intake of omega-3 fats, especially from oily fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, lake trout and herring).

Women should consume monounsaturated oils such as canola, olive oil, nuts/seeds, and avocados as their primary fat source, since these foods have potential anticancer properties.

Minimize consumption of the high glycemic index called Great White Hazards like white flour, white rice, white potatoes, sugar and products containing them. It has been reported that these foods trigger hormonal changes that promote cellular growth in breast tissue. They should be replaced with crabs with whole grains and beans/legumes.

Exposure to pharmacologic estrogens and xenon-estrogens must be minimized; while nonprescribed estrogens unless medically indicated. Lifetime exposure to estrogen has been reported to play a fundamental role in the development of breast cancer.

Also, it is imperative to avoid estrogen-like compounds found in environmental pollutants, such as pesticides and industrial chemicals. Buy organic produce if you can afford it; otherwise, thoroughly wash all non-organic produce. Minimize exposure to residual hormones found in nonorganic dairy products, meat and poultry.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet are highly recommended for all women as they can help prevent many forms of cancer.

Studies have discovered that there are benefits for women who maintain a healthy weight, do regular exercise and who have a low intake of saturated fat and alcohol.

Finally, engage in selfnurturing behaviors regularly.

Develop rich, warm and mutually beneficial relationships with family and friends; and get adequate sleep like 7-8 hours per night.

The mind-body associations with breast cancer are significant.

Concluded

PAGE 26

Solid minerals: Legislators urges sensitisation on roadmap

By Mohammed Kandi

T

he House Committee on Solid Minerals of the National Assembly has called for amplified sensitisation to the Roadmap on Solid Minerals’ development to position the sector attracted more investment opportunities.

Chairman, House Committee on Solid Minerals, Isa Mohammed, who made this known during a meeting in Abuja, stressed that there was a pressing need for a roadmap that would accelerate the growth of the sector.

Mohammed, who recalled that solid minerals sector of the economy, had suffered neglect with little or no publicity given to it by successive governments and stakeholders in the industry, stated that “the sector had the potential to help grow the economy, which, if harnessed, could create employment opportunities and curb youth restiveness in the country.”

According to him, the committee was in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to ensure that the capital budget allocated it was properly executed by the ministry, but decried the poor funding of the sector, which had hampered the growth of the sector.

Earlier in his remarks, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Mohammed Sada, informed the committee that the sum of N834.5 million was approved for the ministry.

The minister also said that the ministry had received more than half of the allocation and had executed 73.24 per cent of its budget saying more than 60 per cent of the 2012 capital budget for the ministry has been executed.

Sada said the ministry had issued many title rights to local and foreign investors to enhance investments in the industry.

He said the ministry experienced some challenges in the first quarter budget releases because they were not released directly to it and that the ministry had to go to the Ministry of Finance to settle the issue.

Sada said that the ministry was waiting for the remainder of the allocation for implementation of projects, which it was executing in phases due to the shortage of funds.

He noted that due to the shortage of funds, it could not carry out extension of rail lines to the mining fields, which it had scheduled to execute in the current year.

Sada urged the committee to assist the sector to secure more funds for the sector as it would help in putting the country’s economy on a sound footing.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Flood: Jonathan seeks foreign assistance

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has appealed for external aid to enable Nigeria curtail future flood disasters and alleviate the plight of the recent victims of flood disasters in the country.

The President disclosed this in Lau Local Government of Taraba State, when he visited victims of flood disaster in the state.

“Nigeria is not the only country

that is hit by flood disaster,” he said: “It is a global issue. The flood is beyond what we can handle, and that is why we are seeking assistance of the international donors to come to our aid.

He said the government would provide the displaced people with farm implements and improved seeds to enable them return to their occupation.

He said: “We have seen your farms and houses that were destroyed by the flood. Our coming

is to assure that we are going to assist your state government in order to make life easy for your It is unfortunate that when warnings are given in Nigeria people do not yield to them.”

In his speech, the Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, said a total of 111,255 people were affected by flood in the state.

“Over 200 communities were affected, and we have 34, 395 displaced people in 28 camps, while we recorded 27 death,” he said.

The governor said the N400 million relief grants from the Federal Government would be distributed to the victims without the state government spending a kobo from it.

Earlier the Minister of Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Mailafiya, said the Federal Government would construct dams down the Niger and Benue Rivers to curtail flood disaster in the future, adding that the dams would be completed in 2015.

Effective erosion control using turf reinforcement mats

By Mohammed Kandi, with agency report

T

he erosive forces of nature can be observed all around us. A young child recognizes them during sand play at the beach, students learn about them in physical sciences and geology courses, and home and land owners cringe as wind, rivers and waves slowly eat away at their investments. We have all been exposed to the erosive powers of nature to some degree. What most of us have not been exposed to however, are effective methods that can be used when we attempt to control and minimize the movement of soil. In general terms there are three modern methods of erosion control available: natural vegetation of slopes, reinforced vegetation and hard armor (rip rap/ concrete). Each method has its pros and cons as well as limitations. Turf reinforcement mats (TRM) are effective modern forms of reinforced vegetation that deserve closer examination.

What is a TRM? A turf

reinforcement mat (TRM) is a hybrid erosion control method that combines a long-term synthetic control method with the benefits of natural vegetation to create a highstrength matting or cover for soil surfaces. TRMs are typically made of geosynthetic materials (polypropylene, nylon, pvc) and are either woven and stitched into patterns or extruded in random patterns to create porous mats with varied thicknesses and heights. The designs are intended to provide rigid frameworks for holding seeds in place longer (improving germination rates), establishing consistent vegetative stands, and promoting a solid base for plant root protection against erosive forces. It is important to note that TRMs are not temporary erosion control methods like erosion control blankets or jute netting, they are meant to be permanent installations. TRMs alone are not usually considered viable erosion control methods, though there are high performance turf mats on the market that may be used without over-seeding in some situations and on certain types of projects.

The Benefits of TRMs: Turf reinforcement mats are an effective marriage of hard armor and natural vegetation erosion control benefits. The benefits of hard armor are longevity, low maintenance requirements and capability to handle high velocities and shear stresses. This method is very costly however and often cost prohibitive.

The benefits of natural vegetation methods are low initial cost, simple installation, aesthetics, high permeability and improved water quality and wildlife habitat.

Natural vegetation however, may not establish well on steep slopes, can be washed out easily in high flow events, must be maintained regularly and can be damaged easily by high shear stresses.

TRMs, when seeded, on the other hand, can have most of the benefits associated with both hard armor and natural vegetation. When installed properly they have very high velocity and sheer stress tolerances (see the graphic above), long-term material longevity, relatively low material and installation cost, aesthetic appeal, high permeability,

stormwater cleansing properties and wildlife habitat value. The benefits associated with a TRM are contingent, however, on appropriate installation, timing, and plant species selection, all required for establishment of a healthy solid stand of vegetation.

Applications for TRMs: Turf reinforcement mats have been used across the nation by the Army Corps of Engineers, transportation departments, municipalities and private developers to minimize the loss of soils. A few of the many possible applications for TRMs include: Water channels / canals / conveyance structures, Pipe inlets and outlets, Shorelines and riverbanks, Municipal retention and detention ponds, Levees, dams and dikes and Steep slopes and grades Turf Reinforcement mats are just one of many methods for erosion control and not one will be the right solution for every project.

Consultation with a design professional about the available options and the most appropriate method for your site should be the first step.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 27

Floods: Counting the losses A

t the last count, 30 of the country’s 36 states of the federation have had their people and property worth billions of naira washed away since July. Some states in the coastal areas are between 50 to 70 per cent submerged, in what the authorities say is the worst flooding in over 40 years.

It is not yet known how many hectares of farmlands have been destroyed, as those farmers who collected loans from the banks are threatening to commit suicide, if nothing was done to assist them by the federal government.

Today, prices of foodstuffs have gone through the roof. In some cases, many people were trapped in their homes in the wake of the floods, and needed assistance to come out of their houses that were gradually submerged in waters.

Most of the schools in the affected areas are closed, or currently occupied by internally displaced persons.

Thousands of houses, health clinics and hospitals, as well as dozens of schools, mosques, churches and government buildings have been destroyed or damaged.

Today, authorities say, no fewer than 25 per cent of the country’s population had been displaced by the flood ravaging different parts of the country since July. Alarming; isn’t it?

Flooding which started in Plateau State in central Nigeria in July, spread through Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Nassarawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina and Kebbi states in August, hit Taraba Benue, Niger, Kaduna and Kano in September, before affecting Delta and Bayelsa states in September and October.

River Benue and Niger which is the lifeblood to thousands of people, but its blessing seems to have become its curse. Climate change is blamed for this Armageddon of flooding, the magnitude that was last witnessed in 1969.

These days, traditional rain and dry season cycles are no longer predictable and existing community warning systems are no longer enough to protect those living in the riverside and water basin areas.

Before now, Africa has always been predicted to be the continent that will be worst hit by global warming and climate change. It’s like those predictions have come true.

Extreme rains and floods have made for a very wet season in Africa, and there is no end in sight to the downpours that are swallowing towns and forcing over a million to flee their homes. Since July, Nigeria, including other African countries has had hundreds of thousands of people uprooted from their homes and scores have died since then. Nigeria has seen its worst floods in

years, with thousands fleeing from being devoured.

Meanwhile forecasts by Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) say that rains this month may be the worst month in this very rainy season year.

This weather is what climatologists predicted, and it is even happening faster than expected that has overwhelmed government and the people.

ENVIR ONMENT ENVIRONMENT WATCH

By Ambrose Inusa Sule, mnes globenviron@yahoo.com 0703-441-4410 (sms only)

A flooded area in Lagos state as a result of a heavy rainfall The immediate consequences of climate change in Africa are that countries will experience either torrential floods or severe drought during a season.

A Climatologist says that the unpredictable climate will threaten the food supply and potentially eliminate key crops.

Africans are expected to face a severe lack of food and drinkable water by the end of the century.

Scientists on the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently

warned that the effects of global warming are already being felt in Africa. The IPCC’s most recent report on Africa predicted a minimum 2.5 degree centigrade increase in the continent’s temperature by 2030.

Growing seasons will be cut short and stretches of land made unsuitable for agriculture, with yields declining by as much as 50 percent in some countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, between 25 and 40 percent of animals in

“

national parks may become endangered. Africa’s major bodies of water, including the Nile, will suffer excessive flooding cause by rising sea levels.

Africa is particularly vulnerable because it has a low institutional capacity to combat the changing weather.

As a result, says Climate Change specialist, “in Africa, adaptation to climate change is more important than mitigation.”

This weather is what climatologists predicted, and it is even happening faster than expected that has overwhelmed government and the people. The immediate consequences of climate change in Africa are that countries will experience either torrential floods or severe drought during a season

In response to the floods devouring Nigeria, a climatologist says that the government will now consider the effects of global warming such as increased rainfall, in its planning of future infrastructure projects.

Ironically, Africa produces far less carbon than other continents, leading some scientists to blame industrialized countries for Africa’s climate plight.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni announced at an African Union summit this year that developed countries were “committing aggression” against Africa by causing global warming.

“There’s not much Africa can do unless other countries cut the greenhouse emissions, our efforts will be undercut,” says climatologist. In the meantime, floods droughts, earthquakes, landslides and other natural disasters are expected to become more frequent, along with the occurrence of diseases such as typhoid, cholera and malaria.

He warned that without aid from richer countries in the form of cash to pay fore more durable roads and hospitals, Africa will be unable to handle more disasters like this year’s rainy season.

Glad that palliative measures are underway for those uprooted from their homes, if the constituted National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to assist the federal government in helping to generate funds to manage the people affected by the flood disaster, will do its job without the usual bureaucracy that engenders corruption. The committee has been charged to come up with a lasting solution to the flood problems in the country within one year.

Is it now that the federal government has remembered that it has to build more dams to avoid flooding in the future?

Is this not medicine after death?

Flooding as a disaster has been with us for years now. In recent times, hundreds of thousands of people have been known to have lost their homes, livestock and livelihoods, leading to severe food insecurity, an increase in water-borne diseases and longterm environmental degradation in an area already steeped in high levels of poverty.

I hope this promise by President Jonathan will not be dead on arrival. Today, some top government officials are shedding crocodile tears, and in their minds’ of minds, they are happy that they will now have access to huge sum of money, that will be generated by the National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation. What happened to the billions of Naira in the Ecological Fund Office that is meant for this type of environmental disasters? It has always been abracadabra.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 30

Obama regains his footing in feisty second debate

P

resident Barack Obama put his re-election bid back on firm footing on Tuesday night with a strong debate performance that is likely to thrill his Democratic supporters and earn him a second look from the few voters who remain undecided.

With the November 6 election three weeks away, Obama’s second of three debates with Republican rival Mitt Romney represented one of the final chances to make an impression with voters.

Obama made the most of it with a focused, aggressive effort. It was a sharp departure from his listless first debate two weeks ago, when Romney’s dominant performance ignited a resurgence by the Republican that left the race virtually even heading into Tuesday’s matchup.

“Game on - he’s back,” Carleton College political science professor Steven Schier said of the president.

Obama made sure to work in all of the attack lines he had neglected in the October 3 debate.

He hammered Romney for the wealthy Republican’s low personal income tax rate and Romney’s nowinfamous dismissal of “47 percent” of the electorate, as seen in a secretly recorded video of the former Massachusetts governor.

Obama also crisply outlined the accomplishments of his first term in office - from saving the auto industry to killing Osama bin Laden - and framed his answer on a question about women’s rights in movingly personal terms.

Romney had his moments as well, especially when describing promises Obama had made and not kept.

Romney avoided the type of rout that Obama suffered in the October 3 debate, but the night belonged to the president, analysts said.

