Peoples Daily Newspaper, Friday 19, July, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 11 No. 45

Friday, July 19, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Ramadan Timings Bandits for Abuja overrun Katsina MAGRIB

ALFIJR

6.55 p.m.

5.04 a.m.

communities

>> 39

Ramadan 10, 1434 AH

N150

5 killed in ffresh Plateau vviolence >> 3

Corruption: NJC indicts Justice Gummi

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he National Judicial Council (NJC) said yesterday that it has found former Chief Judge of Abuja, Justice Hassan

Lawal Gummi guilty of interfering with the execution of the judgment delivered by Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the suit between Nestello Gateway

Group and the Governor of Zamfara state, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari. In that matter, execution had already been levied in favour of the petitioner.

A statement by the Acting

Director of Information of the Council, Mr. Soji Oye said the NJC, at its 63rd meeting which was held on 17th and 18th July, 2013, deliberated on the report and recommendation of its committee

that investigated the petition forwarded to it by Nestello Gateway Group against the former Chief Judge.

At the end of deliberations, Contd. on Page 2

Amnesty makes militants millionaires — PENGASSAN Adoke heads task force on oil theft

By Abdulwahab Isa, Abuja & Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he dysfunctional state of the Amnesty Office, headed by Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, is being exploited to make leaders of some of the militant groups in the Niger Delta region overnight millionaires, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has said.

The union, in a swift riposte to claims by Kuku that oil workers were the brains behind crude oil theft in the country, accused the presidential aide of chasing shadows.

“Rather than cast aspersions on innocent, hardworking people, Mr. Kuku would do well to view the increasingly alarming rate of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta as a dysfunction of the activities of his Amnesty Office which has made emergency millionaires of some militant leaders while the foot soldiers wallow in penury as well as failure to address the huge infrastructural and socio-economic development deficit in the Niger Delta region,” PENGASSAN said yesterday.

The body stated these in a statement issued in Lagos by its National Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Seyi Gambo.

Stressing that it takes serious exception to the claims of the presidential aide which it described as “perturbing, cynical, and Contd. on Page 2

L-R: Senate President, David Mark, in a handshake with Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the opening of a two-day public hearing on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), by the Senate Joint Committee on PIB, yesterday, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Rivers crisis: Progressive govs urge Amaechi to visit Jonathan

>>2

PAGE 2

News

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

CONTENTS

Solidarity: APC govs storm Port-Harcourt

News

By Umar Mohammed Puma, with Agency reports

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch S/Report

23 24-25

Islam Int’l

26 27-30

Strange World

31

E

ight governors of the yet to be registered All Progressives Congress, APC, have paid a solidarity visit to the Rivers state Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.

Speaking yesterday at the Government House, PortHarcourt, the governors condemned the crisis in the state and demanded the intervention of President Jonathan and urged Amaechi to visit the Aso Rock Villa.

The governors are, Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), all of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and three deputy governors, Eze Madumere (Imo, APGA), Dameshi Barau Luka (Nasarawa, CPC) and Muktar Anka (Zamfara, ANPP), who represented their principals.

Fayemi who spoke on behalf of his colleagues told reporters at the end of the visit that, “we have had extensive discussions and the Rivers state governor has briefed us on the situation on the ground here.

“We feel very strongly that

Re-affirm support for Amaechi as NGF Chair having listened to him, that it will be quite important for him to actually go and brief Mr. President.

“We are here in support and solidarity with the Governor (Amaechi), the government and the people of Rivers state in this very trying time.

“We are concerned as fellow governors representing our governments from all of the states you can see here.

“The tension in Rivers state is entirely avoidable and we want all parties to sheathe their swords and to help restore the peace and security of Rivers state,” he said.

The governor expressed concern over the security situation of the governor and the people of the state and lamented that only recently, soldiers attached to the Rivers state Government House were all withdrawn.

He urged Jonathan to intervene in the crisis using his moral authority to bring it to an end.

According to Fayemi, “we are here because we think security for us is far more of the major concern to the people of Nigeria. Our being

here is just to stress the importance of our concern for the security of the citizens of Rivers state.

“For us, we believe that this is a matter that really requires the moral authority of Mr. President as well.

“It is about deepening this democracy; it’s about ensuring that peace reigns, not just in Rivers state but in the whole country,” he added.

He also asked the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to take necessary steps that would restore the confidence of the government and the people of the state in the police.

As Fayemi put it, “we believe that the Inspector General of Police is very well placed to help take the necessary steps to restore the confidence of the government, of the governor and the people in the police in Rivers state.”

According to Mr. Fayemi, it is important for the IG to take those steps that would restore the confidence of Rivers people in the police, considering that their confidence in the force had waned over their questionable involvement in the crisis.

The Deputy Governor of Zamfara state, Mukhtar Anka, also told journalists that, as progressive governors, they were happy with the noticeable mass support that Governor Amaechi received from his people and other loyalists in the country even as he noted that the crisis was avoidable.

He said, “being progressive governors, we met with our Chairman of Governors’ Forum and Rivers state Governor.

“We are very happy that we met him in high spirits and he is popular and he is moving with his people and we are very happy with that and we resolved and we advised him that he should meet with Mr. President to discuss with him so that we can find a way out of this crisis.”

The governors made the visit two days after four northern governors also visited Amaechi.

The northern governors were Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger), who is also the Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF).

Corruption: NJC indicts Justice Gummi IAAF WYCs: Coach blames poor preparations for Nigeria failure, Page 42

Revue

32-33

Feature

34-35

Digest

36

Politics

37-38

Newsxtra

39-40

Sports

41-46

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

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Contd. from Front Page Oye said the Council accepted the findings of its committee that Justice Gummi interfered with execution of the judgment delivered

by Justice Okeke in the suit.

“Council found the interference by Justice Gummi in the execution of the judgment as most unethical and highly reprehensible”, the statement said, and further added that, “Gummi was guilty of gross misconduct contrary to Rule 1(i) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which would have led to

his removal from office.

“Council, however, took cognizance of the fact that Gummi has already voluntarily retired from service and consequently decided not to recommend his removal from office”, the NJC said in the statement.

The statement further noted that henceforth, any similar misconduct by any judicial officer in the federation will be visited with severe sanctions.

The Council also warned a Federal High Court judge, Justice M.A. Onyetenu for granting exparte order without hearing the

pending motion on notice and applications in suit No.: FHC/PH/ CS/236/2012 between Evangelist Charity O. Akah and Alpaca Price Nigeria Limited and another.

Meanwhile, Gummi has filed a suit before a Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the competence of the NJC to subject him to probe, having ceased to be a serving judicial officer by reason of his voluntary retirement on May 13, 2013, and the payment of three months’ salary in lieu of notice.

Joined as defendants in the suit, along with the NJC are, Justice Pius Olayiwola Aderemi

(Chairman of the probe panel), Justice V.N. Nebo, Justice Olatokunbo Olapade, Nestello Gateway Group, and Secretary of the NJC. Gummi wants court to declare that the NJC lacked the power or jurisdiction to probe him since the subject matter of the case was pending before an Abuja High Court.

He also sought an order of the court, setting aside anything done or purported to be done by the NJC and the probe panel on the ground that he was no longer a judicial officer.

Amnesty makes militants millionaires — PENGASSAN Contd. from Front Page alarming”, PENGASSAN said: “The statement is nothing short of accusing the victim of a crime of the crime itself”.

According to the leading oil sector union, “It is public knowledge that the alarming rate of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalisation, not only imperils the jobs of our members but has also led to the death of some of our members while carrying out repairs of ruptured pipelines”.

The union said it and its sister union, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), have consistently over the last one year raised alarm over the increasing rate of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalisation and the consequent threat to, not just government’s revenue which seems to be the main concern of government, but also the environment, investments and national security.

According to the statement, people who steal more than 250,000 barrels/day of crude oil (more than double the total production of Ghana)

can destabilise any government.

The statement added that the union held an emergency joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, on July 2, 2013, essentially on Kuku’s statement and reiterated that all cases of pipeline sabotage, crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and refining activities under whatever guise must be decisively dealt with.

“We equally demanded to be part of the high-powered committee of the Federal Government on this key mission which findings and recommendation, we hope will be accorded expedient action by the appropriate authority to essentially sustain confidence in the oil and gas industry and socio-economic security for all of us as Nigerians, knowing that the industry is the lifeline of our economy”, the statement further said.

Meanwhile, worried by the huge theft of crude oil put at a conservative estimate of 400,000 barrels per day, translating to a loss of N7 billion per day, the Federal Government has approved the establishment of a Legal Task Force (LTF) to be

headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN. The task force has the mandate to prosecute cases of oil theft across the country.

The decision was ratified yesterday at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting presided by Vice President Muhammad Namadi Sambo.

Briefing the media on the operations of the LTF, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state, who is also the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Oil Theft Proliferation and Control, said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Armed Forces, Civil Defence, Police, the State Security Service (SSS) and other agencies are represented in the task force.

The AGF led task force, which has twelve months to carry-out its mandate, is saddled with the responsibility of arresting and prosecuting oil thieves, and will also look at ways of enforcing the extant laws that stipulate 21 years

imprisonment without option of fine for oil thieves.

“We need to prosecute offenders, otherwise they will continue to steal oil”, Uduaghan said, adding that government was disturbed about oil theft because of its effect on the revenue base of the country and that President Jonathan has shown so much concern and determination to tackle it head on.

Expressing worry that Shell alone is losing 300,000 bpd, due to the shutdown of its operations in Bayelsa and Rivers states, Gov. Uduaghan said: “As Shell do more repairs, the thieves go back and do more damage, so NEC decided that the two pipelines should be open.

“The Committee (NEC) also mandated Akwa Ibom Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, Secretary to National Planning Commission, the NEITI chief executive and a representative of the InspectorGeneral of Police to meet with the AGF towards strengthening the extant deterrence policy by ensuring more arrests and convictions of the oil thieves,” the Delta governor further revealed.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 3

News

Five killed in fresh Plateau violence From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

F

ive persons were reportedly killed yesterday as people suspected to be Tarok assailants invaded Pinau village of Wase local government area of Plateau state.

According to a source from the area, the assailants launched the attack around 4am, and first attacked two of the deceased and

killed and burnt them on their hospital beds where they were receiving treatment.

“The attackers came in the early hours of today (yesterday) and killed five people,” the eyewitness said, adding that, “two of them were killed and burnt in a hospital while the three others were killed around the village.”

The attackers also reportedly set ablaze the market along with a number of houses.

Reports said that security personnel were not able to reach the village until the attackers left while the surviving residents fled to the neighbouring Bangalala village where they are presently seeking refuge.

Confirming the incident, the Media and Information Officer of the Special Task Force (STF), in Jos, Captain Salisu Mustafa, said soldiers had been deployed to the area.

Foreign medical trips: FG moves to bar govt officials

By A’isha Biola Raji

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has declared his intention to grant approval that would curb the “excesses” of travelling abroad for medical treatment.

Jonathan said he would initiate the move through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

The President spoke yesterday at the commissioning of Lifebridge Medical Diagnostics Centre, owned

by Senator I.G. Abana which was said to have been established to fill the gap in medical diagnosis needs of Nigerians.

Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, insisted that there was need for Nigerians to trust and have confidence in Nigeria’s indigenous doctors.

According to Jonathan, it is mostly Nigerian doctors who attend to other Nigerians who travel abroad for medical treatment.

“If everybody is leaving Nigeria to meet Nigerian doctors abroad, then why don’t we trust the same Nigerian doctors here in Nigeria,” Jonathan said.

According to the President, there is huge request for Nigerian doctors abroad hence the need for them to share their expertise in the development of the health sector in Nigeria, thereby supporting the transformation agenda.

He said, “we want our medical experts in the Diaspora to come home and be part of the health sector development in Nigeria.”

Part of measures to encourage initiatives like Lifebridge Diagnosis Centre, the President offered to

facilitate duty-free tariff on medical equipment for those with the intention of establishing similar facilities.

“There is a ministerial committee being headed by Mr. Anthony Elumelu to encourage people to invest in health sector by having duty-free tariff on medical equipment,” he said.

Certifying equipment at the centre as world class standard, Chukwu described the initiative as “noble investment.”

He however warned doctors against advertising themselves as he argued that, “doctors are not supposed to advertise themselves but allow their work advertise them.

“Doctors can advertise their equipment but when they start advertising themselves, then it becomes wrong practice.

“We will make use of nuclear regulation agency, we need to abide by rules,” he said.

Boko Haram is enemy of all, says Shehu of Borno

N

igerians should see Boko Haram as a common enemy and not an attempt by Muslims to Islamise or divide the country, Abubakar Ibn Garbai, the Shehu of Borno, said on Thursday.

Garbai, who is a member of the Inter-Religous Council of Nigeria, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Maiduguri.

“Boko Haram is not a deliberate attempt by Muslims to attack Christians; if it is, they would not have attacked me.

“If it is a question of targeting

only Christians, 13 of my district heads, two council members and many other Muslims would not have been killed.

“The Emirs of Fika and Kano are Muslims, yet they were attacked by the sect, who also killed many other Muslims leaders,” he said.

He said that some Christians worked in his office and some were traditional title holders in his palace, adding that he held regular meetings with the Christian community in the state.

“It is, therefore, clear that from top to bottom, there is nobody who

is not affected.

“Churches, mosques, parents and children were affected, so it is not a question of the group targeting only a particular group of Nigerians.”

Garbai said that Nigerians had fought in the past to keep the country united and that they should do everything possible to ensure that anything that could violate the country’s constitution was not allowed. He also said Nigerians should try and settle their differences through dialogue and not emphasis those things that would divide them.

(NAN)

GT Bank to buy 70% stake in Kenyan Bank

G

T Bank announced yesterday it had reached an agreement to acquire a 70 per cent stake in Kenya’s Fina Bank Limited for $100 million.

Fina Bank has total assets of $338 million with operations in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, a GT Bank statement said, adding that its agreement to acquire the privatelyheld Kenyan bank is subject to regulatory approvals.

“GT Bank will enter East Africa through a multi-country and scalable platform, thus expanding its international presence in SubSaharan Africa,” the statement said.

Shares in GT Bank which gained 13 per cent since the start of the year, inched up 1.66 per cent to N6.40 per share on Thursday, valuing the lender at around $5 billion.

The top-tier bank said it will acquire the majority stake in Fina Bank, set up in 1991, through a share purchase from current shareholders and direct investment.

The GT Bank Chief Executive, Segun Agbaj, has said the bank was eyeing expansion opportunities in East Africa after building out operations in West Africa, to tap into the regions fast growing economies and ease of doing business.

Ramadan Timing Day 10 TOWNS Aba Abakaliki Abeokuta Abuja Akure Argungu Ankpa Auchi Azare Bama Bauchi Benin Bichi Bida Birnin Gwari Birnin Kebbi Biu Calabar Damaturu Daura Dutse Enugu Funtua Gombe Gwoza Gumi Gusau Gwadabawa Hadejia ` Ibadan Ife Ilorin Jalingo Jere Jos Kabba Kafanchan Keffi/Nasarawa Kaduna Kano Katsina Kontagora Lafia Lagos Lokoja Maiduguri Makurdi Malumfashi Minna Port Harcourt Ringim Shagamu Sokoto Warri Yola Zaria Cotonnou-Benin Ndjamena-Chad Niamey-Niger Younde-Cameroun

MAGRIB 6.51 6.49 7.08 6.55 7.00 7.09 6.48 6.56 6.47 6.32 6.46 6.57 6.55 7.00 6.58 7.12 6.35 6.45 6.40 6.56 6.51 6.50 6.59 6.40 6.33 7.07 7.00 7.09 6.49 7.05 7.04 7.05 6.38 6.54 6.49 6.58 6.52 6.55 6.56 6.54 7.00 7.03 6.48 7.06 6.55 6.33 6.48 7.00 6.59 6.50 6.51 7.06 7.09 6.58 6.34 6.55 7.09 7.24 7.22 6.30

ALFIJR 5.04 5.06 5.23 5.04 5.15 5.03 5.05 5.11 4.46 4.33 4.52 5.16 4.53 5.09 5.04 5.09 4.34 5.07 4.39 4.50 4.51 5.07 4.59 4.46 4.35 5.06 4.59 5.03 4.45 5.18 5.17 5.18 4.47 5.00 4.55 5.11 4.59 4.54 5.00 4.53 4.54 5.09 4.59 5.23 5.23 4.34 5.01 4.53 5.06 5.12 4.51 5.21 5.03 5.16 4.43 4.58 5.28 4.27 5.16 4.56

Source: Society for Propagation of Islam Kaduna

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

News

Muslim faithful listening to Ramadan Tafsir by Chief Imam, Abuja National Mosque, Sheikh Musa Muhammad, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Nigeria to withdraw Mali troops

By Agaju Madugba

N

igeria is planning to withdraw some of its troops from Mali because they are needed back home to battle the deadly insurgency by Boko Haram, officials revealed yesterday.

According to an AFP report, it was not clear how many troops would be pulled from the troubled Mali, where Nigeria currently has some 1,000 troops, a Nigerian military source told the news agency.

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, current chair of the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), told reporters the withdrawal was because Nigeria needed its soldiers back home.

“It’s because of the domestic situation,” Ouattara said after an ECOWAS summit yesterday in Abuja.

“I received a letter from the president. Nigeria needs some of itspeople. They are not withdrawing everyone. They are withdrawing part of the troops. A good part of the troops are going to be there”, the Ivorian president said.

However, the military source said troops would pull out because the country felt “shabbily treated” under the new United Nations (UN) force in Mali.

A Nigerian commanded the previous African-led force in the country, but the UN mission is now being headed by a Rwandan.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer, has the biggest

military in west Africa.

“Nigeria feels shabbily treated ... when it became a UN outfit”, the military source said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly. “...A non-Nigerian was appointed as force commander while we are putting so much into the mission. So we think we can

make better use of those people at home than to keep them where they are not appreciated”, the source said.

He added that “it is not all of them that will be withdrawn,” without providing specifics.

The UN mission integrates more than 6,000 west African soldiers into its ranks and is charged with ensuring security

during and after the proposed July 28 elections in Mali.

It is to grow to 11,200 troops, plus 1,400 police, by the end of the year.

French forces intervened in Mali in January to push out Islamist rebels who had seized the north. The UN deployment has allowed France to start withdrawing most of its 4,500

troops.

Nigeria approved the deployment of 900 troops with the capacity to increase to 1,200 under the previous African-led force.

Violence linked to an insurgency by Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, mainly in the North-east, has left some 3,600 people dead since 2009, including

Constitution review: Reps may consider LG

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he House of Representatives yesterday began clause-byclause consideration of the report of its ad-hoc committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, with indications emerging that the lawmakers may differ with the Senate when they start voting on Tuesday.

Although the House did not vote on the clauses, the consideration which commenced at about 12:30pm did not end until around 6:30pm, as embers devoted much of their contribution

time on local government autonomy.

Other items to be considered for voting on Tuesday include the rejected immunity conferred on the president, vice-president, governors and deputy governors in the 1999 Constitution; rejected rotational presidency between North and South, as well as among the six geo-political zones in the country.

Others are the proposed role for traditional rulers, state police, conduct of state elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), rejection of single tenure for

Bayelsa Police Commissioner survives gun attack

T

he Bayelsa state Commissioner of Police, Tonye Ebitituwa, and his entourage survived an ambush by armed men suspected to be pirates on Brass Waterways in the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alex Akhigbe, in Yenagoa on Thursday.

Mr. Akhigbe said the police patrol boat conveying the commissioner and his entourage was attacked on Tuesday during a tour of police formations within the command. He said the incident occurred around

7.30 p.m.

The spokesman said Mr. Ebitituwa visited Oporoma, Korokoresei and Olugboiri in Southern Ijaw to access the crime situation in the area. He said in the ensuing gun battle, some of the pirates were feared dead, others jumped into the water, while their boat was sunk.

“What would have turned out to be another calamity was averted due to the alertness of the patrol team and the preparedness of the Bayelsa Police Command to deal with acts of criminality, sea piracy, armed robbery and other crimes in the state,” he said.

president and governors; rejection of reservation for certain percentage of elective offices to women, among others.

The report also revealed that not only did Nigerians reject fiscal federalism, they also rejected the continued demand by oil producing

states to have the revenue derivation formula raised from its current 13 per cent to at least 20 per cent. These were also considered.

It would be recall that the Senate rejected fiscal autonomy for local overnments in the ongoing Constitution amendment process.

FG to hand over Almajiri schools to states, says Minister

T

he Federal Government has announced its intention to hand over the 80 Almajiri schools built across the country to the affected states.

Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, disclosed this to State House correspondents in Abuja after the National Economic Council meeting which also presented an update on the status of the Almajiri education programme.

He said the schools would be handed over two weeks after the end of the Ramadan fast.

The schools were built as part of efforts towards addressing the problem of the high number of out-of-school children.

Wike said the NEC commended the progress recorded in the education programme and recommended the take-off of academic programmes in the completed schools by the next academic calendar in September 2013.

The meeting also recommended that the Federal Government provide textbooks, furniture and laboratory items while the state governments would feed the children and provide uniforms in collaboration with the Federal Government.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

A

member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Dan J. M Harry, has asked a Federal High Court, Abuja to restrain the House of Representatives from taking over, or performing the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The House of Representatives, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Attorney-General of the Federation were listed as defendants in the suit filed by the plaintiff’s counsel, Chukwuma Nwachukwu.

The plaintiff asked the court to declare that the House of Representatives, cannot take over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly without the occurrence of the conditions set out in section 11(4), (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and complying strictly with same.

The plaintiff also asked the court to declare as unlawful, illegal and void, the taking over of the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the House of Representatives, following its resolution of July 10, 2013.

He further asked the court for an, “order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further taking over or performing the functions of the House of Assembly of Rivers State except in strict compliance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.”

The plaintiff wants the court to

Alakio killings: Judicial commission holds inaugural sitting From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

T

he judicial commission of inquiry set up by the Nasarawa state government in the wake of the brutal murder of scores of security operatives in Alakio village, allegedly by members of the Ombatse ethnic militia, has held its inaugural sitting yesterday.

The Chairman, Hon. Justice Joseph Fola Gbadeyan, said at the opening session that following the request for memoranda from stakeholders and the general public within and outside the state, the Commission received an undisclosed number of memoranda.

He noted that the setting up of the Commission was part of series of measures being adopted by the state government to arrest the recent security challenges across Nasarawa state, assuring that the commission is not there to witchhunt anyone or group.

Zachary Zamani Alumaga, legal Adviser to the outlawed Ombatse cult group, said that government did not serve the group with a ban letter.

“We got to hear about the ban only on air, he said and faulted the modus operandi of the panel “for relying on laws of Northern Nigeria as its powers.”

PAGE 5

PDP member asks court to restrain Reps from taking over Rivers Assembly determine whether the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, is entitled to take over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly

without complying with the provisions of section 11 of the 1999 Constitution, and also, whether the House of Representatives was

not amenable to a restraining order by way of an injunction restraining them from taking over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

L-R: Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Delta state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Adamawa state Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako, Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, and Benue state Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

FG asks Turaki to oversee execution of constituency projects

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

o fast track the execution of constituency projects, President Goodluck Jonathan has given Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, a “special oversight” mandate to oversee execution of constituency projects.

Payments to contractors who handled constituent projects would be paid from a dedicated account where constituent projects funds are kept once such work is certified by the Minister.

Coordinating Minister for

the Economy and Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, confirmed yesterday the new development to reporters in Abuja.

She said that the data base on constituency projects had been handed to Turaki.

According to her, “however, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will still be responsible for actual implementation because they are the ones that have the actual technical capacity to do so.

The President wants fast

action on the implementation of these projects and he has asked us to convene a meeting with the Head of Service, of the permanent secretaries with the DG BPE to discuss how we can put in place a mechanism that will ensure acceleration of implementation of these projects.”

On payment to contractors handling projects, she said, “once they have procured and implemented and a certificate has been cleared by Special Duties, then they come to us for payment to these contractors.”

Boko Haram: Borno gets presidential food relief From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

M

inister of state for Agriculture, Dr. Tijjani Bukar, said yesterday that the presidential food relief released to Borno state would be shared in 3928 units of the state.

The Minister who revealed this to newsmen after holding a meeting with Borno state committee for sharing the grains said federal government has spent well over N1 billion in the release of the grains

and transporting them to respective states.

The sharing will be coordinate by the Kanem Borno Foundation with voluntary support from religious bodies, civil society organisations, the security and the “civilian JTF.” The Minister said each of the units were expected to get at least 45 bags of the assorted grains, depending on the size of the units.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan was very much

concerned by the plights of the people of Borno state, especially during on-going Boko Haram conflict.

‘We have put a mechanism that would minimize diversion that is why we are involving the civilian-JTF, to monitor the exercise to ensure that it is not abused or hijacked’, he said.

The Borno state committee headed by Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari would officially flag off its distribution at the precinct of the Shehu’s palace.

News Rivers crisis: ACN accuses police of selective investigation From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has urged the police to be more circumspect and avoid being partisan in their ongoing investigation into the crisis in Rivers State, if the outcome of the investigation is to be acceptable to Nigerians.

In a statement issued in Oro, Kwara State, on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the fact that only the security aides of Gov. Chibuike Amaechi have been invited to Abuja for questioning by the police hierarchy, and also the fact that only the majority leader of the State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, has been declared wanted, have provided an insight into the thinking of the police on the issue.

The statement wondered why Rivers Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, who provided cover for the five renegade lawmakers to attack the House while failing to provide security for the House to sit, and the leader of the renegade lawmakers Evans Bipi, who allegedly started the crisis in the House by punching Lloyd and the Speaker of the House on the face, were not invited along with the others. ‘’This is why we warned, in our earlier statement, that the police should go beyond addressing the symptoms in its efforts to unravel the role played by the security agency in the festering crisis. We hate to say that the action of the police hierarchy has vindicated us,’’ ACN said.

APC is corrupt, deceitful, says PDP

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the yet to be registered opposition amalgam, All Progressives Congress (APC) a union of the deceitful and the corrupt.

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Caesar Okeke, in response to declaration by Gen. Mohammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, alleging that the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), including the governor’s on the platform of party, ate corrupt, described the opposition as a ‘white-washed’ tomb.

The statement said that, “the summary once more is that the much vaunted opposition merger is only a union of the deceitful, the corrupt and the dictatorial.”

“The ACN, CPC, their major and minor allies in the APC have again shown that they are whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but in the inside are full of the unclean,” the PDP declared.

PAGE 8

Photo Splash

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr, Reuben Abati (2nd left), with family members, during the songs of service of Madam Maria Taiwo Abati, yesterday in Abeokuta.

Photo: Joe Oroye

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

L-R: Controller in Charge of Policy, Regulatory and Inspectorate, Federal Fire Service, Mr. Emmanuel Okeke, Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, Controller-General of Federal Fire Service, Engr. Olusegun James Okebiorun, and Executive Director, Human Resources and Admin., NOA, Barrister Udodirim Orurou, during a visit by the Fire Service boss to NOA corporate headquarters, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Zonal Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (RS4), Mr Buius Darwang (middle), addressing drivers at the NTA Park, during an awareness campaign on road safety, yesterday in Jos. Photo: NAN

ment anage ty M al identity ti n e N tion l Id ationa for the na PHOTO: NA the N ple ja. ff of istering peo bly, in Abu ta s f m g l Asse ers o C), re Memb ission (NIM the Nationa t Comm esterday a y card,

L-R: Vice-President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu; National Secretary, Union of Textile and Garment Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Sylvester Chimeze and Secretary-General, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Comrade Nasir Abbas, during a ceremony to mark the 95th birthday of Nelson Mandela, yesterday in Kaduna.

Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 9

News

Constitution amendment a wasteful venture, says Aremu From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

V

L-R: APGA National Chairman, Sir Victor Umeh, NCP National Chairman, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Chairman, KOWA Party, Alhaji Umar Mustapha, and ACN National Secretary, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, during a stakeholders meeting with INEC on the Anambra state governorship election, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Underage marriage: Ekiti First Lady frowns at Senate position

W

ife of Ekiti state Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has called on women to rise up and reject the Senate’s voting against the proposed amendments to the Constitution forbidding underage marriage in Nigeria.

Mrs. Fayemi was reacting to recent debate at the Senate, where Senators had reversed a vote appeared to outlaw underage marriage in the ongoing constitution amendment, particularly the amendment to Section 29(a) of the 1999 Constitution that pegs the full age to 18.

She described the lawmakers’ action as inimical to the growth and liberation of female gender in the country.

Mrs. Fayemi however expressed disappointment at the Senate decision saying it would further cause decline to female access to education in Nigeria.

“I am seriously disappointed

that distinguished Senators could reverse the vote that would have outlawed underage marriage. I want to charge the women to rise up and reject the action by pressing for the criminalization of early marriage in Nigeria”,Mrs. Fayemi said.

Mrs. Fayemi expressed her disappointment while speaking in Ado-Ekiti at the 2ndAnnual Public Lecture organized by Women and Children Development and Health Research Initiative in collaboration with the Ekiti Development Foundation.

Speaking on the theme of the Lecture: ‘Gender Perspective and the Role of Media in Cancer Prevention in Nigeria”, Mrs. Fayemi, said it will be criminal and callous for any government to treat the issue of Cancer with disdain, saying it must be taken with all seriousness to save the country’s productive population.

Mrs. Fayemi assured that the present Governor Kayode Fayemi-led Administration would put mechanisms and policies in place that would safeguard the health of women, particularly the fight against Breast and Cervical Cancers.

Speaking on the lecture’s theme, the Guest Speaker and Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu Ode, Prof. Oluyemisi Obilade, urged governments at all levels to give women, who are the most vulnerable to breast and cervical Cancers free access to quality medical care.

Obilade described poverty and ignorance as the main cause of death among women, saying “some of the cancers that are killing the women would have been averted, but for poverty. Some of them even fear to go to the hospital for screening because of the money she will spend.”

Banker arraigned over alleged N37.5m fraud From Omale Adama Lokoja

T

he Head of Operations, Mainstreet Bank, Ankpa branch in Kogi, Mr. Mohammed Umar was on Thursday arraigned before a Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly defrauding the bank of N37.5 million.

According to the police First Information Report (FIR), an official of the bank, one Caesar Ibie, uncovered the fraud while on routine check at the Ankpa branch of the bank and reported to the police in Lokoja in April this year.

The FIR said that Ibie discovered that the 41-year-old Umar, as Head of Operations in the bank “fraudulently and dishonestly embezzled N37.5 million.”

Ibie had alleged that the ac-

cused perpetrated that fraud through unauthorized cheques debiting various customers’ accounts without their consent.

The accused was also alleged to be manipulating customers’ accounts by debiting them each time deposits were made and diverting such monies to his personal use.

He was alleged to have used the money allegedly embezzled to purchase four vehicles.

He was also said to have built and completed a two bedroom flat at Ajobe village near Ankpa, built and equipped a Cassava Processing plant at Ojapata and a publishing business office in Anyigba.

Peoples Daily reports that the banker who was charged with criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and cheating contrary to sections 312, 309 and

322 respectively of the Penal Code pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecuting police officer, Samuel Ikutanwa Esq. told the court that investigation into the case was still going on but did not oppose bail of the accused having being on police bail before his arraignment.

Leading two other lawyers for the accused, Sam Akoji Esq. made an oral application for the court to admit their client to bail and hinged the application on section 341(2/3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and sections 35(4) and 36(5) of the 1999 constitution.

In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Levi Animoku, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N1million and adjourned the case to August 20, for mention.

ice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu, has urged the nation’s leaders to stop wasting resources in the guise of attempting to amend the Constitution.

