Peoples Daily Online

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 9 No. 93

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Safar 5, 1434 AH

N150

Planning Minister stalls BRISIN project

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN), a multibillion naira project conceived to

provide the fundamental infrastructure for information flow from grassroots to the national level, may have been stalled due to alleged high-wire intrigues said to be at the behest

of the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman and some top officers of the National Planning Commission (NPC).

Investigation by Peoples Daily

has revealed that an agreement for the project was signed between the Federal Government, represented by the NPC, and a Service Provider, Dermo Impex of Italy and was projected to create

about 10 million jobs in the country.

There is disquiet at the ministry and the NPC that the project for which the Federal Contd on Page 2

2013 budget: NASS adopts $79 oil benchmark Senators dump debate on PIB

By Richard Ihediwa & Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly yesterday rose from a meeting resolving to pass a harmonised budget for 2013 on Thursday, even as they adopted a crude oil sale benchmark of $79 per barrel as against the $75 per barrel proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The decision came just as the controversial Petroleum Industry

PD INDEX

18th Dec., 2012

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

BUYING 154.76 249.02 201.11 0.2894 41.24

SELLING 155.76 250.63 202.41 0.3094 41.53

PARALLEL RATES EURO £ RIYAL $

BUYING 207 255 42 157

SELLING 209 256 44 158

Bill (PIB) suffered another setback in the Senate yesterday as lawmakers indefinitely suspended debate on it despite spirited pleas by the leadership.

The National Assembly adopted the $79 per barrel benchmark following insistence by lawmakers that the budget can be comfortably financed with the current price of $110 per barrel of crude in the international market.

Already, there are speculations that with the upward review of the benchmark, the legislature may have slightly jerked up the budget from the N4.9 trillion proposed by the executive to accommodate certain critical items that were not included in the original budget but raised during the budget defence sessions by ministries and agencies.

The decision of the National Assembly came on the heels of last week’s meeting with the President during which the two arms were said to have had inconclusive Contd on Page 2

The remains of former Kaduna state Governor, Mr Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, and other victims of the recent helicopter crash, arrived Kaduna airport yesterday.

Photo: Agaju Madugba

30 burnt to death as Yakowa, Azazi: CAN NNPC pipeline dismisses speculations explodes in Lagos about foul play >> PAGE 3

>> PAGE 5

Boko Haram has killed night life – Abdulsalami >> PAGE 8

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

Property

24

Arts

29

Planning Minister stalls BRISIN project Contd from Page 1 Capital Territory (FCT) was selected as a pilot project with a take-off grant of N300 million from the FCT Ministry, has remained on its knees because of the minister’s effort to allegedly have his way in the execution of the programme which was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its session of May, 18 2007.

The preparatory phase of the project is planned to be jointly financed by the FCT administration and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), with BRISIN the project executing agency.

Checks by our correspondent confirmed that money was appropriated in the 2008 capital budget of the FCT and NBS respectively, but has been stalled due to apparent pecuniary interests by top ranking officers at the NPC and the ministry.

The stalling of the pilot project has stopped the take-off of the main project in the 36 states of the federation, thus rubbishing an important component of the general economic reform agenda

of the current administration.

A competent source confirmed to Peoples Daily that a total of N300 million was appropriated for the project by the FCT Ministry in its 2008 budget and released same year by the then minister, Muhammad Adamu Aliero.

Another independent source within NPC who spoke to Peoples Daily in confidence last week said: “ all is set for commencement of the project but the contractor, Dermo Impex, has not received any funds from the government since 2008 when the FCT ministry released N300 million to the National Planning Commission for its kick-off”.

Documents pertaining to the project sighted by our correspondent further revealed that the project fund is lying fallow at a UBA account nameed: ‘BRASSIN project account under National Planning’ since 2010.

One of the main problems, a source hinted are allegations that the minister smuggled in one of his personal aides, whose name was given as Mr. Yakubu Bello as one of the signatories to that

account, a development that contradicts the project’s Steering Committee arrangements since the aide is not a staff of the NPC but a political appointee.

A source very conversant with the transaction said: “We have six signatories to the account, two each from three major stakeholders in the project including FCT and National Planning, but the minister smuggled his personal aide to be a signatory to the project account which should not be – because the aide is not a staff of the National Planning Commission but a political appointee by the minister himself”.

Secretary, Ministry of FCT, Ari Mohammed, also confirmed that his ministry had fulfilled its own part of the BRASSIN project.

Investigation revealed that the minister’’s action had also caused uproar among the Steering Committee members of BRISIN, who came together with the National Bureau of Statistics to move the project forward but hit a brickwalls when the minister refused to release a working order

and funds to the contractor.

Another member of the committee, a director with the NPC, also accused the minister of demanding for irrelevant documents when approached by the presidency on reason for the non take off of the project.

“The minister had requested for same document more than six times since we started this committee; as you are aware the FCT gave us their N300 million for the pilot but only the minister can give reason why the project is stalled; we have perfected our work at the committee level, we made our recommendation to the supervising minister, we have sorted out all issues since 2010 and nothing should be delaying the project than funds, which has not been made available to the contractors to the best of my knowledge,” he stated.

Efforts to get the Executive Secretary of National Planning Commission, Fidelis Ugbo to comment on the project proved abortive.

He told our correspondent on phone that he would only respond if a formal letter was sent to him.

NASS threatens zero appropriation to NNPC

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

Pension fraud: As Maina continues to dare the Senate, Page 4

Int’l

31-35

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-46

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

he Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Downstream has threatened not to appropriate funds for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the 2013 financial year if it fails to give accurate and detailed account of its revenue and expenditure for 2012.

The chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Magnus Abe, who gave the warning yesterday in Abuja during the budget defence by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, also emphasised that the money which NNPC spends belongs to Nigerians and

therefore must be accounted for by the corporation.

Abe also noted that the National Assembly will not accept the budget defence document presented to it with the inscription ‘not for appropriation’, pointing out that in accordance with the constitution; lawmakers should appropriate money being expended by NNPC. In addition, the chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Hon. Peterside Dakuku, queried NNPC’s GMD over why the corporation has spent funds beyond what was appropriated to it by the National Assembly.

Based on this, he demanded further explanations on where

NNPC got the funds, who appropriated it, and who is the signing figure to the accounts from where the money is removed.

Earlier in his response, the GMD of NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, represented by the Coordinator, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Tim Okon, said the excess funds which NNPC spends is not appropriated by the National Assembly.

He also stated that when NNPC has expenditure that is above what is appropriated to it by the National Assembly, it can take funds from its reserves to meet up with its targets, saying that he does not want to go into details of how the excess funds came about.

Okon also stated that in 2012, 162

million barrels of crude oil was projected by the corporation, but that as at December, 121.85 million barrels were lifted by the corporation.

Further reacting to his response, members of the committee asked why NNPC refused to reflect those financial reserves in its 2013 budget, arguing that the constitution requires that funds not spent by any government agency must be returned to the Federation Account.

Meanwhile, the committee adjourned the defence to January, mandating NNPC to come with an interpreted document which National Assembly members will understand.

2013 budget: NASS adopts $79 oil benchmark Contd from Page 1 discussions on the budget.

Sources close to the leadership of the National Assembly said the lawmakers adopted the $79 per barrel benchmark, as against the $80 initially proposed by the Senate, following arguments by the executive that such will not be realistic in the light of the volatility of oil market.

“I can tell you that the leadership of the two chambers met today (yesterday) and agreed on critical provisions of the budget, especially the oil sale benchmark and the expenditure and revenue profiles. I can tell you that there is a common understanding to pass a harmonises budget. There may be some differences in the profiles but I cannot give you details.

“However, I can tell you that a benchmark of $79 was adopted

as against the $75 proposed by the executive. This is also against the $80 and $78 proposed by Senate and House of Representatives respectively.

So there was a lot of discussion but there were also agreements on key issues”, the source said.

On the PIB, senators at plenary yesterday rejected a motion for the general debate on the draft law currently pending at first reading level in upper chamber, a situation that resulted in indefinite suspension of debate on the bill.

Lawmakers, especially those from the North, refused to allow Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba to take the lead debate on the bill to officially introduce it for second reading resulting in the postponement of the consideration indefinitely.

Ndoma-Egba had reminded his colleagues of the importance of the bill and the fact that it has been listed for consideration for a long even as he noted that the Senate through the Chairman of Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Eta Enang that the bill will be taken that yesterday.

He argued that shelving debate on the bill will send a wrong signal to Nigerians who may see the Senate as not being committed to passing the bill considered as key for the much needed reforms in the oil and gas sector.

The Senate Leader had prayed his colleagues to allow him take the lead debate after which the Senate will adjourn and take full debate the next legislative day, Wednesday.

His entreaties however fell on deaf ears as the lawmakers mounted pressure on him to stand down his motion after which further consideration of the bill was deferred till another legislative day instead of the next legislative day.

There are however fears that this might be the beginning of another long wait for the PIB in the National Assembly following concerns that the bill might not be mentioned for debate until next year when the Senate would have returned from its end-of-year break.

The apprehension is against the backdrop of the current division in the National Assembly and among other industry stakeholders, including oil companies on certain controversial provisions of the bill – especially those bordering on royalties and other benefits to host communities.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 3

More trouble imminent as Mint staff grumble over poor conditions – investigation

By Abdulwahab Isa

M

ore trouble is looming at the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) over poor staff welfare and alleged poor working conditions.

Peoples Daily was reliably informed that the staff unable to cope with deteriorating working conditions, are spoiling for a show down.

A cross section of workers who

interacted with our reporter lamented that working conditions at the Mint are in no way comparable to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and similar peer organisations in the finance sector.

A source who spoke in confidence with our reporter narrated that the salary of an average officer for 11 years stands at a little above N2 million taxes inclusive.

He said Mint operates on two different salary structures – management pay roll is prepared by the company’s secretary and is a guarded secret while the other staff salaries are prepared by the Central Accounts.

He said: “promotion is on basis of whom you know in the company and not on merit.

Chattered Accountants remain clerks despite available vacancies.

It’s only at Mint that one person is assigned the job of so many people.

No corporate governance. Masters degree holders employed as operatives clerks or at best casuals.

Though salaries are paid promptly but many staff cannot survive on it. Allowances are broken into pieces and not paid as when due.

Staffs live on borrowings from cooperatives. Salary disparities between management staff and other category are too high”.

Peoples Daily was told the Mint salary structure and condition of service on conception in 1963 was

designed to be 25 percent ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but this was allowed to degenerate over the years due to selfish attitude by successful management.

Effort to get official position of the management yesterday was abortive. Mr. Obi Biele, NSPMC Media Adviser, did not respond to calls put to him by our correspondent.

It would be recalled that the Mint MD, Ehi Okomoyon has been sent on compulsory leave to allow unfettered investigation over financial mis-management under his administration.

30 burnt to death as NNPC pipeline explodes in Lagos From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

A

vandalised Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) oil pipeline on Monday exploded in Abule-Ado village, near Ijegun in Iba local council development area of Lagos state leaving about 30 people burnt to death.

Several eyewitnesses say the raging fire started around 9pm on Monday when about 30 people were scooping fuel from the vandalised pipeline into hundreds of 50 litre jerry cans.

A witness said the raging fire started when about 30 persons in two canoes arrived the scene and started scooping fuel into hundreds of cans.

While at it the place was said to have burst into flames which consumed the whole

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan being decorated with emblem by National Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Colonel Micah Gaiya, during the emblem appeal launch for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, yesterday at the State House, Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

Why we can’t catch pension thieves – Senate

By Richard Ihediwa and Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Senate yesterday lamented that it cannot effectively uncover those behind the siphoning of billions of pension funds in the country because they have links with formidable cabals that have the backing of very top government officials.

Chairman Joint Senate Committee on Establishment,

Pubic Service and Local Governments, Senator Aloysius Etok stated this in Abuja yesterday against the backdrop of allegations of bribery and compromise against his committee.

Etok, who has been under pressure by members of the Pension Reforms Task Team (PRTT) to resign over alleged bias in the probe, told newsmen that he was up against a very strong cabal that is stronger than the fuel subsidy cabal.

Appearing to be at the verge of throwing in the towel, Etok said his committee had found out that senior government officials were backing the Chairman of Pension Task Force, Abdulrasheed Maina, who is at the centre of the scandal.

“In the performance of pension probe, I realised I have stepped on very powerful toes, I can tell you that pension cabal is worse than oil cabal. In pension there are so many people involved and it has taken such a long time in operations.

EFCC investigators incompetent, says NBA

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) yesterday said investigators of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are not growing scientifically to meet up with the challenges of the moment.

The president of the association, Chief Okey Wali disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while exchanging views with newsmen shortly after the inauguration the NBA disciplinary committees and the governing council of the young lawyers forum.

The NBA boss said the anti-

graft agency should stop blaming the lawyers for its in-ability to prosecute high profile corruption cases in the country, adding also that: “The problem is that

investigations of corruption allegations by EFCC officials are not thorough. EFCC investigators are never prepared themselves”, Wali pointed out.

N3.3tr pension fund still missing

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he last may not have been heard about the celebrated pension scam in the country, as the alleged disappearance of N3.3trillion additional pension fund is about to be exposed.

Already, the Presidential Pension Reform task team has said it was closing investigation on the matter and those involved would be made to face the law.

This is as the team said it has lost total confidence in the senate

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday launched the emblem appeal fund for the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, urging military personnel to embrace unity and national cohesion irrespective of religion.

The event, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, paraded top government functionaries, senior military officers and members of diplomatic corps.

Business mogul and president of the Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote donated N30 million to the veterans' purse and another N30

committee joint Committee on Establishment and Public Service which is looking into the activities of the team.

Chairman of the Presidential task team, Abdulrasheed Maina made the disclosure yesterday during a chat with journalists in Abuja.

Maina who confirmed the investigation into huge fraud in the pension scheme, said the task team has uncovered a huge scam in pension administration and will soon make it public.

Remove Bassey Ewa, Sc/Tech staff protest in Abuja

By Joy Baba

S

taffers of Ministry of Science and Technology in Abuja, yesterday called for the sack of the Minister, Prof Ita Okon Bassey Ewa over alleged poor

Jonathan launches 2013 Armed Forces Emblem

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

environment, including the suspects, their jerry cans and other materials.

As at 3pm yesterday when our reporter visited the site, the fire was still raging and thick smoke enveloped the area. No fire fighters were available. But some men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) and NNPC officials were at the scene to assess the situation.

An NNPC official at the site said “You can see that the fire is still raging. We can’t go far to examine the damaged pipeline or know the number of people killed because the pipeline is buried under water”.

National Emergency Management Agency South West Zone, Information officer Ibrahim Farinloye told newsmen that there might be several points of fire.

million on behalf of Alhaji Dahiru Mangal.

According to the President, "the strongest message is that of unity. The men and women that we remember today were drawn into national service from all parts of Nigeria and they served gallantly regardless of differences of religion or ethnicity.

welfare package and nonpayment of salaries of junior staff.

The staff who staged a peaceful demonstration yesterday, accused the minister does is gallivant with their suppose package around the globe.

Fearing victimization, some staff who spoke with our reporter under anonymity alleged that the minister within a period of 16 weeks traveled out of the country 28 times.

According to Mr. Shehu Yahaya, chairman of the ministry’s chapter of Nigerian Civil Service Union, the way the management was handling the staff welfare was not encouraging.

