Peoples Daily Newspaper, Friday 19, April, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 10 No. 80

Friday, April 19, 2013

. . . putting the people first

JTF raids Boko Haram training camp in Yobe >> 3

Jimadal Akhir 9, 1434 AH

N150

AMAC denies N18.8bn tenement rates >> 5

2015: Buhari, Tinubu vow to stop PDP

As ACN collapses into APC From Ayodele Samuel and Matthew Irinoye, Lagos

M

embers of the opposition political parties yesterday, converged on the Onikan Stadium in Lagos for the national convention of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, with a resolve by opposition leaders to send the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) parking in 2015 general election.

Taking turns to address about 4,761 party delegates from the 36 states and FCT, ACN National Leader and former Governor of Lagos Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Congress for Progressive Change , CPC’s Presidential Candidate in the 2011 general election, General Muhammadu Buhari , and his ACN counterpart, Malam Nuhu Ridadu among others all agreed that the newly formed All Peoples Congress, APC will chase away the ruling PDP in the next election.

Tinubu said the nation has come to a stage where things must change otherwise the country would sink.

“For the nation to continue in Contd on Page 2

L-R: FCTA Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Obinna Chukwu, Chief of Jiwa, Chief Emmanuel Kyauta, FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, and Vice-Chairman, House Committee on FCT, Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, cutting the tape to commission the ground breaking ceremony for the development of Carraway Dallas District, yesterday in Abuja.

Army urges Kano residents to expose terrorists From Edwin Olofu, Kano

T

he Brigade Commander, 3 Motorized Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Bukavu Barrack Kano, Brigadier General

Iliyasu Abba has urged residents of kano to openly rebel against “terrorist elements” in the state.

Speaking yesterady morning while conducting the emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero round

the site of a blast that occurred Wednesday night, he noted that “this is the time to demonstrate

Shariah court orders amputation of convict’s arm >> 6

courage in the face of naked terror to assist the security agencies overcome the challenges posed by the terrorist in our midst.”

General Abba said that “state Contd on Page 2

MEND’s threat’ll spark off religious war, Ulama warn >> 3

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch S/Report Islam Int’l

23 24-25 26 27-30

Falana, Aturu join anti-fuel subsidy suit

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

wo Lagos-based constitutional and human rights lawyers, Femi Falana (SAN) and Bamidele Aturu, were yesterday joined as co-defendants in the anti-fuel subsidy suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The trial Judge, Justice Ademola Adeniyi, joined the duo in the suit filed by a former Anambra state governorship candidate, Stanley Okeke, asking the court to compel President Goodluck Jonathan to remove the

Strange World 31 Revue

32-33

Feature

34-35

Digest

36

Politics

37-39

Sports

41-45

Leisure

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

summons.

In the applications for joinder

by Falana and Aturu, the duo said explained that being joined in the suit will ensure the resolution of the issues surrounding deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry in Nigeria.

The suit is also seeking an order compelling Jonathan to return to the Federation Account such sum earlier appropriated and or approved under the sub-head of fuel subsidy funds or money because same cannot be justified in the face of the pervasive

Army urges Kano residents to expose terrorists Contd from Page 1 policing is the responsibility of all citizens. We have to demonstrate fearlessness whenever they come calling, and this will, to a very large extent, contain their activities when citizens openly rebel against them.”

Hundreds of Muslims worshipers Wednesday night apprehended and set ablaze a suspected bomber captured

“Resource distribution is north’s major problem”, Page 40

subsidy being paid on fuel in the country.

Falana and Aturu were joined as 4th and 5th co-defendants after no a objection submission to the motion by both the plaintiff and three other defendants.

The defendants are Jonathan, Minister of Petroleum, Diezeni Allison-Madueke, and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The court ordered Okeke to file and serve all the processes to all the defendants within 14 days adjourned the matter to May 22, 2013 for hearing of the originating

corruption, perennial fuel shortage and long queues being witnessed in the country.

The plaintiff is also asking the court for an order directing the 3rd defendant (Okonjo-Iweala) to stop further payment of fuel subsidy money predicated on the corrupt, illegal and unlawful fuel subsidy regime.

He also wants the court to declare that the fuel subsidy currently being funded by the Federal Government was a waste of public funds and therefore unlawful and illegal to sustain same.

Okeke is also praying the court for a declaration that the pervasive corruption inherent in the fuel subsidy scheme has caused untold hardship to the masses of the country and therefore is an abuse of the rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by the provision of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

alive and handed over to the police but was reported dead shortly after detonating an explosive device near Kano central Mosque.

Abba commended citizens for moving against bombers Wednesday evening, adding that that singular action was a pointer that Kano is no longer a safe haven for terrorist activities.

He therefore charged the

urban dwellers to be security conscious and report suspicious movement to the relevant authorities for immediate action.

In his speech during the visit, the emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero tasked the residents to intensify their prayers for divine intervention, adding that “we shall overcome this challenge through prayers.

Bayero further called on the

residents to continue to cooperate with the security agents in the discharge of their duties, adding that maintaining law and other is the responsibility of all citizens.

However, security has been beefed up in several areas in the city with increased military activities around the flash points to checkmate any threat to security.

2015: Buhari, Tinubu vow to stop PDP Contd from Page 1 the way it is going means nothing less than an invitation to doom.

Such a fate we shall not abide. The hour is late and our chance for national progress reduces with each idle moment. The way Nigeria is governed must change dramatically. This means the shape of politics must also change.

“Nigeria must be a prosperous, secure, safe nation that helps weaker nations attain peace and stability. Instead we are beset by woes on all sides. Boko Haram has come upon our people in the North.

MEND in the Niger Delta falls upon us. Kidnapping and robbery encircle the nation as if we have become a training ground for criminal misconduct,” Tinubu said.

He added: “Given the destructive nature of PDP governance, we can no longer be satisfied with preserving democratic practice and serving as the opposition. The first step in changing Nigeria for the better is to change government for the better.

“Weighing all things in the balance, if I must decide between the existence of this party and the improvement of Nigeria, I must choose the improvement of Nigeria. That is our duty and responsibility. While it would be most comfortable to remain with our party as it is, with its unique symbol, manifesto and constitution, we are not here to do what is comfortable. We are here to do what is right for our people and our country.”

He said to rescue Nigeria from the shackles of misgoverance, “we must join hands with like-minded progressives in other parties and

organizations. We must sacrifice our current partisan identity to create a larger one capable of assuming leadership at the national level. This and only this offers the best chance for Nigeria at this stage.”

“A storm is brewing. Don’t be frightened. It is a positive storm with a positive wind. Those things that have no roots and offer no solution to the plight of the people shall be swept away. This storm will change the political terrain forever. I am not afraid of this storm. I welcome it because the storm is us- our new vision. Our new party,” Tinubu said.

On his part, General Muhamadu Buhari said the reason for being at the event was to consolidate on the APC early enough to lay the foundation for a formidable mega party that will make a difference in 2015.

He said that the APC merger was a continuation of what started in 2010.

“Time was against us but this time we started early to build on the foundation we have laid earlier.

“The only solution to political anarchy in Nigeria is this merger.

We will make it impossible for rigging to continue to thrive in Nigeria,” Buhari said.

He said also that there was no alternative to the merger as the only alternative would be unthinkable.

“This convention portends the change of political era in this country. Those who believe in ringing, this era of politics will sweep them away. I must emphasize that the performance of the south west State governors

has registered the ACN on the mind of the people, but we must enter a new phase and reject the destructive nature of People Democratic Party (PDP).

“We are going to turn the PDP to opposition party in 2015, in this quest it is our duty and responsibility to sacrifice, collaborate and make strong decisions to uphold and build our great nation when the time comes to elect our leaders.

“This merger is going to put an end to political corruption in Nigeria and also to disallow the ruling party to rig the election in this country again. I am here to let all Nigerians know that there would be a transfer of power to APC after the 2015 general election.”

“Also, I must say here that an average citizen of this great country is tired of insecurity, unemployment among the young graduate, epileptic of power supply and unaccountable of person fund, I want to repeat that there will be a change in the political history of this our great nation come year 2015.

The National Chairman of the ACN, Chief Bisi Akande said that the convention was the party’s last step in coming together to build alternative platform.

“There is no gainsaying that the APC merger is fate accompli.

This merger has come to stay. It is our hope that the merger will yield a bumper harvest,” Akande said.

A former governor of Kano state and ANPP 2011 presidential candidate, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, said that they were determined more than ever to move the train of the progressives to succeed in 2015.

Ribadu, a former Chairman of

the EFCC, and ACN presidential candidate in 2011, said that the merger will lead to victory come 2015.

“We are on the journey to bring new Nigeria, bring back security and creation of jobs,” he said.

CPC National Chairman, Chief Tony Momoh said that the merger was not being formed to take over power from the PDP but to bring change and accountability to Nigerians.

ANPP Chairman, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, said “the merger started a long time but this time it will deliver.”

The convention adopted the resolution of a motion raised by Abubakar Kari from Gombe Local Government area of Gombe state, and seconded by Tonia Adole from Ebonyi state to expel former Kaduna State chairman of the Party Mohammoud Musa Soba from the party.

Also the motion for collapsing the former ACN into APC which was moved by Mr. Uche Onyeagocha and seconded by Lagos ACN Chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale was adopted by delegates.

Two governors of ACN, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Abiola Ajimobi were absent. Governors Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Adams Oshiomole of Edo and Rochas Okorocha of Imo state however graced the occasion.

Others present were Chief Tom Ikimi, former governors Segun Osoba of Ogun, and Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti, Sen George Akume, the Senate Minority leader, Chief Mike Ahamba, Dr Chudi Nwike, Sen Chris Ngige, Sen Oluremi Tinubu and Sen Achike Udenwa, former Gov of Imo state among others.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 3

JTF raids Boko Haram training camp in Yobe, arrests four suspects O

peratives of the Joint Military Task Force, (JTF) in Yobe state on Wednesday night raided a training camp of suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Majari village of Gujba local government area and

arrested four persons.

Spokesman for the JTF, Lt. Lazarus Eli, in a statement yesterday said that the raid followed a tip-off and that the security men stormed the terrorists’ combat training camp at about 11pm.

He said that several arms, ammunition and bomb-making materials were recovered at the

scene.

According to the statement, “at about 23hrs on Wednesday, men of the JTF raided camp of suspected terrorists in Majari village, close to Buni Yadi the headquarters of Gujba local government area.

“Our personnel succeeded in apprehending four suspects in the

camp.”

The statement listed items recovered to also include, anti-riot gun, a pistol, 43 tear gas canisters, assorted bomb-making materials, 200 rounds of ammunition, two police uniforms, 13 military kit pads, four police berets, police helmet, boots, one Isuzu pick up van, 10 motorcycles, one laptop and one

desktop computers, among others.

The statement further explained that the pickup van was covered with a specially prepared mud to avoid spotting it from a distance while the exhaust was compressed not to make a loud noise.

The statement appealed to members of the public to cooperate with security operatives in the state by providing useful information on suspicious movements in their respective areas.

L-R: Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain, Chief Olusegun Osoba, CPC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, ACN National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, ACN presidential candidate, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, ACN National Secretary, Senator Shuaibu Lawan, and CPC Chairman, Chief Tony Momoh, during the ACN national convention, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

‘MEND’s threat will spark off civil war’

FG loses $1bn revenue monthly to oil theft, says Okonjo-Iweala

JNI decries rising insurgency in North

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

oordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, says the Federal government loses N160 billion ($1 billion) revenue every month to oil theft.

Okonjo Iweala stated this while fielding questions from newsmen on the drop in oil production at the ongoing Spring Meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, on Thursday in Washington .

She said, “the drop in crude oil production is due to a variety of reasons including loss of 150,000 barrel per day due to recent shutin of shell Nembe operations.

“Shut-in due to force Majeure declared at Qua Iboe Terminal, resulting in a loss of about 65,000 barrel per day.

“Some other losses including those of Agip, loses at Okono, Brass and Amenam Terminals due to repair works on equipment,’’ she said.

“Force majeure” is a common clause in contracts that essentially frees both parties from liability or obligations in case of unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the parties.

The circumstances include war, strike, riot, crime, or an event described by the legal term ‘Act of God’ (such as hurricane, flooding,

From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

F

ollowing the threat by MEND to commence attack against Muslims come May 31, the Supreme Council for Shari'a in Nigeria (SCSN) and the Kaduna state chapter of Council of Imams and the Ulama have warned the group not to execute the plan as it could lead to religious war in the country.

This was contained in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting held in Kaduna yesterday.

Chairman of the Council for Ulama, Shaikh Abubakar Usman Babantune, and Chairman SCSN, Shaikh Zubairu Siraj, signed the communique.

The communiqué said that, “we wish to draw the attention of MEND that in the event of a religious war, MEND and their collaborators will definitely be the losers.”

The Ulama also berated the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over its position against the proposed amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect.

The communiqué said that, “unfortunately and very disheartening, the President of CAN and host of other Christian associations and minority groups rejected the proposed amnesty.

C

earthquake, volcanic eruption) among others.

Such circumstances prevent one or both parties from fulfilling their obligations under the contract.

According to the Minister, “a great deal of loss in production is also closely linked to oil theft and illegal bunkering, which have been going on for some time.”

She said the thefts were getting more evasive as the criminals were going beyond the outer pipelines and moving into more sensitive pipes.

“We estimate total loss at over 300,000 barrel per day,’’ she said.

Okonjo Iweala said that the current production figure was lower than the actual oil production level in 2012 and lower than the projected output of 2.528 million barrel per day in the 2013 budget.

This, she said, would underpin the oil production projections in 2013 budget which was derived in consultation with the NNPC. “In dealing with the impact of this on the revenue, the government has had to draw on the Excess Crude Account which was set up precisely for this purpose that is to deal with unanticipated losses due to output and price variation.

“This has reduced the balance in the excess Crude Account to about 6.9 billion dollars,’’ she said She added that the president had been briefed on these developments and action were being taken on different fronts to stabilise the situation.

According to her, the president has ordered the Navy to increase its patrols around the hotspots of oil theft and illegal bunkering.

The Minister also said the nation had also witnessed shortfall in other sources of revenue including the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and the Nigerian Customs services.

She said to help cushion the effect; government would roll out strategies to improve tax generation and administration to ensure the diversification of the revenue base.

“We are going into a drive, as you know, one of our mission in finance is to increase our overall generation in taxes especially from the corporate and all other sectors.

“We have large gaps in the tax collection in the corporate sector, there is a lot of room to improve and therefore, we have been working quite closely with FIRS and some consulting firms to help to try and look at area where gaps exist.” (NAN)

T

he Jama'atu Nasrul Islam, JNI has tasked Federal government to take urgent steps to check insurgency in the north.

The JNI Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar, stated this at a meeting with religious groups in Katsina yesterday.

Abubakar noted that the insurgency was seriously consuming lives and property in the north, adding that it was adversely affecting the economy of the region.

He also urged Muslim organisations to promote unity among their followers, as according to him, “nothing can be achieved without unity.”

Abubakar called on leaders in the north to always speak with one voice describing it as the surest way of addressing the concerns of the region.

Also speaking at the meeting, leader of the Izala group in Katsina, Shiekh Yakubu Musa Hassan, reechoed the call on Muslim groups to unite in facing the challenges ahead.

According to him, “it is lack of our unity that puts us in this difficult situation. We have to keep our religious affiliation aside in order to achieve success.”

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

NPC to conduct head count

of Nigerians in diaspora T

he National Population Commission, NPC, yesterday said it would conduct a survey on Nigerians in the Diaspora as part of its migration activities for 2013.

The NPC Chairman, Festus Odimegwu, made this known when he received a delegation of the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, in his office in Abuja.

The IOM is an Abuja-based n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l organisation on population movement and management.

Mr. Odimegwu said the idea is to research ways and means

to ensure the return of high quality Nigerians in Diaspora to contribute to nation building.

He said the data from such a survey could also help determine how Nigerians could migrate to gain quality education and competence.

"Others include conducting of Nigeria Youth Migration Survey to know the reasons for internal and external migration of youths, links to insecurity and violent, among others in the country," he said.

Mr. Odimegwu said the collection, processing and

analysis of migration statistics required specialised skills and solicited support for capacity building for staff on migration through training and study programmes.

"Nigeria needs to get simple things right, like knowing our population, its full demographic characterisation and dynamics, and we need all the support of our development partners like IOM," he said.

Mr. Odimegwu said the commission was deploying highly skilled professionals and modern technology to ensure that the migration data was

not only accurate and reliable, but also relevant for sustainable development.

He said the smooth implementation of the migration aspects of its strategic architecture and planned survey for 2013 required the collaboration of development partners.

The IOM Director-General, Williams Swing, said that its organisation would always collaborate with the commission to ensure effective population management in the country.

"We are living in the world on the move, there are more people moving today than any other time

recorded in the history.

"They are moving for a number of reasons, they move to north and south to search for job in the developed countries. This is the driving force," he said.

Mr. Swing said climate change and environmental degradation in some places also contributed to people's migration.

He said recently there were more disasters, such as earthquake, and flood, among others in Africa, South Asia, Japan and in other places.

Mr. Swing, however, said he wishes that human trafficking would be reduced by 30 per cent.

(NAN)

Police say between 5 and 15 people were killed in Texas fertilizer plant explosion Rescuers launched a door-to-door search yesterday for victims after a massive explosion at a Texas fertilizer factory killed as many as 15 people and leveled much of the small Texas town in the USA.

W

ith the country already on edge from Boston Marathon attacks, the factory blew up in a huge fireball late Wednesday, destroying scores of nearby homes.

Authorities said they feared they would find a lot more bodies in the rubble of homes and businesses leveled by the force of the blast.

Sergeant Patrick Swanton of the nearby Waco, Texas police department said that officials don't yet know what caused the explosion, but are treating the site as a crime scene.

"We are not indicating that it is a crime, but we don't know," Swanton told US media overnight.

"What that means to us is that until we know that it is an industrial accident, we will work it as a crime scene," he said.

The main investigation was being led by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Swanton said the death toll is "anywhere from five to 15 at this point" but expected to rise.

Hospitals have treated more than 160 people with varying injuries.

He said law enforcement and rescue officials were conducting a massive search for survivors.

"They are working together, to still find survivors, to still find people that are injured and are going door to door," he Swanton told reporters at a briefing.

"They are being very thorough, they are taking their time in their searches," he said.

The US Geological Survey recorded the force of the explosion at a 2.1 magnitude.

The blast, which was felt as many as 50 miles away, destroyed an apartment complex and a nursing home and sent residents fleeing into emergency shelters.

The acrid smell of smoke lingered in the air early yesterday. Authorities said that the fire was under control, but said there was no risk of another explosion.

President Barack Obama in a statement offered the prayers of the nation to the people of West.

"A tight-knit community has been shaken, and good, hardworking people have lost their lives," he said.

Obama offered aid through the Federal Emergency Management Administration, and promised "to make sure there are no unmet needs as search and rescue and response operations continue."

The explosion at the West Fertilizer Company came with the nation still raw with emotion after the Boston marathon bombings Monday, which left three people dead.

Americans also were on edge

following a scare in which letters apparently laced with the poison ricin were sent to President Barack Obama and a US senator in Washington. Police arrested a suspect in that case late Wednesday.

Search and rescue efforts in West could be complicated by a storm system heading into the area, with forecasters predicting heavy rains, and winds possibly heavy enough to spawn tornadoes.

Swanton added that police another worry - "a small amount of looting" that has broken out at unattended homes and

businesses.

West, with a population of about 2,800 people, is home to a thriving Czech community dating back to the late 1800s, as immigrants settled the American frontier.

In Prague, the foreign ministry said its ambassador to Washington, Petr Gandalovic, was traveling to West to study the possibility of providing aid from his government for the injured and relatives of the victims.

The explosion came just ahead of the 20th anniversary on Friday of a deadly confrontation in Waco between federal authorities and heavily armed members of a religious group, the Branch Davidians, stoking worries about possible foul play.

The Federal Aviation Administration declared a no-fly zone over the area around West, over fears another blast could bring down small aircraft.

Witnesses said they were stunned by the sheer force of the blast.

"It knocked me down, it knocked me back. It was like the whole road just picked up," resident Cheryl Marich, whose home was destroyed and whose husband was fighting the blaze, told CNN. Another witness, Bill Bohannan, told the Waco Tribune-Herald: "It knocked us into the car‌ Every house within about four blocks is blown apart."

In the 1993 Waco siege, following a 51-day standoff, the group's compound burned down after an assault was launched.

Dozens of people were killed in an incident that many far-right groups see as a symbol of egregious US government overreach. (naij.com)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 5

AMAC denies N18.8bn tenement rate charge

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has refuted a report alleging that the council collects N18.8 billion yearly since 2006 on tenement rate.

A press statement by the council’s Head of Department of Works and Housing, Alhassan Dakwoyi, explained that due to policy somersaults and undue interferences (stoppages) by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in the past, the council has not been able to cover the so-called 188,000 households as quoted in the report.

According to him, information contained in the

data bank of the tenement rate office puts the number of households covered by the council progressively over the years to be between 60-70 thousand housing units According to the statement, “therefore, the 188,000 housing units which purportedly gave birth to the N18.8 billion yearly is far from the truth.

“It is faulty, wrong and misleading and it is also untrue

that the council charges a straight jacket fee of N100,000.00.

“Evidences abound that in most cases, our clients pay as low as N10,000 and could be higher depending on the value of the property.

“Anyone who knows the operations of the National Population and Housing Census must understand that the figures 188,000 housing units did not

include municipal (city-centre) houses alone but other adjourning villages and satellite towns within Abuja Municipal Area Council whereby over 70 per cent of the houses are ineligible to be charged for tenement rates.

“In contrast therefore, between 2009 to 2012, revenue fluctuated between N230 million – N550 million yearly thus rubbishing the imaginary

claim of the report which estimated N18.8 billion as the council’s yearly earning from tenement rates.

“Due to the Nigerian factor, the high level of non-compliance by taxable property owners in AMAC has been very low as well as many other challenges constantly faced by the tenement rate officers in the course of discharging their duties.”

Reps to commence amendment of Electoral Act

By Umar Muhammad Puma

S

peaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday in Abuja said the lawmakers will soon commence the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010, to strengthen the electoral process for the 2015 general elections.

Speaking when he received the Head of the European Union (EU) delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS states, Ambassador David Macrae, Tambuwal said that, “we will soon commence the review of the Electoral Act which will strengthen the electoral process and the legal framework to give the electoral body leverage.

“We are looking at biometric input for the 2015 elections which may not be used for voting but it may be used for the verification of voters’ registers.”

He also said the lawmakers were committed to ensuring the success of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), saying the House will soon go public to receive inputs to make it one of the best legal frameworks for the nation’s economic development in tandem with the global best practices.

While seeking for more assistance from the EU, the Speaker said the Federal Government’s effort in tacking terrorism was ongoing with the announcement of the amnesty panel which he said was not the end but a means to a lasting end to solve the problem.

Speaking earlier, Macrae said the EU was interested in helping Nigeria overcome its security and other socio-economic challenges.

While commending the House of Representative for the public presentation of the Peoples Public Session collated result of the 1999 Constitution Amendment result, he also charged government to do more in resolving the Boko Haram crisis which he said was beyond his comprehension.

R-L: Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Kwara state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed, Imo state Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, and Niger state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Musa Ibeto, during the meeting of the Interim Implementation Committee on Police Reform chaired by the vice-president, yesterday at the State House, Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Peoples Media Chief asks NIQS to embrace integrated media frontiers

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Chief Operating Officer (COO), Peoples Media ltd, Ali M. Ali, has stressed the need for members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) to embrace the available integrated mass media opportunities in order to effectively project activities of the profession.

Ali spoke yesterday in a paper he presented at a two-day retreat for senate members of the NIQS, Abuja chapter.

In the paper, titled, “Effective Marketing of Quantity Surveying(QS) Profession-The Role of the Media,” Ali listed some challenges and threats posed by modernisation, globalisation and innovations in the emerging new world.

He said that there was urgent need for quantity surveyors to engage in continuous projection of information the industry.

According to him, stakeholders in the industry need to consider embarking on an allround rebranding campaign through the use of both the traditional and new mass media as great marketing facilities to tackle the dwindling fortunes of the profession in the building industry.

He said both media and marketing have evolved from their traditional pristine locations, and by implication, ‘the identified role of the media in marketing the QS profession is, by no means exhaustive.

“The question is how to market the profession from the recruitment point to the professional cadre.

“And the answer to this lies in the ability of stakeholders in the industry to leverage on brand power through the use of integrated mass media, which is key for the survival of the profession” “Until recently industry people who thought they needed help of the mass media had focused almost exclusively on the traditional print and electronic

media but the social media as later day technologies are proving to be game changers in marketing across landscapes and boundaries.”

In his remark, NIQS Deputy President, Malam Murtala M. Aliyu, noted that until QS professionals repackage themselves, the profession will continue to attract mediocre practitioners and low patronage given emerging trends in the industry.

“We need to rebrand, reorganise and redefine the

practice and one way to do that is to continuously promote interaction between experts in the media and practitioners in the industry.

Earlier, a renowned QS expert, Dr. Ejike Bedford Anunike, in a paper titled, “The challenges of Quantity Surveying Profession in Contemporary Times in Nigeria,” stressed need for practitioners to develop the necessary competencies to cope with expanding and emerging roles and diversifications expected of them.

FAAN commences automation of revenue points at Abuja, other airports From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday said it was set to commence implementation of the automation of revenue points across all Nigerian airports.

As a first step to the commencement of the exercise, the agency disclosed that the automation of aviation fuel supply to aircrafts by marketers has been completed with all the eleven fuel marketers dully registered with FAAN already fully integrated into the information platform.

A statement by the NCAA Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the access toll gate of the

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, has been completed while the automated gate is currently undergoing a test run and will be fully operational with effect from May 1, 2013.

Dati said every vehicle passing through the toll gate would be identified electronically after scanning the provided stickers on such vehicles.

“The new measure enhances security as the NCAA is able to monitor vehicles within the airport environment at any point in time.

“The system also increases efficiency, transparency, tracking vehicular traffic and ensuring security of persons and

airport environment”,the statement read.

Also explaining how to ensure smooth implementation of the project, he said there were three modes of payment for passage through the access gates.

“One is through cash payment of the appropriate fee and the other option is through ‘E’ payment, that is, the machine reads the tag on the windscreen and opens electronically.

“The third mode of payment is through a smart card whereby you swipe your card at the machine and access is allowed.”

The automation process will affect all revenue points including car hire services, aviation fuel surcharge, among others.

PAGE 6

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he collated report of the peoples’ public sessions on the review of the 1999 Constitution conducted by the House in the 360 Federal Constituencies of country has shown that majority of Nigerians are not in support of the zoning or rotation of the office of President between the north and south.

Instead, the positions of president or governor of a state should be purely on merit.

The report which was presented yesterday before the House of Representatives

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Constitution amendment: Report rejects zoning yesterday, recommended that section 197(1) (b) be amended to abolish the State Independent Electoral Commission in order that all elections are conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The report further recommended the abolishment of State Joint Local Government Account so that all allocations due to the local government councils would be paid to them directly.

It also recommended that state House of Assembly be granted

financial autonomy as is the case with the National Assembly.

The report also affirmed the indigeneship of an area be defined to include persons who have resided in an area for a continuous long period and therefore should be entitled to accruing rights, duties and privileges among others.

Chairman of the committee, and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha called on to be vigilant and follow through the rest of the

•Wants autonomy for LGs constitution amendment to ensure that their views and positions remain respected along the rest of the process which will include presentation and consideration of bills, harmonization with the senate committee on the constitution review and interface with the state legislatures for concurrence on the issues.

Meanwhile, Chairman House

Shariah court orders amputation of convict’s arm

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

A

n Upper Shari’ah Area Court, sitting in Bauchi, yesterday, confirmed the judgment of a lower court that ordered amputation of the arms of one Abdullahi Sale, of Zungur Kogi village in Bauchi local government area of Bauchi state,

for theft.

The lower Shari’ah Court in the area had earlier convicted Abdullahi on the charges levelled against him before the court.

According to the police prosecutor, Corporal Idris Malum the convict broke into the shops of one Danladi Ya’u of Zungur

Kogi and Yusuf Babba of BulaLusa and carted away with properties worth about Thirteen Thousand Naira.

The offence according to the prosecution, contravenes section 151 of Shari’ah Penal Code.

Meanwhile the convict, had pleaded guilty, but sought for

leniency from the court.

However, the Police Prosecutor asked the court not to grant the prayers in order to serve as deterrent to others.

In the meantime the convict has 30 days to file an appeal against the judgment of the court.

L-R: Minister Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Mohammed Sada, Ogun state Governor, Senator OIbikunle Amosu, President Goodluck Joanthan, GMD, WEMPCO Steel Mill Ltd., Mr. Lewis Tung, and Minister of Trades and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, during the commissioning of WEMPCO 5-Stand Tandem Cold Rolled Steel Plant, yesterday at Ibafo, in Ogun state.

Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed (PDP Kwara state), said the House has no right to tamper with the report as, “we do not have any right to touch anything that is made public, although there was so much insinuation that the House will change the report.