Speaking on Wednesday at a programme in Kaduna to mark the 95th birthday of Nelson Mandela, Aremu insisted that there is nothing wrong with the any of the various Constitutions that Nigeria has used.

Instead, according to Aremu, the leaders should amend their ways and change their orientation and perception of governance.

Aremu regretted that the current effort by the National assembly at constitutional amendment as, “wastage of human and natural resources.”

According to him, “the 1960, 1963, 1966, 1979 and 1999 Constitutions are perfect and they address every realm of the society.

“For example, Chapter onOne of the Constitution clearly defines the Nigeria Labour workers welfare, security and protection but all these have been thrown to the wind and that is the reason for constant clashes between the government and the Labour.

“So, what we need is for our leaders to amend their ways of thinking and not any attempts to amend the Constitution.”

He noted that many African countries such as South Africa came to Nigeria to study the nation’s Constitution “but here we are we are still trying to find our feet while others who learnt from us are far

ahead of us.”

He warned that “if the government deregulates Labour then they (government) will deregulate more problems for the nation.

“Today, the Labour matter is central and is on the exclusive list, limits the problems of Labour but if the Senators go ahead to pass the law that will remove Labour from the exclusive list that means every state in the country will fight for the same wages, same condition of service and same benefits.

“So, if Lagos workers are being paid N18,000 minimum wage, Ekiti state workers did not have any excuse of paying less, they have to pay the same amount and no Labour union will listen to any excuse given by any state government.

“This is also unjust because the Senators who are trying to pass this bill are on the exclusive list.

“Take example of the Senate President himself, he is being paid from the Federal Government money while not deregulate his office and let him be paid from his constituency?”

Aremu described Mandela as a true African who fought against injustice.

Mandela was the President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, he is less remembered for his presidency which he commendably left after an eventful one term, not third term, but his ability to forgive those who jailed him for 27 years and for being a symbol of reconciliation in a nation polarized along ethnic, racial and class cleavages.”

Customs hits N2.3bn in Kaduna zone

T

he Kaduna/Katsina Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it collected N2.3 billion as revenue between January and June 2013.

The Area Controller, Alhaji Yerima Abubakar, announced this at a mid-year news conference in Katsina on Thursday.

He said the revenue represented 57 per cent of the command’s annual target, adding that it was optimistic of meeting the target by the end of the year.

Abubakar also said the command seized various goods valued N330 million during the period under review.

He said that some of the seized items included rice, ve-

hicles, motorcycles, spaghetti, among others.

Abubakar said that the revenue record was achieved through the collaborative efforts of officers of the command; the Federal Operations Unit and the Customs Task Force.

He explained that any revenue collected by the Customs Service was used by the government for the good of the people.

The controller urged importers to pay the appropriate duties on their shipments instead of engaging in smuggling.

Abubakar said the doors of the service were opened to the public to facilitate legitimate trading. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 10

News

N4.2m: Man bags 21-year jail term From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos

J

ustice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja yesterday sentenced a trader, Aruna Adeshina, to 21 years imprisonment for defrauding his clients the sum of N4.2 million.

The accused was convicted after he pleaded guilty to the three-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Onigbanjo sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on each of the counts bit directed that the sentences are to run concurrently starting from June 1,2010.

He also ordered that two landed property owned by Adeshina at Alagbado area of Lagos ,which were seized by EFCC, should be forfeited to his victims as restitution.

Adeshina was first arraigned on September 16,2008 and he had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

However, on April 29,2013, he decided to change his plea to a guilty plea.

Earlier, counsel to EFCC, Mrs Bunmi Bosede, informed the court that Adeshina had in January 2008 collected various sum from the trio of Joy Fomah, Henry Fomah and Bakare Adeyinka.

She added that Adeshina had obtained the money under the pretext of supplying the victims with various quantities of used batteries and magnesium cast.

According to the anti-graft agency, the convict failed to supply the products after collecting the moneys which prompted his clients to petition the EFCC. Bosede said the offence contravened Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2006.

Ramadan: Kaduna donates 69,000 bags of rice From Femi Oyelola

I

n the spirit of Ramadan, Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero yesterday flagged off the distribution of 69,000 bags of rice to the less privilege in the state.

Speaking during the flagged off ceremony, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero said the month of Ramadan is a month of giving and in line with this, the state government will try to provide essential foodstuff, to people in the state, especially those observing the obligatory Ramadan fast.

According to the Governor, this gesture is aimed at ameliorating the present economic realities that may hamper a hitch free fasting period in some families, saying Government is not unaware of the hardship facing some of our people and Government shall always remain unwavering in it determination to uplift the living standards of all citizens in Kaduna state.

“Consequently, the State Government has procured substantial quality of rice for distribution to people across the 23 Local Governments in the state. This is in the spirit of Ramadan and to also seek for Allah’s intervention in sustaining the present peaceful co-existence that we enjoy in our state. To this end, each Local Government Area shall receive 2,500 bags of rice of 5kg for onward distribution to people across the state,” Yero said.

The Governor warned those in charge of distribution

Ghana Vice-President, Kwesi Amissah Arthur (middle) with some dignitaries, during the opening ceremony of the Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW), and Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) Assembly, yesterday in Accra, Ghana.

Photo: Mohammed Kandi

Dangote truck crushes three to death in Ilorin From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

hree member of a family travelling on the motorcycle along Oyun,along Kwara state Polytechnic road yesterday were crushed to death by a truck belonging to Dangote group of Company.

It was gathered that the three victims were heading toward Ilorin while the truck was going to OkeOyi,NNPC depot.

Eye witness account revealed that the Dangote truck which crushed the three victims on the motorcycle was loaded with cements and was burnt by aggrieved youth of the area.

The incident occurred at Sango area of the Old Jebba Road. Three victims are Sakari Yau, Wasiu Yau and Ganiu.

The deceased were said to be indigene of Oke-Oyi, a town in Ilorin East Local Government Area of the State.

The Kwara State Police Command, PPRO,DSP Olufemi Fabode who also confirmed the incident said some people who stole the cement from the burnt truck have been arrested with about 100 bags of Dangote cement recovered.

Fabode who condenmed the action of aggrieved people of the area said it would be difficult to

compensate the three victims family who lost their life stressing they should stop applying jungle justice.

“People should allow V.I.O to do their work and that would bring justice. How could the owner of the truck compensate the victim now. This is bad and our people must stop this”.

FRSC, Kwara State Sector Commander, Mrs. Mary Wakawa also confirmed the incident state on the accident that occurred this morning “We were called in for a rescue operation. Our men were on sight and did they rescue quite well.

Three people were on one okada, they ran into a moving trailer.

Two died on spot and one died on the way to the hospital. They are all males from the same parents.

They were ran over by the trailer and they all died.

“Their bodies were deposited at UITH. People later attacked the trailer and was totally burnt but the driver escaped of the rice to ensure that the products get to those whom the items are meant for adding that the state government would not tolerate any diversion or showing of personal interest in course of distribution

Don’t put agriculture, devt in separate silos, IFAD boss urges

By Mohammed Kandi

P

resident of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, has called on African governments and stakeholders in the agriculture sectors to align agriculture and development as part of their developmental programmes ahead of the post 2015 development agenda for the continent.

The IFAD boss disclosed this yesterday in Accra, Ghana, at the opening of the ongoing Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW) and Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) assembly, with a theme “Africa Feeding Africa through Agricultural Science and Innovation.”

“As we look toward the post2015 development agenda, we

must make sure that we do not put agriculture and development into separate silos. We must not forget that agricultural research is a major pillar of a wellgrounded agricultural system,” he said.

Nwanze expressed displeasure over Africa slow pace in optimizing its agricultural potential and maximizing existing conventional technologies and systems.

According to him, “Africa has the largest share of the world’s uncultivated arable land. There are 800 million hectares of uncultivated land with rain-fed crop potential in sub-Saharan Africa, and virtually none in South and East Asia or North Africa.”

He said investing into smallscale farming was key in Africa’s rapid economic boost, adding

“successful small farms can create vibrant rural economies with a range of non-farm enterprises, providing a variety of jobs, decent income and food security.”

“And growth in agriculture equates to a reduction in poverty. It has been estimated that for sub-Saharan Africa, growth generated by agriculture is eleven times more effective in reducing poverty than GDP growth in other sectors,” IFAD boss explained.

“Simply providing smallholders with fertilizers, improved seed and access to irrigation is half of the equation. The other half of the equation for food and nutrition security includes the right policies, investment in rural infrastructure and access to land and regional markets.

“With these issues in mind, we must ask ourselves, do we want to get back on the road that we left in the 1970s, or do we need a new road?” Nwanze queried.

Declaring the event opened on behalf of the President, Ghana’s Vice President, Kwesi Amissah Arthur, said it has become necessarily for Africans to share experiences and strategise towards improving Africa’s capacity in agricultural research to attain food security and lift millions of people out of poverty.

Kwesi, who said Africa was blessed vast lands, young energetic youth populations, as well as the capacity to transform its economy, urge the rural farmers to ensure they are captured into the research agenda for their countries

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 11

Money Sense

How to steer clear of investment panic

S

aratu was sick, or at least so we thought.

One morning, she was having trouble breathing and sneezing, and getting very frustrated. The caring dad yelled at whoever came his way, pushed everyone aside and rushed her to a walk-in clinic. When they got there, Saratu was quietly asleep, without a hint of trouble. But that’s not the end of it. Everyone else there was sick. Kids were running around sneezing, coughing, and spreading their viruses around the room. That’s when it dawned on daddy.

Is Saratu fine all along but made sick because I came?

Then another thought came to his mind. Has anyone else done this with their finances? Panic, overreact and then swiftly push their finances down the slope of destruction because they just felt they needed to break a sweat?

At the beginning of 2009, when we were still scared out of our minds about the economy,

Money Tip: Ways to save money Cut the cost of your fuel bills As the global demand for power threatens to outstrip supply, prices are rising. But that doesn’t mean you need to be ripped off.

The domestic market for fuel is a competitive one and you can change supplier with a few clicks of the mouse. Your new supplier will take care of the formalities - you just pay less every month.

Consider installing a water meter We take our tap water for granted. And why not? The companies behind the supply exist to make a profit, we pay them to supply water and have every right to expect it to flow from our taps. But if it doesn’t rain, supply runs dry and the price goes up.

So you may want to consider the possibility of installing a meter.

If you have a big home with few occupants you may be surprised to learn you could halve your annual bill.

Cut your home phone bills BT may seem to behave like a monopoly but it most definitely is not one. If you must use your phone there are scores of cheaper alternatives from cable companies that package your telephone, television and even broadband internet access to low-cost dial-up services that give you access to cheaper calls using your existing line.

Quote “Everyone has ideas. What is rare is the person who will do something with them.” - Taken from ‘Life Your Inside Guide’

financial system and our retirement, how many of us really did what we were supposed to and stay the course (or better yet, put more into our investments)?

Before you jump up and claim victory because YOU did, how old were you and how much value did your portfolio drop from the peak in 2007? Staying the course after a 50percent net worth drop when you are 55 takes a vastly different mental toughness than doing the same when you are 22. If your early retirement hopes were destroyed and you are worried about your future, how much faith can you put into the “everything is just a cycle” theory?

Ignoring the short term was hard, but it’s precisely what we needed to do then. I’m not talking about those who bought Citigroup stock when it was $1, because the majority of those people just made a bet and won. I’m talking about the ones who, despite fear, trusted their experience and knowledge and just stayed heavily invested in diversified investments. The question really is, how do we get there?

Truthfully, there really is no right way to go about this, but at least I know these will help.

Been through it before.

The more bear markets you go through in your life, the more you understand how the whole system works. While there is no magical way of gaining experience, you can help yourself by slowly increasing your risk exposure within the

same asset class as you age. This is counter intuitive, but what I mean is, start off your exposure to equity investing with index funds. Then, as you feel more comfortable with the up and downs, then move onto perhaps different types of ETFs, and finally into stocks (if you so inclined). It’s much easier to feel safe in an index fund than putting your faith in one particular company, and having the needed experience may just make the difference of selling low or selling

high.

Have a plan. You seldom hear about people being proactive with their investments, but ha v in g a p la n re a lly he lp s.

Investing has nothing to do with disaster recovery, but simulating a disaster recovery plan will increase the chances that you don’t panic at the worst possible moment.

Don’t sweat it. Chances are that you are underestimating your investment horizon. If you

are retiring in 5 years time, you need to account for the fact that the majority of your funds will still be invested for the next 25 years. In the long run, stocks win.

Stay the course, and you will come out okay.

In the end, the doctor said Sara was fine, and for daddy not to worry. “Whew” he thought.

I will be ready during the next crisis. (Culled from MoneyNing)

Is saving money the business of everybody?

W

hile everyone has heard the term a penny saved is a penny earned most of us never live by this phrase. There are however many ways that one can help save money, which are not as difficult to live by as you may think.

Not all tips are for everyone.

Everyone places value on certain things more than others, but if you look over some of these tips you may realize that you could try some of these out and be surprised with how much you could end up saving.

These too are also only some ways you could save. Many will frown at such ideas but some will take note, once again these are just tips.

Shop for clothes at 2nd hand stores as it is popularly called (bend-down boutique). Many people have the wrong impression of used clothing stores. While some may be quit dirty, there are several that are pretty nice considering.

While some items may make you wonder how they got in, there are standards they have to keep the store decent. Most will never accept stained clothing or anything ripped

or in need of repair. So many of the items have also barely even been put on and yet come at a fraction of the price of new clothes. You can really find some great pieces at a fraction of the price and no one can tell they are not brand new.

Keep those grocery fliers to compare prices and only try to buy things that are on sale. I know this does not always work well as there could be some items on sale you need at one store yet you would have to go some minutes away in order to get others, but within reason.

When ordering telephone, cable and internet services make them work for your business. While their prices may always seem set in stone, they not always are. While this is no secret, always be sure to pay every bill on time. Never pay anything late. Interest charges on everything from late bills to all bills just end up costing you much more money in the long run, not to mention can tarnish your credit rating.

Cut down on the energy used in your home, replace light bulbs with more efficient ones, use a programmable thermostat, take shorter showers and so on.

Instead of purchasing anything impulsively, write it down and look at your list a day later. Stores are great at marketing and often catch people unguarded. If you are like many, you may end up buying something you really didn’t need and may hardly even use. Waiting a day helps you to determine if it a just an impulse or if it would be a good buy.

Ask yourself, do I have enough money to actually buy this, if you answer not really than don’t buy it, it is a simple as that. Anyone tip is use cash or cash equivalent instead of credit to keep a better eye on your finances.

Finally, while this may sound counterproductive, don’t end up being a miser either. Do your best to save money and live within your means, but don’t pinch every kobo so hard that you end up folding it in half.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

EDITORIAL

n a moment of national distress, a leader is expected to capture the collective mood of melancholy in few but nearly exact words. That we saw our President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan do on July 7, few hours after gunmen launched a Saturday dawn attack on a secondary school in Yobe state, killing over 20 students and a teacher. The president used the words “barbaric, completely wicked” to describe the savagery of the assailants. That was one job done.

The next was for the President to assure the families of the dead and Nigerians generally that the killers would be tracked down and brought to justice. Also a weary nation waited for him to say what would government do differently now to end the acts of terror committed by the Boko Haram sect suspected to have carried out the Mamudo secondary school killings though it has denied responsibility. But our president failed to inspire a despondent and despairing population that has seen every act of terror expose the helplessness of his government.

Nothing can be more frustrating than these words coming from a leader everyone looks up to when a catastrophe strikes: “Anybody who will target innocent children for any kind

of grief or emotional dysfunction will certainly go to hell”. Haba!

Nobody doubts President Jonathan’s unflinching faith in the God of justice. But even people who are not of “the book” believe in eternal damnation for evil doers! Our President is not another “man of God”, but a political leader. Let him leave the hellfire talk to those whose

“

I

A President’s ‘rot in hell’ lament

God must be tired of this President who keeps throwing problems at him business it is to warn of the destruction that awaits evildoers.

Jonathan’s job as an elected (let’s pretend he was) political leader is to protect Nigerians and ensure their wellbeing. He took the oath of office to do exactly that.

These perilous times are moments when Nigerians need to see their President demonstrate that commitment to the oath he took. But what do they see? A president who throws his hands up in despair at the slightest challenge to his ability to lead this country.God must be tired

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”

of this President who keeps throwing problems at him. He should know that God helps only those who help or try to help themselves. The problem is that our president is not even trying to help himself. Two years ago, when Boko Haram, for the first time, brought its fight against the state to Abuja, the seat of the national government, Jonathan could only tell horrified Nigerians that terrorism was a new phenomenon for which the country was not prepared and we must learn to live with it.

Place Jonathan’s helplessness against the inspiring remarks

by United States President Barack Obama in the wake of last April’s Boston Marathon bombings: “Yes, we will find you (the bombers), and yes, you will face justice…We will find you, we will hold you accountable.If they sought to intimidate us, to terrorise us, it should be pretty clear by now that they picked the wrong city to do it.”

Obama spoke on April, 18, 2013. A day later, the suspected masterminds of the bombings were caught. He made a resolve and delivered on his commitment. He showed leadership in his country’s troubled moments. This is all we ask of our own president – to show leadership, not preach hellfire sermon.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 13

Opinion Al-Mustapha: Before a new wave of savagery

By Tunde Ali

T

he emotional funfair and mixed feelings generated by the sudden release of Major Al-Mustapha by the Lagos State Appeal Court attracts my attention.

I believe that a conscious effort must be made to put the record straight about Al-Mustapha for the benefit of those individuals who might be too young to remember him and his clouts.

Let us not forget that Hamza Al-Mustapha was the Chief Security Officer of General Sani Abacha, military head of state of Nigeria from November 1993 to June 1998. He joined the army and was trained as an intelligence operative. He was involved in at least two investigations of coup attempts; and his conduct of interrogations brought him to the attention of Sani Abacha. When Abacha was the Chief of Army (August 1985 – August 1990) Al-Mustapha was appointed as his Aide-de-Camp, he continued to enjoy the confidence of his boss and eventually became his Chief Security Officer; when he (Abacha) “kicked aside” the interim government of Chief Earnest Shonekan.

Several newspapers in Nigeria during the regime reported that Abacha’s National Security Adviser Ismaila Gwarzo and Al-Mustapha were believed to be responsible for much of the “torture”, and killing during Abacha’s rule. It was under Al-Mustapha’s reign that Kudrat Abiola, the wife of the “pillar of democracy and the 1993 President elect” Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola was killed. Why ? because she was considered a threat to the

regime of Sani Abacha as a result of her consistent advocacy for the redemption of her husband’s legitimate political mandate which was given to him during the 1992 general election by the Nigerian masses.

According to a popular dictum, “power is ephemeral”. Therefore, immediately after the death of Sani Abacha, Al-Mustapha was arrested by the succeeding regime. He was charged and detained for murder and attempted murder at the Kirikiri maximum prison.

Twelve years later, precisely on 30 January 2012, a Lagos High Court convicted him over the murder of Kudirat Abiola, the wife of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola. He was sentenced to death by hanging.

With this sentence, justice was believed to have been done especially by those individuals and families of Al Mustapha’s victims.

It is important to say that Al-Mustapha has been detained since 1998 when he was arrested.

As sudden as the death of his boss appeared, so also was the announcement of the ruling of his discharge and acquitted. The judge ruled that “there was not enough evidence to incriminate him in the murder of the late Kudirat Abiola”.

This verdict (July 12, 2013) overturned the Lagos High Court which sentenced him to death by hanging. The presiding judge, Justice Rita Pemu, accused the lower court judge, Justice Mojisola Dada, of being ‘‘stroked to secure a conviction by all means”. This pronouncement consequently removed the dagger of death which

has been dangling hitherto on Al-Mustapha’s neck, and suddenly made him a free man.

In Nigeria, a developing democracy, legal conflicts are not always resolved in the court.

The people involved, especially the powerful, take laws into their hands, they exercise and engaged in jungle justice. When they are forced through the judicial process, court orders or verdicts are flouted with impunity. Law defends the rich, neglects the poor and condones human rights abuse. It is not uncommon to have a person arrested and jailed without trial, or have the outcome of the legal adjudication predetermined by the ‘powerful’ and ‘the rich’ who through their wealth “buy” or influence justice and its process.

The judiciary which was once held in high esteem is now equally corrupt like its legislative and executive counterparts.

In case of Al-Mustapha, the paraphernalia of his legal problem is full of contradictions.

He was arrested and kept in jail for fourteen years, twelve of those years are without trial. He was neither tried nor found guilty during the time. Is this not an abuse of power and aberration of the due process of the rule of law?

In a civilized country where rule of law is respected, a person cannot be held or arrested for more than twenty-four hours without charge or appearance before a judge in a court of competent jurisdiction. Until then, such a person is deemed innocent unless otherwise proved guilty beyond all reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Al-Mustapha was dumped in jail by the people who felt

humiliated by his roles and activities while he was the Chief Security officer to General Sani Abacha. He was forced to swallow the bitter pills with which he has treated other people including his superiors while in office. With this show and tussle of power, the law of the land and the court process were compromised and violated.

Nigerians need to be mindful of the timing of Al Mustapha’s release, a season when President Jonathan Goodluck is determined and clandestinely manifesting his schemes to remain the land lord of the Aso-Rock beyond 2015.

In a time when most of the ‘who-is-who’ in Northern politics appear to be working against his desire to renew his tenancy of Aso-Rock. The need to let lose a seemingly powerful ‘one of them’ to penetrate and divide their blocks is no less a realistic strategy for JGL to actualize his dream.

I will not be surprised if he is eventually drafted to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and arranged to contest the 2015 election. Remember Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu in 1983 when he was pardoned and drafted to National Party of Nigeria (NPN) by President Shehu Shagari ?

On the other hand, since he was convicted and later acquitted by the Lagos High Court, it is not impossible that the appellate court has been remotely controlled by the power that be, who are equally desperate for northern votes to boost the APC political alliance. To them Al-Mustapha’s release could be a necessary move to steer and sustain political coalition against the ruling PDP.

Again whether justice is served or seen to be done is not my contention here. Al-Mustapha has paid the price for his behavior in office. Whether it is commensurate to the crime he committed is a different question; but the fact of the matter remains that he was humiliated and humbled. This is a lesson to all public office holders about the ephemeral and transient nature of power.

Secondly, for the benefit of doubt, I think the time is ripe for Nigerians to listen to AlMustapha’s side of the story.

He said during his trial at Lagos High Court that he has video evidence on the murder of General Sani Abacha and Bashorun Abiola. Watching the video might be neccessary, perhaps it will open a new facts, provide new information, clarify some unanswered questions or possibly begin a healing process for the nation.

While Al Mustapha is working on his “evidence tape”, we can ask president Jonathan Goodluck as the Commander-in-Chief to clarify the raising imbroglio about Al-Mustapha’s status in the Nigeria Army,or if he is or will be a co-opted, or card carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party. Either way, it is obvious that Al-Mustapha has been released to orchestrate something, and it is only a matter of time for such purpose to manifest. Till then Nigeria will forgive Al-Mustapha but Nigerians will not forget his dark days.

Dr. Tunde Ali is the President of Citizens for Good Government & Accountability (CIGGAC).

The mace, the mob and the mess

By Henry Eguridu

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recedents are like domino effects, chain reactions that occur due to changes which cause a spiral and so on in linear sequence. “A dangerous precedent is being set in this country” cried Chief ObafemiAwolowo as he fought back attempts by the Balewa Administration to impose a state of emergency in Nigeria’s western region in 1965. While those pleas fell on deaf ears, because there was a predetermined attempt to deal with perceived enemies, the crisis had set off a series of precedents. The first of it was mace snatching .That modern and very bad precedent of mace stealing and head battery in Nigeria started in the Western regional assembly and Mr. Ebubedike representing Badagry East has the “honour” of being the first Nigerian to seize a mace, the instrument of authority of the House and using it as a head battering weapon when fighting between the members broke out.

Chairs were thrown and he grabbed the parliamentary Mace and wielded it like a weapon to attack the Speaker and other members.

The weapon of head destruction was thus born.

We have gone on to witness how “honourable” members have replicated this act with some sophistication and brazenness.

Who can forget that hilarious yet shameful act by Late Dr. ChubaOkadigbo, that chain smoking Senate President who raced to Ogbunike- his hometown, to hide the mace of the Senate, in a bid to stall his impeachment?

The Oyi of Oyi even boasted that he kept the mace in custody of a seven foot python. These are the kinds that populate the legislative chambers. The second part of this was the introduction of the mob as weapon of intimidation and buccaneering. The circus taking place in Rivers State is text book copy of what was done in 1965.

First, find a pretext to remove the Governor by fomenting trouble or create a sense of destabilization. And this is done using proxies since the Oga at the top is not in a position to take on directly his perceived enemies.

In understanding these types of crisis, this African proverb becomes very apt “when you see a man dancing in the village square alone, know that the drummer is not far off” this is an indication of the external forces in these macabre dances.

Impunity has become second nature in our political processes.

Obasanjo laid a firm foundation for these excesses in the eight years he bestrode the nation, by harassing, haranguing and hassling political opponents using the

most ridiculous of pretexts and pedestrian tactics he showed that he could have his way whether we liked it or not. The use of the mob to devastating consequences to intimidate legislators or opponents was a well worn tactic.

We remember how Adedibu impeached a sitting governor using the power of the mob, it is not therefore surprising that these methods have been ingrained in our national fabric. But precedents also create a mess.

A local government council chairman disagrees or is seen to be rebellious to the Governor, the Governor quickly sends him packing through the threat of force or subtle innuendos depending on the characters that surround him or a deputy is perceived disloyal, the treatment of that fellow could be quite unpalatable. Again we saw how Tinubu dispatched two disloyal deputies. They brook no nonsense.

But when a Governor does that to the President, the consequences and repercussions are usually grave. The state is destabilized, it becomes the rule of the jungle where lawlessness becomes order and order lawlessness.

The mobs rule supreme, the godfathers hold everyone to ransom. Government activities are crippled and everyone is apprehensive. It is utterly divisive

and distracting. The legislature is usually the vehicle in destabilizing a Governor. It is the means external forces hostile to him use in rattling him.

Our legislators rarely cover themselves in glory. Their behavior and performances have usually been abysmal and the executive arm of government has contributed to the subservient nature of the legislature.

In every state, the Governors have been heavily involved in choosing or imposing their loyalists in the top echelon of the State assemblies.

This is to forestall impeachment of the Governor or to make life difficult for him. Most state houses of assembly are merely rubber stamp bodies doing the bidding of their Governors. To take out a sitting Governor, you will need to dislodge his loyalists like the speaker or majority leader and this usually happens at the behest of political godfathers. That is the exact scenario been played out in Rivers State.

We draw no inspiration from our legislators. A cursory visit to any State or Federal legislature when they are in session, begs the question. Watching their debates on national television is an eye sore as you are astounded at the level and quality of their debates.

Can anyone point to any ground breaking law any of them has passed. Instead of hedging

corruption or being an agent of good governance, they spend much of their legislative time haranguing about how to raise their own salaries and allowances, and how to share unspent budget. Rather than come determined to devote their tenures to fighting for a cause, they come determined to fight for their pockets. This is very unfortunate, given the accountability and oversight functions of the legislature. They are empowered by the constitution to represent the interest of the public in their oversight, law-making, appropriation and confirmation functions, but they have completely abandoned their duties. They have mastered the skill of using the mace as a weapon of choice to teach their colleagues a lesson in parliamentary civility and protocol.

They are world champions in causing the mace which is the symbol of authority to disappear, thereby incapacitating the House to be called to order, when it serves their interest.

The original purpose of the mace was for warfare; a practical weapon intended to protect figures of authority or sovereign’s. That was its original purpose. It is fitting that our legislators have gone back to the original purpose in using it to break their coconut heads.

Stay with Henry Eguridu @oheguridu

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Opinion & Online Comments Politics of solidarity visits and protests

By Ifeanyi Izeze

T

he feuding between Governor ChibuikeAmaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan on one hand and the open fight between Amaechi and NyesomWike, Minister of State for Education on the other has turned Rivers state into a theatre of the absurd and now all we have is the politics of solidarity visits and protest marches for and against whatever cause. The other day it was the former governor Peter Odili that led the solidarity visit to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja to declare their loyalty.

Of course, the truth is that the visit was a protest march against Governor ChibuikeAmaechi. The day after, Odili’s Deputy, Gabriel Toby led his own solidarity visit to Amaechi at the Government House Port Harcourt where they equally pledged their loyalty.

Without being told, this was also a protest march against whosoever is fighting Amaechi both at home and abroad.

It was very painful to see the caliber of men that went with Odili and NyesomWike to President Jonathan in Abuja and the ones that came with De Toby to the Government House, Port Harcourt.

If the elders who should be the ones making efforts to reconcile Wike and Amaechi for whatever their quarrel is, were the first ones to take and stick to sides, then things have completely gone wrong in Rivers state. If Odili and Toby cannot call Amaechi and Wike to order, who else can? Both Chibuike and Nyesom were political creations of Odili and both highly respect and esteem Toby. So what

are we talking their own about? anti-whoever How could daily protest the elders be marches.

Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, more concerned And if you text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written in taking sides did it under contributions should be concise.

Word limits: Letters while the state is Amaechi, you - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your in reverse gear? It will be ready name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be would have been to tolerate more productive other people addressed to: and statesmanlike do it when you to see Odili, as form your own The Editor, a father, lead government.

Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, that same team If you don’t, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. to visit Amaechi you know what Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com at Government would follow!

SMS: 08134607052 House to plead Now, for peace or even what were the if it is to chastise Chibuike for not of Rivers state and the entire Niger Northern governors looking for in behaving well towards Jonathan/ Delta who on the long run will be Port Harcourt? Amaechi’s political Wike. And Sir Toby going to at the receiving end in this evolving problem is 99 percent domestic and Jonathan/Wike to plead for peace. anarchy. It is time we stopped all only a sincere domestic strategy can Is this too difficult to achieve if we the solidarity visits and protests address it. The national angle is the are sincere to ourselves? It is still because they will not stop what God smallest perspective of the crisis. not too late for this initiative as this has destined Amaechi for. Today it How is the Northern Governors’ fire needs to be quenched before is Amaechi and tomorrow it’s going Forum going to help Amaechi it consumes the state and even the to be whoever and then whosoever reconcile with erstwhile members entire South-south. has sympathy for Amaechi and of his political family at home? You My worry is for the ordinary some of his loyalists then would see that everybody is just using the peace-loving citizens and residents change to the other side and start opportunity of this feud between

WRITE TO US

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Now, what were the Northern governors looking for in Port Harcourt? Amaechi’s political problem is 99 percent domestic and only a sincere domestic strategy can address it. The national angle is the smallest perspective of the crisis. How is the Northern Governors’ Forum going to help Amaechi reconcile with erstwhile members of his political family at home? You see that everybody is just using the opportunity of this feud between Amaechi and Wike/ Jonathan to make cheap political gains.

Amaechi and Wike/Jonathan to make cheap political gains.

Is it conventional for governors and politicians to pay solidarity visits to their colleagues in other states, abandoning their own responsibilities and even greater political problems at home? Without mincing words, the northern governors’ visit to Port Harcourt was to only compound Amaechi’s problems at home and with Jonathan- this is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It was the most unproductive in the arrays of solidarity visits and protest marches that have come to characterize the Rivers political space of recent because there was virtually no need for it as it only buttressed the smear campaign by the Ijaws against Amaechi.

