Peoples Daily Newspaper, Saturday, May 19, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com www.peoplesdaily-online.com

VOL. 1 NO. 93 SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Revealed: Nigeria among countries to be hit by asteroid >> Page 46

JIMADAL AKHIR 28 - 29, 1433 AH

N150

Being a senator is very challenging — Nenadi Usman >> Page 8

Lawmakers mull return to regions

>> Page 3

May adopt six geo-political zones

States should merge —Ndoma-Egba Regional system is best for now —Gebi North can survive —Mongunu

>> See page 7 for story

COVER:

>> Pages 9, 10 & 11

Rotation of power: The issues, the politics

Strike: Yari threatens to sack workers

>> Pages 9, 10 & 11 >> Page 2

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

News

Lawyer asks court to stop Jonathan, NJC from reinstating Salami

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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ne Barrister Wilfred Okoli yesterday filed a suit against the Federal Government asking the court to restrain government from reinstating the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami.

The suit filed by Amobi Nzelu, listed as defendants the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Salami, the Attorney General of the

Federation and President Goodluck Jonathan.

The plaintiff is asking the court to hold that NJC cannot deliberate on an issue which is a subject of litigation.

He also asked for a declaration that President Jonathan was not under any constitutional obligation to act upon the recommendation made to him by the NJC, asking to reinstate Salami.

He also asked for the following declaration that the

President has a right to act and not to act upon any recommendation made to him by the NJC. He further asked the court to hold that it is only a court of law that has the power to hear and determine matters between parties.

The plaintiff asked the court to stop Jonathan from acting on the recommendation sent to him by the NJC. In an affidavit he deposed to the plaintiff averred that the

NJC had no power to recommend to the President to reinstate Salami.

He said: “That the NJC can only recommend to the President to remove judicial officers and not reinstatement.”

He further averred that Jonathan was not duty bound to act on the recommendation of the NJC. The court processes were filed yesterday. It has not been given a date.

South East PDP cautions Buhari

By Augustine Aminu

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South East zone, has condemned the comments attributed to General Muhammadu Buhari, in which he was said to have foretold that there will be bloodshed in the event that the 2015 elections were rigged.

The party described the said statement as incendiary and bereft of patriotic intent.

In a press statement signed by the party’s National Vice

Chairman, South East, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.) the zonal leadership of the party applauded the prompt response from the Presidency and PDP national leadership statement and commended President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for showing restraint against the heckling of opposition politicians aimed at distracting him from prosecuting his Transformation Agenda.

The statement reads in parts. “We in the South East in particular have good reason to be apprehensive anytime

political leaders try to stoke up sectarian violence through inflammatory speech. Given our bitter experience, those who employ violence to serve political ends are never caught in the crossfire. Their victims, regrettably, have mainly been South Easterners, be they Youth Corps members, Church worshippers, business people or innocent bystanders”.

“To General Buhari, we are of the considered opinion that he should continue to lend his voice to matters of national importance but should do so

with the measured tact of an elder statesman. Politics apart, it is impolitic for a person of his stately standing and someone who has fought for the unity of this country to descend into the arena of tendentious demagogy”, it said.

The statement emphasized that the 2011 elections are over and everyone must now join hands with the man who won the popular vote, President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, to move this country forward.

Police recover N4.09m from robbery suspects in Kogi

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he police in Kogi has recovered the sum of N4.09 million from a robbery suspect who had an accident while on the run and was rushed to the hospital by men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

The new Commissioner of Police in the state, Malam Mohammed Katsina, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on activities of the command since his assumption of office.

Katsina said the suspect, who was not named, was one of those who took part in the raid of a first generation bank in Ankpa during which six persons

Police IG, MD Abubakar

were killed in April.

He said his men also arrested three suspects, including a pastor, believed to be the armed robbers who invaded the said bank in Ankpa area of the state, looted it and killed six persons last month.

The police boss said that he stumbled on many leads that pointed to one Innocent Onyeonura as the possible leader of the gang.

Katsina said that intelligence reports, including snippets from CCTV cameras, confirmed his suspicions.

He said that the alleged mastermind of the April 25, robbery in Ankpa was traced to Rivers and Edo states and later, Abuja and Badagry in Lagos.

He said that in Badagry, the suspect, who was adorned in complete police camouflage uniform, was involved in an accident while trying to escape arrest.

“Road safety officials then rushed him to the hospital for treatment only

for them to discover that he was on the police “Wanted List.”

“However, before the police could reach him there, he escaped from the hospital. A search on his vehicle paid off with the recovery of the N4.091 million.’’

Katsina revealed that further investigation led to the arrest of one Karachi Ekwenye, Pastor of Divine Rescue Mission, Port-Harcourt.

He said that N300,000 of the looted money was also traced to the bank account of the pastor, who was alleged to have usually offers spiritual assistance to the gang anytime there was an operation to be carried out.

Katsina said that a female member of the gang, one Joy Onyeonura, was also arrested while two other suspects, Christian Onyeonura and Olachi Onyeonura (female) were at large.

The police boss said that one of the suspects has, however, been spotted on the Nigeria/ Benin Republic border.

He said the police also recovered a Toyota Hilux Jeep with foreign number: 43 IN 0026 and a Toyota Previa.

Katsina said the Toyota vehicle, with registration number: Lagos: TH 289 KJA, was recovered from them with “substantial blood stain.”

(NAN).

Nasarawa Poly to start HND in Urban and Regional Planning From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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uthorities of the Nasarawa state polytechnic, Lafia, has stated that the institution, which presently runs a diploma programme in urban and regional planning, will start a HND programme soon.

Rector of the polytechnic, Engr. Emmanuel Jatau, made this known while making a speech on the occasion of a visit by members of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planning, who called at his office yesterday.

Engr.

Jatau, while acknowledging that the institution has full accreditation for the diploma programme, observed that it will soon start a HND programme, which will allow it compete with other institutions running the course in the country.

He challenged members of the institute on the need to plan emerging cities in the state, as according to him, houses are being built without planning, stressing that with the increase in population and the consequent demand for land, there is the urgent need to plan the cities.

Earlier in his address, state chairman of the Nasarawa chapter of the institute of Town Planners, Ahmed Mohammed said they were in the polytechnic to congratulate the Rector on his appointment, as well as inform him of the coming town planning sensitization week, which will hold in the institution.

Strike: Yari threatens to sack workers From Salisu Zakari Maradun, Gusau

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s the industrial action embarked upon by the NLC in Zamfara entered into its second day, governor Yari of the state has threatened to expel any worker who fails to report to his working place by Monday.

He also instructed all permanent secretaries and heads of parastatal across the state to ensure they take the lists of those who report to their

respective offices and those who refuse to, for further action.

According to the governor who spoke at the eid praying ground Gusau, the state capital, any worker who fails to report to his place of work on Monday will have name deleted from the pay roll of the government.

He explained that the NLC has no reason whatsoever, to embark on strike in the state, as according to him, his government had already met their demand of N18,000 minimum wage.

"I challenge any official of the NLC to dispute the fact that I am paying the workers as they demanded. There is no worker in this state who collects less than N18,000, and if there is any let him come out," Yari asserted.

Governor Yari also disclosed that on so many occasions, meetings were held between the labour officials and the government in respect of the minimum wage and that things were carefully explained to them.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

News

Lawmakers mull return to regions •States should merge —Ndoma-Egba •Regional system is best for now —Gebi •North can survive —Mongunu

By Richard Ihediwa

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here are moves by some forces within and outside the National Assembly to initiate processes that could kick start the eventual return to regional system of government in the country.

Though the issue is not one of those listed by the National Assembly for consideration in the next round of constitutional amendment, it was gathered that there are suggestions to the federal legislature to include such in the list.

Those mulling the return to regions are said to be suggesting the adoption of the six geopolitical zones as administrative regions akin to the ten regions as obtained in Ghana.

Already, the recognition of the six geo-political zones in the constitution has been listed as one of the key items for consideration in the next round of constitution amendment slated to kick off before the end of the month.

Also listed for consideration is the proposal for the application of fiscal Federation which will allow States to manage the resources including mineral finds in its locality for its development instead of depending on federal allocation.

Federal lawmakers interviewed by Peoples Daily Weekend, supported the idea of return to regional system saying

such would return the country to the path of prosperity as obtained in the regional system of the First Republic.

Commenting on the issue, Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba supported the idea saying that Nigeria fared better under the regional arrangement adding that the current federal system needs serious restructuring.

Also supporting the entrenchment of fiscal federalism, Ndoma –Egba said some states should be merged so as to guarantee their viability and sustenance.

According to Ndoma Egba, “when you talk about the viability of states, you will recall my contribution when a motion about that was brought before the Senate and I have been consistent with my position that inasmuch we have provision for creation of states, we should also have provision for the voluntary merger of states.

“Why do I say so? If you look at our economic history from independence, and look at the trajectory, when we had the three regions up to when we had the four regions, you could see, you could feel, you could touch economic growth in the real sense, not the statistical economic growth that they will tell you inflation has reduced, growth rate is this and that percent but it is not translating to employment out there. You

could see real growth; you could see the competition among the regions. And you could see that at some point, the economy of the then eastern region of Nigerian was the fasted growing economy in the world.

“It was so because at that point, the component units of our federation were viable entities.

They could stand on their own and that is why they were generating income and remitting to the center. If you now take it to the time of 12 state structure, you could see some viability but by the time you got to the 19 states structure, you began to see question marks about the viability of states.

“So, as far as I am concerns the viability of our federal component was evident in the four to 12 state structure, but when we came to the 19 states structure, there was problem.

“Where we are today, there is no doubt that our structure is not economically viable. It may be politically convenient but

economically unviable. That is why we have been unable to see real development. In my view, we need to go back to a fundamental political restructuring of the polity if the units have to be economically viable” Also commenting on the suggestion, a member of the House of Representatives representing Bauchi Federal Constituency, Hon Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi said the only way the nation can move forward was to return to the regional system of government.

“The way I am seeing things in the country today, it is better for us go back to regional government. Let us take power away from the centre, and let each people be ruled by their own people just as it was before. People are always speaking about the revenue sharing formula, I am saying, let the South/South people take one hundred percent, and let them go away to their region. By the grace of God, every other region will survive. So, we must as well go back to regional

government peacefully if that is the way to resolve our own internal crisis as a nation”, he said.

Also speaking in the matter, the Chairman House Committee on Agriculture, Mohammed Mongonu supported the entrenchment of fiscal federalism in such a way that states should take their destinies in their hands.

“There is need to devolve power to the various components that constitute the Nigerian nation state so that every state can take its destiny in its hand using its own comparative advantage rather than being dependent on the federal level.”

“Before the advent of oil, the north supported itself with agriculture. It is with the advent of oil that the north became lazy.

When we implement fiscal federalism, the north will take its destiny in its hand and harness its resources. We have survived without oil before. After all, it was with the money from agriculture that we used developed the oil sector”, he said.

FG records N100bn decline in gross revenue …. FAAC directs Fed, States and LG councils to open special SURE accounts

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem he Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama yesterday said the country has recorded a decline of N100 billion in gross revenue from N726.72 billion recorded in March to N626.17 billion in April.

The minister disclosed this while addressing journalists shortly after the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting.

According Ngama, crude oil production and liftings had improved in Bonga and Qua Iboe terminals. He however blamed the decline in gross revenue to drop in domestic oil sales.

“The decline in domestic crude oil sales was responsible for lower income during the period even though crude oil production and

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liftings improved in Bonga and Qua Iboe terminals.”

The committee shared N563.08 billion as statutory allocation among the three tiers of government. The allocation also represents a decrease of N50.61 billion or 8.25 per cent when compared to N613.69 billion shared in the previous month.

The minister said N441.16 billion was shared as statutory allocation, N57.29 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT) and N7.71 billion being the refund from the debt owed the federation account by the Nigerian National Petroluem Corporation (NNPC).

Similarly, N35.54 billion was shared under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment programme, giving a total of N142.14 billion so fare saved within the last four months.

N441.167 billion was disbursed as net statutory allocation to the three tiers of government and as part of the 13 per cent mineral oil revenue derivation funds to oil producing states. The federal government got 52.68 per cent of the amount or N207.547 billion, states 26.72 per cent or N105.271 billion, local government councils 20.60 per cent or N81.159 billion and the oil producing states for their 13 per cent derivation N47.189 billion.

There was no exchange gain in the month because the prevailing exchange rate of N154.70 to the US dollar was lower than the N155 to the US dollar budgeted for the year 2012.

He also said the federal government had requested the states and local government to

open separate accounts for the transfer of their share of the subsidy savings.

Aside from opening the special SURE programme accounts, all tiers of government comprising of the Federal, States and Local governments are to tie the SURE disbursements to special projects to be chosen by the individual governments.

In addition, the reports of the disbursements and the projects the funds are used for “will be considered by FAAC to ensure accountability and openness so that they can be measured and the impact of such projects and interventions at all tiers of government can be assessed.”

Unlike in the first three months allocations of 2012 when the SURE was paid in lump sum to the states, the April allocation of

yesterday was disaggregated to show what amount was for the SURE programme and what was for the monthly FAAC allocations.

Reacting to the directive, the chairman of the finance commissioners, Mr. Eze Echesi described the directive as “a request to the states and local governments by the FAAC on friendly basis with the idea that states are paying adequate attention to what they are supposed to be doing with the SURE allocations and not a monitoring of the activities of the states and local governments by FAAC.” Following yesterday’s disbursements, all state and local government accounts will be credited by Monday to ensure that they meet their financial obligations.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Photo News

Residents of Giri, in Abuja still get water from shallow streams

Labourers waiting for customers at Garki Market yesterday A middle aged man labour under the weight of empty sacks in Abuja yesterday

Motorcycles are now major means of transporting petrol for black market in Abuja

A truck pusher brave a busy Abuja road yesterday Photos: Mahmud Isa and Justin Imo-owo

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19— SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

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News

Sultan, others hails Ojukwu at book launch

Kwara Assembly suspend member over petition against Speaker

From Ayodele Samuuel, Lagos

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has described the late Ikemba Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu as a hero not only of the Igbo race and Nigeria but of the entire world.

He said that Ojukwu, even in death has continued to attract respect and admiration from people of different shades of opinion because of his exemplary life of selflessness and uprightness.

The remarks were made yesterday in Abuja by the Sarkin Jiwa Alhaji Idris Musa, who represented the Sulatn while speaking at the public presentation of the book titled ‘Ojukwu, the Rebel I Served,’ written by a veteran journalist Uche Ezechukwu. He described the late Biafra leader as a visionary leader who wanted the best for his people and Nigeria noting that Ojukwu has by his actions since after his return from exile demonstrated that he was a believer in a united and indivisible nation that should protect the rights of everyone.

While delivering the keynote speech, Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu represented by the Niger State Commissioner for Information Alhaji Daladi Umar, described Ojukwu as a fearless, courageous, patriotic and visionary leader that has become role model to millions of people saying that he went to war because of his belief that injustice was being meted to his people.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who was represented by his deputy, Emeka Sibeudu described Chief Ojukwu as a personal father who inspired the entire Igbo race to discover themselves in the Nigerian project.

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he Kwara State House of Assembly has officially announced the suspension of Alhaji Ilyasu Ibrahim representing Ipaye/Molete/ Oloru Constituency for three months over the petition he wrote against the Speaker, Hon.

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isengaged workers of former Benue Cement Company (BCC), Gboko have written a save our Soul letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Speaker of the House of Representative, Aminu Tambawual, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the National Council on Privatization alleging refusal of the company to remit their housing funds and pensions.

A copy of the letter made available to Peoples Daily Weekend also said that 300 out of 1000 dismissed staff have died of starvation and stroke while some of them have lost their wives.

The workers who were laid off between 1980 and 2003 complained bitterly of non payment of their deductions from the housing funds amounting to

Presenting the report of the Committee, its Chairman, Kamadeen Fagbemi said after thorough investigation it discovered that the allegations were unfounded.

Reacting to the suspension, Ibrahim promised to abide by the resolution of the House and pledged to remain a loyal and committed member of the

Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

It could be recalled that Ibrahim had alleged that the Speaker among other things single handedly approved the clearing of the Assembly complex to a firm at the cost N18 million in addition to allegation that he did not return N135 million unspent funds for foreign trips.

Mar k commends N AF on na tional security Mark NAF national

S

enate President David Mark has commended the hierarchy of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) for its role in the preservation of national security.

Senator Mark, who gave this commendation at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Expo/Re-union Dinner held in Kaduna, said the Nigerian Air Force has provided an enabling environment that engenders national

development.

“I appreciate the enormous contributions of the Nigerian Air Force in the preservation of national security particularly in these trying times”, Senator Mark said.

According to him, “the importance of the service (NAF) and indeed the Armed Forces as a whole in providing an enabling environment that would

engender national development cannot be over emphasised.

“Your role in the fast and safe movement of elections materials through difficult terrain in the general election is also commendable”, he further said.

Noting that “our nation and indeed the world is facing new challenges through terrorism and asymmetric war”, Senator Mark said these problems have

to be dealt with to safeguard democracy.

“On our part as Legislature, the National Assembly shall continue to provide every possible support necessary to enable NAF sustain employment of air power meet joint national defense imperatives, respond swiftly to emergencies as well as internal security challenges” he added..

Jonathan charges politicians on Transformation Agenda

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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resident Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that the current crop of leaders in Nigeria must do their best to change the country for the better.

The President spoke during the

funeral service for Chief (Mrs) Theresa Ekpeluchi Chime, the mother of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State at Saint Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Catholic Church, Udi, Enugu state.

President Jonathan, who warned against playing politics with the destiny of the nation, said

“all of us must assess our journey since independence and change the country rather than thinking of escaping abroad.”

The President commended the exemplary life of late Mrs. Chime and the good upbringing she gave her children.

He described the deceased as “a

leader in so many respects,” while decrying the current trend of “our children losing motherly or fatherly touch due to so-called busy schedule in business or politics.”

President Jonathan urged Nigerians to emulate the virtues of love, care and kindness embodied in the late Mrs. Chime.

Al-makura canvasses establishment of special university for disabled From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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n order for there to be social justice for all Nigerians, Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa state, has appealed to the Federal Government to, particularly, for a holistic, integrated development, consider setting up a special university that

Sacked BCC workers petitions Jonathan, NASS , EFCC over pensions, housing funds From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Abdurazaq Atunwa over alleged mismanagement of funds among others.

The House, in adopting the recommendation of the House Committee on Ethics Privileges Public Service and Judiciary, which investigated the issue dismissed all the 18 allegations and ruled that the member be suspended indefinitely.

over N2.7 billion, adding too that about N31 million paid by Leadway Assurance as commercial interests in 2007 on their contributions was allegedly converted to personal use by three (3) staff of the company, Ityoyila Ukpi, Dickson Boko and Mr. Etu is yet to paid.

The aggrieved former workers said they had approached the new management to assist them recover their entitlements, maintaining too that all efforts to get the EFCC to investigate the 9 year issue has failed.

“We therefore urge those concerned to intervene and save us and our surviving families as well as assist us in recovering our entitlements from the National Housing Fund and the National Pension Trust Fund”, they passionately appealed. All effort to get reaction of the company management failed.

will cater for disabled persons across the country.

Al-makura made the plea yesterday while receiving the Minister of State for Education, Chief Ezenwa Nysom Wike, who was on a working visit to the state.

The governor, who doubles as the patron of the Association of Physically Challenged Persons, lamented the plight of members of the association, who according to him, “were left to wander like animals”.

While lauding the ministry’s effort to transform the educational sector, particularly, the recent almajiri school project, Al-makura observed that from the local government areas to the state levels, there is serious neglect of the disadvantaged persons, “with no single local council in Nasarawa

having a school that will cater for the disadvantaged person.”

On the call by the minister for the state to hasten to clear idle funds at the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), Al-makura attributed the inability of the previous administration to access the UBEC funds due to “some kind of lethargy”, pledging that his administration is ready to collaborate with the federal government to ensure that its transformational agenda in the educational sector is successful.

The governor also used the opportunity to further appeal for the ministry to assist the state university located in Keffi, with funds, as according to him, “because of the proximity of the university to Abuja, children and wards of federal workers

are drawn to the institution, with facilities being overstretched” Earlier, in his speech, the minister, accompanied by the executive secretary, UBEC, DR. Ahmed Modibbo and top ministry officials, said they were in the state to monitor and supervise projects being executed by agencies of the ministry, adding they are in Nasarawa to supervise particularly, girl-child school project being executed by UBEC. While promising to include the state in the next phase of the almajiri school programme, the Minister urged the governor to clear yet to be accessed UBEC funds amounting to N1.7 bn , stressing that “we don’t want these funds to be with us because it will hinder us to have quality education”.

Garba pledges to focus on professional training of journalists

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he President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),Malam Mohammed Garba, says the union will emphasise professional training of its members to enable them to meet the challenges of modern journalism.

Garba made the statement in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday while addressing members of the Kebbi Council of NUJ as part of his reelection campaign activities.

He said the International Institute of Journalism would soon be affiliated to the University of

Maiduguri to enable members to obtain required qualifications and improve on performance.

He described acquisition of the certificate of occupancy for the NUJ national secretariat as a major step toward enabling the union to remain financially independent.

“We plan to develop part of the land as well as generate revenue for the union through prudent investment with reputable organisations,” Garba said.

He said he would not relent in seeking the revival of moribund media organisations and ensure

that quacks were prevented from practising journalism.

He appealed to state councils to assist the national office to check quacks in the profession. .

Garba said he had succeeded in bringing to an end crisis in state councils and urged members to engage in dialogue in settling disputes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the triennial NUJ Delegates Conference for the election of new national officers will hold in Abuja from May 24 to May 27. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

News

FG to pay federal polys minimum wage with arrears From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi

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he National President of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (SSANIP), Mr. Sunday Sabo has assured its members that very soon money would be made available to all federal polytechnic for the payment of the minimum Wage, including the arrears.

He made this declaration yesterday at the official opening ceremony of the 37 th General Executive Council Meeting /workshop on HIV/ AIDS held at the Waziri Umar Federal Polytechnic Brinin Kebbi.

Sabo also commended the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan for signing into law, the 65 years retirement age for the members nation-wide.

He explained that the challenge before the lecturers was to ensure that whoever had been exited since January 2010 as contained are brought back to benefit from the 65 years retirement age.

Borno’s hospital overburdened with corpses, says commissioner From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri he Borno state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Salma Kolo said yesterday that the morgue at the major public hospital in Maiduguri, the capital city, was being ‘over-burdened’ with corpses.

Dr. Kolo was responding to complain on why smell of dead bodies deposited at the mortuary filtered out causing serious environmental hazard for residents of the area.

The commissioner, who spoke at a ministerial press briefing, lamented that the

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present security challenges posed by the militants’ insurgency has led to the drastic increase in the number of corpses being deposited at the morgue of the Borno Specialist Hospital.

She noted that the capacity of the mortuary was limited and not designed to accommodate large number of corpses and cannot cope with the present challenges.

“You know the morgue was designed to cater for a particular number of dead bodies and that when the capacity is filled there is bound to have some problem, so that is the situation we found ourselves”, she further decried.

......appeals to FG to complete supply of 330KV power From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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orno state government has appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the completion of the 330 KVA line project from GombeDamaturu- Maiduguri axis to enable the people of the state enjoy steady electricity.

The state Commissioner of Housing and Rural Electrification, Sugun Mele

made the appeal yesterday while briefing newsmen on the achievements recorded by the ministry in the last one year.

Mele regretted that Borno was the only state in the federation that received less supply of electricity from the Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria, a situation which has led to the decline in the socioeconomic fortune of the people of the state.

The commissioner said government efforts in

ASUU rejects staff audit at KUST From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi

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he Academic Staff Union of Universities [ASUU] Kano Zone has called on the Kano State Government to stop the staff screening and audit it intended at the state university, describing it as a violation the university autonomy.

In a communiqué issued by the Zonal Coordinator, A. B. Baffa at the end of the zonal meeting held at Kebbi State University of Science and Technology (KUST) Aliero, yesterday, ASUU said all staff audit and screening can only be legally done through the council or the University Management in accordance with the Law establishing the university.

The zone also observed with dismay the rising spate of brain drain in KUST and advised the union to debate the issue extensively at the level of it executive and congress adding that they should also find the root causes of this dangerous phenomenon with a view to discuss with the management ways of improving condition of service.

According to the statement which also condemned the refusal of the chairman of Governing Council of the Ahmadu Bello University

According to her, government was making moves to expand the morgue’s capacity to meet the current needs, saying the sum of N1m is being spent as over-head cost of the hospital.

Government, the commissioner, added has equally put effective mechanism in place to ensure speedy power supply to the hospital so that the mortuary could operate without hitches.

Other measures adopted for effective healthcare services comprised of rehabilitation of 10 hospitals, provision of drugs and other health facilities at the health centers across.

(ABU) Zaira to accept and recognized the duly elected internal member of Council of that institution while admonished the chairman to desist from meddling with the issue of election of internal council members.

The zone also called on the management and proprietors of Kebbi state University of Science and Technology Aliero to avert the impending crisis in the branch by paying up the salary arrears arising from the implementation of the

2009 Agreement.

The member of the ASUU Kano -Zone comprising of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Bayaro University Kano (BUK), University of Science and Technology Wudil, (KUST), Kaduna State University [KASU], Kebbi State University of Science and Technology (KSUST)Aliero, Umaru Musa Yar’dua University (UMYU) Katsina, and Usman Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS)

providing and installing power equipments such as new transformers among others will be futile if the federal government refused to address the current problem which has been in existence since the creation of the state.