Another issue raised in the protest was non-payment of about 105 newly employed junior staff trained by the ministry.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Pension fraud: As Maina continues to dare the Senate F

or a Deputy Director in the Federal civil service, whose rapid rise to that position is in itself a subject of whispers, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina has come a long way in the nation’s political space since he was appointed as the Chairman of the Pensions Reforms Task Team, courtesy of the patronage of a powerful godfather, a onetime Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. So much, in fact, that he is now said to be a frequent visitor to the Presidential Villa. He also moves around with heavily armed state security operatives in tow. Which is what he did last week when he finally showed up, though tardily, in the National Assembly with four armed SSS operatives as escort in response to a string of summons by the Senate. The first summon on the Pensions Reforms Task Team Chairman was first extended in June this year but it was honoured in the breach by Maina with no explanation for the refusal to show up.

The latest and fourth summon on Maina was precipitated by the recent discovery penultimate week of the inexplicable disappearance of N195 billion unspent pension funds. This time however, the Senate had to order the Inspector General of Police to arrest Maina over his serial refusal to appear before it to explain his role in the missing N195 billion. According to the Chairman of Senate Joint Committee on Establishment, Public Service, State and Local Government, Senator Aloysius Etok; “Nigerians need to know how he is running the office.

The pensioners need to know what he is doing with their fund. We also need to give him an opportunity to defend himself”. Specifically, the Senate wanted Maina to explain the disappearance of the N195 billion pension funds.

And the co-chair of the committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya read out the warrant of arrest, co-signed by, Senator David Mark, the President of the Senate and Mr. Ben Efeturi , the Clerk to the Senate. Dated December 13, 2012, the warrant, as read by Senator Gaya, compelled the presence of Maina before the committee tomorrow (Wednesday). “A warrant is hereto issued by the President, Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for the arrest and compelling of attendance of Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, Male, Nigerian of Customs, Immigration, Prisons Pension Office (CIPPO)”.

In June, the Senate had not

For the best part of this year, the Chairman of the Pensions Reforms Task Team, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina has squared up to the Nigerian Senate in a duel of wits, with the former serially refusing to honour an invitation to appear before the later. As another deadline for his appearance arrives, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi seeks to unravel what gives the mid-level civil servant the courage to take on the upper chamber of the National Assembly without blinking? only ordered for the head of settlement of the families of Maina, John Yusuf, B.G. dead pensioners was diverted Kaigama and all the members by officials of the Head of of the Pension Task Team, but Service to recurrent also directed the Inspector- expenditure, leaving the General of Police to families without the benefits. immediately effect the arrest On the alleged recent a n d prosecution of all the team members.

T h e Senate then had stressed that its order w a s imperative following t h e i r involvement in fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, misapplication, i l l e g a l virement, c o n t r a c t splitting and award of contract to non-existing companies as well as award of contract w i t h o u t appropriations and outright stealing of p e n s i o n funds.

Alhaji Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina T h e S e n a t o r Aloysius Etok-led Joint disappearance of N195 billion Committee of Establishment pension funds, Senator Gaya and Public Service and States explained the breakdown of the and Local Government which figures as given by the investigated the payment of Accountant-General’s office, pensioners and management/ between 2005 and 2011 thus; administration of pension funds Police Pension Office, in Nigeria, had revealed that N 1 3 1 , 4 8 3 , 8 7 3 , 6 9 4 . 6 3 N1.025 trillion was received by r e l e a s e d ; all the pension offices between N58,270,660,632.00 spent, 2005 and 2011, but only while N44,213,213,062.00 is N751.444 billion was spent unaccounted for. On Military within the period, leaving a Pension Board, N317, balance of N273.941 billion.

609,082,566.05 was released, According to Senator Gaya, N294, 076,743,532.87 spent Vice Chairman of the and balance unaccounted for committee, the records of the stood at N23, 532,339,034. balance of N58.715billion was Customs, Immigration, still missing at the office of the Prisons Pension Office, Head of Service, said: “Within N 8 5 , 2 4 9 , 2 2 2 , 9 0 0 . 1 6 six years, the Head of the Civil r e l e a s e d , Service received a total of N216 N27,452,200,993.72 spent, billion as pensions. It only spent while N27,797,822,127.00 N154 billion, remaining a unaccounted for. balance of N58.7 billion.

For the Department of State “We made efforts to get Service Pension, he said records of the balance of N58.7 N34,698,149,304.68 was billion throughout the period of allocated, N9,413,090,416 the investigation and we did not spent with a balance of get any.”

N26,121,394,662.63.

He noted that about N1.76 Head of Service, according billion earmarked for the to Accountant-General’s

report, had N139,056,523,955.20; N100,641,106,957.33 spent and N39,783,682,993.00 as the balance.

Expectedly, there are calls for the sacking of the Maina-led P e n s i o n Reforms Task Team, with the N i g e r i a L a b o u r Congress (NLC) in the vanguard.

The NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar said that, “If the task force, which was put in place to solve a problem, is not doing what it was put in place to do, then it should go”.

And the National President of N i g e r i a Union of Pensioners, Mr. Ali A b a c h a , called for the implementation of the report of the Senate Joint Committee, which indicted the Pension Reforms Task Team officials for alleged criminal activities.

Also, the Chairman of the Ogun state Council of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Chief Kessington Odukoya, also called for the outright dissolution of the Pension Reform Task Team in order to improve condition of federal payment of pension.

He alleged that pensioners were being subjected to hardship as a result of the endless and fruitless verification exercise, which often led to pauperisation as well as impoverishment of the members through irregularities in pension payment.

But Maina, who had made a dramatic late entry to the Senate venue of the hearing on Thursday last week, but was ignored by the committee, claimed to newsmen after the adjournment, that he was not aware of the invitations.

According to him, “I came last night from a trip and I don’t

really know what is happening I don’t know what is going on.

How can I refuse to come when I am not even in town? I was about 10 hours away from here. I traveled by road to go and see somebody who lost three kids at the same time, the person is my staff so how would you feel. So I have to go and console him. When I came back last night, I heard that I have been asked to come to the Senate so that is why I came”.

On the missing funds, he claimed that , “We, as task team, are interested in working with the Senate to recover the N195bn because we have the expertise and technical knowledge to go after the fund and recover it.

“If it is in people’s account, we will recover it and if people stole it, we will find it out. We have a track record of doing that.”

Playing the offended innocent, he lamented that the Senate Joint Committee on Establishment and Public Service and States and Local Governments Administration, was being misled into maligning the task team.

According to him, “Our detractors thought we have an account and we are keeping money. We only go to the bank, see account balance and write what we have observed. We have all the security agencies in our midst.

“We have this coordination but people don’t know. They give false information to the Senate Committee and they sit down on false information without verifying.

“If you are given an assignment as a committee, I feel the first person you will look for is the person in charge of the team.

“We are the depository of the database of the civil service, we ought to have been invited first so that we can go round the country with the committee investigating management of pension fund but nobody invited us.

“They want to distract us.

It is not about anything, but corruption fighting back”.

Meanwhile, counting on his “connections” in the Villa, Maina, it is understood, is allegedly lobbying for the establishment of a new pension office under the Presidency with him appointed to administer the new office as a Special Adviser.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 5

NIGERIA MOURNS YAKOWA Sambo, Lekwot deny recommending Yakowa’s widow as deputy gov From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

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Senate President David Mark (right) condoling Mrs. Amina Yakowa (middle), wife of late Kaduna state governor, yesterday at St. Gerard Hospital, Kaduna. Photo: Agaju Madugba

ice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo and a former military governor of Rivers state, Gen. Zamani Lekwot (rtd), who is also the chairman, Southern Kaduna Elders Forum (SKEF), have denied reports alleging that they nominated Mrs. Amina Yakowa for the position of the vacant seat of deputy governor of Kaduna state.

According to the newspaper report, Sambo and Lekwot made the recommendation when they visited Governor Muktar Ramalan Yero, at the Government House, along with some elders from southern Kaduna state.

But reacting through the Vice Presidential spokesman, Alhaji Umar Sani, Namadi refuted the report arguing that the Vice President would not interfere in the affairs of Kaduna state.

Former Bayelsa state governor, Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha, and the state’s deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogba John Jonah (rtd), and other senior government officials accompanied the corpses which arrived the Kaduna Airport at about 2.45 pm, in an Air Force cargo aircraft.

On hand to receive the caskets were Governor Muktar Ramalan Yero and Yakowa’s widow, Amina, Senator Danjuma Goje and Senator Bukola Saraki, among other dignitaries, from where the

Nigerian Christian community would not allow the expected report of the probe panel investigating the Bayelsa crash to be swept under the carpet.

Oritsejafor who was represented

by CAN’s national generalsecretary, Rev. Musa Asaki, on condolence visit at the Kaduna Government House, told reporters that, “CAN supports the Federal Government for setting up a panel of investigation, we support it and we are looking forward to the report but we have heard of panels of investigation being set up and reports submitted in the country, we hope and that pray that the Federal Government releases the report of this one and take action”.

Tears as Yakowa’s corpse arrives Kaduna From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

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ears flowed endlessly from sympathisers as the remains of late Kaduna state Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, arrived Kaduna yesterday, along with that of his bosom friend, Dauda Tsoho, who was also killed in the Navy helicopter which crashed last Saturday in Bayelsa state where they had gone to attend the funeral of the father of a presidential aide, Oronto Douglas.

caskets were driven in an ambulance and the convoy moved to the Saint Gerald Catholic Hospital where the corpses were deposited in the mortuary.

Senate President David Mark who was also in Kaduna yesterday, was at the hospital from where he drove to the Kaduna Government House to extend his condolence.

Earlier yesterday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, affirmed that the

…as CAN dismisses speculations about foul play From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

T

he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has distanced itself from speculations of foul play in the illfated helicopter crash that killed the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Owoeye Azazi and the Governor of Kaduna, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa.

The president of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said that in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Kaduna during a condolence visit to the widow of late governor Yakowa at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.

Represented by CAN’s national general secretary, Reverend Musa Asaki, Oritsejafor said CAN does not share the same view with such

beliefs by some sections of the country.

He said CAN cannot join that kind of speculation. "All we are saying is that the Federal Government should show some kind of seriousness and act on the report of the panel when it is ready.

"We are awaiting the result, it is the result that will tell us if there

is foul play or not. Anybody who is saying that there is a foul play, that person is going ahead of time.

"Nevertheless, if there is something that they know and we do not know, then let them go ahead and tell us".

"We want to hear the result of the panel of inquiry first because for CAN to begin to say there is foul play, how do we know?" he queried.

Senators query use of military planes for civil functions

By Richard Ihediwa

S

enators yesterday expressed grief over the helicopter crash which killed the then Kaduna state governor, Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser (NSA) Andrew Azazi last Saturday, even as many senators queried the military for using its aircrafts for civilian events.

In the same vein, they called for a system-wide probe into the cause of the crash and other air mishaps involving military and civil aviation planes in the country.

The decision of the Senate followed the adoption of a motion to that effect by Senator, Chris Anyanwu, chairman Senate Committee on Navy who called the attention of the lawmakers to the

recurrence of air mishaps in the country and prayed for a thorough inquest into the development.

Presenting the motion,.

Anyanwu said that in 2007 and 2011, there had been two crashes of similar Augusta helicopters owned by the navy. She expressed concerns over the seeming recurrence of air mishaps not just in civil aviation, but also in the Nigerian military in spite of public outcry.

According to her, “between March and October 2011, there

were three reported cases of air mishaps by the Air force at different locations in the country and the causes of these crashes remain unknown. On March 21, 2011, one F7-NI fighter jet belonging to the Nigerian Air Force that was on a routine training programme crashed in Kano, killing the flight instructor.”

She also recalled that in 2011 another Air Force plane crashed in Gboko, Benue state while yet another crashed in Vandeikya, also in Benue state, in 2006.

According to him, “no, the elders did not make any case for Yakowa’s wife to be deputy governor.

“They went on a condolence visit. They told the Vice President that they want the governor to make his choice but that wider consultations should be done and they did not represent anybody.

“You know, the Vice President understands the complexities of Kaduna state and he has said that he will not interfere, that the governor should select someone from southern Kaduna that he feels he can work together with as his deputy.

“And, that is the beauty of democracy; wider consultations with the stakeholders from southern Kaduna and the person that will be selected will be acceptable to everybody”.

Also describing the report as false, Lekwot noted that the elders did not visit Yero to discuss the choice of deputy governor.

“Look, the late governor’s corpse has not even arrived Kaduna. So, it will be improper for anybody to start making statements that I led a delegation.

“We went to pay a condolence visit on His Excellency and the Vice President. So, it is out of decorum for anybody to say that we went to say this is our deputy governor.

“The elders are more responsible than that. Let us bury him first and other things will follow but I tell you that we have no hand in that story. We were not contacted and nothing like that happened. The poor woman is mourning her husband. How can anybody in his right senses start meeting on that?”

Azinge commiserates with FG, Kaduna over death

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof. Epiphany Azinge, has commiserated with President Goodluck Jonathan and the governments and people of Kaduna State over the death of the state governor, Sir Patrick Yakowa alongside the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Andrew O. Azazi in an helicopter crash last Saturday in Bayelsa state.

Azinge conveyed the condolences of the governing council, management and the entire staff of the Institute in a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

He said the reoccurring tragedies in the aviation industry have continued to raise the issue of air safety in the country.

“We indeed understand the pain of losing a loved one, especially at an unripe age. May we however urge you to be consoled by the fact that they lived worthy lives and had positively impacted on the lives of countless individuals and indeed Nigerians that they had crossed paths with”, he stated.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

SARS attack: IG to reorganise mobile force

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku (right), inspecting an exhibition of Made-InNigeria Products, Ysterday in Abuja. With him are the Ministry Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Kahinde Ajoni (middle), and chief Executive of Serajocobs Nigeria ltd, Mrs. Sera Adetugboboh (left).

By Lambert Tyem

T

he Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar yesterday vowed to overhaul the Mobile Police Force (MPF) in what he termed as "an attempt to restore the lost glory of the mobile unit of the force". Addressing Squadron commanders of mobile police units, Abubakar said the PMF need urgent reorganisation and strengthening in view of the current security challenges confronting the country.

This may not be unconnected with the recent attack on the headquarters of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) in Abuja where over a hundred criminals and terrorists were set free by the bandits.

Although the police later claimed that only 30 escaped and 25 rearrested, the incident was said to have shaken the foundation of SARS as well as the police force.

According to the IG, "we need to look at the preparedness and readiness of the mobile units to take up these challenges. "Some of these challenges include the issue of bribery and corruption, illegal duties, the issue of training and retraining programme and capacity building, welfare of officers and men of the PMF‌ human rights abuses and at the same time looking generally at the conduct that has to do with discipline of officers and men. "Primarily, We want to put the PMF back on the street the way it is supposed to .

Atiku congratulates Zuma over reelection as ANC Leader

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

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ormer vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated South African president, Jacob Zuma over his emergence as the African National Congress' (ANC) presidential flagbearer for the South African 2013 presidential election.

Zuma's re-emergence came after defeating his deputy president, Kgalema Montlanthe yesterday during ANC's convention.

The former vice president, who attended the party's 53rd congress, said "Nigeria has much to learn from South Africa's 100 year-old African National Congress, the ANC. This was just one of the many thoughts on my mind this afternoon as I watched my friend and brother Jacob Zuma make a masterful victory speech. He won by 2983 votes! A real landslide of a victory that has left his main challenger and former deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe with only 991."