Still on the absurdity in Rivers state politics, has it occurred to anybody at all that suddenly Rivers state is seeing thousands of youths “manufactured” to cause trouble in the anti-Amaechi protests and even some too on the governor’s side?

The question is, if this number of our youth (the majority of whom were former militants) is still available for this kind of assignment, who then were the ex-militants that were rehabilitated and sent to school by the Kingsley Kuku-led Amnesty Programme?

This is a very serious angle to the political crisis because it’s not only a Rivers issue but a matter that affects the entire Niger Delta.

Nigerians were told the amnesty programme has succeeded in stamping out militancy by productively engaging former militants. But what we are seeing in Port Harcourt is contrary to this claim.

Ifeanyi Izeze is on iizeze@ yahoo.com

Re: You have no respect for elders

By Isah Mohammed

I

read in Friday July 5 edition of the Peoples Daily of how the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] through his special assistant on media, Oliver Okpala, berated the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Reverend E. O Chukwuma of lack of respect for elders for having the guts to advise him and Chief Tony Anenih to resign their portfolios on account of old age. I was surprised that. Tukur did not see any sense in this very important advice. First, he Tukur] missed the point by sighting the African culture and quoting the Bible to justify his point.

This is because, though our culture in Africa emphasises respect for age, this must be the elders that have respect for themselves. The duo of Tukur and Anenih have been in circulation for as long as anyone can recall and the assessment general of the average

Nigerian as far as their stewardship is concerned has been one of utter disappointment.For instance, Chief Anenih was the minister for works under the Obasanjo administration and all he did was to turn Nigeria’s pothole ridden roads into craters thereby creating agonies for the numerous families that lost their loved ones on these roads. Nobody knows what happened to the

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billions of naira that was invested into the roads. Despite this, he has been enjoying government patronage, getting on juicy appointment after the other.

Tukur on the other hand has not brought age to bear in the way and manner he has been handling issues since he became the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] .It is

clear from any keen observer that, Tukur’s leadership of PDP is a flop.

PDP has never been this divided and there are no indications that, things will normalise soon as far as Tukur remains the chairman.

This is clear from the utterances of many chieftains of the party both at national and state levels.

For me, it is an aberration to compare Nelson Mandela with

The duo of Tukur and Anenihhave been in circulation for as long as anyone can recall and the assessment general of the average Nigerian as far as their stewardship is concerned has been one of utter disappointment.For instance, Chief Anenih was the minister for works under the Obasanjo administration and all he did was to turn Nigeria’s pothole ridden roads into craters thereby creating agonies for the numerous families that lost their loved ones on these roads. Nobody knows what happened to the billions of naira that was invested into the roads.

any of the characters in the article.

It is true that, Mandela became the president of South Africa at over 70 years .However, what makes the difference is that, even though Mandela had the goodwill and popularity to rule forever considering his decades of suffering to enthrone decency and human dignity ,yet, he led for five years and willingly stepped down. This is where old age goes with the wisdom to know when to quit the stage. Unfortunately, this is lacking among most elders in our country.

In Nigeria, these same set of elders have been in the corridors of power for decades and yet, nothing positive has come the way of the ordinary citizen. This is why I agree with the clergyman that, those who have paid their dues in our national life should honourably bow out so that, new bloods could be injected into the system.

Isah Mohammed, Fou’ad Lababidi Islamic Academy, Zone 3, Wuse, Abuja.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 15

Comment Now that Patience is ‘saviour’

By Wale Odunsi

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he lingering political crisis in oil-rich Rivers state is indeed a source of apprehension to every lover of democracy. Aside the fact that the electorates are the ones suffering the consequence of the standoff, parties involved in the tussle have by their actions, further adulterated whatever is left of decorum and decency. At the moment, Rivers is a place where only the fittest can survive; chickenhearted fellows have relocated either to Abuja or neighboring states, even as some others have taken two or three steps backward to avoid getting hit in the crossfire.

Globally, disagreement between those saddled with the responsibility of leading the people is a norm, nonetheless, there’s always a convincing motive for such. In this clime, the case is mostly the reverse.

Taking a critical look at it, why is ours different? Why do officials become worst enemies from best of friends, albeit on issues that wouldn’t positively add to us as an entity? Is there an end in sight to the much-talked about conflict in the land? Time, like they say will tell, but the same time has before now opened our eyes to a few things. I mean, certain events hitherto, gave us inklings to what we are witnessing these days in Rivers. Likening the entanglement to the proverbial instance, three prominent individuals constitute the hands of Esau, they point the way, during which their foot

soldiers do the job of speaking in Jacob’s voice.

President GoodluckEbele Jonathan has been the topmost “oga at the top” for more than three years, two of which are a fraction of his elected tenure. His grouse with Rivers helmsman, RotimiAmaechi, came to the fore about a year ago. The governor as chair of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, strongly disagreed with Jonathan’s government on issues including delay in disbursement of statutory monthly allocation, management of Sovereign Wealth Fund, creation of State Police among others.Also, the President feels that the purported ambition of Amaechi is a threat to his, bearing in mind that the entry of another Southerner into a presidential (or vice presidential) contest may affect his chances.

Come 2015, the doctorate degree holder in Zoology would not want split votes, either at the primaries or election proper.

As for Ezenbunwo Nyesom Wike, he is the Minister of State for Education, a post he attained with the help of the man he now perceives as an enemy. Wike hails from Ikwerre ethnic group, same as the incumbent Governor, who appointed him Chief of Staff.

Wike desires to be called ‘His Excellency’, and though he has a right to run, his erstwhile boss had stated that after eight years on throne (two years from now), having another Ikwerre man replace him was unfair to other groups. The statement, which dealt a severe blow to Wike’s

aspiration, is today deemed one of the reasons behind the ongoing skirmish. Not only did the Minister ensure that a duly constituted state People’s Democratic Party executive committee was ejected, he supervised the installation of his loyalists, apparently to position himself in the driver’s seat of PDP activities in the state.

Now Patience Faka Jonathan.

The fact that she was born in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers capital naturally suggests that she is interested in what goes on there.

A permanent secretary in her native Bayelsa state, analysts view her grip in the political affairs of her state of origin, as a factor that makes it difficult to reach a truce that, in truth, is improbable.

However, the power she wields

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has grown so much that she is now regarded as a liberator.

Initially, many, including myself, regarded her as an emperor; in fact, as far back as May last year, I referred to Mrs. Jonathan as “Her Imperial Majesty” in an article. That obviously was an understatement when compared to the recent re-baptismal by a legislator. Honorable Evans Bipi, representing Ogu/Bolo constituency is the coordinator of the anti-Amaechi lawmakers in Rivers State House of Assembly.

On the day he tried to lead a small band to overthrow a Speaker supported by over two dozen majority, he admitted that he is spearheading the removal of the governor for his audacity to “insult” the President’s wife.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been the topmost “oga at the top” for more than three years, two of which are a fraction of his elected tenure. His grouse with Rivers helmsman, Rotimi Amaechi, came to the fore about a year ago. The governor as chair of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, strongly disagreed with Jonathan’s government on issues including delay in disbursement of statutory monthly allocation, management of Sovereign Wealth Fund...

Stop the impeachment plot

By Abdulkarim Yusufu

A

United Nigeria Group has been mobilizing against the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Specifically, the group plans to hold mass demonstrations in Abuja to press the Senate and the House of Representatives to begin impeachment proceedings against the President. “We have catalogued all the impeachable offences and we are going to hand it over to them”, says Isa Tijjani, secretary general of the UNG. “This president has not lived up to expectations. He has not been able to uphold the oath he swore to protect and defend the constitution of Nigeria. Even the very democratic system that brought him to power is being threatened by the very action of the presidency. So we cannot just fold our arms and see the hard earned democracy of Nigeria [become a] disaster.”

Tijanni and his people are certainly expressing their constitutional right of free speech by criticizing the performance and even calling for the impeachment of the President. But what useful purpose will the impeachment of the President serve? Very little, except put the country through a wrenching ordeal with the frightening prospects of a civil war and or a dismembering of our country! First let’s look at the

process through which the removal of the president will pass.

The 1999 Constitution as amended provides that a President or Vice-President could be removed from office if any of them are guilty of “gross misconduct”.

The laborious process is detailed in Section 143, sub-sections 1 to 10. Then, subsection 11 tries to define the omnibus charge of “gross misconduct”. It says gross misconduct “means a grave violation or breach of the provisions of this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion of the National Assembly to gross misconduct.” There is a lot of leeway open to members of the National Assembly to swing the pendulum of justice to whichever direction they choose.

As representatives of the people across Nigeria, there would have been no quarrel with that. But can we trust our elected representatives of today with such powers, given their track record since democracy berthed here in 1999? We have witnessed too many squabbles and physical combats - one in which a member of the House was pummeled to death on the floor of the House – in a place where decorum, finesse and informed debate should have been the norm.

Not too long ago, some members of the House wrestled and stripped themselves to near nudity in the presence of secondary school

pupils on an excursion visit to the ‘hallowed chambers’.

Again it would have been tolerable or even acceptable if these happenings in the National Assembly were motivated by commitment to some high national ideals. Unfortunately, they are most of the times dictated by issues of personal emoluments. What if the members decide that a President who delays or refuses to pay their fat allowances has committed an act of “gross misconduct” and proceed from there to impeach him? It is advisable for Tijanni and his group to look closely at the conduct of the National Assembly and ask if these people are worth being prodded to embark on a mission that will have serious implications for the nation as removing the President from office.

It is true that terrorism became a full blown cancer during Jonathan’s tenure. Even then, all honest commentators must take note of the fact that the roots of these are to be found in years or decades before his assumption of power. The terrorism unleashed on the country by the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, and other armed groups cannot and should not be blamed on President Jonathan. Instead the President should be praised for the tactful manner he handled the Boko Haram scourge which had developed into a threat to Nigeria’s

unity among the numerous crack lines. His matured approach, leading to dialogue and declaring of a state of emergency has brought the crisis to almost an end.

Equally encouraging is the President’s track record in the fight against corruption, another cankerworm threatening the survival of our democracy. It is under his government that the credibility of the EFCC has been restored by putting the anti-grab agency under the care of those who established and gave it the credibility it earned in it’s first years of operation but had been frustrated out. The Presidents commitment to open government and transparency has led to the publication of a half term report in which the achievements of his administration are laid out in details. In such critical areas like the power sector, the transformation agenda of the president has restructured the sector and improved power generation from around 2000 megawatts to 4502 megawatts by December 2012- the highest since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.

In the agricultural sector for instance, 14 new rice mills with capacity to process 240 metric tons of rice were set up in 2012 by the private sector while in addition, a sum of 1.2 billion dollars was secured by the Federal Government to install 100 large scale rice

While being held by the state’s Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Bipi said: “I want to sacrifice myself for Rivers people; I am fighting for justice. Why must governor came (come) and supervise (the) beating on my colleagues? Why must he be insulting the President, why must he be insulting my mother, my Jesus Christ on earth? I can’t take this!” he declared.

In the light of the above, the gait of the Madam First Lady is now fully understood. Who wouldn’t lock down federating states for days, when some people regard him/her as the saviour?

Who wouldn’t breach protocol and alight from an airplane ahead of a President of 170 million people, when some people openly equate him/her with Jesus Christ? Who wouldn’t request an amount that could solve the demands by the Academic Staff Union of Universities to construct a building? Who wouldn’t be accorded such reverence, when the spouse watches helplessly while unwarranted prerogative is brandished? Or does Mrs. hit Mr. behind closed doors? Even if my wife made 1000 sacrifices for me to attain a great position whatsoever, that doesn’t permit her to bully those I swore to serve. To my media friends and others, the next time you people typeset Mrs. Jonathan’s name without prefixing ‘the saviour’, I will sue…for billions of Naira!

Wale Odunsi is reachable on LinkedIn processing mills to produce 2.1 million metric tons of rice annually.

This and other initiatives of government in 2012 resulted in the creation of about two million new jobs among rural dwellers.

In 2013, the Federal Government will implement a Young Graduates Commercial Farmers Scheme, which will absorb 780,000 graduates in its first phase and provide an estimated four million jobs in the agricultural sector in the first year.

It is sad that instead of encouraging the government of Jonathan to go ahead with the economic reform agenda, the threat to remove him from office will distract him. For now, statistics show that Nigeria has become the favoured destination of investors coming into Africa recording the highest investment of $8.4billion (around 930 billion). Government’s target is to attract $20 billion worth of foreign investments in three years.

The Jonathan administration’s handling of the economy led to JP Morgan Chase the reputable American investment and Securities Company to list Nigeria on its Government Bond IndexEmerging Markets (GBI-EM). It is the second African company after South Africa to be listed. This inclusion of Nigerian bonds could mean an `inflow of at least $1.5 million of inflow into Nigeria’s bond market’. The listing will also improve the profile of Nigeria’s debt market.

Abdulkarim Yusufu can be reached on kareem007@ gmail.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 17

Hygiene: Berger Camp in Kubwa unfit for human habitation, Bwari council

B

wari Area Council said the Berger Camp situated at Kubwa, FCT, is not fit for human habitation due to the dirty environment.

The council’s Head of the Environment Department, Mr Haruna Labaran, said this in Bwari on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the council would soon take Julius Berger to court over non-compliance with

environmental laws. ‘’We gave the authority a 14day ultimatum since last month to restructure the place when we visited the place for inspection,’’ he said.

Labaran said that the resolve to prosecute Julius Berger in court soon was due to its failure to comply with the 14 days ultimatum that elapsed on July 15. ‘’The camp is not fit for living by human beings, we saw over

grown grasses, uncovered soak away, bad drainage pattern, dilapidated structures, crowded people in a house and many others,’’ he said.

He said the environment was also littered with refuse in between houses where people occupied with lots of insects flying around. ‘’The occupants of this camp are 1,228 and half of the staff of the residence had been dismissed. ‘’The Berger management

A woman hawking corn, yesterday in Garki, Abuja.

has been in court with the staff for over four years which has propelled the staff to stay in the area till date,’’ Labaran said.

Labaran stated that the Julius Berger authority refused to maintain good sanitation practice in the place due to the court case. ‘’We have asked them to give the buildings to the area council if they cannot maintain the place instead of leaving it in bad shape,’’ he said. (NAN)

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Head teacher tasks parents on proper upbringing of children

H

ead Teacher of Grace and Gold Schools Abuja, Mrs Olunfunmilayo Adennoye, has urged parents and teachers to always ensure proper upbringing of their children to promote excellence in learning.

Adennoye gave the advice in her keynote address delivered at the Annual Speech and Prize Giving Day organised by the school on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to her, if children are trained in the right way to acquire relevant knowledge and skills in areas where they are good, they will come out best in all that they do.

She observed that some parents were often occupied with official engagements at the expense of the upbringing of their children.

She, therefore, advised that children should be engaged more in skills acquisition programme outside the school environment, to ensure their continuous and effective learning and to promote self-reliance.

“In all that you do, bring a child

up to become the best in whatever they do; in their academics they must come out as best, they can be at their top in whatever they are doing.

“We are not training them to become wish-washy persons, whether at play, academic, and even in skills acquisition.

“So by the time they are leaving school, they are not only good in mathematics, English and all that, they will also be good in beads making, soap making, so they can be self-reliant.

“A child going to school is a twoway thing; the teacher in school and the parents at home.

“We have two hands, if the school holds one hand and the parents hold the other hand, the child will be balanced in life, if any of them should drop, the child will become imbalance “Parents don’t even bother checking the bags of their children; they are occupied with their searching for money.

“They should spend time with

their children during the holiday, so that they can have time to really monitor what is happening to the child.

“It is about me knowing my parents, then parents knowing me as well, and the only time you can know yourselves is when you stay together at home.

“So if a child has gone to school, the parents must be able to look into the bag of the child, bring the book out and see what the child has learnt in school.

“If parents are doing that it is going to be fantastic, because whatever error is committed in school, the parents will notice it and give feedback to school.

“The schools also must do whatever they could, to ensure proper child upbringing.”

She disclosed that the school, which will mark its seventh anniversary in September, had 115 pupils.

She also spoke of the school’s readiness to organise summer

classes during the holiday in the core subjects as well learning some skills.

The chairman of the event, Mr. Obafemi Joseph, urged government at all levels to invest more in the education sector, to encourage teaching and learning.

Joseph commended the oratory and intellectual skills displayed by the pupils and urged parents to invest more in the children.

“Governments and stakeholders of the nation’s education sector must invest more through provision of infrastructure, to create room for effective teaching in school environment,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the students and pupils, Miss Gabriella Eriba, a Junior Secondary School II student, called on parents to always create more time to teach the children at home.

“I want my parents to create time to play with me and also teach me because the way my teachers might teach me is not the same as the way my parents will teach me. (NAN)

Metro Flood: Nyanya village head calls for community sanitation initiative

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Village Head of Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief John Pyape, has called on the residents of the area and other suburb in the FCT to engage in the community sanitation initiative to secure the environment against flood disaster as the rainy season had commenced.

He said that the flood, which occurred last year and destroyed farms and houses in some states in the country, was partly caused by the poor disposal of waste.

In his words: ‘’People dump refuse into the drains indiscriminately and this blocks the free flow of water, thereby pushing the water to the roads,’’ he said.

He said that maintaining good and clean environment was a national issue, which should be of concern to every citizen in the country and not the government alone.

He, therefore, urged residents of Abuja metropolis and the suburbs to dispose their refuse in the appropriate waste bins or at designated locations. ‘’Keeping the federal capital clean should be a collaborative effort involving everybody.’’

He stressed the need for all village heads in the FCT and other parts of the country to advise their subjects to imbibe sanitation culture, as it had been in the past.

Pyape advised the government to reintroduce waste bin for individual houses for the collection of refuse as this would curtail indiscriminate dumping of waste in drains by the residents.

He said, ‘’There used to be waste bins owned by individual houses to collect refuse generated from homes. Refuse vans should be going round the homes to evacuate them to dump sites.

“I am advising that we should imbibe that same culture, as it helped us to keep our environment clean.’’

Also speaking, Mr Ita Dickson, a resident, said that a major reason for last year’s flood in the country was as a result of poor waste disposal and poor sanitation attitude.

Dickson said that the indiscriminate dumping of waste materials in drains should be addressed by the heads of each village in the suburbs of the FCT. ‘’There should be sensitisation programme by the village authorities to enlighten the residents living in their domain, especially those living in flood-prone areas. ‘’Efforts must be made by the residents to remove waste materials from the drainage in order not to block the free flow of water,’’ Dickson said.

He urged government agencies to go round the villages to sensitise members of the communities on importance of keeping their environment clean.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 16

Yoruba leadership tussle: Adelabu not our president, say members

By Usman Shuaibu

T

A collapsed fence as a result of the heavy down pour, recently in pipeline extension 2, Kubwa, Abuja

Photo: Adeola Tukuru

Abuja residents to get 60-bed cottage hospitals

By Adeola Tukuru

I

n order to decongest the referral and district hospitals across the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Administration is set to soon construct three 60-bed cottage hospitals.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, gave this assurance during a meeting with senior officials of the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat.

The Minister revealed that these 60-Bed Cottage Hospitals

that are situated in Gwagwalada, Karshi and Shere have been programmed for completion this fiscal year.

According to him, this is a deliberate attempt to fully realize quality health care for the rural dwellers in the 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory in consonance with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

Senator Mohammed remarked that the construction of 60-Bed Cottage Hospital at Gwagwalada, Gwagwalada Area

Council has attained overall progress status of 53 percent.

He reiterated that the 60-Bed Cottage Hospitals in Karshi and Shere in the Abuja Municipal Area Council and Bwari Area Council respectively have also attained appreciable percentage.

Senator Mohammed recalled with nostalgia the expansion and rehabilitation work of Asokoro, Wuse, Gwarinpa District Hospitals as well as Abaji, Bwari, Kubwa and Nyanya General Hospitals that

have achieved 100 percent completion.

The Minister emphasized that this feat has no doubt improved access to quality health care in the Federal Capital Territory.

Senator Mohammed also emphasized that the jobs have further reduced the Morbidity and Mortality in the Territory and its environs.

“There is drastic reduction in waiting time for patients in our hospitals and increase capacity to handle FCT’s dynamic population,” he explained.

he Association of Yoruba Community in Dei-Dei, FCT under has said that Prince Adewale Adelabu was not the president of Yoruba in the territory.

Speaking to Peoples Daily on behalf of Yoruba Community in DeiDei, the Otunba of Abuja, Chief Wasiu Tunwase, warned Adelabu against parading himself as the president of Yoruba community in the FCT. He explained that the Yoruba Community was not aware when Adelabu was elected as the president of Yoruba, alleging that Adelabu single-handedly appointed himself as the president in the FCT. He noted that Olusegun Salau was the only recognized the President of Yoruba community in Abuja, saying that Salau was elected by the Yoruba across the six area councils in the FCT. He called on any group of Yoruba residing in Abuja not to use politics to disorganize or destabilize the Yoruba community in FCT, pointing out that Olusegun Salau was turbaned by the Ona of Abaji, who is the chairman of the traditional council in the FCT. Tunwase, therefore, advised the Yoruba to continue to live in peace with each other irrespective of their differences.

In a telephone interview, Prince Adewale Adelabu, said that he was the president of Yoruba council in the FCT, while Oba Olusegun Salau claimed to be the Oba of the Association of Yoruba Community in Abuja.

Adelabu further explained that he was elected as the president of Yoruba in the FCT under the leadership of President-General of Yoruba Community Council of Northern States, Chief Ganiyu I. Oguntoyinbo.

AEPB to designate special areas for washing cars

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

buja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) is to designate special areas for car washing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Assistant Director, Community Sanitation and Clinic in the board, Dr Emmanuel Akuchie, made this known during a special community environmental cleaning in Garki Village of the FCT. Akuchie expressed the worries of the board over both the social and environmental nuisance caused by indiscriminate car washing business in the capital city.

According to him, the board

has constituted a committee to designate special areas for the business as solution to the problem.

He said that the designated areas, if allocated, would engender regulation in the business.

He said that the sanitation exercise in the village was a successful one, and commended the residents for their cooperation.

The assistant director said that the board had decided to conduct the exercise on a work day rather than Saturday due to the attitudes of residents.

He said that the board had constituted a Community Environmental Sanitation Tasks Force (CESTF) in the village that

would sustain sanitation within its domain. ``We have decided to choose a work day because most residents use Saturdays as their resting day and as such will not come out to participate. ``Today, as you can see, every shop have closed and all those who do one business or the other have being around to participate rather than sleeping in their houses. ``We have a community based sanitation task force and they have been assisting us to monitor sanitation in the village. ``They only report to us anytime they have challenges and they are also on ground to sustain the tempo after today’s exercise.

``We are not stopping here, we have earlier gone to other communities and we will visit other ones soon.’’

In his remark, Chief Jacob Garki, District Head of the village commended the board for the exercise.

According to Garki, a healthy environment can sustain a healthy living for the residents.

He said that the community would continue to support the board by giving support to the sanitation task force within his domain.

He called on the board to deploy more staff to monitor sanitation in the village.

He also thanked residents for

their high level of compliance as they closed their shops and other businesses for the exercise.

Mrs Hajaratu Sani, a trader in the village commended AEPB for the exercise.

Sani said that the exercise would go a long way to creating awareness on the need to keep environments clean at all the time.

Mr Chidi Eze, a trader in cosmetics said the exercise was necessary because most residents had nonchalant attitude over sanitation.

Eze called on the board to continue to visit the community from time to time to enforce sanitation in the village.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 18

Metro

Police arraign 3 men for armed robbery

INSIDE FCT COURTS

T

A young man hawking kolanut, yesterday at Central Area, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Two security guards bag 100 days imprisonment for stealing dog

A

n Abuja Senior Magistrates Court have sentenced two security guards to 100 days imprisonment each for stealing a bulldog worth N250, 000.

The security guards, Umaru Bashiru, 25, and Daniel Bitrus, 21, both of House 20, 69 Road, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja were convicted by Senior Magistrate Mr Abdullahi Illelah after they pleaded guilty to the charge.

Delivering judgement, Illelah

held that although the convict pleaded for mercy, there was need to punish offenders to serve as a deterrent to others who might want to commit similar offence. ``The convicts are sentenced to 100 days imprisonment each with an option to pay a fine of N3,500.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, CPL. Friday Idi, told the court that one Hadiza Adamu of House 20, 69 Road, Gwarinpa Estate, reported the matter at the Life Camp

Divisional Police Station, Abuja on July 15.

He said that the convicts, who were security guards in the house, connived and took the dog to an un known destination on July 13, with the intention to sell it.

The prosecutor said the convicts claimed that the dog escaped through the gate in their absence.

Idi said that after several search within the estate, the convicts were

eventually arrested at Galadimawa gate with the dog, after they tried to sale it to one Joshua of Gwarinpa Estate.

After arraignment, Bitrus pleaded for mercy. ``I plead for the mercy of the court, I was in need of money desperately to send home to my family, so I thought I could make quick money when I sell it. ``I urge the court to forgive me, I am sorry,’’ said Bitrus. (NAN)

Businessman, 32, jailed for theft A

Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates Court have sentenced a businessman, Adamu Shehu, 32, of Durumi Village, Abuja, to six months imprisonment for theft.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr. Celestine Odoh, who handed down the sentence after the convict pleaded guilty to the charge, however, did not give him an option of fine.

Odoh said that the crime of theft was increasing at an alarming rate,

adding that the sentence would serve as a punishment to Shehu and a deterrent to others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convict pleaded for forgiveness, promising the court not to commit such crime again.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Insp. Jerry Elijah, said that on July 10, one Jane Akor, of Lugbe Zone 1, Abuja, reported the convict at the Lugbe Police Station, Abuja.

Elijah said that on the same day,

the convict attacked Akor at the FHA junction in Lugbe while she was on her way to her house.

He informed the court that the convict snatched Akor’s handbag, valued at five thousand naira, containing some valuables. ``Some of the items contained in the bag include a Bible, two church ID cards and three wrappers. ``The handbag was, however, recovered from the convict but in the process of dragging the handbag with

Akor, he injured her left knee,’’ Elijah told the court.

The prosecutor said that during police investigation, the convict confessed to committing the crime.

He said that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code.

Section 287 provides that whoever commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine or with both. (NAN)

Female spy in court for alleged cheating

A

female spy, AsabeJibrin, 40, on Thursday appeared before a Masaka Grade 1 Area Court, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, and charged with cheating.

Prosecutor InuwaMaigida told the court that the case was reported at the ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba, by a retired police officer, EkundayoAma of Kachikau, on July 16.

``Jibrin of Kachikau village was employed by the police authority to work in Ama’s house as a spy in July 2011. ``She was put on a monthly salary of N17,000. ``The accused only worked for eight months and without reason decided to stop coming to work, but continued collecting monthly salary which amounted to N68,

356,” Maigida alleged.

He said that the offence contravened the provision of Section 322 of the Penal Code.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that if convicted on the charge, the accused could be liable to three years in prison or an option of fine.

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

The Presiding Judge, Mr Albert Maga, granted bail to the accused person in the sum N100,000 and a surety in like sum.

Maga said that the surety must be responsible, possess a landed property and reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

The judge adjourned the case to Aug. 8, 2013for hearing. (NAN)

he Police on Tuesday arraigned Stanley Osuji, 28; Audu Elias, 21; and Samuel Uba, 20; before an Abuja High Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

The prosecutor, ASP Adam Osu, told the court that the three men who live in Salisu Junction Karu Village, Abuja, conspired and robbed one Abayomi Aina, of his Toyota Camry car.

Osu told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on Nov. 13, 2012 at about 7:15 a.m. at Ado Junction, Abuja.

He alleged that the accused persons attacked Aina at the Ado Junction, using a locally-made pistol.

Osu told the court that the accused also stole the victim’s N300,000 and other valuables.

The offence, he said, is punishable under sections 97 (1) and 298 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, the three men will be sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each without an option of fine.

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

After the plea was taken, Osu prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him to produce his witnesses in court.

Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf granted the application and adjourned to 0ct. 28 for further hearing.

Baba-Yusuf, however, ordered that the accused persons be remanded at the Kuje Medium Prison till the next adjourned date.

(NAN)

Man, 34, arraigned for alleged armed robbery

T

he Police on Tuesday arraigned a 34-year-old man, Collins Amah, of Mabushi FCT, Abuja, in an Abuja High Court on a one-count charge of alleged armed robbery.

The Prosecutor, Mr Adam Osu, told the court that the offence was committed on June 19, 2012 at about 8.45 a.m. at No. 8, Bakwu St. Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, within the Abuja judicial division.

According to him, the offence is punishable under Section 298 of the Penal Code.

The prosecution said the accused robbed one Awwal Ibrahim of No 8, Bakwu St. Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, while armed with A locally-made pistol.

Osu said the accused stole Honda CRV Car Jeep and two other valuables.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Osu prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him produce his witnesses in court.

Justice Hussieni Baba-Yusuf, granted the application and adjourned the case to Oct. 28 for further hearing.

He ordered that Amah be remanded at the Kuje medium prison until the next adjourned date.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 19

INSIDE

ICT Minister inaugurates Broadband committee - Pg 21

L-R: Dealer Operations Manager, Etisalat Nigeria, Oludolapo Kehinde, Head of Region, Lagos & South West, Etisalat Nigeria, Olujinmi Tella, Star prize winner of Mercedes Benz E200 in Etisalat Distribution Partners Awards, Lagos-North sub-region, James Odogwu, and Acting Manager, Lagos-North sub-region, Omotayo Keshinro, during the prize presentation for 2012 winner, recently in Lagos.

Photo: Olawale Rotimi

Don’t politicise PIB - Alison-Madueke

By Aminu Imam

T

he Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has urged stakeholders in the oil and gas industry not to politicise or personalise the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently before the National Assembly, stressing that the bill is geared towards providing a win-win scenario for all stakeholders in the petroleum sector.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke made this submission yesterday at the National Assembly during the opening of the two-day public hearing by the Senate Joint Committee on the PIB in Abuja.

The minister averred that the responsibility for the exercise of the powers proposed in the Bill for the President and Petroleum Minister will ultimately rest on any administration in power at the time and so should not be personalised.

She argued that it was important for the law to sufficiently empower any administration to act in the best interest of the Nigerian people, stressing that the provision empowering the President and the Minister of Petroleum Resources is not about her or the President, as it is not likely that the present administration will

be in power when the law gets to full implementation in the years ahead.

“By the time the PIB is fully articulated and implemented the current President and Minister of Petroleum Resources will no longer be in office. This Bill takes a while before it is operational.

She stressed that the proposed transition period after the passage of the Bill is at least three years. Note, there are over 80 regulations to be made for this Bill to be operational,” Mrs. Alison-Madueke stated.

According to her, whilst we take best practices from other developed regions, we should also work within the understanding of our own socio-economic and social-cultural norms, and create entities and policies that will work and are not destined to fail from the word-go.

She further stated that contrary to the impression that the PIB granted enormous powers to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, it should however be noted that the powers vested on the Minister by the Bill are not different from those vested on the Minister’s counterparts by the petroleum laws of the United kingdom, Malaysia and Norway, stressing that the powers granted the Nigerian Minister by the PIB is less than those of her counterparts

in the laws of advanced petroleum producing countries.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke noted that the PIB establishes a flexible fiscal regime that will increase government take and yet encourage investment in the petroleum sector saying it allows for production-based incentive system which in the long run will accommodate every player in the industry.

Addressing the concern on the multi-faceted regulatory bodies for the PIB, the Minister said this is basically as a result of the complex nature of the industry, adding that an unwieldy, mammoth entity that hosts two complete separately run organisations is not a mode of efficiency but the disaggregated regulatory system would enable speedy response to variety of issues that may arise from time to time.