He added that the ministry has recorded tremendous success in the last one year, particularly in the rehabilitation and installation of transformers in Maiduguri Maximum Prison, the Joint Task Force (JTF) Headquarters, Miringa, Neital Shoe Factory, Zajeri, Mafoni ward, trailer park among other areas.

According to him, the ministry has in the year under review established some relief substations and with newly installed transformers in various towns comprising of Gombole, Damboa and Bolori among others, in addition to the electrification of Shuwari, rehabilitation of Biu- MaramaPete- Hema- Shani National Grid, as well as the completion of electrification of the newly built 1000 units.

Scholarship: Youth groups commends NEMA

By Augustine Aminu

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he recent scholarship awarded by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to a youth Corps member, Abubakar Jimoh for his outstanding advocacy campaign on disaster risk reduction during his service year have been commended by several youth based organizations.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja an Executive of National Association if Nigerian Student (NANS), Mr Tunde Adewale said NEMA and its Director General, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi must be commended for its effort to encourage the youths of this country for been nation builders He said, “this gesture by NEMA will no doubt make other youths to think on how they can be creative enough to contribute to the growth of this country.

When youth exhibit outstanding qualities, they should be encouraged, and we commend the NEMA boss and his wonderful team” Also speaking, the Executive Director StandNigeria Initiative, Mr. Dike Chigbue praised the wisdom behind the offering of scholarship to the corps member.

He also called on other government agency to create policies that are all inclusive so as to enable Nigerian youths partake.

It would be recalled that the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi offered scholarship to Abubakar Jimoh, a corps member for his outstanding advocacy campaign on disaster management, during the presentation of the cash donation the NEMA Boss said ‘I am overwhelmed and impressed by the contribution of youth corps members on national development and particularly encouraged by the contributions of Abu Jimoh through his writing and advocacy.

Suswam’s aide lambasts ousted chairmen From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

S

pecial Adviser to Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair Mr. Solomon Wombo has described as ‘baseless’ and ‘unfounded’ claims by dissolved councils chairman that government would not pay them their entitlements.

He also dismissed as ‘untrue’ allegation that government interfered in the funds of the dissolved councils.

Wombo, who made these denials yesterday during a chat with journalists in his office, maintained that government has never and will not interfere with

local government funds.

He said the state operates a Joint Account Committee that is responsible for local government funds, adding that the governor is not a member of the Committee.

Wombo took a swipe at the chairmen accusing them of crying wolf because they were not reappointed. “Most of them wanted desperately to continue in office and failed and so they are crying wolf”, he said.

On the appointment of new transition chairmen that were announced yesterday, Wombo said government took into consideration merit and politics of rotation in the local government areas in appointing them.

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS FAVOUR CHEKWUBE MATHIAS, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. FAVOUR CHEKWUBE PAUL EGBEWOH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NIGERIA POLICE FORCE AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Encounter

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19— SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

How two cheetahs mauled pet lover A Scottish citizen Violet D’Mello is pictured petting one of two male cheetahs shortly before they attacked her. The incident occurred on April 28 at the Kragga Kamma game reserve near Port Elizabeth South Africa. Violet’s husband, Archie, took the following series of photographs showing how the two male cheetahs brothers that have been raised by humans - attacked Violet in the petting enclosure at the nature reserve.

Violet D’Mello told the media she was attacked by the cheetahs when she intervened after they lunged at an 8-year old girl who was also in the enclosure at the time. The big cats turned their attention on Violet when she got between them and the girl. The girl sustained a scratch to her calf, while Violet was very lucky to escape her ordeal with reasonably minor scratches and bruises. Violet told the BBC that she was bitten numerous times that her head was ‘sliced open’.

She continued with her holiday after receiving treatment.

Violet was upbeat about the incident, telling reporters the cheetahs ‘weren’t being vicious. You could tell they were just excited.’ Park rangers and other visitors help to pull the excited cats

The cats attacked Violet

Violet poses with the big cat

off Mrs D’Mello - while her husband captured her ordeal on camera. Meanwhile, officials from the Kragga Kamma reserve were forced to admit that it wasn’t the first time their exuberant cheetahs had drawn blood from visitors after an

Violet D’Mello was nearly killed by the cats

American woman came forward with details of a similar attack in 2009.

Michelle Bodenheimer, from Oregon, was attacked while visiting the reserve with her husband. At the time, the cheetahs - Mark and Monty were only 18 months old, and

the incident was blamed on their kitten-like mindset.

Kragga Kamma manager Mike Cantor defended the cats’ behaviour. ‘Attack sounds like a horrible thing, but I think the cheetahs are

Survived by whiskers

really just being playful.’ The petting enclosure has been shut down and there are plans to move the cheetahs to a larger enclosure, with no human contact.

Yahoo.com

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Interview

Being a senator is very challenging-Nenadi Usman Senator Nenadi Esther Usman represents Kaduna South in the Senate. In this interview with Richard Ihediwa, she spoke of her sojourn in politics and the challenges of being a senator Can you tell us briefly how you ventured into politics? he first time I ventured into active politics was in 1989 when the then Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida set up the two political parties; the SDP and NRC. I was in the NRC and after the government was formed, Mohammed Dabo Lere won as governor of Kaduna state and he appointed me as Executive Adviser and Commissioner in charge of youth and sports.

Later, I was moved to the Ministry of Information, Home Affairs and Culture and I was there in that ministry until the Abacha coup in November, 1993. After that, I went to work in the FCDA. I came back into the political scene again when new political parties were formed including the UNCP. I was in UNCP and I contested election into the House of Representatives and I won to represent Kachia/ Federal Kagarko Constituency, but before the House could be inaugurated, Abacha died and the National Assembly was never inaugurated.

So, when fresh political parties came out in 1998, that is, the PDP and the APP, as it was called then and the others, I was one of the founding members of the PDP in Kaduna state and I have been in politics since then.

Now that you are in the Senate, what are your legislative interests?

My first legislative interest has to do with my committee because as a senator, whichever committee you are posted to or appointed to chair should be your first love otherwise you will not be able to deliver. So I believe that my first love here is all about investment and somehow having been a minister of finance, that comes to me with ease because as finance minister, I worked closely with other ministers that dealt with investment issues and part of the investment issues are domiciled in the Ministry of Finance because the Ministry of Finance actually oversees the fiscal policy of government. So I already have knowledge of what the investment issues are. So I do believe that investment issues are very important because it is all about the diversification of our economy, that is, moving away slightly from

T

Senator Nenadi Esther Usman

putting all emphasis on the oil economy and moving to non oil investment which means that jobs will be created for our youths and people will became self reliant and we will be able to increase our exports.

How would you rate the performance of the agencies under the purview of your committee in realizing their mandates in terms of promotion of investment?

I will say they are doing their best but in every human endeavor there is room for improvement. Also it is only to whom much is given that much is expected. For you to expect someone heading a ministry or department of government to perform very well, you must give the person the necessary tools he needs to do the job. If you look at the budget for this year, I think the Ministry of Trade and Investment should have been given much more than what was given.

The ministers are expected to travel around the world to market Nigeria and they need money to do that. If you go to their offices, you will see that they are one of the worst in the entire Abuja. So, if you want to market a nation, when people come, they should see them in a better office. They did not complain to me but I am just saying what I observed.

The

ministers are not complaining but I think they need something better.

Then how can the committee help?

I don’t think that there is much the committee can do in this regard. I believe that when the budget comes to the National Assembly, it should be looked at critically. I don’t believe that it is right for every committee chairman to load and add figures to whatever was brought in. if we do that the budget is going to be expansionary, it is going to go out of order, the deficit will grow bigger and bigger and at the end of the day the budget cannot be funded. So despite the fact that our committee wished that they will get more money but since they are not complaining

there is nothing we can do.

What would you say are the challenges of your committee?

You know that we are to oversight the ministries and the agencies under the ministry including the Bank of Industry, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Industrial Training Fund, National Automotive Council, the Center for Automotive Design and Development and so on. The problems are what everyone else can see. We wish they can get more funding but as I said earlier, the key actors in the agencies are not complaining so who are we to complain on their behalf.

Talking about automotive council, what can the committee do to ensure that the automotive

“

I consider the work of a senator more challenging. As a minister, you have one boss, that is the President. Here as a senator, you have so many bosses.

428,000 people voted for me to be here in the Senate, so you can imagine, each of them has the right to call me and I must answer

sector is developed so that Nigeria can start producing vehicles instead of spending money to get them from outside?

We are working on a bill which seeks to bring together the two automotive agencies together. One of the mandates those agencies have is designing motor vehicles that can be manufactured in Nigeria at the end of the day.

So I believe that going by the automotive policy of the present administration, a day is coming when we will start manufacturing vehicles in the country. It is only when we do that that I think that we should have a legislation that will stop government officials and agencies from using vehicles manufactured outside the country. For now we cannot do that because if we do, it can’t be carried through because there will be no need to try to enforce what is not enforceable.

Recently, you empowered women in your constituency through your NGO. Why did you involve yourself in such an endeavor?

I have been running the programme for about nine to ten years now. My husband is the Emir of Jere so as the wife of a traditional ruler, I come in contact with the rural women all the time and I see their level of suffering. So what I decided to do was to have ten classes and in these ten classes we teach women basic literacy.

After that, I decided to go into skill acquisition and we teach basically six trades. We teach modern cooking and home keeping issues.

We came up with many ways of doing things. Apart from cooking, we have hair dressing knitting and barbing.

We train them on how to produce products like pomade and soaps. What we do is to ensure that they had basic literacy because we believe they need it to manage their businesses successfully. When they graduate from the skill acquisition programme, we then give them the necessary tools they need to start with.

So the center was not established for political reasons.

No. It was not for political reasons. It was established to enable me perform my role as the wife of the Emir and not for politics.

Continued on page 12

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 9

Cover Constitution

Rotation of power: The issues, the politics •PDP keeps mum •It’s a welcome development – ANPP •It should start with South East-APGA •There should be referendum-CPC

By Richard Ihediwa, Ikechukwu Okaforadi, Bala Nasir, Uche Nnorom Iliya Garba

O

ne of the key issues that have been tabled for discussion in the next round of Constitution review scheduled to kick off before the end of the month is that of rotation of executive offices, that is, the position of the President and those of state governors, across the nation.

Other major issues that made the list made public by the Senate Committee on

Constitution Review yesterday include recognition of the six geo-political zones of the country, zero immunity for governors, state creation, devolution of powers, role for traditional rulers, fiscal federalism, residency and indigene provisions, mayoral status for the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Abuja among others.

However, ahead of the debates for the new constitution which is expected to be ready by July 2013, interest groups have started aligning on issues especially those of rotation of power, fiscal federalism and

creation of states.

The issues of rotation of power is said to be one of the major reason there is also the proposal for the recognition of the six geopolitical zones in the constitution as there are already demands that power at the center should revolve around the six geopolitical zones of South East, South South, South West, North East, North Central and North West.

The agitation is coming against the backdrop of distrust among the ethnic nationalities and fear of marginalisation.

Those pushing for rotation of powers want the expansion of the Federal Character Principle in the constitution to include provision for rotation for executive offices among the six geo-political zones in the country.

The Principle as enshrined in Section 13 (3) and (4) of the constitution and it states that: “The composition of the Government of the Federation, or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be

Contd on Pages 10,11

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Cover Constitution

Rotation of power: The issues, the politics Contd from page 9

carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies”.

However, since the inclusion of the issue as one of the major items proposed to be included in the constitution, interests groups have scaled up the discourse.

While some stakeholders agree that it is the best way to ensure political stability and cohesion in the country, others have dismissed it as primodial on the ground that merit and not ethnic based conditions should be the criteria for choosing leaders in the country.

Already, there is a new argument of where the swing will start, taking into consideration the zones that have occupied the Presidency in the past.

While some stakeholders maintain that a new arrangement should kick off with power swinging between north and south and rotating among the six geopolitical zones irrespective of what obtained in the past, others want the rotation to reckon the occupation of the position in the past and start with zones that have not have a shot at the position.

Though, this is the first time it is being listed for consideration as a provision in the constitution, the demand for rotation of the position of the President among the geopolitical zones in the country has been on since the return of democracy in 1999 with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including it in its constitution to reduce the frictions of tussle for power by ethnic based interest groups.

Even among the states, there has been a sort of arrangement that allows for power sharing among the three Senatorial zones though in many instances they are not rigidly followed since it is not backed by law.

In any case, since the return of democracy, zoning or rotation of power has been with parties though it has not been binding on power seekers since it is not captured by law.

Despite its non existence in the constitution, parties at the federal and state levels have continued to observe a subtle system of zoning of political positions as witnessed in the paring of candidates for executive positions with parties ensuring that there is a balance in the choice of substantive candidate and running mates to

President Goodluck Jonathan

reflect north-south arrangement at the center and senatorial districts in the states.

This arrangement is also seen in the spread of key political offices at the federal and state levels basically deriving from where the President and his vice and the state governor and his deputy governor hail from.

This obviously informs the selection of key government officials including the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Deputy Senate President, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives as well as the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and key positions in the ruling party at the state and federal levels.

However, this arrangement witnessed some alterations when President Umaru Yar’adua who was from the north died without completing his four years tenure creating the room for his deputy, then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, who is from the South to emerge President as required by the Constitution.

Jonathan was later to contest and won the Presidency in 2011 despite the insistence by some northern elements that the north was yet to serve out its eight years tenure in line with the PDP rules.

That argument however, could not be sustained in the face of the laws though, Jonathan himself was said to be part of those who endorsed the PDP resolution for zoning, as there was no clear cut provision in the constitution to back it.

As it were, lawmakers at the

Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, Chairs Senate Constitution Review Panel

National Assembly and their counterparts in the state assemblies are expected to among other things, determine the pattern of rotation and from which point the swing will start in 2015 if the proposal sails through.

However, the major debate still lies in the determination of which zone would benefit first from the arrangement.

Already some elements in the north especially the North West are insisting that power must return to the zone in 2015 while some others in the South South including the governors of the six states of that zone hold tenaciously to their position that Jonathan must be allowed to complete his tenure based on their calculations that he is in his first time as according to them, he merely served out Yar’adua’s tenure which they claimed expired in May, 2011.

On the other side are elements from the South East, North East and the North Central, who are insisting that their zones must be allowed to produce the President since they had not produce the President since the return of democracy in 1999.

Though Jonathan had not expressed his desire to run for a second time, he had in a recent court affidavit affirmed that he was doing his first term in office contrary to the position of some quarters that he was in his second term.

Jonathan had told an Abuja High Court that he is currently serving out his first term of four years from the constitutionally provided two terms, according to an affidavit filed by his

lawyers in a case challenging his eligibility for a second tenure in 2015.

The case was instituted by a PDP presidential aspirant, Mr. Cyriacus Njoku, who is asking the court to determine if Jonathan could seek re-election in 2015, having taken the presidential oath of office twice so far—first in May 2010 after Yar’adua’s death and then in May last year after the 2011 elections.

In a counter affidavit to the motion brought by Mr. Njoku, Jonathan said through his counsel that he was in his first term, not second, as “the constitution of Nigeria only makes provisions for a president to contest for not more than two terms of four years each.”

The reply, filed by the chambers of Mr. Ade OkeayaInneh (SAN) on behalf of the President, also said Jonathan has never indicated or announced anywhere that he would be standing in the Presidential elections in 2015.

He said Jonathan was on May 6, 2010 he was sworn in as the president after the demise of the late Yar’Adua thereby completing Yar’Adua’s 12 months of the four years tenure.

However, there are speculations that the north might use its sheer number of members in the National Assembly as well as the number of states assemblies to influence where the zoning would commence. On the other side, the clause might not get the required two-third vote in the National Assembly and of state assemblies to pass unless the interest groups arrive at a

consensus on the matter.

It is however, feared that the determination of the zone which would first benefit from the arrangement could polarise the National Assembly during the constitution review process.

Commenting on the proposed amendment, Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba said the National Assembly has not taken any position on any of the issues tabled for consideration but have merely initiated discourses on the issues based on the aggregation of the demands made by Nigerians on the issues. He said the decision on the matter would be left for Nigerians, who will express their preference through their elected representatives at the state and federal levels.

However, at a personal level, the Senate Leader registered that there is consideration for rotation of power due to the failure of those in power to deliver on the expectation of Nigerians. He maintained that Nigerians will not care about which part of the country those in power come from as long as they delivered on their mandates.

“I have my own view on the issue of rotation of power or federal character. My opinion is public. The issue of federal character or rotation cannot be with us forever. It is only a stop gap measure that is designed to address some immediate challenges. But with time, Nigerians are going care less where people come from when we begin to really deliver on the expectations of Nigerians. The Contd on page 11

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 11

Cover Constitution

Rotation of power: The issues, the politics Contd from page 10 way people feel hunger in the north is not different from the way people in the south feel hunger. It is because of the primordial state of politics that people care where their leaders come from. We will get past that point and when we get past that point federal character and rotation will be outdated” he said.

Also commenting on the issue, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Mongonu (Borno), also described it as primordial saying the criteria for elective office should be merit and not zoning. He said it would not be good to include rotation of office in the constitution as according to him such would perpetuate issues of ethnicity, tribe and religion with their resultant political frictions.

“I am one of those who support merit for such position.

Every Nigerian, no matter where he comes from, no matter his sex and religion should have the right to aspire to the highest office or any executive office at any given point in time so long as that is the wishes of Nigerians.

“We should not restrict a position to a particular zone at a particular time, we should just go for the best because so long as we try to promote this primordial sentiment so long shall we be bogged down by the issues of ethnicity, religion and what have you but by time we throw them open, over time we will overcome all these issues”, he said.

Mongonu blamed the political unrest resulting in violent clashes across the country on the inclusion of zoning in the PDP constitution which he said, its key members refused to obey.

“The major problem we have now is the issue of PDP constitution where it brought in the zoning. That is why there is misunderstanding”, he said.

However, leading political parties have started reacting to this with many of them accepting it as necessary to resolve the political friction in the country.

Reacting to the issue, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) described it as a welcome development saying it will give every section of the country a sense of belonging and hope.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Emma Eneukwu said rotation of power will bring unity in the country and reduce the sectional frictions as zone will support the one in power since others know the position will eventually get to them.

“It is a welcome development because it will bring a sense of belonging to the geo-political zones and bring

Sentor leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba

Hon. Mohammed Mongonu

harmony to the country. When a zone is in power, the other zones will support the system and would not want to rock the boat because they know that it will come to them later, so they will help to stabilise the polity.

“People tend to be rebellious when they feel that they have been shut out. So rotation will help give everybody a sense of belonging”, he said.

Asked about the issues of using merit as criteria for elective office, Eneukwu said Nigeria is a multifaceted country with a lot of ethnic groups adding that at this point the solution to its problems is rotation of power which would be discarded after the nation has developed to a considerable level.

Commenting on the matter, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), called on the National assembly to apply caution, saying that the views of the ordinary Nigerians at the grassroots should be consulted before such motion is passes into law.

The party, through its Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, admitted that the policy may be good for the time being, particularly now that Nigerian ethnic nationalities are still striving to locate their nationhood.

However, it warned that the idea may not be sustainable when Nigeria have become politically advanced, arguing that it will deny the country the opportunity of having the very best in leadership positions.

Speaking further, CPC said if it will be used as a strategy to give a sense of belonging to the

strictly adhered to. “There should a stronger law in zoning of the Presidency and governorship seats”, he said.

Also a top politician in Benue state, Chief Abu King Shuluwa expressed support for the rotation of the Presidency between the North and South but added that “the best candidate should rule this country no matter the geopolitical zone he comes from”.

Reacting to the issue, a Kano based politician, Alhaji Lili Gabari, who is now in his mid 80s told our reporter in Kano that rotational presidency is a good thing.

Gabari, who is of the old breed class that have identified with the then popular Northern Element People Union (NEPU) led by Malam Aminu Kano, said rotational of presidency will bring some level of stability to our polity noting that the rancor and quest for power among the zones would be eliminated.

He however, said while it is good to bring the rotational thing into the constitution, it is also important that the composition of INEC should be looked into with a view to split it into two so as to establish a special regulatory body which will be handling all the issues concerning registration of parties and screening of party candidates.

The regulatory body, according to him, will have to be established with full powers to disqualify candidates that they found to be incompetent to run for public offices in the land.

Also, commenting on the

minority groups who feel marginalized, the country will to a long way in unity, but insisted that referendum be conducted to have the exact view of majority of Nigerians.

Also reacting on the issue, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) says there is no problem with the motion, but insisted that it must commence from the South East.

The party’s National Director of Publicity, Ifeanacho Oguejiofor, maintained that South Eastern part of the country had long been marginalized, since they have been continuously denied the post of President since the civil war ended.

He equally expressed hope that the policy would help in addressing the present insecurity in the country, arguing that majority of the crises Nigeria faces today stems from fears, distrusts, suspicions and feeling of marginalization by the various ethnic nationalities In the same vein key political actors in some states have started reacting to the issues. While some of them backed rotation, other rejected the idea as primordial.

Speaking with Peoples Daily Weekend, the Benue state Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Engr. Baba Agan supported the rotation of the presidency and governorship positions, maintaining that such will promotes fairness in the polity.

He however, suggested that zoning of offices should be backed by strong law which should be

issue, Hon. Mohammed Dauda representing Bosso Local Government in the Niger state House of Assembly submitted that zoning arrangement will help give the minority groups a sense of belonging in the system as it will enable them aspire for high offices.

He gave examples with the present zoning in the state where the governor is from Zone B, the Deputy from Zone C and the speaker of the State Assembly from Zone A, pointing out that, this arrangement is meant for continuous peaceful co-existence among the residents of the state.

The member noted that where zoning formular is not adopted there is every possibility that some people could be marginalized which will invariably result to crises in the society.

However, commenting on the issues, the Director General Campaign Organization of the Niger state CPC gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 election, Ahmadu Bello Isyaku said, “zoning is not the best in a democratic setting”.

He blamed the introduction of the zoning system by the PDP as the root of the present political crisis in the country.

According to him, “right from the onset, I did not subscribe to zoning because the best might not emerge. It will only give room for incompetent people to find themselves at the corridor of power.

Be it as it may, the debate has only started and its outcome may redesign the political landscape of the nation ahead of the 2015 elections.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Politics I never said INEC can’t prosecute electoral offenders – Andy Uba T

he Senate President is not happy with the performance of the standing committees of the Senate. He said that it was the failure of most committees to perform their oversight functions that encourages corruption in government agencies. How would you react to this?

I agree with the Senate President. We need to step up our oversight function, on government agencies in order to reduce corruption. We need to be proactive and by so doing we would be able to put the agencies to check. My committee is performing its oversight function and I don’t think it would be proper to announce in the newspapers when you are going on oversight function. We are doing the much we can. My committee is organizing a stakeholders forum so that we talk these things over.

You were recently reported to have said that INEC has no power to handle election petitions. How would you react to this?

There was never a time I said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no power to prosecute electoral offenders. There was no reason for me to even say so .All that I said was that INEC should have the enabling laws to go ahead with the prosecution of electoral offenders.

So I don’t know where those who reported that I said the commission don’t have the powers got there report.

Of course INEC has the power to prosecute electoral offenders but

Senator Andy Uba representing Anambra South in the Senate is also Chairman Senate Committee on INEC. In this interview with Augustine Aminu, he bares his mind about his political interests especially with regard to the race for the governorship of Anambra state which he was reported to be warming up for.

Sen. Andy Uba what I said was that the commission should have the required logistic to take on over one million electoral offences.

You would agree with me that the number of the electoral offenders as reported is so large and the commission needs to work hard to handle them. All we need to do now is to provide them with

the necessary logistic and support to go ahead with the prosecution of these electoral offenders. The workers of the commission need more training and more hands to be able to handle the number of electoral offenders. We know that this is not going to be an easy task, but the support of the stakeholders, the commission

would go far.

So there was never a time I said it cannot prosecute these electoral offenders. The laws are very clear on the powers and function of INEC. How far have you been interacting with INEC with the view to improve on its capacity ahead of future elections?

We have been having interaction with INEC. Of course, so many things have been lined up. We have been interacting with some stakeholders on how to improve on our electoral processes. We are going to convey an enlarged stakeholders meeting soon to look at some of these issues .We have not fixed a date for that, but we have been holding talks with some of them ahead of the forum. We need to sit down with them and brain storm.

You participated in the last general elections, and you may have observed some flaws in our electoral laws. Is your committee thinking of reviewing the Electoral Act to address some of these defects?

These are some of the things that we intend to look at when we convene the stakeholders meeting.

We expect the stakeholders to come up with some of these issues and other areas in our laws that require amendment. It is going to be an interactive forum.

We were all in the field and

there were some areas that I as person and many other stakeholders may have noticed.

There is the challenge of delivery of electoral materials, the timing of voting and so on. There should also be enough training for the people and orientation for those involve in election. We must let the electorates understand the need for them to be at the polling station as early as possible for accreditation. A situation where people would have to go to farm before coming do accreditation to vote is not good. So I think there should be more training and awareness on the need for people to come early for accreditation.

People should be there at the polling booth as early as 8am so that voting proper would start on good time.

You were reported to have renewed your gubernatorial interest. Is that true?

As of now I am voted for as a senator representing Anambra South and my main concern now is to make sure that I give my constituents good representation in the Senate. My major concern now as a senator is to work hard for the people that elected me into the Senate. So we can only think about governorship election or ambition when the people interested in the position start declaring their interest and then if my people think that I have done well and therefore want me, we would look at it.