Atiku, who is Zuma's friend, expressed his delight in witnessing the election ANC's next leadership, describing it as a life-time opportunity to witness the conference which comes every five years.

Photo: NAN

Police attack, disarm NSCDC personnel in Abuja

By Tobias LengnanDapam and Etuka Sunday.

P

olicemen yesterday caused heavy traffic jam at the Berger Junction in Abuja, when they attacked some members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), eye witnesses have said.

About 50 policemen allegedly teamed up with some

members of the Abuja environmental task force team to unleash mayhem on six personnel of the NSCDC who came to enquire about a squabble involving the police and one of its officers.

Saleh Sani, who saw what happened but could not recount how it started, said "we were at the junction waiting to board a bus. Suddenly, we saw some members of the Civil Defence in

their car. On seeing them, the police pounced on them and started beating them for reason not known to us".

Also speaking, Chijoke Chukwu, said "It was a clear show of shame. This does not speak well for the security of our country.

The policemen have demonstrated a high sense of immaturity‌ But it is strange to see security officers fighting each other and even disarming them".

Meanwhile, the NSCDC Public Relation Officers (PRO), Emmanuel Okeh, who said he was also attacked by the policemen. " It was unfortunate. We hope next time, the security operatives will work together instead of fighting.

However, efforts to get the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Doris England, to speak on the issue proved abortive as she neither picked calls nor reply text message sent to her.

Constitution Amendment: SAN wants Land Use Act scrapped

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Samson Sani Ameh has advocated the removal of the Land Use Act from the Constitution and returning land matters to various States of the Federation, as the initial fear has disappeared.

Dr. Ameh was speaking in Abuja when the Department of Private Law, Faculty of Law of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria launched a book in his honour.

The book titled: "The Challenges of Constitutional Governance in Nigeria", comprise of legal essays in honour of Dr.

Ameh. In his speech at the occasion, Ameh, agreed with the recent call by the Chairman of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chief Richard O. Akinjide (SAN) for total discard of the current 1999 Constitution for a new one.

He said: "The requirement of the consent of the States Governors

of conference and workshop on cooperative and micro-credit in Nigeria(Cooperative Conference Workshop), promotion and publication of a National Cooperative Directory (NCD), national cooperative data bank and reference book.

Others are a Weekly Cooperative Page/Magazine for the purpose of starting a weekly cooperative page/ column and magazine in the Peoples Daily newspapers. The Quarterly Cooperative Journal (QCJ) is a planned intellectual publication that would also be a compendium of all the articles and publications in the weekly newspaper of the PML. Similarly, the National Cooperative Audit and Rating Initiative

(NCARI) is also part of the project, for organising a national cooperative audit and rating to enhance standard while the National Cooperative Award Scheme is for promoting and positioning cooperative society partners and supporting institutions, banks, insurance and so on.

Mr. Ike Willie-Nwobu expressed optimism that the PML publications would help attract additional funding and sponsorship within and from the national and international funding windows for cooperative societies in the areas of poverty reduction, industrialisation, skills acquisition, welfare scheme, housing delivery, democratisation and rural development.

Peoples Daily, CP Projects collaborate over cooperatives

By Jamila Nuhu Musa

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cooperative outfit, CP Projects Ltd, is to collaborate with the Peoples Media Ltd (PML) in promoting the economic advancement of the cooperative sector in Nigeria.

According to its proposal signed by the Project Chairman, Supervisory Board, Mr. Ike Willie-Nwobu, the tie would enhance cooperative society partnership, joint project development, facilitation and promotion through the PML, publishers of Peoples Daily newspapers in Abuja.

Towards this end, the duo would give priority to the joint organisation

for Deeds of Assignment, Mortgages, and Sublease etc should be removed as it is un-business like.

When the decree was promulgated in 1978,the then military Governors freely gave consent but with the return to civil democratic rule and party politics, there is the tendency to abuse the power of consent vested in the governors".

Dr. Ameh added that there was need for the recognition of Local government Administration as the third tier of government to facilitate comprehensive development at the grassroot level.

Eminent Nigerians from the legal profession and the academia who graced the public presentation of the book showered encomiums on Dr. S.S. Ameh (SAN) for the indelible marks he had left in the training of lawyers in the country.

Chief Chris Uche (SAN), in his remarks, described Ameh as role model highly respected in the legal profession. He said Ameh had led by example as the Acting Chairman of the Abuja Chapter of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria. Chief Uche lamented the decline in the standard of law training in the country and challenged law students in various universities to brace up.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

ITF wants SIWES funding scrapped, as debt hits N12bn

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has urged the Federal Government to scrap the N2, 500 stipends being paid to students undergoing the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES)

SIWES is a programme that is designed to enable students marry practicals with theory with a view to certifying them for work upon graduation.

The Director General, ITF, Prof. Longmas Wapmuk, however said yesterday that the agency could no longer fund the

programme due to inadequate funds.

Wapmuk spoke in Abuja during the second annual seminar for Trade and Investment correspondents and Group Business Editors.

He explained that in the past when the number of students

under the scheme was manageable, the agency was up to date with the payments; but when the number got bloated due to addition of more courses and with dwindling funding, the debt profile kept rising until it got to N12.2bn.

“Left to us in the ITF, we prefer that we have a cashless SIWES, because students have been taking care of themselves already during the SIWES period and since the Federal Government is not in a position to give us the money required because of the demands from other sectors of the economy.

“We therefore feel we should

have a cashless SIWES so that ITF can pay more attention to the supervision of the students instead of accumulating debt. There is no need to accumulate debt that we cannot pay because we are not meeting the demands. Most of our staff have been beaten and molested over the SIWES debt”, he said.

Adducing reason for the accumulated debt, the DG stated that while the budget requirement to adequately fund the programme annually is N2.2bn, the funds eventually released are usually in the region of N900million.

Again, FCT ministry defends N2bn Presidential Banquet Hall

By Etuka Sunday

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Kano state Governor, Enginerr Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso (middle) emphasising a point during the inspection of Kano city flyover project, on Monday in Kano.

Kwankwaso inspects first Kano multi-billion naira flyover project

By Stanley Onyekwere

F

ew weeks after the award of the contract for construction of a multibillion naira flyover project from Silver Jubilee Roundabout to Ibrahim Taiwo Road in Kano city, Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has paid an unscheduled visit to the site.

The project, which is funded by the state government is being executed by TEC, a civil engineering company at the cost

of over N6 billion under the direct supervision of the state Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport.

Kwankwaso who observed that the project is progressing smoothly, expressed satisfaction with the company for mobilising and deploying fully its equipment and men to work.

According to a statement by Director of Press and Public Relations to the Governor, Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, the state Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Abba K. Yusuf and the Permanent

Secretary in the Ministry, Engr. Shehu Ahmad briefed the governor on some procedural aspects of the project.

“Governor Kwankwaso also visited Kwankwasiyya and Amana cities, two of the three new cities constructed by the government; where he expressed delight with the clearing of the sites for construction of the roads and the houses, which he said have increasingly taken shape”, the statement said.

Over 80,000 children immunised in Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

O

ver 80,000 children were successfully immunised in Misau local government area of Bauchi state in the ongoing immunisation exercise.

The caretaker chairman of the

council, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri disclosed this during his tour to some villages in the council area headquarters, saying the target children to immunise in the area was 84,674.

He said the council is committed and involved in the strict supervision to ensure

adherence and acceptability of the exercise among the people.

Waziri attributed the alarming cases of polio to ignorance of people and challenged parents not to allow themselves to be detracted by cultural, political and religious inclinations against polio.

House to investigate abandoned Bida-Mokwa-Jebba-Illorin road

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he House of Representatives yesterday urged its committee on Public Works to investigate the circumstances that led to the abandonment of Lamba-Bida-Mokwa-JebbaIllorin federal highway and report back to it within three weeks.

A motion filed by Rep. Ibrahim Ebbo (PDP Niger state) argued that the Federal Road

Maintenance Agency (FERMA), had commenced the rehabilitation of the road about two years ago but suddenly abandoned same after covering few kilometers.

Stressing that the road was first constructed over 50 years ago with no comprehensive maintenance carried out on it, Ebbo contended that this has often resulted in road accidents which have claimed many lives.

He added that FERMA which

is saddled with primary responsibility of routine maintenance of roads across the country has been unable to meet the expectation of Nigerians.

Ebbo expressed worriedy that the amount earlier appropriated for the project might go down the drain, if not utilised, thereby leading to the abandonment of the project.

The motion was referred to committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency for further legislative inputs.

inister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has spoken in defence of the Federal Government’s plan to build a N2 billion banquet hall to host international conferences and guests at the State House, saying the decision was a step in the right direction.

The minister spoke in her office in response to questions by newsmen on the mixed feelings among Nigerians that the current leadership of the country is wasteful in its management of resources.

Akinjide alleged that the issue has been grossly misunderstood and misrepresented by the press, explaining that the State House was built by the military in accordance with their needs and therefore not befitting for a democratic government.

She said the existing hall is

small and contains few meeting rooms and a lot of space for parade and other things that were important to the military; and not a place to receive foreign dignitaries or to host ordinary citizens or guests.

According to her, when President Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn-in as president, Nicon Hilton and Sheraton Hotel Halls were permanently booked by the Presidency for some of the events which cost huge amounts of money so a decision was reached that instead of government having to pay for these facilities, it should come up with something bigger and better.

She said it is improper, insecure and unbefitting to host the president of a country or public events of international status in a hotel hall, arguing that President Obama of the United States has several rooms in the White House meant for different events and public purpose.

COE Azare to get N1bn from TETFund From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he College of Education, Azare in Bauchi state, is to receive the sum N1 billion from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) following its high performance in both academics and infrastructure.

Bauchi state Commissioner of Information, Engr. Mohammed Dhamina in a post-executive council meeting briefing, said the recognition by TETFund was based on high quality of both the National Certificate of Education (NCE) and degree graduates of the institution, as well as efforts by the government in the provision of

infrastructure.

He disclosed that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted full accreditation for the commencement of full-time courses in LLB programme by the Faculty of Law of the State University, Misau Campus from the 2012/13 academic session.

TETFund, the commissioner said, has already recognised the State University, Gadau by listing it among institutions in the country for its subventions, a development which gave the institution the impetus to access the sum of N598 million for the 2012 academic year.

Obasanjo mourns Yakowa, Azazi

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed shock at the death of Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna state, Gen. Owoye Azazi, former National Security Adviser, and four others in a helicopter crash.

The naval helicopter crashed in Okoroba community in Bayelsa state last Saturday, killing Yakowa, Azazi, their aides, the pilot and co-pilot.

Obasanjo, who is in the United States, told the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that he received news of the crash and casualty with shock and regret.

“This is indeed a tragedy”, he said. “Our nation has lost compatriots whose contributions have been invaluable and who would still have been giving their best to our development”.’

The former President expressed his heartfelt condolence to the families of the bereaved. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

NHIS sensitises uniformed men in Kogi From Sam Egwu, Lokoja ational Health Insurance scheme (NHIS), has said that the stringent measures put in place in its dealing with consumers was to prevent abuse of the process.

The deputy general manager, Public Sector Programme of the scheme, Alhaji Bola Ojuolape, told journalists in Lokoja yesterday, during a sensitisation seminar for the police, prisons, customs, road safety corps, immigration and the civil defence corps, that the scheme has recorded success in the provision of qualitative and affordable health care services to Nigerians. While calling on those still doubting the desirability of the scheme to key

N

into it, he said the agency has also introduced community health programmes for rural dwellers and those for the people who are not in regular employment.

The agency would henceforth take serious measure against health providers who failed to adhere strictly to NHIS rules and regulations.

He said the sensitization programme was designed to educate the people on the NHIS list of their rights and privileges so as to avoid being cheated.

According to Ojuolape, the scheme is doing everything possible to ensure that all the problems associated with new registration, issuance of identity cards and change of HMOs are promptly dealt with.

Address leakages in fuel subsidy payments – CACOL tells Jonathan From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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oalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to address the leakages in the subsidy payments instead of requesting for more money to finance the same subsidy.

Reacting to the request of the President for an additional N161.6bn to finance the subsidy payments for the remaining part of this year, the executive chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran, noted that the additional fund is just another avenue to feed the ‘subsidy fraud gods’.

“The government has displayed a high level of ineptitude and inefficiency in

managing the resources of this nation.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had told Nigerians on October 21 that the N888.1bn allocated for subsidy payments in the 2012 budget should be enough to pay petroleum product importers and that government might not need supplementary appropriation for subsidy payments in 2012. How did the President come about the supplementary N161.6bn budget for just three weeks?

That is monumental fraud! It is just another avenue to fleece our common patrimony into the pockets of the cronies of these criminals in power”, he said.

Borno set to register Tsangaya, Islamic schools From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri n a bid to ensure development of Islamic education through proper planning, control and supervision, Borno state government is to embark on massive registration of Tsangaya/Islamic schools across its 27 local government areas.

The Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, disclosed this yesterday at a ministerial press briefing, saying the registration exercise was imperative in order to ascertain the exact number of the existing schools so as to boost Almajirci education.

Under the policy, Durkwa said, pupils in such schools will be assisted to acquire the related Islamic knowledge.

Similarly, the commissioner added that the pupils will be enrolled into primary schools to acquire formal education.

“Government will provide

I

all necessary facilities for the pupils of Islamic schools and they will be sponsored to acquire formal education”, he stated.

He also pointed out that recently, the ministry released the sum of N20 million for the provision of dinner to Almajirai in Maiduguri and Jere council areas because their major source of dinner was seeking for alms, but this became impossible due to the ongoing night curfew imposed on the two areas.

This is in addition to the cash donation of N3 million to two community based Islamiyya schools in Maiduguri and Kubo in Shani local government area.

In special education, the ministry, according to Durkwa, has on regular basis provided both escort and transport to handicapped students of Borno origin, particularly the deaf and blind who are studying in special schools in Gombe, Bauchi, Minna, Kaduna and Plateau states.

L-R: World Bank Consultant, Mrs. Yemisi Ransome- Kuti; Executive Director, Policy Legislative Advocacy Centre (PLAC) Mr. Clem Nwankwo; and Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform , Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwe, during PLAC and other Civil Society Organisations press briefing on post-National Assembly Zonal/ Constituency Hearings, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Boko Haram has killed night life – Abdulsalami From Illya Garba, Minna ormer Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has said insecurity in the country , especially in the North occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram, has killed night life in the region, advising those behind it to have a change of attitude in the overall interest of peace.

Abubakar lamented that the carnage and the senseless killing which has affected the 19 northern states has not only killed night life which has contributed immensely to its economic growth, but has also negatively affected the image of the country.

Abubakar who spoke in Minna, Niger state yesterday after he and others were inaugurated as members of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University

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Endowment Fund board of trustees by Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, said in the northern part of the country in particular “there is no more night economy”.

The former Head of State said carnage and destruction of public property and loss of innocent lives were having a negative effect on the national economy and therefore should be stopped.

‘People who have grievances against the government should come out to discuss the grievances and settle for peace’ he declared.

He told parents that they have a responsibility to check their children so that they do not fall into wrong groups.

Commenting on the new assignment, General Abubakar observed that there are nine projects yet to be completed in the university among them the

Senate building, central water works, lecture theatres and lecture rooms as well as the vice chancellor’s lodge.