On the issue of the host communities, the Minister noted that it was established to mitigate the human and environmental conditions in the region and to assuage the feelings of the host communities towards oil and gas companies.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke stated that the PIB seeks to establish a legal, fiscal and regulatory framework that will revolutionize the petroleum industry in Nigeria stressing that it intends

to create a standard business practice, protect health, safety and environment in the course of petroleum exploration and enhance exploration and exploitation of petroleum in Nigeria.

Declaring open the public hearing, the Senate President, David Mark said the National Assembly was anxious to pass the PIB and urged all the stakeholders to make objective submissions that would create a win-win situation for the Federal Government, the International Oil Companies and other operators in the petroleum industry.

It would be recalled that the PIB was based on the report of the Oil and Gas Reform Implementation Committee (OGIC) set up by the Federal Government thirteen years ago to carry out a comprehensive reform of the oil industry.

How social media is changing mentorship - Pg 22 CBN

Exchange Rates

as at 18th July, 2013 Selling Buying

$

154.76

155.76

€

235.42

236.94

£

202.68

203.99

41.26

41.53

Riyal

Parallel Rates Buying

Selling

$

157.50

158.40

€

250

253.00

£

206.00

210.00

Riyal

43.00

45.00

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY

Take a long lunch

T

here’s a simple, oldfashioned practice that can make work more effective, engaging, and fun — long lunches. The idea of a leisurely lunch chatting with colleagues or clients might seem like something out of another era, but it has a place in modern office life too. Eating slowly has documented health benefits and having unplanned time with colleagues can help

you forge deeper connections.

Instead of scarfing down a sandwich at your desk or grabbing something on the go, make time for a longer lunch break. Even if you do it just once or twice a week, it can create stronger relationships with co-workers, and make you healthier and more productive.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 20

Economy Company News

FAAN

T

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in the South-South, yesterday commended the Federal Government for rewarding aviation workers with cars in recognition of their performance.

Mr. Ola Ogundulakpo, regional spokesman of the organisation, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt, described the gesture as ``a new dawn``.

He said the cars were given to various aviation offices across the nation and about 12 beneficiaries were from Port Harcourt International Airport.

Ogundulakpo said also that about seven staff members from the region who were promoted from grade level 14 to level 15 had received their promotion letters.

Cash ‘n’ Carry

ICT Minister inaugurates Broadband committee

By Chris Alu

T

he minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has inaugurated the Committee on Broadband to serve as a road map of progress in the national broadband planning

and to boost the effectiveness of communication technology in the country.

The Committee is made up of 19 members and is chaired by the minister and will work on implementation modalities for the newly developed and approved Nigerian National Broadband plan

for the period 2013 - 2018.

The Terms of Reference of the Broadband Committee include providing periodic reports on the progress of the plan, facilitating the coordination and collaboration of the various stakeholders during plan implementation, ensuring that relevant agencies, institutions,

access points, which he said would be used in making financial services accessible to more Nigerians.

“This mapping technology will be able to provide information of where access points are. This method is in line with our cashless policy and the Nigeria Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS),” he said.

“Financial inclusion efforts rely on data-based evidence to track the progress of the NFIS. This new technology will provide information about access points within a five kilometre radius.”

He revealed that the mapping will identify financial access points such as places, markets, motor parks, Points of Sale (PoS) terminals and postal agencies.

According to Sanusi, in order for Nigeria to achieve the 2020 financial inclusion target, the nation needs collaborations between stakeholders in the finance sector.

He said: “Some of such initiatives are the development of agent banking guidelines and the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirement to encourage financial institutions to reach out to underserved segments.

“Other initiatives include the development of the Consumer Protection Framework under a newly set up Consumer Protection Department and increase campaign to promote financial literacy.”

CBN to deploy geospatial mapping to capture unbanked Nigerians

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced it will be deploying geospatial mapping to identify access points to capture unbanked persons, as part of measures it is taking to make banking accessible to more Nigerians.

CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi stated this in Lagos, while inaugurating the Geospatial Mapping of Financial Institutions, in conjunction with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

With the aid of the technology, the CBN governor said the apex bank would be able to gather information on the financial sector’s

C

ash ‘n’ Carry, the king of electronics and household appliances, has made another giant stride as it started operations in Ibadan, the South-West commercial hub of Nigeria.

The organisation, with an existence of over five decades of operation in Nigeria, is known for marketing top quality brands of consumer electronics and household appliances in all its outlets across Nigeria.

Cash ‘n’ Carry, which started operation in Marina – Lagos, now has eight world-class electronics showrooms across the country. The latest being the newly opened showroom in Ibadan.

Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc

C

os

ustodian and Allied Insurance Plc, a registered member of the Nigerian Insurance Association (NIA), has partnered with the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria as co-sponsors of the 2013 Sickle Cell Anemia Walkathon.

The event, which took place recently, was organised by The International Finance Corporation (IFC) Nigeria.

The 7 kilometer walk in Lagos Island was aimed at raising awareness and increasing public knowledge about sickle cell anemia; both in terms of general alertness and recent advancements in management of the ailment.

and the general public are actively engaged.

Where necessary the Committee shall highlighting adjustment areas where needed in the execution of the strategy and roadmap.

The Broadband Committee has both institutional, government and individual representation.

Institutional representation is to ensure that the requirements of the industry are taken into consideration; such institutions are ATCON, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) and the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria.

Individual representations include highly knowledgeable people who are extremely credible in the ICT industry and have shown a great passion to see to the deployment of robust broadband infrastructure in the country including the two former co-chairmen of the recently concluded Presidential Committee on Broadband, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe and Mr. Jim Ovia.

AfDB approves N24bn line of credit to Fidelity Bank

T

L-R: Managing Director, Nokia West and Central Africa, Nick Imudia, Head of Marketing, Nokia West Africa, Deborah Shepard, and Growth Manager Africa, Facebook, Nicola D’Elia, displaying the newly launched Asha 210 and Asha 501, recently in Lagos.

Photo: Olawale Rotimi.

NBC to clamp down on Radio, TV stations over Ramadan Tafsir

T

he National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has called on television and radio stations in the country to stick to the guidelines of Ramadan Tafsir, while banning live broadcast on Tafsir.

This was contained in a message made available to our correspondent in Abuja. According to the message, signed by the management of the commission, it reminded the stations of the agreed consensus that “no Tafsir shall be broadcast live.”

The message further said a religious broadcast shall not contain any material that is likely to encourage or incite the commission of a crime or lead to public disorder.

The NBC subsequently warned television stations to be responsive to the feelings of every Nigerian.

The NBC boss also issued a ‘public notice’ to all broadcast stations of an: “imminent suspension and withdrawal of their broadcast licences if they failed to “reconcile their accounts and effect outstanding statutory payments.”

And in a broad bid to address the general malaise in Nigeria’s broadcast landscape, NBC DirectorGeneral, Emeka Mba also issued a ‘public notice’ to all broadcast stations of an “imminent suspension and withdrawal of (their) broadcast licences if they failed to “reconcile their accounts and effect outstanding statutory payments.”

Subsequently, the Commission has issued a 21-day ultimatum which lapses on August 12, 2013 to “settle their outstanding licence fee

or face appropriate sanctions in line with the provisions of the NBC Act. The provision of the law, which the NBC hinges its sanction on, warns states that ‘a licence may be revoked by the Commission in the following cases, if the prescribed fee has not been paid on the due date’.

Several broadcast stations in Nigeria, especially publicly owned media evade payment of licence fees. They hinge their survival on government backing, while private stations claim they don’t make enough returns to stay afloat.

Despite the claim of poor financial returns, the Nigerian airspace continues to witness an avalanche of new stations surfacing every now and then throughout the country.

he African Development Bank (AfDB) on Wednesday approved a US $75-million (N 24 bn) medium-term line of credit (LoC) to Fidelity Bank Plc, to fund selected projects in sectors that are critical to Nigeria’s transformation agenda and economic growth such as infrastructure, manufacturing and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The LoC will be complemented

by AfDB arranged-syndicated financing of up to US $75 million on a best-effort basis and is expected to complement Fidelity’s other fundraising efforts through deposits mobilisation and financing lines from Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), commercial banks and proceeds from its recent bond issuance.

The LoC is in recognition of the positive impact of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s efforts to strengthen its supervisory framework, stabilise and instill confidence in the local financial system as well as improve liquidity and credit flows.

This financing will allow Fidelity to better serve and fund its clients, increase the tenors of loans to subprojects and expand its loan portfolio, particularly in the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. Twenty per cent of the LoC proceeds will be dedicated to SMEs. Fidelity is ranked among the top six banks in Nigeria by equity base and eighth in terms of deposits and totals assets.

The LoC sends strong signals that Nigeria’s financial sector has stabilized and confirms a return of confidence to the Nigerian banking sector. It is also symbolic of AfDB partnership role in supporting the private sector to play its rightful and important part in building the Nigerian economy.

(Source: AfDB)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 21

Tax Alert

Understanding the concept of basis period of assessment of profit to tax (II)

By Frank Obaro

N

ormal and abnormal basis period of assessment The key issue in this work lies squarely on the logic between normal and abnormal basis periods as would be explained below: Normal Basis Period: This practice is usually characterized with businesses in continuous operations. They follow strictly the rule of preceding year basis. This means that, when profit to be assessed to tax for a particular year of assessment is profit of the previous year, the basis period is said to be normal.

Abnormal basis period of assessment: This is unlike the normal period characterized with continuous operations. However, in the case of abnormal basis period, it is either that there is a disruption in the flow of business operations by way of cessation of business, change of accounting date or that the business is just commencing operations.

Whatever the case, they must be subjected to tax assessment. But the thrust here is that the rule of the normal basis period will not apply.

Strictly speaking, abnormal basis period is considered under the following situations: (a) On the commencement of a new business. (b) Where there is a change of accounting date. (c) On the cessation of a business.

Right Of Election There are different situations where both taxpayer and tax authorities exercise their statutory right of election at different stages as explained below: Taxpayer: The taxpayer’s option is the right of the taxpayer (companies) to be assessed on actual year basis for the 2nd and 3rd year of assessment of business. This is done by comprising the normal (PYB) and the revised assessment(AYB) so that the taxpayer would then be at liberty to choose which ever has a lower value upon which it can be assessed to tax. But then, the taxpayer would need to apply for right of election within a period of two years after the 1st two years of assessment or one year after the 3rd year.

Tax Authority: They have the full right to determine the basis of assessment for change of accounting period and cessation of business.

Commencement Rule: This is the rule guiding the assessment of a new business outfit to tax. In ascertaining the assessable profit of a business that just commenced operations, three years accounts are required which must subscribe to the commencement rule as follows: 1. Year 1.The account from the 1st day of operations to 31st December of the same year (see 2005 year-

FIRS headquarters, Abuja end in the example).

2. Year 2.The account from the 1st day of operations to the next 12 consecutive months (see 2006 yearend in the example).

3. Year 3.From the third year of operations, the assessable profit shall be the profit base on the preceding year of assessment (normal basis period).

However, taxpayer should note that if, for whatever reason, the preceding year is less than 12 months, a taxpayer is advised to adopt the profit of the second year which is of 12 months duration. See illustration below: Mr. South –South commences business from the 1st day of August 2005 and prepared accounts up to 31st March 2006 and thereafter decides to retain 31st March as its accounting year-end.

You can now determine the basis for the relevant tax year.

Solution: NB: As funny as it may sound, the use of finger count is an indispensable tool here.

Tax year Basis Period 2005 01/08/2005 31/12/05 2006 01/08/2005-31/07/06 2007 01/04/2005 31/03/06 2007 01/08/2005 31/03/06 2008 01/04/2006 31/03/06 Taxpayers should note that in 2007, Account is made up to 31st March 2006(PYB), commencement of business is 1st August, but March is before August; in this situation, where the company makes up accounts to any month that is before the month of commencement, it s not likely to get the nor-

mal 12 months. So, the profit of the second year 2006 in this case is adopted.

Since the company commenced operations in August 2005,it is not possible to have profit to be assessed to tax in the month of January, February, March, April, May, June and July 2005.

Cessation of Business: This is a period where the taxpayer permanently discontinues or stops carrying on a business. Where such a situation arises, special provisions are made available for the assessment of tax for the last two years of operations under Section 25 of the Personal Income Tax Act as follows: 1.

Ultimate Year: This is the account of the company in the year of assessment in which the business ceased operations, which will run from the 1st January to the date the company ceased operations.

2.

Penultimate Year: This is the account of the company in the year of assessment proceeding the year of cessation. This would be the profit of the company, using the normal basis period or the actual basis period.

Taxpayers should note that, Tax Authorities would normally apply the normal basis period because it gives the highest tax liability.

3.

Pre-penultimate Year: This is the account of the company in the year before the penultimate year.

Taxpayers should also note that the rule of cessation can only apply to businesses that have not temporarily disrupted business, such that even the bankruptcy of a taxpayer/company is not a com-

plete proof of cessation until all the necessary process is complete. (To be continued) The use of taxpayer identification number (TIN) The use of TIN is mandatory to all taxpayers dealing with FIRS. All banks and financial institutions are expected to facilitate the implementation of the order on the mandatory use of taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) by all current account holders in accordance with the government notice.

Banks are expected to direct taxable person that wants to make payment through ‘pay direct ‘that is FIRS web-portal to visit the nearest FIRS Integrated Tax Office, large Tax office or the Regional Coordinators office with relevant documents to be registered and assigned a TIN. The TIN is also mandatory for payment using the online payment system, necessary for correspondence with regards t tax matters, all notices to FIRS and they are useful in cases of tax refunds.

Other uses of TIN include: It’s advisable to all corporate bodies and individuals to obtain their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) as well as taxpayer when payments for the following taxes in the bank; 1. Petroleum profit Tax 2. Companies Income Tax 3. Capital Gains Tax 4. Education Tax 5. Value Added Tax 6. Withholding on Corporate bodies

7. Stamp Duties for companies 8. National Information Technology Development Fund Levy.

However, It should be noted that TIN is not required for payments made with respect to Stamp Duties by companies that are in the process of incorporation.

Minimum Requirement for Companies In order to assign a TIN to a company, an enterprise or an individual, the following information should be volunteered to the nearest FIRS Integrated Tax Office, large Tax Office or the Regional Coordinators Office: • Incorporation Number • Name of the Company • Business Address • Registered Address • Line of Business • Date of Incorporation • Date of Commencement of Business • Financial Year End. For Enterprise and Individual Taxpayers: • Name of Individual or Enterprise • Address of Business • Employment Status (Individual or Enterprise) • Employment Type (police, Army, consulate or other employment) • Identify Type (National identity Card, International Passport or Driving License) • Identity Number • Line of Business • Date of Commencement of Business.

NOTE: When the minimum information has been supply, the system generates the TIN electronically.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Biz Extra

How social media is changing mentorship I

n our professional lives, mentors make a difference; Whether you’re looking for that promotion or need help starting your own business, mentorship can often be the key ingredient to success.

But don’t just take my word for it — statistics also prove the benefit of having a great mentor. Professionals who have mentors make between $5,610 (N897,600) and $22,450 (N3,592,000) more annually than those on their own. And one of the places mentors make the biggest difference is when it comes to entrepreneurship.

Most entrepreneurs can tell the story of a mentor who offered help at the exact right moment. The wisdom from these smart, altruistic helpers who’ve been there before can be the difference between your venture’s success or failure.

For instance, statistics reported by The Startup Genome Report show startups are seven times more likely to raise investment capital with mentors in the mix. They’re also threeand-a-half times more likely to grow user numbers for their product or service if someone is lending a helping hand and a

little wisdom.

In today’s digitally-connected world, it’s easier than ever to connect with the movers and shakers in your industry and solicit advice and mentorship.

So how do you use social media tools to find the mentor your business needs? And what’s the etiquette for using tools like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to connect? Let’s take a look.

Find a mentor on social networks Finding a mentor on social media is a process. Tweeting “Be my mentor?” to the head honcho in your chosen industry is unlikely to net you the close, personal mentorship relationship you need. Instead, the first thing you’ll need to do is truly know your industry.

This should be a snap, because knowing your chosen industry is essential for any startup venture or entrepreneurial endeavor.

Part of knowing your industry is knowing the big wigs. These heavy hitters are undoubtedly active on social media, so start following them on the channels they frequent.

Once you’re following, it’s time

to connect. Reach out over social media, but don’t go overboard. Leave a comment on a post prompting a discussion, re-tweet an interesting article and look for opportunities for personal connection.

Once you’ve built up a rapport with your mentor target, only then should you ask for advice and mentorship. Now this person knows you, knows a bit of your story and already has positive associations with you because you’ve given her content and business a signal boost.

You wouldn’t go up to a stranger and ask to be mentored, and the last thing you want is to come off as desperate. The same etiquette is true in the world of social media as in the world at large: Build a personal connection, help others and they’ll be more likely to want to return the favor.

Connect personally using social media Just because you and your ideal mentor have exchanged a few tweets back and forth doesn’t mean your mentorship relationship is written in the stars. Social media should be used to establish, but deepen-

ing your relationship isn’t up to Facebook. You need to really reach out, ask for mentorship and form a personal connection.

Technology such as Skype, instant messaging systems and social media make it easy to quickly connect with your mentor. Whether your mentor sends you long, informative emails or spends 10 minutes talking with you on Skype — it’s the quality of the interaction that matters. Someone might agree to mentor you, but if you don’t form a personal connection, this new bond won’t get you very far.

Bring groups together, plane rides not required One-on-one mentorship is great, but so is becoming part of a community. Social media makes the community experience portable, meaning you can take the ability to crowdsource and carry it around in your pocket. Best of all, it also means airfare isn’t needed to spend time with a group of like-minded business leaders and entrepreneurs.

You can start discussions on LinkedIn, crowdsource the answer to a business question

on Quora or even tap into your local startup community with the help of Meetup. Best of all, even if your group isn’t located in your backyard, you can still connect personally.

Video conferencing, discussion groups and even Twitter chats allow vast groups of people to connect in real time.

Someone in this new online family might lead to an investment opportunity, a new idea or even just a shoulder to lean on when your entrepreneurial path gets bumpy.

Go to class in your pajamas Mentors and peers are great with advice, but sometimes you just want to grab a notebook and pencil and learn the oldfashioned way. Now, you don’t need to set foot in a classroom to learn a new skill or expand your knowledge base.

Social media and technological tools are making online learning easy. You can view learning material online, take part in a real-time seminar or even watch YouTube tutorials to learn from those who have come before.

(Source: mashable.com)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 23

Stock Watch

Report as at Thursday, July 18, 2013

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 24

How JTF dislodged Boko Haram stronghold in Ngarnam Operatives of the Joint Military Task Force in Borno state (JTF) had recently conducted a special operation and raided the volatile Bulabulin Ngarnam Ward, a suburb of Maiduguri metropolis and dislodged the only stronghold under the siege of members of Jamaatu Ahlil Sunna Lidawaati Wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram. The area which hitherto referred as ‘no go area’ for the JTF personnel, came under massive assault by the special forces, who killed several insurgents and captured others, while the troops discovered hundreds of shallow graves of innocent civilians allegedly killed and buried by the militants among other discoveries. The JTF operatives took journalists round the destroyed enclave of the insurgents, our correspondent Mustapha Isah Kwaru was there and reports.

B

ulabulin Ngarnam as the name goes is a densely populated area in the outskirt of the troubled of city Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, which hitherto remained the only strong hold under the siege of Boko Haram insurgents. Whenever the name of the area is mentioned, the perception of every resident goes to a notorious and a ‘no go area’ for both civilians and security forces due to the large numbers of the militants who

Training ground of the militants.

PAGE 25

Special Report

turned the area into their major hide-out and enclave, after the destruction of Markas, the former enclave of the slain leader of the sect, Muhammad Yusuf. Investigation revealed that for the past three years Bulabulin Ngarman had been the major area where the terrorists had coordinated bloody attacks and bombings in Maiduguri and environs, which also housed several factories for the manufacture of Improvised Explosives Devices, (IEDs),

before being smuggled to other parts of the city.

Similarly, the area had became notorious and hide-out of the militants after they were dislodged from their various camps within Maiduguri as they consequently fled there, while others established camps in Sambisa Games Reserves, Gwoza hills and Krenowa town in Marte local government area.

When the insurgents sneaked into the area, residents had no option than to abandon their

houses due to the daily reported of multiple explosions and fire fight between security forces and the gunmen. Consequently the militants took over the houses and turned them to their new enclave. However, the seemingly ‘fearful’ area has turned to safe heaven when the security forces reclaimed it and dislodged the insurgents, a development majority of the public described as ‘miraculous’.

After the operation which lasted for a week, JTF personnel led by commander of the operation, Col. S. Ahmed took newsmen round the dislodged enclave.

Though throughout the visits and briefings, the military did not say how many insurgents were killed or captured during, encounters with the insurgents with ground troops, however evidences seen at all the scenes of fighting visited revealed the level of carnage that unfolded in the area. There were also enough evidences showing that lot had happened. There was trace of sophistication, and the determination of insurgent fighters to maintain grip of their hitherto strong hold prior to the arrival of the troops was glaring. But the superior power of the Nigerian forces was also evident.

Spokesman for the JTF, LtCol. Sagir Musa, told newsmen that Special Forces engaged the terrorists in a gun duel in some Wards comprising of Bulabulin Ngarnam, Aljajeri and Falujja in Maiduguri metropolis, killing many insurgents and dislodged the last strong hold of the sect, killing several insurgents and discovered hundreds of shallow graves of innocent civilians allegedly killed and buried by the terrorists.

According to Lt-Col. Musa, the operation which was carried out based on intelligence report has dislodged Boko Haram terrorists from their main enclave and the only

Commander of the operation that dislodged the Boko Haram stronghold, Col. S. Ahmed, coming out from the underground bunker of the insurgents. strong hold which hitherto remained under their siege.

“During the encounter some terrorists were killed in the fire fight including the main

Armoury of the insurgents.

Ameer of Bulabulin Ngarnam Ward, who was on the wanted list of the JTF with N10million placed as reward on anyone who offers useful information

that could lead to his arrest.”He was responsible for the killing of a teacher and three students of Sanda Kyarami secondary school in Ruwan Zafi Ward of

Maiduguri metropolis”, the statement further alleged. The spokesman also said the troops have succeeded in rescuing many women, girls and children, who were allegedly abducted by the insurgents and held in their enclaves, saying the victims were handed over to their respective relations. He explained that during extensive search of the areas, many arms and ammunition of various calibers, buried inside houses and cemeteries were recovered.

The first area of the visit led by the Commander of the operation that dislodged the insurgents from their strong hold, Col. S. Ahmed, was a slaughter house, an uncompleted mosque where the insurgents allegedly used to slit the throats of their victims, with dried blood of human being every where. According to Col. Ahmed, the militants had been kidnapping several civilians and taking them to the area before being executed.

“The terrorists normally kidnap innocent civilians, comprising of women and children mainly for ransom but it was unfortunately that when relations of the captive did not show up, the gunmen consequently slaughter them”, he added. The commander also led reporters to an open field littered with the decomposing corpses of those allegedly killed by the terrorists. Similarly some corpses of victims of the Boko Haram killings were buried in hundreds of shallow graves, with several others

stocked inside soak-away and water tunnels.

Our correspondent reported that it was a gory sight—with decomposing bodies strewn around destroyed homes and business premises. The commander also took pressmen round mass graves of terrorists killed by security forces and taken away by their colleagues and buried there.”Our troops also discovered vast network mouseholes linking compounds and underground tunnels as well as bunkers underground bunkers, which were tactically built to look as soak-away. We are still searching the area for more weapons, ammunition and mass graves”, he added. The military also took pressmen round a heaps of decomposed corpses of civilians, also allegedly killed and dumped by the insurgents, with human bones littered the scene.

Newsmen were also conducted round an underground bunker and tunnel which served as the hide-out as well as escape route for the militants during a gun duel with the security forces. A large farmland, which was turned to graveyard by the insurgents was also seen inside bush, hundreds of fresh graves were seen, with the military saying that members of the sect, killed by the insurgents had been buried on the land. The graveyard was equally being used to hide arms as plastic tank buried underground and turned as armory was discovered.

Entry point of underground bunker

Scene of shallow graves

Graveyard of the sect members

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Islam

Ramadan annotation (II) A

llah says: “Ramadhan is the (month) In which was sent down the Qur’an, As a guide to mankind, also Clear (Signs) for guidance and Judgment (Between right and wrong). so every one of you who is present (at His home) during that month should spend it In fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not Want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him In that He has guided you; and Perchance ye shall be grateful.” [al-Baqarah: 185] In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All Praise is due to Allah! We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our evils and bad deeds.

Anyone who is guided by Allah, is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and final messenger to mankind. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon His last and final Apostle, his Household, his companions and all his followers until the end of time.

Today, we will continue from where we paused last week. Before then, I will like to, on behalf of all my readers, congratulate us on the commencement of the this year’s Ramadan in a unison rarely unprecedented. At least there is an improvement upon the previous years’ commencement. May Allah unite us the more in obedience to His wills and commands. May He also grant us good health and perseverance to excel in our match towards Him with unshaken faith in Him and absolute submission.

Laylat Al Qadr This is a special night that is predominantly occur during the nights of the Ramadan. It is the most important night in all the nights of the year. The Qur’an contains several verses in its credits. A whole chapter was revealed explaining what happens in that night. Allah says: In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. We have indeed revealed This (message) In the night of power. And what will explain to Thee what the night of power is? The night of power is better than a thousand months.

Therein come down the angels and the spirit by Allah.s permission, on every errand. Peace!...This until the rise of morn! [al-Qadr: 97:1-5] He says again: Ha-Mim. By the Book that makes things clear. We sent it down during a Blessed night: for we (ever) wish to warn (against evil). In the (Night) is made distinct every affair of Wisdom, By command, from

Our Presence. for we (ever) send affairs as long as they live and for (revelations), As Mercy from Thy eternity. In spite of the importance Lord: for He hears and knows (All of the Qur’an, its magnificence and its faultless rulings, Muslim today things). [al-Dukhan: 1-6] In fact, the Qur’an was revealed have turned away from it except for the first time in the night of power.

This distinct occurrence made the Qur’an and Ramadan very special

By Husain Zakariyya phenomenon in the realm Yawale of Islam. The +234-8052952900 (sms only) interconnectivity islamexplained35@yahoo.com has made them forever for a few, hence their incessant inseparable.

Even though there are some dilemma and backwardness. The scholars who hold the minority and Qur’an is also eternal reference not unpopular view that Lailatul-Qadr only of rulings, but also the source of can take place in any the year’s knowledge from which all knowledge nights, the most popular one is that are extracted everywhere. It is the it is only occurs in the Ramadan. incredibly nonimitative speech There are many hadiths establishing of Allah which none can author this position. Many of them even something of the like or even part gave clues as to the specific nights of of it.

Allah says: the last ten days of each Ramadan.

“Say: “If the whole of Mankind In fact, some of them categorically mentioned the night of 27th amongst and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of This Qur’an, the odd ones!

They could not produce the like Qur’an The Qur’an, unlike all other thereof, Even if They backed up books, is a compilation of the Each other with help and support.” verbatim words of Allah revealed [al-Isra’i: 88].

Therefore, when the Qur’an was to the last and final Messenger of Allah in a period of twenty-three revealed to Muhammad (pbuh), years, and compendium of guidance, Allah took the responsibility of rulings, behaviours, `Aqidah or p r e s e r v i n g i t f r o m h u m a n creed, reproach and upbraid, stories, encroachments and pollutions, i recommendations, lessons, glad a total manner different from the tidings and warnings. Allah has previous Scriptures. Allah says: “Verily, We, it is We Who have sent it down to be the seal of the divine Scriptures, and to remain the sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’ân) only reference to the people to the and Assuredly, We will guard it Muslims, and a constitution for them (from corruption).” [al-Hijr: 9].

We regard The Qur’an as the in all their temporal and religious

ISLAM EXPLAINED

culmination of all the previous divine messages that started with those revealed to Adam, in the Suhufi Ibrahim (Scrolls of Abraham), in the Moses’ Tawrat (Torah), the David’s Zabur (Psalms), and in the original Jesus’ Injil (Gospel) ...

May peace be upon them all.

The Qur’an consists of 114 chapters or suras of varying themes and lengths.

Each chapter possesses a title which is usually a word or event mentioned within the chapter itself.

Each chapter commences with: Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim, meaning (“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”), with the exception of the ninth chapter, sura ‘al-Bara’a or Taubah.

Muslims must treat both electronic and paper copies of The Qur’an with veneration, admiration and respect, even better, with ritually washing before touching or reading it. Worn out Qur’ans are not to be discarded or thrown into dustbins as is done with wastepaper, but should be buried or burnt and buried.

Desecration and defilement of The Qur’an by anybody is tantamount and practically the same as insult to Allah (SWT)! Such behaviours are never tolerated by any Muslims throughout the world. Therefore, Muslims and non Muslims must always treat all divine books, including the Bible and the Talmut, with veneration and reverence.

Tafseer/ Tafsir Translations of The Qur’an is

different from its interpretations and exegesis’ While the later is a critical and extensive explanations of the meaning of both the content and context of the Book. Though, it has been translated in almost all major languages of the world, yet no two translations are the same. This is because not all of them match the Arabic rhythm of the text, depth of meaning, syntax of sentences, word usages and adherences to the divine words. Therefore, we can attest to the fact that all translations are simply human attempts to explain the messages of the Qur’an in any of the given languages.

In Islam, The Qur’an is a revelation specifically made in Arabic, and so it should only be recited in the Arabic language. As such, translations are the work of humans and so, no longer possess that uniquely sacred characteristics and attributes of the Arabic original in both reading and writing. Thus, you cannot call non Arabic or translated or trans Qur’an a Mus’haf which means a book containing purely words of Allah!

The Qur’an cannot, should not and must not be read in or written in any letters or inscriptions, usually called “transliteration”, other than the Arabic language! The Muslim World League has proscribed it and any sale or distribution of such is illegal. This is because transliteration has no universal standard or rules, it only paves ways for misreading and erroneous pronunciations! It is also considered as neglecting the Qur’an Sadaqah This is also very usual rampant in Ramadan. It has been related that Prophet Muhammad was the most generous people of all time.

But, in Ramadan, he becomes more generous than the morning breath! This a direct admonish to the Muslims to become exceptionally generous in the month of Ramadan so that the less privileged and down trodden will have sufficient sustenance at least in this month. Thus, generosity in Ramadan generates the spirit of giving and sacrifice.

When we abstain from eating and drinking during the day time, we understand what it means to go without them for a longer period.

We realize the pains and agony of those who are year in, year out in that state of malnourishment, hungriness and thirstiness. We should then endeavour to be more charitable and generous in order to douse or minimize grumblings and rumblings that may lead to public threats to insecurity to lives and properties. Allah says: “By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a truth Allah knoweth it well.” [al-Imran: 92] May Allah grant us the ability to share with our less privileged brothers and sisters what He has bestowed upon us out of His wisdom!

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19 , 2013

PAGE 27

International US bankrolled anti-Mursi activists ANALYSIS

B

erkeley,UnitedStates-President Barack Obama recently stated the United States was not taking sides as Egypt’s crisis came to a head with the military overthrow of the democratically elected president.

But a review of dozens of US federal government documents shows Washington has quietly funded senior Egyptian opposition figures who called fortopplingofthecountry’snow-deposed president Mohamed Mursi.