“I’d say it’s a clear win for Obama,” said Boston University

communications professor TobeBerkovitz. “Certainly it would be difficult for anyone to say Romney won this debate.”

Flash polls taken after the debate pointed to an Obama win.

Meanwhile, Obama’s odds for reelection on the Intrade prediction market climbed 1.6 percentage points, to 63.6 percent.

Debates have rarely affected the outcome of U.S. presidential elections, but this year may prove an exception.

Romney silenced critics in his own party and reversed a month of missteps with a strong performance in the first debate. A week later he had wiped out Obama’s lead in opinion polls.

That “bounce” for Romney has slipped in recent days, according to Reuters/Ipsos tracking polls. Obama led Romney by 3 percentage points in the daily Reuters/Ipsos poll on Tuesday.

“This will give the president a bit of a bounce and a little bit of an edge, but it’s going to be quite close right down to the wire,” said Notre Dame University political science professor Michael Desch.

The final presidential debate, scheduled for Monday in Boca Raton, Florida, probably will matter less.

Some 10 percent of voters have cast their ballots already, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling data, and that figure will climb sharply as both campaigns kick their get-out-the-vote

operations into gear and urge supporters to take advantage of state laws that allow early voting.

Foreign policy, the topic of next week’s debate, takes a distant back seat to economic concerns for most voters.

It was a foreign policy discussion that led to Romney’s most uncomfortable moment on Tuesday night, as he bungled what could have been an opportunity to plant doubts in voters’ minds about Obama’s handling of the attacks on diplomatic facilities in Libya last month.

Romney had hoped to use the incident to erode Obama’s national security credentials. Instead, he battled with the moderator, CNN’s Candy Crowley, over whether he was accurately characterizing Obama’s

U.S. President Barack Obama listens during the second presidential debate with Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney

remarks about whether the incident was a terror attack.The exchange left Romney aides fuming at Crowley, while Obama was able to avoid the question of whether his administration had protected the facility adequately.

Obama also danced around other questions that could have tripped him up.

He turned a question about gun control - an unpopular issue for voters in many battleground states - into an opportunity to point out Romney’s shifting positions on the issue.

Obama responded to a question about gas prices by noting that they had been low when he took office only because of the recession that he inherited.

“It’s conceivable that Governor Romney could bring down gas prices, because with his policies we’d be back in that same mess,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Aside from his blown opportunity on Libya, Romney did not do poorly.

He reminded viewers that Obama had failed to fulfill promises to cut the deficit in half and introduce immigration-reform legislation, and warned that too many people are still out of work.

“If you elect President Obama you know what you’re going to get,” he said. “You’re going to get a repeat of the last four years.”

Romney’s performance probably did not hurt his chances of winning the White House, analysts said. But Obama probably boosted his odds by turning in the focused, aggressive performance that his supporters had hoped to see in the first debate.

“They’re thinking, ‘We’re back in the ball game,’ “ said Robert Lehrman, a former speech writer for Democratic vice president Al Gore who now teaches at American University.

“It wasn’t that Romney got worse - Obama got a lot better.”

Obama’s pitch to women puts Romney on defence

W

ith polls suggesting women voters were shifting their support to Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama made an aggressive pitch to them on Tuesday that yielded awkward moments for the Republican and a favorite new catch phrase on social media.

Obama hit hard on issues such as equal pay for women and contraception and abortion rights in the second of three presidential debates ahead of the November 6 election. The topics did not come up in the first debate on October 3, when Romney outshone the Democratic president.

Romney has gained ground on Obama in opinion polls since the first head-to-head and took the lead in many surveys. Reuters/Ipsos polling data showed the Democrat’s support slipping among women, particularly married women.

Fifty-nine percent of married white women backed Romney for president, versus only 30.4 percent who picked Obama, according to data for the week ending October 14.

That was a move of around eight points in Romney’s favor since before the first debate.

With strong support among women essential to his hopes of winning re-election, Obama devoted

much of the second debate toward shoring up their support.

He mentioned the women’s health organization Planned Parenthood five times. He stressed that Romney had promised to defund the organization, which provides contraception and abortions, but also basic services like cancer screenings.

Romney hit back by saying that he would help women, and all Americans, by improving the sputtering economy. But the Republican offered fewer specifics on women’s issues than Obama and at times seemed to stumble.

“Any ground that Mitt Romney gained over the last week or week and a half, he lost tonight,” said Jennifer Lawless, director of the Women and Politics Institute at American University.

“Barack Obama was incredibly strong on appealing to women and casting doubt on Mitt Romney’s statements.”

One of the night’s most memorable moments came when Romney was asked how he would ensure pay equity for women. He answered by recalling how, as governor of Massachusetts, he had been concerned when all of the applicants for his cabinet were men.

“I went to a number of women’s groups and said, ‘Can you help us find folks,’ and they brought us whole binders full of women,” Romney said.

Romney’s somewhat awkward response lit up social media. The user name @RomneyBinders got its own Twitter account, and attracted more than 31,000 followers less than an hour after the debate ended.

The hashtag #bindersfullofwomen was one of the 10 most common on the social media service.

Democrats said Romney’s answer seemed to show he had few women in his inner circle, and the candidate did not directly address the pay equality issue.

“I don’t think he substantively engaged on this matter that would make a real difference and that is an important issue in the conversation,” said Tara McGuinness, executive director of the left-leaning Center for American Progress Action Fund.

Romney also talked about how he had offered flexible hours so his chief of staff could be with her children when they came home from school.

Romney’s comments sounded like “they were from 50 years ago,” said Christine Williams, a nurse practitioner from Shaker Heights,

Ohio, who watched the debate at a viewing party in the crucial swing state.

In contrast, she said, “When Obama talks about that, it makes my soul sing.”

Romney cast his appeal to women in economic terms, repeatedly saying that millions of women had lost their jobs in the four years Obama has been president.

“There are 3.5 million more women living in poverty today than when the president took office,” he said.

“What we can do to help young women and women of all ages is to have a strong economy, so strong that employers are looking to find good employees and bringing them into their workforce, and adapting to a flexible work schedule that gives women the opportunities that they would otherwise not be able to afford,” he said.

Obama stressed his support for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first bill he signed into law as president, which guarantees equal pay for women workers. Romney has declined to say whether he supports the law.

Analysts said Obama’s performance was likely to stop the loss of support among women

voters.

“We’ll probably see some movement of women in a more proObama direction after tonight,” said Susan Carroll, senior scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. “I think some women saw the Obama that they hoped to see and were disappointed not to see the first debate.”

Women in a snap poll by the Democratic Lake Research Partners picked Obama as the debate winner by 56-34 percent. Men also gave Obama the victory, but by a narrower 49-43 percent.

Romney strongly disputed an accusation by Obama that he “feels more comfortable having politicians in Washington decide the healthcare choices that women are making.”

He went out of his way to say: “Every women in America should have access to contraceptives... the president’s statement of my policy is wrong.”

Obama scored points by talking about his working mother and grandmother, and his children. “I’ve got two daughters and I want to make sure that they have the same opportunities that anybody’s sons have,” he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 31

Ecological crisis and the need to challenge the 20 per cent(II)

Due to human-induced changes to the biosphere, the world is quite possibly approaching a "critical transition"

ANALYSIS

By Joseph Nevins

T

he socio-geographic concentration of the 20 per cent helps illustrate why critical scrutiny of individual consumption need not and should not lead to an ignoring of the systemic components of our ecological plight - perhaps the most notable of which is how industrialconsumer capitalism, which dominates the planet, fuels and necessitates voracious consumption for its very survival, and significantly shapes and limits our options. It is a system that mines the planet's environmental resources, damages the biosphere and exacerbates socio-economic inequities and vulnerabilities in the process.

This system draws upon and helps reproduce multiple axes of difference - race, class, gender and nation among them. They are differences with profound implications for how people live and die across the planet. (A recent report by the humanitarian aid and research organisation DARA, for instance, found that 400,000 deaths each year today are attributable to climate change, with air pollution causing another 1.4 million fatalities annually.) As such, these differences are inextricably tied to unjust structures that embody privilege and wellbeing for some, and disadvantage and harm for others.

The focus on individual consumption also should not obviate critical attention on large institutional actors - say, the US military, the world's single largest

institutional producer of greenhouse gas emissions. Nor should it obfuscate how the very organisation of the places we live and work, and the larger social networks in which we are implicated, shape what we do and pressure us to engage in behaviour we wouldn't pursue were other choices available (think about how unsafe streets and inadequate public transport compels many to drive).

Yet, despite the importance of such factors, we should not make the mistake of pretending that we have no options, and that our individual choices don't have implications for the viability of the systems in which we are implicated, and the many institutions with which we interact - willingly or not. As such, the call to challenge the 20 per cent's rapacious resource use is not an effort to reduce individuals to consumers. It is necessarily tied to our responsibilities as citizens, as members of political-economic communities given that any project of social transformation requires engaging both the individual and the collective.

Just as it would be intellectually, ethically and politically illogical to contend that individual racist behaviour is

inconsequential and that its scrutiny is a diversion from the struggle against structural racism, it is unacceptable to suggest that individual consumption - especially that of a grossly unsustainable sort - is meaningless and unrelated to systemic injustice and its reproduction.

For this reason and more, dangerous levels of soil depletion, diminishing supplies of potable water across the planet, the rapidly decreasing viability of the world's fisheries, high extinction rates of plant and animal species and rising global temperatures (among other signs) are not simply environmental matters.

They are urgent issues of human rights and social justice.

For those moved to resist the status quo and champion radical change in response, many posing as sympathetic allies advise them to take a careful, gradual approach. These purveyors of caution are among those who today place their hopes in technological salvation, some sort of breakthrough discovery or invention that will somehow eliminate or at least greatly reduce the ecological damage associated with a particular practice or specific form of consumption and thus allow

“

us to continue largely our ways.

Fearful of what they and those with whom they most identify might lose, what these highly ambivalent allies actually seek to facilitate is a reworked status quo. It is a new version of the old, one which maintains established privileges and hierarchy, with simply a prettier veneer, its most brutal expressions muted.

This championing of restraint in a context demanding fundamental change is a longstanding problem, one the great writer James Baldwin, among many others, have encountered at different times and places. In an essay in Partisan Review (Fall, 1956), Baldwin forcefully addressed such "advice" when he criticised fellow writer William Faulkner's call to "go slow" in the effort to overthrow the institutionalised system of racial segregation known as Jim Crow in the US South. ("They don't mean go slow, US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall reportedly said in response. "They mean, don't go.")

"Any real change implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it," Baldwin countered, "the loss of all that gave one an identity, the end of safety.

And at such a moment, unable to see and not daring to imagine what

For those moved to resist the status quo and champion radical change in response, many posing as sympathetic allies advise them to take a careful, gradual approach.

the future will now bring, one clings to what knew, or thought one knew; to what one possessed or dreamed that one possessed. Yet, it is when a man is able, without bitterness or self-pity, to surrender a dream he has long cherished or a privilege he had long possessed that he is set free - he has set himself free - for higher dreams, for greater privileges."

Transforming any social system - given its very nature - is necessarily a highly disruptive process in that, for better or for worse depending on where one is situated on the spectrum of privilege and disadvantage, it is part of the very fabric of life. As such, fundamental change requires willingness on the part of those of the privileged classes who profess to support a different world, one that is just and truly sustainable, to move to a position of discomfort, to challenge the very sources of their ecological privilege, nor merely the symptoms. Only in this way can a system that is unjust - and thus limited in terms of the distribution of its benefits - be eradicated so as to bring about Baldwin's "higher dreams" of privileges enjoyed by all.

For those of us who gain from and help reproduce - the institutionalised injustice, it is incumbent upon us to figure out how our comfort and prosperity are tied to the socio-economic and ecological insecurity experienced by so many. This means that we, the 20 per cent, have to give up things - our ability to have lots of "stuff"; to consume the planet's resources without thought and to dump the detriments on socially distant, unseen peoples and communities; to travel wherever and whenever we'd like in manners that exact high social and ecological costs; to have our wants satisfied before the needs of others are met.

It also requires that we abandon the illusion that a world order that facilitates our unjust privileges can and should be preserved, and that our rapacious levels of consumption are maintainable, that, somehow, contrary to everything the natural sciences tell us, we will not have to reap what we sow. For privileged people of good will, this necessitates accepting the responsibility to be human in all that it entails. We thus must struggle not only on myriad fronts ranging from Wall Street writ-large to the Pentagon, but also with ourselves and those closest to us.

The ecological challenges we face as a planet are enormous and ominous in terms of what they suggest for the well-being of peoples and places across the planet and the biosphere as a whole. In this regard, the ending of Baldwin's retort to Faulkner could not be timelier: "There is never time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment, the time is always now."

Concluded Source: Aljazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 32

UN accuses Rwanda of leading DR Congo rebels Jacob Zuma calls on striking miners to return to work

S

outh African President Jacob Zuma has called on workers to return to their jobs after a series of violent strikes.

After a five-hour meeting with union and business leaders, Mr Zuma called on mining production to be "normalised" and called on business leaders to take a year-long salary freeze.

South African mining has been hit by a wave of wildcat strikes in which miners and officials have been killed.

Anglo American Platinum last week fired 12,000 striking workers.

Amplat is the world's biggest platinum producer. And 15,000 miners at Gold Fields, the world's fourth-largest gold miner, face the sack if they do not return to work by 14:00 local time on Thursday.

"We are agreed that violence and intimidation must come to an end. These have no role in our system and simply have a negative effect," Mr Zuma added.

He also called on executives to freeze salaries and bonuses for the next year as a "strong commitment to build an equitable economy" and to address income inequality.

"The parties make a call on CEOs and executive directors in the private sector and senior executives in the public sector to agree to a freeze in increases in salary and bonuses over the next 12 months, as a strong signal of a commitment to build an equitable economy," Mr Zuma said. "They call for an informed national conversation on income inequalities and how best to address them."