He asked the Niger state government to set the ball rolling by contributing to the fund and ensuring regular funding of the institution.

He asked students of the university put at over 6000, ‘to be disciplined, and avoid anything that will tarnish the university, image while also challenging the management of the institution not to “spare the rod in its dealing with the students because” according to him, “what we lack in this country is discipline”.

He paid glowing tributes to the late Kaduna state governor, Patrick Yakowa who died in a helicopter crash last Saturday describing him as ‘my late friend’. Nigeria, he said, has lost a worthy citizen.

DPR shuts 10 petrol stations for selling above N97 in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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fficial of the Kano office of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), have sealed up and sanctioned 10 filling stations in Kano and Jigawa states for selling above the governmentapproved pump price of N97 per litre.

This measure, according to the Operations Controller of DPR in Kano, Alhaji Sayyadi Suleiman Abubakar, was to sanitise the operations of filling stations in Kano and Jigawa states during the Christmas and New Year period.

Abubakar said petroleum marketers have started

importing diesel and kerosene from neighbouring Niger Republic into the country, because they are all deregulated products.

According to him, the DPR has also commenced intensive surveillance activities on distribution of petroleum products so as to ensure that the long queues which have become a constant feature at filling stations, particularly during Christmas and New Year period disappear so that fuel supply gets to the consuming public.

The DPR office in the state has also issued out warning letters for other violators involved in fuel racketeering, while other were reprimanded.

According to him, the action of DPR was targeted at all filling stations within the coverage area, to ensure that hoarding, diversion and profiteering of petroleum products by marketers is prevented and all concerned products reach the designated outlets without any delay.

“Recently, two cases of illegal fuel dumps were discovered at the outskirt in the Kano metropolis. The dumps were raided and dismantled by DPR personnel with the help of the Civil Defence Corps; this exercise will be a continuous one until such illegal dumps are uprooted”, Abubakar noted.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 9

Gunmen kill trader, wound two in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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L-R: National Programme Analyst of UNFPA; Mrs. Tochie Odele, Director, Institute of Public Health, Professor Adesegun Fatusi, representative of Minister of Health, Dr. Bridge Okoeguale, representative of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Bosede R. Ademiran; and Hajiya Jumai Idris Mohammed, during the public presentation and training of key stakeholders on the use of the National Training Manual and Clinic Protocol for the Health and Development of Adolescent and Young People, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Withdraw JTF from Ogoniland, group tells FG

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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nvironmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN), has called on the Federal Government to immediately order men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) to withdraw from Bodo Community in Rivers state where the people are protesting Shell’s alleged plans to attribute a recent spill caused by equipment failure to sabotage.

Folks are irked that Shell is still spilling oil in Ogoni and failing to

comply with a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendation for a cleanup of the environment.

The protest in Bodo community is directly connected to a June 21, 2012 blow-out from a Shell facility for which the community has been mounting pressure on the company for a clean-up.

Community folks alleged that rather than conduct proper clean up, officials of Shell bribed some chiefs with N10 million with a request that they lie to the people

that the spill was an act of sabotage.

The bribe however angered the people who started protests since last week. Sensing major trouble, Shell allegedly contacted the JTF which subsequently drafted troops that swooped on the community last Saturday.

In a statement issued in Lagos, ERA/FoEN described the massive deployment of soldiers to the community and brutalisation of the people as “a provocative attempt to shield Shell from taking responsibility for its environmental crimes in

Ogoniland”.

“The forceful occupation of Bodo by the JTF is totally objectionable.

We must remind the Nigerian government that peaceful protest is a right of citizens in any true democracy.

It is simply unacceptable for the JTF to reenact the same brute force that did not and will not dampen the spirit of the Ogoni people to demand their lawful right to a pollution-free environment”, said ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey.

NAOWA donates food items to orphanage From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

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he Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) yesterday donated food and non-food items to Faith Works’ Orphanage Ministry in Kaduna.

Speaking during the NAOWA 2012 end-of-year/

Christmas party for children of the orphanage, the President of NAOWA 1 Division, Kaduna, Mrs. Bilkis Wahab said the Association at the instance of its National President, Mrs. Gift Ihejirika directed that more should be done for the society by touching the lives of the less privileged.

“As part of our contribution to the society, we deem it fit that we should come here to celebrate this festive season with these kids to give them the great sense of belonging. As mothers or parents, we owe a duty to these children.

“As you are aware, NAOWA is a non-profit making

enjoyed a very cordial working relationship with him since she became a minister.

She also expressed her condolences to the families of the late National Security Adviser, General

Andrew Aziza, and the other crash victims.

He said that 14 schools participated in the 10th Annual Secondary Schools Essay competition held on Oct. 13. (NAN)

Minister mourns Yakowa, 5 others

By Mohammed Kandi

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inister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia has expressed deep shock and sympathy over the sudden death of Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, late Governor of Kaduna state, who died alongside five others in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa state last Saturday.

Mailafia recalled that the late governor was a peace-loving, patient, tolerant and dedicated administrator who devoted his lifetime to offering sincere and selfless service to the people.

In a statement issued by the ministry’s deputy director, press and public relations, Lawrence Ojabo, the minister said she had worked closely with the late governor for over 19 years, and had

Chinese boy wins NAFDAC school essay competition in Abia

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16-year-old Chinese national, Master Precious Chem, of the Living Word Academy Secondary School, Aba, has emerged winner of the NAFDAC Annual Secondary Schools Essay Competition in Abia.

Chem was declared the winner of the senior secondary school category while 13-year-old Miss Ugochinyere Eze of Dorothy International Secondary School,

Aba, came first in the junior category.

The Chinese said after receiving the award that he was encouraged, though he did not make it at the zonal and national levels of the competition.

He called for more students’ participation in all the categories of the competition and adequate information for the examinations to make it a worthwhile exercise.

organization that complements the Nigerian Army’s efforts in bring succor to the officers and soldiers families as well as the society. This even we are witnessing today is a concerted effort of the entire membership of the association,” she maintained.

She thanked the management of the orphanage for the wonderful effort and carrying the burden of the children on behalf of the society, saying “we thank you for allowing us to be part of this noble charity venture by hosting a party for these wonderful kids.”

Mrs. Wahab enjoined other members of the society to emulate the Association by coming to the aid of the less privileged in the society.

However, the Mother-incharge of the orphanage, Mrs. Gertrude Njoko disclosed that she started the orphanage since 1995 and the home has 92 children ranging from the ages of 3months to 25 years.

She lamented that the challenges facing the home have been enormous more than what she could chew.

arely 24 hours after some unknown gunmen killed two policemen and two civilians in Borno state, another group of armed men yesterday evening, raided the Gamboru market and killed a trader, while two others sustained gunshot injuries. The identity of the slain trader could not be ascertained as at press time, but the other victims were reportedly hit by stray bullets, sparking serious confusion in the area.

The gunmen, according to eyewitnesses, walked into the market at about 4pm, and fired several shots into the air before proceeding to the shop of the deceased and shooting him dead.

The invaders also reportedly fired several warning shots before fleeing the scene, while the market was deserted.

Immediately after the incident, all roads leading to the area were cordoned by dozens of heavily armed soldiers.

Spokesman of the Joint Task Force, (JTF) Lt- Col. Sagir Musa, could not be reached for comment as at press time.

‘Early warning necessary to avert flood’ From Sam Egwu, Lokoja dequate information and education on the sort of flood which recently ravaged some parts of the country, has been identified as a veritable tools in mitigating future disasters in the country.

This was the major focus of the book titled “When Kogi went under water” edited by the Treasurer of Kogi state NUJ, Abubakar Suleiman Hussein and billed to be launched on Thursday 20 December, 2012.

In a statement issued by the chairman of the launch committee, Malam Kabir Yusuf, the author book would serve as a guide in the prevention of future occurrence and as well as assist those in disaster management.

“The book seeks to achieve the aim of having something that could serve as a guide towards mitigating future floods in Kogi and other parts of Nigeria” the statement added.

He noted that the severe pains experienced during the last flood in Nigeria was as a result of neglect of early warning signals about climate change, which according to him resulted in the destruction of lives and property worth billions of naira. The book would complement current sensitization and awareness campaign being carried out by the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) and other stakeholders in disaster management.

According to the statement, the chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote would be the chairman of the occasion while Governor Idris Wada and his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi would be special guests of honour.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

FG to force down cement prices

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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he Federal Government is putting together a new policy that would force down the prices of cement in the country.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga

said this Monday at the beginning of the 2nd annual seminar for Trade and Investment Correspondents and Group Business Editors in Abuja.

To achieve this, he said, the government has not issued license to any cement importer since the beginning of this year,

adding that President Goodluck Jonathan was determined to make Nigeria one of the leading cement exporting countries next year.

The minister, who informed that paper work on the policy had been finalized, said the present administration would ensure more

patronage of local goods by Nigerians.

According to him, the policy of “Buy Naija, create more jobs” embarked upon by his ministry would not only be boosted next year, but also be sustained to improve the nation’s economy through job

creation and increased wealth for Nigerians.

“As from 2013, government has made it mandatory that all vehicles by government officials must be made-in-Nigeria products as a way to further encourage the patronage of local goods”.

Yakowa, a man of peace, says Kwankwaso From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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Apostolic Faith choir performing during the church 2012 Christmas musical concert, recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

NNPC cautions IOCs over allegations on stalling projects

By Muhammad Nasir

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anagement of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has raised concern over media reports credited to some International Oil and Gas Companies (IOCs) accusing it of deliberating stalling the execution of some multi-billion dollar projects in the sector.

The NNPC said that it will not be stampeded or blackmailed into abandoning its firmly established

process of contract award by what it termed calculated media blackmail by the IOCs and other interested parties.

The statement, which was signed by the Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Fidel Pepple noted that while the industry’s concern was expected in the process leading to the award of major oil and gas projects, “NNPC has an established procedure of contract and project approval which includes conduct of

economic analysis to establish project viability and Federal Government’s take from investments in the upstream”.

On the claim that the NNPC has not held its periodic Group Executive Committee meetings to discuss some major projects like the TOTAL Egina deep offshore project for NNPC Board’s approval, the NNPC stated that “GEC meetings are being held weekly or fortnightly”.

“However, Erha North Phase 2 and Egina Project contracts have not been discussed yet at these meetings because NNPC Management is critically

reviewing the overall economics of the project in view of their high cost estimates in order to establish their validity, maximize Federal Government’s take and ensure comparative price competitiveness vis-a-vis benchmarks.’’

On the allegation that the Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the NNPC, Engr. Abiye Membere was behind a phantom contract splitting attempt of the Egina Project just as he allegedly did with the previous Bonga Southwest project, the corporation stated that this allegation was totally untrue.

Auyo LG can satisfy North-west’s 5000 women to be trained on exotic cows for dairy production rice needs - Chairman From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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he Kano state Government has concluded arrangement to train and support 5000 women with exotic cows for the development of dairy production in the state in alliance with the Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP).

The permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Muhammadu Dankadai Ibrahim who disclosed this, said that since the inception of Kwankwaso administration, agriculture was accorded major priority and remained a focal point

for investment by the state government.

According to him, “Kano state government has put in place all fundamental structures for agricultural transformation of both the state and federal government to succeed”.

Speaking in Kano during the opening of the 7th FGN/World Bank supervision mission to Kano state Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) held at Nassarawa Guest Inn, assured of the state government’s commitment on agricultural development in the all nooks and crannies of the state.

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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hairman of Auyo local government council of Jigawa state, Alhaji Muhammad Danjani Usman said the area has the potential to provide the entire North-west subregion with the required supply of rice.

Stating this Monday at the official flag-off ceremony of the 2012/2013 paddy rice production at Auyo local Government area, the chairman said 95% of the residents are full time farmers.

He however said the the recent flood that devastated farmlands in the area, affected the production capacity of the people in the area.

The Director, Green House, Alhaji Usman Dunama who represented the minister of state for Agriculture and Natural Resourses Mr. Segun Adesina said Jigawa state was allocated 48,000 hectares to produce the nations requirement in rice out of the entire 222,000 consisting of about a quarter of the entire hectares allocated nationwide for the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) project of the Federal Government.

According to him, the GES was meant to empower farmers on the massive local production of rice for which he said, the country expends N1 billion daily to import.

overnor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has described the late Kaduna state governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa as a leader who contributed so much for mutual coexistence not only in Kaduna state but also in Nigeria.

He said yakowa had worked very hard with other Northern governors in ensuring that peace returned to the Northern part of the country. The late governor died in a plane crash together with the former National Security Adviser, General Andrew Owoye Azazi among others on Saturday.

Speaking yesterday while addressing PDP loyalists and Kwankwasiyya associates (’yan biyar) at the Government House, Kano, Kwankwaso described Yakowa as a complete gentleman and a leader who was committed to his people.

Speaking on General Aziza, Kwankwaso described him as a fine military officer who served his country very well. The Kano state governor who was minister of defense at the time the late General Aziza was Chief of Army Staff said the late former NSA served his country diligently.

...Distributes computers to public schools From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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ano state governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has distributed computers, exercise books, textbooks, laptop and desktop computers worth millions of Naira to public secondary schools, tertiary institutions and libraries in the state.

The books, numbering 16,568 units, covering several subjects as well as the computers, were donated to the government by several international donor agencies in appreciation of its resolve to revolutionize the education sector.

Presenting the items, Governor Kwankwaso stressed the need for public educational institutions in the state to explore ways of sourcing books and other instructional materials instead of relying solely on government budgetary allocations for the provision of such items.

He also directed principals of secondary schools to utilize the levies being collected from parents in maintaining facilities in their respective schools, even as the government would continue executing capital projects in the schools.

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

New Year manifesto for financial success F

inancial resolutions are as easy to stick to as diet resolutions. For most people, it’s easy enough to establish fresh saving and spending goals for the upcoming year, yet difficult — if not impossible – to make it all the way to February with new habits intact.

In January, with your enthusiasm still fully intact, you loudly declare, “This is the year when I’m finally going to get out of debt!” But two weeks into the new year, you find that your plan is too tough. Too rigid. Not eating out for a year feels like an impossibility when your lifestyle has accustomed you to eating out every day.

This leads to a difficult struggle. You resist letting go, but no matter how hard you try, it’s almost impossible to follow through with your resolutions.

So, you slip a little.

Then, you slip a little more.

Eventually — and all too soon — you throw in the towel.

By the time you’re tearing February from the calendar and staring at March, you have almost no recollection of your “getting out of debt” goals, and certainly no strong habits to back them.

You’re swimming in the midst of a debt-ridden sea, continuing down the same path of spending you were on the year before (and probably the year before that) while watching your credit card statements climb higher and higher.

June brings summer and complete indifference to your New Year’s goals.

By now, you feel bad. Awful.

Your financial situation has only grown worse, rather than better.

You dread going to the mailbox, or answering your phone, because you know someone’s on the other end waiting for their payment. But, you lie to yourself like you do around this time every year: there’s no point in trying to change now. There’s only three months left until Christmas, and everyone knows it’s impossible to avoid over-spending in December.

Depressing, right? Well, it doesn’t have to be.

With another new year right around the corner, you can vow to make this one DIFFERENT – and, along with that, finally succeed at your resolutions by shifting your money mindset.

We let our thoughts about

Quote The leader who exercises power with honor will work from the inside out, starting with himself.