Documents obtained by the Investigative Reporting Program at UC BerkeleyshowtheUSchanneledfunding through a State Department programme to promote democracy in the Middle East region. This programme vigorously supported activists and politicians who have fomented unrest in Egypt, after autocratic president Hosni Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising in February 2011.

TheStateDepartment’sprogramme, dubbed by US officials as a “democracy assistance” initiative, is part of a wider Obama administration effort to try to stop the retreat of pro-Washington secularists, and to win back influence in Arab Spring countries that saw the rise of Islamists, who largely oppose US interests in the Middle East.

Activists bankrolled by the programme include an exiled Egyptian police officer who plotted the violent overthrow of theMursigovernment, an anti-Islamist politician who advocated closing mosques and dragging preachers out by force, as well as a coterie of oppositionpoliticianswhopushedforthe ousterofthecountry’sfirstdemocratically elected leader, government documents show.

Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, interviews, and public records reveal Washington’s “democracy assistance” may have violated Egyptian law, which prohibits foreign political funding.

It may also have broken US government regulations that ban the use of taxpayers’ money to fund foreign politicians,orfinancesubversiveactivities that target democratically elected governments.

Washington’s democracy assistance programmefortheMiddleEastisfiltered through a pyramid of agencies within the State Department. Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars is channeled through the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), USAID,aswellastheWashington-based, quasi-governmental organisation the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

In turn, those groups re-route money to other organisations such as the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), and Freedom House, among others.

Federal documents show these groups have sent funds to certain organisations in Egypt, mostly run by senior members of anti-Mursi political parties who double as NGO activists.

The Middle East Partnership Initiative - launched by the George W Bush administration in 2002 in a bid to influence politics in the Middle East in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks - has spent close to $900m on democracy projects across the region, a federal grants database shows.

USAID manages about $1.4bn

Mursi’s ouster by the Army was followed by mass protests and rallies by his supporters annually in the Middle East, with nearly $390m designated for democracy promotion,accordingtotheWashingtonbasedProjectonMiddleEastDemocracy (POMED).

The US government doesn’t issue figures on democracy spending per country, but Stephen McInerney, POMED’s executive director, estimated that Washington spent some $65m in 2011 and $25m in 2012. He said he expects a similar amount paid out this year.

A main conduit for channeling the State Department’s democracy funds to EgypthasbeentheNationalEndowment forDemocracy.Federaldocumentsshow NED, which in 2011 was authorised an annual budget of $118m by Congress, funneled at least $120,000 over several years to an exiled Egyptian police officer who has for years incited violence in his native country.

This appears to be in direct contradiction to its Congressional mandate, which clearly states NED is to engage only in “peaceful” political change overseas.

Exiled policeman Colonel Omar AfifiSoliman - who served in Egypt’s elite investigative police unit, notorious for human rights abuses began receiving NED funds in 2008 for at least four years.

During that time he and his followers targeted Mubarak’s government, and Soliman later followed the same tactics against the military rulers who briefly replaced him. Most recently Soliman set his sights on Mursi’s government.

Soliman, who has refugee status in the US, was sentenced in absentia last year for five years imprisonment by a Cairo court for his role in inciting violence

in 2011 against the embassies of Israel and Saudi Arabia, two US allies.

He also used social media to encourage violent attacks against Egyptian officials, according to court documents and a review of his social media posts.

US Internal Revenue Service documents reveal thatNED paid tens of thousands of dollars to Soliman through an organisation he created called Hukuk Al-Nas (People’s Rights), based in Falls Church, Virginia. Federal forms show he is the only employee.

Afterhewasawardeda2008human rights fellowship at NED and moved to the US, Soliman received a second $50,000 NED grant in 2009 for Hukuk Al-Nas. In 2010, he received $60,000 and another $10,000 in 2011.

In an interview with the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley, Solimanreluctantlyadmittedhereceived US government funding from the National Endowment for Democracy, but complained it wasn’t enough. “It is like $2000 or $2,500 a month,” he said.

“Do you think this is too much? Obama wants to give us peanuts. We will not accept that.”

NED has removed public access to its Egyptian grant recipients in 2011 and 2012 from its website. NED officials didn’t respond to repeated interview requests.

NED’s website says Soliman spreads only nonviolent literature, and his group was set up to provide “immediate, pro bono legal advice through a telephone hotline, instant messaging, and other social networking tools”.

However, in Egyptian media interviews, social media posts and YouTubevideos,Solimanencouragedthe

“

violentoverthrowofEgypt’sgovernment, then led by the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party.

“Incapacitate them by smashing their knee bones first,” he instructed followers on Facebook in late June, as Mursi’s opponents prepared massive street rallies against the government.

Egypt’s US-funded and trainedmilitary later used those demonstrations to justify its coup on July 3.

“Make a road bump with a broken palm tree to stop the buses going into Cairo, and drench the road around it with gas and diesel. When the bus slows down for the bump, set it all ablaze so it will burn down with all the passengers inside … God bless,” Soliman’s post read.

In late May he instructed, “Behead those who control power, water and gas utilities.”

Solimanremovedseveraloldersocial media posts after authorities in Egypt took notice of his subversive instructions, court documents show.

More recent Facebook instructions to his 83,000 followers range from guidelines on spraying roads with a mix of auto oil and gas - “20 liters of oil to 4 liters of gas”- to how to thwart cars giving chase.

On a YouTube video, Soliman took credit for a failed attempt in December to storm the Egyptian presidential palace with handguns and Molotov cocktails to oust Mursi.

“We know he gets support from some groups in the US, but we do not know he is getting support from the US government. This would be news to us,” said an Egyptian embassy official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

More recent Facebook instructions to his 83,000 followers range from guidelines on spraying roads with a mix of auto oil and gas - “20 liters of oil to 4 liters of gas”- to how to thwart cars giving chase.

Other beneficiaries of US government funding are also opponents of the now-deposed president, some who had called for Mursi’s removal by force.

TheSalvationFrontmainopposition bloc, of which some members received US funding, has backed street protest campaigns that turned violent against the elected government, in contradiction of many of the State Department’s own guidelines.

A longtime grantee of the National Endowment for Democracy and other US democracy groups is a 34-year old Egyptian woman, Esraa Abdel-Fatah, who sprang to notoriety during the country’s pitched battle over the new constitution in December 2012.

She exhorted activists to lay siege to mosques and drag from pulpits all Muslim preachers and religious figures who supported the country’s the proposed constitution, just before it went to a public referendum.

The act of besieging mosques has continued ever since, and several people have died in clashes defending them.

Federal records show AbdelFatah’s NGO, the Egyptian Democratic Academy, received support from NED, MEPI and NDI, among other State Department-funded groups “assisting democracy”. Records show NED gave her organisation a one-year $75,000 grant in 2011.

Abdel-Fatah is politically active, crisscrossing Egypt to rally support for her Al-Dostor Party, which is led by former UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei,themostprominentfigureinthe Salvation Front. She lent full support to the military takeover, and urged the West not call it a “coup”.

“June 30 will be the last day of Mursi’s term,” she told the press a few weeks before the coup took place.

US taxpayer money has also been sent to groups set up by some of Egypt’s richest people, raising questions about waste in the democracy programme.

Michael Meunier is a frequent guest on TV channels that opposedMursi.

Head of the Al-Haya Party, Meunier - a dual US-Egyptian citizen - has quietly collected US funding through his NGO, Hand In Hand for Egypt Association.

Meunier’sorganisation was founded by some of the most vehement opposition figures, including Egypt’s richest man and well-known Coptic Christian billionaire NaguibSawiris,TarekHeggy,anoilindustry executive,SalahDiab,Halliburton’spartner in Egypt, and UsamaGhazaliHarb, a politicianwithrootsintheMubarakregime and a frequent US embassy contact.

Meunier has denied receiving US assistance, but government documents show USAID in 2011 granted his Cairobased organisation $873,355. Since 2009, it has taken in $1.3 million from the US agency.

Meunier helped rally the country’s five million Christian Orthodox Coptic minority, who oppose Morsi’s Islamist agenda, to take to the streets against the president on June 30.

Reform and Development Party member Mohammed Essmat al-Sadat received US financial support through his Sadat Association for Social Development, a grantee of The Middle East Partnership Initiative.

The federal grants records and database show in 2011 Sadat collected $84,445 from MEPI “to work with youth in the post-revolutionary Egypt”.

Source: Al Jazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 28

International

Nelson Mandela spends 95th birthday in hospital

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elson Mandela is spending his 95th birthday in hospital in Pretoria, as events take place around the world and in South Africa in his honour.

South Africans are being urged to mark the former president and anti-apartheid leader’s 67 years of public service with 67 minutes of charitable acts.

Mr Mandela, who is in critical but stable condition with a recurring lung infection, entered hospital on 8 June.

President Jacob Zumasaid his health was “steadily improving”.

“We are proud to call this international icon our own as South Africans and wish him good health,” said MrZuma in a statement.

“We thank all our people for supporting Madiba throughout the hospitalisation with undying love and compassion,” he said, referring to Mr Mandela by his clan name.

Mr Mandela’s daughter, Zindzi, said he was making “remarkable progress”, and that she had found him watching television with headphones on and communicating with his eyes and hands when she visited him this week.

“We look forward to having him back at home soon,” the South African Press Association quoted her as saying.

Mr Mandela’s birthday is also Nelson Mandela International Day, a day declared by the UN as a way to

recognise the Nobel Prize winner’s contribution to reconciliation.

The former statesman is revered across the world for his role in ending apartheid in South Africa. He went on to become the first black president in the country’s first multi-racial elections in 1994.

The governing African National Congress (ANC) said that on this Mandela Day homage was being paid to 95 years of “life well-lived”, dedicated to the liberation of South Africans and people all over the world.

Activities throughout the day included School-children across the

country singing a synchronised Happy Birthday to the former president, Mandela family members handing out gifts to Mamelodi township residents.

President Zuma visitedMr Mandela in hospital and oversaw the donation of houses to poor white families in the Pretoria area Events are also taking place internationally, with an image of a large Mandela painting by South African artist Paul Blomkamp featured in New York’s Times Square.

Meanwhile, concerts are planned later this week in the Australian city

of Melbourne, featuring local and African artists.

Mr Mandela’s ill-health gives extra poignancy to this year’s Mandela Day, correspondents say.

For South Africans, the best birthday present for Mandela would be for him to recover and be among the people who love him most, says the BBC’s PumzaFihlani in Johannesburg.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela told a local radio station her former husband’s 95th birthday was “a gift not only to the family... but to the nation”.

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School-children across the country sang a synchronised Happy Birthday to the former President.

to immediately free Mursi. He has been keptinsincejusthoursafterthemilitary toppled him on July 3.

“I believe he should be released.

I was assured he is well. I would have liked to see him,” Ashton said.

EU calls for Mursi release amid protests Ashton (L) during her meeting with Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour

rotests in Egypt continued unabatedasinternationalpressure grew on the interim government tofreethetoppledpresident,Mohamed Mursi, and return Egypt to democracy.

Tens of thousands of people again took to the streets in the early hours

of Thursday, with opponents and supporters of Mursi holding rival demonstrations in separate parts of Cairo.

They came after EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton visited the city and called on the interim government

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were too scared to testify and another had recanted his statement.

Some 1,000 people were killed and 600,000 people fled their homes during the violence which following the December 2007 poll.

In a redacted document dated 16 July 2013, Chief prosecutor FatouBensouda said two witnesses identified as Witness 5 and Witness 426 were withdrawing over security concerns.

Witness 5 said he felt that circumstances,whichwerenotrevealed, had created “insurmountable security risks” for himself.

Discussions had been held with Witness426to“determinewhetherany

L-R: Presidents Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, Alpha Conde of Guinea, Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, and Dioncounda Traore of Mali, during the 43rd ordinary session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Witnesses withdraw from Kenyatta trial wo witnesses due to testify in Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s trial have withdrawn oversecurityconcerns,theInternational Criminal Court has said.

A third witnesses’ evidence is no longer considered necessary and has been dropped by the prosecution.

Mr Kenyatta is accused of orchestrating deadly violence after the 2007 election, an allegation he denies.

In March this year he was elected president and his trial at The Hague is due to start on 12 November.

Shortly after Mr Kenyatta was elected, the ICC dropped charges against one of his co-accused, Francis Muthaura, because some witnesses

ECOWAS calls on AU to lift sanctions on Guinea Bissau

By Abdulkadir Isa

EU calls for Mursi release amid protests

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South Sudan to shut off oil flows on Sudan’s insistence

measures could be taken to mitigate his concerns and secure his attendance at trial”, MsBensouda said.

Kenyatta

“These talks were unsuccessful and Witness426maintainedthathewasnot willing to testify,” her statement said.

eads of Government of the Economic Community of the West African States have called on the African Union to lift sanctions on Guinea Bissau as an important milestone towards peace.

The leaders made this plea after a two-day deliberation at the Forty-third ordinary session of the Head of States and Government in Abuja.

They had earlier lamented that the economic condition of the people of Guinea Bissau is in dire need of attention from the global community, a situation highly aggravated by the sanctions.

In its resolution 30 of the session, the ECOWAS heads said “authority once more reiterates its call on the African Union and international partners to lift sanctions imposed on Guinea Bissau and resume bilateral cooperation with the country.

Authority encourages the intensification of on-going initiatives to convene a donor conference to mobilize the necessary resources for the socio-economic development of the country”.

The authority took note of the defence and security sector reform in Guinea Bissau, and directed the ECOWAS Commission to ensure its effectiveness urging, “the commanders of the commanders and the contingents of the ECOWAS Security Mission in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) for their laudable efforts in the country, and decides to extend the mandate of ECOMIB by a further twelve months”.

At the end of the session, participants paid merited homage to H.E AlassaneOuttara, president of the republic of Cot d’Ivoire and Chairman of Authority, for his constant dedication to the service of regional, peace and security in West Africa.

The session resolved to hold their 44th Ordinary Summit in Yamoussoukro, Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, at a later date to be agreed after consultations.

PEOPLES DAILY , FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 29

International

Palestinian leaders ‘to discuss peace talks’

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John Kerry, who has pursued six months of intensive and deliberately discreet diplomacy.

Abbas was due to convene senior members of the umbrella Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and his Fatah party on Thursday in Ramallah, a hub city of the Israelioccupied West Bank and seat of his US-backed administration.

“We are expecting to hear from the president the ideas presented by

Kerry,” Wasel Abu Yousef, a leading PLO member, told the Reuters news agency.

“There will be a discussion on these ideas, and everyone will say what he thinks about this. The conclusion will be by a general consensus.”

Gaps between the sides had “very significantly” narrowed, Kerry said on Wednesday.

His proposals to resume

also wounded seven police officers, two of them seriously, in the attack, Bihar state’s top police officer Abhayanand, who uses only one name, told the AP news agency on Thursday.

Private television channel CNN-IBN also reported that

security forces launched an operation to capture rebels on Thursday.

The attack took place area near Aurangabad, a town nearly 165km south of Patna, the state capital.

The area is a known stronghold of Maoist rebels who

have been fighting in several Indian states for more than 40 years, and claim inspiration from Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong.

They demand land and jobs for poor tribal communities that they say are ignored by the government.

the 1950-53 Korean War which left the peninsula divided between the rival countries.

Pak Chol-Su, the North’s chief delegate, opened the talks by saying: “Theweatherisnotsobadtoday,doyou think we will have good results today?”

Kim Ki-Woong, his South Korean counterpart, replied: “I hope we’ll be able to build a house that can stand against any gusts of wind or pouring rains.”

The two sides agreed in principle at a meeting this month to reopen the estate, where 53,000 North Koreans worked in 123 South-owned factories producing textiles or light industrial goods.

But little progress has been made since then amid squabbles over which side will take responsibility for the

suspension, and Pyongyang’s refusal to accept Seoul’s demand for firm safeguardsagainst another unilateral shutdown.

Seoul also wants to allow foreign firms to operate in Kaesong in an apparent bid to make it more difficult for Pyongyang to shut the estate if relations worsen.

The North has called for an unconditional and quick restart and blamed Seoul’s “hostile policy” for the suspension and the deadlock in negotiations.

Professor Yang Moo-Jin, of the University of North Korean Studies, said that the fourth and fifth rounds of talks would serve as a “watershed” in attempts to rescue Kaesong, the last remaining symbol of reconciliation.

Talks were tense, coming after the South accused its neighbor of Cyber attacks

‘Maoist rebels kill five’ in eastern India

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uspected Maoist rebels have shot and killed three policemen and two private security guards in an attack on a private construction company complex in the eastern state of Bihar, one of India’s poorest, police have said.

The more than 200 fighters

Kurdish fighters ‘seize’ Syrian border town

negotiations won the endorsement of an Arab League committee, which said they “provide the ground and a suitable environment to start negotiations”.

Abbas, whose peace strategy is routinely censured by rival faction Hamas, who control the beseiged Gaza Strip, has in the past sought support Arab League support to engage Israel, but it was not clear whether Wednesday’s endorsement would give him enough political cover to resume direct peace talks.

Sticking points Negotiations, which have ebbed and flowed for two decades, last broke down in late 2010 over Israel’s West Bank settlements and other sticking points.

Since then, Abbas at times has insisted that Israel renew and extend a halt on settlement construction for new talks to be held. Israel has ruled that out.

Palestinians familiar with Abbas’s thinking speculated he might forgo the demand for a construction halt given a recent slowdown in housing starts issued by the Israeli government - though it may still be painful to roll back his previous demand.

If Abbas yields on the issue, it may have been in exchange for a goodwill gesture from Israel - such as amnesty for veteran PLO fighters held in its jails for decades.

Israel gave no signs that such prisoner releases were in the offing, or any gestures on settlements.

Abbas (L) held talks with John Kerry, the US secretary of state, in Jordan.

alestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is set to meet senior Palestinian leaders to discuss a possible resumption of peace talks with Israel after an almost threeyear freeze, officials have said.

The officials gave no details on what Abbas’s terms for peace talks might be, should he announce a breakthrough after meeting in Jordan with US Secretary of State

Asia & Middle East

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t least 29 people have been killed in fighting between Kurdish and Al-Nusra Front fighters in northern Syria in the past two days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday.

At least 19 Al-Nusra Front fighters and 10 Kurds have been killed since the day before yesterday in clashes in the oil region of Hassakeh,” the NGO said.

On Wednesday, the group said Syrian Kurdish fighters had pushed members of Al-Nusra and the alQaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant out of the town of Ras al-Ain and its nearby border crossing with Turkey.

The clashes erupted after AlNusra Front militants attacked a convoy of Kurdish women fighters, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said.

Elsewhere in the country, the Observatory reported five killed in an air strike on the town of Saraqeb north-western Idlib province.

The group said at least four missiles fired by regime war planes hit residential buildings, killing five civilians and injuring dozens more.

At least 120 people were killed throughout Syria on Wednesday, according to the group, including 42 civilians, 61 rebels and 17 soldiers.

Syria’s Kurdish minority have walked a sometimes ambiguous line in the country’s conflict, which is now in its third year.

Despite occasionally cooperating with rebel fighters, the country’s Kurds have largely chosen to remain outside the conflict, and have sought to keep both regime troops and rebels out of their areas.

Their position has earned them the ire of some rebels, who fault them for failing to back the uprising.

Korean talks resume on Kaesong zone

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orth and South Korea have held fresh talks on reopening their jointindustrialzoneatKaesong, with low hopes of an early agreement following months of friction.

A fourth round of talks over the complex, a rare symbol of co-operation between the two rivals, took place just across the border in the North. Three previous attempts this month all ended in deadlock.

The talks at the complex, 10km inside the North, come one day after South Korea accused the North of mounting cyber attacks on the websites of its presidential office and other government agencies.

The South said that it had identified signature malicious computer codes and an internet address last month, on the anniversary of the beginning of

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 30

International

US congress slams spy programme

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nited States politicians have blasted the nation’s intelligence agencies for trampling on privacy rights and vowed to impose limits on the government’s authority to scoop up Americans’ phone records.

At a House Judiciary Committee hearing, members from both parties berated senior officials over the collection of bulk phone data as beyond the limits of the US Constitution as well as legislation adopted by Congress.

“I think that very clearly, this programmehas gone off the tracks legally”, said Representative Zoe Lofgren of California.

The hearing focused on the government’s far-reaching

surveillance activities that have come under intense scrutiny after Edward Snowden revealed the National Security Agency (NSA) was collecting phone “meta-data” of conversations between foreign nationals and American citizens through a programme known as “PRISM”.

“With these programmes and other intelligence activities, we are constantly seeking to achieve the right balance between the protection of national security and the protection of privacy and civil liberties,” Deputy Attorney General James Cole told the committee.

House representatives, however, said Congress had amended the post-9/11 Patriot Act to ensure phone or other

business records would only be collected on a narrow basis, when government agencies had a specific suspect or threat in mind.

“We amended the Patriot Act to avoid this very same problem,” said John Conyers, the senior-ranking Democrat on the committee, who called the data collection a “serious violation” of the law.

“This is unsustainable, it’s outrageous and must be stopped immediately,” Conyers said.

Senior justice and intelligence officials insisted the data mining of phone records was reviewed by a secret court, in line with laws adopted by Congress and only conducted to track down al-Qaeda-linked fighters.

Administration officials told

the committee that the phone data allowed spy agencies and the FBI to track down an associate of NajibullahZazi, who admitted to plotting to bomb the New York City subway.

The pressure came a day after a US court ruled the government must release elements of a 2008 court decision justifying Prism.

The ruling could offer a rare glimpse into how the government legally justified such data collection programmes under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

The government is expected to decide by August 26 which parts of the 2008 opinion may be published, according to a separate court filing by the Justice Department.

Athens on lockdown ahead of German visit

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security cordon has been thrown around the Greek capital for a visit by the German finance minister, a leading proponent of austerity.

Wolfgang Schaeuble arrived hours after a bill scraped through parliament that will see thousands of public sector workers lose their jobs.

The bill is tied to new bailout loans worth 6.8bn euros (£5.8bn), needed to keep the Greek government afloat.

In central Athens, protests have been banned and metro stations closed.

The moves follow protests of up to 5,000 outside the Greek parliament during Thursday’s vote, and a recent series of strikes against the latest cuts.

But MrSchaeuble insisted there was “no way around

Greeks view Schaeuble as pro austerity

structural and fiscal reforms...

There is no convenient shortcut,” the Associated Press reported.

The coalition government led by conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras agrees it has no choice but to enforce further

about corruption allegations.

The EU said the verdict posed “serious questions” about the state of Russian law. The US said it was “deeply disappointed”.

Before he was handcuffed and led away, Navalny urged his supporters to continue his anticorruption struggle, tweeting: “Don’t sit around doing nothing.”

Navalny has previously said he would like to stand for

president one day.

He had recently registered his candidacy for the next mayor of Moscow, but his campaign team said that after the verdict he was withdrawing from the race, and called on his supporters to boycott the vote.

Daniel Sandford says that when the sentence was handed down, there were tears from Navalny’s supporters and an

painful adjustment.

Thursday’s ban on protests p r o h i bits more than three people from holding banners and shouting slogans.

It was described by Greece’s main left-wing opposition party, Syriza, as “fascist and undemocratic”.

MrSchaeuble is meeting Mr Samaras and other Greek officials on his first visit to Greece since the debt crisis exploded in 2009.

Correspondents say he is viewed bitterly as a champion of the austerity policies which have gripped Greece over the past four years. During that time, Greece has received two bailouts worth more than 240m euros, but at the cost of wage cuts, tax rises and unemployment that now stands at 27%.

Russian protest leader jailed for corruption

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ussian protest leader Alexei Navalny has been jailed for five years, for embezzlement from a timber firm.

Navalny had denied the charges, saying the trial was politically motivated.

The 37-year-old had been a leading campaigner against President Putin’s United Russia party, and regularly blogged

Navalny upon hearing his sentencing

explosion of anger on the social networking sites that he has used so effectively.

Anti-Putin activist and former cabinet minister Boris Nemtsov told reporters the trial was “completely fabricated from start to finish, and even the judge could not say what the reason for the crime was”.

Other countries have also voiced their concern at the verdict.

The US ambassador to Moscow, Michael McFaul, said: “We are deeply disappointed

in the conviction of Navalny and the apparent political motivations in this trial.”

A spokesperson for the EU’s top foreign policy official, Catherine Ashton, said the embezzlement charges were uns ub s t ant i at ed , and t h at Navalny’s jailing posed “serious questions as to the state of the rule of law in Russia”.

French foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot added his concern, but said: “We note that not all judicial remedies have been exhausted and that the sentence could be reviewed on appeal.”

Navalny’s supporters in Moscow have vowed to stage protests against the verdict later on Thursday.

Navalny was found guilty of heading a group that embezzled timber worth 16m rubles ($500,000; £330,000) from the Kirovles state timber company while working as an adviser to Kirov’s governor Nikita Belykh.

The prosecution had asked for a six year jail sentence, but judge Sergei Blinov decided on five years, and said there were no extenuating circumstances that would warrant keeping Navalny out of prison.

Europe and Americas Panama charges North Korea ship’s crew

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anama has charged the crew of a North Korean ship detained in Panama after it was found to be carrying weapons.

Prosecutor Javier Caraballo accused the 35 crew members of endangering public security by illegally transporting war material.

The charges came just hours after North Korea urged Panama to release the ship and its crew without delay.

Police found the weapons under bags of sugar. Cuba has said it had sent the weapons to North Korea for repairs.

Panama has asked the UN to investigate whether there has been a breach of the sanctions against North Korea.

The UN sanctions prohibit the supply of arms to Pyongyang in the dispute over its controversial nuclear programme.

“According to its declaration, the ship only carried 10,000 tonnes sugar, it never declared war material and that in itself is a violation of the rules and a grave danger for the transit through the Panama Canal,” MrCaraballo said.

He said the crew had remained silent when the charges against them were brought.

They will remain in detention while Panamanian security forces continue to unload the cargo under which the weapons were hidden.

Panama’s Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino said the ship and its cargo had broken Panamanian and international law.

“This is not an official or military ship belonging to the North Korean government.”

“It’s a commercial ship which wanted to pass through the Panama canal with a [cargo] declaration which failed to reflect what it was carrying, turning a blind eye to the fact that its cargo could be violating UN resolutions,” he said.

According to the security minister, the search could take days.

Meanwhile, North Korea had asked Panama to release the ship.

Cuba had earlier admitted being behind the stash of weapons found on board the ship. It said they were Soviet-era arms from Cuba headed for repair in North Korea.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 31

Strange World

Healthy woman dreams of becoming paralyzed

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eing stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of their lives is most people’s idea of hell, but not for Chloe Jennings-White. A 57-year-old chemist from Salt Lake City, Utah, has an unnatural desire to become a paraplegic (paralyzed from the waist down).

Chloe lives the life of a disabled person. She moves around in a wheelchair and wears long leg braces that lock at the knee to enable her to ambulate with crutches. But when she needs to go up or down a flight of stairs, she simply stands up, removes her braces and walks like a normal person.

Like most paralyzed people, she loves outdoor activities, only instead of using specialized equipment to enable such activities, she simply goes on 12-hour hikes in the woods, skies down dangerous slopes, climbs mountain peaks, like a normal person. Chloe JenningsWhite isn’t physically impaired, she just likes to feel like she is.

In 2008, doctors diagnosed her with BIID (Body Integrity identity Disorder), a serious

psychological disorder that causes sufferers to feel they would be happier living as amputees or paraplegics. To resist the urges of damaging her spine and fulfilling her desire of becoming paralyzed, doctors suggested she use a wheelchair and special braces. Being able to spend most of her time as a paraplegic has been a massive relief for Chloe, but she admits to sometimes fantasizing about being an accident or a car crash that would truly damage her legs.

Ever since she was a little girl, Chloe dreamed about becoming paralyzed below the waist. She had an aunt who had become a paraplegic in her 20′s following a biking accident, so at age nine she climbed her bike and rode it off a tall wooden stage she had set up in a local park, with the sole intention of crashing and breaking her back. She just had an overwhelming desire to be like her aunt Olive, and she didn’t know there was anything wrong with that. Only she landed on her neck with the weight of the bike on top of her, and

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Adults can grow up to 6.5 inches (16.7 cm) long and have incredibly strong jaws that can snap wooden

that’s when she realized such dangerous stunts could leave her paralyzed from the neck down, something that she did not want.

When she was 10-years-old, Chloe discovered bandaging a stiff piece of wood to both her legs made her feel a lot better.

She new her desires were much different than everyone else’s, so she pretended to be a paraplegic behind close doors.

Chloe studied chemistry at Cambridge University, and it was while working at the Stanford Research Institute that the BIID really started to take over her. She fantasized about getting back on her childhood bike and finishing the job and driving into a brick wall on her way home. Still, she managed to control her urges until she developed fibromyalgia (pain and tenderness in the muscles, tendons and joints), at 31. It forced her to give up activities she loved doing, like playing tennis, but it also finally gave her an excuse to wear leg braces in public. She never told anyone about her weird desires thinking they would consider her crazy.

She herself thought she was insane just thinking about such things. It wasn’t until she finally came clean about her strange urges with her partner, Danielle, and started going to therapy that Chloe realized there was no one to blame for what she had, her brain was just wired a different way.

Chloe Jennings-White started using a wheelchair to resist the urge of making herself paraplegic and it helped a lot, but it didn’t curb her desire of one day losing feeling in her legs. She even asked a doctor about a surgery that could make it happen. He told her finding a surgeon willing to sever her spinal cord was probably impossible, but some doctors might

be able to provide relief by cutting her sciatic and femoral nerves. For now, she continues to live like a paraplegic, by spending around 12 hours a day in a wheelchair, ditching it for long periods of time only when she goes hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. She suffered a severe skiing accident in 2006 which damaged her spine to some extent and doctors have told her that if she

keeps practicing both skiing and hiking she risk actually becoming paralyzed. Unfortunately, that only motivated her to keep doing them.

The BIID sufferer says she gets all kinds of angry comments from people who consider her a fraud, but they don’t fully understand her condition.

Using the wheelchair despite her ability to move like a normal person saved her life.

pencils in half, so just imagine what they could do to your fingers. Luckily, these scary-looking bugs are quite harmless to humans.

The T i t a n b e e t l e i s o n e of the most mysterious creatures on Earth. It lives unobtrusively deep in some of the South America’s hottest tropical rain forests and only ventures out when seeking out mates.

The larvae of this amazing insect have never been found, but judging by the large boreholes found in dead trees in their natural habitat, scientists believe Titan beetle grubs feed on decaying wood below ground for several years before reaching maturity. The size of these holes suggests the grubs are around two inches in diameter and up to a foot long. Just like the

Atlas Moth, the Titan beetle doesn’t feed during its adult life cycle, using the reserves gathered in its pupa stage to fly around long enough to find a mate. Because they mostly sit around waiting for males to seek them out and fertilize their eggs, females have rarely been spotted.

Although the Hercules Beetle is considered the world’s longest beetle, measuring over 7 inches (over 17.5 cm) because of its enormous horn which makes up around have the total length, in terms of sheer body size the Titanusgiganteus is the world’s largest beetle, and one of the largest insects on the planet. They defend themselves by hissing in warning and using their large jaws to bite attackers.

It also has very strong legs equipped with sharp

claws that can literally tear through flesh. Titans never attack unprovoked, but must be handled with care as they can do some serious damage.

The Titan beetle typically lives in the rain forests of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, the Guianas and north-central Brazil, where locals and researchers try to capture them after dark, with bright lights. There is an entire eco-tourism industry based on the Titan beetle, which provides sightseeing tours of the insect in its habitat, and the selling of specimens, which can cost up to $500. The largest recorded Titanusgiganteus measured 16.7 centimeters, more than some adult Chihuahuas, and was collected by entomologist Patrick Bleuzen in French Guyana.