The comments are the first significant intervention by Mr Zuma since the unrest began. The governing ANC party is holding a leadership contest in December, and some members are already calling for Mr Zuma to be replaced by his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe.

President Jacob Zuma

R

wanda's defence minister is commanding a rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that is being armed by Rwanda and Uganda, both of which sent troops to aid the insurgency in a deadly attack on UN peacekeepers, according to a UN report.

The UN Security Council's Group of Experts said in a confidential report that Rwanda and Uganda - despite their strong denials - continued to support M23 rebels in their six-month fight against Congolese government troops in North Kivu province.

"Both Rwanda and Uganda have been supporting M23," said the 44-page report, which was seen by the Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

"Rwandan officials exercise overall command and strategic planning for M23," the report said.

"Rwanda continues to violate the arms embargo through direct military support to M23 rebels, facilitation of recruitment, encouragement and facilitation of FARDC [Congolese army] desertions as well as the provision of arms and ammunition, intelligence, and political advice."

"While Rwandan officials coordinated the creation of the rebel movement as well as its major military operations, Uganda's more subtle support to M23 allowed

A member of the M23 rebels loading a bomb the rebel group's political branch to operate from within Kampala and boost its external relations," it said.

Bosco Ntaganda, a former Congolese general wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, controls the rebellion on the ground and M23 leader Sultani Makenga is in charge of operations and co-ordination with allied armed groups, the UN report said.

Both Ntaganda and Makenga "receive direct military orders from RDF [Rwandan army] Chief of Defence staff General Charles Kayonga, who in turn acts on instructions from Minister of Defence General James Kabarebe," it said.

Nearly half a million people have been displaced due to the fighting.

M23 has proven so resilient that

one senior UN diplomatic source told Reuters that Rwanda has effectively "annexed" mineral-rich eastern Congo thanks to the rebel force.

UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said last month that the rebels had set up de facto administration in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, controlling the people and collecting taxes.

Kenyan police kill three suspects in al Shabaab raid

P

olice shot dead three suspected supporters of the Somali militant group al Shabaab on Wednesday during a raid in Kenya's turbulent coastal region, in which a police officer also died.

Police arrested a number of suspects and confiscated grenades, AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition at a house in the Likoni area, Coast province police chief Aggrey Adoli said.

Kenya has suffered a series of grenade and gun attacks since it sent troops into Somalia a year ago in pursuit of the insurgents

it blames for kidnapping security personnel and Western tourists from its territory.

A local group campaigning for independence for the Coast region has added to tension ahead of a presidential and parliamentary election due in March, the first since a disputed 2007 poll that saw violence nationwide in which more than 1,200 people were killed.

Adoli said the suspected al Shabaab supporters threw two grenades and opened fire when an elite Nairobi police unit burst into their building, seriously

wounding four officers. One later died of his wounds in hospital.

"The operation is still on. We have arrested several suspects but it's still too early to say how many until we are through," Adoli told Reuters by phone.

Mwagomba Juma, a youth leader who lives in the area, said heavy gunfire, punctuated by at least two blasts, began in the early hours of the morning.

Dozens of police in bulletproof vests and armed with automatic rifles combed the neighbourhood as nervous residents peered through their

windows, witnesses said.

The instability has kept many foreign tourists away. The number of visitors were down by a fifth in the first eight months of this year, a heavy blow to the tourism sector which is a main driver of east Africa's biggest economy.

In Nairobi, Kenyan police arrested Mohammed Dor, a legislator and prominent Muslim cleric from the coastal region, after he said he had no objection to funding the separatist Muslim Mombasa Republican Council if they approached him.

Evidence of mass murder after Gaddafi’s death

N

ew evidence implicates Libyan militias in an apparent execution of dozens of detainees in rebel custody

following the capture and death of Muammar Gaddafi last year, a watchdog has said.

In a report released on

Dead Gaddafi's loyalist suspected to have been killed by Libyan militias

Wednesday detailing Gaddafi's final hours on October 20, 2011, Human Rights Watch said it had gathered evidence that Misratabased militias captured and disarmed members of the dictator's convoy and subjected them to brutal beatings.

"The evidence suggests that opposition militias summarily executed at least 66 captured members of Gaddafi's convoy in Sirte," his home town, Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said on Wednesday.

"It also looks as if they took Mutassim Gaddafi, who had been wounded, to [the port city of] Misrata and killed him there," he said of Gaddafi's son.

"Our findings call into question the assertion by Libyan authorities that Muammar Gaddafi was killed in crossfire, and not after his capture," Bouckaert said of a Human Rights Watch report documenting the executions.

The 50-page report, "Death of a Dictator: Bloody Vengeance in Sirte," also details the final hours of Gaddafi's life and the circumstances under which he was killed on the basis of witness testimony and mobile phone footage.

HRW said its evidence suggested that Misrata-based militias captured and disarmed members of Gaddafi's convoy and, after bringing them under control, subjected them to brutal beatings.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Asia and Middle East

S

yria's 19-month conflict can set the entire region ablaze, international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi tells reporters in Lebanon.

"This crisis cannot remain confined within Syrian territory," Brahimi said on Wednesday. "Either

PAGE 33

UN envoy warns spillover of Syrian crisis it is solved, or it gets worse... and sets (the region) ablaze. A truce for (the Muslim holiday of) Eid al-Adha would be a microscopic step on the road to solving the Syria crisis."

Brahimi admitted that solving the Syrian crisis was a "very, very difficult" process, but there was a "microscopic" chance that a truce may lead to a permanent ceasefire.

"The Syrian people will not enjoy

a happy Eid al-Adha holiday, but they should at least enjoy a truce," he told reporters after talks with Lebanese officials in the capital Beirut.

"This will be a microscopic chance to lead to a permanent ceasefire, halting the smuggling of arms, and an agreement on a political solution," added Brahimi.

He said he was visiting Syria's

neighbours to listen to their views on the crisis. He added he would visit Damascus, but did not specify the date.

Brahimi's call for a truce during the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, which falls later this month, has fallen on deaf ears in Damascus as state-run Al-Thawra newspaper, a government mouthpiece, said the initiative would likely fail because

Taliban threat worries Pakistan media

Hunger soars in the Philippines

T

here has been a staggering increase in the number of undernourished Filipinos over the past two years, according to a new study.

"The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012," a global assessment of nutrition levels released on Tuesday, revealed that a total of 16 million Filipinos were considered undernourished from 2010 to present, even as the number of chronically undernourished people dropped in all other southeast Asian countries.

There are more underfed people in the Philippines today than there were two decades ago, despite a growing economy. In contrast, other countries in the region saw the number of chronically hungry people plummet: Vietnam by 75.1 per cent, Thailand, by 79.8 per cent, Indonesia by 43.8 per cent, Laos by 9.2 per cent and Cambodia by 37.8 per cent.

"These hunger statistics and the high joblessness numbers [2.8 million unemployed and 8.5 million underemployed] give a gloomier picture than the upbeat first semester GDP growth of 6.1 per cent. At the very least, they support the view that the first half economic growth was shallow and hollow," the Malaya Business Insight wrote in an editorial pieceon Tuesday.

P

Lakhdar Brahimi, speaking in Lebanon

China protests to South Korea over fisherman’s death

C

hina has protested to South Korea over the death of a fisherman killed after coast guards shot him with a rubber bullet during a raid.

The coast guards were stopping Chinese boats fishing illegally in the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, South Korean officials said.

The man, who fought back with a knife, died after being taken to a nearby hospital, the officials said.

There have been several clashes over illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea. The Chinese embassy in Seoul has asked for the case to be investigated ''seriously and thoroughly'' and ''to protect the legal rights of Chinese fishermen'', China's state-run news agency Xinhua news reported.

A Yonhap news report identified the deceased as a 44-year-old surnamed Jang. The coast guards, the report also said, said the rubber bullet was ''intended to be a nonlethal instrument''.

"The raid officers fired the rubber bullet in the face of a harsh protest by the Chinese sailors," said a coast guard official.

the rebels fighting to topple Bashar Assad's regime had no unified leadership to agree to it.

Al-Thawra said that the biggest obstacle to the truce was the lack of an authority to sign for the rebels.

"There is the state, represented by the government and the army on one front, but who is on the other front?" the paper asked in an editorial.

Locals display a concoction they feed on

Taliban threats journalists after critical coverage of the shooting of Malala Yousufzai.

akistan's media have expressed alarm at Taliban threats to target journalists after critical coverage of the shooting of Malala Yousufzai.

The 14-year-old education campaigner was seriously wounded as she returned home from school in the Swat valley.

The Pakistani Taliban said it had shot her for "promoting secularism".

The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) said Taliban threats directed at the media were aimed at curbing the freedom of the press.

Officials say the threats were uncovered in an intercepted phone call from a Pakistani Taliban leader.

In the call, intercepted by Pakistan's intelligence agencies, Hakeemullah Mehsud, chief of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reportedly gave his subordinate "special directions" to attack the media in cities including Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and the capital Islamabad.

The APNS said the Taliban was trying to "browbeat the voice of the people".

The Pakistan Press Foundation said religious scholars who publicly denounced the shooting had also been alerted by the government.

It said the government was taking the TPP threat seriously.

"We are monitoring the situation and will take any necessary action to protect our staff. We continue to broadcast to Pakistan," a BBC statement said.

The attack on Malala, in which two other schoolgirls were wounded, was overwhelmingly condemned in Pakistan. Groups that have previously expressed some sympathy for the Taliban's cause largely denounced the targeting of children.

The strength of reaction has put pressure on the government to take more action to tackle the insurgency.

Pakistani media quoted Taliban sources as saying they were angered by the level of attention that the attempted murder had received and felt the coverage was biased.

Malala was flown to the UK on Monday for specialist treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where her condition is described as stable.

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas Earth-size planet found orbiting nearest star

E

uropean astronomers have reported they had detected a planet with similar mass to Earth, orbiting the closest star to the Sun. The observation breaks new ground in the hunt for exoplanets worlds that exist in other solar systems - although the planet itself is not "another Earth" as it is located in a scorchingly hot zone, astronomers said on Wednesday.

The planet swings close to the star Alpha Centauri B, one of a triple star system that is 4.3 light years away, which in cosmic terms is just next door to us.

The find was made thanks to a telltale wobble in the star's motion, tugged by the gravitational pull of the passing planet.

The signal is "tiny but real", said Xavier Dumusque of the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland.

"It's an extraordinary discovery and it has pushed our technique to the limit."

The transiting planet makes the star move back and forth, in relation to Earth, by less than two kilometres per hour, about the speed of a baby crawling.

The minute motion was detected using an instrument called HARPS, for high-precision spectrograph, installed on the European Southern Observatory (ESO) at La Silla, in the depths of the Atacama desert in Chile.

It took hundreds of observations, spanning more than four years, for the "wobble" to be teased out of the other light signals.

The study, published in the journal Nature, shows the technical advances in exoplanet research since the very first was spotted in 1995.

Since then more than 750 exoplanets have been confirmed as sightings and another 2,300 claims are pending.

None, however, is both Earth-sized and in a habitable area, something that would bolster theories that life can exist beyond our world.

The quest is for a rocky planet the size of Earth in the "Goldilocks zone".

This means a planet at a comfy distance from the star, enabling the temperature to be not too hot nor too cold, but just right to sustain liquid water, the stuff of life.

In the case of Alpha Centauri B's planet, its "year" - the time it takes to complete one orbit - is just 3.236 days, which means it is located just six million kilometres from its star.

But other finds could follow, and an even more tantalising discovery could be among them, the astronomers hope.

"Statistical studies of exoplanets suggest that low-mass planets are preferentially formed in multiplanetary systems," says the paper.

"There is therefore a high probability that other planets orbit Alpha Centauri B, perhaps in its habitable zone."

Alpha Centauri B and Alpha Centauri A are two stars that are similar to the Sun.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Colombia and FARC negotiators set for Norway talks P

eace negotiators for the Colombian government and the FARC rebel group have set off for talks in Norway in an effort to end 50 years of conflict.

The chief government negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, said he did not want to create false expectations, but his team was moderately optimistic.

The FARC delegates are flying from Cuba, where some of the talks will take place.

This week's meetings would mark the first direct negotiations in a decade.

The timetable for the talks, the first phase of which is to be held in Norway, has been put back several times because of logistical problems, including bad weather in Colombia.

As he was leaving from a military air base in Bogota, Mr de la Calle told reporters he was hopeful.

"We don't want to create false expectations but we do believe there are structural elements that allow us to hope that we will bring back good news for Colombia."

Mr de la Calle said the parties would meet in Oslo behind closed doors on Wednesday, when they would prepare the content of a joint press conference on Thursday, and discuss the timetable for a second phase of talks in Havana.

The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) is the country's oldest and largest guerrilla group. It has been fighting the state since 1964.

Representatives for the two sides have been in Havana, together with Norwegian and other diplomats, preparing for the talks.

Among the reported reasons for the talks and news conference

being pushed back were delays in getting arrest warrants for FARC representatives suspended, and disagreements over the make-up of the FARC delegation.

The FARC originally set out to overthrow the government and install a Marxist regime, but in recent years has become increasingly involved in the drug trade to raise money for

its campaign.

It is thought to have some 8,000 fighters, down from about 16,000 in 2001.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has said he is "cautiously" optimistic about the prospects for peace.

But he has rejected rebel calls for a ceasefire, saying military operations would continue until a final agreement is reached.

Humberto de la Calle(4th left) and other negotiators at the airport

EU acts against harm from biofuel crops

T

he EU is changing its policy on biofuels to encourage energy production from waste rather than from food crops.

The European Commission says

clearing land in order to plant biofuel crops can often cancel out the environmental benefits of biofuel. In some cases forests are chopped down.