“If you believe that the electorate are not as enlighten or as informed as they use to be, then you will be doing all that you are doing at your own risk because every constituent member knew exactly what they voted for, that is why even the debate that we will do on the issue will be definitely tailored towards that direction.”

FG approves N15b recapitalisation package for Bank of Agriculture From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

T

he Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Ibukun Odushote, says the Federal Government has approved the release of N15 billion to recapitalize the Bank of Agriculture, as part of measures to boost implementation of Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) for 2013 farming season.

Odushote who made the disclosure yesterday in Katsina at a preparatory meeting on implementation of the scheme said government was working hard to ensure farmers have access to affordable financing through the bank of agriculture, which would provide loans at less than 10 per cent interest rate to farmers.

The permanent secretary represented by Director Extension Services of the Ministry, Mr. Eneyanju Damilola, noted that appreciable success has been recorded under the GES scheme which has saved government the sum of N25 billion.

According to her, under the scheme farmers received 50 per cent subsidy for fertilizer and 100 per cent subsidy for improved seed.

“After 120 days of the launch of the scheme, 1.2 million farmers successfully redeemed their seeds and fertilizer,” she added.

Patronize locally made goods, Jonathan charges Nigerians

By Lawrence Olaoye

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday charged Nigerians to change their appetite for foreign goods and patronize locally made products so as to engender the economic growth of the country.

The President made the call while commissioning the Cold Steel Rolling Mill built by Wempco Steel Mills Limited in Ibafo, Ogun state.

Jonathan who acknowledged that the factory is the largest private mill in the country said

“May I seize this opportunity to emphasize the need to patronize made-in-Nigeria products. We must support our industries and change our appetite for foreign made goods. This way, we shall all contribute our individual quotas towards the economic growth of our country and jobs and wealth creation for our kith and kin.”

According to him, Wempco has demonstrated strong belief and confidence in the nation’s economy by building the mill as further supplement of its investments in the country.

While acknowledging the pivotal roles being played by steel in the development of any country, Jonathan noted that “A vibrant steel sector contributes to GDP growth, facilitates exploitation of natural resources and generates economic activities in downstream industries. It also promotes job creation, the acquisition of technical skills, transfer of technology and the provision of machine parts and tools. In fact, no nation can industrialize without a vibrant iron and steel sector.”

He assured that his

government would provide necessary incentives and support for the growth of the private sector just as he reiterated his determination to provide necessary infrastructure to attract local and foreign investments into the country.

Jonathan also seized the occasion to assure investors of their security in the country as he asserted “We are also working assiduously to bring the security challenges currently facing us under control. Reports from around the world indicate an unacceptable manifestation of

insecurity largely orchestrated by individuals who have no love for peace and harmony among members of humanity. In this regard, we will continue to collaborate with our friends and allies to bring this menace of insecurity to an end.”

He disclosed that his government has developed an industrial revolution plan which identified the iron and steel as focal sector with a target of 3 million tonnes of liquid steel production by the end of this year and a projection of 12 million tonnes of liquid steel by the year 2020.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 7

First lady wants legislation for Affirmative Action

T

he First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday appealed to the National Assembly to endorse the Affirmative Action and domesticate appropriate instruments and frameworks on gender and equal opportunities.

Jonathan said this at the opening of a two-day national conference with the theme, “100 Years of the Nigerian Woman — Achieving 50/50 by 2020.”

The event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Coordinating Office for the Nigeria Centenary Celebration.

Affirmative action means positive steps taken to increase the representation of women and minorities in areas of employment, education and business from which they have been historically excluded.

Jonathan also appealed to the National Assembly to urgently facilitate appropriate legislation to guarantee opportunities for sound education for the girlchild.

She said that the Jonathan administration had brought women to the limelight and that the success of the administration, therefore, rested on the shoulders of

women. ‘’This is based on the significance of the kind of portfolios women are holding in the administration. We must fight for the success of this administration,’’ she urged.

The First Lady said that it was important that women got more involved in decision making and governance, to enable them to address issues affecting them better.

In her address, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, said that all women must cooperate to actualise 50 per cent women representation in government by the year 2020. ‘’As we mark this year’s International Women’s Day through this event, I wish to remind us that it’s time to stimulate national and international government agencies into re-framing, reviewing, where applicable, policies that will realise gender equity and equality.’’

She expressed delight that Nigerian women had been accorded dignity and were

occupying strategic positions in governance.

“They have moved from the Kitchen to office.’’

She charged them to make suggestions that would guide women in their quest for development to enable them to have 50 per cent representation in governance by the year 2020.

In a paper, Prof. Funke Adeboye of the Department of History, University of Lagos, noted that western education had equipped Nigerian women with the various skills with which they excelled in various fields of endeavour.

Adeboye listed resilience, industry and hard work as some of the qualities that made Nigerian women to stand out and urged them to work together to sustain their victories and surmount challenges.

She advised older women to encourage younger ones to believe in Nigeria.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Muhktah, who was represented by Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court, said Nigerian women had over the

years shown abilities to contribute meaningfully to their families’ welfare and national development.

She, however, expressed regret that Nigerian women were faced with many challenges, including harmful traditional practice, which she described as illegal.

The chief justice expressed the hope that solutions to the problems would emerge from the conference to strengthen the future of the Nigerian woman.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative in the United Nations, Prof. Joy Ogwu, noted that the current administration in Nigeria was gender friendly, adding that it provided an opportunity for the women to prove themselves.

She noted that women participation in governance did not mean that they were competing with men, but that they were complementing their efforts in national development.

She appealed to men to support women’s efforts at national development.

The first female Rear

Admiral in Nigeria, Itunu Hotonu, urged women to be determined to excel. “ Women who want to be up there must work for it. It is not a joke, you must show that you can do it,’’ she said.

She said that a few men would be willing to offer opportunity for women to prove themselves and advised that women should seize such opportunities to write their names in gold through excellent service.

Dignitaries at the occasion included the Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Amina Sambo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, former Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih, female ministers and legislators.

Various women organisations including the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Nigeria Army Officers Wives Association, Nigerian Police Officers Wives Association and Women for Change and Development Initiative. (NAN)

‘PSVW taking leading role to improve policing in Nigeria’

By Stanley Onyekwere

I

n line with its mandate, the Police Stations Visitors Week (PSVW) is taking role in the quest to support the police department of participating nations to enhance their relations with the public, the Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, Ms. Kemi Okenyodo, has said.

She said six years after PSVW began operation, there are it has assisted respective participating police stations to better their rating over the years.

Ms. Okenyodo, made this assertion during the presentation of report on the 2012 Police Stations Visitors Week.

“A good police station is oriented to the community, presents adequate physical presence, treats the public equally, shows transparency and accountability and respects the rights of detainees by providing good detention conditions”, she explained.

In the report, the top ten police stations for 2012 were Victoria Island police station, 98 per cent, Alakoku police station, 96 per cent, Badagry police station, 87 per cent, Ajah police station, 83 per cent, Ilupeju police station, 83 per cent, all in Lagos state and Kuje police station in the FCT with 82.67 per cent.

L-R: Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, and Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochepe, during the activities to commemorate 100 years of the Nigerian Women, yesterday in Lagos.

Boko Haram: Datti Ahmed rejects membership of amnesty committee

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

R

enown Muslim cleric, Dr. Datti Ahmed, has rejected his nomination as a member of the amnesty committee constituted by the Federal Government.

In an interview with the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) monitored in Kano yesterday,

Ahmed said his decision was because the government failed to implement some of the recommendations he had made earlier.

He recalled that on two occasions, he spear headed what he described as “a genuine reconciliatory mission” which failed as a result of what he attributed to the insincerity of

the federal in trying to resolve the crisis.

According to him, during the 2012 Muslim Ramadan fast period, he presented some of the grievances of the members of the Boko Haram sect to government but they failed to act on them.

He therefore stated that as far as he is concerned, the situation has not changed,

stressing that he does not want to be part of a futile effort again.

Ahmed is the second member of the amnesty committee to reject the offer to serve as earlier on Wednesday.

Another member, Malam Shehu Sani, had declined participation in the proposed negotiation process with members of Boko Haram.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 8

FCT ground breaking ceremony

L-R: FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, Vice-Chairman, House Committee on FCT, Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, Executive Secretary , FCDA, Engineer Adamu Ismaila, and member Representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo, cutting the tape to commission the ground breaking ceremony for the development of Carraway Dallas District, yesterday in Abuja.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed (middle), with officials of Arab Contractors, during the inspection of the on-going resurfacing of the Olusegun Obasanjo Way and other roads, yesterday in Wuse and Garki Districts of Abuja.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed (middle), with Arab Contractors and FCDA officials, during the ground breaking ceremony for the development of Carraway Dallas District, yesterday in Abuja.

R-L: FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engineer Adamu Ismaila, and an official of Arab Contractors, during the inspection of the ongoing resurfacing of the Olusegun Obasanjo Way and other roads, yesterday in Wuse and Garki Districts of Abuja.

L-R: Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima presenting land titles to M.D/ CEO of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Malam Gimba Yau Kumo, for building of 500 houses for Borno workers by the bank, during the bank's management visit to the governor, yesterday in Maiduguri.

L-R: Kano state Governor, Engineer Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, with Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Finance House, Sheikh Mohammad S. Al- Omar, during the governor's meeting with the directors of the bank on how to improve the capacity of the recently established 44 micro-finance banks by Kano state government and invest in other areas, yesterday in Kuwait.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Kaduna approves eight new education secretaries From Mohammed Ibrahim, Kaduna aduna state Governor, Muktar Ramalan Yero, has approved the appointment of eight new education secretaries.

In a statement signed by Director Social Mobilization for the Executive Chairman, Universal Basic Education Board. (SUBEB), Shu'aibo M. Dabo, said the appointment was with immediate effect.

The newly appointed secretaries are Inusa Mohammed Tahir Kaduna South LGEA, Habib Idris Alhassan Kubau, Mukhtar Sa'idu Sabon Gari, Daniel Amadu Dams Jaba.

Others are Abubakar Umar Igabi, Mary. Joseph Anda(Mrs) Sanga, Jatau Markus Ericson Kachia and Tabita. Y. Bako Zangon kataf LGEA. "The Executive Chairman of the board, Mr. Ishaya Dary Akau, has requested the local government council chairmen of the affected LGEAs to accord the newly appointed education secretaries the support and cooperation to enable them discharge their duties effectively," he said

K

DPR shuts petrol stations in Kaduna

T

he Kaduna Zonal Office of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has closed down three filling stations in Kaduna state, for selling of petroleum products above the government approve price.

The Kaduna Zonal, Public Relation Officer of the DPR, Alhaji Mohammed Bulama Saeed, disclosed this yesterday while speaking to the media in Kaduna.

Saeed said the three stations were part of the 114 visited by the monitoring team in the zone.

He gave the breakdown of the stations as follows, Motafco Services Station Maraban Jos, Sul Service Station Dankande toll gate and Kenfeli Services Station Kujama all in Kaduna State.

"The filling stations were closed down for offences ranging from selling of petroleum products above government approve prices of N97.00 per liter for petrol and N50.00 per liter for kerosene," he explained.

Saeed further disclosed that the affected stations also got involved in cheating through pump under-delivery, diversion of petroleum products to unknown destination, selling petroleum products in drums and jerry cans, hoarding of products and operating under unsafe environment.

The DPR, according to Saeed, discovered 11 illegally petrol stations spread across Kaduna and Zamfara states.

Saeed added that there were three reported cases of pipeline vandalism within Kaduna zone from January to March 2013.

PAGE 9

Dana crash: Court summons Aviation Minister From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos

A

Lagos state Coroner, Mr. Oyetade Komolafe, yesterday directed that witness summons be issued on the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, and a pathologist, Prof. Adekunbi Banjo, to testify before the ongoing inquest into the June 3, 2012 Dana plane crash.

About 153 passengers and some residents of Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos state lost their lives in the

crash.

During the inquest yesterday, Komolafe said it was necessary for the Minister to make an appearance before conclusion of hearing.

He said, "let the Minister of Aviation come and see what we are doing here and when she comes, we will have some questions for her."

Komolafe said Banjo who is a consultant with the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) would

testify in the interest of fair hearing.

The pathologist is to appear before the inquest on May 22 but no specific date was fixed for Oduah's appearance.

The coroner said she was free to choose from the May 20 to 24 dates fixed by the court for further hearing on the matter.

Mr. Babatunde Irukera, AIB's counsel, had earlier made a case for Banjo to be allowed to testify at the inquest.

Irukera said the testimony of the pathologist, who had worked previously with AIB on other crashes, would assist the coroner come to a just and meaningful conclusion of the inquest.

He said Banjo was being called to refute some of the claims made

by Prof. John Obafunwa, the Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos state, adding that she was not allowed to participate in the post mortem examinations carried out on the bodies of the victims.

L-R: Chairman, Constitution Review Committee and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, presenting collated result of peoples' public session on Review of the 1999 Constitution to Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday at National Assembly, in Abuja Photo: Mahmud Isa

Kwankwaso in Kuwait, canvasses for prospective investors From Edwin Olofu, Kano

K

ano state Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday Kuwait met with the Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Finance House, KFH, Sheikh Mohammad Sulaiman AlOmar and other directors, on how the financial institution can partner with Kano state government to improve the capacity of the recently established micro finance banks and invest in other areas in the state.

Kwankwaso said that his administration established 37 new microfinance banks in addition to the existing seven in the state, which is the most populous in Nigeria, so that the less privileged can have access to soft loans to improve their small scale businesses.

"Because of our serious commitment in this matter, we are the first state in Nigeria to benefit from the CBN's gesture of being granted license for the establishment of 37 micro-finance banks at once'' Kwankwaso affirmed. according to a statement

by Kwankwaso's Director of Press, Halilu Dantiye, the Governor disclosed that thebanks which were

established in January this year, would create more than 740 direct job opportunities in addition to various prospects that will unfold as they introduce more products and services.

He said owing to poverty which is exacerbated by inaccessibility to credit facilities, many people in Kano, especially rural dwellers are suffering, pointing out however, that his administration had embarked on various poverty eradication programmes, including the establishment of new 21 institutions to train the teeming unemployed youth and women to acquire various skills.

In his remarks, the CEO of Kuwait Finance House, Sheikh Mohammad Sulaiman AlOmar, told Kwankwaso that their institution is a pioneer of Shari'a complaint bank and provides a wide range of services and products covering banking, real estate trade finance, investment portfolios and financial markets.

Sheikh Mohammad added that over the years, KFH has established fully owned, independently functioning banks in Turkey, Bahrain and Malaysia, and in collaboration with leading international financial institutions like Citibank, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan and

IDB, it has successfully expanded investment activities in the US, Europe and South East Asia.

He praised Kwankwaso for establishing micro finance banks, promising his institution's support, and accepted the governor's invitation to visit Kano and explore areas of further cooperation, within the next two months.

Meanwhile, Kwankwaso has visited the Nigerian Ambassador to Kuwait, Ambassador Haruna Garba, who stated that he was encouraged by the governor's outstanding performance to facilitate the meeting with Kuwaiti investors.

Minister denies claim to strip NCAA autonomy

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

T

he Ministry of Aviation has distanced itself from a report suggesting that hat the Minister is preparing to strip the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) of sole autonomy of issuing Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) to airlines in the country.

A statement from the Aviation Minister's Special Assistant on Media, Joe Obi, said

that, "we hasten to declare that the story is completely false, malicious and a clear attempt to cause unnecessary tension in the sector.

"It is also intended to cause disaffection against the person and office of the Honourable Minister of Aviation by portraying her as a meddlesome interloper in the affairs of an autonomous agency."

While stating how the

ministry places its high premium over the autonomy of NCAA as the regulator of sector, the statement however disclosed that, "any suggestions to the effect that the Ministry of Aviation is seeking to take over the duty of Issuance of AOCs from the NCAA and in the process, tamper with the regulatory autonomy of the Agency is therefore patently false, misleading and inherently mischievous."

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Newsweek Magazine honours CJN

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

N

ewsweek Magazine has named the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, as one of the "125 women of impact" in the world.

In April 8-15 edition, the British magazine premised the nomination of the CJN on her judicial reforms and avowed determination to get rid of judges involved in fraudulent and unethical practices.

The magazine noted specifically that, "in a country notorious for its crooked officials, Nigeria's first female Chief Justice, Mukhtar, has built a reputation as an unwavering

reformer unafraid to root out criminals''.

It would be recalled that before the Senate cleared Justice Mukhtar on July 11, 2012 as the CJN, she expressed concern over the image of the Judiciary with a pledge to deal decisively with erring judicial officers.

She had said, "on the perception of the Judiciary by the public, indeed, as it is as at now, it is very bad and I am saddened by it. But, then, as I said earlier on, I will try, I don't want to sound like a broken record.

"I will try to make sure that the confidence reposed in the Judiciary, as it were before, will be returned.

"I will try as much as possible to ensure that the bad eggs are flushed out.

"That there will be a cleansing by the National Judicial Council (NJC) based on petition. It is sad that the ordinary man on the street thinks and feels that he cannot get justice.

"This is because of the situation we find ourselves. I will ensure that this perception changes", she said.

Only last Monday, Mukhtar, threatened serving judges fond of writing questionable judgments with serious sanctions.

According to her, "a judge should write judgment in a

simple and unambiguous manner such that it leaves no one in doubt as to what the judgment has addressed.

"A judgment should meet the justice of the matter or controversies between the contending parties.

"It is certainly not good for a judgment to be capable of more than one interpretation otherwise the judge would have caused more problem than the reason for his being called upon to intervene in the first place.

"Where a judge is found to be complicit in the writing and delivery of a judgment, the NJC as a constitutional regulatory body will not hesitate to wield the big sticks," she added.

L-R: Guest Lecturer and Chief Operating Officer, Peoples Media Limited, Malam Ali M. Ali, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) FCT chapter, Alhaji Abba M. Tor, and the chapter Treasurer, Mr. Osaretin Okoro, during a twoday retreat for Senate members of FCT Chapter of NIQS, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

A

house wife, Fatima Isa, who was allegedly raped by a commercial motorcyclist on March 21, has died. She hailed from Tafawa Balewa local government area of the state.

Fatima, a mother of four died shortly after she was treated and discharged from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH).

The deceased who was said to pregnant was allegedly raped by one Auwalu Yaye, a neighbor. The ordeal was said to have led to a miscarriage of the pregnancy.

She had earlier told reporters that Auwalu raped her in front of her two children aged three and five respectively.

According to her, she and the children were heading for Bakala in Burga village area of Tafawa Balewa local government area on the motorcycle when Auwalu diverted into the bush and

Bauchi rape victim dies raped her.

She said Auwalu stabbed her on her left hand with a knife and threatened to kill her if she did not agree to have sex with him. She had said that, "I feel ashamed of myself because he has tarnished my name and reputation.

"People will look at me as a wayward woman. Now people will think of me as an irresponsible woman. I know no man except my husband. I feel very sad."

The husband, Isa Umar, while responding to the latest development, described the death of his wife as painful saying she died out of frustration.

Bauchi State Officer with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Zubayr Hanbali, expressed shock and sadness at the death of Fatsuma.

He pleaded with the police to properly investigate the matter to ensure that justice prevails.

"Her case was brought to us by the husband and I discussed with her and she told me her ordeal.

"The only thing the family wants is to get justice. We are going to do our best to ensure that the suspect, Auwalu Yeye, is arraigned before a court of

law for justice to take its natural course.

"We are not passing judgment on Auwalu but we want the court to prove that Auwalu is guilty or not.

"It is not ideal to allow such things to pass because it does not make anybody to be safe and Auwalu was even the diseased neighbor," Hanbal said.

NABTEB laments low enrolment in technical schools From Umar Dankano,Yola

T

he North East Coordinator of National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB) Mr. Gabriel Yalamu, has expressed concern over low enrolment of students from the zone into technical schools .

Yalamu raised the concern yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Yola.

He observed that the development was among the major factors hindering the economic growth and contributed to the security challenges in the area. `The enrolment of technical candidates in the North East region comprising Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, is very low compared to other regions. ``The people in the North, particularly North East, don't give much importance to technical education and it can be among the reasons why the region is facing challenges of economic set back, " he said.

He attributed the development to the lack of commitment by some state governments, organisations and wealthy individuals from the region, adding that the board had now embark on mass sensitization campaign in the zone.

He said such a campaign would enable state governments and the people of the region to accept technical education fully.

He explained that making available well-equipped technical schools and mass enrolment of teeming youths were the only solution to the economy and insecurity facing the region.

The coordinator commended Adamawa Government for establishing high standard skills acquisition centres where scores of unemployed youths were receiving free training.

He urged other state governments to emulate the Adamawa model.

Aliyu condoles PDP Deputy Chairman over wife's death From Iliya Garba, Minna

N

iger state Governor Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, has sympathized with the Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Tanko Beji, over the death of his wife, Binta on Wednesday.

In a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, Aliyu urged Beji and members of his family to be encouraged

by the fact that although his wife died at a young age, she lived an inspiring and a fulfilled life.

Aliyu said life was not about how long people lived but how people impacted positively on the environment around them.

He emphasized that although the late Binta lived a relatively short life, she brought change to her immediate family and her community during her sojourn on this side of the divide.

The statement urged Beji not be discouraged by the untimely

death but should forge ahead with the enormous task of providing guidance to the members of the PDP and the people of the state at large.

The statement said the best tribute the deputy chairman can pay to the memory of the departed is for him to continue to touch more lives positively, more than he has done in the past.

Aliyu prayed God to give Beji and members of his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and to grant eternal rest to the soul of the departed.

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Take disability insurance to protect your income

A

s an employee working in a corporate organization or as individual, you may have got health insurance and (or) life insurance policy, meaning that you and your family are covered for medical expenses, and in the event of the unexpected your family will get compensation. The question is, is that enough insurance for all you need? The answer is real "NO".

Suppose you suffer an injury or long-lasting illness that makes it impossible for you to work, what happens? While your health insurance coverage will take care of your medical expenses, and your life insurance provide for your family, you will be facing debt and potential financial instability if you have no way of replacing your income while you are disabled.

Disability insurance is one of those things that no one ever thinks they need. But you need to know that you could still pay your bills if you were to become temporarily or permanently

disabled.

Why you need disability insurance One can never anticipate when tragedy will strike.

Whether it is a car or household accident or a diagnosis of heart disease or a herniated disc, unanticipated misfortunes are the reasons it makes sense to have disability insurance. This type of insurance replaces a portion of your income if injury or illness renders you unable to work Premiums for disability coverage vary based on your age, income, the type of work you do, and the policy provisions you choose.

In general, the greater the coverage, the higher the premium. Here is what you need to know to get sufficient coverage at an affordable cost, according to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Benefit amount Disability insurance typically pays you 60 to 80 percent of your income should

G

Some financial steps to take after graduating from college

raduating from college can be awesome, exciting, and a huge relief. But when it comes to the current job market and student debt, however, graduating from college can also feel pretty darn daunting.

But don't worry! With a little bit of planning, you can be in control of your finances post-graduation - and set yourself up nicely for the years

Money Tip:

Learn selfcontrol

I

f you're lucky, your parents taught you this skill when you were a kid. If not, keep in mind that the sooner you learn the fine art of delaying gratification, the sooner you'll find it easy to keep your finances in order. Although you can effortlessly purchase an item on credit the minute you want it, it's better to wait until you've actually saved up the money. Do you really want to pay interest on a pair of jeans or a box of cereal?

If you make a habit of putting all your purchases on credit cards, regardless of whether you can pay your bill in full at the end of the month, you might still be paying for those items in 10 years. If you want to keep your credit cards for the convenience factor or the rewards they offer, make sure to always pay your balance in full when the bill arrives, and don't carry more cards than you can keep track of.

Quote

The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency. - Bill Gates

to come. Here are five steps you should take to conquer your finances.

Create a budget If you don't already have one, I strongly recommend that you create a budget. Sure, you can probably get by without one - but that's also how you end up at the end of the month with no money in your account, wondering where it all went.

To make it easy on yourself, consider using one of the many free budgeting tools available online.

These tools can securely pull in information from your various bank accounts and loans, allowing you to easily create budgets, track your spending, and set financial goals all in one place. If you haven't supported yourself in the past, it might be surprising how quickly your new paycheck gets spent especially since, according to a USA Today article, "most young people don't realize they're actually taking home about $75 of their paycheck once taxes, Social Security and 401(k) contributions are factored in." A budget helps you ensure you have all the money for the necessities - and helps you set-aside cash for some fun stuff, too.

Understand and reexamine your insurance policies While you were still a student, your insurance, including health, car, life, and renter's insurance, may have been covered by your parents or your school. But after graduating, it's likely that you'll be responsible for these policies - and the costs can, quite honestly, be a little startling.

The first step in your research should be to find out from your parents or school what levels of coverage you had. Then, armed with that information, you can begin researching new policies for each of the following types of insurance.

Health Insurance Hopefully you'll be able to find a job with health coverage. The unfortunate fact, though, is that this is becoming less and less likely.

If you were on your parents' policy while in college, you may be able to stay on it for a few more years. Have a conversation with them about it, and if you're able to, offer to pay any

you become disabled.

This coverage is designed to provide you with adequate income to cover your basic needs if you cannot work.

Term of benefits You may choose disability coverage that pays you for a year, two years, five years,

associated fees for your care. Doing this will likely to be cheaper than getting your own policy.

If you do not have the option of employeror parent-based coverage, do consider getting at least a basic insurance plan. Medical debt from an emergency can cost thousands and thousands of dollars; a basic policy helps protect you from going into wild, crushing debt. You can start your search online or with a health insurance agent. Before you do so, round up all of your medical records (these are good to have around anyway); applying for insurance as an individual requires that you answer several questions about your medical history so the insurance company can determine your risk level and decide what to charge you. Other factors that can adjust your rate include age and habits.

Car insurance The cost of car insurance can vary drastically depending on where you live, the type of car you drive, and factors including your age, your driving record, and even your grades in school. When applying for a policy on your own, speak with a customer service representative - they can often tell you about discounts that aren't always available through their

website.

Renter's insurance If you're renting your first house or apartment, strongly consider getting renter's insurance. Policies are inexpensive, depending on your level of coverage, and they'll help replace your stuff in the advent of something terrible happening, like a burglary or fire. Depending on the policy, you might even be covered if your stuff is stolen somewhere else, like out of your car or while you're traveling.

Life insurance There is a very good chance that you don't currently have a life insurance policy.

Typically associated with older folks and people with families, life insurance pays out a sum to your family or loved ones upon your death. Here's what the Illinois Department of Insurance has to say about college students and life insurance: If you are a young college student with no dependents, life insurance is not as important as it will be when you get older and are married and/or have children. For most college students, the only reason to buy life insurance is to cover funeral expenses and debts, if there are any. Your parents may already have a life insurance policy on you that will cover these

until age 60, or even for life. The longer the benefit period you select, the higher the premium you can expect to pay.

expenses. If not, you should be able to purchase a term life insurance policy for a small premium.

If you are married, and/or have children or elderly parents who are dependent on you, the need for life insurance is much greater. Still, you should be able to purchase a term life insurance policy that will provide benefits to pay your debts and provide your dependents with some financial security.

That's said, even if you do not currently have family members who are dependent upon you, it can be a good idea to shop for a life insurance policy now. The primary reason is simple frugality: the younger and healthier you are when you sign up for a policy, the cheaper your rate will be, and you're able to lock those rates in.

Another major reason for purchasing life insurance is the aforementioned debt. If you have any debts at the time of your death, life insurance can cover or help cover them - instead of passing them on to your already grieving loved ones.

Start saving immediately I'll admit, this Wall Street Journal article on why you need to start saving now is kind of depressing - "two-thirds of students will graduate with debt that averages N25, 250 in student loans and more than N4, 000 in creditcard debt." But the same article also points out something very important - that compound interest is a powerful thing and the earlier you start saving, the most you can take advantage of it: "If you save N10 a day at age 25, you'll have more than N1 million by age 65, assuming an 8% annual rate of return. If you start at age 35, you'll have N445, 000. At age 45, you'll only have N180, 000."

If you have a job that provides a 401(k) retirement plan, take advantage of it. Not only will you not miss the money (since it's automatically deducted from your pay before the check before it hits your hands), but most employers offer matching contributions after you've been with the company for a certain amount of time. At that point, if you don't contribute to your 401(k), you are turning down free money.

Share your Money Tip: do you have a business/money idea, and you want to share it with our dear readers? Then, send it to: ikabirsule@gmail.com or (text it to 08091904890)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

Bamanga Tukur's 2015 boast

N

ational Chairman of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur's boast that the party is working "at jet speed" to raise the number of states it controls from the present 23 to 32 in 2015 may sound laughable at its face value. Can a man, wearied by his own battle for survival, and party divided against itself and out of favour with a disenchanted electorate, muster sufficient energy going into "a total war" in 2015? But when we consider that Bamanga said he had a presidential marching order and what the Chairman of PDP BoT, Chief Tony Anenih, said few days later about the PDP doing what it "knows how best to do when the time comes", that boast takes on an ominous significance. It should not be dismissed offhandedly.