Chloe has dreamed about becoming paralyzed below the waist ever since she was a little girl.

Giant bugs the size of your hand s its name suggests, the Titanusgiganteus, or Titan Beetle, is a giant of the insect world.

The Hercules Beetle is considered the world’s longest beetle, measuring over 7 inches.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 32

Weekend Revue BBA: South African, Angelo, in shameful romance with Nigeria’s Beverly WITH TOBIAS LENGNAN DAPAM lovelengz@yahoo.com 07036990957

opinions could very well ask their sisters or daughters who have bodies to dance naked in the National Stadium to accentuate their arguement. Since freedom of the body has now moved from being personal to being open in a visual zoo, then those people might as well go on a naked display.

Another school of thought canvassed by former Big Brother winner, Uti Nwachukwu, says its not easy for a sexually active person to ‘hold bodi’ for 3 months in the house. Is that an excuse? In fact, from the Biblical perspective, I liken the sexual adventures in the BBA house to the sacrilegeous Absalomic act in the Bible, wherein Absalom openly slept with his Father’s concubines for all to see on his royal patio.

Only, in the BBA, there are no kings or usurpers. Only people who profess to be followers of faiths they don’t know jack about.

Coming back to the hypothesis, it is not Angelo who used the finger on Beverly. Its actually South Africa which has fingered and sub-raped Nigeria.

Since both housemates are representatives of their countries, Angelo’s act should be seen for its symbolism rather than its entertainment value.

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam with Agency report

T

he Big Brother show is undoubtedly one of the .most watched/followed indigenous TV reality show on the continent.

Comments and headlines floated the internet when Beverly got involved with Angelo.

Though most people do not follow Big Brother Africa and that is by choice.

A choice they have on their decoders by ignoring or disabling the channel off their bouquet.

Years ago, Professor Wole Soyinka’s statement criticized shameful romance of BBA, describing it as pervasive and debasing.

Reading snippets of this year’s edition on some online platforms, the Good Prof’s statement has largely been vindicated.

Uninhibited sexual frolicks on open camera, accusations of STDs being passed around, shameless smooching by hormonal charged housemates and ear-tingling swear words are the pre-dominant values being shown to the continent from that neoGommorhic contraption of a creation. Of course, many believed the content producers cleverly hide some details with socalled tasks which lamely try to project positive African cultures and traditions; which is ironical because such modern franchises like BBA are neo-imperialist means of eroding the very essence of Africanism as the world moves to an incomprehensible digital age.

There are various countries represented in the BBA house from many African countries. The Producers of the show cleverly put up a caveat that the contestants represent themselves and not their countries, which I find nebulous and amusing. But I understand why they are playing safe.

The reality is that BBA is a competition and every person in that house represents (intentionally or otherwise) the culture and morals of their respective countries.

So when one housemate screams blue murder that he was infected by another with an sexually transmitted disease ( it

Beverly Osu was reported that a Nando accusing a Selly) its not just a personal accusation.

Its Nando’s country (Tanzania) accusing Ghana of giving them Chlamydia.

That’s just the plain reality.

And while some people are sniggering about that, the latest furore generated

by Nigeria’s representative in the house, Beverly Osu, over her unlimited libido is as shameful to many as it is interesting to others. Almost all major Nigerian online sites and newspapers have been awash with opinions and comments for the past couple of days about how Beverly got herself in a ferocious foreplay which was caught on camera. In accompanying pictures, Beverly is seen with her South African romantic

interest, Angelo, in a hotblooded sexual position with mouth agape in ecstasy as he does something to her with his finger. In fact, I don’t even know which is more shocking, the act itself or the crass reportage given to it by the bloggers.

Most of the bloggers went on a tactless headline spree by posting headlines such as ‘Beverly Osu ‘fingered’ by Angelo’ and other shocking headlines like that. What is that naa?

Ehn? I guess they didn’t know how else to report it except in the tell-it-likeit-is headlined.

Anyway, the arguement in Beverly’s favour is as amusing to me as it is as silly. Some say its her body and she can do what she wants with it. True. I agree. But those with such

Angelo

SA is the biggest economy in Africa, according to financial analysts. Nigeria is the fastest growing economy in Africa.

There’s been a struggle for continental domination by both countries over the years. To underscore their importance in Africa, South African companies have been investing heavily in Nigeria; finding huge profits in the porous economy of N i g e r i a . N i g e r i a ns welcome all these investments with open arms. Just as Beverly opened her arms and *cough, c o ug h* f o r A ngelo. S o, wh en Angelo carried out his act, he might have been telling us Nigerians who cared to watch, ‘F**k you, all! You Nigerians ain’t shit’. And t ha t is ho w it looks .

Beverly represents a w ho rin g Nigeria wh ich s eem t o g e t n o t hing righ t bu t j u s t allows itself to be screwed both by internal and external interests. Its as simple as t ha t .

B ut a ll t h is grammar and analogy here will not change so m e t hin g . Wh en th is s ame Beverly comes back from the BBA house, she would have turned into the next big celebrity wit h p o s s i b l e companies falling over themselves to sign her for endorsements. Its just what pointing fingers can do to one.

PAGE 33

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Weekend Revue

Ghanian movie producers in hot chase for Mercy Johnson N Mercy Johnson

igeriafilms igeriafilms.com com has revealed that top Ghanian movie producers are currently battling to feature Nollywood diva, Mercy Johnson in their movie.

The highly talented actress has suddenly become the toast of virtually all the movie makers in Ghana at the moment. Since she returned not too long ago to the scene after a break, which saw her going away to have her baby and nursing her for some months.

Over the years, Mercy has been one of the hot favourites of Ghanaians and has shot so many movies in the country.

Her absence however, had created a big demand for her in the country, especially from Ghanaian movie enthusiasts who have been waiting patiently to see her back on their screens.

A notable movie marketer in Accra, confirmed to City People last week that Mercy Johnson is the first on the list of Nigerian movie stars who movie producers are rushing madly for, to feature in their new movies.

Scripts have been flying from all corners to the talented Nigerian actress, ever since she registered her comeback to the industry not long ago.

Robert Downney tops Wizkid inspired me-Iyanya highest paid actors list

T

his year’s “Highest Paid Actors” list has been released

by Forbes and given the monster year Tony Stark had, it’s no surprise that Robert Downey Jr. tops the list.

Banking an impressive $75 million is apparently not all that hard to do when your movie rockets to #3 of the highest

grossing movies of all time, like The Avengers did.

Now that he’s signed on for more Iron Man and Avengers 2, it won’t be surprising if Robert Downey Jr. makes numerous repeat appearances on this list in the coming years.

Channing Tatum came in second to RDJ thanks to Magic Mike, the fact that he and director Steven Soderbergh bankrolled the film on their own.

Rounding out the list were a few surprises, like Mark Wahlberg coming in at number four with $52 million, Ted and Adam Sandler at number seven with $37 million.

2013 top ten highest paid actors

Robert Downey Jr. -- $75 million Channing Tatum -$60 million Hugh Jackman -- $55 million Mark Wahlberg -- $52 million Dwayne Johnson -$46 million Leonardo DiCaprio -- $39 million Adam Sandler -- $37 million Tom Cruise -- $35 million Denzel Washington -- $33 million

Robert Downney

Liam Neeson -- $32 million

T

he first winner of the popular annual reality show, MTN Project Fame, Inyanya, has disclosed that sensational pop star, Wizkid, inspired him to keep his head high in the music industry, Nigeriafilms.com has said.

Wizkid gained fame with his ‘Holla at your boy’ song, which introduced him to the consciousness of many people.

The singer has become a household name and started headlining big shows in and outside the country.

For Iyanya, just when many thought he would become a household name in Nigeria after he won the maiden edition of the MTN sponsored music talent show, the Calabar-born singer struggled for few years until luck smiled at him and he burst into fame with his hit track ‘Kukere’.

Wizkid

Copyright society to fund music foundation for indigent musicians

T

he Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), o n T h u r s d a y said it had commenced talks with individuals, groups, government and international institutions to support artistes in distress.

Tony Okoroji, chairman of the society, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the measure was to provide funds for the society’s music foundation.

He said the foundation that was a non-profit trust was initiated by the society to provide financial support to indigent musicians.

According to Okoroji, the foundation is also aimed at providing funds for music education in a sector where

there is no pension, gratuity or insurance scheme for musicians.

NAN recalls that the society had on May 22, launched a music foundation at the MUSON centre, Lagos.

The society had called on the public, corporate organisations and governments at various levels to financially support the foundation.

Okoroji said establishing a foundation for the industry was necessary in order to provide resources to trigger a new economic and cultural revolution as well as intensify the battle against piracy.

He noted that it would also help fight other forms

of abuse of the rights of musicians in Nigeria in order to improve the income of musicians through their recorded works.

The chairman said public response to the initiative was indicative of the importance and timeliness of establishing a foundation.

He said the society would continue to seek public support to provide funds for the foundation as it remained an on-going campaign which needed the support of everyone. ``It is an on-going campaign and we are talking with every individual, group, government and international institutions to contribute to the foundation. (NAN)

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Sport Analysis

Sports: Not yet uhuru

By Patrick Andrew and Albert Akota

W

ith the enthronement of democracy Nigerians of sundry works, not the least sports practitioners and enthusiast alike, harbour no little dream of fruitful yields from all endeavours. Indeed, it has been 14 years of unbroken democratic governance and for sports 11 years of experimenting with democratic principles in the hitherto dictatorial terrain.

Suffice to say that before the advent of Nigeria’s nascent democracy, sports was governed by the whims and caprice of whoever finds himself at the helms of affair. Albeit in principles and character it was more theoretical than pragmatical, that dictatorial tendencies altered in some ways.

Within the last 12 months, sports under the present democratic dispensation have yielded great expectations. Firstly, 2012 was an Olympics year, which means various sports federations were busy preparing and featuring in qualifiers.

Nigeria was no exception.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) streamlined the games in which Nigeria would participate to eight in the belief that these the country has reasonable comparative advantage over its peers at the continental and inter-continental levels.

True, Nigeria qualified in athletics-track and field, table tennis, wrestling, boxing, taekwondo, weightlifting, basketball. Of course, football was listed, but alas neither the male nor the female team could secure a berth in London.

From that perspective and considering the status of football in the country, Nigeria’s participation from onset was a setback. Within the period, Nigeria qualified for all continental finals and hit the world stage in U-20, male and female, U-17 female, while the U-23 Olympic teams were disastrous.

That year is equally football wise in its ugliness. For the first time in 12 years Nigeria and Nigerians watched the AFCON as spectators.

Paul Ibezim summaries the situation

American Dream Team made the mince meat of D’ Tigress at the London Games

Yakubu Adesokan of Nigeria celebrates setting a new world record and winning gold in the Men’s 48kg Powerlifting at the London 2012 Paralympic Games thus: “whatever the NFF choose to say, it was monumental failure and noting otherwise would sufficiently capture the mood and the feelings of Nigerians during the jointly hosted Nations Cup finals.”

But then, the NFF beats its chest for what it accomplished. “The Super Eagles won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, the Flying Eagles finished third in Algeria to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey, and the Golden Eaglets qualified for the 2013 CAF U-17 Championship after losing the CHAN final to Cote d’Ivoire.

“The Falconets qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and won plaudit from world football governors as they reached the semi finals and the Flamingoes reached the quarter finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World in Azerbaijan and equaled a tournament record.

“The Beach Soccer teamSupersand Eagles, won the COPA Lagos invitational tournament for the second successive edition and putting up a credible showing at the Samsung Intercontinental tournament in Dubai,” Demola Olajire Spokesman of the football federation said but conveniently forgot to mention the Sand Eagles’ failure to secure qualification for FIFA tournament only last weekend in Morocco.

And yet there was the impasse over ownership of the domestic premier league. The interim management committee set up to right the wrongs which led to the impeachment of the Victor Baribote and the dissolution of the NPL board, generated hiccups no little dimension and needed government fiat to impose the some form of order.

The committee metamorphosed to League Management Company to the chagrin of so-called clubs’ owners

who themselves are mere appointees of state governments.

Although there is semblance of a truce, the league, despite the huge sponsorship recently brokered with telecommunications, remains amateurish, far from entertaining and entreprising.

Beyond football, other sports fared even worse except basketball in which Nigeria qualified for the Olympics for the first time. No, forget the drubbing that the American Dream Team subjected the D’ Tigres to.

There is always days of small beginning as agreed by Francis Anchi whose assessment of Nigeria’s performance in the past 12 months hovers between hope and despair.

But the 2012 London Games miasma remains a lingering dent.

“It was an unusual record compared to the nation’s achievements at the Games in the past two decades. It was one that reminded Nigerians of the woeful performance recorded when Nigeria did not win any medal at Seoul ’88.

“In London, Nigeria’s hopes for medals were shouldered by the athletics team, where Blessing Okagbare was regarded as one of the best but she finished the final in the 8th position, blaming her poor performance on injury despite competing till the end.

“In the long jump, she had an equally bad outing, failing to qualify for the final after finishing in the 17th position. In the women’s 4x100m relay race, Christy Udoh, Gloria Asumnu, Oludamola Osayomi and Okagbare did put up a fight but the their best Nigeria ending in the 4th position.

“Ajoke Odumosu also raised the nation’s hopes when she reached the 400m hurdles but she came last to end all medal expectations from the race.

“The basketball team reached the Olympics for the first time with much expectation, especially after beating Greece and Lithuania, respectively ranked 4th and 5th in the world, during the qualifiers.

“They even gladdened the nation’s heart with a win over African champions, Tunisia, in their first match at the Olympics, but defeats by to Lithuania, Argentina, US and France ended first basketball participation at the Games with one win.

“There was disappointment after the table tennis team was ousted a day after the opening ceremony but there were last minute hopes that later produced no medals for Nigeria.

“Team Nigeria’s Captain Chika Chukwumerije, who won a bronze at the last Olympic Games in Beijing, China, was seen as a medal prospect in taekwondo because of the preparation he had before the

Games.

“He did not begin his contest until a day before the closing ceremony, but in his only fight, he lost to Cuban opponent, Robelis Despaigne, in the men’s 80kg class, “Achi summarised with heavy sighing.

However, that gloomed was replaced by joy when they least expectaed flag bearers the Paralympians wiped the tears by winning 13 medals at the Paralympics Games in London.

“The physically challenged athletes with just 29 athletes won six gold, five silver and two bronze medals at the Paralympics Games, with 12 of the medals coming from the Powerliffing event others in the Shot Put event, “ the Totori Master ace said.

True, the motley of legal tussles over the nomenclature of the football ruling authority subsided, not so the tacit arm-twisting of the leadership of the football house. This came to the fore when the National Sports Commission (NSC) deducted from source what was initially regarded as grants for Nations Cup finals prosecution from the budgetary allocation to the NFF. And just last week, efforts to secure quasi-autonomy without necessarily being financially autonomous hits a brick wall when speaker after speakers railed at Aminu Maigari’s attempt to eat his cake and yet have it. The consensus was the NFF cannot be independent when it can’t generate its funds for basic needs devoid of government sponsorship.

Did the NSC say some sports have been concessioned? That appears in documents only. The reality is that these so-called concessioned sports are epileptic and leaning greatly on government for survival.

Nonetheless, one must thumbed up for basketball, scrabble, in some ways the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) that has worked assiduously to revive, rekindle and regenerate talents with classics, and grassroots programmes which have begun to yield some fruits.

However, a lot remains to be done to reposition and re-jig sports on all spheres for better results, though there are prospects.

Blessing Okagbeare came first from behind to dash all hopes for an athletics medal

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Feature Life and times of Nelson Mandela N elson Mandela is one of the world’s most revered statesmen, who led the struggle to replace the apartheid regime of South Africa with a multi-racial democracy.

Jailed for 27 years, he emerged in 1990 to become the country’s first black president four years later and to play a leading role in the drive for peace in other spheres of conflict. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

His charisma, self-deprecating sense of humour and lack of bitterness over his harsh treatment, as well as his amazing life story, partly explain his extraordinary global appeal.

Since stepping down as president in 1999, Mr Mandela has become South Africa’s highest-profile ambassador, campaigning against HIV/Aids and helping to secure his country’s right to host the 2010 football World Cup. Mr Mandela - who has had a series of health problems in recent years was also involved in peace negotiations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and other countries in Africa and elsewhere.

In 2004, at the age of 85, Mr Mandela retired from public life to spend more time with his family and friends and engage in “quiet reflection”.

“Don’t call me, I’ll call you,” he warned anyone thinking of inviting him to future engagements.

The former president has made few public appearances since largely retiring from public life.

In November 2010, his office released photos of a meeting he had held with members of the US and South African football teams.

He has been treated in hospital several times in the past two years.

In late January 2011 he was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital for “specialised tests” with the South African presidency reminding a concerned nation that Mr Mandela has had “previous respiratory infections”.

While in jail on Robben Island in the 1980s, the former president contracted tuberculosis.

In early 2012 he was treated for what the president’s office said was “a long-standing abdominal complaint”.

Nelson Mandela But in recent months he has been troubled repeatedly by a lung infection.

Raised by royalty He was born in 1918 into the Xhosa-speaking Thembu people in a small village in the eastern Cape of South Africa. In South Africa, he is often called by his clan name “Madiba”.

Born Rolihlahla Dalibhunga, he was given his English name, Nelson, by a teacher at his school.

His father, a counsellor to the Thembu royal family, died when Nelson Mandela was nine, and he was placed in the care of the acting regent of the Thembu people, chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo.

In 1941, aged 23, he ran away from an arranged marriage and went to Johannesburg.

Two years later, he enrolled for a law degree at the mainly white Witswaterand University, where he met people from all races and backgrounds. He was exposed to liberal, radical and Africanist thought, as well as racism and discrimination, which fuelled his passion for politics.

The same year, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) and later co-founded the ANC Youth

Huge crowds greeted Nelson Mandela’s release

Mr. Mandela set up South Africa’s first black law firm with Oliver Tambo League.

He married his first wife, Evelyn Mase, in 1944. They were divorced in 1958 after having four children.

Mr Mandela qualified as a lawyer and in 1952 opened a law practice in Johannesburg with his partner, Oliver Tambo.

Together, Mr Mandela and Mr Tambo campaigned against apartheid, the system devised by the all-white National Party which oppressed the black majority.

In 1956, Mr Mandela was charged with high treason, along with 155 other activists, but the charges against him were dropped after a four-year trial.

Resistance to apartheid grew, mainly against the new Pass Laws, which dictated where black people were allowed to live and work.

In 1958, Mr Mandela married Winnie Madikizela, who was later to take an active role in the campaign to free her husband from prison.

The ANC was outlawed in 1960 and Mr Mandela went underground.

Tension with the apartheid regime grew, and soared to new heights in 1960 when 69 black people were shot dead by police in the Sharpeville massacre.

Life sentence This marked the end of peaceful resistance and Mr Mandela, already national vice-president of the ANC, launched a campaign of economic sabotage.

He was eventually arrested and charged with sabotage and attempting to violently overthrow the government.

Speaking from the dock in the Rivonia court room, Mr Mandela used the stand to convey his beliefs about democracy, freedom and equality.

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities,” he said.

“It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

In the winter of 1964 he was sentenced to life in prison.

In the space of 12 months between 1968 and 1969, Mr Mandela’s mother died and his eldest son was killed in a car crash but he was not allowed to attend the funerals.

He remained in prison on Robben Island for 18 years before being transferred to Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland in 1982.

As Mr Mandela and other ANC leaders languished in prison or lived in exile, the youths of South Africa’s black townships did their best to fight white minority rule.

Hundreds were killed and thousands were injured before the schoolchildren’s uprising was crushed.

In 1980, the ANC led by the exiled Mr Tambo, launched an international campaign against apartheid but ingeniously decided to focus it on one cause and one person - the demand to release Mr Mandela.

This culminated in the 1988 concert at Wembley stadium in London when some 72,000 people - and millions more watching on TV around the world - sang “Free Nelson Mandela”.

Popular pressure led world leaders to tighten the sanctions first imposed on South Africa in 1967 against the apartheid regime.

The pressure produced results,

and in 1990, President FW de Klerk lifted the ban on the ANC. Mr Mandela was released from prison and talks on forming a new multiracial democracy for South Africa began.

Slum townships In 1992 Mr Mandela separated from his wife, Winnie, on the grounds of her adultery. She had also been convicted on charges of kidnapping and accessory to assault.

In December 1993, Mr Mandela and Mr de Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Five months later, for the first time in South Africa’s history, all races voted in democratic elections and Mr Mandela was overwhelmingly elected president.

Mr Mandela’s greatest problem as president was the housing shortage for the poor, and slum townships continued to blight major cities.

He entrusted his deputy, Thabo Mbeki, with the day-to-day business of the government, while he concentrated on the ceremonial duties of a leader, building a new international image of South Africa.

In that context, he succeeded in persuading the country’s multinational corporations to remain and invest in South Africa.

On his 80th birthday, Nelson Mandela married Graca Machel, the widow of the former president of Mozambique.

He continued travelling the world, meeting leaders, attending conferences and collecting awards after stepping down as president.

After his official retirement, his public appearances were mostly connected with the work of the Mandela Foundation, a charitable fund that he founded.

On his 89th birthday, he formed The Elders, a group of leading world figures, to offer their expertise and guidance “to tackle some of the world’s toughest problems”.

Possibly his most noteworthy intervention of recent years came early in 2005, following the death of his surviving son, Makgatho.

At a time when taboos still surrounded the Aids epidemic, Mr Mandela announced that his son had died of Aids, and urged South Africans to talk about Aids “ to make it appear like a normal illness”.

He also played a key role in the decision to let South Africa host the 2010 football World Cup and appeared at the closing ceremony.

The first South African banknotes featuring his face went into circulation in November 2012.

Source: BBCNews.com

PAGE 35

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Feature Osun Osogbo Festival: Another season of reunion and celebration

People gathered as Osun bank to celebrate Osun Osogbo festival

By Yemi Idris-Aduloju

T

o most of the devotees of Osun goddess – a Yoruba river deity – the Osun Osogbo Festival is an annual event that brings together people from far and wide, irrespective of their socio-cultural and religious background, for a cultural reunion.

Celebrated every August in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, the fiesta presents an opportunity for the indigenes of Osogbo, their friends and well-wishers as well as fun-loving tourists to converge on the town for the yearly celebration.

In spite of their different religious backgrounds, the people often intermingle with the worshipers of Osun deity in performing the ceremonial rites, although the development has often elicited the resentment of the adherents of other religions, particularly Islam and Christianity.

Such dissents notwithstanding, tourism experts insist that the festival remains a veritable tourist attraction, which could also be used to expand Nigeria’s revenue base and launder its image.

The experts note that the festival has gained a global recognition to such an extent that the Osun Grove was enlisted as a world heritage site in Durban, South Africa, on July 15, 2005.

They also commend the efforts of an Austrian priestess of Osun deity, the late Susanne Wenger, to popularise the festival and enrich its appeal.

It is, therefore, not uncommon to see different people from different countries across the world at the Osun Osogbo festival, as the carnival has grown to become an international cultural carnival.

Speaking on the festival, Mr Boyeh

Abodunrin, the Secretary of the Budget Implementation Committee of the 2012 edition of the festival, noted that some people had some erroneous perceptions of the Osun Osogbo celebration. ``Contrary to some views in certain quarters, Osun Osogbo is not idolatry; the sustenance of the festival up to the present time is a matter of history and the people of Osogbo cannot afford to lose their heritage to civilisation just like that. ``One cannot, because of new developments, abandon what is good in his or her own culture and embrace civilisation, even when the festival could be realigned with modernism,’’ he said.

Abodunrin said that due to Osun Osogbo, August had become a unique month among the citizens of the state, particularly the indigenes of Osogbo.

He expatiated that August had been set aside for the celebration and the traditional cleansing of Osogbo, as well as the cultural re-union of the people with their ancestors.

Sharing similar sentiments, a devotee, Mrs Bosede Taiwo, argued that it was somewhat improper to think that Osun-Osogbo was idolatry. ``Osun goddess was created by God to

help advance the cause of humanity; this is why the goddess is known for giving babies to barren women and healing those who are afflicted by various diseases. ``In essence, the goddess is known for peace, love and progress, which are the virtues associated with God and the dreams of a progressive society,” she said.

Besides, Taiwo said that the Osun deity was not associated with any form of blood shedding, adding that there had been no reports of any wrongdoing during the celebration of Osun Osogbo festival.

Another devotee, Mrs Mulikat Rasheed, said that people would always identify with the festival since many people had been cured of their various ailments via the Osun deity’s intervention. ``We have the belief that God is using Osun goddess to do good things and those who benefit from her benevolence at the shrine usually have strong faith, which is also a requirement for anyone who wants favour from God. ``So, if people derive pleasure from celebrating Osun Osogbo for the peace, love and progress the goddess gives them; then, the festival is worth celebrating,’’ said Rasheed, who is also the leader of all the princesses in

“

That the festival was expected to attract tourists, investors and others who were interested in experiencing the rich arts and culture of the people of the state.

Ataoja’s palace Commenting on this year’s Osun Osogbo festival, Mr Sikiru Ayedun, Osun State’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, said that the fiesta, which would hold in August, would attract tourists and potential investors to the state.

He reiterated that the festival was expected to attract tourists, investors and others who were interested in experiencing the rich arts and culture of the people of the state. ``There will be series of side-attractions during the festival, and the tourists and visitors will be entertained and exposed to the rich cultural heritage of our people,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Alhaji AbdulRasaq Adejare, the Aare Alasa of Osogbo has announced Aug. 23 as the date for this year’s Osun Osogbo celebration.

The celebration, which entails the worship of the Osun goddess, is usually accompanied by some kind of thanksgiving and commemoration of the ancestors.

The festival, which customarily begins with the clearing of traditional paths to the Osun Grove, usually reaches a crescendo with the departure of the votary maid -- Arugba-Osun – from the shrine with a calabash, which contains some antiquities to worship the deity.

The votary maid with the calabash goes for royal blessing from the Ataoja of Osogbo, the traditional ruler, and later leads the procession to the shrine at the grove.

The votary maid, a virgin picked from the family of the incumbent traditional ruler, must, however, not stumble while going or coming from the grove.

All the same, analysts urge the government and the organisers of Osun Osogbo Festival to make concerted efforts to justify the high international rating of the festival.

Source: NAN

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19 , 2013

Digest The revolutionary blood test that could predict how long you’ll live

By Emma Innes

understand how lower nutrition in the womb alters molecular pathways that result in faster ageing and a higher risk of age-related diseases 50 years later.

‘Understanding the molecular pathways involved in the ageing process could ultimately pave the way for future therapies to treat agerelated conditions.

‘As these 22 metabolites linked to ageing are detectable in the blood, we can now predict actual age from a blood sample pretty accurately and in the future this can be refined to potentially identify future rapid biological ageing in individuals.’

A

revolutionary new blood test could tell you how long you will live, and how quickly you will age.

Scientists have discovered a chemical ‘fingerprint’ in the blood that may provide clues to an infant’s health and rate of ageing near the end of life.

The discovery raises the prospect of a simple test at birth that could help doctors stave off the ravages of disease in old age.

It could lead to the development of powerful new treatments for age related conditions such as bone problems and heart disease.

Scientists identified 22 metabolites, small molecules linked to metabolism, that may be useful indicators of how we can expect to grow old.

One in particular, linked to a range of traits including lung function, bone density, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, was singled out by the researchers.

It is also strongly associated with birth weight - itself a known determinant of healthy ageing.

Levels of this metabolite, C-glyTrp, could reflect accelerated ageing in later adulthood, the scientists

The discovery raises the prospect of a simple test at birth that could help doctors stave off the ravages of disease in old age believe.

Higher levels of the molecule were associated with lower weight at birth in comparisons between pairs of identical twins.

Since identical twins share the same genes, this suggests that levels of the metabolite are altered by nutrition or different conditions in the womb.

Study leader Professor Tim Spector, from King’s College

A revolutionary new blood test could tell you how long you will live, and how quickly you will age, thanks to a chemical ‘fingerprint’ in your blood

London, said: ‘Scientists have known for a long time that a person’s weight at the time of birth is an important determinant of health in middle and old age, and that people with low birth weight are more susceptible to age related diseases.

‘So far the molecular mechanisms that link low birth weight to health or disease in old age had remained elusive, but this discovery has revealed one of the molecular pathways involved.’

Professor Spector’s team analysed blood samples donated by more than 6,000 twins.

The researchers identified 22 metabolites directly linked to chronological age, with higher concentrations in older than in younger people.

Further work showed that the gene influencing levels of C-glyTrp could be modified by epigenetics, a process whereby environmental factors switch genes on or off and alter their activity.

The epigenetic changes may

influence metabolism during a person’s lifetime, thereby affecting susceptibility to agerelated diseases.

The findings are published today in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Co-author Dr Ana Valdes, also from King’s College London, said: ‘Human ageing is a process influenced by genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors, but genes only explain a part of the story.

‘Molecular changes that influence how we age over time are triggered by epigenetic changes. This study has for the first time used analysis of blood and epigenetic changes to identify a novel metabolite that has a link to birth weight and rate of ageing.

‘This unique metabolite, which is related to age and agerelated diseases, was different in genetically identical twins that had very different weight at birth. This shows us that birth weight affects a molecular mechanism that alters this metabolite.

‘This may help us

Source: Dailymail. co.uk

Scientists found 22 metabolites, small molecules linked to metabolism, that may be indicators of how we will age.

Some are strongly linked to birth weight suggesting this can be an important factor in health later in life

Obesity ‘may pose osteoporosis risk’

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besity may be a risk factor for the frail bone disease osteoporosis, a study suggests.

US researchers have discovered that some people who are overweight have hidden fat inside their bones that could make them weak and prone to fractures.

The Harvard Medical School team in Boston did body scans on 106 obese but healthy men and women.

The findings are published in the journal Radiology.

The scans reveal some people carry fat in hidden places like the

liver, muscles and bone marrow as well as their belly, hips or thighs.

Dr Miriam Bredella, who carried out the work, says appleshaped people who carry weight around their waist may be at greatest risk.

Fat bones The bone marrow is where the cells responsible for new bone formation - osteoblast cells - live.

Dr Bredella reasons that if more of the marrow is taken over by fat cells then this will weaken the bones.

She said: “If you have a spine that’s filled with fat, it’s not going

to be as strong.

“Obesity was once thought to be protective against bone loss. We have found that this is not true.”

Given that none of us can choose where we put on weight, the only answer is to stay slim, say the researchers.

Almost three million people in the UK are estimated to have osteoporosis. The condition is normally associated with being slight of frame and frail.

Bone marrow fat has been found in higher-than-normal levels in people who have osteoporosis.

Bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to bone health

Source: BBCNews.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 37

Jonathan is ineligible to contest in 2015 – Dr. Ardo Dr. Umar Ardo, an academic, politician and a gubernatorial aspirant in Adamawa state under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, in this interview with our Correspondent in Abuja at the weekend, analyzes sundry issues pertaining President Goodluck Jonathan’s candidacy in 2015, including Supreme Court judgment, the president’s campaign promises and governing policies, precedents from the USA and, the state of the nation. He concludes that President Jonathan is ineligible to contest the 2015 presidential election even as he disagrees with those calling on the president to contest. He therefore counsels him to subordinate his personal ambition to the higher interest of the country by declining to contest the presidency in 2015 so as to set a positive precedence for Nigeria in her democratization process. Excerpts.