The EU is putting a cap of 5% on the

Pulped maize being processed for biofuel production in GrossGerau, Germany

food-based biofuel allowed in the renewable energy used in transport.

The EU's total renewable energy target for transport fuel is 10% by 2020.

The Commission will change the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive and the 1998 Fuel Quality Directive.

New biofuel installations will have to meet a minimum 60% threshold in terms of their efficiency in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Roger Harrabin says some environmentalists had supported the biofuel laws in the first instance, before the side-effects became understood.

The UN has appointed a special rapporteur on biofuels who has sharply criticised the direct and indirect effects of biofuels on the poor.

Now the EU is trying to shift biofuel production from food crops to farm waste, algae and straw.

Clearing land to plant food for biofuel releases the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) through ploughing and can involve deforestation, which reduces the "carbon sinks" - the trees that absorb CO2.

A spokeswoman for the poverty action group Oxfam, Tracy Carty, welcomed the EU's new 5% cap but said the proposal would not go far enough.

"The cap is higher than the current levels of biofuels use and will do nothing to reduce high food prices," she said.

"The British government must up the pressure on other European member states to scrap its current targets and end all support for biofuels.

With close to 900 million people going hungry every day, we cannot continue diverting valuable food into fuel."

Russia moves to prosecute anti-Putin protest leader

R

ussian investigators began criminal proceedings against a prominent leader of protests against President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, saying a documentary on a pro-Kremlin TV channel showed evidence Sergei Udaltsov had plotted mass disorder.

Government critics and civic rights groups says the Kremlin is carrying out a coordinated clampdown on dissent by exerting legal pressure to try to sideline activists who have led the biggest opposition protests in Putin's nearly 13-year-long rule, spurred by allegations of widespread election fraud.

Law enforcement officials raided Udaltsov's Moscow apartment around daybreak and state television showed

him being taken away for questioning by a half a dozen officers in black balaclavas.

"I have committed no crime. My only crime is speaking the truth," Udaltsov told Vesti-24 as he was led away.

Police were also searching the homes of two associates facing the same charges, which carry a jail sentence of up to 10 years. Udaltsov was released but ordered not to leave Moscow.

His criminal case focused on allegations aired in a documentary on NTV television that he received money and orders from an ally of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, an adversary of Moscow, to cause unrest in Russia.

Left Front opposition movement leader Sergei Udaltsov (C) arrives at the the Investigative Committee in Moscow

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 35

Woman sets malfunctioning vending machine on fire A

North Carolina woman faces felony charges after setting a vending machine on fire, police say.

Debra Johnson, 43, was so mad when a 7-Up machine outside a Piggly Wiggly supermarket in New Bern took her money that she kicked it, lit a newspaper on fire and stuffed it into the machine, surveillance footage showed.

The fire melted the machine and the $35 in change that it contained, and destroyed the machine's other contents, KLTV reported.

Johnson now faces two felony charges of burning personal property and burning certain buildings.

During her first appearance in court, Johnson told the judge she didn't need a lawyer, "'cause I'm guilty," according to KLTV. "I don't need a lawyer to lie for me, cause I'mma tell you I done it," she said.

She has several misdemeanors on her record, dating back to 1989, KLTV reported.

A North Carolina woman, faces felony charges after allegedly lighting a soda vending machine

Baboon advance thievery skills I f an irate and hungry baboon climbed inside your car and tried to grab your bag, it's probably safer to take evasive action than risk being bitten.

But the victim of this

particular theft is in fact a baboon monitor - paid to make sure troupes of the creatures don't plague tourists on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa.

Hendrik Raven can be seen

flinching out of the way as a large baboon pulls on the door handle of his car near Cape Point.

The unconcerned creature then leaps inside his vehicle and begins rummaging through a bag inside.

And the animal then grabs some crackers and what appears to be sun cream, as well as Mr Raven's bag, before fleeing the

car.

Baboon monitors are employed to prevent the animals raiding cars, houses and dust bins on the outskirts of the city.

They spend their day following troupes of the creatures across the Cape Peninsula to insure they do not misbehave.

Classic men’s shoe gets a toothy makeover

That's my lunch! Mr Raven shouts at the baboon as it opens his car door, but is unable to prevent it grabbing the bag

British design duo Mariana Fantich and Dominic Young crafted the Apex Predator shoes (shown here) and replaced the soles with 1,050 plastic dentures.

A

Hendrik Raven flinches out of the way after a baboon forced its way into his car and ran off with his bag outside Cape Town, South Africa

British art duo has revamped the classic lace-up brogue just in time for Halloween.

Mariana Fantich and Dominic Young took a pair of size 15 Savile Row oxford shoes and replaced the soles with 1,050 teeth, the Daily Mail reported. The bizarre design uses plastic dentures, not real human teeth.

Fantich and Young crafted the shoes as part of their Apex Predator art line, which also features a suit made out of human hair, glass eyes and dentures. The pair's work "addresses parallels between social evolution and evolution in the natural world," according to their website.

The shoes are not for retail sale.

“Rare” McJordan BBQ sauce Sells for nearly $10,000

H

ow much would you pay for a piece of Michael Jordan history?

Not a game ball or a signed jersey. A circa-1992 plastic jug of McJordan BBQ sauce from the Bulls star's namesake burger at McDonalds.

The one-gallon jug was marked sold Tuesday on an eBay auction for $9,995. The "unused, unopened, undamaged item" was billed a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own "the rarest of rare Michael Jordan and McDonald's collectible."

The seller also touted the burger topping as the potentially last one left in existence, and someone put the money where their taste buds are.

To jog your memory, the 1992 McJordan burger was comprised of a quarter-pound beef patty, cheese, mustard, onions, bacon and, of course, barbecue sauce. The shelf life of the sauce is not known.

Michael Jordan

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Childhood adversity affects adult brain and body functions – Researchers A

dversity in early childhood – in the form of anything from poverty to physical abuse – has measurable changes in the function of the brain and body well into adulthood, according to researchers.

Growing up in worse socioeconomic circumstances can impair working memory as an adult and affect the size of different parts of the brain, while abuse can lead to a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in later life, they report.

In a series of presentations at the annual meeting of the Society of Neuroscience in New Orleans on Tuesday, scientists reported on work studying critical periods of development for the brain. Eric Pakulak, at the University of Oregon, found that people who grew up in homes with a lower socioeconomic status had greater deficits in working memory, compared with those from wealthier homes, even when he controlled for the participants’ education.

Working memory, Pakulak said, was broadly associated with general intelligence. “As a fouror five-year-old, if you have very good attention and regulations skills, it’s a foundational skill that would spill over into other areas of cognition – if you’re trying to learn your letters, or to read, or learning numbers or math or a musical instrument. When you’re learning a musical instrument, you’re really training attention.”

He asked 72 adults to complete a test of working memory, where they had to remember the final words from a series of sentences.

Growing up in a low socioeconomic background can impair working memory as an adult and affect the size of different parts of the brain, researchers say.

On average, adults from lower socioeconomic backgrounds could remember two words whereas those from more wealthy backgrounds, on average, got up to four words.

Suzanne Houston, of the University of Southern California, showed that the size of different parts of the brain could be affected by growing up in different homes.

“We found higher parent education, smaller amygdala.

The higher the income, the larger the hippocampus.”

The overall size of brain regions was not of primary significance, she said, but the fact

they were measurably different would allow scientists to tease out what sorts of differing environmental factors might be affecting the brain development of children from different backgrounds.

Understanding environment can also help scientists to modify it. Pakulak said his work had informed the development of teaching courses that could, by working with parents and preschool children from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds, improve aspects of parents’ behaviour and reduce their stress, as well as improving

children’s behaviour and cognition within weeks.

“Most powerfully, we’ve shown that, after eight weeks, children in our intervention training group show the same [result for] brain function for selective attention that their higher [socioeconomic backgrounds] peers show,” Pakulak said.

Layla Banihashemi, of the University of Pittsburgh, focused on the enduring effects of physical abuse in childhood. She found that adults who suffered physical abuse as children had greater increases in blood

pressure when they engaged in stressful tasks as adults. Overall, she said, this would put them at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

She asked 155 healthy adults, who were 40 years old on average, to complete a childhood trauma questionnaire, a standard way of assessing the level of physical abuse someone may have suffered as a child. “As physical abuse scores increased from none to moderate to severe levels, we saw significant increases in the change in blood pressure in response to stress,” said Banihashemi.

The mean arterial blood pressure in people who had suffered no abuse during childhood changed by 2.73mmHg, from a baseline of around 90mmHg, when they were stressed in Banihashemi’s experiment. In the low abuse group, the average change was 4.71mmHg, and moderate or severe abuse in childhood elicited an average change of 5.45 mmHg. “People that have these heightened blood pressure responses, in magnitude and duration, are more at risk at developing cardiovascular disease,” she said.

Banihashemi added that most of the participants in her study were not in the severely abused category. “They are primarily within the minimal range – I think this is unique because it indicates that even minimal to moderate levels of abuse can influence stress responses of the brain and body.”

Source: Guardian.co.uk

What happens to your body if you don’t let it sleep?

A

looming dissertation deadline must top most students’ list of university terrors.

After months of labour, putting the finishing touches to a project that represents the culmination of your undergraduate education can turn into a caffeine-fuelled ordeal.

Especially when things go horribly, horribly wrong.

I still have nightmares about my final meeting with my supervisor, three days before submission.

She casually informed me that all the work I’d done in the past three months had been a waste of time. The error was minor, but 20 pages had to be consigned to the garbage bin. I had 72 hours to do what I could to repair the damage...

All-nighters are pretty much synonymous with student lifestyles. But frequent sleep deprivation over four years can have drastic long-term consequences, unleashing a neurological cycle of degeneration.

Susan Redline, a professor of sleep medicine in Boston, has found links between sleep deprivation and the onset of

neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety and bipolar depression.

Over time, forcing the body to stay awake also affects blood pressure and levels of inflammation, resulting in an increased susceptibility to heart disease and cancer.

So those are the long-term issues. But what about the immediate consequences?

Recent research at Harvard and Berkeley has just revealed a very dangerous side effect of pulling an all-nighter – short term euphoria.

After missing a night’s sleep, the mesolimbic pathway (the neural circuit that controls pleasure and reward) is strongly stimulated. The process is driven by a chemical called dopamine.

The higher dopamine levels that result from your sleepless night may mean you enjoy a boost in motivation, positivity, even sex drive. You may think that sounds good; unfortunately you’d be wrong.

Not only are these feelings brief, but the dopamine surge also encourages addiction and impulsive behaviour. The regions of the brain responsible for planning and evaluating

decisions simply shut down once deprived of sleep, meaning that you’re inclined to be overly optimistic and happy to take risks.

Some research indicates that if the mesolimbic pathway is frequently over-stimulated by sleep deprivation, there could be

permanent brain damage. This is because of the brain’s “neural plasticity” – which means its ability to adapt to new situations.

When it’s forced to operate in a different state on a regular basis, it permanently alters itself.

And don’t even think of

Going without sleep can do more harm than good.

pulling an all-nighter before an exam: researchers say that does more harm than good. Lastminute cramming refuses to sink in, because the consolidation of memories occurs during deep sleep.

Source: Guardian.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 37

Normalcy has started returning to Yobe, says Bego INTERVIEW

Y

obe state is among the states that is facing serious security challenges, what is your government doing to bring this threat to an end?

This security problem has been on-going for nearly a year now. It started in November last year when there was an attack by the members of Jama’atul Ahli Sunnah Lil Da’awati Wal Jihad, and of course, we know that this is a problem that goes beyond Yobe. It is a problem of the entire northern region. We have been partnering with the security agencies, especially the army and the police to ensure the protection of lives and properties.

The state government under Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has been giving support to the security agencies; so far, we have given out about 160 Hilux vans to support in terms of logistic. The state government also pay some form of allowance to the police, we are asking people to unite, both Muslim and Christians and to pray for the state so that this problems will end once and for all.

The state government have been doing its own part, the security agencies are also doing their own part, we are confident that we will get over it.

People are said to be migrating from the state in large number as a result of persistent insecurity. This has a serious economic consequence. How does the government intend to check that?

Well, actually there were movements out of Damaturu, the state capital but not out of Yobe, especially towards the end of Ramadan. That was because of the rumours people spread that there was a plan attack on Sallah Day. Many people got scared and started leaving the state capital, but not Yobe state, we have about 17 local government councils in the state and in all these places people have been living peacefully.

I am not a security agent and I am not competent to speak on their behalf, or about the measures they are taking, but I know as somebody who live in Damaturu that the security agencies are doing a lot to ensure the restoration of peace in the state. So when these rumours came up, as a government, we went to all the state media organization and tell the people of the state that all these were just rumours, which at the end of the day nothing happen, we had a free sallah all over the state without

Abdullahi Bego is the Special Adviser, Press Affairs and Information to Yobe state Governor Ibrahim Gaidam. In this interview with Umar Muhammad Puma, he speaks on the security challenges facing the state on one hand and infrastructural development on the other. Excerpts record of any incident, everything went smoothly.

After that, people who earlier left started to come back; even now as we speak, Damaturu is peaceful; people are returning, shops are been reopened, banks, market, schools, government offices, although it is gradual; security challenges are not something that you can address overnight. So we are confident that God would answer our prayers; we are doing all we can; the people are giving us their moral support; the security agencies are doing their job professionally. So we are making progress, we believed that with the help of God, things will get back to normal, Damaturu will raise again and we would continue on our part of transforming the state, if not because of the security challenges, which has derailed our effort, and bring us back, but still we were able to make tremendous achievements.

Talking about moral support, there were reported cases of maltreatment of the people of Damaturu by the security agencies, What is your take on that?