First, let's mark the images Bamanga deployed in making his boast. They were those of a military going into battle at lightning speed, facilitated by the later technology. He echoed former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the first PDPproduced president, who said winning an election was "a do or die affair". And so it has been all these 14 years PDP has been in power at the centre and wining three presidencies in a row has only been possible because the party knows how best to rig elections. Local and international observers were agreed that the 1999 general elections that first brought PDP to power terribly rigged; 2003 was worse and 2007 no better.

Proof of PDP's skullduggery was the series of reversals it suffered in states in the South-west where it was declared winner in the 2007 governorship elections. One after the other, those

'victories', awarded by an unabashedly partisan election umpire, were overturned in favour of opposition parties by the courts. In the centre, PDP has only managed to hang on to power by the interplay of several factors: intimidation, money for votes, incumbency, and inability of the opposition to come together. Somehow, the one state that the PDP had coveted but has been unable to take, in spite of those 'advantages', is Lagos, which has consistently gone to the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Lagos exposes the weak

“

It will be hard to push a political behemoth like PDP out of power but it doesn't mean it can't be done underbelly of the PDP, but it remains a surprise that the opposition hasn't been able to exploit it in the other states, particularly those in the North.

We at Peoples Daily are, however, shocked by the opposition's wrong reading of the PDP boast. Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), for instance, quickly dismissed the boast as mere "grandstanding". Putting its faith in an electorate now prepared to vote "wisely" and in a yet inchoate merger of opposition parties, it believes PDP would be annihilated in the 2015 elections. We see naivety here. If people's votes didn't count in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, what will

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make them count two years from now?

The right reading of the Bamanga/PDP boast is that which has come from ACN, as expected. It points out that the war imagery used by the PDP and its leader strongly suggests their desperation to stay in power for much longer, including provoking a civil war. A civil war, may-be not again. But we must not underestimate PDP's capacity for political malfeasance.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega's last week reassertion of his so-called independence, though appointed by President Jonathan, should not fool anybody. Official interference doesn't have to be overt; often it is subtle, usually coming through late release of funds or piecemeal releases. This will be enough to throw a spanner into the works of an independent minded election body.

It will be hard to push a political behemoth like PDP out of power but it doesn't mean it can't be done. Clearly, the opposition parties can't do it going their separate ways, but together they stand a chance. Their proposed merger, the APC, as yet, has no form, largely because of INEC connivance with PDP to deny it registration. One good tiding is there appears to be a willingness on the part of the leaders of the merging parties to sacrifice their individual ambitions for power in order to see PDP out of Aso Rock Presidential Villa. However, consummating the merger will just be the beginning of a long journey. The next and, certainly, the most difficult step will be to come up with a winning election platform and selling it to the Nigerian electorate, tired of PDP hegemony but which hasn't yet seen a viable alternative.

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OUR VISION

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 13

How Amaechi gets away with everything

By Stanley Azuakola

I

first came to know the Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi in 2005 or 2006, and he was speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly then. My impression of him was: Ah, what a childish man! He had shifty eyes and looked restless - fidgeting nonstop.

"And this is the man who wants to govern Rivers state?" my brother said to me. "We are finished," I responded. We were certain the PDP candidate would become governor, and at that time Amaechi was the runaway favourite, so we were resigned to fate.

We know the story of Amaechi's defiant fight and how he snatched an improbable judicial victory in the nation's highest court. I was ambivalent about it all. I admired the tenacity, the discipline to go against the grain despite the entreaties to compromise. But I remembered how the Rivers Assembly which he led for the 8 years of Odili's misrule was just an appendage of the governor's office, never going against the dictates of the Brick House (Rivers government house), and I shrugged.

But Rotimi Amaechi surprised me. Yes, my expectations were very low, but as governor from 2007 to 2011, Amaechi led a hardworking government, recording achievements in primary

By Nasiru Suwaid

I

t is a basic common natural trait of every human being, imbued with a predatory instinct of conflict over ideas, ideals and ideology, and of course, it is also about the positional placement of self in the power circles of governance or even the ascendancy of a wanted or needed favor of accomplishing a specified task, which is the innate desire to seek for a helping hand, in any matter seemingly beyond the reach of our capacity to determine, a scenario which could happen a countless number of times in a day. The examples are many and varied in stature and size; it could be in form of a president lobbying his citizens to offer him a fresh mandate of another term or a mother pleading with her son to fetch her a bucket of water, as in both instances, the desire for requiring an aid is the same, because, a president could not transform himself into another tenure of office, without the express will of the people, except in climates and areas where rigging has become an institutionalized norm, as a standard art of gaining access to power. For the child, a mother could threaten, beat or even harass, yet, as the saying goes; you can take a horse to the river, but you certainly cannot force it to drink the water.

Two weeks ago, the Presidency, through Jonathan's Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe,

education, health care, agriculture and security. Rivers people cheered his every stride; we even cheered his excesses. Oh, there were many excesses, but who didn't have those, we asked.

He was authoritarian and could show an inhumane side like his slums demolitions project done without adequate notice or compensation, but these things needed to be done if progress is to be made; government was run as if on a whim, but that's his unique style; he seemed to be doing everything at once, with no mind for structure or systems, hence unleashing chaos, but at least something was being done, nothing else mattered. We defended him at every turn. Our governor is a maverick, he would follow his guts and damn the cost, we loved to say.

Performance-wise, Amaechi has declined considerably since his re-election. His mind seems to have moved on past Rivers onto his 2015 ambitions. His every action seems to be with an eye for a bigger stage, he acts nowadays like one auditioning before a national audience. Port Harcourt roads continue to be an eyesore, despite his repeated assurances.

In fact during a guided tour of projects in the state last August together with some other youths, his information commissioner hemmed and hawed when asked about roads. We were shown those lovely accomplishments of the governor - the model

primary and secondary schools (befitting), the primary health centres, the maxillofacial clinic, the Kelsey Memorial hospital (grand), the Songhai farm (ingenious), and others. The thing is that most of those were first term achievements - we continue to await the promises of the second term.

Now, concerning the strain in Amaechi's relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan, the interests of the two men just do not align presently. The president's handling of the matter in recent times has been bizarre - instigating divisions within the Nigerian Governors' Forum; unleashing his surrogates (like the minister of the Niger Delta and the minister of state for education) on Amaechi; and allegedly placing Amaechi under constant surveillance. Unbelievably desperate moves by Aso Rock!

However, Amaechi bears a chunk of the blame. I see the creeping rise of the governor's churlishness, that pettiness which tarred my first impression of him eight or so years ago. But he has been fortunate. He is self serving and lacks a sense of proportion, yet we all - especially the media - continue to cut him so much slack.

Last week in Ekiti, he spoke at a symposium for young and emerging leaders, and all his excesses were on full display again. It was a painful thing to

watch. Amaechi was unprepared - he said so himself. But whereas for others, that might have served as a cautionary marker to watch what comes out of their mouths, for him it was a licence to run amok. It is unbecoming of the governor to use every given opportunity to throw barbs at the president. "On fuel subsidy, what have we done? A lot. That's why they want to remove me as chairman of the Governor's Forum. They face a radical chairman, that's why they want me removed."

Interestingly, in 2012, when Jonathan took the bold, mistimed, callous decision to remove subsidy on fuel and the whole nation was about to combust, all the fingers pointed to Aso Rock. Amaechi and the other governors in the NGF from all parties, the instigators, remained strategically silent, allowing the president take the on their behalf.

To be clear, he never said he was opposed to the removal, but no one heard him come out to speak forcefully in backing the president. When labour leaders met with him during the OccupyNigeria protest in Rivers, he said, "Please,let's bear with the president, we have only one country." Then in the midst of it, he announced a N4 subsidy, slashing the price from N141 to N137 in Rivers, and asking that motorists cut fares which had increased following the subsidy removal.

And that's exactly how he does it - by playing both ways. He announced the laughable N4 subsidy and the bus fare slash, small gestures intended to show that he was making motion; securing his 'lovability.' Behind the scene, however, he maintained pressure on the president to stay firm and not give to the people's demands, and he was at the forefront of the hawks who clamoured for soldiers to be deployed to Ojota (he mockingly said so himself at the symposium.)

We remember that it was he who pushed for the noxious Rivers Governor and Deputy Governor Fringe Benefits Bill last year which entitles all Rivers' exgovernors and their ex-deputies to two houses in Rivers and Abuja, three new vehicles to be replaced yearly, 300 per cent funding for any furniture of their choice, pension equivalent to the annual basic salary of the incumbent governor or deputy, amongst other benefits. These bills of course would be footed by the Rivers taxpayer. The assembly members knew better than to oppose the bill. You see, part of Amaechi's 'maverism' is that he doesn't tolerate dissent.

Imagine if it were Jonathan who had proposed and signed the law Verily, verily I say unto you, this nation would have known no peace.

Follow Stanley Azuokola@stanleyazuakola

Chastising an enemy to help attempted to intimidate, cajole or even blackmail General Muhammadu Buhari of the opposition Congress of Progressive Change in the name of seeking help over the insurgency. But it did so while maintaining the physical mien of a hostile hulk.

Because, even a genuine amateur in the field of media management, knows that attracting a negotiator in a conflict requires extreme tact, more so, if such a person was belonging to the opposition camp, calm, credible and quiet approaches, beyond the realm of media klieg light is required, to convince the individual of his importance and necessity on the national peace mission.

Some have already alluded that the presidential cry of help was never the tears of someone genuinely in need of help, rather,

it was merely following in the tradition of the ruling party, knowing the cataclysmic gullibility of the average Nigerian, who has been sold, time without number, the image of Muhammadu Buhari as a personality having sympathy for extreme religious view. This is so despite his many attempts to counter such unproven belief.

This is more so, as it is now self evident, that the hassle and bustle of the 2015 elections is upon us, despite the fact that we are nearly two years to the next election season. Thus, what better way to launch the campaign than by discrediting a powerful potential opponent in the upcoming presidential poll, who is a deeply polarizing character, who his supporters love and adore like a patron saint, while his traducers have

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patiently crafted for him the smiling image of a supreme endower of evil tidings.

It is on such a premise that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is about to accede to the granting of amnesty to the insurgents, with a widely advertised meeting with the Northern Elders Forum, which was immediately followed with a meeting of the National Security Council. The President, in his gracious wisdom, later set up a smaller committee, having a clear term of reference, to examine the feasibility or otherwise of the necessity in establishing an amnesty committee, which is a clear route to offering a full state pardon, to the individuals and personalities who have taken up arms against the Nigerian state. Indeed, it is a confusingly contradictory period

Two weeks ago, the Presidency, through Jonathan's Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, attempted to intimidate, cajole or even blackmail General Muhammadu Buhari of the opposition Congress of Progressive Change in the name of seeking help over the insurgency. But it did so while maintaining the physical mien of a hostile hulk

in the country, because, the grand assumption was that the president has already accepted peaceful negotiation with the insurgents, thus, to now have the amnesty deed as a mere process that is yet to reach fruition is quite surprising, if not an attempt to sow confusion into the polity and gratuitously embarrass the Nigerian leader.

Because the composition of the committee that would consider the granting of amnesty was a dangerous interplay of brinkmanship, which is composed of military officials and security personnel that have on many occasions expressed clear preference to the military option.

Thus, to now confer open mindedness and the capability to reach any other conclusion than the expected, tragically amounts to heaping a burden of fairness, upon a jury that has already reached a verdict of guilt or innocence. On the other hand though, to totally reject the granting of amnesty, could set the stage for the bringing of the image of the convener into disrepute, because of the fact that he has presumable promised such a reality, the enveloping fear being the endowing of an amnesty, which is neither full nor adequate or even sufficient to entice persons who are operating outside the fringes of the law.

Nasir Suwaid wrote in from Kano.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 14

I have Fulani blood in me

By Femi Fani-Kayode

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y maternal grandfather was a great and powerful Muslim cleric and scholar by the name of Sheik Nurudeen Sa' Id. He was from Ilesha. He was also a civil servant and he spent a good deal of his adult life in Lagos. His father, that is my maternal greatgrandfather, was a pure Yoruba man from Ilesha.

However his mother, that is my maternal greatgrandmother, was a pure Fulani woman from Sokoto. My grandfather, Sheik Nurudeen Sa' I'd, who was half Fulani and half Yoruba, got married to my grandmother, Alhaja Abeke Sa' id (nee Williams) who was a pure Yoruba woman. She was also known as "Mama Ofin".

She was from Lagos (Isale Eko) and she was the daughter of Alhaji Isa Williams who was a key leader in the Muslim community and the richest businessman and trader in the whole of Lagos in his day.

Sheik Nurudeen Sa'id and Alhaja Abeke Sa'id had three

By Akin Olukiran

T

here is a fundamental difference between hope in Nigeria and hope for Nigeria. There has always been an abundance of hope in Nigeria as evidenced by the oft-quoted happiness index of 2003 that placed Nigerians as the happiest people on the planet. In 2010, Nigerians again sat on top of the world with the highest rate of optimism. Fast forward to 2012, of the 151 countries sampled, Nigeria was 125th in the happiness index. Not much has changed, really. Nigerians have always been full of hope for themselves, for their circumstances to change for the better, but they have never had much hope FOR Nigeria. The most popular apophthegm on commercial vehicles in Nigeria aptly captures Nigerians' optimism and hopefulness - "No Condition is Permanent".

Nigerians' hopefulness is not unfounded. Indeed, no condition is permanent - especially in Nigeria. It is perhaps the only country in the world where you could be living in penury one week and the next week you are a billionaire - without having won the lottery! Or indeed, where you could be a felon and you wake up the next day and receive unjustifiable presidential pardon. Unfortunately, these conditions that make for the superabundance of hope IN Nigeria are the same that make hope FOR Nigeria near nonexistent.

I stopped writing about Nigeria after my last treatise of October 2010 "Madam Nigeria at 50". I stopped because I'd grown tired of writing negative things

children and the youngest of those three was my dear mother, Mrs. Adia Adunni Fani-Kayode (nee Sa'id). She was born into a Muslim family and she practised Islam all her life until she met my father, converted to Christianity

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and then they got married. It is clear from the foregoing that my mother had one quarter Fulani blood in her and I have one eight Fulani blood in me.

Out of respect for the Muslim side of my family, that is the Sa'

“

I am a proud son of Nigeria- a son of the soil-and I have deep ancestral and spiritual roots in, at least, two of the three great Abrahamic faiths even though I and my immediate family are practicing Pentecostal Christians. I have Ife, Ijesha, Egba, Isale Eko and Fulani blood running through my veins. This is my heritage and I am very proud of each and every one of those blood lines. The fact that I can trace my lineage and my blood lines to Ife, Ilesha, Abeokuta, Lagos and Sokoto emboldens, enriches and strengthens me

ids and the Williams, all of my father's children have Muslim names as well as Christian ones.

Mine is Abdulateef. Amazing isn't it? When some say that I am anti-Islam and anti-HausaFulani I just laugh. They know little about me, my heritage, my bloodlines (which, unlike most, I take very seriously), my background or my thoughts.

I am a proud son of Nigeriaa son of the soil-and I have deep ancestral and spiritual roots in, at least, two of the three great Abrahamic faiths even though I and my immediate family are practicing Pentecostal Christians. I have Ife, Ijesha, Egba, Isale Eko and Fulani blood running through my veins.

This is my heritage and I am very proud of each and every one of those blood lines. The fact that I can trace my lineage and my blood lines to Ife, Ilesha, Abeokuta, Lagos and Sokoto emboldens, enriches and strengthens me. The fact that some members of my family are Christians and others are Muslims excites and ennobles me. I am a true Nigerian and regardless of our numerous challenges in this country I will love and live in Nigeria till the day I die.

Fani-Kayode is a former aviation minister.

There is hope, hope for Nigeria about this unfortunate geographical entity we call Nigeria - our beloved, albeit enigmatic country. I was hoping and waiting to find something positive to write about.

Something that will be indicative of green shoots of the much awaited progress and development. Something to raise my hopes and that of millions of Nigerians that there is indeed, hope for this repeatedly raped land where the roots of official corruption are deeper than that of a wild fig tree.

I was in the office of my most respected mentor in Lagos recently when I noticed one of our idiocies or absurdities and innocently questioned its justification. I was savagely,

verbally attacked for daring to question why photographs of the President and the Governor of the state must adorn or in some cases, disfigure an erstwhile beautiful décor of every building.

The lady was quick to attack me for always finding faults. She defended the display, blindly arguing that it is a normal practice the world over. This is someone who had never (at least as at the time) been out of the shores of Nigeria!

Having waited a couple of years, it is with pleasure and delight that I write to tell my fellow Nigerians that despite the recent presidential pardon which threatened to derail my newfound hope, there is hope FOR Nigeria. My recent experience at

“

There is no doubt that Nigeria's greatness as a country is latent, waiting to be developed. So many abnormalities have been normalised that there is a blurring of reality from fiction. The road to that desired and deserved development may be long, a lot remains to be done and undone, but the green shoots of development and progress are faintly discernible in the horizon. My hope for Nigeria is therefore not baseless. I can feel it, I can smell it and I am opening wider, my inward eyes to be able to see it

the Nigeria High Commission in London gave me hope for Nigeria. I had wanted to apply for visas for my daughters when a work colleague suggested I collect Nigerian passports for them instead. I told him it would have been my preference but the experience I had when I collected mine a couple of years ago was rather unpalatable and wouldn't want to go through it again.

Typical of Nigerians, he asked if I knew anybody at the embassy, to which I responded in the negative and that even if I did, I am not one to "press burtons".

So, uncharacteristically, I pressed ahead and applied online for the passports. To my pleasant surprise, the whole process was seamless and friendly and was asked to come to the High Commission in Northumberland Avenue for an interview within a week. Lo and behold, we arrived there the morning of the interview to an orderly queue and unusually courteous embassy officials who patiently explained the procedures and directed people to the right places. Within a couple of hours, we were out of the place and asked to come back in a week to collect the passports. Incredibly, I arrived on the given date and collected the passports for my daughters - all completed within two weeks, without knowing anybody and without bribes!

To a lot of people, it might seem trivial to use what should be a normal experience at our high commission abroad as a pointer or barometer of progress.

The truth is that it is these little

things that add up to shape one's perception of one's country.

Nigeria of 2013 is vastly different from the one that the venerated late Chinua Achebe described in his 1983 publication - "The trouble with Nigeria".

Apparently riled by those who often with self-delusional flamboyance refer to Nigeria as "This great country of ours", he said most pointedly and truthfully that "Nigeria is not a great country. It is one of the most disorderly countries in the world. It is one of the most corrupt, insensitive and inefficient places under the sun.

It is one of the most expensive countries and one of those that give the least value for money. It is dirty, callous, ostentatious, noisy, dishonest and vulgar. In short, it is among the most unpleasant places on earth."

(Chinua Achebe, The Trouble with Nigeria, Heinemann1983).

There is no doubt that Nigeria's greatness as a country is latent, waiting to be developed.

So many abnormalities have been normalised that there is a blurring of reality from fiction.

The road to that desired and deserved development may be long, a lot remains to be done and undone, but the green shoots of development and progress are faintly discernible in the horizon.

My hope for Nigeria is therefore not baseless. I can feel it, I can smell it and I am opening wider, my inward eyes to be able to see it.

Akin Olukiran can be followed on olukiran@yahoo.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 15

Thatcher: Hated (and loved) until death

By Charles Ofoji

A

frican leaders are commonly afflicted with lack of forethought. They fail to see the need to give Africans a voice. Due to this, Africans continue to see the world mainly through the screens of BBC and CNN because no African leader has been wise enough to give Africa, or at least his country an independent international news network. The lack of this explains why there is hardly an African perspective to world news and its analysis.

Bias and media myopia befogged the assessment of the legacy of the recently deceased former British Prime Minister, Margaret Hilda Thatcher.

Current Prime Minister, David Cameron, also a conservative like the so-called iron lady, saw her as a great Briton and great patriot.

To him, it seems she was the woman who saved Britain. For those with his kind of mentality, she was the one who made Britain great again when people thought that would never happen again.

Mainstream television networks extolled her and the leading role she played both in shaping Britain of her time and changing the political landscape of the world. Naturally, Nigerians, who rely on such for information, were swayed by the media myopia (and conspiracy) and they adjudged her to be a

By Abimbola Lagunju and Jean Pierre Papart

S

ometime in 1987, at a gathering in Bamako, Mali under the auspices of Unicef and the World Health Organization, African Ministers of Health, browbeaten by IMF and other lending institutions into cutting government expenditure on social services, agreed to reduce the budgetary "burden" costs of provision of healthcare for their population by introducing user-fee payment for healthcare at all levels of service delivery. Known as the Bamako Initiative, the scheme was structured to make money for the government to finance health budgets through profits made from sale of healthcare services and drugs to the population. The intention of the promoters was not stated this way; it came in the guise of decentralization, community empowerment, health worker motivation and a host of other breezy phrases, but with a single goal of making people pay for services.

There were two major things wrong with this Initiative right from onset. Firstly, the scheme assumed that the modern healthcare system had the complete trust of the population and thus, the population would conform themselves to the new change whatever the costs.

Everyone involved in this initiative either forgot or was oblivious of the fact that many of the signatory-countries to this initiative were either passing through or had just passed through socio-political upheavals including wars, coups and general instability which had left many infrastructures and

great leader too. A fraud is being perpetrated by those, whose interest Thatcher championed while in power - the ruling class.

They control the means of production including the media.

A distinction is very imperative.

There is a chasm between being a great personality and leader. Of course, Thatcher was a celebrity.

It was a no mean achievement that she, a daughter of a provision seller, ambled her way to the top of male dominated British politics - never mind that the rich husband she married bankrolled her political ambitions.

With respect to her legacy, we must resist the attempt by politicians like her and the commonplace media to give her credits she does not merit. If she was such a great leader, why would Britons rejoice and party over her death? Many jubilated that the leader they loved to hate has died. A Trade Union leader in Ireland did not spare words in condemning the role she played in the politics of England. Chris Kitchen said: "We've been waiting for a long time to hear the news of Baroness Thatcher's demise and I can't say I'm sorry. I've got no sympathy for Margaret Thatcher and I will not be shedding a tear for her. She's done untold damage to the mining community. I don't think Margaret Thatcher had any sympathy for the mining communities she decimated, the people she threw on the dole and the state she left the country in. I

honestly can't think of anything good I can say about Margaret Thatcher."

Thatcher was until death the most divisive and controversial Prime Minister in British history.

The ordinary British people, whose lives she shattered while at 10 Downing Street, hated her even in death. Nevertheless, those who benefited from her free market policies that enriched the rich and impoverished the poor and those who shared in her racist and oppressive ideology loved her until death. She was the leader who destroyed British industries with her nationalization scheme that furthered only the rich. Under her leadership, the English

economy that was agri and industry rooted turned into a mere financial economy. Many working people lost their work and family because of her antiworking class policies. The irony about Thatcher was that she forgot her past when she tasted affluence. How could a daughter of a provision seller have been so antagonistic to the poor?

On the international stage, it is undeniable that Thatcher did her best to reposition her country as a major super-power.

Unfortunately her worldview was not progressive. It was narrow-minded and Anglo-Saxon centric. She attempted to divide the world like she divided her country. She was vehemently

“

Thatcher was until death the most divisive and controversial Prime Minister in British history. The ordinary British people, whose lives she shattered while at 10 Downing Street, hated her even in death.

Nevertheless, those who benefited from her free market policies that enriched the rich and impoverished the poor and those who shared in her racist and oppressive ideology loved her until death

opposed to the re-unification of East and West Germany.

Thatcher's policies towards Africa, especially South Africa was imperialistic. I guess if she had her way she would not have minded recolonizing Africa. She was a staunch supporter of Apartheid that ravaged that country. At one point she had the audacity to call Nelson Mandela and all those fighting against white brutality, terrorists.

For those Nigerians who wrote what a great leader she was on their Facebook pages, they should know that she was the leader who provided safe haven for the then political fugitive, Umaru Dikko.

She was also the one who stopped Nigerians from coming to the United Kingdom without a visa.

Notwithstanding the emotions surrounding her death, no one can take away from Thatcher the fact that she was one of iconic personalities of the 20th century and still remains the first and the only female British Prime Minister. Her death however reminds us of the mortality of man, no matter how powerful such a person is or was. People who find themselves in the corridors of power should use their position to engineer enduring social change and not to perpetrate special interests.

The evil that men and women do lives with them and after them as we have seen with Thatcher's death. checkpointcharley@yahoo.de

Unpacking the Bamako Initiative services either destroyed or ineffective. In other words, the health system had never been at its best and had never really had the time to build a relationship of trust with the people.

Secondly, the scheme assumed that people had money and would pay if the services were good. And this was during a period when the Structural Adjustment Program of the IMF had not only decimated the middle class, but had also impoverished the poor rural population beyond the limits of any memorable time in history.

It caught the people by surprise and alienated them from the public health service. Thus, the introduction of user-fee payment for health services wedged a barrier between the health system and the population it was meant to serve. It divided the population into dependables, i.e. those who could pay for services and the expendables, i.e. those who paid with their lives. The impoverishment of the middle class through the devaluation of national currencies directly affected the health service providers as well. Their salaries could not meet their needs. The health professionals left the shores of Africa in droves to sell their skills in Europe, America and the Middle East.

As a young doctor in a public hospital, one of the authors of this article saw many of the senior doctors leave for what later came to be known as "green pastures" in an exodus later dubbed "brain drain". This meant that clients could not get services during an episode of illness or an emergency

even if they managed to scrape some money together.

Consequently, as would be expected of any other population under such circumstances, the African people, particularly the expendables, fancifully called the "poorest quintiles" found alternatives which included the reinforcement of their beliefs in time-tested traditional medicine, self medication and in some cases, recourse to divine intervention during an episode of illness.

The responses, when they came addressed other things but not the main problems. Firstly, big investments were made in building health facilities - health posts, health centers and hospitals in supposedly underserved communities. In some instances, these facilities were not equipped, and in many other instances where they were fully equipped, there were no staff to work in them. As health consultants, we saw many equipped health facilities in a state of abandon scattered across West Africa.

Secondly, the blame was shifted to the population. They did not know enough to protect themselves and their children and were ignorant of life threatening complications of diseases and pregnancies.

Another round of big investments was made in informing and educating African people on individual self-care and protection of their children.

Thirdly, it was assumed that the lackluster performance of the largely demotivated available workforce was linked to lack of skills and knowledge. Large

amounts of money were again spent on skill-upgrading trainings for health personnel. If these strategies worked at all, the statistics did not show it. The achievement of any of the maternal and child health related targets of the Millennium Development Goals looked farther as 2015 approached.

It took the courage of an international agency sometime in 2005 to denounce the payment of user-fees as a major obstacle to any meaningful change in the preventable deaths of children and pregnant women.

Many agencies have since conducted different studies on the impact of user-fees on health service uptake and have come to the same conclusion. It took close to twenty years to understand that many children and pregnant women from poor households were dying simply because the families could not afford to pay for health services.

The exemption of pregnant women and under-fives from payment of user fees soon became an important subject of advocacy and government lobby for different international agencies working in Africa. The "race" to meet the MDG maternal and child health targets at least halfway for most African countries has increased the tempo of pressure on African governments.

The response of African governments to this pressure has been dual. Firstly, it is a studied silence - a quiet wish that something else would soon catch the fancy of the agencies. African governments have come to learn

that international agencies have a short attention span on any issue and will quickly shift their focus to wherever there are funds.

And secondly, some, just because this new clichĂŠ won't go away as soon as wished, have turned this into a political advantage. They simply declare free medical treatment for all children aged less than five years and paymentfree consultation and delivery for all pregnant women. They want peace, so they jump the fence to placate and quieten overzealous lobbyists as well as score a political point at the home front. The financial and operational implications of their declaration elude these politicians.

Now that user-fee payment has been proved to be a public health hazard for children and pregnant women, and those that saw it as a "necessary evil" have been largely silenced, the challenge does not lie any longer in overbeating the drums of the benefits of the removal of user-fee payment but in proposing sustainable ways of its implementation in order to convince African governments that are sitting on the fence now and those who are intent on only making a political profit out of the issue that it is not only possible but also achievable.

Abimbola Lagunju is a writer and author of several books maintains blog on http:// afropointofview.blogspot.com/ , while Jean Pierre Papart is a writer, an author and a public health specialist. He can be reached via jean.papart@tdh.ch

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 16

Revenue tax officer bags merit award in Suleja

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Management of Orator weekly newspaper based in Suleja local government area in Niger state has conferred a performed merit award of “Visionary Icon” to the Zonal Tax Revenue Officer of the Niger State Board of Internal Revenue (NSBIR), Alhaji Katun S. H. Abdullahi.

Presenting the award, the Managing Editor of Orator weekly newspaper, Mr. Nasir Oseni, said that the award was conferred on the officer based on his contributions towards the progress of the revenue generation in the area.

He also said that the award was conferred on the zonal revenue officer on his administrative competence towards the upliftment of the staff.

According to him,his administration would continue to award the government officials who have contributed immensely for the development of their society.

Responding, the awardee of the day, Alhaji Katun S. H. Abdullahi, thanked the authority of Orator weekly newspaper for the honour done to him and dedicated the award to his staff and the members of the family.