— Blaine Lee

money control who we are, and allow our fears and insecurities to best us. Stress becomes second nature, which leads us to selfsabotage and reduces our goals to wishes.

You need a reason to maintain your motivation.

The statements below are basic financial truths. When spoken out loud, they will empower you to live a worry-reduced (because we know worry-free will never happen!) financial life.

Set your intention for success and adopt the MoneyNing

Manifesto, then repeat it to yourself daily. By consciously trying to change your money mindset, you’ll have a greater shot at financial success this year than ever before.

Manifesto for financial success *I am not my finances. My finances are not me. *I, not my impulses, am in control of my spending. *I will look at the whole value of my purchase before I buy it. *I will ask myself honestly what the benefit of my purchase is, and

if I’m unable to find a legitimate benefit, I will not buy it. *My finances are a means… not an end. *I will take a few moments each day to assess my financial situation — before heading out the door. *Homemade lunches will be my new best friend. *Savings will be the second payment made on my list each month. *I deserve to have my finances in order. *My family deserves to live

with less financial stress. *Buying doesn’t make me happier; I make me happier. *When I want to go out and impulse buy, I will choose a healthier outlet for my feelings. *Every penny I earn is a penny I sweated for, and I will endeavor to treat them that way. *More isn’t better. *What I already have is more than enough. *Food, clothing, and shelter are all I truly need to survive. *Many people don’t have basic life essentials. I do. *My family knows the value of a dollar, and what it’s really worth. *Quality time with my family matters more than how much we spend, always. *I will not worry about money. *I am doing all I can to improve my financial situation. *I will save smart. *I will spend smarter.

How to increase your cell phone longevity

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ell phones are an integral part of the lives of hundreds of millions of people today.

We’ve come to depend on them for an array of functions including communication, keeping time, entertainment, and browsing the web just to name a few. With our cell phone dependence, maintaining the health and well being of these devices is certainly in our best interest. Cell phone care is really a simple matter of observing some basic precautions: *Avoid exposing cell phones to extreme temperatures. Heat can damage the battery and the electronic components of a cell phone. Thus, do not leave your phone sitting in a hot car. Cold temperatures can also cause damage to your phone, particularly temporary loss of the screen display. *Keep your cell phone secured and avoid exposure to dampness.

Moisture causes corrosion of the internal parts of a cell phone. To avoid this, hands should be dry when handling the cell phone and a protective case can be a good preventative measure as well.

It’s not uncommon for cell phone

repair techs to work on phones that have been dropped into sinks, toilets, swimming pools, and so forth. Leaving the cell phone in a safer, dry environment is wise but keeping it attached with a belt clip or “leash” is another method of preventing accidents when the phone must accompany the user into a “moisture rich” environment. *Protect your scratches and

other surface damage by using a case or “skin” for protection.

Throwing an uncovered cell phone into a purse or pocket with an array of sharp objects contained in it or other substances that might leak on to it is risky. *Always keep Your cell phone clean. This is more about the cell phone user’s health than the phone’s well being. Think about it, a person’s hands have more bacteria and micro-organisms

clinging to them than any other part of the body. Their mouth is not exactly pristine either and is certainly a prime entry point for the critters that show up on a cell phone handset. Using antibacterial wipes can help ward off some of these little monsters. A micro-fiber cloth is also good for keeping the LCD screen easy to read and scratch free. A reminder here that liquid cleaners should seldom be necessary but when used should not be applied directly to the screen on the cell phone as cell phones react poorly to liquids; instead any cleaner should be applied to the cloth first and then mildly applied to the phone’s surface. *Charge your battery appropriately. The battery is often what most limits the life of a cell phone. Allow your battery to run down before another charge.

Manufacturer guidelines clearly outline exactly how and when a battery should be charged to assure it reaches its maximum life expectancy. Years of faithful service can be obtained from your cell phone if you properly care and maintain it.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

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Bala Mohammed’s demolition tightrope

n Tuesday December 4, 2012, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Senator Bala Mohammed, dared the Senate and the courts, swearing that nothing would stop his plans to demolish 31 more estates built by ordinary Nigerians but which he considered illegal. His stiff-neck stance came on the heels of last month's demolition of Minanuel Estate with 500 houses worth over N5 billion of contributors' funds despite spirited pleas from Nigerians.

Mohammed whose administration has been dogged by allegations of non-performance and wrongdoings told members of the Senator Smart Adeyemi -ed Senate Committee on the FCT: "We must demolish those 31 estates; I have the law to demolish." Inasmuch as the powers of the minister to ensure conformity with the Abuja Master Plan are not in question, we at Peoples Daily are not comfortable with the way and manner in which he is exercising those powers.

There is a touch of arrogance and sadism to it - which is very disturbing. More so is the allegation that the minister is acting at the behest of some powerful interests in the land.

The minister insists that the estates already demolished or

marked for demolition were illegal.

While we are not holding brief for the affected house owners, we beg to disagree with the honourable minister on the issue of illegality.

Firstly, we must make clear the difference between legal and illegal structures. Illegal buildings are

“

It is a big shame that while the ministry is not building new houses, at the same time it is, by its distasteful actions, discouraging genuine property developers from filling the void those for which official approval did not come from the approving authorities which, in this case, are the people in the FCDA.. We have no quarrel with pulling them down to keep the capital city uncluttered.

However, the same cannot be said of Minanuel Estate already brought down and several others about to

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”

suffer a similar fate. We have it on good authority that the developers had proper documents from the approving authorities on the basis of which banks granted them credit to build. Moreover, they did not just pick where to build, but did so on land officially earmarked for the building of estates.

Now if the FCT ministry is saying the documents, though genuine, were obtained through an unofficial channel, then the people to hold are not the developers but corrupt officials of the ministry or FCDA. But this just one unanswered question. Another is: Why did the FCDA not immediately stop work on the estates when it realized the developers did not have the right papers? Why wait until they were near complexion before moving in the bulldozers?

We strongly suspect something is wrong somewhere and insist that somebody somewhere is not telling the truth. This especially as the Senate FCT Committee Chairman, Senator Adeyemi said findings showed that many of the affected subscribers possessed genuine land papers from the FCDA. It is a big shame that while the ministry is not building new houses, at the same time it is, by its distasteful actions, discouraging genuine property developers from filling the void.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM EDITOR, DAILY ABDULAZEEZ ABDULLAHI

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND JAMILA NUHU MUSA

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

By Segun O’Law

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rowing up, I felt that the hide-and-seek games we played as a child lost it essence from the moment the hiding person first showed himself to say ‘okay, see me, I’m going to hide, close your eyes or turn your back at me. When I’m properly hiding, I’ll notify you so you can begin your search for me’. Why search for you when you just appeared to me and told me you were going to hide. I’m sure adults do not play such game because they know you only look for someone who is missing or hiding deceptively, clearly to avoid an obligation.

The EFCC ought to have outgrown the business of hide-andseek since the accused it is hunting is visible and in reach. In the trial of Mr. Wale Babalakin, whose address is turned a nomenclature (Bro ‘Lakin) in this piece, the suspect told the EFCC that he wanted to go home as he was tired of feigning sickness in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital [LUTH], but asked the EFCC whether he would not be arrested if he left the hospital for his house – whatever idiocy that suggests. That horrible chronology in the trial of brother ‘Lakin (apology to Professor Wole Soyinka) is an unadulterated proof that his prosecution is initiated to fail.

In a public lecture Prof. Pius

By Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri

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he chopper went down. Souls perished. Investigations, as usual, have been ordered.

Three days mourning have also been declared. And the routine blame and counter-blame games erupt among the populations, with the attendant religious, ethnic and tribal twists to a sad story. This is the story of Nigeria!

I am neither going to waste my time on needless lingoes of sympathy nor pour out mundane ‘eye service’ adulation to the departed general Owoye Azazi and governor Patrick Yakowa as many Nigerians are wont to. Rather, I am going to vent my anger, asking the avoided questions that are begging for cogent answers.

The Bayelsa helicopter crash is another eye-opener to the sordid state of governance in Nigeria; the gross abuse of public office; the flight of accountability; and the unprecedented rape of the nation’s treasury going on under President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The crash incident clearly reveals the depth of the plunge abuse of public office has assumed with tacit the approval, and support of the current leadership.

Last Saturday, a common aide to the president, Oronto Douglas, buried his father in his hometown, Okoroba community in Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. His father’s burial, a purely private activity, cost another six lives, NEEDLESSLY! For the purpose of facilitating the comfort of private guests attending a PRIVATE occasion, a naval aircraft, a public property belonging to the Nigerian Navy was impudently converted to personal use, to grease the ‘special ego” of a presidential aide and his personal visitors. A whole navy commander of the Nigerian Navy – a senior public officer – was drafted away from the warmth of his family on a weekend, to render “kabu kabu” services to the guests of a fellow citizen using government-owned property!

PAGE 13

EFCC and the trial of Brother ‘Lakin Adesanmi delivered recently in Lagos titled “Reparations: What Nigeria owes the tortoise”, the vicious cabal of Nigerian tortoise marionettes as referred by the speaker is immensely proud of the membership of brother ‘Lakin. Or, what, excuse me somebody, will you call a highly wanted suspect, first claiming to sick when he should be in a court for arraignment, but on the same day is in another court seeking an order that his prospective prosecutor hangs his hand?

No, if it is not a possum, how can an empowered anti-corruption agency be watching a criminal suspect playing Maradona under its close watch without taking care of him immediately, even if assumed sick? Should his medical care, place to lay his head at night and other activities concerning him not just be taken over by a serious anticrime outfit that is empowered by the government?

I do not get it. Should his pronouncement of “I’m here but wait for me” supersede that of the State? And should a subsequent, “I want to go home, but promise me you will not arrest me if I leave now” condition remote-control the EFCC operatives who are only staring at him? From the first day in November that brother ‘Lakin

failed to show up in Lagos High Court, and his lawyer had to announce in the courtroom that he developed sudden illness like the tortoise, I knew, as in the Nollywood movies we watch, that it was another soap opera that would end without meaningful epilogue, apart from the fact that its unimpressive prologue gave an inkling of how it would end. The EFCC is a soap opera, or call it a season film, and like my contemporary guys in the street would prank, ‘e le woo tan’, (you cannot see it all).

There are apparent reasons which suggest that the EFCC is only fetching an ‘igi eleera’(a piece of wood that is taken over by ants).

And these are grown ants that apart from leaving the wood to tickle the body of the wood fetcher also have hard hands to slap the fetcher for a lesson never to locate that portion to collect wood in the future.The EFCC we know is only a prosecutor of the lower and middle class people in Nigeria. If the Government will be serious at all about fighting corruption, it will do something else other than the sending EFCC after a certified high level criminal suspect. The EFCC can only successfully prosecute a yahoo boy who just

duped another of $5,000 on the internet in the guise of social networking. If anything more, it only weighs the supposed high class people to decide whether a person is overweight or underweight in the field of embezzlement, and after determining a suspect is an overweight, closes the case and parrots on another.

We know that the EFCC’s manual in its pre-chapters, stresses the exclusion of the big guns like Obasanjo, like Tinubu and like them. Brother ‘Lakin, from the facts gathered about the billions of Naira and Dollars he has pocketed, is too bulky for the EFCC and Nigerians are not expecting anything meaningful from his episode. After all, the EFCC we now know has never and will never succeed in prosecuting a high profile corruption case – given the prevailing trend.

During the trial of brother James Ibori, the benefactor of brother ‘Lakin who fatefully met with a serious set of prosecutors abroad, the same trend had first taken the course until a serious jurisprudence showed what it meant to prosecute. A serious jurisprudence has even finished its mission of making a suspect face the full weight of the law

immediately the police or antigraft agency sights a suspect it had wanted. Put against the hide-andseek game of ‘watch over me’ currently trending in LUTH – orisirisi!

Dear EFCC, below is a summary brother Lakin’s pedigree for your info so that you are reminded that he belongs to the high class, which your establishing manual forbids you to try: Dr. Babalakin has worked with Federal and various State Governments in conceptualizing transactions to support the development of infrastructure and investment in the country. He led the team of legal consultants to a state government for the building of an international airport in Nigeria, a multimillion dollar project. He is currently leading the team representing a state government in an arbitration claim arising from this.

Nigerians already know who and who can be tried by the EFCC, except to make some hideous noise on the big wigs. Nigerians know it is too vague a chance for the EFCC to achieve a single credit in this present theater; the trial of brother ‘Lakin.

Follow Segun O’Law on twitter: @segunOLaw

While that unsung navy commander is no more, the same presidential aide who pushed him to his early grave continues to retain his portfolio, enjoying the perks of public office. If unchecked, he may still send more naval officers to their untimely graves, except his relatives magnanimously postpone their dying and funeral dates.

Without that Bayelsa crash incident, Nigerians would never have known about the wanton exercise of official indiscretion by political appointees. That incident presented Nigerians with concrete evidence of impunity, revealing how national security apparatus and public facilities are deployed away from the scenes where they are urgently needed, to venues of private, lavish owanbes and political gatherings. That is not all. Few months ago, the Nigerian president presented a bloated budget Nigerians knew would not be implemented.

Billions of Naira were as usual, allocated for the maintenance of helicopters and aircrafts in the military and naval fleet. With what we know now, budgetary allocation for the maintenance of these aircrafts and helicopters is not borne out of any patriotic or good governance considerations, but merely to ensure that they are functional enough to meet the “comfy private needs” of high-ranking public officials.

A week before Oronto Douglas’ father’s burial, all roads led to Otueke, the home of the president for the funeral of his younger brother. We don’t need anyone to tell us that something similar happened.

Helicopters of the Nigerian Navy, Airforce, military and other national security formations were ostensibly used to ferry private guests to the president’s hometown AT THE NATION’S EXPENSE! Emboldened, or rather enamored of that ludicrous

indiscretion, Oronto Douglas followed suit. But this time around, the consequences were dire.

In many quarters, the names, ‘President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’ represent unsurpassed CORRUPTION! Although nearly all pasts leaders of the country are believed to be corrupt, none of them, including the past military rulers were directly linked to an all-timehigh festival of corruption, as currently witnessed in Nigeria. So beyond the traditional setting up of committees and investigatory panels, Nigerians are well aware that these steps are wholly cosmetic, bereft of any real intent to explore lasting solutions to festering national challenges. In fact, committees are not only conduit pipes for continued official wastages, but appear to be the fastest way of “killing” any issue that provokes public outrage. In Goodluck Jonathan’s “transformation theory”, a “big man” has to die before grave issues of national importance are taken seriously. Hundreds and thousands who die on pot-hole infested roads across the country on a regular basis are undeserving of his protection and crocodile tears. Only until the federal highways of death claims the life of a “big man”: a fuel subsidy thief; a PDP chieftain; a president’s aide; a governor; then the contract to repair the road would be hurriedly awarded; fake tears shed under the keen watch of clacking cameras, and stupid

committees set up to investigate and offer recommendations no one needs.

Just weeks ago, Dino Melaye, in his oft-boisterous manner, drew public attention to the poor state of roads networks in the Niger Delta region, – especially the popular EastWest Road – and accused the former Niger Delta minister, Godsday Orubebe of corruption. Rather than look into the merits of Melaye’s claims, presidential and ministerial aides lashed out at him, calling him all sorts of unprintable names. Had FG heeded Melaye’s call, perhaps, the East-West Road would have been fixed, while the over-use of a naval helicopter which caused the Saturday deaths would have been totally unnecessary!