I’m not in a position to speak on their behalf, but however as a government, we are doing our best to support the security agencies to restore law and order. In his recent speech to the people of Yobe state, the governor noted that the security agencies sometimes fired randomly in the air, especially far away from the scene of an accident. They have been asked to stop that. He also said that people who were arrested and later found to be innocent should be promptly released. But on how the operate, I think that question should be directed to the military spokesman, he is in a better position to explain all that.

Despite all the security challenges, how has the state government been able to cope

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam with the issue of infrastructural development?

It is a big challenge confronting security problems on one hand and developmental project, on the other. Before the advent of this security challenges, the Yobe state government had done a lot in delivering social services especially roads, housing, education and agricultural development. The government has done quite a lot. In fact, the government has done unprecedented things to the state that the people are really happy about. For example, we have

“

In the area of water supply, the governor has made it an issue that wherever he is going, if there is an issue of water, he made it priority; even on transit he is ever ready to sign the file so that people can have good drinking water

constructed over 700km of tarred road; we started with the construction of 273km Kananma, Kaffia, Machina roads which would open up the entire northern part of Yobe state. As we speak, the work is on-going, we have provided township roads in all the major towns and drainages in the state, places like Damaturu, Potiskum, Gasua, Nguru and Gaidam, and we are on course in providing township roads in other smaller towns like Dabchi and many more.

In the area of housing, we have built over 1200 unit of housing which was given to beneficiaries at 65% discount.

That is unprecedented in the history of housing development in Nigeria there is no state government to my knowledge that have provided this kind of discount especially to workers. If you are a beneficiary of this unit of housing scheme, then all you need to do is to pay only 35%.

That is because the governor is keen to ensure that workers benefited from the housing scheme; because that is the beginning of comfort and stable social life. A situation where you have a family and you don’t have shelter, a roof over your head, you simply can’t deliver. That is the basic premix that underpins

these policies. To make our workers more productive, we need to support them with houses of their own, places they can call home; where you can return to after a day of hard work. Tthat is how this housing thing came about.

As we speak now, 300 housing units have been completed in Damaturu and it is located along Gujuba, Maiduguri section of Damaturu bypass. So we have done a lot in terms of housing and we are determined to do more. If you provide houses to those who are in dire need, then you are helping them to have a social live and the government is keen in ensuring that the people of the state benefited from that.

We have also done a lot in the area of Education, enrolment rate have improve, retention rate in schools have also improve, we don’t have people going out of school, the retention rates have stabilized cross the board, Yobe student are doing better.

Recently we acquired and provided over 46 buses to schools for utility services. This is something that is ordinary in those days in the past. What we intend to do is to make sure that all the services they need are provided. In addition to that, we have also implemented the salary scale for tertiary institutions. Yobe is one of the states that is implementing salary scale for colleges of education. We also implemented new salary scale for doctors. Yobe is the second after the Federal Government to implement that; we also have a policy in the health sector of providing free medical treatment to pregnant women and children below five years.

You know there was a lot of a concern about rising maternal and child mortality rate across the northern states, so what we did is to provide free medical treatment to pregnant women and children below five years.

In the area of water supply, the governor has made it an issue that wherever he is going, if there is an issue of water, he made it priority; even on transit he is ever ready to sign the file so that people can have good drinking water. We have sunk thousands of boreholes across the state. if you go to Yobe state today you will see that while we still have many places to reach; but we have touched many peoples’ lives and our people are happy about that.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

13 candidates battle for Ondo guber

By Richard Ihediwa

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it has cleared thirteen candidates are to contest for the Ondo state governorship election scheduled for Saturday.

The commission in a release yesterday listed the candidates to include Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu,

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); Adeuti Stephen Taiye, Allied, Congress Party of Nigeria (CPN); Adeyemi Bolarinwa, All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP); Oladimeji Adegoroye, African Political System (APS); Olaseguri Gbenga Festus, Better Nigeria Peoples Party (BNPP); Omoyele A. Olurunda, Change Advocacy Party (CAP); Prince O. Ehinlanwo, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Others are Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Labour Party (LP); Lawrence B. Oladipo, National Conscience Party (NCP); Abukanlu James Olusola, National Solidarity Democratic Party (NSP); Adetusin Victor, Peoples Democratic Change (PDC); Chief Olusola Oke, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Omoregha Kris, Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) INEC said one million, six

hundred and thirty four thousand, eight hundred and eighty four (1,634,884) eligible voters have been registered to take part in the election.

The Commission is also deploying eight National Commissioners and ten Resident Electoral Commissioners to superintend over the election.

It is also deploying 8,906 permanent and ad hoc staff to

conduct the election. A breakdown shows that the following personnel will be deployed to conduct the election.

Meanwhile, the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega will today address stake-holders candidates, party leaders, security chiefs, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the media and observers – for the last time before the Saturday election.

APGA suspends Plateau Chairman for losing bye-election From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

T

wo weeks after the Plateau North Senatorial District bye -election, the state chapter of All progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday suspended its chairman Dr. Isa Jega for not being able to mobilise enough to get the party to victory.

APGA candidate, Ambassador Chris Giwa came fourth in the election won by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gyang Pwajok, who was sworn-in at the Senate on Tuesday.

The party in statement signed

by Legal Adviser and Acting Secretary, Barrister Peter Choji announced another chieftain of the party, Ali Y. Ali as the acting chairman.

According to the statement

L R: Chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, and his Deputy, Hon.Victor Ogene, briefing journalists on the resolution of the House on the constitution review, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Ekweremadu blames leaders for sectionalism

By Richard Ihediwa

D

eputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has healed blames on the nation’s leaders saying they were responsible for the ethnic and religious divisions resulting in bloody clashes in the country.

The Deputy Senate President stated this in Awka, Anambra state where he delivered a lecture at the 2012 Annual Zik Lecture Series organised by the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ), Anambra state chapter on Monday. He insisted that the nation must evolve a patriotic, selfless, and knowledgeable leadership if it would realise its quest for development.

Speaking as a guest lecturer at this year’s event which had the theme, “The Political Ideology of the Great Zik of Africa and the

Challenge of Leadership in Nigeria, Ekweremmadu stressed that putting nation first and panNigerian principles were the hallmarks of Zikism, the political ideology of Nigeria’s first indigenous Head of State, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

He regretted that the Nigeria’s progress had been stalled because her leaders veered from the foundations of patriotic, panNigerian, selfless, bridgebuilding, and integrity-driven leadership laid by the nation’s founding fathers.

Lamenting the nation’s integration deficits, Senator Ekweremadu regretted that “Never in the history of this nation have we been divided as a people as we are today”, observing that “We have failed and grossly declined in building a nation out of our diversities or

managing our diversities profitably for the peace and development of the country” “I hold our political elites largely responsible for all the retrogression in managing our diversities; and in the same vein, I put at their doorstep the task of welding our people closer through bridge-building leadership at all levels”, he added.

He disagreed with those who blame Azikiwe for opting for a Northern Peoples Congress, NPC, and the National Council of Nigeria Citizens Party, NCNC, coalition in which he was a ceremonial Head of State rather than a southern NCNC and Action Group (AG) coalition in which he would have emerged as Nigeria’s Prime Minister and Head of Government. This he said showed that Zik placed national interest above personal or ethnic interests.

Ondo guber: Defend your votes, Mimiko tells voters From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

O

ndo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko has charged the people of the state to defend their votes in the Saturday’s governorship election.

Also the governor appealed to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega to ensure that the election was free and fair.

Mimiko who rounded his reelection camping tour with a mega rally in Akure, the state capital on Tuesday commended President Goodluck Jonathan for assuring that there would be free and fair election in the state and urged the INEC boss to ensure that such was upheld.

His words: “We want to thank Mr President for giving Nigeria a free and fair election in Edo. He promised and he delivered and we believe that he is a man of his words.

He has promise that there will be a free and fair election in Ondo state and we also believe him.

Babangida Aliyu chides detractors, says nobody can distabilise Niger From Iliya Garba, Minna

G

overnor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger state has said that there were certain clandestine and hazardous moves to subvert his administration and frustrate its efforts to develop the state.

In a press statement issued yesterday in Minna, Niger state

capital by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, the governor said there were plots hatched by some highly placed individuals in the state who sought to use opposition elements to promote falsehood about his government.

He said negative publications and press conferences were being sponsored by those who have

become threatened by the successes of the administration, and were aimed to distabilse it.

“We are astounded at how low some politicians can sink by employing downright lies and irresponsible tactics just to create the impression that things are not working. The Government of Niger State condemns this cheap blackmail, being used as a last

“the following appointment has been unanimously made by the Executive in the interim pending the report on the adoption of the committee’s report”.

He said the decision was to safeguard the image of the party adding that a committee has been constituted to investigate and suggest a way forward for the party in preparations for the 2015 elections But in a swift reaction, the suspended chairman described the action taken against him as illegal.

He said the state chapter lacks the power to do so.

He described the allegations levied against him as false and stressed that APGA supporters were united and whatever problems the party is facing in the state would be resolved.

joker by drowning politicians who will clutch at anything, including mere straws, to remain relevant”.

The statement maintained that the administration remained committed to the good of the people and would not be distracted. It also advised media practitioners to be wary of persons who may want to use their outfits to pursue their heinous agenda.

“We are appealing to INEC to please for the sake of our nation Nigeria, for the sake of peace in our land to ensure that election on Saturday is not manipulated. I want to appeal to Prof. Jega that it is not enough for you to be a man of integrity; you must also ensure that all officers under you are not unduly influenced because we will reject any manipulation of our election in Ondo state.

Mimiko also rallied the people of the state to be ready to defend their votes and resist those who had vowed to rig the election. The governor who also berated the leaders of opposition parties in the state for castigating his numerous developmental projects saying that they lacked depth and the vision to comprehend the deep philosophy behind those projects.

He also used the occasion to put paid to insinuations that he betrayed the leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) saying he never had any pact with them.

Earlier, Chief Olu Falae, a former Secretary to the Federal Government and a Presidential Candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), took a swipe at the leader of the ACN, Senator Bola Tinubu who during his party rally on Monday berated Mimiko’s administration Falae said Tinubu portrayed lack of respect and showed that he was not a progressive.

In one breath, Falae described members of ACN as fake democrats who betrayed the course of progressives in Nigeria.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 41

Falcons jet out to Ghana

T

he Super Falcons are to jet out of the country today to Accra, Ghana, where they are scheduled to fine tune preparations for the defence of the African Women’s Championship in Equatorial Guinea.

The Falcons, who welcomed five foreign-based players to the camp yesterday, are to embark on the foreign training tour to further hone their skills and put themselves in the mental and

physical shape for the fiesta.

Two seasons ago, the Falcons were dethroned by Equatorial Guinea, the host of the 2012 edition and the coach Kadiri Ikhana- tutored side are determined to avoid a repeat performance.

They have accordingly been seeking avenues to test-run their mental and tactical alertness ahead of the tournament.

Coach Ikhana, whose contract specifically said he must win the

trophy as well as reach the last four finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year, is confident he has the squad, experience and zest to accomplish the set target.

The Super Falcons are drawn in Group B along with Cameroon, Ethiopia and Cote d’Ivoire.

The AWC kicks off on October 28 with the Falcons beginning their title defence the following day against Cameroon.

Togo rewards each player with N31.6m for qualifying for Nations Cup

T Onome Ebi

Eko 2012 to be streamed live to global audience

T

he Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 18th National Sports Festival said yesterday in Lagos that events at the fiesta would be transmitted live to a global audience.

The ‘live streaming’ of the festival, scheduled to run from November 27 to December 9 in Lagos, would target mainly those Nigerians in the Diaspora.

This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Wale Edun, Chairman, Media and Publicity of the LOC, which indicated that a live streaming outfit, ‘Vodstreet’, would relay the festival’s events to the global audience.

According to the statement, sports enthusiasts across the world

will have the opportunity of watching the festival and its related contents live in their phones via various mobile devices like Blackberry and Ipads.

It noted that the highlights of events they might have missed during the fiesta could be recalled from the festival’s website.

“This has never happened in the history of sports festivals in the country, but it must happen now to underscore the point that Lagos is the Centre of Excellence in the country,’’ it said.

The statement also urged Nigerians in the Diaspora not to entertain any fears as they could be able to view and follow the games as it progressed.

Nigeria, Brazil, Russia to clash in Dubai N

Bartholomew Ibenegbu

Ogbonnaya Okemiri

igeria’s Supersand Eagles will again clash with their Brazilian and Russian counterparts in the Eight-Nation Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates between October 30 and November 3.

The Supersand Eagles, who lost to the four-time world champions Brazil, will use the opportunity for revenge and hope to upstage the reigning world champions Russia, who are equally invitees to the tournament.

Also, hosts United Arab Emirates, next year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup hosts Tahiti, the United States of America, Japan and Switzerland, will slug it out for a sip from the prestigious trophy.

Already, the participating teams have been drawn into two groups of four teams each, with UAE, Russia, Tahiti and

USA in Group A and Nigeria, Brazil, Japan and Switzerland in Group B. Participating teams are expected to arrive in Dubai on Sunday, October 28.

Meanwhile, only three of the invited 18 players are yet to report to the Supersand Eagles’ training camp in Badagry, with Abdul Haruna having only recently lost his father in-law; Bartholomew Ibenegbu down with typhoid fever and Ogbonnaya Okemiri excused to attend a screening exercise with Akwa United FC. The team, under the watchful eyes of Coach Adamu Audu Ejo, now trains twice a day after maintaining once-a-day training for the past few days.

Nigeria’s Supersand Eagles reached the quarter finals at last year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Ravenna, Italy and won the Four-Nation Invitational Tournament held in Lagos, styled COPA Lagos, in December 2011, mauling fourtime world champions Brazil, England and South Africa on their way to glory.

The tournament in Dubai is expected to put the Nigeria team in great shape for the defence of their title at this year’s COPA Lagos, set for 14th–16th December.