NDE appoints Newton as coordinator for FCT Directorate

D

irector General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Malam Abubakar Mohammed has approved the appointment of Mr. Romiluyi Oludare Newton as the new Coordinator of the Directorate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mr. Newton succeeds erstwhile Coordinator Engineer Muhammad Ada Shuaibu, who was recently elevated as the Director Special Public Works (SPW) at the NDE Headquarters.

Before his new positing, Mr. Newton, a Deputy Director has served as the Budget Officer to the NDE for 10 years and as state coordinator in Ekiti, Kwara and Ogun states respectively. He has resumed duty at the NDE FCT office in Abuja.

Fruits for sale on display and road side trading takes over as road construction cut off the FCDA Owner Occupier community from the entire Kubwa environment Photo: Miriam Humbe

Ministries, others get 3-months ultimatum to develop land or be revoked

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed has given a three months notice to all Ministries , Departments, Agencies and Cooperative Societies that have been allocated for housing development of their staff or members to commence development of such plots or risk revocation.

The minister gave this warning yesterday at the Groundbreaking ceremony of the Caraway Dallas District in Kugbo, FCT, stating that for the avoidance of doubt, they shall take appropriate stern measures at the expiration of the three month notice.

Bala said the administration shall no longer accept any form of excuses for non-commencement of development in such lands, adding that the administration

developing a framework, which will ensure fairness and equity in the allocations so that middle and low income earners could own houses in the FCT. According to the Minister the groundbreaking process has enriched both parties , particularly the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre (AIIC) to be able to deploy the model in other identified greenfiel districts within

FCTA set to buy 30,000 taxi cabs for FCT drivers

T

he FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, has approved the buying of 300,000 cabs for use by taxi drivers in the territory.

Mr Jonathan Ivoke, Secretary, Transport Secretariat told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that the cabs

would be distributed to registered drivers whose biometrics would be registered by the FCT Transport Secretariat.

He said that this would help the secretariat to rid the territory of criminals operating as taxi drivers.

The secretary also expressed

displeasure at the poor conditions of Abuja airports taxi cabs, saying the authority had reached out to their operators to register with the secretariat to ensure high standard.

“The condition of the vehicles they are using at the airport is not the best; the airport is the gateway

FCT urges youths to direct their energies to useful ventures

F

CT Social Development Secretariat, Dr Geoffrey Ogu, Director, has advised young people to look inwards and channel their energies to useful ventures to ensure better future.

Ogu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that not engaging young people in meaningful things had led to idleness and crime.

He said that rather than remaining idle the youth could engage themselves in positive activities such as skills acquisition

the Federal Capital City (FCC).

In his words: “The success of the process leading to this groundbreaking ceremony has galvanized us into initiating the infrastructure development of 10 new districts within the FCC using the Land Swap Model.

“The land Swap model include: Unlock dead capital by freeing up land with issuance of title documents to catalyze investment and business activities in the FCT amongst others”, he said.

and sports.

Ogu also condemned the getrich-quick attitude of Nigerian youths and advised that they channel their energies positively.

“Young people, the way you make your bed so you lie on it; there are thousands of opportunities awaiting them, if they can look inwards.

“You must prepare yourself; secondly you must channel your energy where you think it is very productive and where you can manage it.

“They should not think that they should be millionaires within two years.

“They have to change their orientation, they have to change their value system to know that life is not a sprint race; you must take it a stage after the other.

“We must have to get our orientation and values right; you might see those that cut corners that you want to behave like that may not work for you.

“So take life easy; prepare yourself, get good education, be

discipline, be hardworking at the end of the day, and you will be happier person.

The social worker said that the Federal Government established the YouWiN programme to encourage the youth to be self-reliant, but added that more needed to be done.

“The education of the child is very important if they have very sound education that equips them.

“That even gives them that psyche that they can believe in themselves and then fend for themselves. (NAN)

to the FCT. “People that are coming from other countries, people that are coming from other states, when they enter the FCT, the kind of taxi they should use should be of high standard.

“The drivers must be known, their information must be available to the transport secretariat; this not optional we’ve given them enough time to come and register, they are not paying anything expect for them to now buy the form which is so cheap at N20,000.

“And now they will fill their forms and get their information and they must have to abide, conform, they must have to observe the FCT regulation on road worthiness, on speed limit, on driver behaviour, on security and on many things.’’

Ivoke said that the minister had put in place comprehensive programmes to move the capital city forward before end of 2013.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

INSIDE FCT COURTS

Man bags 3 months imprisonment for criminal force, assault

A

n Abuja Grade 2 Area Court in Kado yesterday sentenced Isah Dauda, 21, to three months in jail for criminal force and assault.

The police prosecutor, Christopher Roko, had told the court that on April 10, Cpl. Simon Isah of Abuja Crime Control Squad reported the matter at the Utako Police Station.

Roko said the complainant had reported that Dauda of No. 20 Anojuwan Dolo Street, Gwagwalada, caused traffic obstruction at the Berger Roundabout and when challenged, he deliberately assaulted him.

The convict pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Section 267 of the Penal Code.

Section 267 states that “whoever assaults or uses criminal force on any person being a public servant in the execution of his duty as such public servant or with intent to prevent or deter that person from discharging his duty….shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both”.

Presiding judge Ahmed Ado, therefore, sentenced Dauda to three months imprisonment with an option of N5,000 fine. (NAN)

Driver, 45, accused of misappropriation

A

n Abuja Senior Magistrates Court on Tuesday ordered one Moses Enwerem of no known address to be remanded in prison until April 30.

Mr Paul Anigbo, the prosecutor told the court that the matter was reported at the Lugbe Police Station on April 7, by one Mrs Chinna Joe of Federal Housing, Lugbe, Abuja. ``Joe, in October 2012, entrusted her Golf car with Reg. No. BV 648 AKD, valued N400, 000 to Enwerem for commercial purpose. ``The vehicle in question has not been recovered from the accused and granting bail to him will jeopardise the matter.''

Anigbo told the court that the offence contravened Section 309 of the Penal Code.

Section 309 states that `` whoever commits criminal misappropriation shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.''

Following the prosecutor's submission, Magistrate Aminu Eri ordered the accused to be remanded in prison as he had no identifiable address within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case to April 30,2013 for further hearing. (NAN)

PAGE 17

2 remanded in prison for biting off man’s ear in Kuje A

n Upper Area Court sitting in Gwagwalada has remanded two persons, Faith Chinweife, 21, and Kelechi Ojobo, 22, in prison for allegedly biting off a man’s ear.

Chinweife and Ojobo, sales girl and boy respectively at Channel 5 Beer Parlour, Kuje Road, Chukwuku, in the FCT,

were arraigned on a two-count charge of joint act and causing grievous hurt.

The police prosecutor, Insp.

Modupe Musa, told the court that the accused jointly beat up one Dennis Manger, their customer of same address, on April 8.

Musa said during the fight, Faith bit off the complainant’s

right ear, thereby inflicting serious injury on him.

The prosecutor said Manger could no longer hear well with the ear.

The prosecutor prayed the court for an adjournment to enable her to call witnesses.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Their counsel, Mr Edo

Okayan, urged the court to grant them bail.

Okayan said there was no medical report to show that the complainant could no longer hear with the ear.

The judge, Mr Babanginda Hassan, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison and adjourned the case to June 5, 2013 for hearing. (NAN)

A baby receiving treatment at the National Hospital customised bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Ventilation (CPAP) device used to support babies born with respiratory distress syndrome, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Cleaner in court for allegedly stealing blackberry

A

25-year old cleaner, Thony Stepheen, yesterday appeared in an Abuja Grade Two Area Court for allegedly stealing a blackberry phone worth N45,000.

The suspect is a worker at Mabushi modern market, Abuja.

The police prosecutor, Sgt. Simon Ibrahim, told the court that the case was reported at the Utako Police

Station by Mr Sukky Odabi of Citec Estate Mbora, Abuja, on April 8.

Ibrahim alleged that that the accused person formed a criminal intention and dishonestly stole his employer’s phone in December 2012.

He told the court that the accused used the stolen phone to call one Anyam, who also worked for Mr sukky Odabi.

The prosecutor alleged that the accused confessed to the crime during police investigation.

He said the offence violated Section 289 of the Penal Code which stipulated a punishment of seven years imprisonment or fine for offenders.

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

He also denied confessing to the

crime, as alleged by the police prosecutor.

The prosecutor urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable him to bring his witnesses.

The Judge, Mr Ahmed Ado, granted the accused bail for N20,000 and one surety who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case to April 23,2013 for hearing. (NAN)

Mechanic in court over plasma TV, DVD player theft

A

labourer, Isah Mohammed, 23, of no known address, was on Tuesday arraigned before the Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State for allegedly stealing a car stereo and loud speaker.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Stephen Kwaza, told the court that one Abdullahi Ahmed of Abuja reported the matter at the Sani Abacha Road Police Station on

April 12.

“Ahmed’s Honda Accord car developed mechanical fault in front of MRS Filling Station, Mararaba on April 11 and Ahmed left it there.

“When he came back the next day, he discovered that the accused had criminally forced the driver’s side door open and damaged the windscreen, valued at N19,000.’’

Kwaza added that Mohammed stole the car’s stereo valued at

N12,000 and speakers valued at six thousand naira.

The prosecutor said that the offence of criminal trespass, mischief and theft contravened the provisions of sections 348, 327 and 288 of the Penal Code.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Vincent Gwahemba, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like

sum.

Gwahemba said that the surety must be a responsible person, who must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

He ordered that the surety’s residence must be identified by the register of the court.

The judge warned that the accused would be remanded in prison if he failed to meet the bail conditions, and adjourned hearing in the case to May 8,2013 . (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 18

FCTA Transport Director moves to COREN as President

By Miriam Humbe

C

Rehabilitation work on Olusegun Obasanjo Way, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Secondary school student in court over threat to father’s life A 20-year-old secondary school student, Benjamin Agashua, at a Karu Senior Magistrates Court was on Wednesday arraigned over a threat to his father’s life.

The accused, who resides at Tunga Maji in Abuja, is facing a two-count charge of theft and criminal intimidation.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Stephen Eimoga, told the court that the matter was reported by the father, Mr Ameh Agashua, of the Nigeria Immigration Service at the Karu Police Station.

Eimoga said that on April 7 the accused stole his father’s Nokia mobile phone valued at

N9,500 while he was out for work.

He told the court that the accused threatened to kill his father and destroy his career when he was confronted and asked by his father to return the phone.

The prosecutor said that the complainant was the biological father of the accused and that both of them had been having series of problems since the accused moved out of his father’s house.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, are punishable under sections 286 and 397 (b) of the Penal Code.

Section 286 states that

“whoever, intending to take dishonestly any movable property out of the possession of any person without that person’s consent, moves that property in order to take it is said to commit theft.”

The law prescribes a sevenyear jail term or an option of fine or both for criminal intimidation.

After the charges were read and explained to him, the accused, who is currently in detention, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor urged the court not to grant the accused bail in order for him not to interfere with police investigation into the matter

before the next adjourned date.

Eimoga argued that the accused person was showing no sign of remorse and would cause more trouble for the father if granted bail.

While ruling, Senior Magistrate Aminu Abdullahi said that the alleged offences were bailable.

He, therefore, granted the accused person bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety in like sum who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was adjourned to May 8, 2013 for continuation of hearing. (NAN)

ouncil for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, at an extraordinary meeting held at the council’s chambers yesterday elected a new President, Engr.

Kashim Abdul Ali. Until his appointment, Engr.

Abdul Ali was the Director of Transportation, in the Federal Capital Administration, FCTA. Engr. Kashim Abdul Ali takes over from Engr. Ibikunle S. Ogunbayo who had assumed office as president of COREN following the death of Engr.

Mustapha Bulama on June 8 last year.

Engr. Ali started his working career in the Benue state ministry of works in 1982 before joining the Federal Capital Development Authority in 1992 where he rose to the position of director and chief executive officer of the FCT Water Board.

He was also Special Adviser (Utilities), Director (Technical Services) of the Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre.

Born on June 10, 1958 in Ofugo, Ankpa local government area of Kogi State, Engr. Ali is a registered engineer, fellow and past president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers as well as member of the National Institute.

He was member of Nigeria Vision 20:2020 steering and Implementation committee and chairman of the sub-committee on physical Institute.

Engr. Ali has also held some other key positions such as cochairman of the Infrastructure Policy Commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, and member Policy Support Group to the Economic Management Team 2008-2010.

A holder of the traditional titles of Olimene Attah Igala and Galadiman Ankpa, he is married with four children and loves reading, writing, travelling and social works.

Lower Usuma Dam: New plants will boost water supply – Director

T

he new phases three a n d f o u r w a t e r treatment plants at the Lower Usuma Dam in Bwari will treat 20 million litres of water per hour when inaugurated, an official has said.

Mr Anto Jiniya, the Acting Director, FCT Water Board, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that the two new phases each had the capacity to treat 10 million litres of water per hour.

Jiniya added that the first

two treatment plants currently in use and supplying water to FCT residents each had the capacity to treat five million litres of water per hour.

According to him, when the new treatment plants are inaugurated, the board will be able to generate about 30 million litres of water per hour through combined capacity.

“We have completed the phase three and phase four of the treatment plants and they will soon be inaugurated.

“Each of the treatment plants can produce 10 million litres of water per hour,

making a total of 20 million litres of water per hour.

“Already, the phase one and phase two water treatment plants presently in operation have the capacity to produce only five million litres of water each per hour.’’

The acting director said that all the electrical, mechanical and civil structures for the phase three and phase four plants were in place, adding:“We are just checking to see that all the lines are connected properly.

“We have even connected the raw water line.”

On the Abaji treatment

plant, he said the plan had been completed and currently being test run.

Jiniya said that the delay in its use was due to a recent discovery of fault in the pipeline that needed to be fixed.

The plant has been completed and we have started a test run on it but just discovered a fault in the pipeline taking water to Abaji town, and that is what is causing the delay.

The water will come with high pressure, so to avoid constant pipe burst on that line, we decided to change it with ductile iron, which is a

stronger pipe that can stand any pressure.’’

NAN recalls that the N852.77 million Abaji treatment plant would treat 5,000 cubic litres of water daily when in use.

The Comprehensive Water Supply Scheme for Abaji and its environ was conceived by the FCT MDG Office, FCT Water Board and the Abaji Area Council.

The plant, when in use, would provide potable water to Abaji and the surrounding communities, especially Nuku, Amarati and Ajana, among others. (NAN)

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

Mob: 08033644990

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

FAAN to relocate tankers along airport road in Lagos

US Supreme Court rejects Shell Nigeria Rights case

T

L-R: Director Policy and Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Hussaini Umar, Guest Speaker, Professor Kwabena Gyimah- Brempong, and Director Economic Growth USAID, Sharon Pauling, during a conference on food security, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced a drop in crude oil production for the first quarter of 2013.

In a press statement signed by the Acting Group General Manager Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Tumini Green, NNPC attributed the drop to incessant crude oil theft and vandalism along the major pipelines within the Niger Delta.

Daily crude oil production during the period fluctuated between 2.1 and 2.3 million barrels per day (mbpd) compared with the projected

NNPC explains drop in crude oil production estimate of 2.48mbpd.

“Expectedly, this fall between actual production and forecast in first quarter 2013 has resulted in a drop in crude oil revenue of about $1.23 billion (N$191 billion) that should have accrued to the Federation Account,” she explained.

She further explained that the NNPC/SPDC JV recently declared a force majeure on

Bonny Crude due to incessant crude oil theft. This resulted in the shutting in of 150,000 bpd.

“Investigations showed that 53 break points were discovered along the 97km Nembe Creek Trunkline.

Repair work is expected to last about six weeks. This will further reduce our April and May monthly average to about 2.2mbpd and further

decrease crude oil revenue by about $554.0 million (equivalent to N83billion) that should have accrued to the Federation Account.

Green, however, assured that the maintenance work will have minimal effect on gas supply to domestic market.

She appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with the Corporation as it strives to eliminate this menace.

Shell declares force majeure on Nigeria Bonny oil exports From Suleiman Idris, Lagos with agency report

R

oyal Dutch Shell has d e c l a r e d f o r c e majeure on Nigerian Bonny Light crude oil exports after shutting down the 150,000 barrel per day Nembe Creek Trunkline (NCTL) for repairs, the company said on Wednesday.

Force majeure is a common clause in contracts that essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as a war, strike, riot, crime, or an event described by the legal term act of God (such as hurricane, flooding, earthquake, volcanic eruption, etc.), prevents one or both parties from fulfilling their

obligations under the contract. ”We’re concerned that the NCTL has been targeted by crude oil thieves repeatedly since we installed the new line in 2010 at a cost of $1.1 billion (N 160 bn),” said Managing Director of SPDC & Country Chair, Shell Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu.

He said “The current

exercise aims to remove a significant number of oil theft connections and repair any leaks on the pipeline. We recognise efforts by the security forces to contain the crime, and SPDC will work with them during the shutdown to clear illegal connections on the NCTL.” The 97-kilometre NCTL has

been closed several times as a result of crude oil theft leaks and fires between December 2011 and May 2012.

Mr. Sunmonu added: “Crude theft continues to affect people, the environment and the economy, and urgent action is needed by all stakeholders to tackle the problem.”

Management Tip of the Day

I

Aim for smart failure

f you want to encourage people to take healthy risks, you need to make sure they’re not afraid to fail. The first step in doing that is defining what a smart failure — a thoughtful and well-planned project that for some reason didn’t work — looks like.

Chances are that everyone in

your organization knows what success is. Far fewer know what a smart failure is.

Specify what guidelines, approaches, or processes characterize smart risk taking.

Provide clear examples of both smart failures and dumb failures and discuss why they’re different. Point out

what the smart ones have in common, so people know how to structure their experiments.

If you don’t define it, all failure looks risky and that kind of mindset will kill creativity.

Source: Harvard Business Review

he U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that federal courts do not have jurisdiction to hear lawsuits against foreign companies accused of human rights abuses abroad.

In a decision issued Wednesday, the justices ruled unanimously that a federal court in New York could not hear a case involving Nigerian activists who said the AngloDutch company Royal Dutch Shell was complicit in rights abuses committed by the Nigerian government.

The case centered around the killing of Nigerian environmental activists during a crackdown on protesters in the oil-rich Ogoni region between 1992 and 1995.

A lawsuit alleged that Royal Dutch Shell “aided and abetted” military forces by providing them with food, transportation, and compensation, and allowed the military to use their property as a staging ground for attacks.

In his opinion, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said that accepting the case would open the path for U.S. citizens to be charged in foreign courts for alleged violations in the U.S. or anywhere in the world.(VOA News)

Nigeria’s inflation rate drops to 8.6% in March

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igeria’s Composite Price Index, CPI, which measures the average change in price level, dropped for the second consecutive month to 8.6 per cent in March, from the 9.5 per cent figure attained in February.

Latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), on Wednesday showed that the slow rise in the headline index when compared with last month’s price level could be attributed, primarily, to base effects from March last year when the economy witnessed significant higher price levels.

The NBS described the slower rise year-on-year changes exhibited for March 2013 as muted, pointing out that between February and March 2012, there were substantial increases in 7, 8 and 6 of the 11 non-food classifications of individual consumption by purpose, COICOP, divisions in the headline, urban and rural indices, which resulted in the core index increasing from 11.9 points in February 2012 to 15 points in March 2012.

“In March, the composite CPI increased by 0.71 per cent monthon-month from index levels recorded in February.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

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COMPANY NEWS

Facebook

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acebook has released an updated version of its Facebook application for iOS today, bringing the iPad application more in line with the website’s recently announced redesign and adding some features from the Android-based Facebook Home software.

The iPad application now has a more streamlined, simplified user-interface that focuses more on content such as photo.

The iPad application, in addition to the iPhone and iPod touch versions, gained a few other neat features that are inspired by Facebook Home.

African ExportImport Bank

FAAN to relocate tankers along airport road in Lagos From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has disclosed that it is set to relocate all fuel tankers parked within the vicinity of the access gate of the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Ikeja to a safer location along

the airport road, in order to prevent incident of incessant traffic congestion along the route.

The authority affirmed that the present location does not only pose a security risk, it also impedes traffic during peak periods as most of the tanker drivers has develop the habit of parking very close to the

main road, thereby reducing space for vehicular movement.

Corporate Communications Manager of FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati in a statement reiterated that the plan to relocate the tankers followed series of meetings with stakeholders including oil companies, over the security challenges posed by the presence of these tankers

especially in view present security situation in the country.

“To conclude the relocation, a meeting has been scheduled between Customs agents, owners of the trucks, FAAN”s Aviation security officials and officers from the Nigeria Police, to finalise all arrangements towards a hitch-free relocation.”

The statement said further it is expected that the relocation of the tanker drivers will bring relief to airport users, especially staff of agencies working at the airport.

Bloomberg. About 8.7 million shares were traded, or 22 percent of the three-month daily average.

Transcorp, as the company is known, hasn’t paid a dividend since its incorporation in 2004, Lambeth Chief Executive Officer, David Adonri said.

“There is speculation the company will pay a dividend for last year to stimulate investors’ interest in its coming rights issue,” he said. Transcorp’s 2012 earnings are expected within two

weeks, Adonri further said.

Profit for the nine months through September rose to 1.7 billion naira ($11 million), while revenue climbed 44 percent to N2.7 billion, according to the company’s website.

Transcorp plans to raise N15 billion ($95 million) by selling shares to existing investors and taking loans from banks to refinance a power project and expand investments in oil exploration and hotels, it said on

March 28.

The FG signed deals to sell 15 state-owned power companies to buyers including Transcorp, which bought the Ughelli Power Plant, the West African nation’s privatization agency said on Feb. 22.

Transcorp jointly owns an oil lease with Johannesburg- based SacOil Holding Ltd and Londonbased Energy Equity Resources Ltd. in the oil-rich Niger River delta. (Bloomberg)

Transcorp hits longest winning streak in 2 months

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ransnational Corp. of Nigeria Plc, which invests in hotels, agriculture and energy rose to the longest winning streak in two months on speculation the company will pay its first dividend, according to Lambeth Trust and Investment Co. The stock climbed for a third day, gaining 7.8 percent to N1.39 by the close yesterday, the longest set of gains since Feb. 6, according to data compiled by

FG unveils on-line portal for MDA’s

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he African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank) will hold a series of activities in Addis Ababa from June 19 to 23 to mark the 20th anniversary of its establishment, its president, Jean-Louis Ekra, announced in Cairo on Wednesday.

At a ceremony at the Afreximbank headquarters to kick off the 20th anniversary celebrations and to launch a specially designed logo and slogan, Ekra, in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement said, that the anniversary was being organised to tie in with the 50th anniversary of the African Union, which is also taking place this year.

Oando Nigeria Plc

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il firm, Oando Nigeria Plc is close to securing funds to buy ConocoPhillips’ Nigerian assets, the company’s chief executive, Wale Tinubu has said , as he looked to allay fears it is struggling to raise finance for the $1.79 billion deal.

Wale Tinubu told Reuters in an interview in Lagos that the firm, having already raised the additional equity needed in February with a rights issue, now also has agreed in principle the necessary debt.

The deal to acquire Conoco’s fields, that were producing around 43,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) last year and have proven reserves of 213 million barrels of oil equivalent, is scheduled to close by mid2013.

By Chris Alu

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L-R: Chief of Lagos Field Office of UNICEF, Ms Sarah Beysolow, President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, Country Representative, Ms Jean Gough, and the National Primary Health Care coordinator for South West, Dr. Oladimeji Olayinka, during the courtesy visit by UNICEF delegation and the presentation of $500,000 by Dangote Foundation to UNICEF for the fight against Measles outbreak break.

Airtel scales NCC’s test on performance indicators

By Chris Alu

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he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday said Airtel Nigeria Limited met all targets in Key Performance Indicator (KPI) measurements carried out last December on all telecommunication network operators in the country.

The Commission said in its report titled: “Quality of Service Indicators for Mobile Operators in December 2012” that Airtel met all the KPI targets signed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between telecoms operators and the NCC for Drop Call Rate (DCR), Call Set-up Success Rate (CSSR), Traffic Channel Congestion (TCHcong) and Stand Alone

Dedicated Control Channel Congestion (SDCCHcong).

In addition, the regulator noted that Airtel proved to be “the best performing operator” as it outperformed other operators in key indices, by recording the lowest drop call rate and also recording the least congestion on the Traffic Channel Congestion parameter.

The report is coming barely two weeks after the telecoms company said it launched a robust network campaign to demonstrate its extensive network coverage in Nigeria.

The Chief Executive Officer/ Managing Director of Airtel, Segun Ogunsanya, had said at the commencement of a national campaign in March to educate Nigerians on its network coverage and quality

that the new advertising campaign was necessary to draw attention to the enormous capacity.

He said Airtel’s network and coverage of the country, which has given it the confidence in its chances of success against competition, would be confirmed by the imminent take off of the impending Mobile Number Portability (MNP) policy by the NCC. Mr. Ogunsanya, who spoke about the company’s investments, said upgrading its network to become the largest and widest 3.75G coverage across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, adding that Airtel was first to call for the implementation of MNP way back in 2010.

he Federal Government, on Tuesday unveiled a one single-window portal for everybody that would want to know about the activities of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs)with a click to www.service.gov.ng for accessibility and transparency.

Performing the launch, Minister of communications, Omobolaji Johnson said that the effort is to drive transparency and accountability in government circle, she explained that the domain is a one stop shop that will create efficiency, prudence and proficiency in government service to individuals, corporate bodies or group that would want to transact business with the government or get information on its mode of operations.

The minister explained that the on-line portal is now available for everybody that would like to access it with a click on the website for registration and follow the necessary procedure in other to get the needed answers from the portal which will be upgraded at all times.

In his remark, the Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe said the website has been fine tune to check and provide security from hackers as well as providing the need infrastructure for the service, he said that previous mistakes recorded from the past has been corrected and would be prevented because the services is a multiple layer approach from both the network and the portal itself.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Second Republic minister advocates for return of national carrier From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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he decision of the aviation ministry to return the defunct national carrier, the Nigerian Airways, has received the backing of a former Minister of the same ministry under the Alhaji Shehu Shagari administration.

Mr. Samuel Mafuyai, a second republic aviation minister, also affirmed that way the country’s aviation industry will be on its way to its Eldorado, as the establishment of the national carrier will uplift the sovereignty of Nigeria and also fly the nation’s flag across the world.

He said the Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency overhaul the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), in Zaria, Kaduna, to ensure the country’s foremost aviation training institution develop adequate capacity for the training of aviation personnel in the industry.

Mr. Mafuyai, who spoke to reporters in Lagos after inspecting the re-modelled domestic wing of the Lagos airport, said more investment in the college of aviation technology will position Nigeria as a leader in training of aviation personnel in Africa and across the world.

He also explained that the setting up of a national carrier is one way of consolidating the airport on going airport remodelling exercise, where over eleven terminals are being reworked.

“Everything I am seeing around the airport today in terms of the remodelling appears fascinating to me. It is evidence that government is beginning to tackle issues of infrastructure in the aviation sector”.

He said “The Federal Government needs to set up a national carrier that the people

could be proud of. That is the only way Nigeria could redeem its image as a big player in the global community. With all these efforts to remodel our airports, it will be better to have a strong carrier that could the nation’s flag. The setting up of such a carrier will not in any way affect the fortunes of the existing privately owned domestic carriers. Such an airline will raise the stakes and assist to put these airports being remodelled into proper use.”

While also commending the efforts of the current minister of aviation, the ex-minister said “the courage and determination of the current minister of aviation to turn around eleven airports, is evidence that Nigeria is ready to be part of the global aviation community as the quality of the terminals” he has seen do far compares with airports across the globe.

Naira falls as CBN reduces dollar sales

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L-R: Senior Supervisor, Indomie Fan Club, Ogun State, Victoria Bassey Akpan, Olawuni Rachael of God’s Heritage School, Sango Ota; Raheem Abdulfatai , Irene Zainab, both of the Ultimate Children’s School, Ota; Olufemi Ayo of God’s Heritage School, Sango-Ota and the Indomie Fan Club Co-ordinator, Mrs Faith Joshua during the Indomie Fan Club quarterly birthday party held in Ota, Ogun state recently.

PENGASSAN tasks government on oil theft, vandalisation From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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he Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has again urges the Federal government to muster the necessary will to check oil theft and pipe vandalisation that has been a drain in the country’s resources.

Speaking in Lagos on the menace of oil theft and pipe vandalisation, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, condemned the two criminal acts, describing it as an act of economic sabotage.

He said that the union condemned the two heinous acts among other issues discussed during the last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union on April 4, 2013, in Calabar, Cross Rivers State; “During our NEC in Calabar, we condemned the increasing level of pipeline vandalisation and the attendant crude oil and petroleum products theft and the apparent complicity of the security agencies as completely unacceptable.

“Pipe vandalisation and the attendant crude oil and

petroleum products theft constitute not just a drain on the nation’s resources but also a major environmental hazard as well as threat to our democracy and national security”, he stated.