Being a senator is very challenging-Nenadi Usman Continued from page 8 You were once a Minister of Finance and now a senator.

Which one would you say is more challenging?

I consider the work of a senator more challenging. As a minister, you have one boss, that is the President. Here as a senator, you have so many bosses. 428,000 people voted for me to be here in the Senate, so you can imagine, each of them has the right to call me and I must answer. When you are a minister, you are just appointed and you come and run your office and you might not even know where your polling center is.

So as a senator, I don’t just know my polling unit, I know that people at the grassroot and I know what their issues are and they expect me to constantly associate and relate with them and that

makes it much more challenging.

As a minister, you have police guarding you, there is a pilot car and you are shielded, but here I am on my own. God is my defence and security. So you need to constantly know that you cannot be shielded because people voted for you to come here. Apart from that, I am just one out of 109 senators. In that group of 109 senators, you have to lobby for anything you want. So you must have a cordial relationship with others. It is not an easy job at all.

Then of course the first thing is that most people in the constituency sort of get things mixed up about what the work of the legislator should be and what the work of the executive is. As a legislator, you are principally a lawmaker. You don’t have executive power but people don’t really understand that. They expect that you should be able to

perform like a minister who can give out contracts. So we have a long way to go but I know that later people will come to know that the work of the legislator is not the same with those in the executive.

During your campaign, you promised that you will give quality representation to your people. How far have you been able to achieve that?

I would say that I have gone very far. First I called the major stakeholders in the constituency for us to have an agenda setting meeting because I believe that to rate my success or failure at the end of my four year tenure, then you should have given me an assignment. So I called them so as to know exactly what they expect from me as a senator. They opened up to me and from there I was able to work out an agenda for myself.

So at the end of my tenure, they will be able to judge whether I

passed or failed based on the meeting we had.

Apart from that, I have made it a habit that twice a month, I do nothing in my constituency office than to interact with my people and listen to what they have to say. So people have access to me that is why you hardly have people from my constituency coming to see me in Abuja because they can see me at home anyway.

Some time I am able to go more than twice a month. Sometimes I will not be able to make it twice a month due to some issues but they know I must come.

Distinguished, what would you consider as your boldest decision and step you have ever taken in life?

My most daring step was contesting election to come to the Senate. This is because, it was not something I thought I would ever want to do. Being the wife of an

Emir and then come out and go full speed asking people for their support was something too daring to me. I must thank my husband, Dr. Usman. I think because he is a well educated, he has a PhD in Economics, so he is open minded and he has seen quite a lot. When I told him that people were mounting pressure for me to contest for the Senate seat, he said well, that it was left for me, that I should think within myself if I am willing to be there for the people all the time because when people vote for you, you have to be there for them. He told me to realise that going for this position is for me to serve people and not for me to be served. I thought about all these things. After that I prayed with my pastors. My husband is a Muslim and I am Christian but it works out well for us. After the prayers God gave me the nudge and I went on.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 13

Interview

We’ve recorded breakthrough in HIV/AIDS-Dr. Agwale What’s the mandate of Innovative Biotech Limited? t is a research and development centre. It treats patients of chronic infections, both communicable and non-communicable. It also offers students’ research programmes. We started this because a majority of Nigerian universities have no up-to-date research infrastructure.

Undergraduates, postgraduates and health researchers also use our institute for researches. On our part, we aid the publications of their findings in international journals. The centre also offers the second opinion programme, by confirming some diagnoses, which in some cases are faulty.

If the cases are those we can handle, we do that; if it is not, we refer them to our partners overseas for the best health care. We also do large-scale vaccination.

In what area have you recorded a breakthrough?

Our breakthroughs in hepatitis, diabetes and HIV are unequalled. Our revolutionary products bring down the viral load of HIV to undetectable level within three months. These are all natural and well-researched products and have no side effects. Our products are certified by top level institutions around the world.

For diabetes, we use mineral supplements to bring down the sugar level to normalcy within two weeks. We have other landmark health products to address Nigeria’s peculiar health needs. Our research findings are published in top rated scientific journals.

Talking about of HIV/ AIDs, are your products different from anti-retroviral drugs?

The unique thing about HIV is the fact that it is only disease on earth where victims wait until their condition becomes worse before accessing treatment. Anti- retroviral drugs are delicate: toxicity and drug resistance. The time a patient needs the drugs is moderated. If it commences early, the combinations will be exhausted. When the person needs it most, he could have developed resistance to the drugs. That is why it is waited for the CD4 to drop before the treatment begins.

Our treatment brings the viral loads to an undetectable level within three months. The trial has been done in Nigeria with support from the Nasarawa state government. This creates a real hope for HIV patients that

I

Dr. Simon Agwale is the founder and CEO of Innovative Biotech Ltd, Keffi, Nasarawa state, and Innovative Biotech, USA Inc. A virologist/vaccinologist, he was also the chair and West Africa’s representative on HIV/AIDs for Developing Countries Coordinating Committee (DCCC) at European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Programme. In this interview with Augustine Aminu in Abuja, he throws more light on the question of the efficacy of herbal medicines and other health care issues in Nigeria.

Dr. Simon Agwale don’t need anti-retroviral therapy. There were also clinical trials in Ghana and Kenya. The outcome was published in an international journal.

HIV strains differ according to locations. How efficacious are your products in Nigeria?

They are natural products.

With the advent of nano technology, we have been able to break Silver, one of our products, into nano forms.

Anything, whether bacteria, viruses, parasites, name them, that comes in contact with it dies in vitro within six minutes.

Silver is not like antibiotics that is lock and key. It has a broadrange: it resonates. It has the same wave length with what we call the ultra-violet light.

Silver works like the bulb you switch on to kill pathogens. It has a different mode of action; that is why it has broad-range anti-microbial properties.

You are a vaccinologist and virologist by training, how come you delve into natural medical products?

I worked in Nigeria and saw many helpless conditions. We have limited expertise to

address the matters. This prompted some of us to go into more researches. That is where the clinical component trials come in. With our partners, we take these ingredients and formulate them based on daily requirements and come up with products that will change people’s lives.

What challenges do you face?

Development banks like NEXIM and the Bank of Industry stipulate conditions similar to conventional banks.

They ought to be development banks where ideologies are collated for funding. But they insist on collaterals before funds are accessed. How many people have houses in Abuja?

As a stakeholder on the vaccine for HIV/AIDS, how soon can the vaccines be produced?

We are working on a potential cure for HIV/AIDS using stem cells. There is a certain percentage of the Caucasians that are resistant to HIV. If their blood is infected with the virus, it will be uninfected. Researches went on and it was discovered they have deletion in one of their cells

which we call ‘the CCR5 coreceptor’that HIV binds to. As such, HIV does not see the cell to enter CD4. The confirmed cure now is ‘the Berlin patient’. In Berlin, a doctor isolated one of the Caucasians with the resistant genes, and performed a bone-marrow transfer. It is about the fourth year of this treatment and the person remains negative. We try to see how we can make this treatment universal. To do a bone-marrow transfer, you have to do some compatibility tests. But with the stem, we have identified three people that have this resistant gene and we try to transform stem cells with these resistant genes to see whether we get the same result.

For now, we continue to do research and development with what we have on ground to see how best we can manage patients. The issue is getting the viral load undetectable and the CD4 going up.

Comment on local herbs and those produced in the US Those in the US were well researched and properly formulated. You know what you are taking. But here, herbs are not well researched. Some of them are toxic. We don’t know the side effects. The efficacy of those herbal products must be established. I don’t say they don’t work, but the practitioners have to work with scientists to bring a drug to the market.

Does Nigerian government assist you?

No. In the US, researches are funded by the government. It is risky because the result is uncertain. Even big companies in the US get grants to fund researches. There is no nation on earth that grows without investment in research and development. We have plants throughout Nigeria that can perform wonders. It is only research and development that their potentialities can be harnessed and our economy diversified.

Have you returned to settle in Nigeria?

Some researches can’t take place in Nigeria. An example is

the stem cell. It requires twenty-four hour’s light. There should be companies to provide laboratory needs instantly. You can’t do tissue culturing procedure in Nigeria. For now, we research and develop in the US and do the implementation here. My research requires complementation and they are not here. There is no single company in Nigeria that makes media for tissue culture.

Can you briefly rate herbal medicine practice in Nigeria.

The government should strengthen our universities. If there are good universities doing high-quality research, biotech companies, like ours, should be involved in the translational aspect of it. In the US, basic work is done in universities. Companies make their money from their products. They give funds to universities to embark on basic researches. Universities patent those inventions, then companies license the technology from universities.

Some years ago, New York State University made at least 200 million dollars only from royalties they got from inventions from lecturers.

There should be structures where inventions are protected.

There must be offices of technology transfer in universities so that when lecturers and students develop products, it goes through that office patented and protected.

With that, people will research.

A big case with herbalists is that they don’t want people to know the components of their products. When I was at NIPRID, we found many of these herbal products packed with bacteria. Take it to any lab and you will be amazed. If you see a typical setup where drugs are developed, you can’t eat anything in this country.

Herbalists should know that some of these things are not hidden. Not everything can be patented. Only novel things are worth patenting. If they have anything that is revolutionary, let them go to NIPRID and other agencies to get help.

Special Report

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Merchants of death: Fake drug dealers kill thousands every year

By Joy Baba

Y

emisi Olabode, a five year old girl in Byazhin, a satellite town in Abuja had malaria. Her poor mother took her to a patent medicine store in the area for treatment. The fever continued despite the malaria drugs being administered to Yemisi.

A week later the hapless girl was dead. Neighbors attributed the tragedy to some spiritual attacks. Later it was discovered that the drugs she was taking was not genuine and could not effectively battle the germs that attacked her system.

Yemisi’s case is only one out of hundreds of innocent victims, who are either killed or have their vital organs permanently mutilated after ingesting drugs meant to give them life.

Counterfeit and adulterated drug dealers are now joining forces with dealers of expired medicines to deal death blows on unsuspecting victims as the tighten grip on their devilish stock in trade that has made them merchants of death.

Since the advent of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), there have been a concerted battle against the manufacturing and circulation of counterfeit and adulterated drugs with startling revelations of heinous activities of the dealers who have continued to devise various means to continue their trade at all cost.

According to reports by the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 700,000 people die yearly as a result of the ingestion of fake drugs and expired drugs.

In Nigeria alone, it is estimated that over thousand die yearly from complications resulting from consumption of fake and expired drugs.

The most common fakes are those that are in the highest demand, including antimalarials,

NAFDAC destroys fake drugs worth billions of naira every year blood pressure medications, and commonly used drugs that treat infection including antibiotics, anti-tuberculosis drugs, and antiretrovirals for HIV and AIDS. In 1989, over 150 children died as a result of paracetamol syrup containing diethylene glycol.

In September 2006, Nigerian authorities discovered USD 25,000 worth of fake antimalarial and blood pressure medicines hidden in a shipment of purses coming from China.

In May 2009, NAFDAC seized $675,000 worth of counterfeit medicines at a Lagos airport that included fake antimalarials, diabetes medicines, heart medicines, anti-anxiety drugs, and a variety of antibiotics such as amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and ampicillin.

In January 2010, NAFDAC intercepted a large consignment of fake Lonart-DS antimalarial tablets, valued at $66,530, in a shed near the Lagos airport.

In 2008, 84 children died after

Fake drugs are responsible for thousands of deaths in the country.

using a teething formula called My Pikin made by a Lagos-based pharmaceutical firm, which was tainted with diethylene glycol.

In March of the following year, this firm and five other manufacturing depots were shut down after the director of the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) expressed concern over an increase in substandard drugs produced by the companies.

In the first week of June 2009, 28 illegal pharmaceutical companies and patent medicine stores were shut down in Lagos for offenses including the sale of unregistered, counterfeit, or substandard drugs. The battle continues just as the dealers tighten grips on the markets.

A range of counterfeit medications are now found in West Africa, including anti-malarial medicine, antibiotics, antituberculosis drugs, and antiretrovirals. Most of the existing literature on West Africa implies that the majority of fake pharmaceutical products in the region are imported, particularly from South and East Asia, India, in addition to the local pharmaceutical industry.

This trade is also booming at an alarming peak in other parts of the world especially in Europe, Asia and the countries of the emerging markets such as Brazil, Argentina and Mexico among others.

Currently, the future of global public health is at great risk.

Disease-causing agents for cholera, malaria and tuberculosis can develop resistance to genuine drugs. Counterfeit drugs with nonlethal doses of active pharmaceutical ingredients effectively catalyze such evolution

while evading widely-used drug tests.

The big question remains, how can one identify fake or expired drugs? What is actually the way out?

Counterfeit drugs are medications that are produced using ingredients that may be inactive or harmful. Counterfeit drugs are packaged and labeled to look like actual brand name drugs or generic drugs.

This false packaging is to deceive people and make them buy and use the counterfeits in place of genuine drugs. In the same manner, unscrupulous elements change dates on expired drugs to deceive unsuspecting users.

Those who use such drugs are at risk of serious health problems, including unexpected side effects, allergic reactions, or a worsening of ones health condition. These can occur because a counterfeit drug may be contaminated with harmful substances, contain the wrong active ingredients, which may not treat your condition or may cause unwanted side effects, have too little or none of the active ingredient, which will be insufficient to treat your condition, have too much of the active ingredient, which can cause unwanted and potentially dangerous side effects, be packaged in phony wrapping, which may have incorrect directions on how to use the medication.

Despite the efforts by NAFDAC which had continued to destroy the bad drugs and prosecute the nabbed dealers, the business has continued to boom basically because of the massive gains it brings to the dealers.

On the whole, it is certain that the desire to get rich is mainly the

propelling force behind the business.

It is estimated that bad drug dealers rake in billions of naira annually which many has termed as blood money. However, NAFDAC has lately adopted a new approach in the overall effort to deal with the menace.

The agency is now using hi-tech devices including the Truscan machine which can detect on the spot, if a drug is fake or substandard.

Trunscan is a simple yet effective device which identifies whether a drug is genuine or not. This machine according to NAFDAC is more efficient and less time consuming in combating fake drugs. The machine has an in built library which contains documentations of the chemical combination of different drug brands.

Truscan simply compares the chemical composition of the drugs it is testing to that of the genuine one in its library and states the result immediately after the analysis.

Speaking on the matter, a pharmacist, Mr. Abuh Adams of Royas Pharmacy, Maitama, Abuja took stock of the efforts by government in combating the problem and concluded that it is winning the war.

He said most of the fake drugs that come into Nigeria are from places like China, Indian and Pakistan. According to him, unscrupulous Nigerian drug dealers and distributors go to these countries and connive with drug manufactures to produce substandard drugs which later find their ways into the Nigerian market.

According to him, under such arrangement, drugs like pain killers which are supposed to have 500 milligram of paracetamol are produced with just 200 milligrams.

This will only cause drug resistance at the end of the day instead of curing head ache.

Adams said drugs could become ineffective if they are not kept under the required conditions including temperature adding that drugs sold by hawkers were exposed to adverse conditions which might change the required chemical combinantions.

As a strategic measure, Adams advised Nigerians to ensure that they patronized genuine drug dealers and hospitals for their drug needs.

The battle to save Nigerians from the onslaught of these merchants of death is being fought on daily basis by NAFDAC, the media and genuine dealers.

Nigerians on their part should do all they can to be sure drugs are genuine before purchasing. This will reduce the fatality rate and push these merchants out of market.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Special Report

PAGE 15

Inside story of Kano’s mass wedding From Bala Nasir, Kano

T

he crowd was unprecedented as thousands of people from all corners of the state gathered at Kano Central Mosque, venue of Tuesday’s mass wedding organised by the Kano state government.

The event attracted a huge crowd apparently due to the fact that it was the first time such an occasion was organized by government in the state. Many people, out of curiosity wanted to see how it would go.

When the Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso led administration came up with the idea of mass wedding with a view of marrying off about 1000 widows and divorcees to same number of willing men who would be able to fulfil and abide with sets of conditions laid out, many people were sceptical and wondered loudly how it would happen.

This is especially as such an idea had never been muted in the history of the state and no government, whether civilian or military had ever tried any form of mass wedding in the past.

However, issues lead to issues and events lead to events. Series of social problems that have been bedevilling the state at the family level have led to the emergence of many broken homes which became rampant in the state and required a drastic measure to address.

This was in addition to thinking by some analysts that most of the elements used in the perpetration of social vices were products of broken homes a situation which could be handled by steps that would restore the sanctity of homes.

It was based on this backdrop, the Kano state government decided to find a solution by directing its HISBA Board to arrange for a wedding of some 1000 divorced women to be sponsored by the state government.

The state HISBA led by its Grand Commander, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa took the challenge. Forms were issued to all interested men who were willing to pick one of the widows who offered themselves for the planned mass marriage.

Within a short time, close to one thousand men picked the forms.

However, less than half the number returned their duly completed forms.

Chief Imam of Kano, Professor Sani Zaharaddeen conducting one of the marriages Those who did not turn in their completed forms, according to some officials of HISBA, could had been scared by the conditions laid down for all potential suitors in the planned marriage.

The process commenced with the screening of all the participants. After the exercise which was very rigorous, 100 men and women who would later be paired emerged and it was these that became husbands and wives on Tuesday.

On the wedding day, events started as early as 10:30 in the morning. The state governor Alhaji , Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was the symbolic father to the 100 grooms while the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero became father to the 100 brides.

While Governor Kwankwaso was represented at the event by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Engineer Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, Emir Ado Bayero attended the occasion by himself.

However, before the arrival of the Emir the marriage rites had already started as the grooms started their appearances one after the other before the Chief Imam of the Kano Central Mosque, Professor Sani Zaharaddeen, where at least

A drummer entertaining people at the event

who were also looking elated for a job well done.

Later in the evening the 100 couples gathered at Kano Government House where the state Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso treated them to a special banquet at the end of which marriage certificates prepared by the state government were distributed to all the couples.

One of the groom, Malam Saidu Mohammed Gwale told Peoples Daily Weekend that he has learnt a lot through the series of seminars that were organized for them before their marriage took place.

He said though he was married before, the experience during the exercise was so enriching that he felt he was getting married for the first time. This was because he of the knowledge he accumulate concerning the way married couples should live as husband as wife.

Mohammed said the grooms were not only lectured on how to take care of their new wives but those of them who have two or more wives at home were also taught how to live with all of them in peace and the way they should be just to all of the them.

Crowd of well wishers at the wedding one relative from each of the couples were present to witness the marriage as enshrined in the Islamic Law. When that procedure was completed the 100 couples became husbands and wives legally and other procedures followed immediately after.

Prayers were said and the kolanuts, which most of the grooms brought to the venue for distribution to the people who gathered to witness the occasion were distributed and the Emir wished all the newly wed couples a happy married life and left.

No sooner than the Emir left, the grooms and their well wishers came out of the mosque to the warm embrace of their relations and friends who poured then with pleasantries and congratulatory greetings. This took a very long time as there were so many grooms to congratulate.

One of the grooms, Malam Saidu Mohammed From there the grooms headed to the HISBA secretariat were their brides were waiting for them. Clad in gorgeous dresses, the brides were looking elated as they received their grooms.

Another round of congratulations began and this time from especially HISBA officials

Also, one of the brides stated that though this was her first time of getting married, her experience during the process were worthwhile and she was happy with the husband she got from the exercise.

Grand Commander of Kano state HISBA, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa expressed happiness over the event as he stated that this was just the beginning. He said the state had good intentions in organising the marriages and express optimism that such would bring lasting peace and harmony to matrimonial homes in the state and Nigeria in general.

He promised that government will soon commence planning for the remaining number and hoped that the assignment would be completed as planned with 1000 couples duly wedded at the end of the day.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Tourism

Badagry: Then slave port, now tourist destination Compiled by Richard Ihediwa with reports from Hospitalitynigeria.com

E

ver been to Badagry? This ancient town in Lagos state; near the boundary between Nigeria is widely known for the role it played as a major slave port in Nigeria and other neigbouring African countries such as Benin and Togo.

Badagry was founded around l425 A.D. Before its existence, people lived along the Coast of Gberefu and this area later gave birth to the town of Badagry. It is the second largest commercial town in Lagos State, located an hour from Lagos and half an hour from the Republic of Benin. The Town of Badagry is bordered on the south by the Gulf of Guinea and surrounded by creeks, islands and a lake.

The ancient town served mainly the Oyo Empire, which was comprised of Yoruba and Ogu people. Today, the Aworis

and Egun are mainly the people who live in the town of Badagry as well as in Ogun State in Nigeria and in the neighbouring Republic of Benin.

In the early 1500’s, slaves were transported from West Africa to America through Badagry. Also Africans were taken to Europe, South America and the Caribbean. The slaves came mainly from West Africa and the neighbouring countries of Benin and Togo as well as other parts of Nigeria. The slave trade became the major source of income for the Europeans in Badagry.

Today, Badagry is an historic site because of the significant role it played as a major slave port in Nigeria. This is the wharf in the old slave port, just outside of Badagry, from which the slaves were transported across the water to the island and the ships awaiting their cargo. Enslaved Africans were taken on a trail half a mile across the Gberefu

First Story Building In Nigeria. Badagry, Lagos.

Point of No Return Island to the beach, passing a well where they would have paused to drink. At the end of the trail is a statue of two people linked by chains around their necks..

Under a palm tree next to a wooden sign saying “Point of no Return”. Badagry exported no fewer than 600,000 African slaves to America. Badagry is a tourist centre with its historic sites, landscapes, cultural artifacts and relics of human slavery Badagry has many things going for it. Aside from the fact

Holidaymakers at Badagry beach

Slave market, Badagry

that it remains serene and full of unspoiled nature, it also happens to be a very historic town with regards Nigeria’s journey to independence.

There are buildings, sites and memories of this iniquitous period so that tourists can unearth the dark impact of this era. Interesting places that can leave an unforgettable memory are the Palace of the Akran of Badagry and its mini ethnographic museum, the early missionaries cemetery, the District Officer’s Office and Residence, the First Storey Building in Nigeria constructed by the Anglican missionaries, relics of slave chains in the mini museum of slave trade, cannons of war, the Vlekte slave Market, and the Slave Port established for the shipment of slaves before the l6th century.

Other attraction is the site of the famous Agia tree under which Christianity was first preached in Nigeria. Visitors will also do well to trek on the Gberefu Beach to the ‘Point of No Return’.

African-Americans eager to identify with their African roots will find a great deal to connect with in Badagry.

Also worth visiting are Suntan Beach, Hermitage Resort, Whispering Palms Beach Resort, Halem Seaside Resort.

Badagry hold deep in its soil, stories that cannot be erased by hundred years of history. People in the past dreaded it as they were hounded in their thousands to face the journey of no return.

Now people go to Badagry willingly and with excitement mostly to try to have a glimpse of what those in the past had dreaded.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Weekend

I N S I D E:

PAGE 17

Cocktail

My husband is not romantic — Anita Hogan — Center Page

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 18

Relationship 12 simple tips for relationship bliss Fairy-tale love is hard to find-here are some tips for keeping your relationship healthy and happy

O

n e of the most common questions we hear is, "How do we make our relationship work?" The answers are complicated, varied, and, after a while, can start to sound like muddled platitudes. But these commonplace sayings get repeated because they work.

With this in mind, we pulled together 12 cliches that, in fact, reveal simple, triedand-true advice for having a healthy, happy relationship. Read on and let us know what you think: 1. Mind your manners. "Please," "thank you" and "you're welcome," can go a long way in helping your partner remember that you respect and love him and don't take him for granted.

2. Variety is the spice of life. Studies have shown that dullness can lead to dissatisfaction with a relationship. Trying something new can be as simple as visiting an unfamiliar restaurant or as grand as a backpacking trip through Sri Lanka.

Discoveries you make together will keep you feeling close.

3. The couple that plays together, stays together. Find a sport or hobby that you both love (no, watching TV does not count) and make that a priority in your relationship. Camping, biking, building model trains... whatever it is, find something you enjoy doing together.

4. Fight right. In order to have productive arguments, keep these rules in mind. Don't call your spouse names. When things get really tough, take a break from the argument. Let the other person finish his/her sentences. Don't initiate a discussion when you're angry.

5. I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine. No one likes demands (unless you're in a BDSM role play), but everyone can appreciate a compromise. If you want your lover to do something and you're not sure he'll be agreeable, the quickest way to avoid a confrontation is to sweeten the deal.

For example: "Sure, I'll watch Monday Night Football if you take me to see the next movie of my choice."

6. Two heads are better than one. Being in a relationship basically means you've made a merger; you've not only joined assets but inherited the other's problems as well.

Rather than looking at his problems as merely his own, tackle them together. For example, if he's gaining weight, rather than pushing him to diet on his own, enroll in an exercise program together.

7. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Maintain your own friendships and occasionally have a night out without your significant other. Doing things without your s.o. not only makes you miss him or her, it also keeps you sane. And, in case the relationship doesn't work out, you'll still have your friends.

8. Sound it out. It other words: communicate! Talking out the tough subjects-money, religion, fidelity, raising kids-will not be the most fun you've had, but it'll be valuable.

9. Laughter is the best medicine. Learn to laugh at yourself and at silly mistakes.

If he throws your $300 cashmere sweater in the dryer, laughing it off is, in the long run, better than getting angry. It's is just a $300 cashmere sweater, not the end of the world.

10. Keep your eyes on the prize. Yes, he forgot your co-worker's name for the tenth time, but it probably doesn't mean he doesn't care about you. If you keep your perspective fixed on the goal-to be in a happy, functioning partnership-you're less likely to get tangled up in every minor annoyance. Remember, you both want the same thing.