That road, currently in a sorry state of disrepair, is the major link road to the South-South states. The wretched condition of that road forced the “big men of Bayelsa” to resort to using choppers and helicopters, thereby dispensing a death sentence on poor citizens who commute that road daily. According to eye witness accounts, when the news of the crash filtered in, some of the remaining guests opted to travel by road instead; the same road they refused to repair; the same road they have condemned other motorists to use at their own peril.

There is no way an Oronto Douglas would convert the nation’s security apparatus and maritime

infrastructure to personal use without the express approval from the president. That acquiescence makes the president complicit in the needless death of innocent citizens. At a time the Niger Delta waterways is ravaged by unparalleled oil theft and large-scale maritime criminality, the lead agency responsible for curbing the excesses of sea pirates and oil thievery chose that delicate period to donate its scare resources and choppers to guests of an owanbe funeral. In saner climes, the president would have tendered his resignation by now, and the so-called aide would at the very least, bow out in shame after he had tendered an unreserved apology in all national dailies. In addition, a massive shake-up in the Nigeria Navy, commensurate with the extent of absurdity displayed by its authorities would have since begun.

Let those who want to mourn, mourn! But this issue does not call for mourning, but deep introspection into the leadership crisis that has enveloped this country. It is a time for incongruous characters like Oronto Douglas to be eased out of government circles for gross abuse of public office. It’s a time for Niger Deltans to ask the right questions and speak the truth to its chronically erring leaders. It is the time for heads to roll in the Nigerian Navy. It is a time for the Nigerian Navy to conduct an extensive audit of its operations, facilities and procedures. It is a time for Nigerians to demand accountability from leaders determined to drive this country to doom. It is a time for action, a time to unlock all the incredible potential of our citizens to collectively change the country.

Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri is a human rights lawyer and development researcher

Venting about the Bayelsa air crash

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It is a time for the Nigerian Navy to conduct an extensive audit of its operations, facilities and procedures. It is a time for Nigerians to demand accountability from leaders determined to drive this country to doom. It is a time for action, a time to unlock all the incredible potential of our citizens to collectively change the country

PAGE 14

By Ose Oyamendan Dear Uncle D, hope you don’t mind me calling you Uncle D. It just sounds really cool, like I’m sure you guys up in the presidency want the world to know (or is it think?), you are. I guess your pals call you something like Doctor or Doyin but I’m very possessive, I like to have my own special closeness.

In a way, you are what I always wanted to be when I grew up. I like a man who packs a punch in his tongue. I like a man who wakes up in the morning and puts on his paws and goes after his boss’ enemies and enemies. I like a man who has the Republican mantra that he and his bosses would not be slaves to facts. I still want to be like you.

I’m just realizing I may need some serious connections.

I thought of addressing you as Doyin Okupe but then I realized I would be like the disrespectable band of characters we loosely call journalists in Nigeria. They insist on calling you the full Doyin Okupe like they did put some money into the celebration bin on the day you were born. Makes you wish you were working for General Muhammadu Buhari instead, don’t it? Just think of it – you, the General versus the Nigerian

I

The Yakowa I met few hours before he died

By Cosmas Asogwa

T

he writer took what would turn out to be Mr. Patrick Yakowa, Kaduna state governor’s last picture alive.

The most cheerful man I met today (Saturday) was Yakowa.

Upon alighting from the doomed chopper aircraft that brought him into Okoroba, Bayelsa state, he was beaming with smiles all the way, greeting and acknowledging greetings from those of us around.

He even took time to cheer up his kinsmen who were at the corner butchering a cow for meat for the occasion before moving onto the reception hall.

I do not understand Hausa, but the smiles on the face of the Hausa butchers following their conversation with Governor Yakowa suggested fulfilment and excitement.

I have no doubt as to what their mood would be nowdisappointment. As he moved, I snapped a photo of him and General Andrew Owoye Azazi , former National Security Adviser (NSA) but unknown to me this would be the last time I would see the two alive.

They came in the same aircraft, left the occasion together and died together. May their souls rest in peace.

Cosmas Asogwa wrote in from Yenegoa, Bayelsa state.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

A note to Doyin Okupe press. I can smell Decree 4.5. doctorate. Obasanjo was a chicken has a Ph.D. Tell me how many How is Rueben Abati these farmer and ex-pot belied soldier. countries are that lucky. The days? It seems he’s gone on a Two, Femi is so fake he still has man looks at a problem, dissects sabbatical. You know, I was hints of that British accent from it and has a beer. And, more beer. confused when you got this job. I Cambridge. Your accent is so And, some people think Obama thought you were doing the same Nigerian it feels like its straight out is cool. thing Abati does.

I think you I knew you were must be close to too busy so this being tired position can’t be a with Nigerians lifeline to a jobless already. They Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text man.

I also think they messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written thought Labaran know too much. contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 Maku sort of does One day, it’s words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and the same thing power.

The a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed too. next day, it’s to: Then it petroleum dawned on me s u b s i d y .

The Editor, that this is a Another day Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, presidential it’s hunger or p o l i t i c a l unemployment.

35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. masterstroke.

What do they Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com Abati takes his think the SMS: 07037756364 doctor thing too government is? far and choses to Their daddy? I debate instead of attack, reason of a car park. Three, is Femi even would suggest you tell Nigerians instead of bully and quotes dead Nigerian? I mean, look at him – so to start looking at their birth people instead of hanging out with vain he’s fit and dapper like he certificates every time they feel the president until he falls asleep. sleeps in his home gym. You and I like complaining. Its time you let Please, do tell the president I said look like a Nigerian should look – Nigerians know the government bravo. He wanted a man and he we look like we ate the gym. ain’t their mamma or papa. got the man, you.

I don’t envy you. Nigerians are You know, we were in a bar I hate it when people compare a rudderless, loud bunch. It’s like parlour the other day and you to Femi Fani-Kayode. It’s so going to a football game and wondering about the ship of the ridiculous its not even funny. First, everyone thinks they know better nation. Some said the captain your boss is so cultured he has a than the coach. Well, our coach was a dazed, confused sailor.

WRITE TO US

By Francis Adewale

T

here is a scourge loose in Nigeria, this scourge is aided and abetted by an incompetent State headed by some of the most educated elites that have ever ruled our land. I wrote elsewhere that there is nothing wrong with Nigeria that can’t be cured by what is right with Nigeria. But sometimes the level of incompetence in Nigeria truly beggars belief. Administering a state in this century is definitely not rocket science but the current Nigerian leadership in Aso rock may have turned their ineptitude into an art form. The entire apparatus of governmental administration in Nigeria is farcical in appearance and reality. Every component of the regime in Abuja seems to be steeped in colossal failure. Even they themselves know it but would rather live in denial so as to continue to milk the country dry while the entire state governance goes to the dog.

The Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration may go down in history as the most incompetent in terms of application of the massive resources available to it and its sheer incompetence. We are almost four years into the GEJ administration’s effective control of the levers of powers in Nigeria and one cannot point to any positive achievements in any strata of Nigerian’s society.

Here is a government that came loaded with so much promise, and yet abysmally succeeded in frittering away every opportunity to advance Nigeria in the comity of nations. The carcasses of its missteps are everywhere to behold; power generation and distribution, road construction, infrastructural developments, oil subsidy imbroglio, failed banks, stock and financial management meltdown and most important of all inept security management. Yes, I readily agree that some of the problems may have been caused by forces beyond the

Some others asked, “What ship?”

A very unintelligent man even claimed the ship has been sold to the Chinese. Then, we all had a good laugh and told him we merely bought space technology from the Chinese.

By the way, have you had a chat with the president about that space technology thing yet?

People claim it doesn’t exist.

Some fools even wonder why a Godly nation like Nigeria would do the impossible – steal or develop their own space technology like every other serious nation. Can you believe that? Crazy! It’s like saying since we’re buying space technology from the Chinese we might as well have given them the keys to all secrets. These folks are so silly they don’t even know the Americans and Julius Berger already have that covered.

I’m happy for you, man. The president needed someone to put his teeth on and go after his enemies and nemesis. And who better than you? Now David Mark and that Tumbler of a fella know they are in for a world of grief. Even Lai Mohammed now knows he can’t talk like he’s on radio anymore. The “doc in the villa” has verses he can slap him with all the way from Bourdillion to Ilorin.

Ose Oyamendan is based in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Is Nigeria on the brink? reach of the administration but then consider the inept response that GEJ has made to address some of the problems.

It is not as if the administration is short of funds or hampered by inability to borrow funds. In fact under GEJ, the “Federal Government has borrowed a total of N2.57 trillions… The Federal Government’s debt profile rose from N4.18 tn as of June 30, 2010 to N6.75 tn as of June 30, 2012, “ as we learnt recently from Punch Newspapers. From the moment Jonathan was sworn in as the elected president on May 29, 2011 to June 30, 2012, the debt profile of the country rose by 61.48 percent!

It is not as if we have massive infrastructures to point to as fruits of all these expenditures, we’ve got zilch! Zero! Nada! To the contrary, more people in Nigeria are mired in poverty at this time than at any other time in the history of our country. According to a report by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics widely publicized by BBC in February 2012, the number of Nigerians living in poverty rose from 54.7 % in 2004 to 60.9% in 2010 and is still growing. I agreed that the same report shows the Nigerian economy grew exponentially during the same period. So what gives? The truth definitely lies in between. Most of the economic gains we had went to a very select few in the top echelon of the country. These are politicians and their contractors who can afford to send their wives to Western hospitals in Europe and America.

Their children also go to schools in well heeled colleges and universities abroad. Even though Nigeria gets a huge windfall from high crude oil prices and better than

previous increased production, GEJ’s administration has saddled this country with more debt than any other administration. The administration currently plans to borrow N633.85 billion from the domestic debt market in 2013.

The intentioned use of the borrowed money remains illusory.

In 2012 alone, GEJ earmarked N560 billion for domestic debt servicing. When you consider the fact that some of the politicians running our government own some of the banks we are borrowing from, one can see the inevitable conflict of interest. In fact, the irony of a coordinating minister of the economy who championed the nation’s exit from foreign debt between 2004 and 2006 and now leads the charge to send the country to a future laden with debt is not lost on anyone.

The saddest part is that there are hardly any feel good stories coming out of Nigeria since this current administration got the reins of governance. Increased terrorism in the northern part of the country ensures that half of the country remains on lock down for a long period of time, even though the government spends more money on intelligence and security than tertiary education. The lack of viable opposition ensures that our National Assembly remains at best toothless bulldogs, if not a substantial contributor to the national malaise. Our financial sector is in doldrums, the power sector that would have provided an elixir has been hijacked by powerful interests in the ruling People’s Democratic Party. Impunity reigns supreme in Nigeria. If politicians steal millions from the coffers without any prosecution, it surely

instill in a terrorist’s and kidnapper’s subconscious that they could get away with any nefarious acts they could imagine.

What this breeds is an increased state of lawlessness. Whenever and wherever people lose hope in their government, increased brigandage, kidnapping, brazen acts of terrorism, and brutalization of innocent citizens by law enforcements inevitably ensue.

Someone once said that “a society is judged by how well it cares for those in the dawn of life, the children. By how well it cares for those in the twilight of life, the elderly. And by how well it cares for those on the edge of life; the poor, the sick and the disabled.” You can pick up any Nigerian news daily and find news on how someone somewhere brutalized Nigerian children, the elderly, poor, disabled and the sick.

You do not even need to look far; the fact that a nonagenarian mother of our Coordinating Minister on the Economy could be brazenly kidnapped in broad daylight and her family had to pay ransom to rescue her speaks volumes on the ineptness of our security agencies.

The fact that the president’s own wife and brother had to be flown abroad for emergency hospital services speaks to that ineptness too.

What is more, the majority of the children of our government officials in Nigeria attend schools abroad!

Of course, I expect some folks to say that government cannot fix all the problems of our nation. Well, what have they fixed lately? And is it too much to ask that the police patrol the streets of our nation to keep people safe without demanding bribes?

Francis Adewale wrote in from Spokane, WA, USA

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

B

y the time you are going through this piece, chances are that killings, bombings or slayings are taking place in one of the states ravaged by a Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. The recurring carnage is becoming as certain as the earth’s revolution, which turns broad daylight into blinding darkness.

Killing human beings is becoming easier than killing a house gecko.

But what is the federal government doing to stop the terrorism that is slowly bringing businesses to their knees in the Northern part of the country? When will people in this part of the country live without fear, trepidation or dread?

When on March 13, 1996, Thomas Hamilton, a 43-year-old former Scout leader, shot dead 15 school children and their teacher at a primary school gymnasium in the Scottish town of Dunblane, the UK government went back to the drawing board in order to forestall a recurrence.

A year after the Dunblane school killing, UK lawmakers passed a bill “banning the private ownership of ALL handguns in mainland Britain.” (emphasis mine) This decision was adjudged one of the stringent antigun laws in the world. And it paid off.

Sixteen years after the incident, school shootings have never occurred again in the UK. If the US government had imposed tough anti-gun laws, the mass shooting of elementary school children in Newtown, Connecticut, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults wouldn’t, perhaps, have occurred. From 1998 to date, nearly 10 school massacres took place in the US. But in one of the articles I wrote few months ago, I explained reasons for the sale of fertilizer and associated chemicals to be regulated in Nigeria

By Paul Omoruyi

T

he grotesque and senseless killing of 20 innocent kids at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut in the United States is something every parent dread daily in the US. Early reports already show that the shooter’s parents were divorced since September 2009 and the mother had custody of the shooter. The mother had exposed the shooter to guns! With the unprecedented divorce rate in the Nigerian community in the US, Nigerian families in the US are increasingly becoming engrossed in all the family related patterns and miasma leading to these kinds of incidents.

Early this year, I wrote an article in an African Abroad newspaper that was widely published in the New York area. This writer has been disturbed for some time now about the state of the Nigerian marriage and family in the United States. Below is the original article:My phone rang.

It was a call from my buddy that we started life together in the US. We talked about those early days when we just immigrated. Those are the days that will remain etched in our minds and indelible in our memories.

Like so many Nigerians, we worked and went to college full time non-stop for many years concurrently as if we were machines. The impetus to achieve the American dream and not disappoint our families was the catalytic enzyme running through our veins. Till this day, we still cannot

PAGE 15

Taming the time bomb

of terror has made — relatively trifling sorrows — the letter bomb that snuffed the life of the editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine Dele Giwa on October 19, 1986, the ‘bomb’ that killed Bagauda Kaltho of The News magazine on January 18, 1996, the May 31, 1995 Ilorin Stadium blast, the January 20, 1996MalamAminuKanoInternational Airport, Kano explosion, the January 27, 2002 Ikeja Cantonment multiple blasts and a few others.

Apart from Boko Haram saga, it’s so heartrending that the nation’s other maladies are intractable and incurable.

From power problem, infrastructural decay, security challenge, unemployment, corruption, down to poverty, Nigeria’s systemic ill-health appears to be terminally chronic. I hope this current wave of terror wouldn’t last long enough to join this stubborn league of predicaments that characterized

Nigeria today.

While some advanced societies are trying to reduce crime rate through curtailing alcohol drinking binge particularly among youths, Nigeria seems to be at crossroad as to how to curtail the killing binge that becomes the order of the day. The UK government is systematically reducing drinking binge t h r o u g h imposing strict regulation and clampdown on speakeasies.