The union president also advised the various oil companies operating in the country and government to invest in modern technologies to reduce to the barest minimum, if not eliminate, the incidence of pipe vandalisation and crude oil and petroleum products theft.

On deregulation, Comrade Ogun condemned government’s surreptitious moves to further increase the prices of petroleum products under the guise of deregulation, reiterating PENGASSAN’s long standing position that deregulation could not be import-driven and that the legal foundation and appropriate environment must be in place before the government engages all stakeholders on the issue.

He called on the government to put in place machinery to restore crude oil supply to the Port-Harcourt Refinery as well as resolve the haulage challenges

being faced by the Warri Refinery in order to ensure that these refineries run optimally and reduce the nation’s dependence on imported products.

Expressing concern at the continuous underfunding of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and government share of its Joint Venture (JV) Obligations, the PENGASSAN President said that the underfunding is impacting negatively on the operational efficiency of these agencies.

He, therefore, called on the government to without delay address the underfunding of these agencies and also allowed the DPR to retain a certain percentage of the funds it generates in order to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness He further called on the government to adequately fund its share of the JV obligation in order to boost production and reserves, adding that the JV is major revenue earner for the country by producing about 60.5% of Nigeria’s daily production.

he Naira depreciated to the lowest in two weeks as investors demanded dollars after the Central Bank of Nigeria sold the least foreign currency at auctions in more than a month.

The currency retreated 0.2 per cent to N158.40 per dollar, the weakest on an intraday basis since April 3, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The CBN sold $266.2m at an auction on Wednesday, bringing sales this week to $498.7m, the

lowest since the period ending March 13, according to data on the website.

The regulator sells dollar at auctions on Mondays and Wednesdays to keep the naira within a three per cent band above or below N155 per dollar.

Nigeria relies on imports to cover 70 per cent of its fuel needs because of inadequate refining capacity, and those shipments into the country are a source of pressure on the naira, according to the CBN. (Bloomberg)

Lagos seeks UK assistance in developing its energy and solid mineral sector From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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he Lagos state government is seeking the assistance of the United Kingdom in attracting investors in the energy and solid mineral sector in the State.

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral resources, Engr. Taofiq Ajibade Tijani disclosed this in his office while hosting the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Peter Carter.

The Commissioner, while briefing the Deputy High Commissioner and his team on the activities of his Ministry said Lagos is considering the use of CNG for vehicles operating in the State.

He said the scheme which had already started in a State in the country will soon be introduced as a pilot scheme to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the Lag bus vehicles.

Engr. Tijani further said the use of CNG will greatly reduce the demand for petrol and diesel which are not environmentally friendly and already been priced out of the reach of the populace.

The Commissioner sought

the assistance of the Deputy High Commissioner in attracting investors in the energy sector especially in renewable energy, waste to energy project, captive power project and solar energy deployment in the State.

Other areas of attracting investors according to the commissioner include the development of the Solid Mineral and the Oil and Gas subsectors of the State.

Responding, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Peter Carter while discussing various business opportunities which abound in UK, promised to keep the Ministry updated on areas of mutual interest.

He advised the Commissioner to take advantage of the UKTISHELL Chain engagement programme coming up in May 2013, to showcase the Ministry and the State at large to potential investors all over UK that had been invited to the programme.

The Deputy High Commissioner said he plans to visit other key ministries to seek areas of cooperation between UK investors and the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

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Nigeria’s uphill battle to spread the country's wealth A

frica's most populous nation, Nigeria, is full of promise. But fulfilling that promise is often a struggle.

Plagued by corruption and mismanagement, the resource-rich country has a poverty rate of over 50%.

Maternal mortality is shockingly high and more than half of Nigerians don't have access to electricity, according to the World Bank.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the country's finance minister and the former World Bank official has been lauded as the reformer Nigeria needs. But she too isn't immune from Nigeria's problems - her own mother was kidnapped for a terrifying five days before being released. President Goodluck Jonathan promised to address corruption in the country.

Nevertheless, a former governor - an ally of Jonathan - has been convicted of embezzling million in public funds and has since been pardoned."Nigeria does have a problem with corruption and so do many other countries," Okonjo-Iweala told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in an interview that aired on Tuesday. "I don't like the fact that when people mention the name Nigeria the next thing they mention is corruption."

Technology could be the answer the problem, OkonjoIweala believes."We must build electronic platforms. We must distance people from the money. These things were recommended by the world bank and IMF," she told Amanpour. "We are doing them."

President Jonathan is calling for the judiciary, the legislative and the executive arm to meet together about this issue all together for the time first Okonjo-Iweala said."Because even if you catch somebody, if they go to courts and they are let off lightly the president can't do anything about that. The judicial system also has to be strengthened," she said.

"This is a country of 170 million people; 99.9 percent of them are honest, hard-working citizens who just want to get on with their lives," Okonjo-Iweala said, proudly. "And they want a government that delivers for them."

Oil should be Nigeria's saving grace, but oil leakage causes a significant drain on the economy."We are still a poor country," she admitted.

"We can't afford any leakage."

On top of that, there is immense oil theft, which Okonjo-Iweala puts at 150,000 barrels stolen a day. She compared the situation to

CNN's Christiane Amanpour with Nigeria's finance minster, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Mexico, which sees tens of thousands of barrels stolen each day."We need them to treat this oil like stolen diamonds. The blood diamonds," she said - calling on the international community for assistance.

"Make it blood oil. Help us so those people don't have a market to sell this stuff."Nigeria is also plagued by problems with its electrical grid. When the country's president last appeared on CNN, he told

Amanpour, "That is one area that Nigerians are quite pleased with the government, that's a commitment to improve power.

It's working. So if you are saying something different, I'm really surprised."

That interview caused an uproar in Nigeria, with many of the county's very active social media citizens taking to Twitter and Facebook to voice their frustrations with the power grid and President Jonathan's comments.

“

Okonjo-Iweala said the power problems all come down to previous government's lack of investment."If you've neglected a sector for that long, you've not invested, you've not even maintained your basic facilities, it's not going to happen that fast. It takes time," she said.

While Nigerians often complain of power outages telling CNN they often have to use generators to watch the news channel - Okonjo-Iweala

"This is a country of 170 million people; 99.9 percent of them are honest, hard-working citizens who just want to get on with their lives," Okonjo-Iweala said, proudly. "And they want a government that delivers for them."

maintained there has been improvement.

"That month, when you interviewed the president," she said, referring to Amanpour's previous interview of Jonathan, "the polls showed, independently, scientifically that they are in technical partnership with dialogue.

That 54 percent of Nigerians felt there was some improvement," she told Amanpour.

"Nigeria is not the only country.

Almost every developing country has a problem with power, as you know. India has it. South Africa has it. South Africa is far better off because they've invested much more.

But many developing countries, even China, they are struggling with keeping up with infrastructure," she said.

Okonjo-Iweala said that the administration has accepted that the government is not the best place to run the power sector.

"If we want this country and this economy to do better, we just have to get out. And Nigeria is pursuing one of the most sweeping privatization programs in any country in the world," she said. "We are selling off everything."That said, the lights even went out on President Jonathan during a speech he gave a speech in front of cameras just this past Easter day.(Source: CNN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

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Checking oil theft, illegal refineries in the Niger Delta

By Nathan Nwakamma

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lthough oil theft and illegal refining of petroleum products are not new to Nigeria’s oil industry, the current level is, nonetheless, quite alarming.

For instance, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) says that it loses more than 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily to oil thieves.

The company threatened to shut its Nembe Trunk Line, citing the rising wave of oil theft along its pipeline network in Bayelsa as the main reason for its proposed action.

Mr Mutiu Sumonu, the Managing Director of SPDC, urged the Joint Task Force (JTF) to step up its activities in the fight against oil theft.

Besides, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) on March 23, 2013 shut down its onshore operations in Bayelsa “over unbearable level of illegal bunkering activities’’.

NAOC said that its closed facilities in Bayelsa hitherto produced about 40,000 barrels of crude oil daily.

The firm said that more than 7,000 barrels of its daily crude oil production were lost to oil thieves in Bayelsa, adding that this necessitated the closure of the facilities.

However, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the JTF spokesman, vowed that the outfit would never relent in its efforts to stamp out

illegal oil activities in the Niger Delta.

He said that available facts showed that this year alone, 260 suspects, eight vessels, nine barges and 90 boats had been apprehended.

“We have also destroyed 452 illegal oil refining points. The JTF has not in any way relented in its task of combating oil theft in the region,’’ he said.

Nwachukwu stressed that the JTF had adopted a pragmatic strategy in combating oil theft and illegal oil bunkering activities.

He said that this entailed advocacy, enlightenment campaigns, as well as surveillance of oil installations and pipeline networks.

In the meantime, Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has promised to partner with the military in the fight against pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the state.

The governor, who gave the assurance recently when the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Dele Ezeoba, visited him in Yenagoa, said that the government’s assistance to security agencies would boost the fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

He said that the state government had invested heavily in security, adding that the investment had yielded positive results.

“Bayelsa has transited from being a constant national flashpoint to being on the vanguard of stability

Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke

An illegal oil refinary and security within the past one year,’’ he added.

Dickson, however, acknowledged the prevalence of illegal bunkering, crude oil theft and illegal oil refining in the state, expressing the government’s determination to deal with the development.

He said that the state government would ensure that the 15 fast-moving patrol gunboats, which it recently acquired and presented to security agencies, were put to use soon.

However, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), a n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l organisation, said that it had begun consultations with communities in the Niger Delta area on how to stamp out oil theft and the operation of illegal refineries in the area.

Dr Godwin Ojo, a Director at ERA/FoEN, who said this in Yenagoa recently, noted that oil theft and illegal refining of crude oil had become a major economic concern in the country.

“I think the issue of oil theft, in terms of illegal oil bunkering or bush artisanal refineries, is fast becoming topical in Nigeria.

“It is a thing that is coming to limelight; so, we

A vandalised pipeline want to promote discussions around this topic so that the government and stakeholders will come together and find a lasting solution to the problem.

“From the law books and government’s perspective, oil theft, in all its ramifications, borders on criminality and economic sabotage but here in the local communities, the perception is different altogether,’’ he said.

On why previous efforts to combat oil theft and illegal refining of crude oil have been unsuccessful so far, Ojo stressed that the communities were not carried along in the campaign.

“Our concern is that there is no discussion, the dialogue has been one-sided and the use of force will not necessarily stop these illegal practices.

“For example, the bush refinery has makeshift equipment and it is easy to be installed. If you destroy one refinery; in a few hours, another one is set up.

“Therefore, we think that dialogue and getting to the root of the issue are central to solving the problem,” he added.

All the same, an operator of a local oil refinery in

Bayelsa said that passage and implementation of the Petroleum Industry Bill would curb the menace of oil theft, while advancing local oil refining capacity.

Mr Roland Kiente, who operates a local refinery in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, said that the involvement of oil communities in oil production processes, as proposed in the bill, would make them partners in the oil industry.

“The 10 per cent equity to oil communities would drastically reduce, if not

eliminate, the issue of oil theft and bush refineries; we are involved in it because of neglect but if we are given a part of the business, then the government has nothing to worry about again.

“Besides, there will be no need for the JTF, the communities will simply rise to secure their equity and investment. The bill will definitely change the face of oil and gas in the Niger Delta,” he added.

Kiente said that under the emerging approach, the artisanal refineries could be legalised and standardised to ensure environmentally

“

It is a thing that is coming to limelight; so, we want to promote discussions around this topic so that the government and stakeholders will come together and find a lasting solution to the problem

sound practices.

He said that when the local refineries were recognised, they would source crude oil from approved channels, thereby boosting the government’s revenue.

He said that under the current arrangement, community refineries purchased crude from oil thieves who burst oil pipelines.

Besides, Kiente said that the community refineries could be harnessed to create employment and make refined petroleum products more available in the market.

“It will also end the scarcity of petroleum products in the country and boost our domestic refining capacity; we cannot continue to depend on imported fuel when the refining technology is available and the crude is within reach,” he said.

With the growing impact of oil theft on the nation’s economy, analysts insist that it has become somewhat imperative for oil firms, oil communities, government and citizens to collaborate and make concerted efforts to find lasting solution to the problem.

Source: NAN

Bunkerriers transporting crude oil on the Greek

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Concept of amnesty in Islam (II) Allah says: “The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, His reward is due from Allah. for ((Allah)) loveth not those who do wrong.”[ash-Shura: 40] n the name of Allah, the I Beneficent, the Merciful.

All Praise is due to Allah!

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

Last week we started expounding the concept amnesty on Islam to serve as a general knowledge not only for the Muslim readers, but also for non-Muslim students who may want further their knowledge about Islam. I have asked mufti Google on this topic, but I was not satisfied with his fatwah. I realized he is incompetent to give satisfactory answer, most especially in English. I then decided to put this humble attempt to such a time when someone more competent thn to come to our rescue on this aspect of Islam.

Indeed, Islam was sent the entire creations as source of relieve from the various artificial impediments and barriers to peace and justice on this earth. On parallel ground, Muhammad, peace be upon him, was sent as the last and seal of Apostles as a mercy to the universe. Allah says: “We sent Thee not, but As a Mercy for all creatures.”[al-Anbiya’: 107] Muhammad (PBUH) was the finality of all the messengers of Allah sent throughout time as the perfecter to all the previous revelations. He, in just 23 years, founded a community well established on love, justice and equality. Allah says; “Thus, have we made of you an Ummah justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations,

and the Messenger a witness measures and criteria to fit over yourselves... and never every circumstances at hand.

The Messenger of Islam would Allah make your Faith of no effect, for Allah is to all was such a nice person people Most surely full of fashioned by Allah, the Most kindness, M o s t Merciful.”[alBaqarah: 143] Allah in His infinite

By Husain Zakariyya m e r c y , Yawale favoured the Ummah with +234-8052952900 (sms only) equilibrium islamexplained35@yahoo.com t h r o u g h justice and uprightness perfectly Merciful. He, as an extension embodied in its Shari’ah of His mercy, was sent as code. In essence, Islam, in its mercy to the universe. Allah purest sense teaches and says: “It is part of the Mercy of practices equitability, kindness, tolerance and Allah that Thou dost Deal moderation. The sublime gently with them Wert Thou

ISLAM EXPLAINED

message of Islam, is unparallel to any ism or system expounded by any humanbeing! It has a unique message in both approach and application. thus, Islam has daringly confronted every situation with lasting solutions to all human problems and challenges. In times of peace and war, It applied appropriate

severe or harsh-hearted, They would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (Their faults), and ask for ((Allah)’s) forgiveness for them; and consult them In affairs (of moment). then, when Thou hast taken a decision put Thy trust In Allah. for Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).” [aal-Imran: 159]

“

prevails over my wrath.”

[Related by Bukhari and Muslim] Thus, we can safely conclude that Islam is a peaceful and m e r c i f u l religion which, when allowed its enemies from within and without will fits every inch of this earth, and win the faith every human and jinni souls.

If Islam will evaluated by its contents and message, no system will ever evolve to compete with it let alone fight it as terrorist shade, anytime in human endeavours. It will remain supreme over and above all

This verse is not only a unique and remarkable breakthrough to solving crises problems on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RD), who said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), said, “When Allah decreed to creation, He pledged himself by writing in His Book which is laid down with Him: My mercy

In essence, Islam should not be measured by the current happenings and events which were mastered minded under the influences and sponsorships of the hidden enemies of peace, justice and equality.

Violence and terrorism is not the protected atrocity of any tribe, religion, nation or organisation

systems; political, social, economical and national.

Islam, has showed series of instances of amnesty, leniency and forgiveness throughout its golden period. it has exhibited the ideals of amnesty during war times, and consolidated that during peace time. It has given the zimmis and the musta’min unlimited succour and protection in the abode of Islam.

The Qur’an says: 109. Quite a number of the people of the Book wish They could turn you (people) back to infidelity after ye have believed, from selfish envy, after the truth hath become Manifest unto them: but forgive and overlook, till Allah accomplish His purpose; for Allah hath power over all things.

“Invite (all) to the way of Thy Lord with wisdom and preaching; and argue with them In ways that are best and Most gracious: for Thy knoweth best, who have strayed from His path, and who receive guidance.”[alBaqarah: 125] Despite their series hidden and open plots against the Muslim during the infancy stage of Islam, yet, they were forgiven. But, where they insisted and were caught, justice and fairness must allow to rule the procedures and the rulings. Allah says; “And if ye do catch them out, catch them out no worse than catch you out: but if ye Show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those are patient. And do Thou be patient, for Thy patience is but from nor grieve over them: and distress not Thyself because of their plots. For Allah is with those who restrain themselves, and who do good.”[an-Nahli: 125-128] In essence, Islam should not be measured by the current happenings and events which were mastered minded under the influences and sponsorships of the hidden enemies of peace, justice and equality. Violence and terrorism is not the protected atrocity of any tribe, religion, nation or organisation. It is found everywhere and anywhere.

The only anti-dot is the administration of justice, liberty and equality before the law!

May Allah forgive our shortcomings in all their ramifications! concluded.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 27

Boston Marathon bombings: breaking the pattern

By Erik Love

N

o matter who is eventually found and brought to justice for the odious attack in Boston, the rush to blame "the Muslims" fits a longstanding and disturbing pattern after attacks like this one. Although there have been very few terrorist attacks in the US carried out by Muslims in recent years, already there has been a widespread speculation that Muslims must be to blame.

Since 9/11, Muslim American terrorism has killed 33 people, while politically motivated attacks from white supremacists and other rightwing extremists killed more than 200 people, according to a study from the Combating Terrorism Center at the US Military Academy. Since 2010, no one has been killed or injured

by Muslim American terrorism.

Why do so many Americans have the knee-jerk reaction that "it's probably the Muslims?"

In part, the constant stream of fake terrorism plots created and then "heroically" stopped by the authorities must contribute to the assumption that any terrorist attack is likely to have been carried out by Muslims. As

ANALYSIS detailed in Trevor Aaronson's new book The Terror Factory, the FBI has for years been "discovering" fake terrorists by paying shady confidential informants.

The fake terrorist attacks set up by the FBI, where no attack is actually possible, nearly always end with a "dramatic" arrest just in the nick of time. The news media then dutifully report the FBI's breathless press conferences announcing that they have stopped yet another terrorist. The fake terrorists, whose photographs appear in news reports around the country, are nearly always young Muslim men.

Indeed, on the same day as the Boston attack, two young Muslim men were sentenced to 20 years in prison for their participation in a fake "conspiracy" to join al-Qaeda, this time in a sting operation arranged by the New York Police Department. This sequence, where Muslim men appear in the media connected to fake terrorism, has repeated over and over, dozens of times over the

past several years. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that many Americans' immediate reaction to the horrific news from Boston is to assume that "the Muslims" must be behind the attack.

This rush to judgment is even more disturbing because it leads directly to hate crimes against not only Muslims, but anyone who "looks Muslim".

Many Arab, Muslim, Sikh and South Asian American advocates have already made statements condemning the Boston attack, emphasising that all Americans are united in shock and grief at times like these. If history is any guide, we now must prepare for a surge in violent hate crimes impacting anyone who fits the stereotypical image of a Muslim.

After the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City, Sahar AlMawsawi, an Iraqi refugee, was attacked at her home by "persons provoked to anger by reports linking Muslims to the bombing". The hate crime killed her unborn baby. In New York, bomb threats were phoned in to Arab-owned businesses. These hate crimes were motivated, in part, by frequent "expert" opinions aired in the immediate

aftermath of the bombing on national television about the likelihood that the attack was the result of Muslim or Middle Eastern terrorism.

Just one year later, after the accidental explosion of TWA Flight 800 in New York in 1996, initial speculation flooded the news media that Muslim or Middle Eastern terrorists were likely to blame. Once again, there was a spike in harassment of Muslim Americans.

Unfortunately, the pattern does not seem to have changed much in recent years. In the immediate aftermath of the bombing in Boston, a fallacious report that a "Saudi national" had been detained by authorities spread rapidly through social media and on 24-hour cable news channels. The Boston police quickly repudiated that report, but that did not stop professional Islamophobes from trying to leverage the Boston tragedy for exposure.

With inflammatory, baseless accusations about "Jihad in Boston", these pundits apparently believe that there is no such thing as "bad press".

Indeed, even elected officials like Congressman Peter King (R-NY) pressed the case that Muslims

are likely to blame, saying that "we don't know for certain, but‌ I think we have to be looking toward either al-Qaeda or an off shoot of al-Qaeda or a self-starter here in the United States, a home-grown terrorist".

No matter who is eventually found responsible, this knee-jerk speculation about Muslim terrorism is unwarranted and unhelpful. As the investigation unfolds, I hope that the pattern is broken and only the individuals responsible for the attack are blamed. It should go without saying that the ethnic or religious identity of the individuals responsible for the Boston attack is irrelevant.

Nevertheless, if the perpetrators in Boston are not white, expect the experts to declare them and the attack products of their culture. If the perpetrators are white, the experts will almost certainly declare them insane, clearly not representative of their communities.

The reality is that everyone is horrified by what happened in Boston. Any attack like this is an attack on all Americans. All of us are united in our grief, and in our desire for justice.

Source: AlJazeera

"With inflammatory, baseless accusations about 'Jihad in Boston', some pundits apparently believe that there is no such thing as 'bad press'," writes author [AP]

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Senegal's Karim Wade charged with corruption T Ivory Coast wants drones to monitor Liberia border

I

vory Coast has asked the United Nations for drones to monitor its border with Liberia.

The country's UN envoy believes drones are needed to make up for the expected decline in the UN's personnel presence.

The UN is set to deploy such drones for the first time in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to help monitor its borders with Rwanda and Uganda.

Western Ivory Coast has seen deadly raids by supporters of former President Laurent Gbagbo, ousted in 2011's war.

The UN peacekeeping force in Ivory Coast, known as UNOCI, is set to reduce its size from about 9,000 military personal by one battalion to 8,837 by 31 July.

Ivory Coast's UN ambassador, YoussoufouBamba, told the UN Security Council that he thought the current level of security was good.

Mr Bamba said any adjustments to the size of the force would need to be offset "by the deployment of qualitative resources, such as surveillance drones for the border zone between Ivory Coast and Liberia".

Mr Bamba's comments echo a recommendation by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

In a report to the Security Council, Mr Ban said drones should be considered for Ivory Coast to "enhance situational awareness and monitoring ability, with a view to strengthening the ability of UNOCI to efficiently and effectively carry out its mandate, including the protection of civilians".

Mr Ban has proposed cutting a further two battalions of military personnel by mid-2015.

When the decision to deploy drones to the Democratic Republic of Congo was taken in March, several Security Council members insisted that the move did not set a precedent.

Several Liberian army units were deployed to border posts between Ivory Coast and Liberia in 2012 to counter armed gangs.

The UN assistant secretary general for peacekeeping operations, Edmond Mulet, said the Ivory Coast government had "made significant progress since February 2012 and especially during these past months... but the recent instability in the west of the country along the border with Liberia shows the fragility of the situation".

he son of Senegal's former President Abdoulaye Wade is in police custody after being charged with corruption in connection with his personal fortune.

Karim Wade denies the accusations that he illegally amassed about $1.4bn (£900m) during his father's rule.

The 44-year-old was a senior minister during his father's rule from 2000 to 2012, and was in charge of major infrastructure and energy projects.

Mr Wade is alleged to have acquired several foreign firms by illicit means.

He was arrested on Monday, just hours after his lawyers submitted documents relating to his assets to a courthouse.

Prosecutors announced an

investigation into Mr Wade and five other former ministers last year.

It followed the defeat of Abdoulaye Wade in the March 2012 presidential election by MackySall, who pledged to fight corruption.

During Abdoulaye Wade's 12-year rule, Karim Wade held several ministerial posts simultaneously, including minister for infrastructure and air transportation.

His large portfolio led to him being dubbed "the minister of the earth and the sky", but it also put him in charge of a large proportion of Senegal's government budget at a time of large-scale infrastructure spending.

Karim Wade

Libyan passenger plane shot at near Tripoli

A

Libyan passenger plane with at least 150 passengers on board was shot at as it prepared to land at Tripoli airport, but sustained no major damage, airline sources have said.

The Buraq Air Boeing 737 was a near the capital's airport when the incident occurred on Wednesday evening. It was not

immediately clear whether it was accidental fire or an attack.

"As the plane prepared to land at Tripoli airport, it was hit on the bottom, in the lavatory at the front of the plane," a Buraq Air source told Reuters news agency. "The plane landed safely afterwards."

"People started to panic inside and one woman was later taken

to hospital to be treated for shock," they said, adding that the airline had temporarily suspended flights to and from Tripoli.

A second airline source added: "We do not know exactly what happened but we believe this was accidental fire. Security at the airport has been stepped up and so far nothing suspicious has been

found."

The plane was on a flight to Tripoli from the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.

In June last year, clashes broke out between rival Libyan militias at Tripoli's international airport after gunmen drove armed pickup trucks onto the tarmac and surrounded planes, forcing the airport to cancel flights.

A Buraq Air Boeing 737 like the one above was shot before landing.

Egypt’s Mubarak ordered back to prison

F

ormer Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has been ordered to be transferred back to prison from a military hospital on the recommendation of a medical team after he appeared fitter at his aborted retrial.

The prosecutor general’s office said on Wednesday that it

decided Mubarak would return to Torah prison on the outskirts of Cairo, without saying when he would be moved.

Many Egyptians were angered when the 84-year-old Mubarak, who had been seriously ill last year, appeared in good health, smiling and waving to the public in court

last Saturday, prompting calls for him to be put back in jail.

Earlier on Wednesday, judicial sources announced that Mubarak’s retrial on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters during that uprising that ousted him from power in 2011 would start on May 11 in Cairo.

The trial will be presided by

Judge Mahmud al-Rashidi at the North Cairo Criminal Court, the sources said.]

Mubarak, his former interior minister Habib al-Adly and six security chiefs are charged with complicity in the murder and attempted murder of hundreds of peaceful protesters on January 2531, 2011.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 29

Nuclear fuel leaves French port for Japan, first since Fukushima A shipment of highly radioactive nuclear fuel to Japan left the port of Cherbourg in northern France on Wednesday for the first time since the Fukushima disaster, French energy group Areva said on yesterday.

The shipment of mixed oxide fuel (MOX) is likely to be controversial in Japan, where public opposition to nuclear power and reactor restarts remains strong a month after the second anniversary of the March 11, 2011 catastrophe.

France’s state-owned nuclear group, whose activities range from uranium mining and enrichment to reactors and waste recycling, said the shipment will go round the Cape of Good Hope and then through the south-west of the

Pacific Ocean.

The group added in a statement it expected the Pacific Heron and Pacific Egret cargoes of British nuclear shipping company PNTL to reach Japanese waters in the second half of June.

Asia & Middle East The long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan has returned to power and has said it will reassess the previous government’s decision to abandon atomic power after Fukushima, the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

China calls on Japan to reduce jet scrambles

C

hina called on Japan, yesterday to stop sending jets up against Chinese aircraft after Japan said it had scrambled its fighters twice as often in the past year amid a territorial dispute.

The number of scrambles against Chinese planes nearly doubled to 306 in the year that ended in March.

That accounted for the increase in the overall number from 425 to 567, the highest level in 22 years, Japan's Defense Ministry said.

China and Japan have been involved in an increasingly acrimonious stand-off over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

"We all know that when it comes to the Diaoyu Islands issue Japan has been

continuously taking provocative actions to raise tensions. This is the root cause of the present very tense situation over the islands," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman HuaChunying told a daily news briefing.

Japan, she said, should instead "show more sincerity and take practical steps to work hard with China to find a way to appropriately manage and resolve the problem through dialogue, talks and consultations. This would be best for both countries."

The waters around the disputed islands are rich fishing grounds and have potentially huge oil and gas reserves.

The dispute has escalated in recent months to the point where China and Japan have scrambled fighter jets while patrol ships shadow each other, raising fear that an unintended collision could lead to a broader clash.

Taiwan Coast Guard patrol ships are seen during a drill held about 30 nautical miles northwest of the port of Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.

North Korea lists demands for talks

N

orth Korea has demanded the withdrawal of UN sanctions and the end of USSouth Korea military drills as conditions for resuming talks with Seoul and Washington.

The list of pre-conditions outlined on Thursday, which came from the North's top military body, insisted on a general apology for all "provocative acts" taken against North Korea.

The North's statement said: "Dialogue can never go with war actions."

The conditions will likely be rejected by South Korea and the

US, which have themselves made any talks conditional on the North taking steps towards denuclearisation.

Dialogue has become the new focus of a blistering rhetorical battle that has sent military tensions soaring on the Korean peninsula ever since the North carried out its third nuclear test in February.

Some analysts see the North's engagement in a debate over dialogue as a welcome shift from the apocalyptic threats of nuclear war that have poured out of Pyongyang in recent weeks.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

Israel bars Gaza runners from first West Bank marathon

I

srael is refusing permission for Palestinian runners from the Gaza Strip to take part in a marathon in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

The race on 21 April will be the first marathon to be held in the occupied Palestinian territory.

But the Israeli military says the athletes do not meet the criteria required to leave Gaza.