11. Quitters never win. Find a ritual and keep it alive, no matter what.

Whether it's always kissing each other good night, renewing wedding vows every year, sleeping in as late as you want once a month or committing to having sex once a week, pick something that makes you both feel good and stick to it, even when you're tempted to skip.

12. When the going gets tough, the tough get going... to therapy. Studies show that couples who seek counseling during rocky periods are more successful in resolving their issues than those who don't.

Whether its from a religious figure, counselor or mental health professional, getting an expert to help sort out strife is as wise as forgoing self-installation and hiring a plumber to put in a new sink.

Source: Tango Media Corporation

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 19

Beauty Tips Skin care for black women

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Peoples Tech How to take care of your car clutch

By Richard Ihediwa with additional online reports

M

otor vehicles move by means of a technology that connects the engine to the driving shafts which moves the wheels. This is achieved by means of clutch system in manual drives and automatic transmission in the case of automatic drives.

While some motorists love the freedom automatic transmissions provide, others just prefer having a good oldfashion standard. Either choice is solid, but if you happen to have the latter, you probably need to keep an eye on the condition of your clutch. Treat it right and it will go the distance.

Clutches enable the engine to be smoothly separated from the gear system as the need arises and re-attach the systems after the driver has

finished selecting the appropriate gear. In manual drives, the clutch is apparently one of the most used components and it works hard enough when the car is driven.

Most times, it fails due to improper use and poor maintenance.

Here are tips for caring for your car clutch.

Since the automotive clutch connects and disconnects the effect of car engine speed with transmission, it should always be able to withstand the motion rotation. When this section is damaged, then your car will not move at all. Automobile clutch parts most often get wear is the clutch disc and plates.

As a grand rule for manual drives, care must be taken to ensure that the clutch is in top force as its damage would ground the vehicle and repairs take quite some energy and cost.

Here are some tips to ensure that your clutch works well and last longer.

Do not ever let the clutch oil car reaches the minimum threshold. It would be better if you do not let the clutch oil diminished one bit. Although in theory, there is a minimum limit of the available oil clutch.

Replace the clutch oil every 20,000 km the car. It would be better if you replace the clutch oil car before exceed these limits.

Do not step on the clutch the car too long. When you step on the clutch too long, the clutch plates will experience the heat and wear faster.

Remove your foot from the clutch; in other words, do not ride your clutch. Once your car is in gear, take your foot off.

Use neutral: Sitting at a stoplight is an opportunity for disaster with a clutch. Use neutral rather than holding the car in gear with the clutch

depressed. Doing otherwise will wear the clutch out long before its time.

Avoid slow-speed shakes: Take care to always use the proper gear when traveling at

slow speed. If you are going about five miles an hour or under, stick with first.

Otherwise shift up. It is all too common for people to shake in slow speeds because they are using the wrong gear. The shake is caused by the clutch, which can cause damage.

For road climb that usually takes only half a step on the clutch, use the emergency brake assistance on your car.

Immediately wash the bottom of your car if exposed to water or mud. Because of corrosion on the bottom of the car can cause interference with the function of a car clutch Take care to avoid downshifting too much. Use the brakes to slow down rather than the clutch whenever possible. The simple fact is the brakes are meant to stop the car; not the clutch.

Conserving a clutch can save you down time with your car and lots of money from your budget. It is worth practicing good habits to ensure your clutch goes the distance.

If the clutch pedal of your car is stepped full, but the gear cannot be moved and there is sounds inside the gear, then it is a symptom that the clutch of your car can not be separated perfectly. Car clutch friction (not removable full) can be detected by measuring the distance the clutch pedal car with the car floor. In general, the distance the pedal car that trampled on the floor of the car is 20 percent of the distance when the car is not stepped on the pedal (released). ·Distance between the clutch pedal to the floor of the car was too short. ·To clutch the car is driven by hydraulic pressure broker, chances are there is damage to the car’s hydraulic system.

The damage could be due to oil leakage at the clutch, piston damage on the main cylinder, or clutch release cylinder cars, and also because of the air or steam at the car’s hydraulic system. ·Damage to the surface of the clutch or car plate clutch. ·There was wear of the cylinder release or clutch release bearing cars.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Healthy Living Preparing for Pregnancy Getting your body baby-ready If you’re trying to get pregnant, that might be a good window in which to really turn around and get healthy, so that you’re preparing the body for the baby and you, and also setting a pattern for lifelong health.

— Vandana Sheth, registered dietitian, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association

H

eather Stott of Charlotte, North Carolina, holds a master’s degree in public heath, but she cares about her own health, too. So, “when it came time to try to get pregnant, I did take some extra precautions,” she said.

She lowered her caffeine intake and stuck with her regular workout routine, running or cycling five or six days each week, to maintain a healthy weight. She added fresh vegetables and prenatal vitamins to her diet, along with calcium and fish oil supplements. She safely stopped taking her anxiety medication, Lexapro, and sought natural ways to relieve anxiety, because she found no studies on the drug’s effects on pregnant women.

When planning to conceive, it is a good idea to get your diet on a healthy track “I did not want to leave anything to chance,” Stott said.

Her diligence paid off. She gave birth to a healthy baby girl in 2011.

“One of the biggest concerns that we in OB/GYN worry about is that people start to think about pregnancy only when they’re already pregnant,” said Dr. Robert Atlas, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

“There are things that we wish people did prior to pregnancy that would help them reduce the risk of complications.”

You don’t have to have a health degree to prepare for pregnancy.

You can change your nutrition, fitness and lifestyle habits to benefit your body and your future baby’s wellness.

Eating for Optimal Nutrition Registered dietitian Vandana Sheth, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, said healthy eating is the foundation for a healthy

pregnancy.

This means getting whole grains from products such as cereal, bread or crackers; eating seasonal fruits for optimal nutritional benefits; getting three servings of low-fat, calcium-rich foods daily; eating plenty of green, leafy vegetables; getting protein from lean meats or tofu; and consuming dried lentils, beans and legumes.

Before pregnancy you should also add certain vitamins and minerals to your diet. Get 400 micrograms of folic acid and 425 milligrams of choline daily, both of which are important for a baby’s neural development. Increase your calcium and iron intake, because pregnant women have increased needs of both. Get 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day and increase iron absorption by eating a food rich in iron, such as dark, leafy greens, with a food that has vitamin C, such as citrus.

A multivitamin can also help you get all these essential nutrients if you are expecting to become pregnant.

“The biggest thing that someone can do is, in fact, take a vitamin — a daily vitamin,” Atlas said.

Four Movements for PrePregnancy Fitness Ilene Bergelson of Lifemoves Health in New York City shares four exercises that mimic the moments of prenatal women and mothers. Before pregnancy, spend one to two minutes working continuously on each exercise to strengthen large muscle groups used during pregnancy and postpartum.

Medicine Ball Roll Position your body over your knees on a mat. Lean forward and engage the pelvic floor and core muscles. Roll the ball away from you, toward you and side to side.

Advance by lifting it. Alternately, use a heavy object from your household such as a bag of rice, a stone from your garden or a jar from your kitchen.

Bird Dog Build spine stability by positioning yourself on all fours on a floor mat. Lift one arm and your opposite leg simultaneously while keeping your torso stable. Stay as still as you can from a few seconds to a full minute, then alternate sides.

Sumo Dead lifts Practice lifting a baby from a playpen by standing like a sumo

Developing healthy habits before your pregnancy will help you maintain them after conception. wrestler with your feet in a wide stance and knees and toes pointed slightly out. Engage your core and pelvic floor muscles as you bend your knees and reach down to the floor to grasp a weight with both hands. Keep your knees in line with your toes and the weight close to your body; push up through your heels.

Step-ups Hold a medicine ball, gallon of milk or other weighted object to mimic a baby’s weight as you walk up and down a set of stairs. Move the weight from one side to the other as if shifting a baby’s position. Spend more time on the side that’s more difficult to avoid creating imbalances later.

Watching the Way We Consume While it’s important to consume healthy food and nutrients, it’s just as important to know what to avoid. For women considering pregnancy, the list is long.

For example, meats cooked raw to medium raw and seafood that may be high in mercury could be risky for a fetus. However, for women not yet pregnant, “If you have one serving a week, that should not increase the risk of complications in pregnancy,” Atlas said. “Moderation is the key.”

Then there is caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.

“Caffeine has been shown in an eloquent study to increase the risk of miscarriage,” Atlas said. He recommends limiting caffeine consumption to 200 milligrams per day — about one 12-ounce cup of coffee.

“Alcohol is the No. 1 preventable cause of mental retardation,” Atlas explained. Seek help for binge drinking or other alcoholism symptoms before becoming pregnant. The same goes for smoking, Atlas said; smoking while pregnant can cause serious damage to your child, including heart disease, cancer and blindness.

Women also should consult a doctor about any vitamins or herbal supplements they’re taking, Sheth said. Consuming more than the recommended daily dose of vitamin A, for example, can harm a fetus. Herbal supplements are not always dangerous, but they’re unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Finally, a host of medications are known teratogens, or agents that can cause harm to a fetus, Atlas said. Examples include Depakote, a drug used to treat bipolar disorder and seizures; Paxil, used to treat anxiety or depression; ACE inhibitors, used to treat hypertension; and Accutane, used to treat acne. If you’re on medication, consult with your doctor before trying to conceive.

Practicing healthy habits for a healthy pregnancy “Motherhood is a sport, it’s the longest marathon you’re ever going to run,” said Ilene Bergelson,

Alcohol is the No. 1 thing to avoid.

a fitness trainer and founder of Lifemoves Health in New York City. Bergelson trains women before and during pregnancy.

It’s important to be in a healthy weight range when planning to conceive, she said.

Atlas agreed. “Patients who are in the obese category ... are increasing their risk of pregnancy complications. The heavier you are, the higher the risk,” he said.

A normal body mass index for a woman is between 18.5 and 24.9; a woman is in the obese category when her BMI is 30 or above.

Exercise also relieves stress, which may play a role in fertility.

In a May 2000 study, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health could not prove a link between workplace stress and fertility, but “studies among couples going through infertility treatments have found that those who have the highest success rate maintained lower levels of stress,” wrote registered dietitian Amy Ogle and Dr. Lisa Mazzullo, an OB/ GYN, in their book, “Before Your Pregnancy: A 90-Day Guide for Couples on How to Prepare for a Healthy Conception.”

Ogle and Mazzullo recommended spending time outdoors, sleeping for seven or eight hours each night, developing an optimistic attitude, and practicing restorative habits, such as taking an hour before bed to relax with your spouse each night, as ways to reduce stress.

By learning healthy habits, women can approach pregnancy with confidence knowing they’ve done everything they can to prepare.

Stott said her frustrations rose each month as she and her husband tried to conceive. “We went through a great deal of heartache [and] ups and downs to create this special girl,” she said.

“Education prepared me ... in managing my health pre-, during and after pregnancy.”

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

With Aunty A'isha

PAGE 23

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

Sights and sounds

6 facts about bullies and victims

P

reschool and kindergarten have long been considered a home away from home for young kids from learning the alphabet to sharing blocks, the last thing that is expected to find among such a young group is bullying.

However, young children may participate in bullying as victims or perpetrators even more often than older kids.

Between the ages of 3 and 5, children are still

SHOR T ST OR Y SHORT STOR ORY

The little pot

rationalize their antisocial actions ·Children who are passive and socially withdrawn are at heightened risk of getting bullied. These children then become even more withdrawn after incidents of harassment. ·Most victims of bullying are more likely to suffer in silence than to retaliate.

Victims often have psychological problems such as depression and low self-esteem, which may make them turn inward

T

here was a poor but good little girl who lived with her mother. They had nothing to eat. One day, the child went into the forest, and

there an aged woman met her who was aware of her sorrow.

She gave her a gift of a little pot, which when she said, “cook, little pot, cook”, would cook

good, sweet porridge, and when she said, “stop, little pot”, it ceased to cook.

The girl took the pot home to her mother, and soon they were freed from their poverty and hunger, and ate sweet porridge as often as they chose.

At one time when the girl had gone out, her mother said, cook, little pot, cook.

And it did cook and she ate till she was satisfied, and then she wanted the pot to stop cooking, but did not know the word.

So it went on cooking and the porridge rose over the edge, and still it cooked on until the kitchen and whole house were full, and then the next house, and then the whole street, just as if it wanted to satisfy the hunger of the whole world, and there was the greatest distress, but no one knew how to stop it.

At last when only one single house remained, the child came home and just said, stop, little pot, and it stopped and gave up cooking, and whosoever wished to return to the town had to eat his way back!

DO YOU KNO W THA T...?

KNOW THAT

learning a great deal about how to get along with others and they are less experienced in solving the problems that arise when playing with others. Thus, they will use anger to solve problems, rather than more useful ways of settling quarrel. Here are six facts kids should know about bullies. ·Bullies are often quite popular among their classmates.

Many classmates admire their toughness and may even try to imitate them. ·Bullies often have inflated self-views, and that high self-esteem can sometimes encourage bullies to

rather than outward. ·Although certain personality traits indeed place children at higher risk for being bullied, there are also a host of situational factors (e.g., being a new student in school) and social factors (e.g., not having a friend) that increase the likelihood that a child will be bullied. These situational factors explain why there are more temporary than chronic victims of bullying. ·Bullying incidents involve more than just the bully and victim.

There are bystanders, those who help the bully, and those who defend the victim.

B

ecause Pluto is so small you would be very light if you visited. If you weigh 70 pounds (32 kg) on Earth, you would only weigh 4 pounds (2.5 kg) on Pluto.

The Dwarf Planet Pluto was the only planet to be named by a kid. After the planet was discovered in 1930, an 11-year-old girl who lived in Oxford, England, by the name of Venetia Burney, suggested that this new planet needed to be named after the Roman god of the underworld.

Venetia’s grandfather sent this suggestion to the Lowell Observatory and the name was accepted.

Pluto is smaller than 7 of the moons in the Solar System.

It is about two-thirds smaller than Earth’s moon. Because it is so small, many scientists don’t consider it a planet at all.

In 1999, a group of scientists attempted to re-classify Pluto as a comet. On August 24, 2006, Pluto’s status was officially changed from planet to dwarf planet. For decades, children have been taught in school that there are nine planets in our Solar System.

However, with this change, there are now only eight planets. Also because of this change, there is a new category of small planets known as

plutoids.

The only spacecraft to get somewhat close to Pluto was the Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble was able to take pictures of Pluto and its moons for scientists to study. Little is known about Pluto and its moons because it is so far away.

Moons: Pluto has 3 moons. The largest is named Charon. Charon is only slightly smaller than its parent Pluto. For this reason, Pluto and Charon are often called a double system. The Earth and its moon, Luna, are sometimes considered double planets. Pluto’s two other moons are called Hydra and Nix.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 22

With Aunty A'isha

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

AFRICAN TALES

Tortoise and the Igbako (II)

MODEL OF THE WEEK

S

o Tortoise went to the palace and told the Oba he had a solution to the famine. He convinced the Oba to send for every animal in the forest and soon, all the animals were assembled at the Oba’s palace.

Tortoise posed on stage in front of all the animals while he asked the Igbako “Igbako, what is your duty?” The igbako replied as usual, I make huge lumps of iyan, I make huge lumps of eba, such that the whole world eats and yet leaves leftovers.

A huge feast appeared and all the animals ate until the sun set and they had to go to sleep. The following day, Tortoise asked the Igbako its duty and the feast was repeated.

Everyday, the animals ate while they chanted praises of the tortoise. But they were just getting used to eating everyday when the Igbako broke and would not respond to Tortoise’s question anymore.

Tortoise promised to get another Igbako, so he borrowed some more feathers from Bird and flew over several rivers till he reached the ocean where the water goddess lived.

“Great One”, he called out to the water goddess. “My Igbako broke and I have come to ask for a new one”.

“Perhaps you worked the Igbako too hard feeding the entire kingdom”, the water goddess said.

“Oh no, it was just me and

my family. I have no idea how it broke but please give me a new one lest my family starve to death”, Tortoise pleaded.

The water goddess gave Tortoise another Igbako, but this time, it was a tiny Igbako.

“Remember, share this only with your immediate family”, the water goddess reminded him. “Of course, I would never do otherwise”, Tortoise promised and the water goddess returned to the sea.

“Igbako, what is your duty?” Tortoise asked the tiny Igbako. The tiny Igbako replied, I make tiny lumps of iyan, I make tiny lumps of eba, such that the whole world

eats but is never full.

Miniature pieces of food appeared, perhaps better suited for an ant. Tortoise nibbled at the little pieces and before he knew it, all the food was gone.

He called out for the water goddess but she did not answer.

So he picked up his feathers and the tiny Igbako and flew back home.

At home, his family gathered as he asked the Igbako, “Igbako, what is your duty?” The tiny igbako replied, I make tiny lumps of iyan, I make tiny lumps of eba, such that the whole world eats but is never full.

Remilekun Olofin

CREA TIVITY CREATIVITY

Make your own lampshade and be proud

W

atching the waves move back and forth, splashing and tumbling shells along the beach can be mesmerizing. The

natural sway of the water is soothing and exciting at the same time. Waves are energy in motion. The tides are caused by the pull of the moon’s gravity on the earth’s water as the earth turns.

Every person who has walked along the beach wonders what will wash up on the shore with the next wave?

This activity creates an ocean in a jar complete with waves, and will entrance your kindergarten child with the magic of the ocean.

What You Need: ·Jar or glass bottle ·Hot glue gun ·Water ·Vegetable oil ·Blue food colouring ·Sand ·Seashells What You Do: 1. Make sure your jar is

washed out and clean. Spoon some sand into the jar.

2. Add water until ½ full. Add 1 drop of blue food colouring or more until you get a colour you like.

3. Add a few shells for your “ocean”.

4. Add vegetable oil until almost full. Leave a small space for air at the top.

5. Take your hot glue gun and put glue around the lid of the bottle and then place the lid on the bottle.

Turn your ocean on its side and watch the waves go back and forth. Watch the sand gently move as the waves go by. Shake up the bottle. What happens to the sand? What happens to the shells? Does the entire sand move as the waves move or just a little at a time?

Your ocean in a jar is too small to mimic the tidal patterns of the real ocean but will offer a great opportunity to see the effects of energy in motion.

-By Jessica McBrayer

ACTIVITIES

Name and paint the above picture with beautiful colour, show your work to your teacher for correction. Cheers!

PAGE 24

Kannywood Uche Jombo marries non-Nigerian in Puerto Rico

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19, — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

“We are not on the same level’, Stephanie’s former husband speaks

F

DJ Jimmy

W

e can authoritatively confirm that top actress, Uche Jumbo, who openly debunked her marriage rumour last week, married her nonNigerian lover, Kenney Rodriguez on May 16, 2012.

Uche walked down the isle with Kenney at a private beach in Puerto Rico.

For now, WOW magazine has

bought the exclusive rights to the wedding pictures, which would be released by the magazine.

Before now, Uche Jumbo has reportedly denied having any wedding plans in her mind.

She was reportedly dumped by her former Super Eagles lover, Uche Kalu last year after a 10-year relationship.

A very recent picture of Uche in America.

Funke Akindele's hubby revealed *Becomes second wife

I

t is surely no news to many that top Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele has tied the knots on May 26, this year.

According to a report by Bononline, the man that has stolen the heart of Jenifa, as she later became known, is one Alhaji Kehinde Oloyede Almaroof otherwise known as Kenny Doo. Kenny Doo is reported to be a businessman and politician from Oshodi area of Lagos State. He is in his 30’s. His mother is the Iya Oloja of Oshodi market.

He was said to have contested the chairmanship position of Oshodi local government and also House of Representatives seat in the past which he lost. The worrisome part of the story is that Funke Akindele and her hubby Kenny Doo is already married.

With this, Funke becomes his second wife. She says of her marriage, “I am no longer a kid, I know what it means to be in love. I am in love and I am not ashamed to say so. This is not a feeling you contrive, it comes naturally. My dear, this is true love. And I have found it,” she gushes excitedly. Refusing to be dragged into further talks about her man, Akindele quips, “Just be happy for me, I have found true love.”

- Nigeriafilms.com

ormer Super Eagles player and actress Stephanie Okereke‘s ex, Chikelue Iloanusi has spoken out about his relationship with the newly married star.

In an interview with entertainment reporter, Nonye Ben Nwankwo, Iloanusi disclosed the events that led to their breakup.

According to him, Stephanie sued him for N100m on the grounds that he was married to another woman in America, to which he replied, ‘If I had been married to another woman and she had the documents to prove it, nobody would talk about the court striking the case out. What she should be suing me for would have been bigamy. Nobody has charged me for bigamy. If I was charged with that, I would have defended myself and provided every document to show the real state of things. Everybody in Nigeria knows that when you have two marriages, you will be charged with bigamy.‘ He also denied that she was the main breadwinner during their marriage.

Iloanusi wished her the best in her new marriage, but criticized the publicize nature of her wedding, saying ‘Even if she wants to remarry, does she have to tell the general public about it?

Nobody is stopping her.

Everything about life is about upbringing and orientation, but I wish her the best of luck. I’m not competing with her. She no longer exists in my life. I hope she doesn’t come out of this marriage again and start going to newspapers saying the man did this or that to her. I don’t want anybody to break her heart‘.

As regards why he has been silent on the matter for so long, he said he didn’t want to discuss it on the pages of newspapers, adding that ‘I’ve moved on very well and very fast. I have parted ways with her. I don’t have anything to do with her and I’ll never have anything to do with her. I’ll not wish her ill luck. She is not news to me. My fans should ignore her and whatever she says about me. It is not as if I cannot respond to everything she has been saying about me in the newspapers, it is just that she is not my class‘.

The player denied reports he was jealous of his former wife, saying;

PAGE 25

Nollywood

My husband is not romantic — Anita Hogan R

Chikelue Iloanusi, Stephanie Okereke’s ex-hubby ‘Why should I be jealous of her?

She is in the past. I’ve moved on with my own life. There is absolutely no reason for me to be jealous. If you ask me, I will tell you she doesn’t exist in my life.

We’re not on the same level. Some people phoned me to say she would

wed in Paris, but I did’nt care. She could go and marry in heaven‘.

Iloanusi, who says his career is ‘fantastic’, is currently the national vice-president of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers. Of this, he says, ‘our football is having problems, but it

is all good‘. The duo’s marriage was annulled earlier in the year, after over five years in court. A few months later, on Saturday, April 21, 2012, Okereke married her friend and business partner, Linus Idahosa, in Paris, in a star studded, multi-million naira wedding.

ecall the ever bubbly and cheerful actress,Anita Hogan,who stole the hearts of movie lovers few years ago with her acting prowess?

The dark skinned and talented movie actress went off the scene after her celebrated marriage to her Dutch lover, a union that has produced two adorable kids.

Five years after her long absence from the profession, she is enjoying blissful marriage. A graduate of the University of Uyo Theatre Arts, and a masters degree holder in International Law and Diplomacy,she is aimed at taking her craft a notch higher.

The ebony skin mother of 2, has returned in a big way with her new soap titled Koko’s Diary and a new project also in the offing.

In a recent interview,she opens up on her marriage.

I didn’t believe I would end up with a white guy. It just happened. I don’t know about white guys being more romantic because my husband is not romantic. He is more of a realist and he is always very realistic about his feelings.

Am attracted to his openness and the fact that he is very rugged man. We started as friends, got closer and later got married.

He is also a very amazing father; I admire the way he cares for his kids. He is also very loving but not romantic.

I am very grateful to God for him.

He has 3 children from his marriage to a Dutch lady. He was married and the union produced 3 children who are all grown up now.

When I introduced him to my parents’, the reaction wasn’t that dramatic because I come from a very enlightened family so they had no reservations about my being married to a white man; it’s my happiness that counts.

The only worry was just the age difference because my husband is much older than I am.

When asked, having been off the scene for a long while now, how she plans to relaunch herself into the movie scene, she said, Well, “All I am out to do now is basically to create opportunities for myself rather than wait for people to create them for me. And I have already started work on that”

The ebony skin mother of 2, has returned in a big way with her new soap titled Koko’s Diary and a new project also in the offing.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Hollywood/Bollywood 50 Cent Hospitalized: "I don't want to go into surgery"

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West's double date in London

50 Cent has been hospitalized and will apparently have surgery.

“I’m in the hospital but my gangsta grillz LOST TAPE is done so it will be out on time,” he tweeted. “I don’t want to go into surgery…”

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West aren’t slowing t h e i r relationship down even though she is in London as the two stepped out for a double date last night.

Kim and Kanye were reportedly out to dinner last night with her brother Rob Kardashian and his rumored girlfriend Rita Ora, states UsMagazine.com.

Everyone at dinner was reportedly having a great

Steve Tyler predicts 'American Idol' winner

time and seemed to get along well.

Rob and Rita have

allegedly been dating since late last year.

Vidya Balan wants to work with Hrithik Roshan, Shahrukh Khan

A

‘American Idol’ is down to the final three, but Steven Tyler is already ready to crown a winner for this season.

Tyler feels pretty confident in predicting that Jessica Sanchez will end up being voted the winner this year. “I hope you get used to encores.

You’ll be the last one standing, I believe,” Tyler commented after her performances last night.

Sanchez is in the final three along with Phillip Phillips and Joshua Ledet.

Who do you think will make it to the next round? Who will end up winning?