NFF wishes Rufai quick recovery

T

he Nigeria Football Federation has expressed the hope that former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, who slumped Monday night and was subsequently hospitalized, would recover soonest.

Speaking yesterday to Bruce Rufai, brother of the two-time FIFA World Cup star, NFF General

Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, expressed the sympathy of the football family and hopes that Dodo Manyana’ returned to sound health.

Bruce had informed that the ace goal tender had regained consciousness and returned home from hospital.

“We wish to, on behalf of the entire Nigeria football family, wish Peter a

very quick recovery so that he can get back on his feet and return to a normal life,” said Amadu.

“We are very concerned about Peter’s situation. He did so much for our dear country as a player and remains one of the true legends of the Nigeria game. He is also the Coordinator of our U23 national team.

“The NFF was in touch with

Peter to console him on the death of his mother when this incident happened,” he said.

Rufai, who won 62 caps for the Nigeria senior team, was first choice when the Super Eagles lifted the African Cup of Nations for the first time on away soil (Tunisia, 1994) and was also first choice at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.

ogo authorities yesterday announced $30,000 reward to each player of the national team after they qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday following a 3-2 aggregate win over Gabon.

Prime Minister Artheme Seleagodji Ahoomey-Zunu told a delegation from the Togo football federation in Lome that the grant was different from the team’s regular match bonuses and meant to encourage the players ahead of preparations for the finals set for early next year in South Africa.

He also said the government would set up a panel to iron out all issues affecting the team and the country’s football to avoid further crises.

Defender Nibombe Dare thanked the government on behalf of the players and urged the officials to keep to their promises in saving the country’s football from future troubles.

Free State Stars midfielder Dove Wome and Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor scored the two goals that helped Togo’s return to the continental scene after their withdrawal from the 2010 edition and failure to qualify to this year’s finals staged in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Emmanuel Adebajo

Super Eagles resume camp November 4 for Miami friendly

M

embers of the domestic league Super Eagles are expected to resume training camp in Abuja on November 4 preparatory to their friendly against Venezuela in Miami, Florida, in the United States of America fixed for November 14.

According to officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the foreign-based Eagles to be called up for the game would be required to join up directly with the rest of the squad in Miami.

This will be one of several warmup matches planned for the Eagles ahead of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Cesc ponders Arsenal forever

C

esc Fabregas has told L’Equipe he would have happily stayed at Arsenal for the rest of his career if a return to Barcelona had not come to fruition.

The former Gunners captain was believed to have agitated for a move away from the Premier League when he was made aware of Barcelona’s interest, but he says this was not the case, stating his love of London and Arsenal.

“It was a dream of mine to play for Barca, but I was not bitter at Arsenal,” he said. “On the contrary, I was living somewhere which, for me, was the most beautiful city in the world, I was in an incredible team with a superb coach and supporters I adored.

“It was not a question of life or death. If Barca had not come in for me, I would have played my whole career at Arsenal. That

e made an offer of •8 million for an 18 yearold who hardly boasts of 10 senior team’s game.

Of course, Jose Mourinho has reasons: Luciano Vietto is a bundle of talents: he’s creative, artistic with the ball and combines the skill of Cristiano Ronaldo and the depth of Romadel Falcao.

The paid offered to Racing Club was definitely great money in anyone’s language. But Real Madrid’s offer was quickly returned to sender by Racing Club last week.

“We just want to enjoy him,” one Racing insider told Ole. “There’s no reason to put a price on him. We have the South

American U20s coming up in January and his profile will only get bigger.”

Vietto was given a senior debut last year

by Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, but it has only been this season, under Luis Zubeldía, that he’s had the chance of regular first team football.

The 18 year-old has repaid Zubeldia’s faith with five goals in seven games, including a stunning hat-trick against San Martín de San Juan.

“It was amazing,” Vietto recalled. “My picture was on the backpage of all the newspapers.

I bought myself one in the morning. My face was staring back at me but no-one recognised

was certain.”

Fabregas, 25, has also revealed that he took a cut in pay to move back to Spain in 2011, underlining his dedication to the Catalan club.

“Yes, there are teams who pay better,” he said. “But it was always clear to me. Either go to Barca or stay at Arsenal. The last thing on my mind was money& I have come to Barca and I earn less.”

Ferguson’s radar on Strootman, Wanyama for January move

M Cesc Fabregas

Mourinho battling hard to secure Luciano Vietto’s signature H

Jose Mourinho me in the shop!”

It was that treble, in his first start for Racing, which convinced Real to make their offer. Liverpool and moneybags PSG are also following Vietto’s progress this season.

“I have to keep my mind on Racing because if I think of anything else I’m going to lose my focus,” says Vietto.

The striker’s explosion this season is all the more amazing when you consider he needed his nagging parents to convince him to ditch the books and stick with football only a couple of years ago.

Rejection at Estudiantes, where he was humiliated by one junior coach, had a young Vietto ready to give up the game for good and focus on his studies. But his parents were convinced of their son’s talent and managed to persuade him to attend trials at Racing.

“It was in 2010,” recalls Vietto. “I trialled for two or three days. Racing were the only club I went to. I’m grateful for the chance they gave me.”

On Estudiantes, he adds: “I don’t know why it didn’t work out. But I never had much of a chance. Decisions were made at the time, decisions that ... well, it hurt. Of course, it hurt.”

With his pace and close ball control, “my hero is Lionel Messi”, Vietto has been likened to former Real Madrid and Barcelona striker Javier Saviola.

“I think my creativity and speed are my strengths,” he says. “But most of all, it’s my work in the penalty area. I always try to get my shots on target. But I’m far from being a complete player. I am clumsy on my wrong side, I still need to do better in the air. I’ll keep working hard, day-to-day to improve.”

The manner of Vietto’s hattrick does suggest he has plenty to work with - a cool finish with his right foot, a powerful header and a left-foot volley. Not bad for someone who still feels somewhat “clumsy”.

The interest of Real, Liverpool and PSG has kicked Racing into action. The board met last week and it was agreed to immediately upgrade Vietto’s current contract.

Jorge Cysterpiller, the player’s agent, has been called to a meeting this week with Racing directors to thrash out terms.

Those close to negotiations say they’re determined not to lose Vietto in January, but will assure Cysterpiller that a move at the end of the season won’t be blocked if the right offer arrives.

“I was born for this,” Vietto said after his San Martin performance. “But it was never set in stone. I’ve now learned, you never give up.”

a n c h e s t e r United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to add a new midfield signing to his squad in January.

The Manchester Evening News says Ferguson has always looked to get value for money with his purchases by targeting newcomers who can play in more than one position.

Two players who tick the versatile boxes are Celtic’s Victor W a n y a m a and PSV Eindhoven’s Kevin Strootman.

They also fit the bill age wise with Fergie always keen to add to the younger crew.

Kenyan Wanyama is 21 and has been impressing for Celtic in the SPL which has alerted United. The powerful player is a defensive midfielder but can also play in the centre of defence.

PSV’s Strootman has been on United’s watch list for over 12 months since making an impact at the Dutch club. He’s also established himself in the Holland side with 11 caps and his power and vision in midfield is attracting many suitors.

Victor Wanyama

Man City not ready to discuss new terms with Yaya Toure

M Luciano Vietto

anchester City are in no rush to open new contract talks with Yaya Toure. The Mirror says the dynamic midfielder’s present £200,000-per-week deal doesn’t expire until 2015 when he will be 32-years-old.

Toure’s representatives have been chasing an improved contract extension amid rumours that the Ivory Coast talisman could leave the Etihad Stadium in the summer.

But reports suggest that City are not ready to open negotiations until next summer.

The midfielder is one of City’s highest earners - receiving a basic £150,000-a-week rising to £220,000-a-week including bonuses.

Kevin Strootman

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 43

Ferrer joins Djokovic, Murray in London finals

Nadal targets Aussie Open return in January

K

nee injury victim Rafael Nadal has said he plans to return to tennis at the Australian Open in January, less than three months away.

The former world No 1, who has not played in almost four months since losing a Wimbledon secondround match, told CNN International said that his recovery is going well, though slowly.

But he admitted that it was no longer possible for him to try to take back the No 1 ranking this season.

Instead he is focusing on being ready when the Australia Open begins on January 14.

“I was hoping to regain the No 1 spot in 2012. Now, I’m happy to return at the Australian Open and be 100 per cent competitive,” said the fourth-ranked Spaniard.

He is unable to train hard enough to be ready for Spain’s Davis Cup finals date on November 16-18 in Prague against the Czech Republic, he added.

“Everything is possible, but it is unlikely too,” he said. “I don’t know if I will or I won’t, I need to work with much less intensity than required for the Masters Cup (November ATP season-ending event) or the final of the Davis Cup.”

D

David Ferrer

Armstrong steps down from charity as Nike drops sponsorship

L

ance Armstrong has stepped down as chairman of the cancer charity he founded, Livestrong, after U. S. antidoping officials issued a scathing report detailing his use of performance-enhancing drugs for years, as one of the world's premier cyclists, the foundation said yesterday.

Separately, one of his main corporate sponsors, Nike Inc.,

said it was ending its sponsorship of Armstrong.

"To spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship," Armstrong said in a statement.

Armstrong is set to lose his record seven Tour de France titles, after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency published a 1,000-page report last week, that said the

Lance Armstrong

now-retired American took part in and organised an elaborate and sophisticated doping scheme; on his way to his unrivalled success on the Tour.

Armstrong has always denied he took banned substances during his glittering career, but refused to challenge the USADA charges against him.

Armstrong founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997 after, being diagnosed with testicular cancer in late 1996.

The foundation launched Livestrong in 2003 to provide support services to cancer patients.

Meanwhile, Nike, in reversing its earlier stand in support of Armstrong, said it could no longer ignore the evidence of his illicit behavior as a professional cyclist.

"Due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping, and misled Nike for more than a decade, it is with great sadness that we have terminated our contract with him," the company said in a statement.

"Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs in any manner."

avid Ferrer has ensured Spanish representation at the ATP World Tour finals by booking his place at the eight-man finale taking place in London for the fourth year next month.

Ferrer joins his compatriot Rafael Nadal as one of the five players guaranteed a place in the year-ender, although the injured Nadal has not played a match since June and the chances of him lining up at the O2 Arena are diminishing.

World No 1 Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have also qualified.

Ferrer, ranked fifth in the world, has enjoyed another consistent season, qualifying for his fourth consecutive ATP finals on the back of winning five titles this year.

“I am very happy because to qualify for the World Tour Finals is a great achievement,” the 30-yearold Ferrer said.

“It’s always one of my goals at the beginning of each year.

I look forward to coming back to The O2 in London to play against the best players in the world in November. The atmosphere in the stadium is incredible there.”

Ten-times grand slam champion Nadal has not written off his hopes of appearing in London but earlier this month said it would be difficult after a long recovery from the knee problems that have dogged his career.

Should he not recover, the ninth-ranked player, currently Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic, would qualify for the round-robin tournament.

Czech Tomas Berdych, Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro and last year’s runnerup Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France are also on the brink of qualifying.

The tournament begins on November 5.

Roger Federer

Andy Murray

Novak Djokovic

DeGale shows Olympic stuff, beats Mohoumadi to retains European title

T

wo former Olympic Games champions confirmed their class by winning testing professional fights at the weekend.

Firstly, England’s James DeGale retained his European super-middleweight title when he beat Hadillah Mohoumadi on points on Saturday night.

The former Olympic Games champion won the fight at the Glow Arena in Greenhithe, Kent, by 119-109, 116-112 and 117-111.

DeGale, who won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics, improved his professional record to 13-1, including 9 knockouts. His French opponent dropped to 133-1, with 9 stoppage wins.

Earlier Chris Eubank Jr remained undefeated and improved to 7-0; 3 when he outpointed Ruslan Pojonisevs (13-23-1; 10) over eight rounds.

Another former Olympic

champion, Rakhim Chakhkiev, dished up a good win in Hamburg, Germany, by knocking out Epifanio Mendoza in a cruiserweight bout.

Chakhkiev, a southpaw who is still unbeaten after 15 professional bouts, registered his twelfth knockout win by knocking Mendoza (now 34-151; 30) down in the second round and twice in the ninth.

Former WBC superfeatherweight champion Vitali Tajbert moved to 23-2; 6 when he beat Michal Dufek (9-1-1; 6) on points over six rounds in a lightweight bout.

Light-heavyweight Ismail Oezen improved to 6-0; 6 when he stopped Michal Bilak (19-22; 10) in the fourth round.

In St Charles, Missouri, Jermain Taylor, a former middleweight champion, knocked out Michi Munoz after

65 seconds of the second round, taking his record to Taylor 314-1; 19. Munoz now stands at 237; 16.

James DeGale

In San Juan, Argentina, Javier Munoz won an IBF featherweight title eliminator when he beat Luis Franco on a split decision.

Munoz improved to 26-3; 12 and Franco, who is from Cuba, lost for the first time as a professional, dropping to 13-1; 7.

Taylor, Michigan: Roland Hearns, the son of former middleweight great Thomas Hearns, suffered a neck injury during his fight against Derrick Findley and the bout was stopped in the third round. Findley, with his technical knockout wins, now stands at 20-8; 13 and Hearns at 26-4; 20.

Westbury, New York: Junior welterweight Issouf Kinda beat Mike Arnaoutis by 100-90 on each of the three cards in a tenround fight. Kinda, the New York state champion, is still undefeated (15-0; 5) but

Arnaoutis dropped to 24-8-2; 11.

Puebla, Mexico: Former world champion Samuel Gutierrez improved his record to 33-8-2; 23 when he stopped Edgar Martinez (10-7; 5) in the third round of a flyweight bout.

In a lightweight bout Daniel Echavarria, knocked out Orlando Ramos in the sixth round.