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ou were opposed to the imposition of Emergency rule on your state of Adamawa by the President, describing it as unconstitutional. Do you still maintain this position?

Yes, I still do. Agreed that Section 305 of the constitution gave the President powers to declare state of emergency in all or parts of the country, but it is only when at least 1 of the 7 conditions listed apply in a state before the president can assume those powers. It therefore means that when none of these conditions is present, then the President lacks the powers to declare state of emergency, and if he does then it is unconstitutional. I can say categorically that Adamawa State did not meet any of the 7 conditions outlined by the constitution to empower the President to proclaim state of emergency in the state.

My position was also that the country ought not to have arrived at the state of emergency stage in the first place; that we did arrive at it was a clear indication of state failure. A functional state would have resolved the problem efficiently at its incipient stage - or even prevented it from occurring altogether. That is why the constitution made the conditions for emergency rule so extreme. In fact, other than conditions (e) and (f), all other conditions, including, to a certain extent, (a) and (b), can only occur on account of state failure. So it is state (government) failure that led to state of emergency. Since it is also the duty of government to solve this failure, it came up with emergency rule as solution.

Since you say emergency rule in Adamawa is unconstitutional, why haven’t you gone to court to challenge the action?

I have not gone to court because having been in one court or another over the past 4 years on public issues, I have learnt that it is difficult, though not impossible, to get such issues

resolved through the courts. First, there is the issue of locus standi, there are also appeals which can run up to the Supreme Court.

These take ages. Remember that emergency rule is for a period of no more than 6 months, though can be renewed. But I did call on the Adamawa state government to go to court. The state government can approach the Supreme Court directly for constitutional interpretation. That way, all issues of appeal or locus are avoided. But for reasons best known to the state government, it refused, thereby allowing a dangerous precedent in our democratization process. If I was the governor of Adamawa state under this prevailing situation, I would have sought a judicial interpretation of this action at the Supreme Court. It does not matter whether or not I win, what is important is that there will be clarity on the issue in which all the three arms of government are agreed upon. This is the essence of democratic governance.

How would you assess the impact of emergency rule in Adamawa so far?

After living for nearly two months under emergency rule, the hardship that it brought to our people is unbearable and clear for everyone to see. It has virtually destroyed the economic, political, social and religious lives of our people. The sick and womenin-labour die as a result of nonavailability of Medicare, most especially during the long hours

of curfew. The non-availability of communication services has also worsened the already bad situation. Hunger and suffering are prevalent now more than ever before, and likely to get worse if this ugly situation continues.

The measures put in place by the operators of emergency rule, and their cumulative effects on the lives of our people, are unreasonable, unjustifiable and counter-productive. An issue that I have not heard being discussed is compensation to those people whose means of livelihood have been affected by emergency rule measures. Since any public policy that destroys the legitimate means of livelihood of a citizen that citizen is entitled to compensation, state of emergency is a public policy and therefore the people who are affected have right to compensation. I think it will do well for the government to start compiling lists.

Also, the legal implications of the rights of citizens under state of emergency are unacceptable.

Unknown to many, the mere act of proclaiming emergency rule has directly derogated 5 fundamental human rights of citizens. These include: Right to private and family life; Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; Right to freedom of expression and the press; Right to peaceful assembly and association; and Right to freedom of movement.

Also indirectly derogated are: Right to life; and Right to personal

“

The measures put in place by the operators of emergency rule, and their cumulative effects on the lives of our people, are unreasonable, unjustifiable and counter-productive

Dr. Umar Ardo liberty.

In essence, through the proclamation, the President has lawfully derogated these 7 fundamental human rights of citizens under emergency rule.

The President needs not do that to ensure simple public order and safety. These rights are fundamental and inalienable. The President should be protecting these rights and freedom and not derogating them. State of Emergency derogates these rights.

I cannot stay anywhere in the world where I don’t have these rights; least of all, in my own country. The bottom line is that any law that derogates the rights and freedom of citizens is a bad law; and any leader that applies it is a bad leader. That is why it is supremely important to establish a standard to its application through a clear and unambiguous judicial interpretation.

How do you think the insecurity problem in the North can be resolved?

Boko Haram is not a movement whose ideology or method is shared by a large number of Muslims; it is an organization with ideology shared only by its few adherents.

They are an insignificant number whose ideology is plainly harmful to the society, but the state failed to protect citizens from this harm.

Members of this organization started conceiving evil, consulting amongst themselves, then reached the stages of plotting, planning and executing their evil deeds and then vanishing into thin air without being apprehended.

The only entity with the primary duty to detect, stop and punish evil act, and with all the powers, personnel and resources for that, is the state. This is the

primary duty of the state. The state has all it takes to have prevented the Boko Haram insurgency reaching the level for which state of emergency was required. The SSS could have detected its formation, decoded its intentions long enough and facilitated for its lawful neutralization early enough; the police could have effected arrests of its transgressing members and leaders making it impossible for them to be cohesively effective to cause harm to the society; the Customs could have made it impossible for them to secure arms into the country to heavily arm themselves to the point that it requires military operation under state of emergency laws to dislodge; the Immigration could have contained the infiltration and cross border cooperation with foreign nationals; the NIA could have prevented the influence, support, collaboration and training of the BH by foreign terror organizations. If the Federal Government will budget about 1 trillion naira for security in 2012 only for insecurity to escalate ending up in emergency rule in 2013, then it tells the extent of state failure on this matter.

The solution to the insecurity is simple – political leadership ensuring that all the apparatuses and agencies of state function as prescribed by law. Also, government should ensure compliance with Resolution 60/288 of the United Nations Global Counter-terrorism Strategy at addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.

Anything short of this is counterproductive and undesirable.

Recently, some members Continued on page 38

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Politics

Jonathan is ineligible to contest in 2015 – Dr. Ardo Continued from page 37

of the NWC of the PDP tendered their resignation letters which action was attributed to INEC report, a reason you were quoted as faulting. On what grounds are you faulting the reason given by the party, and what in your opinion, is the true reason?

I do not believe that the resignation is because of INEC’s report on their mode of elections.

When did INEC’s reports ever become a matter of serious concern to both the PDP and INEC itself? If it is so, then what about the PDP’s Ward, LGA and State Chapters in 9 states of the federation which INEC’s report declared as unconstitutional?

In three separate letters dated March 5th, 14thand 2ndApril, 2012 signed by the Commission’s Secretary and addressed to the PDP National Chairman, INEC rejected the mode of election of the party’s Wards and LGA’s organs as unconstitutional and advised the party’s National Secretariat not to proceed with its staged-congresses until it re-conducted the Wards and LGAs congresses in the states affected. But the party disobeyed this directive and continued its congresses at the states, zonal and even national convention. These states include Adamawa, Taraba, Jigawa, Anambra, Nassarawa, Plateau, Lagos, Katsina and Sokoto.

To the best of my knowledge, with the exception of Adamawa state because of my tenacity and vigilance, none of these 9 states re-conducted congresses as directed by INEC to legitimize the EXCOs of their organs to date. If it’s therefore on INEC’s Report, then let the Commission insist that its directives as contained in those letters be carried out in the remaining 8 states of the federation.

Following the setting up of a special convention committee headed by Prof.

Jerry Gana to conduct elections into the vacant posts and the controversy it generated, do you think the convention can hold?

I believe it can hold, but certain things must first be put in place; central of which is the resolution of INEC’s report on the 9 states I already mentioned.

Without holding these wards, LGAs and state congresses in these states, no valid convention can hold. Also, INEC’s silence on this aspect of its report while controversies rage is worrisome.

Can you give us an update on the situation within PDP in Adamawa state?

Adamawa PDP has no problem; we complied with INEC’s report and re-conducted our congresses from Wards, LGAs to State levels. We have a fully, legitimately functioning party EXCOs throughout the state under the leadership of Chief Joel Madaki.

The crisis in the NGF has polarized the governors into two factions. What does that

Ardo portend for the polity?

It portends danger for the country. It means that losers won’t accept defeat, and that is dangerous especially if the loser is the incumbent.

There have been calls from some persons for President Jonathan to re-contest in 2015. Do you support such calls?

No, I don’t support such calls for some good reasons. Firstly, because I saw Chiefs Edwin Clark and Tony Anenih leading the calls.

As a historian, it is easy for me to see familiar disturbing trends in their calls for the President to re-contest in 2015. Both chiefs have variously been making such calls on incumbents, civilian or military, long before nearly half of today’s Nigerians were born. They have said it to Generals Gowon, Babangida, Abacha and Obasanjo.

They would have said it to Yar’adua too, had he lived long enough in power. So for them now to be saying it to President Jonathan is obviously understandable – Jonathan is incumbent!

The question actually is if Gowon had remained forever, as Chief Clark had then advocated, or Babangida had dribbled and extended his transition programme further, or Abacha had transmuted into a civilian president, or Obasanjo had gotten his 3rd Term bid, as then promoted by Chief Anenih, would we be today talking of GEJ’s re-election in 2015? Of course not, and we all know it.

Secondly, there is the moral angle to it. The president himself promised not to contest in 2015 during his 2011 electioneering campaigns. Now a leader’s word must be his bond. Unless the President comes out and tells why he said he was not contesting during his campaign and why he will now want to shift position to contest, he will likely stumble and fall on the people.

Thirdly, there is the legal angle. In my opinion, based on the implication of the Supreme Court

judgment of INEC versus the 5 PDP Governors (Nyako, Sylva, Imoke, Wamako and Idris) the President is unarguably ineligible to contest; and these calls are to me clearly directly in contrast with the logic and conclusions of that Supreme Court judgment, where the apex court adopted two basic principles in its interpretation of the constitution in calculating the 4-year tenure system. Firstly, that Governors - and the President – are elected for four years and eligible for re-election for another four years and no more. On the basis of

6, 2010 and May 29, 2011 will be counted. Secondly, the Supreme Court states that so long as “the acts performed during the period in office remain valid and subsisting”, then the oath taken empowering them to take those acts also remains valid and becomes the starting point in calculating their cumulative 8 years tenure of office.

I am yet to see the argument proffered by a learned High Court Judge who ruled that President Jonathan can contest in 2015, but given the logic and conclusions of that Supreme Court Judgment, I cannot see how that is possible. If the President contests and wins another four-year term in 2015, he would have self-succeeded himself in office as president for a cumulative period of 9 years 23 days. The Supreme Court says that a governor – and a president – cannot remain in office a day longer than 8 years. Those who argue that President Jonathan’s tenure of office as President between May 6, 2010 and May 29, 2011 was “completing the tenure of late President Yar’adua”, are mistaken as there is nowhere in the constitution where such provision is made. Also, all the acts President Jonathan took between May 6, 2010 and May 29, 2011 are valid and subsisting. Therefore, to calculate the tenure of office of President Jonathan from May 29, 2011 when he was sworn-in as duly elected President and ignore the period from May 6, 2010 when he was first sworn-in as President, is to close our eyes to what is real and concrete thereby extending for President Jonathan a period in office beyond the maximum 8 years

“

it is imperative the President draws some lessons from examples in America. None of the 9 Vice Presidents of the USA (John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Chester Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson or Gerald Ford) who, like President Jonathan, became president on account of the death or resignation of a president, ever submitted himself for re-election, and none was ever reelected, twice in office as president that, the Supreme Court declared: “The 1999 Constitution has no room for self –succession for a cumulative tenure exceeding eight years. It is very clear from the relevant provisions that no person elected under the 1999 constitution can remain in office a day longer than provided, otherwise the intention of the framers of the constitution would be defeated”.

It added pointedly that “the constitution does not support an interpretation of unbroken term of four years or a term in perpetuity”.

Impliedly, this means in computing President Jonathan’s maximum of 8 years tenure, the 1 year 23 days he held as president between May

tenure constitutionally granted him; this would be unconstitutional and inappropriate.

To allow this is to set a dangerous precedent in motion for misuse by unscrupulous politicians to perpetuate their parties in power and elongate beyond 8 years the tenure of their cronies as President.

What could happen is that an incumbent president would resign from office in say the 3rd year of his 2nd term in office to allow for his Vice President to take over in accordance to the provision of the constitution. The new President now would contest two consecutive terms in office and would also do same for his running mate to take

over the baton. This can continue in finitum. Some may see such a scenario as far-fetched, but it is a possibility. In fact, so long as it is an expedient option, it would remain a portent danger to our democratization process and could ultimately subvert it. Therefore, given that our laws have yet to provide for fractional term in office, President Jonathan is definitely not qualified to contest for president in 2015 for another 4-year term without an amendment of the constitution.

Fourthly, there is this rising notion across the country that President Jonathan’s candidacy in the 2015, in the way, manner and form that it is, will be injurious to Nigeria’s national interest on account of non-performance. We may individually or as groups build our self-interests or emotions around his re-election bid, but deep down in all of us, we know this notion is fast spreading. Facts on the ground speak volumes. At the national level, we are getting more and more divided on sectional, ethnic and religious bases now than at any other time in our national history. The president has had to assume emergency powers, the most extreme of presidential powers, to give citizens mere security, but seemingly failing even at that. The most basic of governance – passing national budget – cannot be achieved.

Critical issues like fight against corruption, provision of good governance, basic infrastructure as power, roads, water, healthcare, education, credible election, etc. have all taken back seats in our governmental drive.

Lastly, in line with international best practices standard, it is imperative the President draws some lessons from examples in America. None of the 9 Vice Presidents of the USA (John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Chester Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson or Gerald Ford) who, like President Jonathan, became president on account of the death or resignation of a president, ever submitted himself for re-election, and none was ever re-elected, twice in office as president. They all became statesmen and stepped down their personal interests for the higher interest of their country. I advise President Jonathan, who shares the same political circumstance with these former US Presidents, to do same - setting a positive precedent for the country, and printing his name in gold in the annals of Nigeria’s national politics.

Finally, do you have political ambition in 2015?

I have since 2011 declared my intention to contest the governorship of my state, Adamawa. I am still at it as the issue of the last gubernatorial election is not yet determined.

We are currently at the Supreme Court for the determination of the gubernatorial candidacy of the PDP in the state. So I am not waiting for 2015 – I am waiting for the Supreme Court.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Bandits overrun Katsina communities

News Extra Eight years after, police retirees yet to get benefits

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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andits have taken over some communities in Faskari local government area of Katsina state neighbouring Zamfara state invading these communities at will killing, injuring people and carting away herds of cattles.

Peoples Daily correspondent who visited the area observed that the worse affected communities were Sabon-Layi, Maigora, Unguwar Doka, Suntimi and Fankama all in Faskari local government area.

A resident of Faskari town who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity noted that even on Wednesday night some numbering about 18 invaded Fankama village where they carted away herds of cattle and injured one person.

He said: “ when they came they were speaking in Hausa saying that their leader had instructed that they should not kill anyone but look for money from the residents. They carted away herds of cattles while instructing those that have no money to take them to houses of those that have” The resident told our correspondent that operation along this axis was almost a daily affair where they operate at will without been challenged by anyone because of the dangerous weapons they are carrying.

Further investigation by our correspondent revealed a dangerous trend in the area where some residents have abandoned their farms for fear of the unknown while some Fulani herdsmen living in the surrounding villages have fled the area.

A man who identified himself simply as Malam Muhammadu told our correspondent that “ because of the growing insecurity in the area some Fulani herdsmen living in settlements surrounding Maigora have relocated to Lokoja area in Kogi state”.

It was only recently that this bandits attacked Unguwar Doka village where the killed two people inflict injuries on some residents before carting away large herds of cattle which forced the residents of the village to flee to Faskari town.

The fleeing villager numbering about 200were currently camped in some primary school buildins in the area where they have since received relief materials from NEMA, a member of house of representatives, representing Faskari/Sabuwa/ Kankara, Barrister Abbas Abdullahi Machika and the local government council.

Residents of the area who spoke with our correspondent lamented that the state government is doing nothing to address the new threat in the area, adding that “the deputy governor is from here but since the threat started he has not visited to see the situation. With this attitude the area may be hit by femine and many communities would be forced to relocate to safe areas”.

PAGE 39

lmost eight years after fortyfive police officers [men and women] serving in Bauchi state were retired on health grounds

by Nigeria Police authority, their retirement benefits are yet to be paid to them.

One of the retirees, Mr. Emmanuel Aina, an Assistant Superintendent of Police [ASP] who was declared ‘’not fit to continue in the force’’, {medically unfit} while serving at Zaki local Government Area of auchi state, passionately

appealed to Police Service Commission and Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar ‘’to kindly come to our rescue’’.

Aina who spoke through their Counsel Barrister Hameed Alhassan Toyin Adegbite disclosed that ‘’Most of us were retired for health reasons on December 31, 2006 vide a Police Wireless Message DTO 221030/01/2007/ with reference No. SB.4770 /FS. FHQ/ABJ/ T.4/86,which directed our immediate retirement’’. ‘’But since our termination we have not received our benefits. While

some of us are alive, some have died leaving their families with nothing to continue their lives with. Though, we have since completed retirement formalities, there has been no news from the Force Headquarters, despite our several visits to Lagos and Abuja’’.

Confirming their ‘’worsening plight,” Barr. Adegbite said he has written to the chairman, Police Service Commission, Abuja, since April 25th, 2013.

He explained that “ASP Emmanuel Aina and 44 other retired Policemen served at different

points in Bauchi state but were retired without benefits and as their Solicitors, we have written to the relevant authority and are awaiting for response from the other end’’.

He, however, warned that,’’ as their counsels, we are prepared to take legal actions to recover their legitimate benefits should the Police authorities fail to reason with us through the letter we sent to the Police Service Commission on April 25, this year’’ .

Efforts to get the Police Service Commission, Abuja, to comment on the development proved futile.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Arise Consultancy Services Ltd, Professor Asisi Asobie; representative of the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr. Charles Atebor; Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, and National Programme Manager, Justice for All Programme Office, British Council, Dr. Bob Arnot, during the stakeholders’ validation workshop on the draft of the Nigeria anticorruption strategy, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Petition electricity bill fraudsters, Amadi urges

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi has said that the practice where some powerful Nigerians especially in some communities are masquerading as electricity officers to defraud consumers is totally unacceptable.

Amadi while bearing his mind on the issue told our correspondent that

victims of such sharp practices should complain to electricity forum office or Distribution Companies but if not satisfied should write formally to the Commission for appropriate actions.

Cases abound where rich men in some communities would oblige to buy transformers and after installation would be demanding for huge amount of money from the community members.

In some cases, these community members are asked to pay

unspecified electricity bills as may be demanded by such bourgeoisies without following the standard billing system introduced by NERC. This, Amadi said is condemnable and totally unacceptable.

Therefore advised the Distribution Companies to be on the watch out so that electricity consumers are not defrauded unnecessarily by those who would want to make money from every little help they rendered to the people.

On the issue of current increase in tariffs, the NERC boss said in designing the fixed charge, NERC ensured that very poor consumers on R1 group of payment are not charge the fixed charge and that most of the residential consumers are subsidized including those in R2 group of payment.

According to him, NERC is working tirelessly to ensure that quality services are provided to the consumers as value for their money.

‘Smugglers resort to use of motorcycles’ From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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ustoms Area Controller incharge of Kaduna/Katsina Command, Comptroller Yarima Abubakar Gadam, has disclosed that due to the total blockage of smuggling routes by his officers smugglers have embarked on the use of motorcycle to smuggle goods into the country.

Gadam who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on the achievements recorded by his

command, yesterday in Katsina warned that there was mass influx of motorcycles into the state from areas where their operations was banned which he said if not checked could constitute security risk in the state.

He noted that since the commencement of their operation tagged ‘ operation seize all’ from July first the command has recorded success in the seizure of 17 cartons of pharmaceuticals, 864 bags of rice, 15 vehicles, 21 motorcycle and 41 cartons

of Spaghetti.

Similarly, Gadam disclosed that from January to June this year his command had collected the sum of 2.3 billion which he said translate to 55% of the area command’s target.

The comptroller added that within the same period the command recorded a total of 396 seizures comprising of rice, phatmaceuticals, vehicles, vegetable oil spaghetti among others with a Duty Paid Value of N330 million.

Gadam who stressed that the commandwasworkingincollaboration with other security agencies operating in the state, appealed to traditional, religious leaders, other stakeholders and the general public in the discharge of their duties.

He said: “The general public will help Customs by paying duties where applicable rather than engaging in smuggling activities. Our doors are always open to assist the general public in facilitating legitimate trade”.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

News Extra

Yobe launches water supply programme From Uche uche, Damaturu

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L-R: Trade Union Congress (TUC) National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, and NLC Acting General Secretary, Comrade Chris Uyot, during the joint press briefing by NLC and TUC on constitutional amendments on minimum wage, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

2013 Budget: Reps pass amendment Bill

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he amendment Bill sent to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan on the 2013 Appropriation Act, yesterday passed for second reading in the House of Representatives. Leader of the House, Mulikat AkandeAdeola (PDP, Oyo state) who moved the motion to the effect noted that the general principles of the Bill be debated for second reading.

Contributing to the debate, Rep. Samson Osagie, (CAN, Edo), expressed concerned

that the budget, passed by the House is yet to address issue of abandoned project, which the House emphasizes on.

“None of these abandoned projects that we mentioned in the 2013 budget was addressed up till this moment, talk less of the 2012. The federal government has told us that they have uncovered over 40 thousand ghost workers in the federal service, and yet, we have not heard anything.”

The amendment Bill which was rejected twice by the House was considered yesterday, after the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, pleaded with the

House to allow the Bill to pass for second reading.

“I know that so many of us have reservations for this matter, but I pleaded that we should consider and pass it, we will send the documents to the relevant committees in order to address it during considerations”, he said.

The National Assembly had earlier passed an appropriation of N4.987 trillion for the 2013 fiscal year, after which certain concerns were raised by the President on the implementability of the budget and later sent in an amendment proposal to the House.

obe state government yesterday launched the second phase of the Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (WSSSRP)with the aim of ensuring adequate supply of water to the urban and rural areas of the state.

Speaking at the launching ceremony which took place at the state secretariat in Damaturu, the state Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, represented by his Deputy, Engr.

Abubakar D. Aliyu, said since the inception of his administration, the government has made concerted efforts to ensure adequate provision of potable water to the people of the state.

This he said has been a deliberate policy in realization of the fact that the provision of potable water for both animal and human consumption would contribute immensely towards improving the quality of life of the people.

He pointed out that the state government has earlier released N288 million as counterpart funding under the first phase of programme following the signing of memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the National Planning Commission, European Union and Yobe state government in 2009, in demonstration of its commitment to achieving its objective.

The governor said the state government has, in addition to paying the counterpart funding, provided a befitting office accommodation for the consultants and the counterpart staff, approved water laws and sanitation policy.

He pointed out that apart from launching the WSSSRP 11 which he acknowledged as an extension of WSSSRP 1 has the main objective of improving water supply policy and framework for ensuring sustainable water supply in the urban and semiurban centers of the state.

Reps pray for Mandela

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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s former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela marks his 95th birthday in a South African hospital yesterday, the House of Representatives yesterday prayed for his quick recovery.

Rep Saeed Fijabi drew the attention of the House to mark the birthday, saying, “Mandela is a great man and a colossal gem of Africa, the Speaker Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said, as we wish him a speedy recovery, our prayers remain with him.”

Mandela, who has put in 67 years of his life in service of his country, South Africa was hospitalized on the 8th of June with a recurring lung infection.

The South African president, Jacob Zuma confirmed earlier yesterday that the, “international icon is in critical but stable condition”.

Consequently, the House admitted into its chambers the delegation of African, Caribbean Pacific and European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly (ACP-EU JPA), to observe proceedings.

In her remarks, the Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Mrs Joyce Laboso of Kenya, thanked the members for their, “hospitality” and wished them successful deliberations.

Nigeria is hosting the 10th regional meeting of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Abuja.

LG, chiefs initiate peace moves NPC wants stiffer between Fulani herdsmen, farmers penalty for sexual abuse

From Omale Adama, Lokoja

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n a bid to avoid straining the ancient cordial relationship between local farmers and fulani herdsmen, the Chairman, Dekina Local government council in Kogi state Mal. Mohammed Ali and the area traditional council have embarked on peace moves between the two parties to avert confrontations and reprisal attacks as recorded in some parts of the country.

While the third tier of government charged the Fulani herdsmen in the area to guard against what it described as ‘’wanton destruction’’ of farm crops by their cattle to avoid confrontations with local farmers, the area traditional council headed by the Ejeh of Dekina, Alhaji Usman Obaje expressed his displeasure with the arrogant manner the pastoral fulani have consistently failed to respond to calls aimed at settling them with local farmers anytime they offended the farmers.

The truce war was reached on

Wednesday during a peace and security meeting held with the duo, with indigenous farmers and fulani herdsmen in the area as part of measures to check hostilities arising from alleged destruction of crops while searching for pasturage.

He described as worrisome, the wanton destruction of farm crops by the cattle, saying that the herdsmen should do their grazing with caution as the farm crops were the sole means of livelihood for the farmers .

The chairman said the farmers depended solely on the farms as their economic mainstay and therefore urged the fulani herdsmen to foster a peaceful relationship with them during trans human.

The chairman cautioned the indigenous farmers not to take laws into their hands and indulge in “Junge Justice”, but should channel their grievances through the traditional rulers to the authorities for appropriate attention.

The Ejeh of Dekina, Alhaji Usman Obaje in his remarks was

unequivocal when he expressed displeasure with the fulani herdsmen for their indifference and nonchallant attitude to peace moves each time they were invited for settlement of disputes.

He also cautioned them against accommodating other fulani herdsmen fleeing from crisis-ridden areas of Benue and Nasarawa to guard his subjects against falling victims of unwarranted reprisal attacks.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area, Mr Son Allah Habira and his NSCDC counterpart, Mr Igbakua Yongo urged the hersdmen to avoid encroaching on farmlands for grazing.

Alhaji Zakari Shaibu, responding on behalf of other Fulani Chiefs (Ardos) said some of them had lived peacefully in their settlement camps among the communities for over 40 years and described the recent hostilities as a new phenomenon.

From Uche Uche, Damaturu

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he National Population Commission (NPC) has called for a more severe punishment for sexual offences against the present sentence of just two years imprisonment.

The Chairman of the commission, Eze Festus made the call yesterday in Damaturu while addressing a press conference to commemorate 2013 World Population Day (WPD).

Eze, who was represented by a federal commissioner, Alhaji Mahdi Bukar, said the occasion is aimed at drawing the attention of the general public to the implications of rapid population growth as well as to promote attitudes that are consistent with of population management for sustainable development.

He pointed out that about 16 million girls, aged 15 to 19 years and

two million girls under the age of 15, give birth every year, adding that worldwide, one in five girls has given birth by the age of 18.

The NPC chairman said the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) showed that adolescent fertility in Nigeria stood at 121 live births per 1000 live births which are very high, considering that other African countries have considerably reduced adolescent fertility rates.

He stressed that sexual abuse is one of the reasons for the increasing incidence of teenage pregnancy and added that efforts must be made to curb the negative incidences of teenage pregnancy.

Eze said sex offences need be investigated and properly prosecuted and that detail of such prosecutions and what to do when assaulted should be part of adolescence sex education to boost confidence.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 41

Our Confeds Cup experience will tell in Abidjan, says Mba

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Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo (middle), cutting a tape to commission Nigeria Football House, yesterday at Pack B. National Stadium, in Abuja. With him are River state deputy Governor, Mr. Telle Ikuru (right), and Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi (left).

Photo: Joe Oroye

NFF must thank PTF for new secretariat, says Ekeji Stories by Patrick Andrew

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ut for the magnanimity of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) would not have had a permanent secretariat now, according to former DirectorGeneral of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Patrick Ekeji.

Ekeji, who was secretary of the PTF headed by Governor Rotimi Ameachi, said yesterday at the commissioning of the secretariat named after a former chairman of the then NFA Sunday Dankaro House at the Package B of the National Stadium Abuja.

The facility built at the cost of N336, 321, 111 million by Paul B Nigeria PLC was commissioned

by President Goodluck Jonathan, who charged the leadership of the NFF to use the new building to rebrand the administration of the game.

Recalling the NFF’s dire need for a spacious accommodation to operate, Ekeji it was impossible for the football federation because of its lean budget to conceive of

building a new secretariat.

He said being aware of their predicament as an experienced public servant, when the opportunity offered itself he decided to persuade members of the PTF to leave a legacy for football by bankrolling the construction of a befitting secretariat for the administration of the game.

“But for the magnanimity of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) headed by Gov. Ameachi, the NFF would not have had this new secretariat because it would have been impossible for them to capture it in their lean budget.

“I as an experienced public service personnel decided to plead with the PTF to channel whatever excess funds raised in support of the Nigeria’s participation in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to the building of a new NFF Secretariat,” he said.

It would be recalled that the PTF was constituted in 2010 to raise funds for the Super Eagles World Cup campaigns.

At the commissioning, President Jonathan, who was

represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said the edifice represents a bold step into the future of Nigerian football and added that its commissioning marked a significant millstone in football development and administration in the country.

According to him, “coming soon after the outstanding performance of our Super Eagles at the AFCON 2013, and our resurgence in several categories of football,” the new facility offers fresh opportunity for the NFF to rebrand the administration of the game.

He used the opportunity to reiterate the commitment of his administration to sports development being a veritable means of engaging the teeming youth population, stressing that no effort would be spared in achieving the objective.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that at the presentation of its report to President Goodluck Jonathan on June 29, 2010, the task force sought and obtained the president’s approval to utilise the balance of funds realised to

build a secretariat.

The site was officially handed over to the contractor, Paul-B Nigeria Plc, on Feb. 14, 2012 and the official ground breaking ceremony for the secretariat was done by the sports minister on Feb. 21, 2012.

The building stands on two and a half floors with a gross floor area of 1,913.92m2 and the ground floor has 12 self contained offices with associate conveniences.

The first floor has 14 offices, all self-contained with the Secretary-General’s office and a conference hall, while the second floor of the building is a penthouse.

The penthouse accommodates the office of the NFF president and has two conference halls.

unday Mba is upbeat that the experience of home-based Super Eagles that participated in the FIFA Confederations Cup finals in Brazil will count for much when they clashed with Ivorien counterparts on July 27.

The Eagles will be quests to the Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire in the decisive return leg of the 2014 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), billed for South Africa, next February.

Mba, whose goal ensured the Eagles sent out the Didier Drogba-led Elephants in the quarter finals of the 2013 Nations Cup and also scored against their CHAN Elephants counterparts, believes they will punish their hosts with their accumulated experiences. ‘’In Brazil, I played against some of the best midfielders in the world like Andre Iniesta of Spain. Then, you can imagine what that kind of experience can do to a player like me because I’ve seen him as my idol.

“But I was not alone there, Godfrey Oboabona, Mohammed Gambo, Kingsley Azubuike played plus the others who were there though did not play. We believe our experience will be a plus for us,” he said.

Further, the Enugu Rangers player said the quality of exposure they (home-based Eagles) acquired in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, has sufficiently equipped them for whatever challenges they may face.

Further, he said the players are not afraid of the nature of the pitch the match will be played on in Abidjan stressing that they were already used to artificial pitch. ‘’They say they are taking us to astro turf there, no problem. We the home- based players here play most of our league matches on artificial turfs. So it won’t be new to us. We shall rough it out with them,” he assured.

CAS suspends Fenerbahce ban

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urkey’s Fenerbahce said on Thursday the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had suspended the execution of Uefa’s decision banning the club from European competition for two years over their involvement in a domestic match-fixing scandal.