Taylor Swift donates $4 million to Country Music Hall of Fame

T

aylor Swift is apparently not hurting for money as she recently donated $4 million to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The organization recently announced

the sizable donation that is reportedly the largest made to the museum by an artist and the second largest by an individual. The donation will allegedly fund the Taylor Swift Education Center, an

exhibit and classroom space scheduled to open in 2014.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Swift’s hometown of Nashville.

fter giving solo blockbusters “The Dirty Picture” and “Kahaani”, Vidya Balan has draw up a wish list of male co-stars. She wants to work with actors like Abhishek Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Prosenjit Chatterjee.

“I would like to work with those who I have already worked with and those who I haven’t. I would love to pair with Abhishek (with whom she was seen in ‘Paa’)…

It’s been long. I am very greedy to work with good actors and directors,” she said at the release of the DVD of her film “Kahaani” here Wednesday.

“Kahaani”, a thriller directed by Sujoy Ghosh, is about a pregnant woman’s difficult journey to find her husband’s killer.

The actress said she would like to work with Hritik because she hasn’t worked with him.

Talking about Bengali superstar Prosenjit, she said: “We have been wanting to work together for a long time. Every year there has been talks about a Bengali film but we have not been able to work out the dates. So this year, Sujoy has said he will make a film with both of us. We are on a lookout for a good script.

If everything happens,

Vidya Balan

we will make it work.”

Vidya said she would love to team up with Shah Rukh in a romantic flick.

“I think I grew up watching all his films where he plays the ultimate romantic hero.

When you think of romance you think of Rajesh Khanna and Shah Rukh Khan. These are the names that are foremost on my mind.

“Every woman wants a Raj (SRK’s character in

‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’). That’s why I have always wanted to work with him.

Whenever we work together, I would like it to be a nice relationship story,” she said.

If “The Dirty Picture” is remade in Bengali with item girl Rakhi Sawant, how will the latter fare?

Vidya said: “I have seen Rakhi a lot, so I think she is a lot of masti. I am waiting to see what she does in the film.”

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 27

Homes

How to choose outdoor paint colour and accessories

O

utdoor living is a joy that extends the walls of a home and the sense of well-being. Just as porch, deck, garden and patio furniture should enhance the comfort and ease that goes with an outdoor lifestyle, the color palette should do so, too.

Deep porches are inviting but the deeper they are, the darker rooms become inside.

The solution is simple: stain the floor in a pale hue to bounce soft light indoors. Using a pale color like Silver Mist 1619 on the floor ensures that the color of the light is refreshing and close to neutral.

Wood stain, varying in opacity and tone, is one way to personalize outdoor spaces and still retain a natural feel. Treat a wood floor with a beachinspired Richmond Bisque semitransparent stain to preserve the beauty and character of the grain.

Architectural details, from front doors to shutters to outdoor planters, provide an opportunity to play with vivid color accents that would be too intense over larger areas.

Paired with a glossy orange front door, periwinkle blue planters, or navy blue shutters (Blueberry Hill 812), even the plainest white façade takes on a fresh vitality and personality.

Carefully chosen colours add life and give inspirations to outdoor life

Take inspiration from the dominant color outside, whether lush greens or ocean blues or desert neutrals. This method is the safest way to

Pleasant events can be inspired by well selected outdoor colours

build a pleasing palette for outdoor living. A sage green floor stain (Ferndale Green) perfectly echoes the colors of surrounding foliage and is an

unobtrusive backdrop.

Accessories bring a space to life. They set the mood, add color and texture, and have the power to make an ordinary space extraordinary. Even in the outdoors, it's the details that make it truly inviting.

To make a cohesive arrangement with little dayto-day maintenance, choose accessories designed specially for the outdoors. Crafted to withstand inclement climate, they weather beautifully through sunshine or rain.

Start with a color theme of your choice. Blue is the color of sky and water, easily complementing earth tones and nature's seasonal palettes.

To accessorize your outdoor zone, work from the outside in.

Minimize direct sunlight with patio umbrellas. Choose plush

decorative pillows, cozy throws and seat cushions that invite guests to lounge and linger.

Then, focus on dining details.

Decorate the table with an ocean-inspired fishnet runner, topping it with a tray of breakfree glassware and plates, plus coordinating napkins. Fill an empty basket with fruit. It's both decorative and makes the perfect outdoor snack. A drink dispenser filled with citrusinfused water or a fresh cocktail keeps everyone at the table.

As the finishing touch, line up lanterns for a warm glow.

When conversation and cocktails continue past sunset, your time outdoors doesn't have to end. Make a seamless transition from daytime to dusk.

Pottery Barn

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Cuisine

Pots & Pans

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

Tomatoes, yummy, healthy

Baked tomatoes

A

tomato a day keeps the doctor away is the latest slogan. Tomato is often an underestimated fruit but the berry has a lot to offer to mankind.

Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and A along with folate, potassium, fibre and proteins. They are also one of the important sources for antioxidants which play an important role in preventing diseases and keeping us healthy.

Flavonoids present in tomatoes have antioxidant, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. Eating tomatoes regularly will regulate your blood pressure by reducing the systolic readings by upto 10 points and your diastolic number by upto 4 points on the average. By drinking tomato juice regularly you can keep bacteria and viruses away from your body. More vitamin c means there is also protection against cold and flu.

Tomatoes have a nourishing effect on our skin and also acting as a sunscreen naturally. So there is little possibility of getting sun burns on your skin. Tomatoes also have cardiovascular benefits and it also pumps the level of HDL cholesterol which is good cholesterol in our body. Finally tomatoes have wonderful antiaging qualities.

Lycopene and beta carotene present in them are the anti-aging components present in tomatoes.

Tomatoes can be eating in various forms.

Baked tomatoes A sprinkle of cheese and a drizzle of groundnut oil transforms tomatoes into the perfect side dish. Or try

sandwiching them between slices of your favourite whole-wheat bread.

Ingredients: • 4 tomatoes, halved horizontally • 1/4 cup freshly grated cheese • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano (aromatic herb) • 1/4 teaspoon salt • Freshly ground pepper, to taste • 4 teaspoons groundnut oil Preparation: 1. Preheat oven to 450° F. 2. Place tomatoes cut-side up on a baking sheet. Top with cheese, oregano, salt and pepper. Drizzle with groundnut oil and bake until the tomatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.

Raw tomato sauce In this raw sauce, tomatoes marinate in their own juices along with some fresh herbs, garlic, groundnut oil and vinegar. Diced fresh mozzarella (Italian cheese) or any good cheese absorbs the delicious flavours of the whole mélange. Toss with spaghetti or macaroni.

Fresh Tomato Salad Ingredients: • 5 tomatoes, diced • 1 onion, chopped • 1 cucumber, sliced • 1 green bell pepper, chopped • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil • 1/2 cup chopped parsley

• 2 tablespoons crushed garlic • salt and pepper to taste • 2 tablespoons white vinegar Directions: 1. In a large bowl, combine the tomato, onion, cucumber, bell pepper, basil, parsley, garlic and vinegar. Toss and add salt and pepper to taste. Chill and serve.

Tomato Salsa Ingredients: •1/2 onion, chopped •1/2 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped (tattasai) •1/4 cup fresh cilantro (coriander leaves) •5 slices pickled jalapeno peppers, or to taste (small green or red pepper) •6 fresh tomatoes, quartered •2 teaspoons groundnut oil or olive oil •2 teaspoons vinegar •1/2 lime, juiced •1/8 teaspoon salt Directions: 1. Place onion, bell pepper, cilantro, and jalapeno peppers into a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Add tomatoes, and pulse just a few times until the tomatoes are coarsely chopped. Transfer to a bowl with a tight-fitting lid.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, lime juice, and salt.

3. Pour dressing over tomatoes, and stir well. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

PAGE 28

Cuisine

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Pots & Pans

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

Tomatoes, yummy, healthy

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Womanhood Tips for working moms to de-stress M

others, who decide to go back to work after their child is born, have to juggle two careers. They have to give 100% at work. And once they return home, their second career begins, where they have to give 100% as mother. This can be rather difficult after a long day of work.

Instead of getting to relax, working mothers now have to cook, clean, play with their kids, make sure they do their homework, chauffeur them wherever they have to go, and so much more. Adding to the pressure is every mom’s desire to be the perfect mom to their children and the perfect wife for their husbands.

RELAX! You don’t have to be perfect; and you don’t have to do everything by yourself, either.

There are ways to make your life easier. The less stressed you are, the happier you will be. And that will have positive effects on your children and family life.

One of the most important factors is to learn how to delegate.

You really don’t have to do everything yourself. Everybody can pitch in, even a toddler. Make it a rule that everybody has to clean up his or her own stuff, even a toddler. Yes, a toddler is perfectly capable of putting his or her toys back into the toy-box. Depending on whether it is reachable for them, toddlers can even put their dirty clothes in a hamper, and put their

shoes and clothes away. Good habits are best taught early. And they will be happy to help. A three-year-old can make his or her own bed, set the table, load the dishwasher, and help with some of the other household chores like vacuuming.

Keep in mind, they are still learning.

It might not be perfect.

However, as tempting as it is, don’t fix their mistakes, as it would discourage them. Being helpful around the house will teach your children responsibility early on. It will also boost their self-confidence.

If these things are taught early on, they become second nature, and older kids will be more willing to help out around the house. Overall, it is only to your advantage. If you don’t have to clean up after them, and they help you clean the house and cook, you will have more time for other things, maybe even time to relax. You also will be able to spend some quality family time with your children.

Of course, as they get older, children have the tendency to complain about the chores delegated to them, no matter how happily and willingly they have done them in the past. A good rewards system will keep them on the ball. For example, you can create a reward chart, where stickers indicate, if regular chores and extra chores were done. A reward could be some special time with a parent, being able to stay up

a little longer, decide what the family does on a special day, or a new toy they desire.

Your husband should pitch in, too. You both work, you both should equally share the household chores.

You should discuss, who does which chore on a regular basis. This way you will hopefully avoid having to remind him and be a ‘nag’.

However, here, too, don’t expect your husband to be perfect at cleaning or other chores. Nobody is born a master. Furthermore, your house does not have to be spic and span. And if a corner is missed, when cleaning, the world does not go under. You have to learn to relax and to compromise. Otherwise you lose out on time to enjoy your family and life in general.

Another important point is to get organized. It is important to start the day off as stress-free as possible.

Otherwise, your day gets off to a bad start and that usually echoes through the remainder of the day.

In order to get off to a smoother start in the morning, make your children pick out their clothes the night before. Even better, set aside some time on Sunday and make them pick the clothes for the entire week.

All school-age children should be able to wash, brush their teeth, and dress themselves. Of course, you will have to give them the once-over, to ensure they did not skip a part, because they were in a rush to get ready. They also should make their bed in the morning.

Their lunches can be packed the night before, which can be done by the children. You can put the lunch bag in the fridge, if necessary. Make sure the homework is done, anything requiring your signature is signed, and the backpacks are packed and ready to go. You should also check their after-school plans so you know, where they have to be at what time and what equipment needs to be ready. Assign a special spot in the house for the backpack and other equipment to be kept. This way, there is no rushing around in the morning trying to find things the kids will need throughout the day.

To allow for a smoother dinnertime, try to cook double

portions of meals, especially on weekends. The second half can be frozen and reheated at another time.

If you know that one day a week will be especially hectic, make it a takeout day and order pizza or Chinese.

You can even let your children, if old enough, prepare dinner one night a week.

You should only have to make one trip to the store per week. Plan out your meals for the entire week and get all the ingredients in one shopping trip. Keep a list at the fridge door or another easily accessible location in the house, where you can easily write down an item you will need to purchase during your next trip to the store. This way, you will not forget anything you might have run out of during the week. Make sure everybody in your family knows they can add to the list, what they need to have purchased. Some well-organized families are able to only require trips to the store on a biweekly or even monthly basis.

The bigger the family, the more important it is to keep an organized schedule. Have a big calendar on the wall in the house, where everybody can add his or her appointments, game and practice schedules, and so on. If schedules overlap, priorities will have to be set.

Make sure your kids know, they cannot just add on a play date with a friend the very same day, just because they feel like it.

Each weekday, schedule about

ten minutes right after you get home, where each family member should spend time alone. This will give you a little time to relax and switch from work mode to mom mode. Additionally, make a point of scheduling family time. Dinner should be a time for all the family to get together. Make sure this can happen as often as possible. In addition, designate one night a week as family night. Watch a movie together, or play board games together. Also plan for a family outing on weekends. This can be to a park, playground, pool, museum, zoo, or a child’s sport event.

Furthermore, schedule one-on-one time with each of your children at least once a week. This will give you time to talk with them about what is on their mind, what happened throughout the week at school or elsewhere.

In addition, it is also important to schedule time alone with your spouse. Try to do this at least once a month, preferably a bit more often.

Hire a baby-sitter and go out on a date. It does not have to be anything romantic or fancy. It is important the two of you spend some adult time together, some time to reconnect as a couple.

Lastly, and most importantly, schedule some time for yourself, where you can relax by tending to a hobby, seeing friends, work out, and simply do whatever you like to do.

Remember, if the mom is not happy, the rest of the family is usually not happy either. You should allow your spouse time for himself, too.

Finally, don’t let your work stress overtake your family time. Make a point of separating work life from family life. Don’t take work home with you and try to avoid working late. If necessary, talk to your coworkers or boss, to ensure you can leave latest at 5pm on most of your workdays. If you have to work late, inform your spouse, so arrangements can be made, especially, if you have to work late on a regular basis Yahoo! Shine and Lifestyles Network.

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Do you have old pictures for memories?

Send them to julius2001_a@yahoo.com

From the archives

1

4

2 5

3

Captions: 1.

Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) and Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar in their youth.

2.

First Republic politician, Anthony Enahoro with late Ghana leader, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah during the later’s visit in the 60s.

3.

Funmilayo Ransome Kuti with Fela Anikulapo Kuti (her son) 4.

Late President Nnamdi Azikiwe during his primary school days.

5.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Wife (HID Awolowo) during their wedding.

L ear ning PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Mathematics Lesson Pythagorean Theorem (2)

Compiled by Joy Baba

Finding a Leg

L

ast week we considered how to find the Hypotenuse in the Pythagorean Theorem.

This week we will look at how to find the leg.

This section will explain how to use The Pythagorean Theorem to find a missing leg. If we are given a triangle’s leg and hypotenuse, then we would use the equation to calculate the length of the missing leg. Say we know the longest length to be 11 in and one of the other shorter sides to be 6 in. The example below outlines the process by which we can calculate the missing length.

The equation is written.

1. The letter ‘c’ is replaced by the length of the longest side, 11 in. The letter ‘a’ is replaced by 6 in. [Since we know the longest side is 11 in, we could have replaced the letter ‘b’ with 6. We would still arrive at the same solution, which is left for i n d e p e n d a n t investigation.]

2. The values are squared. 6 x 6 = 36 and 11 x 11 = 121.

3. To get the unknown value alone, we need to subtract 36 from both sides of the equation.

Task for the week Refer to the triangle below and solve the problem.

Given c = 5 and a = 3 Find b=

4. b2 is the value left on the left side. 121 - 36 = 85, and that is the remaining value on the right side.

5. To cancel the square and obtain the value of ‘b,’ we must cancel the square root. To cancel the square, we must take the square root. The same must be done to the other side, as well.

6. The square root of 85 is 9.2195. Four decimal places have been

shown even though the true value has an infinite number of non-repeating decimal values.

7. The value has been rounded to the nearest tenth.

Since the hundredth value is less than five, the number is reported up to the first decimal value.

Since our final value for a is 9.2, it means that the missing leg is 9.2 inches in length. It also means we are done with the example.

PAGE 31

Prevention is better than cure everal relatively straightforward precautions can be taken by computer users to avoid problems.

Avoiding musculoskeletal problems, which include: ·Taking regular breaks from working at your computer - a few minutes at least once an hour ·Alternating work tasks ·Regular stretching to relax your body ·Using equipment such as footrests, wrist rests and document holders if you need to ·Keeping your mouse and keyboard at the same level ·Avoiding gripping your mouse too tightly - hold the mouse lightly and click gently ·Familiarise yourself with keyboard shortcuts for applications you regularly use (to avoid overusing the mouse) It is also important to have your workstation set up correctly.

Your workstation includes monitor, keyboard, mouse, seating, desk, and where appropriate, footrest (to enable you to put your feet flat if they would otherwise not reach the floor), wrist rest, and document holder.

Monitors (computer screen): ·should swivel, tilt and elevate - if not use an adjustable stand, books or blocks adjust the height ·Be positioned so the top line of the monitor is no higher than your eyes or no lower than 20° below the horizon of your eyes or field of vision ·Be at the same level and beside the document holder if you use one ·Be between 18 to 24 inches away from your face Keyboards should: ·Be detachable and adjustable (with legs to adjust angle) ·Allow your forearms to be parallel to the floor without raising your elbows ·Allow your wrists to be in line with your forearms so your wrists does not need to be flexed up or down ·Include enough space to rest your wrists or should include a padded detachable wrist rest (or you can use a separate gel wrist rest which should be at least 50

ICT ESSENCE

S

with

Bello Abdul’Azeez +234 805 113 0075 abdulazeez@ictessence.com www.ictessence.com

Working healthy with computer (2) mm deep) ·Be placed directly in front of the monitor and at the same height as the mouse Chairs should: ·Support the back - and have a vertically adjustable independent back rest that returns to its original position and has tilt

equipment and space for documents ·Be at least 900 mm deep ·Have rounded corners and edges ·Avoiding Eyestrain Precautions that can be taken to avoid eyestrain include: Adjusting the screen

adjustment to support the lower back ·Allow chair height to be adjusted from a sitting position ·Be adjusted so the back crease of the knee is slightly higher than the pan of the chair (use a suitable footrest where necessary) ·Have removable and adjustable armrests ·Have a contoured seat with breathable fabric and rounded edges to distribute the weight and should be adjustable to allow the seat pan to tilt forward or back Tables and desks should: · Provide sufficient leg room and preferably be height adjustable ·Have enough room to support the computer

height /seating so that when sitting comfortably your eyes are in line with the top of the monitor screen Adjusting the brightness control on your monitor for comfort Adjusting the contrast on your monitor to make the characters distinct from the background Positioning monitors to avoid glare (e.g. not directly in front of windows) Keeping your monitor, the screen clean Regular eye testing do this at least once every 2 years and more frequently if necessary - especially if you are experiencing eye problems related to using display equipment.

Summary Computers are an essential tool in the work of most organisations.

Although problems can occur through their use, with the proper equipment, ergonomic workstation design, proper techniques and working practices, the risk of problems can be greatly reduced.

“

Positioning monitors to avoid glare (e.g. not directly in front of windows) Keeping your monitor, the screen clean.

The Pythagorean Theorem

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

F Loosely fit in Lapaya Compiled by Jamila Nuhu Musa

M

any fabrics, colour combinations and design patterns have made the wraparound world irresistible not only for tech savvy Indian women but also for women in other countries. Many styles ranging from cotton, georgette, raw silk, cotton silk, crepe, chiffon and blended crepe make the traditional attire more and more tempting. The wrap-around style is like the Lapaya style, worn by women in northern Nigeria and Sudan. It copies similar designs and colour combinations of the Indian Saree.

They can be used for casual, formal or party wear. Designer wrap-around styles are the most expensive and quite attractive. Even Oprah Winfrey looks pretty in her own style at a dinner organised in her honour by the Bachchans in India, while Naomi Campbell looks like an Indian lady too, in her own style.

Naomi Campbell

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 33

Business

Development of small scale industries is panacea to employment and poverty

Nigeria loses N1.87 tn to oil thieves – Minister

By Augustine Aminu with agency report

T

he Minister of P e t r o l e u m Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke has said that the Federal Government had lost more than $12 billion (N1.87 trillion) to pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the last one year. This was declared on Friday at a stakeholders meeting on the rising security in the sector

in Lagos.

She explained that $5 billion was spent in the last one year on pipeline repairs, while the amount lost to crude theft was valued at $7 billion.

The minister, who decried the menace of oil theft, said that the meeting was convened in order to strengthen partnership with leadership of security agencies in curbing the problem. ``In the last six months

the level of oil theft in the country is become alarming and has necessitated the need for this round table with all stakeholders. ``It will be very productive if we open up discussion to provide solution on the situation we have found ourselves,'' she said.

Alison-Madueke said that the meeting would evolve a short, medium and long term solutions to tackle the issue as oil theft was

taking its toll on the economy of the nation.

She thanked the service chiefs for the support and expressed optimism that the problem would finally be addressed with their support.

The minister stressed the need for urgent replacement of old pipelines and rehabilitate the infrastructure in the sector.

She said that government was exploring alternative sources of funding to fast track infrastructure development and ensure asset integrity in the sector.

Shell assures FG of improved gas supply

T

he Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Ughelli, Delta on Thursday said that it would take adequate steps to improve gas supply to the integrated power plants in the country.

Mr Mutiu Sumonu, the Managing Director of Shell made this known at the Utorogu gas plant when the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AllisonMadueke, visited the plant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that

the minister was on a facility tour of the Utorogu plant managed by the company.

Sumonu said that it was already keying into the Federal Government's 12 months gas emergency plan meant to boost power generation in the country. ``We at Shell are committed to realising government's gas emergency plan so as to boost gas supply in the country,'' he said.

He said that the current

average production of the plant stood at 250 million metric standard cubic feet.

According to him, a new plant will soon be completed as part of its expansion plan.

He, however, said that some of the challenges facing the company to include illegal bunkering, unrest from host communities and ageing equipment...

Sumonu restated the commitment of SPDC to its corporate responsibilities

to host communities.

Earlier, AllisonMadueke expressed the Federal Government's commitment to improve gas supply and to ensure power stability.

The minister charged multinational companies and stakeholders in the sector to join hands with the government in order to realise the gas to power mission.

The Utorogu plant was commissioned in 1989 with a cluster of 11 wells.

UBA shareholders bemoan CBN on N81bln CRR

S

ome shareholders of UBA yesterday said the non-payment of interests on the bank's N81 billion cash reserve at the CBN was affecting the bank's operations.

The N81 billion of the bank is being kept at the CBN to meet the Cash Reserve Requirement, one of the monetary policy tools of the apex bank.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this observation was made by some shareholders who spoke at the bank's annual general meeting in Lagos.

Mr Sunny Nwosu, the National Coordinator of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), said that the CBN must commence payment of interest on the CRR. He said that the bank would have made profit from the N81 billion at the apex bank's custody, if it was using the money for business.

Nwosu advised the UBA management to source for additional funds from the capital market in the next two years.

Mr Phillips Oduoza, Group Managing Director of

the bank, explained that the CRR was part of regulatory tools of the apex bank.

According to him, the CRR is affecting all commercial banks operating in Nigeria, but the bank would raise fresh funds from the capital market.

He said that the bank was on the path of growth, adding that shareholders would get enhanced dividend in the current financial year.

The managing director said that the bank had diversified its revenue base by covering the major markets in Sub-Sahara Africa and was present in 18 African countries.

He said that the bank was targeting 25 per cent revenue contribution from its subsidiaries in SubSahara Africa.

NANreports that the bank recorded gross earnings of N185 billion in its operations in the last financial year ended Dec. 31, 2011 against N178 billion posted in 2010.

It, however, posted net loss of N10.5 billion in 2011 due to write-off of some non-performing loans

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Business News Diamond Bank grows income, profit in Q1

Asia to boost Nigerian crude imports for June to 11-month high

A

D

iamond Bank Plc has reported close to 50 per cent jump in its first quarter earning this year, compared to the same period last year.

In its unaudited account for the quarter made available to the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Thursday, the bank reported a gross earnings of N30.7 billion, as against N21 billion last year.

The bank’s profit before tax was N7.8 billion, more than three times the N2.16 billion recorded for last year’s first quarter. In 2011, Diamond ended up in the red, grossing a PBT of N9.6 billion.

Similarly the bank’s PAT shot up to N5.1 billion, in contrast to the N874 million loss declared last year, same period and the year’s total loss of N6.54 billion.

By mid-day trading in Lagos today, the result has not generated much enthusiasm as the bank’s stock only appreciated by 2 kobo, to sell at N2.90.

FIRS boss: StandNigeria lauds FG

By Augustine Aminu

A

nongovernmental organization, StandNigeria Initiative has commended President Goodluck Jonathan over the appointment of Alhaji Kabir Mashi as the Acting Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) In a press statement released by its Executive Director, Mr. Dike James Chigbue in Abuja the organization stated that the appointment is meritorious and by all means worthy It said checking by the pedigree and outstanding achievements of Alhaji Kabir Mashi in the tax reforms in Nigeria prior to this appointment, the new FIRS boss deserves his new appointment He further stated that 'he has no doubt in the capability, depth and capacity of Alhaji Mashi to contribute to the transformation agenda of the present administration.

Alhaji Kabir Mashi

Bauchi State Commissioner of finance, Mahmoud Maijamaa, Commissioner of Finance, Borno state, Yunus Mairami and their Kano state counterpart, Abdullahi Gaya, during the Federal Accont Allocation Committee (FAAC), meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Kwara merges Ministry of finance, 19 other business arms From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he Kwara state government has merged 20 business and economy like parastals together under the roof of Kwara Holding along Ministry of Finance for proper supervision among other reasons.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Kamaldeen Ajibade who confirmed this development on Thursday while briefing journalists after the State Executive meeting disclosed that all the organization owing by the state government would be fully part of the

arrangement while those with certain percentage of shares would be manage by the new body.

Ajibade noted that only Shonga farm , Kwara Paper Converter and Kwara Ethnix and Furniture were not fully owed by the government stressing that the state have 25 percent shares in Shonga farm while its has 30 percent shares in Kwara Converter Paper, located at Erin-Ile, in Oyun local government of the state.