Atlantic City, New Jersey: NABA lightweight champion Dorin Spivey hoisted his record to 42-6-0; 30 when he beat Rod Salka (16-2; 3) by majority decision – 95-95, 9694 and 97-93.

Benguet, Philippines: Mateo Handig Singwangcha (13-5; 7) won the vacant IBF Pan Pacific minimumweight title by beating Japan’s Katsunari Takayama (24-6; 10) on a split decision – 114-113 on two cards against 115-112 for Takayama.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

2013 Nations Cup finals

EPL to lose Mikel, Toure, Diakite, 18 others in January

J

ohn Mikel Obi, Yaya Toure, Samba Diakite, all prominent players of Chelsea, Man City and QPR and 18 other players will the loss of the English Premier League as they are set to trade tackles in the 29th edition of the African Cup of Nations.

The 21 players are expected to be named in their countries squad for the tournament to be held in South

Africa from January 19 through February 10.

According to FIFA laws, clubs must release their players two weeks before the start of the African Cup of Nations which clashes with the English football calendar.

The potential for disruption in England is higher not only in the English top-flight, but also in the Championship and even down to League Two. Premier League Title contenders like Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle and Aston Villa will lose players while strugglers West Brom, Wigan and QPR could all lose key players.

Man City hopes of retaining the title will be severely hit as they havecope without the Toure brothers, Kolo and Yaya while Arsenal could be without four players including Ivorian Gervinho, who has scored five goals so far this season.

The absence of the Ivorian and the three other Africans will come at the time of matches against Manchester

AFRICAN PLAYERS IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE SET FOR AFCON Arsenal Emmanuel Frimpong, Daniel Jesse Boateng (Ghana),

Michael Essien

the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in January after Ghana booked its place in the competition.

According to a report in Marca, the biggest selling sports newspaper in Spain, Essien is in a dilemma over the tournament which ends on February 10.

The Ghana coach, James Kwesi Appiah, is desperate to convince his fellow countryman to take part in Africa’s flagship tournament.

But the midfielder, who is only just regaining his verve after two serious knee injuries, owes a lot to Real Madrid who rescued him from a torrid time at Chelsea.

He will miss eight matches for Real Madrid if he accepts to play for the Black Stars and they reach the semi-finals of the tournament.

If he leaves for South Africa, he

could lose his position in the team and also lose out in the chance of getting a permanent contract with the Spanish giants at the end of the loan spell.

Crucially as Essien has not gained his full form, leaving for the tough Nations Cup tournament could be risky as he could suffer another injury again.

Now, the ball is in Essien’s court and he will have to decide whether or not he wants to go in the coming weeks.

Essien, who suffered two serious career-threatening injuries while playing for Ghana, was flogged off to Real Madrid on loan as he lacked playing time with Chelsea after recovering from the injury.

If the midfielder accepts to play for Ghana in South Africa,

Mourinho would lose his charge for roughly a month, assuming Ghana reaches the final.

If the Black Stars were to be knocked out in the first round, Madrid’s number 15 would wave goodbye to the competition from January 27 to 30th, depending on which group they are drawn in.

In the worst case scenario in other words, if Essien is called up and Ghana reaches the semi-finals or better the Chelsea loanee could miss up to eight matches for his club.

This figure could drop should Madrid fail to qualify for the Spanish Cup semi-finals, which clash with the same stage of the Cup of Nations.

The bad news for Mourinho is that, whatever happens, if the midfielder goes to South Africa he will definitely be unavailable for the Spanish Cup quarter-final and the league trips to Osasuna and Valencia, two of the toughest away fixtures of the season.

t the last edition and on paper, the Elephants were as closed as being crowned champions even before the first kick of the ball in the finals. They had intimidating pedigree that was further compounded by its star-glut squad.

Perhaps, in terms of stars, only the Teranga Lions of Senegal were somewhat close to its collection.

Whereas the latter were a huge flop as they failed even to advance beyond the group stage, Ivory Coast sailed almost unperturbed to the final to face seemingly underdogs: Zambia.

There, they met their waterloo.

The Chipolopolo stunned them to clinch the trophy. No, their victory was no fluke, they won deservingly.

Ironically, Ivory Coast sealed their qualification for the 2013 Nations Cup to be hosted by South Africa at the detriment of Senegal.

Thus, the favourites tag returned to them: The team to beat. But the tag is not one the Elephants are

going to like. It probably makes them the cynosure of all eyes and engendered untoward pressure on the team.

Besides, having previously failed to live up to the billing in four previous editions, they won’t be comfortable wearing the tag of the flagship of African football tournament.

Didier Drogba and his co-stars finished runners-up to 2006 hosts Egypt, came fourth in Ghana two years later, made a 2010 quarterfinals exit and were runners-up again this year. Adding to the frustrations of ageing stars like Drogba, Kolo Toure and Didier Zokora was the fact that both final defeats came in penalty shootouts after 120 goalless minutes.

However, after outplaying Senegal at home and away in a shortened elimination competition to accommodate two Cup of Nations tournaments in as many years, Ivory Coast find themselves among

the top seeds, and 2013 title favourites.

Mikel Obi

Samba Diakite

Essien in a dilemma, as Black Stars beckon on him

R

eal Madrid midfielder, Michael Essien, is weighing up whether or not to play in

City, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Aston Villa will miss Karim El Ahmadi, Fulham Mahamadou Diarra, Tottenham Emmanuel Adebayor and QPR Samba Diakite and Adel Taarabt.

The toll will certainly be lighter on Newcastle and Chelsea for various reasons.

The failure of Senegal to qualify for the tournament means Demba BA and Papiss Demba Cisee will be available for them as they will only miss CheickTiote.

The departure of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou as well as the loan move of Michael Essien means Chelsea will only miss John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses during the tournament.

The biennial tournament is a nightmare for a number of Premier League clubs who will be once again stripped of important players.

Gervinho (Ivory Coast), Marouane Chamakh (Morocco) Aston Villa Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco) Chelsea John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses (Nigeria), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso) Fulham Mahamadou Diarra (Mali) Liverpool Oussama Assaidi (Morocco) Manchester City Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) Newcastle United Cheick Tiote (Ivory Coast) Queens Park Rangers Samba Diakite (Mali), Adel Taarabt (Morocco) Tottenham Hotspur Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo) West Bromwich Albion Peter Odemwingie (Nigeria) West Ham United Modibo Maiga (Mali), Guy Demel (Ivory Coast) Wigan Athletic Arouna Kone (Ivory Coast).

Yaya Toure

Bertrand Traore

Again, Drogba’s Elephants team to beat A

Didier Drogba

Senegal led twice in Abidjan only to lose 4-2 and a Drogba brace in Dakar at the weekend stretched the overall advantage to four goals before crowd violence forced the return match to be abandoned 15 minutes from time.

Drogba believes South Africa may be the last-chance saloon for him and other 30-plus stars: “It is the last one for a great number of us and we will do everything possible to lift the trophy in South Africa.”

The former Chelsea star now playing in Shanghai has a personal reason for wanting to win the February 10 Johannesburg final as he blazed a regular-time penalty over the bar against Zambia in Libreville last February.

South Africa, Zambia and Ghana are the other top seeds, Mali, Tunisia, Angola and Nigeria will be in Pot 2, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Niger in Pot 3 and Togo, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia in Pot 4.

Seeding is based on results from the past three Cup of Nations tournaments in Ghana, Angola and Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and, theoretically, keeps the “big guns” apart.

The 2013 line-up includes nine of the 16 finalists from this year in Zambia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Ghana, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Niger and Angola, and Cape Verde are the lone debutants.

Record seven-time champions Egypt and four-time title holders Cameroon are the most glaring absentees, both also missed the 2012 event with ageing teams eliminated by Central African Republic and Cape Verde respectively.

Johannesburg will stage the January 19 opening double-header and the final at the 93,000-seat Soccer City stadium with the other 29 games divided between Durban, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth and Rustenburg.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

A/ An unconvincing England hangs on for a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group H qualifier against Poland in Warsaw yesterday.

B/ The Serbian FA has denied there was any racism towards the England Under21 team, accusing Danny Rose of behaving in an "inappropriate, unsportsmanlike and vulgar manner".

C/ Britain's Anne Keothavong makes the most of her lucky loser spot to reach the second round of the Luxembourg Open.

D/ NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika does not rule out the possibility of Brian O'Driscoll joining the Sydneybased side.

E/ Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu says the next head of UK Athletics will have to deal with a 'diverse group'.

F/ David Price calls Tyson Fury 'idiotic' and says he wants to fight his fellow British heavyweight next year.

G/ Tim Cahill, Archie Thompson and their fellow Socceroos came in for praise in Australia following their victory in Iraq, while Oman received the plaudits for a decisive victory and Qatar were urged to determine what went wrong against Uzbekistan.

PAGE 45

PICTORIAL

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

PAGE 46

Abinu, Omoile, Otu crash out of Governor’s Cup tourney

M

ore Nigerians crashed out of the ongoing Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championships in matches played on Tuesday evening, with number one female player, Fatimah Abinu, losing to Russian Nina Bratchikova.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abinu lost in two straight sets of 1-6, 1-6 to the Russian Grand Slam player in a keenly contested match.

Bratchikova, ranked 91 by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the number one seeded female player of the tournament, exhibited the determination to reclaim her 2010 title.

Abinu is the second Nigerian female player to be ousted from the tournament after Rita Obasigie’s exit on Monday.

Her ouster now leaves only Osaremen Airhumwunde and Adeyinka Thompson in the female singles category of the competition.

Two more Nigerian male players in the Futures I tournament also failed in their bid to progress as they also crashed out.

Unranked Samuel Omoile and John Otu fell to Egyptian Karim Maamoun and Japanese Kento Takeuchi in 2-6, 1-6 and 1-6, 1-6, respectively.

Slovakian Kamil Capkovic ranked 260 and the tournament’s number one seeded player, proved his rating as he saw off Maxine Chazal of France in two straight sets of 61, 6-1.

In the other men’s event, South African Ruan Roelofse beat Uzebkstian Vega Uzakov 60, 6-0, while Portuguese Andre Gaspar-Murta defeated German Mario Eckadt 6-4, 6-1.

Egyptian star, Sheriff Sabry, defeated Jose Ricardo-Nunez of Portugal 7-6, 6-4.

Also in other women’s matches, Israeli Valerie Patuk beat Dallas Jakupovic 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, while American Riley Alexandra lost to Russian Alexandra Romanova 0-6, 1-6.

In the men’s doubles, the Nigerian duo of Abdumumini Babalola and Bolaji Olawepo beat compatriots Sani Adamu and Henry Atseye 6-3, 7-5.

The Nigerian pair of Abidemi Olanrewaju-Adebisi and Ganiyu Yusuff lost to the U.S. duo of Michael-Bay Pllares-Gonzales and Murphy Parker 6-4,6-0.

The Futures 1 tournament of the 2-week championships rounds off on Oct. 20.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

T

he National Sports Commission (NSC) has developed mechanisms for proper exposure and grooming of talents to be discovered at the 18th edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) billed for Lagos in November, an official said.

Alhassan Yakmut, a Deputy Director in the commission, disclosed yesterday that the measure would be imperative to forestall a repeat of the woeful performance of Team Nigeria at the 2012 London Olympics Games.

Yakmut, who was the Chairman of Team Nigeria’s Planning and Advisory Committee, said that the commission would ensure grooming of the talents who would be discovered at the various

Eko 2012: NSC designing mechanism for fresh talents exposure festivals to stardom for international competitions.

“The strategic plan the sports commission has developed is about sufficient international exposure and sufficient national open championships within that will keep the athletes busy all year round and then they will be mature for international competitions.

“But I want to correct one impression, it is not every athlete that will have the perfect talent to move from the sports festival championships straight to the Olympics in Rio, it takes

a longer time.

“It has to be an athlete whose performance falls within the best 10 in the world that will be used for the Olympics, especially from the year 2016.

“We can manage the ones that are 20, who are within bracket of 20th positions in the world from now.

But as soon as we get to 2016 if you are not within the first 10 in the world then we wouldn’t spend too much resource on such athletes.’’

The commission hopes to raise talents from the sports festival to check the poor outing of Nigerian

sportsmen and women in 2011 and 2012 at international competitions.

Chief Patrick Ekeji, DG, NSC

Triumphant Nigerian quartet celebrating after completing a race. NSC says they have a mechanism for training new stars

Kwara splashes N4.1m on 17th sports festival athletes

G

ov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara yesterday disbursed N4.1 million as compensation to about 150 athletes that represented the state at the 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt in 2011.

Team Kwara placed 18th on the overall medal table with five gold, six silver and 12 bronze medals, to place 18th on the festival’s log, and the state appreciated each gold medalist with N150, 000, while silver and bronze winners received N100, 000 and N75, 000 respectively.

The same amount went to medal winners in the team events,

while N5, 000 each was given to other participants that did not win any medal.

But the package for the officials and coaches was not disclosed by the government, which promised to also compensate the drivers.

Ahmed, who was represented by Kayode Towoju, Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, regretted that it took the government so long to compensate the contingent.

According to him, it was not deliberate to have delayed appreciating the athletes, but it was due to some other commitments.

The governor decried how some states poached the state’s athletes and urged others to resist such moves.

“We are building our future today. You don’t need to be an engineer, doctor or lawyer to develop your state. My belief is that everybody has his or her own potential,” said Ahmed.

He claimed that in spite of the delay, Kwara was still the 6th out of the 36 states and Abuja to compensate its athletes.

The governor explained the state was committed to sports development and that the renovation of the Indoor Sports Hall

of the Kwara Stadium would be a priority of government in 2013.

Earlier, Alhaji Lanre Giwa, Chairman of the State Sports Council, apologised to the athletes for the delay in rewarding them.

He stressed that the state government was developing sports facilities to demonstrate its commitment to sports development, pointing out that the delay in compensating the athletes was not deliberate.