Twenty-two Gazan runners,

including former Olympian, Nadar al-Masri, hoped to reach the start line.

A woman, Sanaa AbuBahit, also planned to participate in a shorter race.

The athletes, the race organisers and the Palestinian Olympic Committee have asked the Israeli authorities to reconsider their position but have not received a reply.

Former Olympian,Nadar al-Masri

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 30

IMF head Lagarde summoned to court Europe and

I

MF chief Christine Lagarde has been summoned by a French court to answer questions over alleged abuse of office during her time as France's finance minister, her lawyer has said.

Ms Lagarde is to be questioned before a magistrate in May over her role in the awarding of financial compensation to businessman Bernard Tapie in 2008.

Ms Lagarde, who took over as IMF chief in 2011, denies any wrongdoing.

Her apartment was searched last month as part of the ongoing investigation.

As finance minister, Ms Lagarde referred Mr Tapie's longrunning dispute with bank Credit Lyonnais to an arbitration panel, which awarded him 400m euros (ÂŁ340m) damages.

Mr Tapie was a supporter of exPresident Nicolas Sarkozy.

Critics say she abused her authority but Ms Lagarde denies any wrongdoing.

The IMF voiced their backing to Ms Lagarde in a statement last month, saying: "The executive board continues to express its confidence in the managing director's ability to effectively carry out her duties."

Ms Lagarde's flat was raided by French police in March, but she has not been formally charged with any crime.

Her lawyer, Yves Repiquet, told the AFP news agency she would now "finally have the opportunity to provide the court with explanations and clarifications that will exonerate her of any

criminal responsibility".

Christian Fraser, in Paris, says investigators suspect Mr Tapie was granted a deal in return for his support of President Sarkozy in the 2007 election.

There is speculation in France that Ms Lagarde could yet be placed under formal investigation in this case, he adds.

The origins of the case date back 20 years.

Mr Tapie, who has long been

active in French business, sporting and political circles, sued Credit Lyonnais over its handling of the sale in 1993 of sportswear brand Adidas, in which he was a majority stakeholder.

After years in the courts, the case was referred by Ms Lagarde to an arbitration panel in 2007 and she approved its decision to award damages.

Critics said the case should not have been settled by private

arbitration, since public money was at stake in the bank, which was part-owned by the state.

The settlement Mr Tapie received is believed to be a far greater sum than he would likely have received from the courts.

In an interview in January, Ms Lagarde stood by her decision, saying it was "the best solution at the time".

A

Christine Lagarde

Smith, himself injured and bloody, said he had not personally seen bodies to confirm deaths, but believed the blast killed at least two emergency responders to a fire at the plant before the initial explosion and a person at a nearby apartment complex that suffered serious damage.

In addition, some responders to the fire were believed unaccounted for after the blast, according to Smith, Swanton and West Mayor Tommy Muska.

As they gained access to the explosion site, officials said they were treating it as a crime scene.

"We are not indicating that it is a crime, but we don't know," Swanton said. "What that means to us is that until we know that it is an industrial accident, we will work it as a crime scene. ATF [the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

Firearms and Explosives] is conducting the main investigation."

President Obama has been notified of the situation in Texas, an administration official told ABC News.

"The president has been notified. The administration is closely monitoring through FEMA who is also in contact with state and local officials who are responding," an official told ABC News in an email.

The disaster even drew condolences from Pope Francis, who tweeted, "Please join me in praying for the victims of the explosion in Texas and their families."

Earlier concerns about the possibility of dangerous ammonia fumes and shifting winds were subsiding this

morning as fires died down, Swanton said before 6 a.m. ET. "Air quality, at this point, is not an issue," Swanton said. "It is not a concern."

Nevertheless, numerous other concerns remained.

Witnesses reported heavy fire or concussive damage to a middle school, homes and an apartment complex near the plant, as well as to a nursing home, where more than 130 residents were evacuated, according to Muska.

Buildings in a radius of about five blocks around the plant -including at least 60 more homes -- were heavily damaged by the blast, officials said.

"It was almost tornadic in effect," Swanton said. "It looked like to me one home would be fine and next to it there would be extreme devastation."

US holds back recognition for Venezuela's Maduro

T

he US government is refusing to recognise Venezuela's President-elect Nicolas Maduro's victory in disputed elections in Venezuela.

Secretary of State John Kerry said the US was not yet ready to validate the results of Sunday's poll.

Mr Maduro's narrow victory has been challenged by the opposition leader, Henrique Capriles.

FBI arrests Mississippi man in ricin letter case

T

Texas fertilizer plant explosion kills 5, many hospitalised

fire and chemical explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant in a small town north of Waco sent at least 180 people to hospitals, flattened buildings, prompted widespread evacuations and left as many as five to 15 people feared dead.

The initial blast at the West Fertilizer Plant in West, Texas, occurred just before 8 p.m.

Wednesday, but officials still were struggling to tally the dead and injured early this morning and searching door-to-door amid the rubble for survivors, Sgt. William Patrick Swanton of the Waco Police Department said.

Regarding the figure of five to 15 deaths, Swanton told reporters, "I know that's a rough estimate, but that's the best that I can give you."

West EMS Director Dr. George

Americas

Mr Capriles is insisting on a vote-by-vote recount and has now submitted a formal request for one.

However, the National Electoral Council in Venezuela has so far refused to order one, and the Supreme Court said on Wednesday that there was no legal basis for it.

The Union of South American Nations (Unasur) has called an emergency meeting for Thursday to discuss the situation in Venezuela.

Unasur members Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru have already recognised the election results.

Washington has not, and Mr Kerry on Wednesday told members of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee that "if there are huge irregularities we are going to have serious questions about the viability of that government".

Mr Maduro responded by

accusing Washington of interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs.

He insisted: "We don't care about your recognition.

"We have chosen to be free, and we are going to be free with or without you."

He added: "The US intervention in Venezuela in recent months, and particularly during the election campaign, has been brutal, vulgar."

he FBI arrested a Mississippi man in connection with letters sent to President Barack Obama and two other officials that are believed to have contained the deadly poison ricin, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Paul Kevin Curtis was arrested at his home in Corinth, Mississippi, and is "believed to be responsible for the mailings of the three letters sent through the U.S. Postal Inspection Service which contained a granular substance that preliminarily tested positive for ricin," the Justice Department said in a statement.

The letters were addressed to a U.S. senator, the White House and a Mississippi justice official, the statement said.

The ricin poison scare hit Washington after bombings at the Boston Marathon killed three people and injured 176 on Monday, but the FBI said there was no indication the incidents were connected.

The FBI said the envelope sent to Obama was received at a mailscreening facility outside the White House and was immediately quarantined. Preliminary tests showed it contained the deadly poison ricin, the FBI said Washington was put on edge on Tuesday evening when news emerged that authorities had intercepted a letter sent to Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi that had initially tested positive for ricin.

Following the arrest, Wicker issued a statement thanking the FBI and Capitol Police "for their professionalism and decisive action in keeping our family and staff safe from harm."

Earlier on Wednesday, a flurry of reports of suspicious letters and packages rattled the U.S. capital and caused the temporary evacuation of parts of two Senate buildings. Most of the reports quickly proved to be false alarms, and business was only temporarily disrupted on Capitol Hill.

The letters to Obama and Wicker had identical language, included the phrase, "To see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance." They were signed, "I am KC and I approve this message," according to an FBI operations bulletin reviewed by Reuters.

Two law enforcement sources said investigators believed the man arrested was the same person as Kevin Curtis, who they say has posted rants on the Internet and performed as an entertainer and Elvis Presley impersonator.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 31

Poo Wifi - a machine Man leaves water on all winter creating spectacular that exchanges dog poo for free Wi-Fi frozen waterfall

T

his amazing waterfall seen frozen on the side of a building in Jilin City, Eastern China, is the work of 58year-old Wen Hsu, the only remaining resident, who left the tap on all winter to make sure his uninsulated pipes didn't freeze.

If you've ever wondered what would happen if you left the water on for an entire winter, here's the answer you've been waiting for - a giant frozen waterfall. The bizarre sight looks like an original work of art, but it was actually born from one man's fear of being left without running water. 58-year-old Wen Hsu has been living in the same apartment building for the last 35 years. As was the case in many other cities around China, the property was recently scheduled for demolition, to

make room for a new shopping center. Developers tried to settle the matter by offering apartment owners a sum of money so they could buy another home some place else, but Hsu says he refused their offer because it wasn't enough to get a decent place, so even after all the neighbors moved out, he remained in his old apartment.

The loneliness was hard enough to deal with, but this past winter he had a bigger problem to deal with. The cold temperatures threatened to freeze the water in the building unisulated pipes, leaving him without running water, and with no other choice than to leave. But he's not one to give up easily, so he came up with a weird plan‌ Because the water comes from underground, where temperatures are above freezing

level, Wen figured leaving the tap on all the time would prevent the pipes from freezing. So he simply diverted the water to flow outside of his window on the seventh floor down the side of the building and left the hot water on the whole winter, which created the marvel you can see in these photos. Luckily for him, the giant frozen waterfall attracted the attention of international media as well as Jilin council officials, who have now urged developers to settle the problem of his relocation as soon as possible. Wen Hsu hopes he will receive a better offer, because the loneliness is starting to get to him. The weather is a bit warmer now, so there's no danger of the pipes freezing anymore, but it's going to take a while for his masterpiece to melt.

Source: Metro.co.uk

A resident trading Poo.

S

View of the ice falls

Photo: CEN

tepping in dog poo is said to bring good luck, but for most people it's one of the worst things that could happen as they walk through the city.

Owners not picking up their pets' droppings is a global problem, but a Mexican Internet portal has come up with an invention that might just inspire people to do the right thing. It's called Poo Wifi and it's pure genius.

Walking through the park trying to avoid every dog poo that comes in your way is an almost impossible task, but it wouldn't be a problem if owners would just clean up after their pets. So Internet portal Terra has teamed up with ad agency DDB to create something that would motivate people to actually pick up their dogs turds. After some brainstorming, they came up with Poo Wifi, a machine that offers a free wifi connection in exchange for dog poo. So after they've picked up the droppings, people can drop the bags in a special box on top of the machine, after which the machine offers a number of minutes of free wifi, depending on the weight of the poo. Obviously, large dog owners

will get more freewifi, which makes sense since their dogs' droppings are the messiest.

You're probably thinking Poo Wifi will never work, because people will just throw rocks or whatnot into the machine, tricking it to get a few minutes of free wifi. I don't doubt some people would resort to this, but luckily each Poo Wifi machine comes with a hostess that hands out plastic bags to pet owners, and also keeps an eye on what goes in the machine box. They do allow bags of trash though, because any kind of junk that goes into Poo Wifi means the people can enjoy a cleaner park.

Time will tell if Poo Wifi actually makes people more responsible, but it's definitely one of the most ingenious projects to come out in a while.

Their video is also pretty cool. I particularly liked the part where a guy is actually massaging his dog's belly hoping he'll poo so he can send a quick email.

If all else fails, they can always call Doody Calls, and they'll take care of it.

Discovery News

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2013 With Tobias Lengnan Dapam 07036990957

‘The Expendables 2’: What makes it different T

HR's Justin Lowe praised the Sylvester Stallone toplined action flick for giving the film's "major players and cameo actors their own often quite -humorous character traits and dialogue."

Expendables 2 is being billed as the perfect blend of big muscles and bigger explosions. With a solid A- CinemaScore, moviegoers seem to think it delivers on that promise.

The followup to Sylvester Stallone's 2010 testosterone-filled blockbuster sees action icons Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, and Randy Couture team up to stop Jean-Claude Van Damme's villain from acquiring nuclear material.

Also featuring Bruce Willis, Liam Hemsworth and Chuck

Norris, the Lionsgate film is on its way to a No. 1 opening weekend, with a projected $27 million to $28 million haul.

Despite the achievement of the movie and its 66 percent Rotten Tomatoes score (the original scored 41 percent), most critics agree the sequel is an improvement.

The Hollywood Reporter's Justin Lowe praised Stallone and his co-screenwriter Richard Wenk for wrangling the expansive cast: "[The screenwriters] have generously given both major players and cameo actors their own often quite -humorous character traits and dialogue. When Schwarzenegger is onscreen, much of the banter is at the former, California governor's expense -though, much as ever, he gets some memorable lines himself

Lowe wrote that director Simon West, who took over helming duties from Stallone, deftly managed "the complexity of stunts, aircraft and vehicle pileups and frequent shootouts."

New York Times critic Neil had little good to say about the film, save for the cameo by Norris. "Mr. Norris arrives just as the blood baths and leaden dialogue are beginning to grow tedious, and his deadpan self-parody is pretty darn funny."

Genzlinger wrote. "More important, it gives you permission to laugh at the rest of this mindless movie, which is the only way to choke it down."

L.A. Times critic Betsy Sharkey wrote that "somehow all that testosterone-infused blow-'-em-up craziness turns out to be kind of a

kick." She added "what gives 'Expendables 2' its charm is the film's unabashed nostalgia for the genre's best B-movie moments. As Statham's character puts it so well while slipping on a pair of brass knuckles, never count out the classics."

However, USA based writer, Claudia Puig, mused the sequel succeeded in playing off the audience's fond memories of movies past.

"These movies are not meant to be anything more than silly fun, with an all-star cast of mature hunks engaging in shameless action flick clichés and capitalizing on audience

nostalgia," she wrote.

New York Post critic Lou Lumenick praised the film's wonderfully cheesy action oneliners.

"It's hard not to like a movie in which Bruce Willis' toupee-less CIA agent accuses Stallone's ragtag band of mercenaries of engaging in "male pattern badness," he wrote. "Willis actually picks up a weapon or two this time around, and hilariously shares a tiny mini-car with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who fires off a nonstop series of 'Terminator'-themed quips when he isn't plowing tractors through mountainsides."

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013 With Tobias Lengnan Dapam 07036990957

CinemaCon: AMC pulls advance ticket sales for 'Iron Man 3' G

iant theater circuit AMC Entertainment has pulled advance ticket sales for Iron Man 3 because of ongoing negotiations with Disney over new terms proposed by the studio.

Regal Entertainment, the country's largest circuit, also hasn't struck a new deal with Disney -- which hasn't revisited terms since it acquired Pixar

and Marvel, home of Iron Man 3. The threequel, returning with Robert Downey Jr. in the title role, is set to open May 3.

AMC is the country's secondlargest theater circuit.

Insiders say they expect all sides to come to an agreement in the next few days. The talks are taking place in Las Vegas, where exhibitors and studios are gathered together this week

for CinemaCon, the annual convention of theater owners.

"This will get worked out.

And while advance tickets sales are great, everyone is going to find this movie," said one insider. "This is not a boycott."

Disney's high-profile summer slate also includes Monsters University (June 21), The Lone Ranger (July 3) and Planes (Aug. 9).

68 year old grand mother auditions for X-Factor Nigeria

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68-year-old woman, Mrs. Evelyn D. Lawson, and her 42-year-old son, Minabo S. Lawson, caused sensation at the audition of the X-Factor singing TV Reality Show held in Port Harcourt recently.

Lawson, a chorister, who released her first album in August last year, was the cynosure of all eyes at the Presidential Hotel, venue of the audition show powered by Globacom.

Dressed in a light green flowing gown, Madam Lawson said that she had been looking for a big platform like the one provided by Globacom to showcase her talent and innate ability to dish out melodious songs for the enjoyment of the

people.

"That Globacom provided this opportunity shows that the company does not discriminate against age or sex. I'm here because a company like Globacom has decided to give my generation the opportunity to be part of this event and I hope to make it to the end," she said.

The elderly woman said she did not feel out of place competing with her grandchildren for the star prize of N24m in the singing TV Reality Show, pointing out that talent "could be discovered at any stage in one's life. And those who advertised this show did not say, 'Mama, don't come, and more importantly, I was registered and given a number

like others."

Expressing why he decided to give the audition a shot, Minabo Lawson said that he used to be a back-up singer for his mother "and when this opportunity came, I said that I will try my luck too and see what I can actually do.

"The fact that I'm allowed to participate is self-fulfilling for me and a great boost to my career. I have no doubt I will learn one or two things at the audition that will be useful in my career in future and I give credit to Globacom for this wonderful opportunity," he added.

X Factor is a reality TV singing competition designed to discover new talents and is open to all ages, sex and styles, solo acts or group performance.

A

Don Jazzy, 2Face, Darey Art Alade, Sammy Okposo, Cobhams, Eldee, Obi Asika and

Bantu, who were all approached and interviewed by telecoms giants, Glo, to become a judge in the Glo XFactor reality show, have lost out of the race.

This is because Glo has decided to snub them and has preferred top rapper, MI, to get the job done for them.

The source declined to give reasons why others were dropped but Pulse.com gathered that MI had a strong disposition which hooked the show organisers to him.

"All I can say is that MI had a very strong disposition which fascinated the organisers," the source said.

"Two others judges will join MI but they will definitely not be the dropped stars earlier mentioned," the source concluded.

Auditions are ongoing for the Glo X Factor show. The winner of the show will go home with the N24million grand prize.

...as Don Jazzy, 2Face, others lose Glo X -Factor deal to MI top industry source reliably told Pulse.com that top Nigerian stars;

MI

Princess

Basket mouth set to host comedy show in South Africa

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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omic genius Basketmouth is to become the first Nigerian to host the prestigious comedy gig and TV show Comedy Central PresentsLive at Parker, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The event will hold on Wednesday next week.

Basketmouth has been snapped up by Africa's only 24 hour comedy channel to helm and headline his own edition of the show well-known South African comedians.

Basketmouth will bring his own inimitable brand of comedy to the live gig at legendary comedy venue Parker's Comedy

Basket mouth

& Jive followed by a special screening of Comedy Central Presents Basketmouth Live at Parker's which will air exclusively onComedy Central (DStv Channel 122) on Friday 14 June at 07:55 PM. The comic genius said, "I am really buzzed to be reppin' for Naija at Comedy Central Presents‌Live at Parker's in April. The Nigerian invasion has begun!"

Also known as Bright Okpocha, the comic sensation is the leading light of the Nigerian comedy scene, making waves around the globe with his freeflowing storytelling and enthusiastic comedic performances.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 33

AMAA 2013: Dakore, Ama and AY Makun to thrill andience as hosts

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he ninth edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) comes to southern Nigeria, and the oil-rich state of Bayelsa gets the nod to host the event tomorrow, Pulse.com has said.

It added that the show hosts consists of a potent blend of charm, class and

humor with actresses, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Ama Abebrese, graciously dovetailing with show comic-man, AY Makun.

Speaking about the selection, the director of administration of AMAA, Tony Anih, said the reason for the choice of the trio is to give the guests a new experience

and promote the spirit of unity in Africa'.

Also, as part of preparations towards the kick-off of the award ceremony, an international book and craft fair has been organized. The fair, Anih says will hold between Wednesday, April 17 to Friday, April 19, 2013.

Records. He formerly was known as Tity Boi, and is an exmember of the duo Playaz Circle, where Ludacris once earned his lyrical badges.

Inside sources reveal that

the concert was to hold earlier but due to sponsorship and logistics, it was moved to a later date. D'banj is also considering bringing a few other top US artistes.

D King's Men: D'banj and 2 Chainz set to storm Nigeria in album release concert

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Egbuson Dakore

Tonto Dikeh to represent Nigeria in next BBA

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lways one to divide general opinion, Tonto Dikeh, the thunderball of Nollywood and celebrated bad-girl is being rumoured to represent Nigeria at the next edition of reality show, Big Brother Africa (BBA).

According to rumours on the mill, appearing on the show is a means of hitting the big time, after juggling between acting and singing.

Born June 9, 1985, Tonto Charity Dikeh is a dramatic Babatunde Fashola Nigerian actress from the fierce Ikwerre tribe of Rivers State. Dikeh is from a family of seven.

Her first taste with fame

came up in 2005 when she took part in the reality TV show called "The Next Movie Star; she was the first runner up.

Having being on the periphery for a considerable duration, she broke even with her second movie Holy Cross, which opened her up to the eyes of countless movie directors. She's chalked down scores of movie appearances since that time.

The public perception of Tonto Dikeh is one of bemused fascination. Her brazen attitude and her love for feline dramatic have kept her constantly in the hearts of the African audience.

he cynics and critics are up in arms. Patiently they wait for a post-Don Jazzy Dbanj album. The album is almost due, D-day slowly beckons and the de facto judges are primed for the verdict on D'banj.

But no, the DB Records compilation album is not going to ease itself into the market. It's not going to sneak into our homes and stereos like some scurrying rodent, intent on oblivion. It will march in with pomp, fanfare, and glamorous ceremony.

Kokomaster D'banj, the entertainer has announced there will be a June 23 concert to be held at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos and will feature fellow G.O.O.D. Music artiste 2 Chainz.

He released the announcement a few days back via a viral Youtube video which features 2 Chainz rapping steady about his excitement on visiting Nigeria. The concert is being put together by D'banj's DKM Media and Ndani TV. 35-year old 2 Chainz is a resurgent rapper who's on a solo record deal with Def Jam

D'banj

2 Chainz

Jim Iyke launches reality show on AfricaMagic entertainment

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

L Tonto Dikeh

ove or loathe him, Jim Iyke is a superstar. Now, for the first time ever, he invites DStv audiences into his world to get to know him better in his new reality TV series JIm Iyke:" Unscripted".

The show which was On AfricaMagic Entertainment yesterday, captured a close and exclusive look into his glamourous yet controversial life.

The famous actor promotes his latest movies while delving into the competitive world of men's fashion and manages the demands that come with his huge popularity, busy schedule and outspoken personality.

Filmed in Lagos, Abuja, Accra,

Houston, Dubai, Nairobi, Amsterdam and London, a new episode of Jim Iyke: Unscripted will be screened every Thursday (5:30/8:00 PM) for 13 weeks.

Talking about the series, its leading man says, "its no holds barred, unscripted and untamed".

Meanwhile series producers iFactory Live, Greyology Inc. and OH Africa describe Jim Iyke: Unscripted as very real, giving fans a free pass into Jim's life.

Executive producer Michael Djaba says, "Yes his image has sometimes been described as 'bad boy' but beneath it all, he's as real as any celebrity can get and fans are in for one roller coaster ride".

Meanwhile M-Net Africa Managing Director, Biola Alabi is confident that like the man himself, the show will be mustwatch.

"Jim Iyke attracts attention on a daily basis and we're definitely pleased that we're in a position to screen his exciting new reality series. He's such a talented individual who is not afraid to take risks, to speak his mind, to blaze his own future.

His charisma, talent and energy are undeniable and his fans want to see more of him! So make sure you tune in weekly to see what drives his success, what determines his reactions and what defines his choices."

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 34

Harnessing non-oil exports for economic growth

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

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takeholders agree that the non-oil sector of the Nigerian economy should be harnessed and developed to enable the country to achieve meaningful economic growth.

They also warn that oil dependent economies like Nigeria risk the danger of facing serious economic crisis as the world tilts towards increased use of bio-fuels, ethanol and other alternative sources of energy.

They list Nigeria's exportable agricultural products as cocoa, coffee, cashew nuts, rubber, kolanuts, bitter kola, palm produce, coconuts, cotton, ginger, cow horns and hooves, timber, shrimps and prawns, shea nuts and sesame seeds.

Other exportable products include adhesives, furniture, foam products, garments and suits, handicrafts, among others.

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which has the mandate of promoting the development and diversification of Nigeria's export trade, says that it is determined to increase the volume of the country's non-oil exports.

Mr David Adulugba, the Executive Secretary of NEPC, said that Common Facility Centres (CFC) had been established across the country, with the aim of boosting non-oil exports.

Primed to stimulate the export development activities of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the council was motivated many years ago to adopt the CFC concept for quickwin products in specific zones across the country.

The centres were principally set up to enhance the quality of our products in order to make them competitive in the international market.

CFCs provide SMEs with access to specialised facilities such as quality control, inprocess and product quality checks, tool room quality certification and labelling, among others. ``Typically, like a cluster concept, the CFCs aim to increase productivity through costeffective production processes, driven by synergy,'' he said.

Adulugba said that the concept, which had been applied in some countries, proved very effective and result-oriented in

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

terms of competitiveness in the international market.

He said that CFCs had provided opportunities for new investments, particularly in terms of increasing national productivity level and standards.

For instance, Adulugba said that NEPC, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Abia State Government, had initiated the CFC in Aba for leather products.

He noted that the council, spurred by the remarkable success of the Aba venture, was working toward replicating the CFC in Kano for leather products and garments, Otukpo for leather products, Markudi for garments, Ekiti for banana and Osun for catfish.

Adulugba also said that the council would focus its attention on the Non-Traditional Products (NTPs), as many investors were now interested in the sector.

He listed the NTPs available in Nigeria as services, local cuisines, horticulture, ornamentals, and sugar cane, among others.

The NEPC boss also listed the sub-sectors under services as Information and Communication Technology (ICT), financial services and

entertainment. ``Another component of these products is the entertainment industry which, perhaps, boasts of the quickest returns on investments and exports, going by the successes so far recorded in that area. ``In just about 14 years of existence, the industry has grown tremendously, generating about 250 million dollars in revenue,'' Adulugba added.

Sharing similar sentiments, Dr Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Trade and Investment, said that there was an urgent need for a paradigm shift in the country's export business. ``The economies of most developed countries and lately, countries which make up BRICS (an association of emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are all driven by non-oil exports,'' he said.

All the same, The Federal Government has been giving appreciable attention to the export potential of African indigenous stimulants, which Nigeria accounts for about 70 per cent of the world's output.

Dr Samuel Ortom, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, said that the

Dr Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Trade and Investment

Federal Government would stage a campaign on the economic benefits of indigenous stimulants. ``Government is really committed to promoting the non-oil sector and indigenous stimulants are an important aspect of the economic diversification efforts. ``However, policy makers cannot do this alone; farmers, researchers, marketers, scientists and everybody have a role to play in re-positioning our indigenous stimulants as a panacea for the economic challenges facing the country. ``The government is committed to transforming agriculture into wealth creation ventures, investment opportunities, employment generators and foreign exchange earners,'' Ortom said.

However, Mr Anayo Agu, a Senior Commercial Specialist at the U.S. Embassy, Lagos, underscored the need for SMEs to understand the market conditions of the products which they intended to export.

According to him, exporters must be competent in the identification of the specific users of a product.

Agu also said that it was

somewhat important for producers to detach themselves from the product. ``The modern market conditions have made it necessary for SMEs to understand the basic culture with appropriate approach to tackling them. ``Export promotion should actually be the initiative of the presidency. The government must build a capacity to take advantage of the goal and the people's mindset,'' he said.

Observers, nonetheless, express concern that most of Nigeria's non-oil exports are raw materials.

They want the manufacturing sector to be revitalised and encouraged to use the raw materials so as to ensure the country's sustainable development.

The observers insist that a situation where Nigeria continues to import finished products produced from the raw materials it exports is quite ridiculous and counterproductive. ``Nigeria should take the lead in reversing the present trend where Africa contributes less than one per cent of global manufactured goods,'' they add.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 35

Harvesting excess rainwater to boost irrigation farming

By Mohammed Mamman

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y most accounts, climate change has provoked the evolution of extreme weather patterns such as increase in rainfall, floods, heat and soil erosion.

In Nigeria, for instance, environmental problems such as flood, erosion and desertification continue to have a negative impact on the people's lives and their environment.

Observers note that last year's flooding across the country, which submerged parts of the country, could not be easily forgotten by the affected communities.

In spite of the early indications of heavy rainfall and warnings about the floods by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), several lives, property and farmlands were lost to the floods.

As this year's rainy season fast approaches, NIMET has again issued a fresh warning about the rainfall patterns but analysts insist that the anticipated heavy rainfall could even be put to good use.

The analysts believe that although climate change induces geographical conditions such as drought and desertification, excessive rainwater could be controlled and stored for Sprinkler irrigation system in maize experimental plot at IITA Ibadan irrigation farming.

Government should harvest the rainwater for agricultural production However, Alhaji Idi Gubana, the even though there are myriad as part of a deliberate measure towards state Commissioner for Agriculture, environmental challenges facing the shifting emphasis from rain-fed said that the state government was state, the government, the farmers and agriculture to irrigation farming,'' conscious of the existing challenges other stakeholders should make Alhaji Modu Kura, an irrigation farmer facing irrigated agriculture, adding, concerted efforts to tackle the in Gashua, Yobe, said. however, that it would introduce challenges.

He said that available records at Yobe deliberate measures to promote State's Ministry of Agriculture irrigation farming in the state. indicated that in 2007, crops and He said that government had livestock worth more than N2 billion recently made huge investments in were lost to drought and desertification. irrigated agriculture, considering the Kura, however, stressed that the fact that natural disasters like flood, Gashua and Nguru wetlands could drought and desertification had easily provide an alternative to rain- somewhat made rain-fed agriculture fed agriculture in Yobe and its environs largely unpredictable. if their potential was well-harnessed and In the interim, Gubana said that the utilised. government had provided 40 farmers' ``Presently, we produce rice, maize organisations with 335 tube wells, 345 and variety of vegetables in the water pumps, 20,000 bags of fertiliser wetlands after the rainy season; the and improved seedlings to boost Nguru and Gashua wetlands have the irrigation farming this season. capacity to produce all the food needs of Nevertheless, Alhaji Wakil Sarki, the state and even provide for other the state Commissioner for states,'' he said.