Other firms and organization that would now merge under the name include, Kwara Aviation College, Kwara Football Academy College, Harmony Holdings, Kwara Tourism

Limited, Kwara Diagnostic Centre, Kwara Shoprite Mall, Kwara Housing and Properties Limited, Satellite Motel, Patigi Regatta, among other.

He disclosed that N1 billion was the total capital that cover the entire companies which he said multiplied from the initial capital of N50 million.

The Attorney General said that he could not sum up the total amount the companies’worth but rather want to give legal implication of the merger stressing that it would save wastage.

He said the council has directed the Governor to forward a memo to the Kwara State House of Assembly for proper approval.

Power supply gets boost as gas pipeline nears completion

F

rom the last week of this month (May) many companies and industrial complexes which have for long been suffering acute power shortages may begintogetsomereliefwhichwillfacilitate improved productivity and efficiency in their operations.

Thisisbecausethegassupplypipeline to a 700 megawatts power plant at Olorunsogo in Ogun state is expected to be commissioned on May 29.

TheIn-countrymanagingdirectorof the Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), Dayo Olowoniyi and managing director of PowerTechnology, Goddy Duru shared this sentiment while acknowledging the value-addition the pipeline will bring to power supply in the axis.

Beforethenhowever,therecouldstill be several dramatic turns in one of the biggest pipeline projects to supply gas from Itoikin in Lagos sate to the said 700 megawatts power plants at Olorunsogo.

There are concerns about transmission capacity to evacuate power fromtheplants,anissuethathasleftmany ofsuchpowerplantsscatteredaroundthe country still lying idle, months after their

completion.

But David Ige, group executive director, gas and power at the Nigerian NationalPetroleumCorporation(NNPC) confirmed the completion date to Business Day. “By the end of June, we would have met all the gas requirement of the power sector”, he said.

Analysts say the will to meet the project deadline, signposts a new determination to see improvements in the electricity sector that will enhance companies and small scale businesses ability to operate maximally, efficiently and create jobs.

As at Monday this week, power generation level had dropped to about 2,903 megawatts, from 3,500MW reached in February this year.

On completion, the project will push the volume of gas supplied to plants to about 240 million standard cubic feet of gas from less than 100 million standard cubic feet.

The gas supply would be reinforced with the progress so far made with the maintenance work going on at the Utorogu and Ughelli gas stations which

are expected to have their capacities doubled by the end of the maintenance work being carried out on them. An additional100millionstandardcubicfeet ofgasisexpectedfromUtoroguandOben gas power plants.

Ige said the completion of the project wouldleadtobigimprovementsinpower generationwithinfourweeks.Hebelieves that by the end of June, all the gas requirements of the power sector would have been met.

He said that by 2015 the oil and gas industry should have generated enough gas to meet the needs of the power sector.

The capacity should have been tripled in the country by this period, he said.

The Olorunsogo project completion is coming at about the time that the Escravos -Lagos pipeline is undergoing major expansion. This is on the western axis.Andontheeasternside,itcomprises the Ajaokuta – Calabar pipeline and QIT ExxonMobil.

“Thisistypeofinfrastructurethatthe country needs to put in place to deliver the type of gas expansion the country needs to improve electricity delivery,” Ige told Business Day.

sian refiners will boost their daily imports of Nigerian crude in June to the highest level in at least 11 months, a survey of seven traders and an analysis of loading programs obtained by Bloomberg News showed.

They bought 16 cargoes of Nigerian grades, including eight benchmark Qua Iboe blend, the survey showed. This works out at 513,333 barrels a day, the most since August 2011 when Bloomberg started compiling the data.

Exports to the region totaled 57 cargoes of crude for loading in June from Angola, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Ghana, two less than May, according to the survey. It amounts to 1.8 million barrels a day, the lowest in six months, compared with 1.81 million this month.

Refiners in Asia can buy Middle Eastern crude or Atlantic Basin grades, and their choice normally depends on the value of the lighter, sweet blends from the North Sea and West Africa versus heavier, sour grades from Saudi Arabia and Iran. Lighter crude yields more lucrative products such as diesel and gasoline. Sweet oil contains less sulfur than sour.

Unlike China, which mostly buys Angolan crude, other Asian buyers, such as Indian refineries, are flexible, and their choices normally depend on the price of individual grades. Most Nigerian blends are lighter than Angola, and normally trade at higher prices.

Nigerian grades “appeared to be better value than Angolan crude due to shifts in price differentials,” James Zhang, a London-based analyst at Standard Bank Plc, said.

Nigerian benchmark Qua Iboe fell to an 18-month low of $1.35 a barrel to Dated Brent on April 30, while Angolan Cabinda was trading at an average of $1.51 a barrel more than Dated Brent in April, close to its record high of $1.62 a barrel on March 30, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

As a result, the spread between Cabinda and Qua Iboe jumped to a record 13-cent premium on April 25, compared with an average of $3.30-discount last year, the Bloomberg data showed.

The U.S., the largest buyer of Nigerian crude, has cut its purchases since September. Its imports from Africa’s largest producer fell to 352,000 barrels a day in February, the least in more than five years, compared with 948,000 a year earlier, according to the data from the Department of Energy.

Nigeria will export 2.27 million barrels a day of crude next month while Angola will ship 1.66 million barrels, Bloomberg calculations based on loading programs showed.

(Source: Bloomberg)

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 35

Business Nigerian Stock Market slides by -1.07% in the week as profiteering continues This week at the Exchange

U

nprofitable transaction dominated trading activities on the Nigerian bourse in most trading days of the week as profits taking keep on to permeate across the main board to further extend market loss to the second week in a row while the CBN Monetary Policy Committee is scheduled to hold from Monday 21st May 2012 as financial analyst expect a reduction in the key benchmark rate.

Furthermore, the bears resurfaced on the Nigerian bourse to open the first trading day of week negative as profit taking dragged market indicator back by -0.31% to the negative territory while market slid further in the second session to close red by 0.58% due to intense selling activities witnessed across the main Market retracted in the third session to close positive after two sessions of negative outlook with

NSE Index recording +0.46% gain while profit taking resumes in the fourth session as key market indicators closed marginally in the negative territory by -0.03%.

Conversely, trading activities on Friday closed southwards as sentiments remained negative.

Consequently, the key benchmark indices dips by -0.61% while market closed the week with aggregate loss of -1.07%.

Further analysis on acquiring banks since transaction date showed that the share price of Access Bank Plc has recorded

38.38% gain, followed by FCMB with 15.90% gain while Union Bank Plc leads the chart with 95.69% gain. However, Sterling Bank recorded -0.79% gain while ETI closed negative with -5.06% loss recorded. See the tracking table below However, the All-Share Index in the week under review moved down by -1.07% to close at 22,381.11 as against a decline by -0.19% recorded last week to close at 22,622.44.

In the same vein, the market capitalization in the week depreciated by N76.96 billion (US$513.08 million) to close at N7.13 trillion (US$47.56 billion) as against depreciation by N13.88 billion (US$92.59 million) recorded last week to close at N7.21 trillion (US$ 48.08billion).

The total volume traded in the week closed at 1.84 billion units valued at N13.86billion

(US$92.38 million) compared with 2.24 billion units valued at N19.35 billion (US$129.01 million) exchanged in 23,053 deals last week. The volume transaction in the week when compared with the previous week data moved down by -17.63% as against downwards movement by -8.41% recorded last week.

Weekly value also went down by -28.39% as against negative position of -6.66% recorded last week.

The volume traded in the top ten most traded stocks for the week represented 76.57% of the entire market volume transactions and their total value accounted for 69.94% of the market value.

Financial Services sector emerged the most traded sector in the week in terms of volume.

The volume traded in the sector this week alone closed at 1.11 billion units, valued at

N8.86billion and exchanged in 11,484 deals compared with 1.90 billion units, valued at N16.05billion and exchanged in 14,592 deals in the preceding week. The volume traded in the sector accounted for 60.27% of the entire market compared with 85.02% of the ratio recorded last week.

IHS Plc led the market volume for the week to displace UBA Plc as top traded stock on the transaction volume chart last week.

The sector’s volume transaction was mainly boosted by trading in the shares of the companies in the top-ten category.

ICT sector followed with 358.11 million units valued at N818.17 million and exchanged in 42 deals compared with 3.45 million units, valued at N7.06 billion and exchanged in 51 recorded in the sector last week.

Busines Analysis

Working in Africa: Backing businesses to deliver change

R

od Evison is home in the UK, fresh off a flight from Accra, Ghana’s capital, where he has been attending a conference held by the African Venture Capital Association, an annual event started in 2003 and now attracting more than 300 delegates from 30 countries.

As managing director for Africa at CDC Group, the UK governmentowned development finance institution, he is responsible for CDC’s fund investments across Africa and Latin America.

“The two-day conference was well attended and vibrant – a wide range of people from all over Africa were there, as were interested investors, and those who have invested before in Africa,” he says.

Africa as a whole makes up 45 per cent of CDC’s investment portfolio and includes 67 funds, of which 37 were first-time fund managers when CDC backed them.

“We have been in Africa for a long time, but in the last few years our portfolio has grown in size and the number of companies that make it up has jumped,” says Mr Evison.

CDC’s African portfolio today includes investments in 438 businesses in sub-Saharan Africa with a total value of $1bn, and 108 of these are in the financial sector, with a value of $300m.

“Now we include direct equity investment as well as debt and guarantee products so we can sharpen the focus of our portfolio in the poorest regions and those areas where private equity finds it difficult because of the need for businesses of scale and top quality management,” he says.

Relaying the conference atmosphere, he says “those investors who have been operating in Africa for many years say you can get good financial returns as well as growth opportunities but there is an ‘execution challenge’ – infrastructure remains weak and human capital needs to be bolstered”.

Because there is a sense that “things can come at you” very fast, there is a need for”resilience in the business model” as well as “nimble and experienced management”.

Today, CDC is seeking to connect growing businesses in Africa with talented managers in developed countries, including those who are part of the diaspora, using its network and an informal approach.

Mr Evison has 20 years of experience with CDC, and has made many trips to the African continent during that time. The Cambridgeeducated economist says: “My personal philosophy is that development is not about trying to

change the world overnight, but about making things happen faster than they otherwise would do.”

Looking at opportunities in Africa for expatriates generally, Mr Evison points out that whether it is the financial sector or mining and oil and gas, companies operating in a global market “adopt a remuneration framework that works for them globally”.

In agribusiness, which has not had the same sort of commercial approach seen in other parts of the world – in south-east Asia for example – he says he has seen opportunities in countries such as Zambia and Tanzania that seek to take advantage of rising commodity prices.

Ethiopia, he says “has been very ‘statist’ in the past – but it is now beginning to recognise the contribution the private sector can make to the economy, and is making it more private-sector friendly”.

While there is much business focus on the “middle class opportunity” in Africa –around the market for consumer goods – he points out that there is a real opportunity among poor people as well, citing the mobile phone as proof.

“There is a fantastic need in Africa and the key is to turn that need into an opportunity– which is what great managers can do. There is

growth in demand at the bottom as well as in the middle for those companies able to spot that demand,” he says.

Mr Evison gives two examples of CDC-backed successes in the mobile phone market: Celtel, the telecommunications company founded by Sudanese-born entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim, backed by Actis, then part of CDC; and MTN, a South Africa-based mobile telecommunications company, which saw an opportunity to expand in Nigeria and now has almost 40m subscribers in a country which has about 80m mobile phones. “When they get broadband, it will be through their mobile phones, not landlines,” he adds.

Mr Evison’s career before CDC included stints at Lloyds Bank, Bank of America and IFC – the International Finance Corporation, which is a member of the World Bank Group and helps the private sector bring better infrastructure to the developing world.

CDC recently advertised in the Financial Times for “PE, Debt and Fund Investment Professionals” for London-based investing in subSaharan Africa, but Mr Evison says: “We have many more people working for us through the portfolio companies and can see both the challenges and the virtues of working

in the continent.”The businesses supported by CDC Capital provide 177,000 jobs.

Last month, CDC announced a $50m investment in 8 Miles LLP, a pan-African fund that will take equity stakes in promising businesses in a range of sectors. The fund is broadly “sector agnostic” but it has identified a wide range of target sectors.

These include agribusiness, financial services, consumer goods, energy and infrastructure, TMT and logistics and transport. In the last sector alone, the World Bank has estimated the African continent needs to spend $9.5bn between 2005 and 2015 Bob Geldof, the pop singer-turned campaigner and Kofi Annan, former UN secretary general, are backers and the name 8 Miles is inspired by the fact that Africa is just eight miles from the southern tip of Europe.

At the fund’s launch, Mr Geldof said: “Africa is now a continent of extraordinary business and investment opportunity. Private equity is one way to support the enterprise and dynamism of the people of the continent and help provide the jobs and skills that are needed. I’m happy that 8 Miles helps signal that Africa is seriously open for business.”

(Source:Business Week

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

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

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CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE EDITOR, DAILY AHMED I. SHEKARAU

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Salami: Jonathanwealth and the challenge Re: Sovereign fund of NJC’s recommendation

By Abdulmalik Umaru

A

s a fledgling democracy, Nigeria is currently undergoing phases of development challenges one of which is the need to institutionalize respect for the principle of rule of law. It is in this light that diverse actors and key stakeholders in the different fields of human endeavors have consistently advanced ways of transforming Nigeria’s judiciary to assume her real independent status.

Those who love the nation’s judiciary are also of the opinion that no person, no matter how so well connected or influential, should be allowed to destroy the integrity and independence of the judiciary because of the need to preserve the pride of place reserved for the judiciary as the Temple of Justice.

But in the last one year or so, two key players in the nation’s judiciary have been in the news for the very bad reasons which were not unconnected with damaging allegations raised by one of them against the other. Just before his retirement, the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina-Alu, one of the most reticent and media shy judicial officers, was accused, in a very public manner, by the then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, of sundry allegations of financial malpractices and an attempt to thwart the course of justice.

Salami, who was suspended as a result of that public spat with Katsina-Alu had alleged that he (Katsina-Alu) directed him to undermine the hearing of a pending matter in the Court of Appeal sitting as Appellate election Tribunal over a litigation instituted against the governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Magawakarda Wamako by the Democratic Peoples’ Party governorship candidate in the 2011 election, Alhaji Dingyadi.

Salami is also at the center of a series of very damaging allegations that he used his alleged personal friendship with the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bola Tinubu, to unseat two of the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors in Ekiti and Osun states by influencing the appointment of his foot soldiers in the Court of Appeal to sit over those cases instituted by the ACN governorship candidates in Ekiti and Osun who were eventually granted judicial victory.

The allegations of official indiscretion

WRITE TO US Peoples Daily Weekend welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: The Editor, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja.

Email: letters@peoplesdaily-online.com and breach of trust which have resulted in multiple subsisting court cases against Salami are yet to be determined when information filtered in the media that the National Judicial Council (NJC) which hitherto suspended him had decided through a vote (10 for and eight against) to reinstate him.

Before canvassing the merits or otherwise of President Jonathan’s decision to act on the recommendation to recall Salami, a little historical account of the entire scenario is still necessary just as the wider implications of recalling Salami would be logically advanced subsequently.

Prior to August 18, 2011 when the NJC announced the indefinite suspension from the position of the President of the Court of Appeal, Salami failed and/or refused to comply with a lawful order of the constitutionally empowered disciplinary institution of the Judiciary to apologize to the then Chief Justice of Nigeria ( Katsina-Alu) for making the damaging allegation that was widely publicized.

Salami was also accused of disrespecting the NJC when he refused to accept an

“

It is the considered opinion of a lot of thinkers that President Jonathan should not make haste in error by acting on the recommendation of the NJC since he is aware of several pending suits in the competent courts of law by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Segun Oni against Salami’s reinstatement

appointment to join the bench at the nation’s Supreme Court and he did not just write a rejection letter but publicly repudiated the appointment as a political game plan to ease him out of the office of the President of the Court of Appeal so as to enable the cases against the PDP to get unfavorable hearing and thereby favor the ruling party at the center.

With the decision to recall Salami, critics are of the considered opinion that the NJC has set a dangerous and damaging precedence for other judicial officers to so disobey and flout her constitutional directive and still remain in their offices. Critics also say that the recall of Salami without allowing pending cases against his recall to be expeditiously determined could inevitably undermine not just the independence of the nation’s judiciary but will rubbish Nigerians’ collective determination to operate in strict compliance with the principle of rule of law.

It is clear that any hasty decision to recall Justice Salami without allowing the courts to decide the pending suits will compromise the principle of rule of law. It is on record that it was at the point that Salami learnt from the grapevine of his impending elevation by the NJC that he proceeded to court to forestall the lawful execution of the constitutional mandate of the Council. The action of Salami in turning down his elevation to the Supreme Court could be likened to the atrocious rejection by a reserve striker in a football match to turn down the instruction of his coach to be deployed as a substitute.

The basic question that follows consequently in the light of the emerging development around his recall and reinstatement is why the same NJC has embarked on this current suicidal mission to completely erode its constitutional power and undermine the independence of the Judiciary. Must the President of the Federal Republic who swore by the constitution be drawn into the trap of taking a hasty decision that will impede the adherence to the rule of

law?

It is the considered opinion of a lot of thinkers that President Jonathan should not make haste in error by acting on the recommendation of the NJC since he is aware of several pending suits in the competent courts of law by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Segun Oni against Salami’s reinstatement.

Importantly, since the office of the Federal Attorney General and that of President of the Federal Republic are joined as respondents in these suits, it will be illegal for President Jonathan to take any executive action that would foist a fait accompli and jeopardize the determination of or the res of the matters in courts.

Some analysts with considerable knowledge about propaganda have argued that political elite belonging to the ACN with overwhelming media presence were the actors behind the sudden recommendation by the NJC on Salami.

Those who hold the above view say the pro-Salami political elite behind the new decision made extensive manipulation of the third normative face of power debate by using the media of mass communication to put undue pressure on the NJC which has now snowballed into the fractious decision to recommend his recall.

According to findings from recorded thoughts of some of the finest scholars of contemporary times, this third dimension is inspired by many neo-Gramscian views such as cultural hegemony and deals with how civil society and the general public have their preferences shaped for them by those in power through the use of propaganda or the media. Ultimately, this third dimension holds that the general public may not be aware of what decisions are actually in their interest due to the invisible power of elites who work to distort their perceptions.

The best way out of this troubling development is for President Jonathan to suspend his decision for a while so as to allow the judiciary to complete the hearing of the subsisting court cases challenging Salami’s recall.

The hierarchy of the nation’s court system should work out modality whereby these pending cases are harmonized and streamlined and speedily determined so that all parties to the disputes will not have a sense of victimhood. Let the action of the President not be construed or constructed as impeding the independent determination of the matters against Salami in the competent courts of law.

• Abdulmalik Umaru, a public policy analyst, writes from Lagos.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 37

Opinion Philanthropy: The impact of A.D. Rufa’i foundation on humanity

By Sanusi Muhammad

I

n 2007, for the concern to the plight of the downtrodden, the needy and the deprived, Hajia Mariya Isa Yuguda, established a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to provide succor to those in need as well as to immortalize a great philanthropist, a business mogul, a politician of substance and a public servant of repute who used his wealth judiciously in the service of humanity, Senator Ahmed Rufa’i (Magajin Garin Misau) lived an exemplary life and died serving humanity in 1994.

He was born in 1919 in Misau town of Bauchi state and distinguished himself through thick and thin as a community leader, a liberal religious scholar, an industrialist and a philanthropist of repute.

In his public service career, he was a parliamentary secretary to the premier of the defunct Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello Rabah, was a member of Northern House of Assembly, Chairman Nigeria Ports Authority, pioneer Bauchi state chairman of National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and a second republic distinguished senator.

It therefore became imperative to immortalize such a great personality whose record of service serves as a reference point to making the world a better place for all.

As the foundation was founded by great minds, it aims at promoting the ideals of care, support and unquantifiable service to the less privileged and the vulnerable of the society irrespective of any imaginary difference, focusing its attention to making the society free from the ravaging effects of critical diseases the By: Philip Agbese

W

ater if not the most basic necessity it is nearly the most essential commodity that supports life irrespective of age, sex or class. The case in Benue State reminds me of the popular primary school riddles that says, “I am an object standing inside an ocean but still thirsty and the other pupils will reply yes, you are Mr. Tongue”. This perfectly suits the situation confronting the largest population of Benue people as a state that is naturally blessed with the ever flowing River Benue but without good water for the citizenry.

To say the people were still thirsty in the midst of this large water body is the least going by the large investment running into billons of naira that government has put into the business of portable water. In one of my earlier article I begged to address Rt. Hon Gabriel Suswam as ‘Osinminyi’ which in my local dialect means an endless ocean knowing well that no one can ever take his new name, Mr. Infrastructure away from him because of his working approach to provide portable drinking water to all in Benue State irrespective of geographical location or political affiliation. Wherever you are water must locate you.

Provision of good water is a life saving approach which the World Bank has identified as a top priority of any government that should be encapsulated in its development agenda.

In fact it is the topmost priority of the Millennium Development Goals which is an international convention to rescue Africa and other nations salvaged with the scourge of water borne diseases, an integral part of the global challenge of vision 2020 by the Federal Government of Nigeria and a pet project of the

likes of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis and the threats of poverty, squalor and malnutrition.

In tandem with the ideals of the late philanthropist, the foundation has over the years created an enabling environment for the control and prevention of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, thereby enhancing the various capacities of respective governments and non-governmental organizations whose mandate is to provide succor to infected/affected persons by the ravaging effects of the three killer diseases and to facilitate the development of national policies and plans geared to the promotion and prevention of the identified focal points as well as foster partnership between government agencies and civil society organizations with a view to reducing the effects of those diseases.

Apart from those focal points, the foundation has over the years waged a war against stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS and provides accessibility to qualitative health care service to those already affected with the pandemic as well as strengthening institutional capacity in the general fight against the three killer diseases.

It also promotes voluntary counseling and testing for the cure and prevention of motherchild transmission of HIV/AIDS and provides free legal aid to persons discriminated against being HIV/AIDS positive and tuberculosis and also provides necessary support to orphans and vulnerable children as well as promoting capacity building to women in reproductive health and educates the rural populace on the necessity of common hygiene and accessibility to healthcare service.

An in-depth perusal into the achievements so far recorded by the foundation shows donation of relief materials of over N15million to victims of flood disasters in Misau, Toro and other local government areas across Bauchi state as it provided N3 million relief materials to victims of various fire disasters and rainstorm in the state as well as periodic supply of food supplements and other necessities to improve the living condition of PLW. ADRF has also distributed over 5,000 mosquito treated nets, blankets, detergents, baby lotion, powder and food items to women and children in distress situation across Bauchi state as it supplied free anti-malaria drugs and delivery kits to the 13 general hospitals in the state and Karshi community in the Federal Capital Territory to pregnant women accessing anti-natal service, In his remarks at the distribution of relief materials in Misau local government area, Maidalan Misau, Barrister Ahmad Ibrahim Dandija said, “It is on record in the history of lending support to humanity, ADRF has justified its establishment and has provided succor to the rich, the poor. It has provided life support to all irrespective of any inclination, be it political, religious or otherwise. It has provided nutritious feeds even to animals and birds during the Avian influenza out break as it provided to humans. We are all proud to be associated with the foundation”.

Supporting the statement, Moukhtar Abdu Magas, a director-general to Governor Yuguda on public enlightenment said, “Apart from waging a war against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, the NGO has been in the fore front for sponsorship of various conferences, seminars

and workshops as it sponsored 12 participants to Sokoto State for community training of facilitators capacity enhancement training and supported two stakeholders to an international conference on AIDS in Mexico in 2008 and has been providing succor to inmates in various prisons as well as payment of fines with the hope of reabsorbing them as repented citizens into the larger society”.

The profile of ADRF president, Maria Isa Yuguda, may be anchored on absolute determination and self discipline from a humble home. People said, “the lady is mechanically driven, whilst others said, Maria will never compromise anything including time, once she makes up her mind. She will remain religiously committed, at the detriment of any other thing, including her personal pleasures and leisure”.

By and large, she is a systematic personality that believes in function and efficiency. She hardly embraces any venture that is technically unfruitful to humanity. She holds the notion that life is in phases and humans are in sizes. She often says, “Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well”. Her convictions completely changed her focus in life. It avails her, the motivation to initiate change, engender progress and produce results in any assignment she undertakes. Anything contrary, is not in her attitude either to accept or to censor.

Dramatically, she humbly declines worthless, needless and kangaroo projects and only goes for quality and necessity, unmindful of cost of implication once is in the interest of humanity.

Muhammad was the Editor of a Bauchi based weekly Newspaper, The Trumpeter/Kakaki

Suswam’s action plan on water supply Suswam led administration as well enumerated in his developmental blueprint, ‘Our Benue, Our Future’.

Greater Makurdi Water Works with a pumping capacity of 100,000 cubic meters can serve the entire water need of the state without any support from other sources.

However, the government reasoned otherwise considering its large size, population and long term negative effects on the machines which necessitated the construction of the New Katsina-Ala and New Otobi Water Projects strategically situated one each in every senatorial district of the state. This rare quality of planning exhibited by the Suswam’s administration is a display of his love to build the state on a solid foundation where successive administrations can channel their energies into other beneficial areas and not the repetition of projects that his administration was made to suffer.