Why can’t we do the other way round? I mean why can’t the government impose strict regulation on the saleoffertilizers— an easy source of ammonium nitrate used in making IEDs? Since the 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma and the frequent IED attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US is taking proactive measures towards stemming the deadly warfare. American government has now pumped more than $20 billion into the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, which was used to develop heavy armored vehicles; 6,000 drones and robots used to detonate the devices and about 37,000 radio jammers to disrupt detonators. In addition to this, the government is devising a way of using bees and dogs in bomb detection strategy.

If subsidy funds can be reinvested efficiently, if corruption can be checked, if bogus overheads can be purged, nothing can prevent Nigeria

from borrowing a leaf from the US. Since the IEDs are easy to improvise as the name implies, and our leaders cannot move Nigeria’s agricultural potentials beyond subsistent level, let us go ahead to regulate the sale of fertilizer. Although many Nigerians will bear the pang of starvation over the self-imposed crunch, yet sacrifice must be made for the nation to live in peace.

Let the fertilizer be only sold to accredited farmers. Set an agency that will establish the amount needed in an acrage, track its movement, regulate its sale and usage so that any suspicious purchase or usage can be monitored.

Since the failure of the much celebrated General Obasanjo’s Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) in the late 70s, successive administrations unfortunately turned their focus on the oil field — a field where minted petrodollar sprouts without tilling, ridging, planting, watering, weeding and threshing. Petrodollars neither have chaffs nor shells! The end products of crude oil also produce petrodollar.

But much to my chagrin, fertilizer cannot be regulated in Nigeria. Our politicians cannot do it. Why? Fertilizer is a vital campaign tool that is used to woo the locals’ votes. The inflow of fertilizers in a local community can determinate a politician’s electoral fortunes. I know with this proposition, not only Boko Haram will call for my neck but the politicians.

However, beneath the censure the terrorists deserve from both the government and the general public, the government needs to adopt anti-IED strategies from the developed societies by establishing such agency or agencies that will check the unregulated sale of fertilizer and related chemicals. Apart from establishing the agency, the need to reinforce the security agencies to confront terrorism head-on is also imperative.

I just hope somebody is reading.

getting married to a Nigerian woman in the US. “They are now even worse than the so called akata”, he said. The comment struck me and I pushed a little for him to elucidate.

I listened in awe as he told me what he’s experiencing at home. While he poured his heart to me, he kept asking me “do you think say Akata or even Caribbean woman go behave like that”? Apparently, it appears his expectations have been dashed.

One that struck me most was the story of a young Nigerian teenage girl living in the shelter. Her Nigerian parents are now divorced.

According to her, her parents’ marriage broke after her mother systematically stopped cooking for the family, became increasingly narcissistic and disrespectful to her dad. As if that was not enough, her dad was infuriated when he discovered that her mom had secretly bought a piece of property in Nigeria without his knowledge.

Two years later, the parents divorced. Unfortunately, the young lady became pregnant while still in high school. “I just could not stand my mom and live with her. If my parents were still married, I would not have fallen for this stupid crap”, she was quoted as saying, as tears rolled down her eyes.

Although I understand that these narratives might be loop-sided but it seems to typify what most Nigerian men are complaining

about lately behind closed doors.

There are numerous cases of marital fuss and upheaval that have permeated Nigerian families in the US in recent years. Some people say it is the American culture shock that is rocking the boat of traditional Nigerian family structure in the US. Others claim that it is Nigerian women narrow-mindedly over stretching the American provisions.

While some lay blame on Nigerian men refusing to wake up to the realities of the disparities between the American and Nigerian approach to marriage.

It is heartbreaking to hear a Nigerian man refer to his wife as my “baby mother” and a Nigerian woman says my “baby father”.

Just some couple of years ago, this was a taboo terminology in the Nigerian marriage. It was actually used to surreptitiously mock the so called “akata”. Now it’s becoming a common mantra in the Nigerian community as single mothers and fathers balloon to an alarming and astronomical rate.

This is no time to pass blame or point fingers or to clamor over who is right or who is wrong. The hand writing is on the fall. This writer is whole-heartedly concerned and perturbed by the downward spiral of our marriages and families in the US. The younger generation is watching, confused and scared to death of what to expect from taking

that marriage bold step.

I will proffer the following suggestions to reduce this scourge that is eating deeply into the fabric of our families: Each spouse should not think that the world revolves around you only –Either my way or no way mind set is a recipe for marital failure.Think twice “welu welu” before you let loose the heavens and lock that door against your spouse – you might be endangering your children’s future for life! Marriage is a symbiotic and not a parasitic relationship. At life’s end, the fight over dollars will be no more. Your spouse and your children will become more important than anything else. There is no perfect woman or perfect man. The only perfect marriage is one that the man and woman have learned how to resolve their differences and work together through thick and thin.

People, we are better than this.

Let us all fine tune our dispositions and propensities to make our marriages and families happier right here in the US. We have come too far away from home to kill ourselves in a distant land. The system is ready to tear us apart if we open that door. Do you have an opinion or experience that you would like to share? Shoot me an email.

May God bless you, your family and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Paul Omoruyi can be reached on eng.p.omoruyi@gmail.com

in order to make the improvisation of bombs difficult for the insurgents.

Much as bombings have continued, the article will remain evergreen. In view of its relevance to the current challenge, I will, therefore, quote extensively the relevant portions of the article: When a former US top commander in Afghanistan, Major General Jeffrey Schloesser, succinctly said “IEDs are the biggest threat we face,” his two former colleagues, a former CIA sleuth, Robert Morgan, and retired General James M. Dubik, gave the emerging threats of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) a more explosive description they so deserve. The IED, said Morgan, “has levelled the battlefield in favour of insurgent and terrorist groups,” while General Dubik said “explosive strategies—always an option for terrorists, insurgents and criminals— are becoming more sophisticated and prevalent.”

From the forgoing interrelated remarks, one can paint the theme of Nigeria’s current security challenge, mainly precipitated by Boko Haram’s IEDs. While the bomb-related deaths accounted for about 70 percent of America’s combat deaths in Iraq, Boko Haram’s bombs seem to account, in conservative estimate, for over 90 percent of deaths among the police, soldiers, immigration and Department of State Service (DSS) personnel.

Equally disturbing, civilian deaths in Nigeria through Boko Haram bombs and guns are also taking a high

rise.

Until the murderous debut of Boko Haram in 2009, bomb attacks, heretofore, came in trickles, and in wider succession. But when Boko Haram unleashed its reign of terror in torrent, previous incidents became naturally submerged in the ocean of our thoughts. Instructively, the recent spate

fathom how we did it. But we did anyway. It’s one of those kinds of experience that you can only say “if not God”.

We were in our twenties with all the Adrenaline and testosterones running wild. The stories of Nigerian men that have been messed up by “child support” because they got married to “akata” were sufficient enough for us to respect ourselves and control our sexual drives. My friend would always say “I go just die or go back to Naija than for me to find myself in a child support situation. Akata no go fit cook Naija food and then she go come still take me to child support? Over my dead bodi”. These concerns (or should I say fear?) were reasons my buddy did not go into any relationship with some of his college female friends who were not Nigerians. He wanted a Nigerian woman as a wife so they can speak pidgin English together, eat Egusi and Okro soup yanfuyafu (otherwise with Akata wife, na Burger King go kill am!). It was all too common a joke back in the days.

Many years have since passed.

My guy is married now with a degree attached to his name and has a middle-class job. Obviously, you can say he’s living the American dream. As we reminisced and laughed about those Kodak moment days, in a split second unguarded moment, he suggested that there was nothing special anymore about

Saving the Nigerian family in US

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Kubwa residents bemoan prolonged water scarcity

By Adeola Tukuru

R

esidents of Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the prolonged water scarcity in the area.

Peoples Daily gathered that the affected residents have

without water supply for the past one month.

Some of the residents in Pipeline, Gbazango Extension, Phase 3, Kubwa village, Arab road and 2-1, who spoke to our reporter described the absence of water in the area as unfortunate, saying it has been very difficult

for them to do their daily domestic chores.

This was even as they appealed to the authority of the FCT water board to come to their aid.

A resident of Arab road in Kubwa Mr. Paul Arinze, lamented that for the past one month, they

have not had access to water in the area and that when they went to complain to water board office, the officials assured them the problem would be fixed soon.

However, up till now nothing has been done, he said, adding that the reason some residents were lacking water in their houses was because of the ongoing construction of roads in some parts of Kubwa.

His words: “I don’t know why they will have to make us suffer for the past one months because water board officials claim that it was because of the road ongoing road construction and they didn’t even inform us “.

He said people in the area have been depending solely on Mai-ruwa, and buy pure water bags for drinking.

“You know the dangers of drinking from this Mai-ruwa, so that’s why we buy pure water and we are not sure the water is pure,” he said.

Another resident in Gbazango Extension, Mr. James Osagie also said for over three weeks now they don’t have water in the area, saying they had to buy water from water vendors at an

exorbitant rate of N350 per truck.

“At times I have to use my vehicle to fetch water from my office. It is expensive buying water from the Mai-ruwa every week.

We are calling on the appropriate authorities to come to our rescue in providing us with water”, he said.

The Head of Public Relations, FCT Water Board, Mrs. Janet Peni when contacted explained that the absence of water in the area was because during the dry season, most of these places are dried up so it is usually very difficult to get water there.

She denied that the water scarcity in the area was up to a month but just few weeks.

Janet said that the major problem was the ongoing work in Usman Dam located at Bwari Area Council , adding that the reason the water was not stable was because the 3rd and 4th treatment plant has not been commissioned and that if commissioned water would get to the affected places.

She explained that the Engineering Department was working on the treatment plant and when t through, would hand it over to them for commissioning.

“Immediately the treatment plant is commissioned residents will have adequate water in their areas. I can’t say exactly when the treatment will be commissioned because it is not under us. The Engineering Department is in charge of the treatment plant,” she said.

Director bags award for promoting reading culture

By Josephine Ella Ejeh

A young boy hawking sachet water, yesterday in Bwari, Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Community clinic calls for more manpower, expansion of facility

T

he community clinic in Jahi 1, Gwarimpa, Abuja, has called for more manpower and expansion of the facility to cater for increasing demand of patients.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jahi community is the area where one case of wild polio virus was recently reported in the FCT. The midwife at the clinic, Mrs Dolly Obaje, told NAN that the facility was overstretched; stressing that there was a need to employ more workers.

She said that due to lack of space, mothers who attended the ante-natal and post—natal clinics had to queue for long hours in the sun, waiting to be attended to. ”Every Wednesday, mothers come for ante-natal and some come with their children for immunisation, they stay outside, in the sun, waiting to be attended to, due to a shortage of staff. We want the FCT administration to assist us build a big hall that will

cater for the needs of mothers and children who come to the clinic for antenatal and immunisation.

“We don’t have enough staff; we are only four members of staff and two volunteers, so we need more midwives in this community,’’ she said.

Obaje said that often women came to deliver at the clinic at night but no worker to attend to them; they usually got discouraged.

She appealed to the government and other agencies that pledged to assist the clinic to fulfill such pledges without further delay.

Obaje said that the clinic had witnessed an increase of patients coming from neighboring communities to seek medical attention.

She said that there was an urgent need to build an Out Patients Department (OPD) that would assist patients.

In her comments, a housewife and resident of Jahi 2,

Mrs Ede Ogachi, said some women often fainted because of standing in long queues in the sun for too long.

She explained that there was a need to increase awareness on the importance of immunisation, especially polio immunisation.

She said that a lot of women in the community had refused to vaccinate their children.

“Some of the children received immunisation only once or twice, again this clinic is very small for us, every Wednesday you see women standing in the sun with their babies,’’ she said.

A petty trader, Mrs Muyibat Abdulkadri, who resides in Jahi 1, appealed to the FCT government to expand the clinic and employ more medical personnel to meet the needs of the people.

She said that due to a shortage of staff, there was usually no one to attend to patients during emergencies. (NAN)

T

he Director, Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Secondary Education Board, Mrs Yelwa Fatima BabaAri has been bestowed with ‘Read Ambassador’ for promoting reading culture among students in the FCT and her efforts in promoting efficiency in education service delivery.

The honored was conferred on her by Dr. Jerry Agada Foundation, whose objective is to imbibe , promote and sustain the reading culture among the youths According to the foundation, Baba-Ari has proved a dedicated and worthy ambassador in championing the course, hence she deserved the award in appreciation for her efforts.

While receiving the award, the director emphasized the need to rekindle the reading culture among the students in order to mould their intelligence while keeping in touch with the current initiatives in the education sector.

She commended the organisers for this well-thought out programme of grooming the future readers’ champions.

In a related development, three Senior Secondary Schools under the FCT education Board have also

….As three schools bag presidential award received the 2012 President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards by Federal Ministry of Education.

The awardees received the award during the World Teachers Day organised by National Union of Teachers.

While, Model Secondary School was adjudged the best and won the 1st position in the Senior Secondary School Category of the award, Mrs Udojeke S. Nkamaka of Government Secondary School, Jibi received the Best Teacher and Hajia Ari Mohammed Zainab, the Principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Kuje, received the Best School Administrator, all in the 1st position categories during the 2012 World Teachers Day. Responding on behalf of the Schools, the Best School Administrator, Hajia Zainab Mohammed Ari, who is the principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Abaji said the schools honored would continue to work assiduously to improve the academic performance of the FCT students.

PAGE 18

INSIDE FCT COURTS

Two imprisonment for stealing iron rods

A

n Abuja Senior Magistrates Court on Monday sentenced two men, Abdullahi Suleiman and Abdullahi Mamuda, to five months imprisonment each for stealing nine iron rods from a building site.

Magistrate Chinyere Nwachaonwa, who handed down the sentences, however, gave the convicts an option to pay N3,000 fine.

Police Prosecutor, Monday Akor had told the court that the convicts were arrested at Banex Junction, Wuse 2, Abuja, by a team of policemen on December10, 2012.

“They claimed to have bought the iron rods from a security man at a building site and the policemen asked to be taken to the site.

But when they got there the convicts could not identify the person they claimed sold the rods to them,’’ he said.

The duo pleaded guilty to the charge.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Three uninvited guests allegedly injure guard in party T

hree men have been arraigned before an Abuja Magistrates Court on a three- count charge of alleged criminal trespass, mischief and causing hurt.

The accused, Landerene Luke, 27; Paul Cletus, 29, and Ekene Onyeama, 31, all of Karmo village, Abuja, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Abdullateef Abiola, admitted them to bail

in the sum of N10,000 each with one surety in like sum .

The magistrate said that the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, with a traceable home or work address and must have an identity card.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Simon Emmanuel had earlier told the court that one Isa Kashim, a security guard with the Abuja Country

Club, lodged the complaint at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on December 8, 2012.

Emmanuel said that on that day, the accused went to the said club to attend an end of year party without an invitation and the security guard stopped them from gaining entrance.

He said the accused persons engaged the security guard in a fight and in the process broke

a glass door and injured the guard.

The prosecutor further said that the security guard spent N5,000 on medical bills while the value of the glass had yet to be determined.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 343, 326 and 240 of the Penal Code.

Magistrate Abiola adjourned the case to December 20, 2012 for hearing. (NAN)

Police arraign man, 19, woman, 30 for alleged theft

T

he Police on Monday arraigned a man, Destiny Onyema and a woman, Janet Ogah before an Abuja Senior Magistrates Court for alleged joint act and theft.