However, Giwa urged the athletes not to consider money as their utmost priority, stressing that a better reward awaits anyone that did the state proud.

LOC takes to road show, launches sale of raffle tickets

R

affle tickets in support of the forthcoming Sports 18 th National Festival were launched yesterday in Lagos by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the festival, with a road show.

The Chairman, Marketing and Sponsorship SubCommittee of the festival, Chief Molade Okoyo-Thomas, told journalists at a briefing at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos that the tickets would further promote the festival.

“If the organisers of the London 2012 Olympics could put up such managerial expertise to ensure the success of the Games, nothing should hinder us from doing same for Eko 2012.

“Gov. Babatunde Fashola has pleaded with us to ensure the very best for the success of the

Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State

festival. The reason for the raffle draw is to make 18th National Sports Festival the best-ever in the country,” he said.

According to him, the sale of the raffle tickets was one of plans to make the event a most memorable one, stressing that proceeds from the sale of tickets would be used to promote the event.

Okoya-Thomas said that winners of the tickets, which are selling for N100 each, would win star prizes to London, Dubai and Ghana.

He added that the prizes also included five brand new cars, generators, microwave ovens and laptops.

Mr Dayo Alao, Managing

Director of Uni-Consult, the company handling the sale of the tickets, said that a total of two million tickets would be sold before the end of the festival in December.

Alao said that apart from various sales outlets in strategic locations in Lagos State, the tickets can also be purchased online.

He disclosed that the draws for the raffle tickets would be held during prime events at the various festival venues.

The sales of the tickets for the festival scheduled to begin from November 27 through December 10, took off immediately on major streets in the state after the briefing.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

PAGE 47

Say what?

Source: Reader's Digest

FACTS * Zeppo Marx (the unfunny one of the Marx Brothers) had a patent for a wristwatch with a heart monitor. * The entire town of Capena, Italy (including children as young as 2 years old) lights up cigarettes each year in honour of St. Anthony's Day. PHOTO OF THE DAY This tradition is centuries old. * Microsoft threatened 17 year old Mike Rowe with a lawsuit after the young man launched a website named MikeRoweSoft.com.

1 Tablet you drop in the tub (4,4) 5 Tiny branch (4) 9 Abridged (9) 10 __ for, decide on (3) 11 Have a common boundry with (4) 13 Flattened-circle shape (7) 16 Atop, above (2,2) 18 French boy’s name (6) 19 Lingered (6) 21 Biblical brother to Cain (4) 23 Calculate (7) 25 Sprites (4) 27 Eth’s fiance in Take It from Here (3) 28 Person of hidden talents (4,5) 30 Country on the west coast of Ireland (4) 31 Optical power (8)

1 Reverse side (4) 2 Make brown (3) 3 Originator (7) 4 Hamper (6) 6 Have a ball (5,2,2) 7 Prepared (3,5) 8 Hero, object of admiration (4) 12 Small spending amount (4,5) 14 Arthur __, star of Dad’s Army (4) 15 Gamut (8) 17 Trim (4) 20 Gets off (7) 22 Treat treacherously (6) 24 Disconnect (4) 26 Animal flesh as food (4) 29 Tatter, scrap (3)

There is a Starbucks in Myungdong, South Korea that is five stories tall.

Source: Weird facts

Yesterday’s answer

There has been no mail delivery in Canada on Saturday for the last thirty five years.

Source: Weird facts

ACROSS

DOWN

As of January 1, 2004, the population of the United States increases by one person every 12 seconds.

There is a birth every eight seconds; an immigrant is added every 25 seconds, but a death every 13 seconds.

The weight of air in a milk glass is about the same as the weight of an aspirin tablet.

Quick CrossWord (50)

A 96-year-old, Ramjeet Raghav has become the world's oldest dad - again. Ramjeet Raghav's wife Shakuntala had their second son Ranjeet last month.

Source: TheSun.co.uk

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

. . . putting the people first

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Sunshine goalkeeper out of Ahly clash

N

igeria’s Sunshine Stars will be without No.1 goalkeeper Moses Ocheje for Sunday’s CAF Champions League semi-final at Ahly.

Ocheje, who was forced to man the post in the first leg which ended 3-3, could not regain fitness after he took ill and was hospitalised for three days after the game in Ijebu-Ode. The goalkeeper was reported to have told a wire service that he would be unable to participated in the crucial return leg because the doctors have confirmed him unfit for the game.

The Super Eagles' fringe goalkeeper is disappointed he will miss the trip, but said his deputy, Henry Ayodele, will do the job for the Akure club in his absence.

"I won't play the second leg in Cairo. I am not fit yet. I have not trained since the first leg because of the illness. I told my mates to believe in themselves, without me they can do it. I will be with them in spirit and I know they can do it," Ocheje was quoted to have said by the wire service.

Ocheje said he has given Ayodele the needed confidence to stop Ahly in Cairo on Sunday.

The team is scheduled to depart for Cairo today ahead of the Sunday clash.

Ghana set to fine Andre Ayew

A

ndre Ayew has been given seven days within which to apologize to the Black Stars for throwing a strop after he was substituted against Malawi at the weekend or face sanctions.

According to the Ghana FA boss, Kwesi Nyantakyi, the move is to ensure mutual respect for everyone ahead of the African Cup. Ayew was displeased when he was substituted, gesticulated in anger and refused to shake hands with the bench and colleagues.

Andre Ayew

ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

0803 0805 0803 0805 0803

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE The interest of this administration is that Nigerian people are the ones who will determine the necessary amendments to be effected on the Constitution — Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati debunking allegation of a “Jonathan agenda” in ongoing constitution review

From Mubi to Teachers Day and finally, to Port Harcourt O

n October 1st, we celebrated Nigeria's Independence Day. I relish this National Day for the precious documentaries which our public television channels manage to serve up for once. I went to bed musing about one film which shows the investiture of the first Governor-General, Nnamdi Azikiwe, as he is received by the 'People' (Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa) and the 'Law' (Justice Ademola Adetokunbo)…O how full of promise and potential we were in 1960.

I went to bed around 10.30pm that night. At that very moment not too far across this land, in the remote town of Mubi, Adamawa state the lives of at least 26 students of Federal Polytechnic were being snuffed out, execution style. They were each called out from their rooms, asked to identify themselves and then either shot at point blank range or had their throats slit. An old man was reportedly killed for not knowing the whereabouts of his son. 26 is the official death toll. Eyewitness accounts put it at 46. The 'unknown gunmen' like the BH, carried off their operation with ease for at least one full hour if not more, then melted away into thin air.

This year's Teachers Day (October 3rd) went the way of previous others - nice, vacuous speeches from policy makers and demeaning march pasts not of students or pupils but of teachers, parading themselves…

This last picture of the teachers' parade being unbecoming of the noble profession of the teacher was painted vividly by a certain independent minded educationist called Dr. Rafael. He regularly speaks on the Voice of Teachers programme on Capital Radio, Abuja. Listening to him rail about all the factors that continue to destroy our educational system was the only thing that truly made teachers' day meaningful for me.

Dr. Rafael insisted that this country has built an educational system that is student-centered rather than teacher-centred! We build schools and blocks and buildings; which we fill with hardware and equipment and send children into as the stars of the show. I note how even our ridiculously expensive private schools actually do not pay

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CAR TEL OPIA CARTEL TELOPIA

By Aisha Yolah ayolah06@yahoo.com 08086296783 (text only please)

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

teachers a salary worth noting they pay worse than public schools in most cases. What we value as a people and as parents, is actually only the piece of paper saying 'educated' and whatever that signifies to each of us but not whether any real education has taken place.

Dr. Rafael asked: how many school building compounds include a teachers' quarters?

Indeed, a very good question: how many? We talk endlessly about chairs and tables, or computers and labs. Children need textbooks and transport, but so too do teachers. He explained that the British colonial educational

system was teacher- centered because the British constructed teachers' quarters before any other building and subsequently built teachers colleges to train, empower and hone the skills of teachers.

I ask: is it a coincidence that the first secondary schools which were in fact teachers colleges produced nearly all the national heroes who we celebrate so glibly every October 1st?

Both my parents were teachers. Nearly every first generation intellectual and public servant I know of started out as a teacher. We could add that even Missionary schools all over the country which preceded the establishments built by the colonial authorities were teachercentred. They were and are, kept alive through the sheer dedication and selfless service of the missioners who double as teaching staff. These are some of the best schools in the country.

Dr. Rafael's thesis is that Nigeria jettisoned an educational philosophy that had worked for us and took on board a different ethos - he calls it American - which gives pre-eminent status to the student or pupil rather than the teacher.

Whatever the case, my mind was

“

The Mubi killings were student-election related. That fact has been carefully and successfully suppressed by both the school authorities and perhaps even higher up. As for the horror-show that played out in full glare of broad daylight in Port Harcourt for four whole, uninterrupted hours in a small semi-rural community, with the knowledge of the local police, we should expect an even more elaborate cover up

captured by this idea that our current educational system has given diminished status to the teacher. And the consequences are obvious.

As we came to grips with the second set of inexplicably horrible multiple killings in a week, on October 5th in Port Harcourt University, Rivers state it is apparent that something in our National Psyche is missing.

Something like basic, proper schooling in right and wrong.

For one, Nigerians don't seem bothered enough to know who the students were that died in Mubi, and it seems - don't really care who killed them! The Port Harcourt four had their brutal murder filmed and uploaded to the internet. They were beaten, stripped stark naked, paraded around a small village and then burnt alive. My God. At least three police press conferences have announced arrests of the killers of these four young men, yet it is clear that like the Mubi massacre Nigerians may never know what really happened.

The Mubi killings were student-election related. That fact has been carefully and successfully suppressed by both the school authorities and perhaps even higher up. As for the horrorshow that played out in full glare of broad daylight in Port Harcourt for four whole, uninterrupted hours in a small semi-rural community, with the knowledge of the local police, we should expect an even more elaborate cover up.

This is a country where intellectual dishonesty covers up a putrid underbelly of heartless brutality. Like nearly all our public schools, institutions of higher education no longer contain teaching or teachers but thuggery, cheating in exams (or in elections) and now Murder.

My most enduring 'growingup' memories often include- aside from parents, or friends- one teacher or another. Like my high school biology/anthropology teacher, who remains to this day, ever present in my consciousness as a moral and intellectual guide.

He taught me - through biology and the minutiae of human cultures - that kindness and compassion for fellow man is the basis of our humanity. Without such natural empathy for each other we become less than human, and certainly worse than animals.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

N200 million allocation: Who needs generators at our foreign missions?

It is no news that corruption is an industry in Nigeria, which is why the nation once earned Transparency International’s badge of the most corrupt country in the world, a dubious distinction its leaders are still doing their very best to ensure that it is maintained. One of such efforts is the annual ritual of allocating hundreds of millions of Naira for the maintenance of generators at our foreign missions, even when in most of those countries electricity outage occurs in the proverbial once-in-a-blue-moon phenomenon. So, is it a case of ‘needs must’ or just plain corruption?

By Abdu Labaran Malumfashi

D

espite the necessity of electricity and the billions of dollars wasted in the name of its generation, Nigeria, a nation of over150 million citizens is still grappling with generating a misery 4,000 kilowatts, which is why about 60 million Nigerians spend an estimated N1.6 trillion on generators annually for domestic and other purposes.

And which is also, although it is a crying shame, the reason why governments at state and federal levels budget billions of naira annually for the purchase and or maintenance of generators for use locally. Last year, the Federal Government budgeted more than N1.31bn in fuelling generators for the presidency, ministries, departments and agencies.

But there is simply no reason, perhaps excuse, for allocating even one Naira for the maintenance of generators at our foreign missions.

It was the Director-General of Centre for Management Development, Malam Kabir Usman who disclosed that about 60 million Nigerians spent N1.6 trillion on generators annually.

The Director-General, who disclosed this at the launch of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) graduate skills development

A power generating plant

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru

Minister of State for Power, Darius Ishaku

programme in Abuja recently, ruefully observed that Nigeria had the highest number of standby generators, which had become permanent, relegating the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to the standby

generators at Nigeria’s foreign missions. It was the same story last year when no less huge amount was allocated for the same purpose.

A breakdown of the estimates for some of the missions shows that London, New York, Johannesburg, Colombo, Tokyo, Berlin, Moscow, Geneva, Brussels and Jeddah have been allocated N20 million, N8 million, N7 million, N5 million, N4.7 million, N3.9 million, N3.4, N2.5 million, N2.5 million and N2 million respectively.

Others are Brasilia N2.7 million, Ottawa N1.8 million, Rome N1.8 million, Bucharest N1.8 million, Seoul N1.5 million, Shanghai N1.3 million, Singapore N1.2 million and Tel-Aviv N1.2 million. In all these capitals, power outage is so rare that some may even swear that it is something completely alien to them.

In 2012, many Nigerian missions were allocated sums for the maintenance of generators. Some of them include Washington, USA, N1.7 million, Tokyo, Japan

status.

In the 2013 budget estimates presented to the National Assembly (NASS) by the president last week, the sum of N200 million was provided as cost of maintaining

N1.4 million, Beijing, China N576,310, Nigeria House in New York N2.1 million, Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York N1.2 million, Paris N2.1 million, N1.4 million Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and N2.5 million for New Delhi, India.

Others are Jeddah, Saudi Arabia N225,810,Berlin, Germany N3.7 million, Pretoria, South Africa N789, 861,Brasilia, Brazil N192, 466, Madrid, Spain N225, 000,and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia N73,997.

The reason often given by Nigerian officials to explain the allocation for generators at the foreign missions is that the money is budgeted “for unforeseen circumstances” and that “if in the course of the year nothing happens it will either become a saving or be returned back to government revenue.”

One wonders why other nations make no provisions “for unforeseen circumstances” to their missions in those countries where Nigeria has its pampered missions.