A good observation of the locations will reveal to us that New Katsina-Ala and New Otobi Water Projects with lesser capacities have more beneficial effects on the rural dwellers. This endangered species of people at the grassroots with little or no education in the past have had cause to blame all water borne diseases affecting them as a punishment by the gods. Sometimes communities go to war because of streams they depend upon during dry seasons resulting to deaths of many innocent persons. Rt. Hon Gabriel Suswam as a messiah has finally come to put an end to this gory tales in the spirit of a new modern Benue State where love will reign amongst his people as Fela Anikulapo rightly put it in

his music, water, it no get enemy!

It will be a great disservice if I fail to mention Otukpa and Anyiin Water Schemes where contracts have been awarded for the construction of water supply schemes, two earth dams located at Wanune and Adun East in Tarka and Obi Local Government Areas respectively nearly completion and feasibility studies have been carried out for more dams at Akpagher, Otukpa, Zaki-Biam, Agatu, Otukpo-Icho and Adoka. Let me use this medium to draw Suswam’s attention to ApaAgila though the people are still happy that their road is gradually wearing a new look under his administration.

Many Chief Executive Officers of states do their best to run away from venturing into a capital intensive project like water for obvious reasons. It goes beyond connecting River Benue with the plant to pump water continuously without a stop. One must be sure of electricity which the government has rightly achieved by improving on the supply of electricity across the state and procurement of standby generators at Makurdi, KatsinaAla and Otukpo in order to ensure that there is clean water at all times.

Economically, those in the water production industry will not have to spend huge amount of money digging boreholes and treatment plants any more. With just a tanker load of water, the pure water people are sure of large production that will bring large sum of money in return. This on the other hand is capable of producing all shades of job for those on the streets and believes in water as a profitable venture.

There are certain things one cannot separate from Gov Suswam and his aides which is the passion and zealosuness which everybody attaches to his/her area of administrative purview. The achievements of Osinminyi in the provision of water as a basic necessity of life cannot be made possible without the day to day close supervision of the Honourable Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. John Ngbede. This gentleman is seen on daily basis going round project sites in his ministry to ensure that every penny spent by government is fully utilized in the best interest of tax-payers.

Every staff of the Ministry of Water Resources in Benue State deserves the people’s applause for defiling the civil service culturebottlenecks, corruption and frustration of policies. They must be celebrated to high heavens and deserve to receive with Rt. Hon Gabriel Suswam any award or commendations that would come to the state as a reward for this rare feat in governance.

The government has gone a step further to guarantee the security and maintenance of this huge investment through the implementation of the Water Supply and Sanitation Policy document. This document helps to pave way for a more strategic planning, implementation and execution of water supply, sanitation activities/ programmes in addition to enhancing service delivery and periodic servicing of machines.

Article contributed by Comrade Philip Agbese, President-General, Benue Youths in Diaspora Association from Ajegunle, Lagos.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

International DR Congo troops shell rebel bases

T

he Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s military has been shelling positions it believes are held by rebels who have been fighting the army for weeks in the country's east.

The rebels are fighters who were integrated into the national army under a 2009 peace deal, but who later defected, complaining of poor conditions.

The fighting since late April has driven tens of thousands of people to flee to neighbouring countries, including Uganda.

Security sources say the government troops are advancing, isolating the mutineers - now understood to number about 300 fighters hiding in forested hill country - yet residents are suffering, and fear there is worse to come.

In an exclusive report, Al Jazeera's Malcolm Webb visits Bunagana, a strategically important town in the east of the DRC, key to controlling border crossings into Uganda.

The military has been fighting the mutineers since late April, first in Masisi territory, northwest of the provincial capital of Goma, and later in Rutshuru, where the dissidents fled and regrouped.

The mutineers, who began defecting in early April, have formed a new military group called the March 23 Movement (M23), comprising of former members of the rebel National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP).

Former CNDP commander Bosco Ntaganda is accused of leading the mutiny.

Ntaganda, known as "The Terminator", is wanted by the International Criminal Court on a war crimes charge of enlisting child soldiers.

South Sudan calls for UN sanctions on Khartoum T

he United Nations should impose sanctions on Sudan for failing to obey a Security Council resolution calling for an end to hostilities and renewed negotiations with South Sudan over oil and border disputes, South Sudan's negotiator said yesterday.

Pagan Amum told Reuters Khartoum had not complied with the May 2 resolution giving neighbours Sudan and South Sudan, under threat of sanctions,

T

General of South Sudan's ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), said in an interview in the South Sudanese capital Juba.

He urged the U.N. Security Council to "impose sanctions now and take measures against Khartoum".

A spokesman for Sudan's Foreign Ministry said Amum's remarks were "unfortunate" and accused the south of violating the Security Council resolution by continuing its

"aggression" in Sudan's territory.

While insisting the South wanted to live in peace with Sudan, Amum criticised both the United Nations and the African Union for failing to deal firmly with Sudan, which he said routinely defied the international community.

"If the U.N. fails to take action, they will be judged by humanity and the people of South Sudan will lose trust and confidence in them," the South Sudanese negotiator said.

Tunisia-uprising injured sew lips in protest

A

ngry and frustrated at being ignored, some of the injured victims of Tunisia's Arab Spring uprising have taken drastic steps to highlight their plight by having their lips sewn shut.

Calling themselves 'The Injured of the Tunisian Revolution', they have been protesting for more than one year at a lack of health care.

For the last month they have manned a protest camp in front of country's parliament building.

But the victims say authorities are still ignoring them and therefore staged their symbolic and painful demonstration on Thursday.

"We've decided to sew our mouths because we screamed and nobody listened to us," Mohamed Snoussi said. "All the commissions and administrations we've visited just postponed our cases."

Hamza Missaoui expressed the frustrations of the demonstrators, some of whom were wounded while overthrowing the regime of president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali in January last year. Others say

Algerian singer Warda dies in Cairo at 72 he Algerian singer Warda, whose sultry voice and range helped make her one of the giants of Arab song, has died aged 72.

Egyptian state TV said Warda died on Thursday at her home in Cairo. The official MENA news agency said that her body will be

two weeks to resume talks over their differences, which boiled over into border clashes last month.

He said while South Sudan, which became the world's newest independent nation last year, had signalled its readiness to restart talks immediately, its neighbour had carried out air attacks after May 2 and had not moved to resume negotiations.

"They have violated the timeline," Amum, Secretary-

flown to Algeria on Friday for burial.

Along with Lebanon's Fayrouz and Egypt's late Oum Kalthoum, Warda was one of the legendary singers of the Arab world, with a voice that has been described as both sweet and powerful.

Warda lived in Egypt on and

Aldjazairia, or the Algerian Rose, was born in France in 1939 to anAlgerian father and Lebanese mother (EPA)

off for more than 40 years, and it was in Egypt that she earned both her cinematic and s i n g i n g breakthroughs that won her fame across the Middle East.

She had at least five lead roles in Egyptian films, and about 300 songs to her name.

they have been injured by police more recently.

"I'm going to sew my mouth to support all the wounded of the revolution throughout the

country and we'll never forgive the MPs we've elected for their lack of interest in us," Missaoui said.

Before his lips were closed with needle and thread, Malek Aloui

said: "I was wounded on January 28. The police used all forms of torture. They beat us and extinguished their cigarettes on our bodies."

Before having his lips sown shut, Missaoui condemned the government's 'lack of interest' in the injured

Somali piracy: EU forces in first mainland raid

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ngola court annuls appointment of election head Angola's Supreme Court has annulled the appointment of the country's electoral commission chief, a nomination which the opposition had criticised but which the ruling MPLA party defended as impartial, state news agency Angop reported on Thursday.

Angola, Africa's secondlargest oil producer after Nigeria, is set to hold an election to choose a president and lawmakers in late August or early September.

Angop cited a Supreme Court ruling, dated May 17, that cancelled the Magistrates Superior Council's appointment of Susana Ingles as head of the

National Election Commission in January and also the process that led to her selection.

It also quoted a statement from the MPLA's Political Bureau saying the party will "scrupulously respect the decision" so that a new election commission head may be selected swiftly and the election held within the timetable set by the constitution.

Main opposition party UNITA and other smaller parties had criticised Ingles' appointment, saying she did not fit the legal requirements to hold the post because she is a lawyer and not a magistrate court judge, and could not be seen as independent because she is a leading member of the MPLA women's organisation, OMA.

They added that the appointment undermined the body's independence and raised tension ahead of the election.

UNITA had planned to hold nationwide demonstrations on Saturday to protest her appointment and voice demands for a free and fair election. No one at the party was available to comment on whether the protests would still go ahead.

President Jose Eduardo dos Santos' MPLA had maintained that Ingles' appointment had been impartial and accused the opposition of causing unnecessary instability.

The election will be only the second in Angola after a devastating 27-year civil war ended a decade ago.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 39

International UN chief blames al-Qaeda for Damascus blasts

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he UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, has said that he believes al-Qaeda was responsible for last week's bombings in Damascus, the Syrian capital, that left more than 50 people dead.

"A few days ago there was a huge, serious, massive terrorist attack. I believe that there must be al-Qaeda behind it. This has created again very serious problems," Ban said on Thursday.

At least 55 people were killed and 372 others were wounded in blasts in Damascus on May 10, in the deadliest attacks in the Syrian capital since an uprising against President Bashar alAssad began early last year.

Ban also noted that there have been two attacks against unarmed UN monitors trying to reduce the violence in the country.

There are 257 unarmed UN monitors in Syria to observe an unravelling five-week-old truce negotiated by UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan.

"The deployment of monitors has some dampening effect, the number of violence has reduced but not enough, not all the

violence have stopped," Ban said while addressing youth group at UN headquarters in New York.

"We are trying out best efforts to protect the civilian population."

The UN chief said at least

10,000 people had been killed in the conflict.

Damascus says that it is facing a "terrorist" conspiracy funded and directed from abroad.

Earlier this month, Syria sent the UN the names of 26

foreign nationals it said had been apprehended after coming to fight in the country.

It described 20 of those as members of al-Qaeda who had entered the country from Turkey.

More than 200 unarmed UN monitors have been observing a five-week-old truce brokered by Kofi Annan (EPA)

US seeks extra $70m for Israel defence shield

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he US plans to give Israel the extra $70m that it asked for this year for its short-range missile defence programme known as the "Iron Dome," Leon Panetta, the US defence secretary has said.

Panetta on Thursday said his department would seek additional funding for the

programme over the next three years "based on an annual assessment of Israeli security requirements".

He said Barack Obama, the US president, had directed him to fill Israel's request for the extra money for the system, which is designed to intercept short-range rockets and

mortars.

Panetta's statement came after a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak at the Pentagon on Thursday.

The US has already provided $205m for the system and annually gives Israel roughly another $3.1bn in overall security assistance, the most for any foreign country.

However, top Republicans

have criticised Obama for what they described as inadequate funding of US-Israeli missile defence co-operation in his 2013 budget request, released in February amid deficitreduction requirements.

Obama's fiscal 2013 budget request calls for $30bn in funding for Israel over a 10year peried, none of which was scheduled to fund Iron Dome.

Chinese tycoon sentenced to life in prison for smuggling, bribery

A Leon Panetta, right, told Ehud Barak, left, the Pentagon would seek extra funding for the Iron Dome system (AFP)

Chinese court on Friday sentenced Lai Changxing, a tycoon who spent more than a decade as a fugitive in Canada, to life in prison for smuggling and bribery, the staterun news agency Xinhua reported.

Lai, 53, was sentenced by a court in the southeastern port city of Xiamen in Fujian Province, where the Chinese authorities say he ran a multi-billion dollar smuggling operation in the late 1990s.

Born into a peasant family, Lai received little in the way of

Bomb blasts at Baghdad pet market kill 5

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hree roadside bombs exploded Friday in quick succession at an outdoor pet market in Baghdad, killing five people and wounding 31 others, police officials said.

The bombings took place at a market where young men buy and sell pigeons in Husseiniya, a poor Shiite neighborhood in

southeastern Baghdad. This type of market, popular in less affluent neighborhoods, tends to be very busy on Fridays.

A series of bomb and gun attacks have taken place in different Iraqi cities this week, including a blast in a popular restaurant in southeastern Baghdad on Thursday evening

that killed three people and wounded 10 others.

In April, 126 people were killed in attacks across the country and 271 people were wounded.

That was higher than in March, which had the lowest monthly death toll for Iraqis since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, when only 112 people were killed.

education. He nonetheless rose to become one of China's richest and most flamboyant businessmen.

His company's interests included products as varied as cigarettes, cars, luxury goods and oil.

But in a crackdown on corruption, the Chinese government said Lai's business was trading the goods illegally. It accused him of bribing dozens of government officials and telling his staff to do the same.

Lai evaded the authorities and fled to Canada in 1999. He was subsequently detained and spent years fighting extradition back to China. He lost that battle last year and was returned to China in July.

His lawyers had said they feared he may face the death penalty in China like others convicted of profiting from the smuggling operation.

But the extradition deal with Canada appeared to have prevented that outcome. Under Canadian law, nobody can be deported if they will face the death penalty.

Al Qaeda's alZawahiri calls on Saudis to rise up

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l Qaeda leader Ayman alZawahiri urged people in Saudi Arabia to follow the example set by popular revolutions in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia and rise up.

"Why don't you rise up, for you are the sons of the strong and proud tribes that look down upon death in order to lift up humiliation and oppression? Are you afraid of the forces of the Saudi regime and its security and army?" al-Zawahiri said in a video posted Thursday on jihadist forums, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.

It's the latest video message from al-Zawahiri, who took over as leader of the terror network after Osama bin Laden was killed

by U.S. forces. In recent days, alZawahiri has made a similar call on the people of Yemen, saying the government was a puppet of the United States.

In the 6-minute, 19-second video, al-Zawahiri called on the people of Saudi Arabia to overthrow their rulers, saying they committed criminal and unIslamic activities, said SITE, an organization that tracks the online activity of terror groups.

Al-Zawahiri questioned how people could watch the Arab Spring revolutions and do nothing.

In the video, he said Saudi Arabia's rulers should be ousted for, among other things, opening the country to American forces and jailing militants.

"The Family of Saud might be able to kill tens, hundreds, or thousands from amongst you, but if hundreds of thousands come out, then they will be shocked and will end up, Allah permitting, in the state that their brethren ended up in amongst the ousted tyrants," he said, according to SITE's translation.

Al-Zawahiri was al Qaeda's No. 2 leader under bin Laden. He took over leadership in June 2011 following bin Laden's death, according to statements posted on jihadist websites.

One of the FBI's most wanted terrorists, al-Zawahiri has played a defining role in al Qaeda. He was indicted for his alleged role in the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, that killed 224 civilians and wounded more than 5,000 others, according to the National Counterterrorism Center, part of the U.S. federal government.

The FBI is offering a $25 million reward for information leading to his capture, the same amount as the reward for bin Laden.

Al-Zawahiri's wife and three children were killed in December 2001 in a U.S. attack on the family's residence in Afghanistan.

Al-Zawahiri is believed to be hiding somewhere in Pakistan's tribal region that borders Afghanistan.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Wellness Zone

Importance of exercise in children W ith the usage of modern machines and equipments in daily life, day to day work has become easy and hassle free .But physical exercise has gone for a toss that results into various ailments. But no one can question about the positive side of physical exercise in human body.

Everyday exercise makes your body healthy in whatever age bracket you may fall.

Physical activity is more important for children but due to change of life style in young generation they are neglecting exercise a lot. You may find these children are interested more on television, computer games, internet, movies, coaching or in private tuitions.

Study has proven that exercise makes children's ability to concentrate more in the class. It increases brain function. It also helps to lead a healthy life style and makes you strong and flexible too.

Exercise benefits children to develop social skills like sharing, coordinating, cooperating. Exercise also works as a stress reliever. It assists your children to cope up with exams, competition and other stress issues like a fight with your friends.

It is not necessary to do physical work out every day to be fit. Your children can go for sports like running, playing cricket, football, volleyball and more. Kids can take their pet dog for a walk or enjoy a bicycle ride with friend. You can admit your kid on dance class, yoga, or any workout camps. It will work as recreation as well as exercise.

A normal student spends a lot of time in front of desk or computers in schools. So every school provides a period for physical training class. It is the schools responsibility to provide training to the students. It is treated as a subject and it requires good marks to get promoted in the next grade.

The physical education teacher encourages in daily free hand exercise and sports activities. Some schools provide gym facilities and

a t h l e t i c equipment for their students.

Thus the scope of exercise for every child is immense. All it needs is to do exercise regularly to become a healthy adult in future.

S o u r c e : Healthy Life Guideline

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 41

Weekend Chelsea battles Munich in Allianz Arena today

By Albert Akota

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h elsea FC of England will battle Bayern Munich FC of Germany to decide who wins the Champions League final at the Allianz Arena today.

Bayern keeper, Manuel Neuer, competing in his first Champions League final after reaching the last four with Schalke 04 last season, has been outstanding in Europe and saved two penalties in Bayern’s shootout with Real Madrid in the semifinals.

His opposite number, Petr Cech, like the Chelsea team in general, had an erratic first half of the season but has regained his old form in recent months.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes will need to reshuffle his backline with leftback David Alaba and central defender Holger Badstuber suspended and Anatolyi Tymoshchuk looks set to partner Jerome Boateng in the heart of defence instead of Badstuber.

Tymoshchuk has featured in 10 Champions League games this season but almost exclusively in the role of a holding midfielder and his collaboration with Boateng could prove decisive.

There are major doubts surrounding Chelsea’s central defenders David Luiz and Gary Cahill, who will be thrust back into the side despite having been out for several weeks because of injury.

Interim coach Roberto Di Matteo has no option but to include the pair on Saturday with Terry and Branislav Ivanovic banned.

Luiz Gustavo suspended for Bayern, Toni Kroos will slip into a holding midfield position alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger with Thomas Mueller taking

over an offensive midfield position.

Chelsea is without suspended pair Raul Meireles and Ramires but it is the turbo-charged Brazilian they will miss the most.

Gomez ranks second behind Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (14) in this season’s Champions League goal scoring charts.

Curious rivalry: Jamie Carragher says Drogba is unplayable on the pitch but very friendly off it.

Di Matteo will again wrestle with the Didier Drogba-Fernando Torres conundrum up front for Chelsea.

Bayern’s defence, however, have been run ragged this season by Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowksi, who is similar to Torres in playing style.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 42

Yobo rules out of Eagles matches

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he Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has announced yesterday that the Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo, has officially been ruled out of Jumbo June qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup and 2013 Nations Cup by his club medics at Fernabahce, Turkey.

Medics of his club, Fernabahce confirmed to Keshi that the player who had a splendid season will be out for over a month, which effectively rules him out of next month’s qualifiers.

The Big Boss, who himself skippered the national team for over a decade, emerging the longest serving national team captain, was however quick to pick himself up and declared that he felt pains missing his captain but there is no cause for alarm, as there are capable replacements.

He went ahead to list the

replacements thus: “Gege Soriola, was splendid for Free State Stars in the South African league, Geofrey Oboabona, plays that role regularly for Sunshine Stars, but we use him here as a full back and he can easily revert to that, then we have Kano Pillars’ Papa Idris, who has been in excellent form for club and country, so we must not fret, we have the players to hold down the position until Yobo returns”, he said. Team Psychologist, Dr Robinson Okosun, who was around when Keshi was making his declaration, said he was personally overwhelmed by the swift mood; Keshi was able to list possible replacement for Yobo. “Some other coaches will still be scratching their heads, but because we have a man who knows his onions he has moved swiftly to douse tension in football circles”.

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DR Congo can’t stop us, says Falcons player

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eading top scorer for the U-20 Women National Team, Franscesca Ordega has promised to break the hearts of Congo DR in today decisive second leg of the 2012 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier. The Benue state born forward who has scored three goals for the national team, two

against Zimbabwe and one against Congo DR since the commencement of the qualifiers says she is already looking forward to scoring her fourth against the 2008 U-20 World Cup finalists here in Kinshasa.

A win for the Nigerian girls qualifies them for the World Cup Championship later this year in

Outrage as stadium staff halt Eagles training

Japan; Nigeria has a 4-0 advantage from the first leg in Abeokuta two weeks ago.

“We know that Congo have an excellent home record and we have closely followed their progress so far and have great respect for them especially with the way they successfully eliminated African powers

Cameroon and Mali but we are not intimidate, for us we are here to shatter that record and qualify,” assured the Rivers Angels FC player. “ I just see as an avenue for the fans to show their support to their team, so that should not be an issue, for us we are totally focused on the match,” she said.

he Super Eagles team and officials was almost disrupted when officials of the National Stadium in Abuja, locked out the team from its morning training session.

The team arrived the stadium at about 7:15am, but met the gates to the Practice Pitch firmly locked for over ten minutes, Team Coordinator, Emmanuel Atta, Security Chief, ACP Gideon Akinsola and the Camp Commandant, Lt Col Rabiu Yandoto, battled to gain entrance into the training pitch to no avail.

When their patience ran out, the padlock to the training pitch was forced open for the team to gain entrance.

It was then the outrage begun, when athletes and other visitors to the stadium told Eagles officials that the gate was shut against the national team, immediately the officials sighted the bus of the team driving into the stadium arena after which they took to their heels in opposite directions.

They further revealed that the officials say they were being owed backlog of salaries and therefore see the shutting out of the national team from training as an opportunity to vent their spleen.

After a frantic search, one of the Stadium supervisors, Sunday Ofele, was apprehended by the security team attached to the team and he confessed that it was the Stadium Manager, who said he should lock out the national team.

When the Stadium Manager, Katmwan Dungse, was confronted, he said his instruction was that entrance into the training arena should be restricted because British Embassy officials were having a function at the Velodrome inside the stadium and not for his officials to lock out the national team.

The supervisor and his accomplice have since been handed over to the police for proper investigation even as Head Coach Stephen Keshi wondered why his team should be traumatized few days to an important friendly game and with qualifiers stacked in front of the team in June.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 43

Transfer latest

Barcelona line up Suarez

Milan sign Riccardo,Traore on free transfers

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C Milan has confirmed the signings of Riccardo Montolivo and Bakaye Traore.

Italy midfielder Montolivo, 27, has spent the last seven years of his career with Fiorentina but was out of contract this summer and broke off talks over an extension in January.

Following a medical on Wednesday,

he committed to a four-year deal at Milan, whose manager Massimiliano Allegri had earlier described him as a “very good player, very technical”.

Mali midfielder Traore, also 27, had said earlier this month that he would be moving to the San Siro when his Nancy contract expired this summer.

Adler heads to Hamburg

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amburg has announced the signing of goalkeeper Rene Adler from Bayer Leverkusen on a fiveyear deal.

Germany international Adler, 27, has struggled for fitness in recent times but Hamburg director of sport Frank Arnesen believes it is a great signing.

“When you can sign a Germany international at the age of 27 then that

is a special opportunity and we have taken it,” Arnesen said. “I hope that he can return to the national team off the back of excellent performances for Hamburg. He is very optimistic and ambitious to get back to his previous form.” Adler, who did not play a game for Leverkusen last season following knee surgery, said: “I think that I will come out of this last year stronger than ever.

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arcelona are lining up a summer move for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez as new boss Tito Vilanova looks to bring in further attacking options.

The Nou Camp manager, who takes over from Pep Guardiola at the end of the season, is hoping to take advantage of the sacking of Kenny Dalglish by plotting a bid for the Uruguayan international.

Despite Liverpool struggling for form 25 year old Suarez managed a

healthy 17 goals and seven assists in all competitions and the sacking of the manager who was in charge on his arrival could leave the former Ajax man vulnerable to interest from prospective suitors and Barcelona are keen to take advantage of the situation.

Luis Suarez has spoken of his desire to one day play for the La Liga side and will clearly not be happy with the fact that Liverpool have missed out on Champions League qualification for a third straight season.

City target £25m Ibrahimovic

Chelsea, Everton target Oscar

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helsea and Everton target Oscar Cardozo who is leaving Benfica this summer.

The striker has scored more than 100 goals for Benfica since joining the club five years ago, but the Paraguayan has allegedly been told he is free to leave as they look to cut their wage bill.

With Chelsea and Everton both credited with an interest in Cardozo, competition is likely to be fierce, although a price tag of £12m may be too much for David Moyes’ side.

And there is also interest from Russia, with CSKA Moscow and Rubin Kazan also readying bids for the 28-year-old

Roma set to sign Gago

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oma is expected to tie up a permanent deal for Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago this summer.

Argentina international Gago, 26, signed for Roma on loan last summer and, while manager Luis Enrique has now departed the club.

“There won’t be any particular problems,” agent Marcello Lombilla said.

“Everything should be sorted out next week.

Director general Franco Baldini will speak to Real.

Gago wants to stay at Roma and Real want to sell him.”

Gago signed for Real Madrid from Boca Juniors in 2007.

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anchester City has made a bold move for AC Milan’s £25mrated striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Boss Roberto Mancini will pay the Swedish superstar £300,000 a week.

City promised make him the highest paid player in the Premier League, dwarfing even City midfielder Yaya Toure’s £250,000-a-week deal.

It is Mancini’s second attempt to

bring the ex-Barcelona, Juventus and Inter Milan striker to The Eithad and this time he is determined to succeed.

Mancini signed Ibrahimovic while at Inter Milan for £22m in 2006.

And now he is ready to break the bank to capture the 6ft 5ins forward by offering a massive signing-on fee, huge bonuses and lucrative image rights — as well as that staggering weekly wage.

......ready to pay •36m for Llorente

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anchester City is closing in on Atletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente to pay the •36million buy-out clause in his contract.