Environment, argued that apart from Beyond that, Malam Habu Sani, a natural disasters, human activities, vegetable farmer in Gaba village in including tree felling, bush burning Fune Local Government Area of the and hunting, also had some adverse state, suggested that the Gadafuwa/ effects on the environment.

Kafaje dam, near Damagum, and other ``To check the menace of these mandams could be expanded to store more made problems, government has water for irrigation. constituted a task force to harmonise and ``This is a large volume of water enforce all existing environmental laws with huge potential for irrigation in the state. farming; it flows from the Gadafuwa ``The task force was mandated to uplands into the Kafaje lowlands, check indiscriminate felling of trees, sweeping away farmlands every year,'' bush burning, illegal hunting, waste he said. disposal and open defecation, so as to Sharing similar sentiments, Alhaji safeguard the environment and Sidi Karasuwa, Yobe's Commissioner for wildlife,'' Sarki said.

Water Resources, noted that the As part of efforts to address the effects Nyakire dam project in Fune Local of climate change, Prof. Musa Alabi of Government Area, when completed, the Yobe State University said that the could be used to boost irrigation university had established the Desert farming.

Research Centre to proffer practical He said that the dam project, whose solutions to the problems of contract was awarded by the Federal desertification.

Government in 2003, had reached a 20Alabi expatiated that the centre was per-cent completion stage. established because most of the existing ``The proposed dam has the desert research activities were purely potential for harvesting all the waters academic in nature, adding that they flowing from the uplands in the area for could not offer pragmatic solutions to large-scale agricultural production; the growing menace of desertification. regrettably, it was abandoned shortly Observers, nonetheless, insist that after its contract was awarded,'' he said.

They particularly stress the need for the government to promote irrigation farming via structured plans to harvest excess rainwater for use in irrigated agriculture.

Source: NAN

PAGE 36

By Anna Hodgekiss

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verworked and stressed out? Look on the bright side - some stress is good for you.

While chronic stress can increase the risk of heart attack and compromise the immune system, researchers have found that short-lived stress primes the brain for improved performance - most notably boosting memory.

In studies on rats, the researchers found that significant, but brief stressful events caused stem cells in the brains of rats to turn into new nerve cells that, when mature two weeks later, improved their mental performance.

'You always think about stress as a really bad thing, but it's not,' said Daniela Kaufer, associate professor of integrative biology at the University of California, Berkeley.

'Some amounts of stress are good to push you just to the level of optimal alertness, behavioral and cognitive performance.

'I think intermittent stressful events are probably what keeps the brain more alert, and you perform better when you are alert,' she said.

Much research has demonstrated that chronic stress elevates levels of stress hormones, which suppresses the production of new neurons in the hippocampus, impairing memory.

It's also known that chronically elevated levels of stress hormones increasing the risk of obesity, heart disease and depression.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Being stressed can be good for you - it boosts memory

But chronic stress elevates levels of stress hormones, impairing memory

Short-lived stress can boost mental performance, most notably boosting memory But less is known about the effects of acute stress, Dr Kaufer said, and studies have been conflicting.

To clear up the confusion, the researchers subjected rats to what, to them, is acute but shortlived stress - being locked in their cages for a few hours.

This led to stress hormone (corticosterone) levels as high as those from chronic stress, though for only a few hours.

But it also doubled the proliferation of new brain cells in the hippocampus,.

The researchers also found that the stressed rats performed better on a memory test two weeks after the stressful event, but not two days after the event.

Using special cell labeling techniques, the researchers established that the new nerve cells triggered by the acute stress were the same ones involved in

learning new tasks two weeks later.

'In terms of survival, the nerve cell proliferation doesn't help you immediately after the stress, because it takes time for the cells to become mature, functioning neurons,' said Dr Kaufer.

'But in the natural environment, where acute stress happens on a regular basis, it will keep the animal more alert,

more attuned to the environment and to what actually is a threat or not a threat.'

However the researchers noted that exposure to acute, intense stress can sometimes be harmful, leading, for example, to post-traumatic stress disorder.

'But I think the ultimate message is an optimistic one, concluded Dr Kaufer. 'Stress can be something that makes you better, but it is a question of how much, how long and how you interpret or perceive it.'

The study is published in the online journal eLife.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

'Apple shape' linked to higher risk of kidney disease

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arrying excess weight around the abdomen is linked to an increased risk of kidney disease, a study suggests.

It was already known that being "apple-shaped", as opposed to "pear-shaped", added to the risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

This research, in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, found signs of kidney problems in even otherwise healthy apple-shaped people.

UK experts said people needed to take more care of their kidney health.

The research, by a team at the University Medical Center Groningen, in the Netherlands, looked at more than 300 people who had either a healthy bodyweight. or who were overweight.

They found that having a higher waist-to-hip ratio - seen in those who were more appleshaped - was associated with lower kidney function, reduced kidney blood flow and higher blood pressure in the kidneys.

This was the case even in those who were otherwise healthy.

'Growing problem' Arjan Kwakernaak, who led the study, said: "We found that apple-shaped persons - even if totally healthy and with a normal blood pressure - have an elevated blood pressure in their

Abdominal fat also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease kidneys.

"When they are also overweight or obese, this is even worse."

The findings suggest that these individuals may benefit from treatments that reduce

kidney blood pressure - such as cutting salt levels and targeted drug treatments.

A spokesman for Kidney Research UK said: "We understand already that central - 'apple' - obesity is associated with

higher cardiovascular risk than peripheral - 'pear' - obesity.

"This demonstrates that the same is true for kidney disease."

He added: "This is further evidence that there is a link between obesity and the growing

problem of kidney disease, and that more needs to be done to make people aware of the importance of protecting kidney function."

Source: BBCNews.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 37

CACOL lauds FG over stiffer penalties for corrupt officials From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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L-R: Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Oyo state, Chief Akin Oke and some other members of the party, during the defection of some members of PDP and Accord Party to ACN, on Wednesday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

Mark, Arisekola-Alao, NGE extol Awolowo’s virtues

S

enate President David Mark and other personalities yesterday paid their last respects to the late Chief Oluwole Awolowo at a Lying-inState service held in Ibadan.

At the ceremony held at the Tribune House, Mark described Awolowo as a personality noted for his immense humility and passion to serve.

He said Awolowo, the former publisher of the Tribune titles, lived a life based on his faith and belief in God, adding that “ this made him a reliable friend.’’

Mark added that all the accomplishments of the Tribune family would not have been possible had the deceased not brought everyone together as a family.

“The news of Awolowo’s death

was very painful and difficult for me considering that he was courageous and stood for the truth, even until he drew his last breath.

“He lived a much fulfilled life having died at the appointed time

by God and has left for us a legacy, which though, difficult to match, must be sustained.

“One challenge for all of us, whose lives he had touched, is to emulate him by doing those things we can defend before God, our maker,’’ Mark said.

Also speaking, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, said Awolowo was a very reliable man and a symbol of humility.

“I knew him for over 50 years and in that period, he was a dedicated family man and businessman who was very kind to

everyone he came across,’’ Arisekola-Alao said.

Mr Femi Adesina, President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, said that though the late sage’s son was born great, he chose to live a life of simplicity and respect for others.

“One editor once told me that when Awolowo wanted something published in the paper, he would ask; can you please use this for me?

“After you have done it, he would say ‘ thank you.’ This is commendable and a lesson to all of us in humility,’’ Adesina said.

A board member of the African Newspapers Plc and publishers of the Tribune title, Mr Tayo Fadoju, said Awolowo became the first child of the dynasty to become a publisher in the company.

“He was also the first Awolowo child to become a board member

as he lived up to expectations. It is a pity that we will miss him,’’ Fadoju said.

The officiating minister at the service, Very Rev. Opeyemi Awe, urged political leaders to always imbibe the attitude of selfless sacrifice in delivering their mandates.

“You must remember that you will one day give account of your stewardship.

“To be truly unbreakable in your legacies, you must be profound in being totally reliant on God for His grace and strength as we are nothing without Him,’’ Awe said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Oyo State governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Adeolu Akande. (NAN)

Yobe suspends council poll indefinitely

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he Yobe Electoral Commission yesterday announced the indefinite suspension of the local government election slated for June 22.

Alhaji Jauro Abdullahi, the Chairman of the commission, announced this in Damaturu at a stakeholders’ forum which included the chairmen of political parties in the state.

Abdullahi explained that the suspension was necessitated by the

spate of security challenges in parts of the state.

“Sadly, the commission has to suspend the election following recent security challenge in parts of the state during which government imposed curfew restricting movement from 6.00p.m to 7.00a.m.

“The commission agreed with the political parties to suspend the elections because the restriction will certainly affect smooth political

activities and electoral process,” he said.

Jauro said a new date would be announced as soon as the situation improved.

Alhaji Sanusi Rufai, the Yobe Commissioner of Police who was at the forum along with other security officials, said that political parties were in support of the suspension.

He appealed to the public to assist security agencies with useful

information on suspicious movements.

Alhaji Ahmed Dawayo, the state Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said the suspension was appropriate until when politicians were able to mobilise supporters.

“The suspension of the election is the best and fair decision taken by the electoral commission until when we can freely mobilise our voters for the election,” he said. (NAN)

he Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has lauded the Federal Government for proposing a stiffer penalty for persons or organisations involved in the mismanagement and embezzlement of pension funds.

President Goodluck Jonathan had forwarded a bill to the National Assembly proposing 10-year jail term or a fine of an amount equal to three times the amount misappropriated or diverted, or both for pension funds fraud.

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran said that the proposal is a step in right direction and a step forward in the fight against corruption in the country.

"It is highly commendable for the FG to come up with such proposal. Giving 10-year imprisonment with an option of an amount equal to three times the amount misappropriated or diverted funds or both would in no doubt reduce corruption and make the people at the helms of affairs have a re-think before dipping their hands in our common purse.

The slap-on-the-wrist penalty administered on corruption offenders has, in no small measure, contributed to the alarming rate of grafts in Nigerian public and private sectors, but with a longer jail term and losing more than what is stolen, many would weigh the implications of their action before stealing public funds," Adeniran submitted.

In the same vein, the CACOL boss stressed the need to extend the proposal to other corruption offenders. "The proposed bill should not be limited to pension fund thieves alone, it should cut across all corruption offenders in the country. The level of graft in the country has passed an alarming rate and except a stiffer law is enacted, the country might bleed to death in the hands of these corruptionists. The proposal should accommodate other corruption offenders, if the government would be taken serious. Pension funds theft is just a fraction of pervasive corruption in Nigeria, and a dish for the goose is also good for the gander.

The human rights activist however urged the National Assembly to expedite action on this bill, so as to bring looters of public funds to book to serve as deterrent to others.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Akume expresses shock over murder of ACN S/East Vice President

By Stanley Onyekwere

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L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nnenna Ukeje, with Nigeria's Permanent Representative to United Nations (UN), Professor Joy Ogwu, during a National Workshop to Strengthen Democratic Traditions and Institutions, on Wednesday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

DPP calls on FG to look beyond amnesty for Boko Haram

M

r Olisemeke Akamukali, Deputy National Chairman, Democratic People’s Party (DPP), has called on the Federal Government to look beyond granting amnesty to Boko Haram in the interest of national security.

Akamukali, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, said security agents should thoroughly investigate the origin of some of the perpetrators.

He said: “It will not be surprising to discover that majority of them are not Nigerians, but from neighbouring countries due to the porous nature of our borders.

“In most cases most of the people perpetrating the atrocities in Nigeria are not always Nigerians, but from the

neighbouring countries.

“It is very easy to stroll into Nigeria from any neighbouring country because we Africans have almost the same structure, and this makes identification a bit difficult.”

Akamukali stressed the need for proper policing of the border and identification of people.

He said that the ongoing identity card exercise must be taken very seriously and that government should guide against any loop holes that could make the exercise a flop.

“This is one of the ways to police our boarders and reduce influx of foreigners into the country.

“Boko Haram is rejecting amnesty and this is because of the fear that the public might want to identify the members,” he

said.

Akamukali commended the effort of government towards the amnesty initiative and said that it would not amount to condoning crime, but seeking lasting peace and ensuring adequate security.

He advised government to identify the Boko Haram members, shield them from the public before granting them amnesty.

“It is so unfortunate that they are afraid because many of them have harmed their own relation, and the public might want to identify them and harm them.

“I am in support of anything that will bring peace. If granting amnesty to Boko Haram will bring peace, Nigerians should support government in the exercise.”

(NAN)

A’Ibom: LG chairman berates oil firm over execution of projects in communities From Mike Etim, Uyo

D

espite the citing of various projects worth over N750million by an oil firm AMNIAFREN in oil communities of Eastern Obolo Local Government Council of Akwa- Ibom State, the chairman of the council, Mr. Francis Uduyork, has taken a swipe at the firm saying the projects were not commensurable with the earnings of the firm.

AMNIAFREN an oil and gas prospecting firm operating in the local government had said they built and commissioned three jetties for the community at Amadaka, Ikonta Abianga and Emeroke that will open their hinterland to commercial and economic activities as well as award 350 scholarships to students in tertiary institutions.

The company also said it has carried out Technical Skill Training Empowerment for 100 women in the area and equipped the Okoroette Health Centre, donated 3 Toyota Hiace Buses and three speed boats to ease local transportation.

The company further announced that it

will build ten units of resident accommodation to house science teachers before the end of 2013/2014 academic year in each of the three secondary schools they had equipped with science and laboratory equipment.

The firm according to its chairman, Mrs. Egbert Imohmon, gave the cost of these projects at over N750million.

Reacting, the council chairman, said the oil firm had not done anything remarkable stating that the projects were long overdue. ”For me, I am not too excited that a jetty that is less than a N100million is built for us.

“The three jetties may not be more than N300million. If you put all the development that is done, it is not up to 1billion. And that is in six years. So if you split N1billion in six years, what you have is less than N160million. And here is a firm that produces35,000 barrels of oil a day. And from the joint venture analysis of 60/40 percent, you cannot tell me that AMNAFREN is not making billions of naira in prospecting for oil in our communities. And you come and give us less than N160million

in six years and you think we are happy? We do not appreciate it. But from the perspective of exhibiting its corporate social responsibility, we can say that they have started doing something. But for excitement we are not”.

The council chairman lamented that despite the presence of the oil firm in the area, the local government could not boast of 100 metres road network. He stated that the only Asphalt road in the local council was the one he constructed. He warned that the community was no more in the mood of accepting smaller projects like building of classroom blocks anymore.

Speaking further, the council chairman said he had pointed out to the AFREN Plc boss that what the community needed was an embarkment at some of the communities to forestall the eating up of the shore lines by the ocean water.

According to him, for peace to reign in the area, the community had to ignore the neglect by equally cautioning the youths in the area from taking up arms to confront the oil operators.

he Nigerian Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, has condemned the recent murder of the National Vice President of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), South-East, Dr Nwike Chudi , by suspected kidnappers, just as he expressed shock and concerns over the incident.

According to him, his death was a great loss to all Nigerian people, and his fatal travails in the hands of hoodlums further highlighted the nation’s security inadequacies.

Akume in a statement yesterday signed by his Special Assistant on Media and constituency Matters, Orpin Beckie, said Chudi was a statesman and a consummate politician, who contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria.

He described as the incident as “a sad but obvious indication of how vulnerable we all are wherever we may be in Nigeria and this does not portray us as a people who believe or attach importance to the sanctity of life.”

“We should not hesitate to condemn these barbaric act but more importantly, we should challenge the security outfits to stop paying lip service to security issues; we as private citizens should also take it up as an obligation that we contribute in whichever way we can towards reversing this trend of wanton killings in all parts of this country; otherwise we will soon be seen by others as a nation of savages where killings hobbies.

Yobe suspends council poll indefinitely

T

he Yobe Electoral Commission yesterday announced the indefinite suspension of the local government election slated for June 22.

Alhaji Jauro Abdullahi, the Chairman of the commission, announced this in Damaturu at a stakeholders’ forum which included the chairmen of political parties in the state.

Abdullahi explained that the suspension was necessitated by the spate of security challenges in parts of the state.

“Sadly, the commission has to suspend the election following recent security challenge in parts of the state during which government imposed curfew restricting movement from 6.00p.m to 7.00a.m.

“The commission agreed with the political parties to suspend the elections because the restriction will certainly affect smooth political activities and electoral process,” he said.

Jauro said a new date would be announced as soon as the situation improved.

Alhaji Sanusi Rufai, the Yobe Commissioner of Police who was at the forum along with other security officials, said that political parties were in support of the suspension.

He appealed to the public to assist security agencies with useful information on suspicious movements.

Alhaji Ahmed Dawayo, the state Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said the suspension was appropriate until when politicians were able to mobilise supporters.

“The suspension of the election is the best and fair decision taken by the electoral commission until when we can freely mobilise our voters for the election,” he said. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 39

No regrets making Fashola Lagos governor, says Tinubu

A

L-R: Osun state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, Lagos state Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, during the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Convention, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Akpabio’s Leadership award, a testimony of PDP performance, says Tukur

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said the ‘Best Governor Award’ conferred on the AkwaIbom state governor, Barrister Godswill Akpabio, by the LEADERSHIP Newspapers is an indication that the party is performing.

Tukur who received the governor who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum in his house recently said governors on e platform of the party are not just working but delivering on the mandates of the party.

While thanking LEADERSHIP Newspapers for the award, the PDP National Chairman said that with the award, it becomes impossible for any Nigerian to abandon a winning party to the opposition.

According to him, “I have been to Akwa Ibom and I have seen all that has been going on there and that makes me happy because as a chairman I know that nobody will like to leave the winning party. So let him continue to win and be doing the good thing.

“Of course we need to recognise when something good is done. It is good because doing good is good business. We also congratulate Leadership newspapers because people take newspapers as always trying to do the negative things but they know that there is the good, the bad and the ugly. Now that they have seen good, they came out to show their appreciation. We also appreciate this kind of gesture from the LEADERSHIP Newspapers and I am very happy because as the

chairman of PDP, the LEADERSHIP Newspaper singled out my governor for Nigerians to know what he has done, it is a great thing to me.”

Also speaking at the meeting, the governor of Bauxhi state, Isa Yuguda said that the award is an indication that all the PDP governors are working more than the opposition governors and “it is very obvious that today we have every reason to celebrate as PDP members and as governors of PDP, he won the price on our on behalf.

“So i am very confident that if you rate us from 1 - 36, from 1- 21 is PDP governors, then the rest are following. So from 22 is the remaining governors. So we have really performed, I congratulate him, congratulate the National Chairman and also I congratulate the President because it is an indication that PDP governors are working, PDP government on top is also working, the party is working because it has provided enabling environment for peace to reign so that we can work.”

Dr. Akpabio while addressing the members of the National Working Committee present at the

occasion said that the award means well not just to him but to PDP and that is why “I dedicated the award to the people of Akwa Ibom state and PDP that gave me the vehicle that I drove down to government house.

“But I also pointed out that it is not only me that is working, that other PDP governors particularly are working and that most governors in Nigeria are working.

And that the question is let us go round the states in the country and find out all the positive things that are going on across the country and bring them out so that Nigerians will be better educated. This is because if we continue to churn out the bad news all over the media, it means that Nigerians will be misled into thinking that nothing positive is happening and yet they entrusted their mandate into our hands, entrusted their lives into the hands of PDP and we are doing well all over both at the federal level and state level. So what we need to do is for us to bring out all those positive things that are happening across board in areas of governance in other to engender confidence of Nigerians.”

While thanking his party and his colleagues, the governor said that the award will spur him to do more before the expiration of his tenure in 2015.

He said “indeed my colleagues have been very supportive; from the governor of Niger state who was the Guest Speaker at the occasion down to the governor of Bauchi state and the other governors who have sent messages of congratulations to me. I said also that the award belongs to them because they themselves are also working and excelling in various areas of endeavours in theirs states. All we need do is to go out there and also fish those out and recognise them.”

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh also said that governor Akpabio is an example that PDP is working and delivering on the mandate the people of Nigeria has given to us.

“For him to be the best Governor in Nigeria means that PDP is the best party in Nigeria. I am also happy that the governors have also promised that they are going to work hand in hand with the national chairman in the leadership of the party.”

Jigsawa Assembly passes due process bill

T

he Jigawa House of Assembly passed a bill establishing the Due Process and Project Monitoring Bureau.

The passage of the bill followed the adoption of a report by the house Committee on Due Process.

The Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Inuwa Udi, told the house that the committee

ensured that the amended sections of the bill were in line with relevant laws of the state.

Udi said the amended bill would enhance compliance with due process principles in the conduct of government business.

He urged the house to adopt the report, to facilitate passage of the bill.

In his contribution, Malam Yaro Duzau (PDP-Kanya), said the bill would further entrench discipline and ensure transparency in government business.

The Speaker of the house, Alhaji Adamu Ahmad, directed the Clerk to the House to read the bill for third time and adjourned sitting. (NAN)

former Governor of Lagos State, Chief Bola Tinubu, said yesterday that he had no regrets pushing for Mr Babatunde Fashola as his successor in 2007.

“When I was pushing for him to become governor in 2007, they said that he could not do anything.

“Today, I am vindicated. Thank you for not disappointing me and Lagosians and for not putting me to shame,’’ he told thousands of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) supporters in Lagos at the party’s convention.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 4, 691 delegates from the 36 states and Abuja converged on Onikan Stadium on Lagos Island for the event.

Tinubu said:‘ ‘You (Fashola) have actualised our vision and dreams. We are proud of your performance.’’

He also commended some political leaders, including retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidential Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 elections, for their efforts in deepening the country’s democracy.

Tinubu also named former governors of Kano State and Ogun, Ibrahim Sekarau and Chief Olusegun Osoba, respectively, as among those helping to deepen the nation’s democracy.

On the merger of four parties into All Progressive Congress (APC), Tinubu said the initiative was to bring about the necessary change in the polity.

“We demand a change in the governance of the country. Nigeria must be a prosperous, safe and secure nation.

“The challenges facing us as a nation – insecurity, kidnapping, mass poverty, unemployment and poor wages – must be addressed.

The ACN national leader said Thursday’s convention would be the last to be held by the party.

“This is not a sad ending for us in ACN, but the beginning of a new beginning into the merger.’’

Earlier, the Chairman, Convention Committee, Sen. Lawal Suaibu, said history was being made in Nigeria’s democratic experience with the merger of the parties.

NAN reports that Buhari, Shekarau, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, who was ACN’s presidential candidate in 2011 poll; Chief Audu Ogbe, Chief Tom Ikimi and former Imo governor, Achike Udenwa, were among dignitaries at the convention, which ratified the party’s new name – APC. Others include Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, governors of Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Edo, National Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change, Prince Tony Momoh, senators and House of Representatives members.

NAN reports that the ACN, CPC, All Nigeria Peoples’ Party and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, have agreed to come together under APC. (NAN)

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

“Resource distribution is north’s major problem” Major-Gen. Yakubu Usman (rtd) is a member of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NGSTF) committee on Security, Reconciliation and Rehabilitation, set up to proffer solutions to the myriad of security challenges plaguing the area. Usman retired in 2005. He held several command positions in the Army and was also, a time Nigeria’s Defence Adviser in Benin Republic with other Francophone countries under him. In this interview with Agaju Madugba in Abuja, Usman spoke on the work of his committee as well as on some other issues.

H

ow far have you gone with your committee’s work given the fact that the security situation in then north appears to degenerate by the day?

We have gone a long way and the committee itself as the name suggests was formed by the northern states governors because of their concern for security in the northern part of the country. We were given terms of reference which included identification of areas of concern and how we can proffer practicable solutions for the governors so that they can bring the security situation in good order. So far, we sat for over six months and we have submitted an interim report and hopefully within the next few weeks we should be able to round up and submit our final report.

Things have been happening very fast, dramatically in the course of our work, we had had time to visit the crisis areas in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau, Kano and even Nasarawa states.

That is to tell you that it is not just Boko Haram that we are tackling.The issue of Nasarawa is not Boko Haram, it is based on tribal or ethnic clashes and we were there. We were in Jos and you that the Jos issue is complex. So interacted with quite a number of them and we have been able to come up with a report.

President Goodluck Jonathan says Boko Haram members are ghosts, are they really ghosts?

I do not know but I have not heard it and for obvious reasons, you know that there are quite a number of them that are in detention right now and quite a number of them have been spoken with not even by our committee but also from what we read in the papers, some of the governors are in touch with the Boko Haram. So, they cannot be ghosts. If they are ghosts, how did you detain them and so on. So, they cannot be ghosts and I believe maybe they must have been caught.

This Boko Haram issue has been dragging up for long and security problem in the country; don’t you think something is wrong somewhere and the security are not doing something correct?

Well, there is no security situation that is perfect but on the contrary, I think the security agencies are doing their best. Their best may not be enough and you would have known that there has been a bomb blast in the United States.

Major-Gen. Yakubu Usman So, if that can happen there, Nigeria is not an exception and if you take a look at what happens in other countries even if you check the case of northern Ireland in great Britain, for over 30 years the government was busy and it took them time to come to agreement and at the end of the day, they had an agreement and now forgiveness. So, whether you call it amnesty, forgiveness or whatever it is, I believe at the end of the day, we will succeed, God willing.

But do you not think there is going to be a problem because the Boko Haram people say they are not interested in the proposed amnesty of the Federal Government, that instead, it is ready to grant the government amnesty?

When the idea of amnesty was proposed for the Niger Delta militants, the MEND in particular said they did require amnesty but today you see the amnesty working. You see, when you talk of amnesty, you cannot just call someone and say I have granted you amnesty, you have to engage in dialogue, you discuss and then the amnesty is based on the discussion. Let experts meet with these people and then by the time they sit down and discuss on the modality, then you start talking of amnesty.

And, who are those Boko Haram that are saying they are not interested? From what

we know, they are factionalised. So, if one faction says they are not interested, another faction will say they are interested. So, you go along with those that are interested, after all, there is this popular saying that a journey of one thousand miles begins with a step. If it is one faction or even if it is one person that is ready, you should take him out from that group, maybe by the time the other group sees how you handle him or how he is enjoying his freedom, they will also come and embrace the amnesty.

The MEND has actually threatened that they are going to start bombing Muslim institutions. What do you think about that?

First of all, two wrongs do not make a right and as a Christian, the Bible teaches us to forgive our adversaries as many times as we can. The idea is, for as long as someone sins and he asks for forgiveness, he should be forgiven. You know there has been bombing of churches in the past, of course the rate is reducing now, it will not be proper of anyone to do such, why even take the law into their hands in the first place. Is it their responsibility?

Who sought for their assistance? I think this is the decision that should be left to the security agencies to handle.

MEND in their own wisdom or in their own characteristics did not consult anybody before

coming out to say this and I do not think that threat will interfere with the activities of the security agencies. After all, the security agencies are there to check any excesses. So, if MEND tries to take the laws into their hands, the security agencies are there to take necessary actions.

The Jonathan ambition to contest in 2015 seems to have divided the north. How do you think the issue should be resolved?

I have not heard it from him so I cannot say anything now. I have not heard it from the President that he said he wants to contest in 2015. So, let us wait until he comes out to declare. For now, any comment will amount to jumping the gun and I am not prepared for that. So, we will wait until he declares, then those who are ready to support him will support him and same goes for those who will not support him.

For now, he has not come out to tell anybody that he wants to contest in 2015.

But would you say he deserves another chance given what he has achieved so far?

I am not the deciding factor.

I said we should wait until he comes out to say that he wants to contest then people can judge accordingly.

Tukur was quoted recently as saying that Jonathan mandated him to ensure that the PDP wins 32 states in 2015. What do you think?

That is between Tukur and the President and I was not privy to that meeting and I cannot comment on that.

But you are a politician?

Yes, Iam a politician and I am entitled to my view and that is what I am telling you. I was not born a politician; I only practise politics for the improvement of my state and my country. There are so many programmes that the President has put in place. If by this year or next year those programmes become effective and people see, then they can decide what they want. Anybody can vie for any office. I do not have any objection to anybody provided you have put in something good that people will see as achievements.

Can you point out some of these achievements?

One of them is what we have been talking about, security challenges, electricity, unemployment, and all these things, they are in the pipeline. So, if by this year or next year there are good reports, in fact, even before I talk, people will start shouting.

So, they are there. You know if the security improves, we have electricity and unemployment is reduced, of course, we cannot say we can guarantee 100 per cent employment. Even if it is third term or tenth term, I don’t care provided you serve the majority of the people and they are happy with your administration, they will vote for you.

That is what Nigerians have been told over these years.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said the same thing especially regarding solving the electricity power problem?

That is why he did not get the third term because if he had given you what you wanted, you would not be the one to ask, in fact people will cry for him to continue. So, it all depends on what you achieved or did not achieve.

Would you say that Nigerians have benefitted from what they call dividends of democracy over these years?

We are one, yes we have.