Fenerbahce chairman Aziz Yildirim told the club’s official television channel that the club will participate in the Champions League next season, sending the shares up 10.55 percent.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 42

Sports CHAN: Keshi expects mind games in Abidjan

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tephen Keshi says he would be ready for whatever mind games the technical crew and the hosts FA would adopt against the Eagles in the return leg of the 2014 CHAN qualifier.

The second and final leg holds on July 27 and he believes that the hosts would stop at nothing to stop the Eagles. However, he assured nothing would stop him from finishing the good job he started in Calabar last weekend.

The Super Eagles won the first leg in Kaduna 4-1 and need to avoid defeat by more than three goals in order to qualify for their first ever CHAN tournament that will be held in South Africa next year.

“It’s not just Cote d’ Ivoire, it’s an Africa [thing]. When you play in Africa it’s very difficult, right from the dressing room they make you go crazy and on the field of play the fans, the supporters, they drive you nuts.

“You just have to keep your cool and focus. If we can do that and I think they can do it, then we will pull through,” Keshi told Goal.

“We have been talking [about the expected antics and hostilities in Abidjan] because it is going to be a character game and the mentality of every player is going to be highly tested there because they will come to intimidate them and make them go crazy and we just have to remain calm and play our game.

Keshi also dismissed the Ivorians’ claims that they were destabilized after the referee gave two red cards to their players and submitted this aided Eagles’ 4-1 comprehensive victory in the match.

“That is just a flimsy excuse.

I think most of you watched the match. So when did they give them the red card? He is just trying to look for something as an excuse,” Keshi said.

Nigeria have never qualified for this tournament that is open to only players based in domestic leagues in their home country.

3SC Blame NFF for Rangers’ CAF disqualification

Governor Musa Tanko Al makura (R) presenting the key of a 32-seater bus to his Special Adviser on Sports, Hon Silas Agara (L) for onward delivery to Nasarawa United FC, who are campaigning for honours in the Nigeria Professional Football League

By Albert Akota

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he Media Spokesman to the 3SC of Ibadan Mr. Jubril Arowolo, has blamed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for Rangers’ ouster from the

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CS Sfaxian of Tunisia.

He said 3SC had lodged a formal protest against Ranger with the NFF but rather than intervening to resolve the matter, the NFF opted to sweep it under the carpet.

IAAF WYCs: Coach blames poor preparations for Nigeria failure

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ohnson Abiodun, Chief Coach of the Kwara Athletics Association, has attributed Team Nigeria’s poor performance at the just-concluded IAAF World Youth Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine, to late preparation.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abiodun said

Akpoborie commends minister over directive on players’ salary

onathan Akpoborie, a former Super Eagles striker, has commended the Minister of Sports, Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, for directing the Nigeria Football Federation to compel clubs to pay players salaries promptly and to sanction defaulters.

It would be recalled that the minister had on July 16, directed the NFF (NFF) to crack down on clubs that unduly delayed the payment of the salaries of their players.

According to Akpoborie the directive would restore sanity in administration of the game as force proper treatment of players by respective clubs who are in the habit of owing players.

The directive, the former VFB Stuttgart FC of Germany striker said, long overdue. It is expected to take effect from the 2013/2014 league season.

“That’s a very good thing that should have been done a long time ago; well, it takes a lot of guts for the

CAF Confederations Cup. Speaking with newsmen at the Glasshouse in Abuja on Wednesday, Arowolo exonerated Shooting from blame in the suspension imposed

by CAF on Rangers for fielding an ineligible player in the game against

In essence he said that it was the NFF that shut Rangers in the foot and should therefore be held responsible for their disqualification from the Confederations Cup group stage.

“We have said it over the time and we want to repeat it again, that truth is constant so we are not protesting there is no way we will do such a thing because we are not in CAF or Confederation Cup the club did not protest against Ranger as far as the continental is concerned.

“But it was very surprising when the NFF attempted to shield them from blame by shifting the blame to our door step. Everybody knows that there is protocol to be followed when you want to write things like that.

“When the problem started between Ranger and shooting star, we have to write our parent body which is NFF that was exactly what we did; you and I know that it is not possible for a local club to write CAF without the knowledge of NFF. “So we wrote to NFF not CAF that Emmanuel Daniel still remain our player and we want the Nigeria football body to mediate like they did between Rangers and Warri Wolves. We were expecting their letter calling us for settlement, but as I speak with you the letter has not been forthcoming,” he said.

minister to be able to do this. ``I hope they (NFA) are going to carry out their threat, because if they can’t do that, then I don’t know where the league will be going to because we read every time that they actually collect monies from sponsors, but players are actually neglected in Nigeria. ``In areas where football is played accordingly, as is in Europe, the players come first; the money that the club or anybody collects from sponsors or from anybody is important,” he said.

Further, Akpoborie said: ``It’s only in Nigeria that we turn things upside down and the players become the secondary issue and they don’t benefit from what they are supposed to get, even as the entertainers. ``They are the actors; if they are not there the league cannot continue; I just hope that they (NFF) will be able to carry out their threat.``

that it was difficult competing with countries that were better facilitated and had spent much time together in camp. Nigeria finished in the 30th position at the championship which ended on Sunday, without a medal. ``A major reason why we failed to do well at the championships was as a result of the nature of our preparation. We took off very late in our build up to the competition and we have paid the price for it. Every success boils down to preparation. ``Other countries out there started planning early and were also exposed to better facilities than our athletes, which left us with little chance,” he said.

The coach advised government and concerned stakeholders to

Chief Solomon Ogba, president AFN

ensure that the athletes were taken to camp early and provided with the required facilities.

He said that funds must also be released early to the athletes, to prepare them both mentally and physically. ``Government and

stakeholders in athletics should look into this matter and address it seriously. We must learn to prepare our athletes early. The funds, which we also heard were released late, should be provided in good time, so that our athletes can be world beaters,” Abiodun added.

CHAN 2014: Chukwu urges Keshi not to underrate Cote d’Ivoire

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hristian Chukwu, a former Super Eagles Coach, on Wednesday advised the team’s technical crew not to underrate Cote d’Ivoire in their return leg qualifiers for the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The Eagles, for the return leg, will meet Cote d’Ivoire on July 27 in Abidjan with a 4-1 advantage secured on July 6 defeated Cote d’Ivoire 4-1 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna in the first leg of the qualifiers.

Chukwu told NAN in a telephone interview that he expected the Eagles to improve on their standard. ``It was an emphatic victory by the home-based Super Eagles over visiting Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the first match and I believe that they would do better in the return leg. ``I knew the first leg match in Kaduna was a bonus for us, but I never expected so much goals margins. The result of the first leg marveled me. ``The team had raised everyone’s hope with the first leg brilliant result andshouldstrivenottodashNigerians’ hope in the return leg and the

subsequent matches,’’ Chukwu said.

According to him, Chief Coach Stephen Keshi has the right materials. ``The Eagles only need further grooming and training to make the country proud.’’

Chukwu called on Nigerians to continue to support the national senior team in their building process because ``Rome was not built in a day.’’ ``I plead with Nigerian’s to cooperate with Keshi and the team, and encourage them in their own little way because it is only through their cooperation that we can get it all right. ``I recall that this is the first time we are participating in this competition and I want us to utilise it well and convert all our scoring chances to goals,’’ he added.

He said he believed and also had confidence in the players.

Chukwu added that the Eagles would make Nigerian’s proud and qualify for the Championship slated for 2014 in South Africa. The finals of the competition will be held from Jan. 10 to Feb. 1 in South Africa.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

PAGE 43

Sports

Lulu: My board initiated ...FG satisfied with NFF edifice NFF building in 2006 T

By Albert Akota

By Albert Akota

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Alhaji Sani Lulu

he Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Sani Lulu has revealed that his executive board members have earlier initiated a befitting building for the federation in 2006.

Lulu who disclosed this to Peoples Daily Sports during the commissioning of the NFF headquarters at the Abuja National Stadium, said that his dream to witness an edifice for the federation has been fulfilled.

The building, which comprises 27 rooms with six board rooms, as well as penthouse which serves as the federation president office, is yet to be furnished.

“I want to thank almighty Allah for making this building to be commissioned today (yesterday), also our President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who supported the idea

my board raised in 2006 to build a standard football secretariat for Nigeria.

“I am fulfilled because what I initiated in 2006 has come to reality for the country; I know the building was built by Presidential Task Force formed to support Eagles’ participation in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, chaired

by Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi with the support of the National Sports Commission, (NSC), but my board members who initiated the idea in 2006 deserve commendations,” he said.

He noted that indeed the significance of the project is far beyond the physical structure of football and other activities in Nigeria, stressing that the project would serve as catalyst for better football administration and greater achievement in Nigeria as well as changing the country’s football for the betterment of the youths.

he Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has said that he was pleased to be the part of the historic event of the commissioning of the first football federation house.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi

According to the minister: “It is worthy of note that this is the first Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to own a befitting structure as secretariat.

“When the PTF came up with the idea to build a befitting secretariat for the NFF, we were excited at the commission and promised to support the project. I am happy that today the project has come to fruition,” he said.

Meanwhile, in his welcome address, the Director General of commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye could not hide his joy saying that the project is the landmark event in the history of sports administration in Nigeria, especially football.

According to him, “you will agree with me that the game of football in our country, in spite of its very numerous challenges, has grown far beyond the space from where it is presently managed through the efforts of the present administration.”

Elegbeleye commended the foresight of FG on its decision to build administrative headquarters for the NFF which he believes is for the development of the round

Malouda signs Trabzonspor deal Chelsea keepers

welcome Rooney bid

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rance midfielder Florent Malouda has signed a two-year deal with Turkish first division club Trabzonspor, the six-time champions announced yesterday.

The international winger will receive 2.5 millions euros a season after being released by Premier League side Chelsea and spending last season in the reserves.

The 33-year-old played his last game for the Londoners during their victorious triumph over Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final but since found himself left out by managers Roberto Di Matteo and his successor Rafael Benitez.

The Turkish club based in the north-east of the country won six domestic titles between 1975 and 1984 and reached the Turkish Cup final last season before finishing the campaign in ninth place.

Their run to the Cup final where they were beaten 1-0 by Fenerbahce, qualifies the team for the Europa League next season.

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Florent Malouda

Negredo to undergo Manchester City medical

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Negredo

evilla striker Alvaro Negredo is expected to undergo a medical in the next 24 hours before completing a £20m move to Manchester City.

Negredo, 27, is expected in Manchester imminently, possibly as early as yesterday, to finalise the deal.

He joins former Sevilla team-mate Jesus Navas in new manager Manuel Pellegrini’s reshaped squad, along with Shakhtar Donetsk’s Fernandinho.

Fiorentina attacker Stevan Jovetic could be City’s next summer purchase.

The 23-year-old is rated at around £28m, and has previously attracted interest from Arsenal and Manchester United.

But Negredo will be the first deal across the line as City spend big in the transfer market to try and win back the Premier League title they lost to arch-rivals United last season.

The former Real Madrid player said he was looking forward to taking his career to the next stage at a farewell press conference in Seville.

Ex-Sevilla winger Navas, 27, sealed a £14.9m transfer on a four-year deal earlier this summer and Negredo said he was looking forward to reuniting with his former team-mate.

Negredo has won 14 international caps, scoring six goals, and was part of Spain’s victorious Euro 2012 squad.

Sevilla have also sold playmaker Luis Alberto to Liverpool,full-back Antonio Luna to Aston Villa, and midfielder Jose Campana to Crystal Palace.

nsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney appears to be more than just the subject of Jose Mourinho’s affection.

Chelsea goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer and PetrCech have both called on the club to bring Wayne Rooney to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues confirmed on Wednesday that they have made a bid for Rooney, but denied reports that the offer was £10 million plus Juan Mata or David Luiz.

The bid was rejected by Manchester United, but Chelsea manager Jose Mourinhoinsists he is still keen to land the England international.

And Schwarzer, who joined the Blues on a free transfer earlier this

month, believes Rooney would be a welcome addition to the squad.

Asked if he would like to play alongside Rooney at Chelsea, Schwarzer added: “That is not my choice, but he is a phenomenal player and an asset to any side.”

Cech also welcomed Chelsea’s pursuit of Rooney and feels his arrival would aid the club’s chances of success next season.

“Wayne Rooney is a great player but at the moment he’s a Man United player,” Cech said.

“We’ll see what’s going to happen.

He’s a great player. Let’s see.

Mourinho praised the elder players at the club earlier this week, but Cech understands that there are no favourites in the squad.

Digne signs five-year deal with PSG

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Lucas Digne

aris St Germainhas signed promising left back Lucas Digne from Lille on a fiveyear contract, the club said on Wednesday.

Digne, who will turn 20 on Saturday, became a first-team regular for Lille last season and featured in the Champions League for the Ligue 1 club.

Digne played for France during their under 20 World Cup winning campaign in Turkey earlier this month.

“We are delighted to welcome this young French player into our squad”, Paris St Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said on the club.

Digne said: “To play for Paris St Germain, with these exceptional players, is a dream come true.”

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Sports

Powell’s advisor blames athletes for positive tests C

hris Xuereb, the masseur and fitness advisor of Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, has denied providing the two Jamaican sprinters with performanceenhancing drugs and said they should take responsibility for their failed dope tests.

Powell’s coach Stephen Francis told Reuters on Tuesday that he was unhappy with Canadian Xuereb’s involvement with the sprinter while his agent Paul Doyle also said that the positive result was a result of the supplements Xuereb had provided.

Doyle said that former world record holder Powell was taking as many as 19 different supplements since starting work with Xuereb in May. Xuereb, however, issued a statement by email on Wednesday denying he was to blame and that everybody involved knew what supplements he was providing.

“It is time the athletes took responsibility for their doping instead of looking around for a scapegoat, whether that person is their therapist, bartender or anyone else,” Xuereb said.

“I am extremely disappointed that these athletes have chosen to blame me for their own violations.

(World Anti-Doping Agency) Wada and the public needs to stop accepting these stories and hold

these athletes accountable.”

Xuereb said he had provided soft tissue massage therapy and nutritional help for the two athletes as well as helping them recover from chronic injuries since he started working with them two months ago.

“Most importantly, I did not provide any banned or illegal substances to Asafa Powell or Sherone Simpson,” he said.

“While I did recommend vitamins, all vitamins recommended by me were all purchased over the counter at reputable nutritional stores and were major brands.

“I was instructed by the agent and athletes to buy these vitamins.

All vitamins recommended by me were shown to the MVP club coach Stephen Francis.

“He has gone on record and confirmed the vitamins recommended by me did not contain any performance enhancing substance and were not what was found in Asafa and Sherone’s positive drug testing findings,” he added.

Xuereb also believes the pair were using supplements he had not recommended.

“It is obvious that these athletes were taking additional supplements that were not discussed or known to me. I was informed by the Italian Police that other supplements were found in these athletes’ possession,”

he said.

“I cooperated fully with the Italian Police and provided answers to all their questions. I was not arrested or detained as alleged. I was simply questioned for several hours

(as were Asafa and Sherone) and free to leave.

“Unfortunately, it appears that these athletes were not solely following my suggestions or Wada’s guidelines

Asafa Powell

“We need to remember that in addition to Asafa and Sherone, three other Jamaican athletes tested positive at the 2013 Jamaican trials.

I had no contact with these athletes nor do I know them.”

Tyson Gay latest drugs positive tests culprit

Blake joins Rushida out of World Championships

By Patrick Andrew with agency report

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Blake celebrates his winning the 100m gold in the Daegu championships

ohan Blake will not defend his title at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow next month because of severe injury problem.

The Jamaican and training partner of Usain Bolt thus joined David Rudisha, who was dropped

by Team kenya because he is yet to fully recuperate from his injury.

Blake, who won the 100m gold medal in Daegu two years ago, has been battling with a hamstring injury since April.

He did not compete at the Jamaican Championships, but as the defending World champion he had the benefit of a wildcard entry for Moscow.

However, he recently realised that his injury would not have sufficiently healed in time to compete at the World Championships.

“This decision was made after continual assessment and reevaluations since his withdrawal from the Jamaican Senior Championships,” said Blake’s manager Cubie Seegobin.

“Yohan has made vast improvement, although the injury sustained in April of this year has prevented him from attaining the necessary fitness levels that we have grown accustomed to seeing in his competition performances.”

Rudisha, the winner of the 800m at the 2011 World Championships, has been out of action since May when he felt pain in his knee on his way to winning the 800m at the New York Grand Prix.

His coach, Colm O’Connell, said over the weekend that he opted not not to rush Rudisha’s

recovery but allow him sufficient time to recuperate and prepare for subsequent events. Good thing though, he will follow the championships closely.

“Doctors in Germany said it may take three weeks for him to recover and we thought he would have seven weeks of training,” said O’Connell.

“We held back hoping for improvement, and he has improved quite a lot, but we didn’t want to do a crash course between now and the World Championships, which may aggravate the injury.”

Carter injury deals Jamaica fresh blow

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amaican sprinter Nesta Carter, the second fastest man over 100m this year, pulled out of Wednesday’s meet at Lucerne because of a thigh injury, organisers said.

Carter was a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay gold medal winning team at the 2012 Olympics.

Last Saturday, he clocked 9.87sec in Madrid, the second

fastest time over 100m this year behind the 9.75sec of America’s Tyson Gay. Gay has since failed a drugs test as has Carter’s compatriot Asafa Powell, the former world record holder.

Fellow Jamaican, Yohan Blake, the defending world champion, has already pulled out of next month’s world championships in Moscow with a hamstring injury.

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY| FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Sports

Gambo refuses to sign for Club Africain as offers pour in K

By Patrick Andrew

ano Pillars and homebased Super Eagles striker, Mohammed Gambo, has opted not to seal any deal with Club Africain as he waits better offers.

Gambo chose to withhold his signature from the North African club because several other offers have continued to pour in for him to consider. Among these are offers from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China.

This was confirmed yesterday in Lagos by his agent Aminu Yusuf , who denied early media report that Gambo had signed for Club any club whether in Africa or elsewhere.

“It is not true that Gambo has signed for any Tunisian side. They made their offer and we are still considering their offer whether it meets our standard,” Aminu said.

“I also want to inform you that clubs from Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia are willing to match

Dolphins, El Kanemi, 2 former Federation Cup winners kicked out

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our time winners, Dolphins of Port Harcourt, were dumped out by Akwa Starlets 4-2 on penalties after the regulation time had ended goalless at Umuahia in Wednesday’s round of 32 Federation Cup fiesta.

But they were not the only big name clubs ousted. Three former past winners: Plateau United (1999), El Kanemi Warriors (1991, 1992) and Kaduna United (2010) were dismissed from the race by Niger Tornadoes, Kano Pillars and Abia Warriors respectively.

However, top guns Enyimba, Heartland, Enugu Rangers, Warri Wolves and Lobi Stars were among the elite teams that progressed to the Federation Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday.

Bayelsa United and Nembe City were the other top clubs that were inexplicably eliminated at the Round of 32 by their opponents. Both clubs entertained ABS and Sunshine Stars in all premier league club contests Nasarawa United won with the highest of margins of the round after annihilating City of David (COD) United of Lagos 4-0 in Ilorin while Lobi Stars with goals from Anthony Okpotu and Barnabas Imenger outclassed Mountain of Fire Ministries (MFM) 2-0 at the Gabros Stadium, Nnewi.

whatever the Tunisian side is offering.

“Gambo has really impressed and they have seen what they like in the player who is presently with the home based Super Eagles preparing for the second leg of the CHAN qualifiers in Abidjan next week.

“All the clubs are willing to offer what they feel is good for Kano Pillars and they will be treated on their merit. But Gambo is not bothered with choosing any of the clubs to sign for, because he is busy in the Super Eagles camp where they hope to qualify for the CHAN tournament for the first time.

“He scored the first goal in the first leg in Kaduna and he is training alongside other players in Abuja to make sure that they triumph in Abidjan.

“When the right time comes, Gambo will surely sign for the best club that suits him, but for now, he is not thinking of what the clubs have to offer,” Aminu said.

Mohammed Gambo holds his head in shock after missing an open chance against Spain in the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil

Sports directors urged to focus on traditional sports

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unday Adeogun, a former member, Traditional Sports Federation of Nigeria (TSFN), has urged Directors of Sports in the states to focus on the development of indigenous sports.

Adeogun told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that efforts to enhance the popularity of native sports in the country, without grassroots support from the states, have remained fruitless. ``It will certainly be difficult to promote and sell our traditional sports outside our borders if we continue to give

them second class treatment in our approaches. ``What belongs to us is ours, and the way we handle them determines how people outside our environment will take them.

Traditional sports have a very long history, but have failed to grow due to poor grassroots programmes, `` he said.

Adeogun, also a special sports and traditional sports’ instructor at the National Institute for Sports (NISports), Lagos, urged other states of the federation to adopt the Lagos State grassroots sports development programme. ``If all states’ sports councils

Shooting 1 Ingas FC 0 Sharks FC 0 (PK 6-7) Makwada 0 Samba Kurna 0 Tornadoes 0 (PK 5-6) Spotlight FC 0 Kano Pillars 2 Gombe United 0 COD FC 0 Sunshine 0 Enyimba FC 2 Akwa Starlet 0 (PK 2-4) Kaduna Utd 1 Bayelsa Utd 0 (PK-5-4) Lobi Stars 2

popularise the sports before the people. ``Although, lack of sponsors has stalled the development of indigenous sports in the country, our major preoccupation should be how to showcase the sports to potential sponsors.

Adeogun also advised the National Sports Commission (NSC) to recognise traditional sports as a way to promoting cultural values and national unity in the country.

NAN reports that traditional sports are: Kokowa (traditional wrestling), Dambe (traditional boxing), Langa, Ayo and Abula.

Cisse quits tour on religious grounds

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Results Juth FC 0 Heartland FC 1 J. Atete FC 0 Akwa Utd 1 Rangers 2 Plateau Utd 0 Warri Wolves 1 El-Kanemi 1 FC Taraba 0 Nasarawa Utd 4 Nembe City 1 Remo FC 1 Dolphins FC 0 Abia Warriors 2 ABS FC 0 MFM FC 0

can send their coaches to suburbs where young people display acute skills in traditional sports and competitions are held regularly, traditional sports will gain the expected recognition. ``This will generate the much-needed publicity and awareness for the indigenous sports as many philanthropists will show interest in sponsoring competitions in traditional sports,`` he said.

Adeogun noted that sponsors would not show up if the federation and state associations failed to embark on programmes that would

Papiss Cisse, thanks Allah after scoring

apiss Cisse has withdrawn from Newcastle’s preseason tour of Portugal after refusing to wear club sponsor Wonga’s logo on religious grounds, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

The Senegal striker, a Muslim, told club officials he was not prepared to promote Wonga, a firm which offers short-term, high-interest loans.

Islamic law forbids borrowing or paying money with interest.

However, the 28-year-old did offer to wear an unbranded shirt or one bearing a charity logo instead.

Other sports teams have made concessions to the faith of their Muslim players, with South Africa cricketer Hashim Amla allowed to wear shirts without the logo of team sponsor Castle Lager because of the Islamic

prohibition on drinking alcohol.

The BBC quoted sources saying Cisse’s refusal to wear the sponsored shirt had left him in a “strained” relationship with the Premier League side.

Cisse’s Newcastle teammates Cheick Tiote and Moussa Sissoko are also Muslim, but have told the club they have no issue with wearing the sponsor’s logo.

Speaking in June, PFA deputy chief executive Bobby Barnes told BBC Sport: “We’re all aware that clubs need to generate revenue and sometimes have to use a wide range of companies.

“However, if someone feels very, very strongly that it’s not compatible with their beliefs, then some sort of solution should be found.”

Cisse joined the Magpies in January 2012 and has scored 26 times in all competitions.

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Some Interesting Facts

T

he average person generates over 4 pounds of trash every day and about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year.

• In 2009, Americans produced enough trash to circle the Earth 24 times.

• Over 75% of waste is recyclable, but we only recycle about 30% of it.

• We generate 21.5 million tons of food waste each year. If we composted that food, it would reduce the same amount of greenhouse gas as taking 2 million cars off the road.

• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to listen to a full album on your iPod. Recycling 100 cans could light your bedroom for two whole weeks.

• Recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy used to make alum cans from new material.

• Americans throw away 25,000,000 plastic bottles every hour.

• Over 87% of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs.

• In 2009, Americans threw away almost 9 million tons of glass. That could fill enough tractor trailers to stretch from NYC to LA (and back!).

• In 2010, paper recycling had increased over 89%

since 1990.

• If every American recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we could save about 25 million trees each year.

• You can’t change other people, and it’s rude to try.

• It is a hundred times more difficult to burn calories than to refrain from consuming them in the first place.

• If you’re talking to someone you don’t know well, you may be talking to someone who knows way more about whatever you’re talking about than you do.

• The cheapest and most expensive models are usually both bad deals.

Leisure

• Everyone likes somebody who gets to the point quickly.

• Bad moods will come and go your whole life, and trying to force them away makes them run deeper and last longer.

• Children are remarkably honest creatures until we teach them not to be.

• If everyone in the TV show you’re watching is good-looking, it’s not worth watching.

• Yelling always makes things worse.

• Whenever you’re worried about what others will think of you, you’re really just worried about what you’ll think

of you.

• Every problem you have is your responsibility, regardless of who caused it.

• You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time.

• If you never doubt your beliefs, then you’re wrong a lot.

• Managing one’s wants is the most powerful skill a person can learn.

• Nobody has it all figured out.

• Cynicism is far too easy to be useful.

• Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours.

Say what?

SUDODKU

PHOTO OF THE DAY

This 40ft dragon’s skull appears to have washed up on a shore — to the amazement of a dog walker. It was in fact a model installed at Charmouth beach on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast to mark the third series of fantasy epic Game Of Thrones.

Source: TheSun.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

QUOTABLE QUOTE I pray God touches Amaechi’s heart as per his hot temper because when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers.

— First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan on her relationship with Rivers state Governor Rotimi Amaechi

SPORTS Re: Fiscal Responsibility Commission: LATEST

Blatter to switch 2022 Qatar World Cup to winter

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IFA president Sepp Blatter is determined to switch the 2022 World Cup to the winter because of the intense Qatar summer heat.

The head of world football’s governing body is planning discussions over the change with his executive committee.

Blatter will hold talks with FIFA’s executive committee in October after medical evidence highlighted the dangers of playing games in temperatures that average 40C in June and can reach 50C. Blatter insists it would only affect one season, but the Premier League fear fixtures could be disrupted across Europe for three seasons.

The Football Association are also believed to be concerned about the impact a winter World Cup would have on domestic leagues.

But Mark Perryman, of the London England Supporters group, told the BBC his personal view was that a change to the timing of the World Cup should be welcomed.

Qatar defeated bids from South Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States to win a ballot of Fifa’s 22 executive members for the right to host the 2022 World Cup. In February 2011, Blatter was asked about the potential for switching the tournament to the winter and responded that “everything is settled for summer”.

Meanwhile, Blatter said Brazil might be the wrong choice to host the 2014 World Cup if the tournament is affected by the wave of protests seen at the Confederations Cup last month.

Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets to express their anger over the costs of staging the World Cup and demanding better public services.

The sleeping watchdog My recent piece on the Fiscal Responsibility Commission elicited a wide range of responses on some of the key issues raised. Space will not permit me to publish every one of them, but the response below from a member of staff of the commission who prefers to remain anonymous raises even more salient questions.

T

hank you, sir, for the above titled piece. Very precise and factual. I am on the staff of the Commission and know from an insider’s experience that all you wrote about the FRC – of its inability to function according to the provisions of the FRA that established it – is the true reflection of what is happening in the Commission.

But, sir, when you ascribed the Commission’s inactive stance to the weakness of its management, I say you were understating the reality - the true situation in the Commission. The truth is that the Commission is saddled with an incompetent and corrupt management, a group of greedy people who are only out to satisfy their individual interests and nothing more.

The main problem here is that the aim and wisdom behind the establishment of Fiscal Responsibility Commission had been missed from the onset; the government appointed the wrong people to run the Commission.

Of the whole six full time Commissioners plus the Chairman, only the Chairman and one of the Commissioners can be said to have full grasp of the meaning of FRA and the powers and functions of the Commission. The bulk of others are just there as appointees representing their respective geopolitical zones. You would be surprised to know that most of them lack even the basic knowledge of the FRA. And because they regard their

“

Sepp Blatter

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Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Alhaji Aliyu Yelwa appointments as opportunities to further their interests, including helping themselves with the Commission’s budgetary allocation, they are always at loggerheads fighting among themselves based on personal and selfish interests.

The Chairman, perhaps, due to his old age and recurrent health problem, is too weak to perform his duties. Somebody who cannot sit upright for good thirty minutes or walk few meters is definitely not the type to head this type of organization. He is always absent due to health problem; at times he runs the office from his home at Karu with staff shuttling between the Commission’s headquarters and his house to convey files. He is always in and out of hospital among

which is his frequent medical trips to India at the expense of the Commission. The Chairman is just too incapacitated to handle the job.

That’s the reason most of the times he doesn’t know what is happening in the Commission as the rest of the Commissioners isolated the man, leaving him only as a figure head while they run the Commission on whims and caprices.

In fact the six full time Commissioners plus the four part time ones run the affairs of the Commission as if it is their personal property; there are no standing rules and procedures, everybody acts according to what suits his interest.

They usurped everything and power concerning the activities of the Commission to themselves. The

The main problem here is that the aim and wisdom behind the establishment of Fiscal Responsibility Commission had been missed from the onset; the government appointed the wrong people to run the Commission. Of the whole six full time Commissioners plus the Chairman, only the Chairman and one of the Commissioners can be said to have full grasp of the meaning of FRA and the powers and functions of the Commission. The bulk of others are just there as appointees representing their respective geopolitical zone. You would be surprised to know that most of them lack even the basic knowledge on the FRA. 7458 1765 9046 1969 0344

staff are reduced to mere spectators and at times treated like personal servants to the Commissioners.

From their inception up to the time I am writing this, there’s nothing in place in terms of institutional framework for the working of the Commission; there are no working tools, no written condition of service, and no salary system.

Since inception, the Commission conducted physical monitoring and evaluation of projects by the MDAs only once (in the 2nd quarter of this year). There is a whole directorate for monitoring and evaluation of which the staff have been sitting idly without jobs to do.

The Commission is populated with bright young professionals with experience from various sectors, but the Commissioners would not allow them to work.

There is general disenchantment now in the Commission; the staff are frustrated to the highest level.

There is no single staff that has been confirmed so far despite the fact that many have spent over three years in the commission. Those who can find jobs somewhere among the staff have left leaving the rest behind angry and frustrated.

How can you expect the Commission to sanction MDAs who trample the provisions of the FRA while the MDAs know that the Commission is a joke; nothing threatening will come out of it! The Commissioners, because of their glut, have turned the Commission into a corrupt, beggar-agency in front of the MDAs it is supposed to supervise. The NIMASA (among the scores of agencies that defied the Commission) you were talking about knew what they were doing when they ignored the Commission’s orders.

At the end even when they were summoned to the Commission what happened? Were they sanctioned? After closed-door meeting with the Commission’s management, they all came out smiling and exchanging banters with the Commissioners! And up to today they have not submitted the documents they were asked to submit, neither have they remitted the monies in question.

Currently, there’s palpable situation in the Commission now resulting into mixed reactions, thanks to your write up. Just as the staff are happy and jubilating for what you wrote, the management members are tensed and frightened.

They just cancelled a scheduled meeting between the staff and the management which was supposed to hold today, Tuesday, due to fear that the staff will confront them.

Thank you, once again, sir, for exposing the rot in the FRC. Katako Maikusa, a concerned FRC staff.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141