Reports in Spanish newspaper AS claim the new Premier League champions have already met with the forward’s brother Chus, who also acts as his agent.

It has been reported that meeting took place on April 27, when Eastlands officials made clear their desire to take the 27-year-old Spanish international to England.

The paper says City are willing to splash out that huge fee as they believe Llorente could be the perfect partner for this season’s top scorer, Sergio Aguero.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 44

PICTORIAL

1 4

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5 1. The WBC says it will expel any person or organisation involved with the proposed fight between David Haye and Dereck Chisora.

2. Fly-half Rhys Priestland says there is “added pressure” on Wales to take a southern hemisphere scalp by beating Australia.

3. Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes insists his side’s home advantage will have little bearing on the outcome of the Champions League final against Chelsea

3

4. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger failed to come to a resolution with Robin van Persie about his future after face-to-face talks on Wednesday, according to widespread reports in the English media 5. Roger Federer beats Carlos Berlocq to reach the third round of the Italian Open, where he is joined by Rafael Nadal.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 45

Bike racing: Fastest sport on two wheels Complied by Richard Ihediwa with additional reports from Wikipedia

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hey move with incredible speed, engaging dangerous curves with startling dexterity. Motorcycle racers brave all fears as the throttle hard in a competition that is always full of excitement and breathtaking moments.

Motorcycle racing is a motorcycle sport and major genres include road racing and off road racing, both either on circuits or open courses, and track racing. Other categories include hill climbs, drag racing and land speed record trials.

Road racing Road racing is the racing of motorcycles on tarmac. Races can take place either on purpose-built racing circuits or on closed public roads.

Here we have the Grand Prix motorcycle racing which refers to the premier category of motorcycle road racing. Grand prix motorcycles are prototype machines not based on any production motorcycle. The race is divided into three distinct classes: · Moto3 — Introduced in 2012, motorcycles in this class are 250 cc with four-stroke engines. Previously it featured 125 cc two-stroke motorcycles. This class is also restricted by rider age, with an upper limit of 25 for newly signed riders and wild card entries and an absolute upper limit of 28 for all riders. · Moto2 — Introduced by Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holder of the competition, in 2010 as a 600 cc four-stroke class. Prior to that season, the intermediate class was 250 cc with two-stroke engines.

Moto2 races in the 2010 season allowed both engine types; from 2011 on, only the four-stroke Moto2 machines were allowed. · MotoGP — 1000 cc four-stroke.

Superbike racing Superbike racing is a category of motorcycle road racing that employs modified production motorcycles.

Superbike racing motorcycles must have four stroke engines of between 800 cc and 1200 cc for twins, and between 750 cc and 1000 cc for four cylinder machines.

Sidecar racing

Road racing Supersport racing Supersport racing employs modified production motorcycles. To be eligible for Supersport racing, a motorcycle must have a four-stroke engine of between 400 and 600 cc for four-cylinder machines, and between 600 and 750 cc for twins.

Endurance racing Endurance racing is a category of motorcycle road racing which is meant to test the durability of equipment and endurance of the riders. Teams of multiple riders attempt to cover a large distance in a single event.

Sidecar racing Sidecar racing is a category of sidecar motorcycle racing. Older sidecar road racers generally resembled solo motorcycles with a platform attached, modern racing sidecars are purpose built low and long vehicles.

True road racing True road racing is run on tracks built

from closed public and or park roads and sometimes extra pieces of purpose built track. In the past true road racing was very commonplace but today few races have survived and even fewer have been added.

Motocross Motocross (or MX) is the direct equivalent of road racing, but off road, a number of bikes racing on a closed circuit.

Motocross circuits are constructed on a variety of non-tarmac surfaces such as dirt, sand, mud or grass and tend to incorporate elevation changes either natural or artificial. Advances in motorcycle technology, especially suspension, have led to the predominance of circuits with added “jumps” on which bikes can get airborne.

There is the Supercross (or SX), which is simply indoor motocross.

Supermoto Supermoto is a racing category that is a crossover between road-racing and motocross. The motorcycles are mainly motocross types with road-racing tyres. The racetrack is a mixture of road and dirt courses (in different proportions) and can take place either on closed circuits or in temporary venues (such as urban locations).

Enduro and Cross-country Enduro is a form of off road motorcycle sport that primarily focuses on the endurance of the competitor. In the most traditional sense some stages are deliberately “tight”, others are lax allowing the competitor to recuperate.

Hare scramble Hare scramble is the name given to a particular form of off-road motorcycle racing. Traditionally a hare scramble can vary in length and time with the contestants completing multiple laps around a marked course through wooded or other rugged natural terrain.

Cross-Country Rally Cross-Country Rally events (also called Rallye Raid or simply Rallye, alternate spelling Rally) are much bigger than enduros. Typically using larger bikes than other off road sports, these events take place over many days, travelling hundreds of miles across primarily open off road

terrain.

Track racing Track racing is a form of motorcycle racing where teams or individuals race opponents around an oval track. There are differing variants, with each variant racing on a different surface type.

Speedway Speedway racing takes place on a flat oval track usually consisting of dirt or loosely packed shale, using bikes with a single gear and no brakes. Competitors use this surface to slide their machines sideways (powersliding or broadsiding) into the bends using the rear wheel to scrub-off speed while still providing the drive to power the bike forward and around the bend.

Grass Track Grasstrack is “outdoor” speedway. The track are longer (400 m+, hence it is often also referred to as Long Track at world level), often on grass (although other surfaces exist) and even feature elevation changes. Machinery is very similar to a speedway bike (still no brakes, but normally two gears, rear suspension, etc).

Ice Speedway Ice racing includes a motorcycle class which is the equivalent of Speedway on ice.

Bikes race anti-clockwise around oval tracks between 260 and 425 metres in length. The race structure and scoring are similar to Speedway.

Board track Board track racing was a type of track racing popular in the United States between the second and third decades of the 20th century, where competition was conducted on oval race courses with surfaces composed of wooden planks. By the early 1930s, board track racing had fallen out of favor, and into eventual obsolescence.

Auto Race Auto Race is a Japanese version of track racing held on an asphalt oval course and seen as a gambling sport.

Drag racing and or sprints is a racing venue where two participants line up at a dragstrip with a signaled starting line. Upon the starting signal, the riders accelerate down a straight, quarter-mile long paved track where their elapsed time and terminal speed are recorded.

The rider to reach the finish line first is the winner.

Digest PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

Revealed: Nigeria among countries to be hit by asteroid ·10 countries likely to be worst affected identified ·Data from Nasa WISE sky-scan ·47,000 potentially hazardous asteroids ·Would cause catastrophic damage on a city-sized scale or larger

Lagos, Nigeria

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he asteroids would cause catastrophic damage, on a city-sized scale or larger.

Research from the University of Southhampton has identified the countries most likely to be worst hit.

They have identified for the first time those which will suffer catastrophic loss of life or be so crippled it will be almost impossible for them to recover.

Nasa’s Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer has sampled 107 ‘potentially hazardous’ asteroids near Earth - 330ft wide or larger to make estimates about how many are out there - and the figure is a terrifying 47,000.

The WISE survey now estimates there are 47,000

‘potentially hazardous’ asteroids. the countries likely to be worst affected by an asteroid strike The top 10 countries most likely to be affected are, in no particular order: ·China ·Indonesia ·India ·Japan ·The U.S ·The Philippines ·Italy ·Britain ·Brazil ·Nigeria The PHAs - potentially hazardous asteroids - have the closest orbits to Earth’s, coming within five million miles and they

are big enough to survive passing through Earth’s atmosphere and cause damage on a regional, or greater, scale.

The new results come from the asteroid-hunting portion of the WISE mission, called NEOWISE. The project sampled 107 PHAs to make predictions about the entire population as a whole.

Findings indicate there are roughly 4,700 PHAs, plus or minus 1,500, with diameters larger than 330 feet .

So far, an estimated 20 to 30 percent of these objects have been found.

Scientists have also drawn up a league table of the countries which will be worst affected in the event of an asteroid strike.

They have identified for the first time those which will suffer catastrophic loss of life or be so crippled it will be almost impossible for them to recover.

The list has been compiled by researchers from the University of Southampton using software called called NEOimpactor, short for NASA’s ‘NEO’ or Near Earth Object programme.

Overall the top ten countries most at risk are: China, Indonesia, India, Japan, the U.S, the Philippines, Italy, the U.K, Brazil and Nigeria.

‘The NEOWISE analysis shows us we’ve made a good start at finding those objects that truly represent an impact hazard to Earth,’ said Lindley Johnson, program executive for the NearEarth Object Observation Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

‘But we’ve many more to find, and it will take a concerted effort during the next couple of decades to find all of them that could do serious damage or be a mission destination in the future.’

‘The NEOWISE analysis shows us we’ve made a good start at

finding those objects that truly represent an impact hazard to Earth,’ said Lindley Johnson, program executive for the NearEarth Object Observation Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington The PHAs - potentially hazardous asteroids - have the closest orbits to Earth’s, coming within five million miles and they are big enough to survive passing through Earth’s atmosphere and cause damage on a regional, or greater, scale The new analysis also suggests that about twice as many PHAs as previously thought are likely to reside in ‘lower incination’ orbits, which are more aligned with the plane of Earth’s orbit.

Asteroids with lowerinclination orbits would be more likely to encounter Earth. They would also be easier to reach. The results therefore suggest more near-Earth objects might be available for future robotic or human missions. Amy Mainzer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

‘Everything we can learn about these objects helps us understand their origins and fate.

Our team was surprised to find the overabundance of low-inclination

PHAs. Because they will tend to make more close approaches to Earth, these targets can provide the best opportunities for the next generation of human and robotic exploration.’

The discovery that many PHAs tend to be bright says something about their composition; they are more likely to be either stony, like granite, or metallic.

This type of information is important in assessing the space rocks’ potential hazards to Earth.

The composition of the bodies would affect how quickly they might burn up in our atmosphere if an encounter were to take place.

The NEOWISE results have been accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal.

The WISE spacecraft scanned the sky twice in infrared light before entering hibernation mode in early 2011.

It catalogued hundreds of millions of objects, including superluminous galaxies, stellar nurseries and closer-to-home asteroids.

The NEOWISE project snapped images of about 600 near-Earth asteroids, about 135 of which were new discoveries.

Nasa’s Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer has sampled 107 ‘potentially hazardous asteroids’ - PHAs - as shown in this diagram illustrating their orbits crossing Earth

Widower, 83, donates kidney to stranger

A

t the age of 83, most of us would be grateful just to have our health.

But not only is Nicholas Crace fighting fit, he is using his good condition to help others.

The former charity director has become Britain’s oldest living kidney donor by giving his organ to a stranger.

Mr Crace decided to be an ‘altruistic donor’ – someone who donates to a patient on the NHS waiting list whom they do not know – after his wife Brigid died last year.

After researching how he could help others, he found he was 43 years too old to be a bone marrow donor and 13 years too old to give blood, despite donating 57 times previously.

But when tests showed his kidneys were functioning as well as a 40-year-old’s, he knew he had

to donate.

‘I couldn’t have lived with myself with the knowledge that I had had the chance of changing someone’s life and turned it down,’ he said.

‘Giving a small part of me to someone else will make little difference to my life but a huge difference to someone else’s.

‘It was an easy decision for me to make.’

Mr Crace, who volunteers as a driver for a hospice, was moved to act after discovering what life was like for patients on the transplant list who are having dialysis.

Gift of a lifetime: 83-year-old Nicholas Crace is the oldest living kidney donor in the UK and the oldest person to give a kidney to a stranger

He said: ‘All this can be put right by the donation of a healthy kidney.’

Mr Crace, from Overton, Hampshire, had the operation at the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, and was back bicycling and mowing the lawn a week later.

‘Giving a small part of me to someone else will make little difference to my life but a huge difference to someone else’s - it was an easy decision for me to make’ Because he is an altruistic donor, he will never know who received his kidney, but he has been told the recipient is ‘doing well’.

Consultant surgeon Sam Dutta, who performed the operation, said: ‘A living donor kidney performs better, works quicker and lasts longer than one from a deceased donor.

‘An altruistic donor coming forward is an amazing thing for us. The recipient just gets a new lease of life.’

Mr Crace’s operation took three hours and the surgeon congratulated him as his kidneys were in perfect condition.

He said: ‘In fact, given a halter, he would gladly have led me into the winner’s enclosure at the Smithfield Show to have a rosette pinned on.’

Annabel Ferriman, chairwoman of Give a Kidney One’s Enough, a charity dedicated to raising awareness of altruistic donation, said: ‘Altruistic donors are very special people.

‘They have the imagination to understand the suffering that people go through on dialysis while waiting for a transplant and the courage and generosity to do something about it.’

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

PAGE 47

From the Pulpit Living as strangers and pilgrims on earth “

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hese all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.

And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Heb 11:13-16 NKJV) Chapter 11 of the Book of Hebrews is devoted to the patriarchs who lived by faith. Before we get to verse 13, some of the patriarchs have been mentioned and their acts of faith. Among them were Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah.

But there is something significant about them in verse 13 that I want to talk about. That verse says they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth.

That means that these patriarchs knew everything didn’t end on the earth. They knew the earth was not their home. They knew this earth was not their natural habitat. They knew that no matter how long they lived on the earth, their stay was temporary. That was why these patriarchs endured all the sufferings they went through. (Heb 11:3539) These patriarchs knew they were strangers and pilgrims on earth, and they lived as such. They knew what many people don’t know today. Or they knew and lived by what many people know today but pretentiously lived as if it is not true.

They are living as permanent residents of this earth; they are

living as citizens of the earth and not as temporary sojourners.

Life is temporary Throughout the Bible, the truth communicated to man is that his stay here on earth is temporary.

Whether 120 years or 1,000 years, he is here for a short period. He is not a citizen of this earth as it is at present. But the reality is that man deceives himself and goes about his life as if he is going to be here forever. (James 4:13-14) The patriarchs didn’t have this kind of perspective of life. They knew they were strangers and pilgrims.

What is your perspective of life? Do you have a strangerpilgrim’s mentality or do you think you are here to stay forever? If you read 1 Peter 1:24-25 and Isa 40:6-8, you will see that the similes for human life are grass and flower.

No matter how beautiful they are and how long they live, they’ll still wither. They don’t live forever. Ps 103:14-16 says, “As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.”

(NKJV) You are not different from grass and flower in terms of the fact that there is an end to your life here on earth. You will die one day. Your glory, your beauty, your living will come to an end.

What became of Solomon despite his glory – his vast wealth, wisdom, honour etc.? Take note that Luke 12:27 compares Solomon’s glory to that of the lilies adding that Solomon in all his glory was not even arrayed like one of the lilies. Despite this, where is Solomon today? He’s passed away with all his glory just like it happens to the grass and the flower. That is the fate awaiting you whether or not you embrace the truth that you are a stranger and pilgrim and wisely live like that. One day, like the grass and the flower, your glory will pass

LIBERA TION LIBERATION AREN A ARENA

By Rev. Abel Duniya Gospel Power Liberation Ministries, Abuja GSM: 08033155167

M

any people are confused today. They lack direction and that is the problem that has kept a lot of people, including Christians, from realizing their dreams and targets in life. Confusion most times comes from fear. Fear is actually an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger. Fear, most times comes from the absence as assurance. The lack of assurance erodes focus and it creates room for distractions resulting in confusion.

A man who can conquer fear is who has assurance of a way out of any

challenge before him. That assurance can only come from He who can do all things, the Almighty God and none other. In effect, those who have God need not to allow fear. This is because God has promised to take care of such people and deliver them from the challenges before them even when the facts may point to the contrary at the moment.

Look at Isaiah 43 from verse 1 to 5 and consider the promises of God to protect those who trust in him. God speaking there said, “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O

away. You will die one day. All you have amassed will pale into irrelevance.

Job described his life as a breath or wind! (Job7:7) That is true. Do you still remember what the Bible says when God created man out of dust? God didn’t stop at creating man out of dust. He did something else. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen 2:7 KJV) You shouldn’t forget that too. Constantly remember that you were made out of dust and your life is as a breath or wind. Once your breath ceases, you’re gone like a wind or air! It will take a miracle to bring you back to life. “For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.” (Ps 78:39 NKJV) Human beings come into this earth like a flower that fades away and flee like a shadow that is temporary. (Job 14:1-2) David also said a similar thing describing his days as handbreadths and every man not better than vapor. (Ps 39:4-5) Why live as if you’re going to be here permanently. Live like a stranger (sojourner) and pilgrim.

Friend, this earth is not your home, you’re just passing through. Stop pursuing vanity. (Ecc 1:2, 2:11) Live as Christ’s ambassador The apostle Peter also referred to believers as strangers and pilgrims who shouldn’t adopt the lifestyle of the people among whom they are living but whose loyalty should be to God. “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak

GREEN PASTURES

By Pastor T.O. Banso cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:11-12 KJV) If you are born again, you should see yourself as an ambassador of Christ posted here on earth; you are on a foreign mission. (2 Cor 5:20-21) You are accountable to your home government where you got your letter of credence. You are not supposed to be affected or influenced by the policies, politics, attitudes, behavior of the society where you’re living.

Pilgrims cannot afford to have an indigenes’ mentality thinking that they own their place of abode or immigrants’ mentality thinking they have arrived their permanent place of abode and integrate with their host community in their culture, behavior etc.

This earth is temporary, and it is already passing away. “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17 NKJV) The earth, as it is, will disappear completely one day when God will judge the earth and the earth and the works that are in it will be burnt up. (2 Peter 3:13) Everything, no matter how magnificent it is, will be consumed with fire. So what wisdom is there in pursuing the things of this world as if this earth is permanent? Don’t hold on tightly to this earth as if it will exist forever. God shall make new

heavens and a new earth. (Is 65: 17, 66:22, Rev 21:1) Don’t live as a citizen of this earth.

That is why 1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (NKJV) You must live as a stranger and pilgrim looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth. (Rev 21:3-4) Have a pilgrim’s mentality; you have a brief time to stay on earth.

TAKE ACTION! If you are not born again, kindly say this prayer now: “0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God” I believe you have said this prayer from your heart.

Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus.

I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. May the Lord be with you.

Dealing with fear and confusion Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; (KJV) This scripture assures us that God is always there for us despite what we may be passing through. He never promised that we will not pass through hard times; the fire and the

waters; but in all, He promised that the hard times we pass through will not consume us.

I don’t know what you are passing through today. It might be too hard for you right now, but understand that you have a blessed assurance in God that he will surely help you. Don’t be downcast. Don’t allow fear to bring confusion to you. He is watching over you and for that He said you must not fear so that your confidence would not be eroded.

Knowing what fear can do, God instructs us several places in the Bible.

Consider Joshua 1:5-7. God spoke to Joshua in his hour of confusion when Moses died and he was faced with the challenge of leadership. He said, “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt

thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. (KJV). Today God is speaking to some people including you not to fear in the face of that challenge. He has promised not to fail you. The only thing He wants you to do is to be strong and courageous and obey His commands and you will have victory in all your endeavors.

Prayer Points: Pray that God will lift up your faith to always trust in Him. Pray that He will grant you the strength to adhere to His will and to avoid compromises. Pray God to destroy every satanic spell of depression, discouragement and fear that is daily released against mankind by the devil.

BIG PUNCH “We don’t have fiscal crisis. Nigeria is solvent. We have many assets.

We are liquid.”

— Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala on reports that the delay in convening FAAC meeting was indicative that the nation was broke.

SATURDAY 19 — SUNDAY 20, MAY, 2012

A Fading Nation?

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ecently two of the most powerful and most informed leaders spoke on the health of the economy of Nigeria. Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor of Central Bank, warned last month of the coming of ‘a very bad day and a lot of gnashing teeth’ for Nigeria.

That miserable day and that regrettable condition will come when the price of oil falls from the present $120 per barrel to anything below $90. ‘Our major concern is that a major decline in the price of oil or output would lead to a massive depreciation of the currency, a collapse in reserves and a huge growth in deficits, and some of the states outside of the oil-producing region might find themselves in a situation where they are not able to pay salaries,’ Sanusi said. ‘Nigeria is one of the world’s fastestgrowing economies, but it remains dependent on oil production, which accounts for about 80 per cent of government revenues. I am trained to think in terms of what if. What happens if oil prices go to $50 a barrel? It’s happened before.’

At about the same time, the Minister of Finance acknowledged that Nigeria is in a very dire economic circumstance, saying in effect that the nation’s treasury is all but empty, [in other words,mNigeria is bankrupt], and the little that there is cannot sustain the country for any period of time. The near total dependence on oil, 80% according to Sanusi, 95% according to the minister, means that in the words of the minister ‘should the price of oil drop, we have no cushion.’ She said further: ‘Now that the price of oil is high, we should be happy but because the quantity we produce as a country has dropped, we are not selling expected quantities. So, not much money is coming in. We are selling below budgeted quantities.’

She further reveals the utter vulnerability of the economy which is based on only one single resource.

And the danger is this: ’60 per cent of our money and products comes from and goes to Europe and USA, if they are not doing well, we suffer too.

Unemployment in the USA is at a crisis level, same as in Europe.

That product

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determines how the economy grows and the nation’s expenditure fluctuates with revenue.’ The grim reality is that: ‘Such volatile pattern of development crashes the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).’ The surprise is that the whole country appears not to have taken notice of these warnings!

The Governor of the Central Bank and the Minister of

Finance point to the root of the problem. ‘We haven’t saved a thing,’ Sanusi said emphatically. The minister says the same thing, adding further that because of fiscal federalism, Nigeria cannot save. She knows however that saving is an essential part of life and that it is the discipline to save, the firm resolve to save, that separates nations which aspire to grow stronger, to develop, to endure eternally from the nations that squander and waste and never aspire to greatness, to longevity, to a bright future. And Nigeria is yet to join the league of sensible and prudent nations, and as matters stand now, it does not seem inclined to do so. ‘We must save for the future because soon Ghana and Angola will join the league of countries that have savings, whereas Nigeria is fast depleting the little she has.” A nation does have many ways of saving, in order to ensure that its future generations live better and happier, even to the extent that they feel a sense of eternal gratitude to their forebears, and in order that the nation itself lives eternally, as

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it were. What some nations have done is to diversify wisely, spend prudently, establish the necessary infrastructure, and build the required human capital with the oil resources. Brazil stands as a shining example. Oil can help in rapid industrialization, in expansion and consolidation of education, in the war on poverty, in bridging the gap between the rich and the poor and in raising the living standard of the people. But no nation which has its eyes on a secure and reliable future ever relies solely on oil, and in the changing world attitude to oil, the future does not lie in oil, but elsewhere.

Even more importantly, in counties where oil is substantially the single source of sustenance, the wisest thing they do is to secure the oil completely, control its extraction and processing, determine where it goes and how it goes, and ensure at all cost its sustainability.

According to the minister of finance, oil accounts for ninety five percent of Nigeria’s earnings. Oil is, to say the very least, Nigeria’s lifeline. Let us

therefore see how Nigeria handles its oil. Startling and disgraceful as it may appear, Nigeria is not at all in charge of its oil, from the beginning to the end. In an analysis of the oil sectorThis Day [8/10/11] quotes Prof Asisi Asobie, Chairman of Board of Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), as stating the current status as follows: ‘After 58 years of producing oil, Nigeria does not know how much oil was being produced. It is regrettable that we have not been able to get oil companies to tell Nigerians exactly what they produce. The sector continued to be shrouded in secrecy.’ Yet this oil from which Nigeria relies for 95% of its income remains a mystery to the Nigerian people, to the Nigerian state, to Nigerian leaders.

How much is the revenue accruing to Nigeria from oil?

The simple answer is: it is a mystery. The little that is known is that revenues from oil are shared among four powers: the oil companies, which take what they want, how they want and when they

want, in absolute secrecy; the Nigerian state, which receives what the oil companies concedes to it; the Oil Cartel, a mysterious oligarchy which reserves the unwritten prerogative to install governments, and the oil bunkers. The first three are shrouded in mystery, but for the purpose of curiosity, let’s see the activities of the last group. Oil bunkers constitute an army of assorted interests and groups who steal Nigeria’s oil in many ways and by many means. Most of them are Nigerians, comprising of the mighty men of Niger Delta, the militants of Niger Delta [who in their wild frenzy pollute the environment they live in like the oil companies do, oblivious of the fact that they are unwittingly destroying their homeland irretrievably], elements of the Nigerian Armed Forces and Police, in particular JTF, [which in the North where there is no oil to steal resort to, according to the elder statesman, Alhaji Ali Mongunu, seizing the jewelry of Borno and Yobe women and pillaging the markets], some traditional rulers and so on. It also includes common thieves and adventurers from within and outside Nigeria, Italians, A m e r i c a n s , Ghanaians,Togolese, Lebanese, just about anyone who wishes to try their luck on a strategic resource of a nation that is fading away, passing through the excruciating rhythm of slow death. According to the Minister of Finance [ThisDay 15/5/12] oil bunkers steal about one fifth of Nigerian oil. So it is big business. With these huge resources, as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation warned a few months ago, the oil thieves would eventually turn Nigeria into a Mexico or a Columbia, where the Drug Barons pervert the political process and make those nations ungovernable.

They could eventually take over Nigeria.

The overall impression you get is that there is simply no one in charge of Nigeria’s lifeline, just no one. What we have seen from the foregoing is a glimpse of a mighty nation slowly fading away into oblivion.

It has all the attributes of greatness, but it is being subjected to daily dosage of poison, such that it is dying slowly, inexorably.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com ISSN: 2141– 6141