Nigeria is still one. So, that is one of the dividends we have achieved. There is freedom of speech, freedom of association and a lot of things. We may not get 100 per cent but we have achieved an appreciable level.

What is really the problem with the north, the north is believed to be the most backward in the country and what can be done for the north to catch up with other parts of the country?

If you go back to history, the north, right from the beginning embraced different forms of administration of government.

In the past, before you even talk of Nigeria, you talk of the north because it was the most organised administratively, economically. Yes, the north is backward, educationally, yes but the north used to have eastern education, when I say eastern, I mean Arabic education but what has happened is, over the years, we discarded what our forefathers taught us and that is, to be our brother’s keeper, rather, we became individualistic and we are less concerned with what is happening to our neighbours to the extent that the little resources available in the north is being wasted or pocketed by few individuals and as the population increases, the number of the poor increases also while the rich ones are a very small group. The problem of the north is the resource distribution and self-centeredness. If we can be a little bit less self-centered, we will obviously improve.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

PAGE 41

CAF U-17: Manu blames fate for Eaglets loss, vows to crush Congo

By Patrick Andrew “

A

ll praise belongs to Allah. Yes, we lost but I belief that was what destiny had in store for us,” Garba Manu said while assessing the Golden Eaglets untoward loss to their Cote d’

Ivoire counterparts in a match they dominated on Wednesday night in Marrekech, Morocco.

It was the team’s first loss in 29 competitive and friendly matches since they were assembled over a year ago. Garba,a pious Muslim, at the post match conference that the loss was “an act of God” even

as he vowed it would ginger the team to step up its performance.

Although he dismissed assertion that the team suddenly became complacent after mauling the Black Satellites 6-1 in their opening game, Garba insisted that the loss was just one of the expected things in football and that they

Members of the Golden Eaglets paying attention to trainner’s instruction after a training session

Emordi begs Warri Wolves for release of Mba, Agbim

R

angers Chief Coach, Okey Emordi, has pleaded with Warri Wolves and other clubs that have clung on to their new signings for their release in time for Sunday’s crucial CAF Champions League clash against Angola’s Recreativo do Libolo.

Rangers are yet to reach an agreement with Warri Wolves over the clearance of

international stars Sunday Mba and Chigozie Agbim even after they registered them for the continental competition.

“It is a very disturbing scenario we find ourselves at the moment. It has come to the point where I have to make this passionate appeal to our fellow clubs to release their players that we have registered for the continental competition,”

Emordi said.

“We really need the understanding of these clubs in this regard. This is a competition we are representing the country and they have to see it as a Nigerian project.”

Emordi said he expects Recreativo to stretch his team in Sunday’s Champions League clash at home.

“I expect a very tough game from the Angolans but I am very sure that we shall overcome them. By God’grace, we shall find our range that day so as to make the return leg a mere formality. I just pray that we get the clearance of some of the players we are still to get,” he said.

Rangers walked over SaoTome and Principe side Sporting Club in the preliminary round

would ensure it does not happen again.

“This was our first loss and it was painful to us as a team because we played our usual game but our opponents just refused to play.”

According to him the Eaglets are now condemned to win the next tie irrespective of the form of their opponents.

“We have no option again. Our backs are now against the wall and you should expect that we are going to react in a positive way. I don’t want to go into any permutations, we just have to win our last game,” he said.

G a r b a regretted the comical errors that led to the last minute goal a g a i n s t them in Wednesday’s game and

admitted that the Eaglets had more than enough chances to score against the Baby Elephants but were just unfortunate.

He assured that such offensive mistakes would be avoided on Saturday when the Eaglets play the decisive final group stage match to determine not just the two qualifiers from the group winners of the FIFA U-17, United Arab Emirates tickets.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that the Eaglets had been masterly in performance but the highly physical Ivorian lads defended their vital area stoutly choosing often to rely on counterpart attacks one of which paid off handsomely.

Meanwhile, Saliu AliBaba,the former national Under-15 captain was equally philosophical in describing the despondency in team’s dressing room after the match. “ It’s a shame that we lost today and it very hard on us because we have not lost a game before now,” he said.” We are all very sad but we have accepted the defeat in good faith.

“Our coaches would tell us what to do in our next game and Insha Allah, we are going to qualify for the World Cup,” he stated.

while they beat Vital’O of Burundi 2-0 aggregate in the

previous round competition.

of

the

Sunday Mba

Nigerian-born Briton wants Flying Eagles call up

A

Nigerian-born Briton, Matthias Fanimo, has said that he intended to play for Nigeria’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles.

Fanimo, who has played for England’s U-16, U-17 and U-18 teams, made his yearning known in Lagos while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from London.

He wants coach John Obuh to give him a trial especially now that it has been observed that the team needs to be beefed up ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Championship in Turkey,

next June.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who plays for West Ham United FC of England, said that his experience had equipped him to make a difference in the Nigerian team.

Fanimo, who made his debut in the England U-16 team against Scotland in the Victory Shield in 2008, said he was motivated seeing Mikel Obi and Efe Ambrose playing for Nigeria.

He signed his first professional contract with West Ham United in 2011 and also played against Crewe Alexander in the 2012

Football League Cup which they won 2-0.

“I am motivated to play for my country having, seen others like Mikel Obi and Efe Ambrose play for Nigeria. I am equally ready to play for my country, if I am invited. I have gathered some experience which I think will help me to make a good career by playing for Nigeria,’’ Fanimo said.

He made his debut for England U-16 side on Nov. 28, 2008 against Scotland U-16 in the Victory Shield which England won 2–0. Also, he debuted at U17 level on Aug. 3, 2010

against Finland and also made his U-18 debut on Sept. 16, 2011 against Slovakia.

The player was born on Jan. 28, 1994 and was discovered by the West Ham Football Academy at the age of five.

Reacting to the decision, his father, Olabode Fanimo, said he was glad to see him thinking of what to do for his country.

He said that he would have interfered in his son’s decision earlier, ‘’but for the law of the U.K which does not support forcing children against their will.

“I cannot force him against his own will to play for Nigeria

because the U.K. laws did not permit parents to do so, but since he voluntarily wants to play for Nigeria, then he is ready.

“Matthias has been involved in developmental football right from when the West Ham United Football Academy discovered him when he was five years old. I will always give him the needed support to succeed”.

Fanimo appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to give the lad a chance, saying that having such young foreign-based players would inject new trends into Nigerian football.

PAGE 43

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

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COVENANT OF PEACE OUTREACH ASSEMBLY

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TRUSTEES ARE: 1. CHIEF EMMANUEL UKPETOMARE ARAWORE 2. AIR COMMODORE MIKE MUSA IGHO (RDT) 3. HON. AMOX JATAU 4. MRS EUCHARIA ONYINYE ARAWORE 5. GOODLUCK EDAFE 6. CHIDEBERE NWAGU 7. MR TOM OGUNDIMU 8. WINSTON OGHENEVWHARE ARAWORE 9. HON. JOBSON ELIJAH WILLIAM 10. JOHN AZIKE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO UNDERTAKE ADVOCACY FOR PEACFUL CO-EXISTENCE AMONGST NIGERIANS THAT WILL ENGENDER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. 2. TO ENCOURAGE, ENLIGHTEN AND PROMOTE TOLERANCE, UNITY AND PEACE AMONGST NIGERIANS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EVANG. OZIEGBE OKONOFUA-JOHN 2. PASTOR MRS RUTH OZIEGBE ORITSEBGUBEMI 3. MR NOBLE ASIGERE 4. MR LUCKY OKONOFUA 5. MRS VICTORIA TERMATA 6. MRS TORITSEJU KOSIN AIMS 1. SOUL WINING. TO TRAIN AND SPONSOR MISSIONARIES TO REACH THEIR OWN UNREACH TRIBES AND VILLAGES. 2. TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF PEACE AND UNITY TO THE WORLD. 3. TO INSTILL THE TRUTH ESPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUTH FALL’S ABOUT THE REDEMPTION BLOOD OF JESUS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: JEMIMA ANIGBORO (0802361907)

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR ORAEGBU PETER NGOZI 2. MR KAYODE ADENIYI 3. MR VINCENT ORAEGBU 4. MR LATEEF KAMORUDEEM 5. MR OGUNDIPE OLUMIDE AIMS 1. TO PROMOTE FRIENDSHIP AMONG MEMBERS. 2. TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF GOOD FOIL PRINTING. 3. TO FURTHER PROFFER WAYS IN PROTECTING THE BUSINESS AND RIGHT OF ITS MEMBERS. 4. TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR ITS MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE; 1. LADY NGOZI CONFIDENCE AMADIWOCHI 2. CHIEF MRS NICE ALERUCHI TOBOLAYEFA ALAMIEYESEIGHA 3. OGBUEFI ODOGWU DAFE 4. HON. ENEIKIYO BONNY FELIX AYAH 5. ENGR. GODNKOWS ALAMIEYESEIGHA 6. CHIEF SIR. ALEXANDER AMADIWOCHI 7. DR. NORA AMADIWOCHI 8. PROFET WISDOM OKONKWO EHIME 9. FESTUS GOTEH NGOCHINDO 10 DERRY DEREBI ZUOKUMOR THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PROVIDE CARE FOR THE ORPHANS IN THE SOCIETY ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION, SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION

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TRUSTEES 1.STERLING AYEBAEMI ELLIS 2.MICAH ORUWORI WAKAMA AIMS 1. TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE/INTEREST OF MEMBERS 2. TO PROMOTE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND RENDER ASSISTANCE AMONG MEMBERS WHEN THE NEED ARISES 3. TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THE DESTITUTE AND HOMELESS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

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THE TRUSTEES ARE; 1. LADY NGOZI CONFIDENCE AMADIWOCHI 2. CHIEF MRS NICE ALERUCHI TOBOLAYEFA ALAMIEYESEIGHA 3. OGBUEFI ODOGWU DAFE 4. HON. ENEIKIYO BONNY FELIX AYAH 5. ENGR. GODNKOWS ALAMIEYESEIGHA 6. CHIEF SIR. ALEXANDER AMADIWOCHI 7. DR. NORA AMADIWOCHI 8. PROFET WISDOM OKONKWO EHIME 9. FESTUS GOTEH NGOCHINDO 10 DERRY DEREBI ZUOKUMOR THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO CATER FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION, SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED; VICTOR KANU ESQ.

Egypt renew spectator ban at CAF fixtures

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eading Egyptian football club Zamalek will host a CAF Champions League qualifier in an empty Cairo Stadium this weekend after recent incidents triggered the renewal of a ban on spectators.

Authorities allowed crowds limited to 3 000 for earlier fixtures this year involving Zamalek and fellow Cairo club Al-Ahly in the premier Confederation of African Football club competition.

But despite spectators being outnumbered by security forces at the 90 000-seat Borg El Arab stadium on the outskirts of Mediterranean city Alexandria, there was trouble at the matches.

Zamalek supporters ripped up seats after a 7-0 thrashing of Chadian visitors Gazelle a strange way to celebrate a onesided result that ensured the White Knights of overall victory.

Ahly fans threw projectiles on the pitch during a game against Kenyan visitors Tusker with one landing close to the visiting goalkeeper just before the home team scored the second goal in a 2-0 win that secured qualification.

While Zamalek host Saint George from Ethiopia in Cairo this weekend, Ahly visit Tunisia for a match against CA Bizertin. Both are first leg fixtures with the overall winners advancing to the

lucrative mini-league phase.

The incidents in Alexandria plus clashes between spectators and police in Ismaily after the home side were eliminated from the Arab Champions League convinced sports minister Farouk Al-Amry to act.

“Because of incidents involving Ahly, Zamalek and Ismaily, which put the safety of fans at risk and damaged property, my ministry has decided to ban spectators from African and Arab club fixtures,” he said.

This is a massive blow for Ahly and Zamalek, the two most successful clubs in the Champions League with seven and five titles respectively, and serious title contenders this year.

Ahly defied the odds to defeat old rivals Esperance of Tunisia and win the 2012 Champions League as the final was the only match of seven en route to glory in which spectators were permitted.

Zamalek, with a much weaker team than this year, also had to play most games behind closed doors and made a timid groupstage exit after failing to win in six home and away outings.

The decision to bring back closed-door fixtures drew an angry reaction from Zamalek fans with some protesting outside the sports ministry offices in Cairo this week and blocking entry to the building.

FCT wins north central boxing tourney

T

he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has emerged winners of the inaugural boxing championship organised for boxers within the North Central Zone.

FCT topped the medals table after Arise Adeyemo and Samuel Odoh won gold medals in the 60 kg and 52 kg respectively while Muyideen Adeyemo won silver in the 57 kg category to the lead others in the two-day championship, organised for boxers in four different weight categories.

Kwara came second with two gold medals and one bronze, while Plateau won two bronze medals to clinch third position in the tournament aimed at discovering boxers to represent the zone at national competitions.

Sponsor of the championship, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode says: “About mid 70s, we lost interest in so many things.

There was so much interest in football and it took away interest from boxing, athletics and a few other sports where we excelled in the past.

“We want to lay the foundation of a new era of boxing in Nigeria. We want to do healthy clean boxing, professional boxing; boxing that can bring international glory and laurels to Nigeria,’’ Kayode said.

“We must re-establish ourselves as ECOWAS, African and International champions, right now we are not there but we can be there. It will not work if we leave it for government alone; it has never worked anywhere and it doesn’t cost much, it is a matter of interest and energy,’’ he said.

Sen. Bala Mohammed, Minister of the FCT

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Alvarez, Trout in Junior Middleweight unification duel

S

aul Alvarez and Austin Trout will exchange punches in a junior middleweight title unification fight scheduled for Sunday morning at the Alamadome in San Antonio, USA. South African veteran Stan Christodoulou will be the referee in the main bout.

Alvarez, nicknamed Canelo, is the WBC champion and regarded as a potential superstar. Trout holds the WBA title.

Alvarez, 22 years old has had 42 professional fights out of which only one ended in a draw, but he won all the others; 30 inside the distance.

The Mexican has been touted as an opponent for Floyd Mayweather but Trout is likely to provide one of the toughest tests of his career.

Alvarez has compiled his impressive record by fighting a lot of “no-name” boxers since his professional debut in October 2005.

He won the vacant WBC belt with a one-sided decision over Matthew Hatton who recently lost to South African Chris van Heerden and is by no means a top-ten fighter.

“Canelo” retained the title by stopping Ryn Rhodes in the twelfth round and Alfonso Gomez in the sixth. He then took on two fading former world champions, stopping Kermit Cintron in the

fifth round and beating Shane Mosley on points.

In his most recent fight, in

September last year, Alvarez defeated Jose Lopez in the fifth.

Trout, a 27-year-old

K

King Davidson-Emenogu

On the undercard Abner Cotto (16-0; 7) from Puerto Rico and Omar Figuero (20-0; 16) of Texas meet for the vacant WBC light-welterweight title.

Christodoulou, the first referee to handle world title fights in all 17 weight divisions, was the third to reach the “century” mark. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, in 2004.

The 69-year-old veteran has been in charge of nearly 200 world title bouts and has shared the ring with the likes of Marvin Hagler, Roberto Durand, Barry McGuigan and Victor Galindez.

He remains one of the most respected referees in the world.

Ex-national Coach urges AFN to strengthen talent discovery, grooming

A

melia Edet, a former Chief Coach with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has appealed to the federation not to relent in its efforts to discover and groom of talents at the grassroots.

Edet argued that without discovering and nurturing talents, it would be impossible for Nigeria to regain its lost glory in athletics in international competitions.

“In the next five years, if the federation maintains its discovery and nurturing of talents with the staging of

Saul Alvarez

Davidson-Emenogu happy to defend WBO title in Nigeria ing Davidson-Emenogu, the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Light Middleweight champion, says he is in high spirit to defend his title on May 31 in Abuja.

Davidson-Emenogu in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos said that he had honed his skills to ensure a successful defence of his title.

“Although, I am yet to know

southpaw from New Mexico, is undefeated after 26 fights of which he won 14 inside the distance. He won the vacant WBA belt in February 2011 when he beat Rigoberto Alvarez on points and has retained it in defences against David Alonso Lopez, Frank LoPorto and Delvin Rodriguez.

In an outstanding performance at Madison Square Garden last December he outpointed highly rated former multiple champion Miguel Cotto, who lost for only the third time in a 40-fight career.

Trout has the skills to upset the fancied Alvarez in what is likely to be an excellent, allaction clash.

my opponent, I have been training hard and I am confident that I will be victorious and retain the title,’’ he said.

The boxer said that he won the title by beaten former holder, Andrejs Iodinovs, a Russian, on March 2 in Southampton, United Kingdom.

The Commonwealth Games bronze medalist added that he had been fighting outside Nigeria since he went

professional some years back, but insisted that his next fight should be in Nigeria.

“I insisted to have my next fight in Nigeria to boost my image,’’ Davidson-Emenogu said.

He added that on Tuesday, he received a royal blessing from Hyacinth Ohazulike, the Eze Ndi Igbo in Lagos State, in his Palace at Agege.

Davidson-Emenogu said that he presented the royal father with all his five titles and that the monarch was proud of his achievement.

“The monarch said that the Igbo community is solidly behind me in my quest to defend my title. The royal father added that when late Dick Tiger and Obisia Nwamkpa, defended their titles he was present and that he will equally be present at the defence of my title.

“Ohazulike also promised to be with no fewer than 50 Igbo people to support me at the fight because I have received his blessing,’’ the boxer said.

Other Davidson-Emenogu’s titles are: Australian Light Middleweight champion, WBO Africa Light Middleweight champion, the Pan Asia Boxing Association (PABA) Light Middleweight champion and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Pan Pacific Light Middleweight champion.

Drogba in court over property payment

A

French construction company based in Ajaccio has filed a case against Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba for allegedly failing to pay the balance of a building project, Corse Matin said yesterday..

The owner of Acqua Viva, Leonard Simoni, is demanding •394,000 (R4.7m) as outstanding payment and an additional •660,000 in damages, the newspaper said. A court in Ajaccio opened a hearing yesterday.

Drogba and his wife awarded the construction of their house in Abidjan to Acqua Nova, but the firm claims the couple is yet to settle costs for extra work carried out at the gigantic site.

A lawyer, Franck Dymarsky, who represents the Galatasaray forward, is challenging the jurisdiction of the court of Ajaccio in this case.

Drogba is also completing a £3 million hospital in Abidjan that he says will offer services to the less privileged.

regular competitions, the sport will certainly develop immensely.

“However, the welfare of the young athletes has to be taken into serious consideration, to have good athletes to represent the country at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and beyond,“ she said.

The coach noted that serious nations hardly recycled athletes, saying that recycling the same old athletes usually slows down the growth of sports generally.

“If we want to develop sports, recycling of athletes should be stopped. When an athlete gets to retirement stage, such should not be allowed to remain in the competitive stage.

“Recycling the same athletes hinders sports development,’’ she added.

She also canvassed the development of school sports for an enhanced overall development of sports, saying sports fortunes had greatly dwindled in the country due to the neglect of schools sports.

“All what I am saying is that we should go back to the schools.

A lot of athletes were discovered from the primary and secondary schools,’’ Edet said.

She stressed the need for athletes to combine sports with education, saying that if athletes made money without formal education, they may not be able to spend the money wisely.

“If you make money and you do not have anything in your head, how will you be able to spend the money judiciously?’’ she wondered noting that such athlete would sooner go bankrupt than latter.

Chief Solomon Ogba, President AFN

PAGE 45

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

[2] 1] Thai teenager Ariya Jutanugarn, 17, shot an 8-under 64 on Wednesday to take a onestroke lead over Suzann Pettersen and Hee Kyung Seo after the first round of the LPGA Lotte Championship. Ariya played the front nine at breezy Ko Olina in 6-under 30 in her afternoon round, dropped a stroke on the par-4 10th with her lone bogey, then eagled the par-5 14th and birdied the par-4 15th.

P

IC

L L A A I I R R O O T

2] Manchester City’s grip on the Premier League trophy could be prised away once and for all this weekend as Roberto Mancini’s side face Tottenham Hotspur knowing defeat would allow Manchester United the chance to be crowned champions on Monday.

3] Six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy has announced his retirement from cycling at the age of 37. Hoy, who won two events at London 2012, also secured 11 world titles during a glittering 19-year career.

4] Real Madrid valued at $3.3bn has overtaken Manchester United $3.17bn as the world’s most valuable football club, according to business magazine Forbes.It is the first time that Man Utd has lost the top spot since Forbes first started compiling its list in 2004.

[3]

[1]

[4]

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FIFA lifts ban on Libya home matches

W

orld soccer's governing body FIFA has lifted a ban on Libya hosting soccer matches despite the North African country still facing precarious security issues after the 2011 war that ousted Muammar Gaddafi.

FIFA confirmed in a statement yesterday, thus the two (World Cup) qualifiers on June 7 against DR. Congo and Togo on June 14 will be played in Tripoli and in Benghazi.

CAF, the Confederation of African Football, said on March 28 it was authorising matches under their jurisdiction to be played in the country.

Libya are unbeaten in their three qualifiers, with five points from a win and two draws. They are a point behind leaders Cameroon and one ahead of DR Congo. Togo are bottom with one point.

Five winners will qualify for the finals in Brazil next year.

Previously Libyan clubs used neutral venues to host their matches while the Libyan national side have played 'home' World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifiers in Mali, Egypt and Tunisia over the last 24 months.

Libyan club Al Nasr were allowed to host the April 5 African Confederation Cup tie against Morocco's Royal Armed Forces in Benghazi in the first competitive international match in the country for two years.

Murray out, Nadal advances

R

oger Federer will return to second in the ATP standings next week after Andy Murray collapsed to a 6-1, 6-2 third-round loss to Stanislas Wawrinka at the Monte Carlo Masters on yesterday.

Murray committed 24 unforced errors as he lost to Federer's Swiss compatriot, seeded 13th, in 58 minutes.

Rafael Nadal stepped up his campaign for an historic ninth straight title at the event as the third seed won his 44th match in a row at the venue with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of German Philip Kohlschreiber.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE The Nigerian government's failure to prosecute perpetrators of religiously-related violence only encourages reprisals and intensifies local tensions and mistrust. — US Commission on Inernational Religious Freedom (USCIRF)

The people shall obey S

outh African government's touchiness about criticism of its policies seems to have a Nigerian parallel. In his speech at the memorial service for the soldiers who were killed in the Central African Republic Jacob Zuma presented us, and not for the first time, with the idea that we should receive another accumulation of bodies - of black bodies - as a tragedy, as a cruel consequence of the random movement of the wheel of fortune.

Thabo Mbeki, watching our steady accretion of 'tragedies' from the sidelines, might, perhaps, have recalled a line from Shakespeare: 'Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, Which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky.'

This latest tragedy, Zuma implied, will be redeemed by its insertion in the long march of nationalist and Pan-African aspirations from the shattering on the anvil of colonial subjugation and onwards and upwards towards collective and world historical redemption. He quoted from a prize winning oration that Pixely ka Isaka Seme, a central figure in the founding of the ANC, gave at Columbia University in New York in 1906: 'Already I seem to see her chains dissolved; her desert plains red with harvest; her Abyssinia and her Zululand the seats of science and religion, reflecting the glory of the rising sun from the spires of their churches and universities, her Congo and her Gambia whitened with commerce; her crowded cities sending forth the hum of business; and all her sons employed in advancing the victories of peace greater and more abiding than the spoils of war.'Seme looked forward to a future historian who would record how the 'onward tide' that had led to 'the future's golden door" was "often swelled with tears". Our soldiers died, Zuma insisted, on this tide and in pursuit of this soaring vision rather than the altogether grubbier picture painted, in some detail, in our newspapers. These days quotes from Seme's famous speech are frequently spliced into the invariably more stolid speeches of ANC leaders. Even John Block, whose energies seem focussed on matters other than realising Seme's redemptive dream of an Africa that, 'walking with that morning gleam' will 'Shine as they sister lands with equal beam' sees the utility in opening and closing an otherwise entirely prosaic speech, its dreary technocratism itself as mask of sorts, with quotes from Seme.

While Seme was giving his famous speech in New York an anti-colonial rebellion was gathering momentum in Natal, his home. Two days before he gave his oration a settler militia under the command of a colonial soldier, Duncan McKenzie, clashed with rebels who had rallied to stand with Bhambatha kaMancinza Zondi in

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GUEST COLUMNIST Richard Pithouse

President Jacob Zuma the Mome Gorge in the Nkandla Forest. A week later hundreds of Bhambatha's soldiers were massacred in the gorge. The colonial state claimed that Bhambatha was killed, decapitated and buried. Popular myth asserted that he, like so many heroes real and imagined and across time and space, had escaped alive and was preparing a triumphant return.

Seme was a modernist and an internationalist and he saw Bhambatha's rebellion as an outmoded form of revolt. But he was no armchair critic - he went on to become a key figure in the founding of the the ANC in 1912 and to found the newspaper Abantu-Batho where a nationalist and internationalist anticolonialism was first given the sustained space required to come to voice in the new Union of South Africa. In 1998 Ntongela Masilela observed that for Seme it was 'axiomatic' that international PanAfricanism mixed with African nationalism in South Africa and infused into the organisational structure of the African National Congress would produce the "Regeneration of Africa and Liberation of the African People."

Bhambatha never returned.

But in 1990 the ANC was able to make a triumphant return from prison, exile and the underground and, four years later, into power.

Almost twenty years on millions have flourished, and in some respects society has flourished, in the wake of the opening, partial but real, that marked the end of apartheid.

However our country remains acutely and often violently divided between, as it is sometimes expressed in sites of popular dissent, those who are inside and those who have been spat out. The hope that time is on the side of those

who were spat out has been dashed.

The process of spitting out is ongoing. It is there in the way in which we honour the rich and dishonour the poor every day. It is even being built into the material landscape of our cities in the form of the return of the transit camp - a colonial technology of urban control.

And popular rebellion, repressed by massacre in 1906 and again at various points as the century wore on until it was eventually contained with the seductions of nationalism in 1994, has returned. Under Zuma it is contained with beatings, torture, people being driven from their homes and murder at the hands of police officers and party thugs that are often able to act with impunity. And, of course, Zuma has presided over the ANC's first massacre.

Zuma wants to repeat Seme's axiom in which the ANC is the only mode of organisation that can mediate the inevitable and glorious realisation of collective aspirations - aspirations framed in nationalist terms. His speech at the memorial for the men who fell outside Bangui after, by all accounts, making a tremendously brave stand, was, above all, a demand for our silence and obedience. The path to national glory has, he implied, been laid out.

The ANC is taking us down that path and asking questions about where we are going and how we are getting there is simply disloyal.

It has been argued that we had good reason to have our soldiers in the Central African Republic. But even if this proves to be the case there is a critical difference between a conception of the nation in which government seeks to be as open as it can, citizenship entails the right to freely debate and discuss the issues of the day and democracy is understood as an on-going popular practice as opposed to a conception of the nation in which government does not subject its reasoning to public scrutiny and democracy requires us to vote every few years and spend the rest of the time in dutiful and unquestioning obedience to our leaders.

The logic that equates virtuous membership of the nation with unquestioning obedience to the ruling party, which sometimes extends to presenting the now entirely heretical idea that the people should govern, or even just be able to express their views freely, as treasonous has long been imposed on the bottom of society with considerable brutality. It now

stalks the higher reaches of society with gathering stridency. But of course nothing is said about the contrast between Seme's grand vision of a state that could facilitate an African renaissance and the tawdry mess of Nkandla, the spectacular horror of Marikana, the more routine horror of the murder of Mido Macia and all the other scandals and everyday brutalities, venalities, and dishonesties that have come to mark out the degeneration of the state into an increasingly predatory instrument.

The moment that we are living through has been endured, to varying degrees, by all postcolonial societies. It is the moment in which, as Frantz Fanon observed in Tunis in 1961, " The party, instead of welcoming the expression of popular discontentment, instead of taking for its fundamental purpose the free flow of ideas from the people up to the government, forms a screen, and forbids such ideas."

Membership of the party, or performances of support for it, is increasingly undertaken with outright cynicism.

People sometimes refer to the purchase of a party card as ''Tata ma chance'.

But although the reality of the ANC is so obviously debased the idea of the ANC retains its compelling power for many. And for many people the prospect of voluntary exit or forced expulsion from the idea of the ANC remains a painful prospect. You may find, for instance, that a local activist is murdered after months of threats from a ward councillor and his armed thugs but when her family arrive from their village to claim the body they find it much easier to, just like the party and the state, explain the murder as random crime, as tragedy, rather than to explore the possibility of political assassination. To have been spat out of society in material terms is one thing. To voluntarily exit the shelter of the party, one of the few available route for symbolic inclusion into the nation, is another.

The power of nationalism will not dissipate until its political work, its urgent political work, is done. But as Fanon warned just over fifty years ago "the battle against colonialism does not run straight away along the lines of nationalism" and nationalism without social commitment will end up taking over and legitimating neo-colonial arrangements. Zuma's attempt to discipline us in the name of nationalism, to demand our unquestioning obedience in the name of the nation, is nothing but propaganda designed to mask the narrow interests of a predatory elite and it should be contested as such.

Richard Pithouse teaches politics at Rhodes University, SA.

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