The prosecutor, Abdullahi Adamu, told the court that Jennifer Okpe of Karimo village, Abuja, reported the case at the Wuse Zone 3 Police Station on December 14, 2012.

Adamu said that on the same date at about 5.45 a.m., the two accused persons and two others who were currently at large, jointly connived and snatched Okpe’s handbag.

He said that the stolen bag contained a Tecno cell phone valued at N6, 000, some clothes valued at N9, 000, ladies’ makeup pack valued at N1, 500 and cash of N20, 000.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravenes Sections 79 and 287 of the Penal Code.

However, the accused persons denied the allegation.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Celestine Obinna, granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of N50, 000 each with a surety each in like sum.

Obinna said that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, have definite addresses and attach a passport photograph each on the bail bond.

He adjourned the case to February 4, 2013 for further hearing. (NAN)

Police men buying soft drinks, recently in Area 1, Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Two women held for allegedly buying stolen property

T

he Police yesterday arraigned two women, Shekinatu Mohammed, 30, and Adama Abdullahi, 22, before an Upper Area Court in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory(FCT), for allegedly buying stolen property.

The accused, who are residents of Gadabuke in

Nasarawa state, were arraigned on a count-charge of receiving stolen property.

Police Prosecutor, Iliya Maji told the court that the accused had at different times, bought stolen property from one Jemilu Ibrahim, who is also facing trial before the court.

Maji said the stolen property

included clothes and shoes, adding that the accused bought 20 wrappers from Ibrahim, valued at N41,000.

He also said that the items had been recovered from the accused, but the accused pleaded not guilty to the offence.

The prosecutor prayed for an adjournment to enable him to

Man docked for allegedly stealing welding machine

A

27-year-old man, Anayo Ezeh, has been arraigned before an Abuja Magistrates’ court on a onecount charge of theft.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the crime he was charged for before the court.

The Prosecutor, Sergeant Phillip Apollus, told the court that Samuel Oluwole of Jabi District, Abuja, reported the case at the Life Camp Police Station on

December 1, 2012.

Apollus said that on December 9, 2012 the complainant entrusted his welding machine valued N65,000 to the accused, who lives near Oluwole’s building site at Jabi.

He said that Anayo also stole a Nuel ceiling fan valued at N8,500 and was seen by one Isaac Luke when he was stealing the Items.

He said the act contravenes Section 287 of the Penal code.

After his arraignment, Magistrate Abdullateef Abiola admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N40,000 and one surety in like sum.

Abiola said that the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court with a traceable home.

He also ordered that the surety must deposit his or her driver’s licence with the registrar of the court and adjourned the case to December 22, 2012 for hearing. (NAN)

produce witnesses.

Umar Alhaji, the counsel to the accused, urged the court to grant his clients bail, promising that they would not jump bail and would comply with the court’s conditions.

“My clients found themselves in the present circumstance in the pursuit of their daily bread,’’ he said.

The presiding Judge, Alhaji Babangida Hassan, therefore, granted them bail in the sum of N 200,000 each with one surety each in like sum.

Hassan said the sureties must be residing within the FCT and must be civil servants, who have landed property.

The Judge said the passport photographs of the sureties should be attached to the bail forms, and ordered that the prosecution should know the residence of the sureties.

He adjourned the case to February 4, 2013 for hearing.

(NAN)

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

FAAN advises air travelers on yuletide preparation

Mob: 08033644990

Former CBN governor warns against sharing excess crude revenue

A

former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Joseph Sanusi has advised the Federal Government not to succumb to pressure to share the excess crude oil revenue among the three tiers of government.

Sanusi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said that spending all the money now could spell doom for the economy in future, but that the funds should be saved in the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) for the rainy day.

NAN reports that the excess crude revenue, which currently stands at 9.6 billion dollars was realised from crude oil sales above the budgetary crude oil price benchmark.

Mr. John Atunla, Acountant General of the Federation, said recently that there were demands by the 36 state governors for the release of part of the money to fund development projects in their respective states.

The AGF, however, said the Federal Government and the governors were yet to reach a consensus on the matter.

Sanusi said that it did not make any economic sense to spend revenue realised from the excess crude account now.

“I have always supported the idea of setting aside something like a fund to save for the rainy day and now SWF has been created.

“When I was preaching the idea in those days, as CBN governor, the state governors used to tell me that we should spend the money

as the rainy day was already here.

“I don’t believe so because the price of oil is still high.

“It is good we keep the excess revenue in SWF as a protection against the volatility of oil price and keep the economy stable.

“So, it is gladdening that we have the fund and I urge the Federal Government to be committed to it,” he said.

The former apex bank governor described as unsustainable the huge recurrent expenditure of the budget in terms of jumbo allowances and salaries paid to political office holders.

He called for a review of the country‘s political structure in favour of small and inexpensive government, stressing that the government, as currently being run, was a threat to development.

Sanusi also decried the perennial poor implementation of the budget, saying the trillions of naira rolled out yearly as budgets had not translated to development.

“We are not getting value for all these figures we roll out because there is little commitment to the country, too many people think about themselves and not the country.

“A lot of people are personally rich, while the country is poor. I think we need to have a rethink and re-assess our values if the country must progress, `` he said.

Sanusi cautioned against attempts to strip the CBN of its autonomy, saying doing that would mean departing from the normal practice all over the world.

(NAN)

R-L: Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Ms Evelyn Oputu, Country Representative, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Mr Patrick Kormawa, and the General. Secretary, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers, Comrade Isa Aremu, during the validation workshop on cotton, textile and garment scheme, organised BOI, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

FG will not increase fuel price in 2013, says NLC president

P

resident of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Abdulwahed Omar on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would not increase the price of petrol in the New Year.

Omar, who gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that already the masses were facing a lot of hardship, adding that the government would not want to add to their sufferings.

According to him, any further increase in the prices of petroleum products can result in violent protest by the masses,

and the government will not want that to happen.

“Generally, Nigerians should expect a good year in 2013. We don’t expect sudden surprises from the government like we had early this year.

“I don’t think government will be disposed to doing that because if you look at it, the hardship Nigerians are enduring now is slightly higher than what they were enduring at the end of last year.

“So, I think it will be unthinkable for government to want to compound the problems of the common man.

“So, let us hope that 2013 is going to come with good hopes and with a lot of prospects for everybody in this country.’’

The union president said Nigerians should not expect anything from the NLC, but should hope on many good things from the government.

Omar urged the government not to sack any worker, saying that it would not solve Nigeria’s economic problems.

He advised the government to tackle the unemployment problem in 2013, saying that it would be a major yardstick for measuring the country’s development. (NAN)

FG to save N474bn through new metering system – Aganga Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu becomes interim

T

he Federal Government will save about N474 billion through the implementation of the new policy on weights and measures, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, has said.

The minister said this in Abuja on Monday at a seminar for trade and investment correspondents and business editors.

Aganga said that the Federal Government was determined to ensure that adequate measures were put in place to enable Nigerians to get value for local and imported products.

“All over the world, there is legal meteorology which ensures that what you buy is accurate and legal.

“If you look at the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative Report, there is a lot of leakage in the oil and gas industry, either because the meters are not working or they are not installed at the right places.

“But for the first time, President Goodluck Jonathan has given us approval to commence that operation across all sectors of the economy; we are starting with the oil and gas, telecoms and power sector,” he said.

Aganga stressed that when the process was completed, “we expect to save for the country about 3 billion U.S. dollars (about N474) and also generate revenue of about N17.4 billion for the government in 2013.’’(NAN)

head of PenCom as DG, board bow out

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Director- General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) Muhammad K. Ahmad has stepped down from office following the expiration of the tenure of the Chairman and Executive members of the Board of the organisation on 16 December, 2012.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has therefore directed that the affairs of PenCom be handed over to Mrs. Chinelo AnohuAmazu, the most senior official in the commission.

According to a statement signed by , Emeka Onuora, Head of Corporate Communications PenCom, Mrs. Anohu-Amazu was one of the key

Management Tip of the Day Two rules for keeping employees happy and engaged

E

very manager wants a team of dedicated employees. And yet, many bosses fail to do their part to make this happen. Here are two things you can do for your employees to earn their commitment:· P u t their needs before yours. Treat them justly and do what’s right for them and the organization, not

just what works for you personally.

Give them opportunities to excel, and provide support if they fail. Be willing to take personal risks for the right employee. This will generate loyalty for years to come.· G i v e them autonomy. Freedom can exponentially increase an employee’s excitement. Make sure their passions align with the

organizational direction, and give them some high-level boundaries, resources, and introductions to make it happen. Then remove obstacles and help them handle challenges. Most importantly, always give them credit for their success.

Source: Harvard Business Review

Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu players in the pension reform and part of the team of experts that midwife the Contributory Pension Scheme in Nigeria.

She served in the Fola Adeola Pension Reform Committee set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose work led to the enactment of the Pension Reform Act 2004, and received a presidential commendation for the quality of work done on the 2004 pension reform.

PEOPLES DAILY,WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS DANA Air

I

nsurers of DANA Air has commenced payment of USD 70,000 (N11.2 million) to families of victims of the June 3 disaster after having made advance payments of USD 30,000 (N4. 8 million) to over 80 families.

The Civil Aviation Act stipulates that the sum of USD 100,000 (N 16 million) be paid as compensation to families of victims of air disasters.

Confirming the payment, DANA Air’s Head of Corporate Communications, Tony Usidamen explained that in order to assess and verify full compensation due and payable, it is necessary for claimants to produce the required Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration which would then have to be authenticated by the Probate Registry.

Crude Cargoes

N

igeria is scheduled to export 59 crude cargoes in February, a partial loading program obtained by Bloomberg showed.

Daily exports in February are scheduled to be 1.74 million barrels a day, according to the plan, which excludes four grades. Total shipments for next month are planned at 2.12 million barrels a day, the full program for January showed.

The country plans to ship 12 consignments of its benchmark Qua Iboe grade in February, one more than a revised schedule for next month, the program showed. Exports of Bonny Light blend will also increase by one lot to seven cargoes.

Nigeria will export eight cargoes of Forcados, six of Agbami, five each of Bonga and Brass River, four lots of Usan, three each of Akpo and Escravos, two each of Okono and Yoho and one consignment each of Abo and EA Blend, the plans showed. No shipment of Pennington was planned for February.

Olam Nigeria

O

lam Nigeria, a subsidiary of Olam International, a global integrated supply chain manager and processor of agricultural products, has won the ‘2012 Best Non-oil Exporter’ out of Nigeria, as adjudged by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the jury of the Nigerian nonexport conference/exhibition and awards - NNECEA 2012 committee for the third year running.

The awards is an annual event that brings together stakeholders from the non-oil export sector of the economy and serves as an avenue for them to jaw-jaw and exhibit their products and services with awards night being the denouement and climax of the three-day event.

Murtala Mohd airport to accommodate 6,000 passengers at completion From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos is set to provide space for 6, 000 at peak period after undergoing the current remodelling exercise of the over 30 years facility.

The Regional Manager of airports in the South West, Mr Edward Olarerin told reporters that at present, the airport has the capacity to hold only 1000 passengers at the height of activities.

Olarerin said the remodelling of the facility among other by the aviation minister is the best thing to happen to it since it construction over three decades ago.

“With the present facility created, the airport can handle 6,000 passengers, that is about 10 wide bodied aircraft if not more” The Regional Manager noted that passenger and cargo

movements increased last October compared to October 2011 while there was a decline in aircraft movements during the period due to ban of some airlines after DANA crash. ”As for passenger movements in October 2012 in relation to last year, we have 640, 845 which happen to be about 11 percent increase over October last year.

We equally have the cargo figure as follows 16,0160542 kg of cargo that entered and left the country in October 2012 and this happen to be about 25 percent increase over 2011" ”But unfortunately, we have a decrease in aircraft movement.

The aircraft movement for October was 8,527, with eight percent decrease over 2011; this was as a result of the ban imposed on some of our domestic airlines after the DANA crash” While expressing optimism, he affirmed that the future was bright for aviation in the country with the figures on ground

especially with the extension of the cargo zone.

On efforts bring improve sanity at the airport, the manager explained that a standing joint taskforce made up of all security agencies at the airport was already in place patrolling between cargo, domestic and international wings of the airports to ensure that miscreants were warded off from the airport.

He said with the remodelling, that the airport has been repositioned for optimal performance and there was need for security to be beefed up adding that the era of ten relatives escorting passenger to the airport was over.

Also on the need to generate revenue from non-aeronautical sources at the airport, Mr. Olalerin said the aviation minister was already addressing the issue with the creation of the cargo directorate department and advert unit in FAAN.

”We are shifting from aeronautical to non aeronautical ventures, at MMIA, we have not really exploited it. In the next three years, I expect you to see result because we are still at the developing stage” The Regional Manager expressed satisfaction with the level of fire cover at the MMIA adding that the airport was equipped with six fire trucks as against the minimum of three as stipulated by ICAO. Mr. Olalerin while urging passengers to be patience with the airport due to the ongoing work at the airport, acknowledged the hardship being faced by them as a result of the remodelling adding that in the next few months, they will witness stress free travel.

FAAN advises air travelers on yuletide preparation

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

T

L-R: Immediate past president, Cameroonian Community in Nigeria, Prof. Samuel Wara, Consul General, Cameroon High Commission, Dr Paul Ekorong Adong, and Membership Relation Officer, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs Adeyinka Adedoyin, during the Cameroonian Economic and Trade Summit, on Monday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Stakeholder dispels rumour of unsafe airspace From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

A

former spokesman of Nigeria Airways Limited, Mr. Chris Aligbe has cautioned Nigerians to dismiss speculations making the round that the nation’s airspace is not safe.

He said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), should not be held liable for failure in oversight duties.

Aligbe explained that because military aviation is self regulatory, it is outside the purview of the NCAA, to determine the nature of military aircraft operations.

He said some people are

beginning to suggest that the helicopter crash may have cast doubt on the integrity of air safety in Nigeria.

Aligbe however called on the military authorities to step up their oversight duties on the aircraft in their fleet.

He explained that because military aircraft do not fall within the purview of the NCAA, even the Accident Investigative Bureau (AIB), is not empowered by law to investigate military air accidents.

“There is institutional difference in oversight of both military and civil aviation operations.”

The former Nigeria Airways spokesperson

told reporters.

“All the aviation agencies have no iota of responsibility over military operations. Even the AIB cannot investigate military air accidents. They do not come under the inventory of the NCAA. The military are self regulating; they train their staff to the highest level. The military has full complement over the regulation of their aircraft.”

He further urged the military to build internal capacity for their aircraft, even as he said the culture of self regulation by the military requires tremendous institutional will power.

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has advised Nigerians, especially air travellers, to make early preparations for their travel during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, to avoid the rush that usually takes place during these periods at major airports across the country.

Airports across the country usually witness a huge volume of passenger traffic during these holidays, due to increased local movements of passengers for people travelling for the holidays, added to those returning from different countries overseas for the same purpose.

The Authority also urges travellers to leave home early during these festive periods, in order to confirm their tickets and complete other pre-boarding formalities in good time because of the heavy vehicular movements on access roads close to the terminals that may cause some passengers to miss their flights.

According to the General Manager, Corporate Communication (FAAN), Yakubu Dati,’’We also wish to advise vehicle owners to make use of our designated car parks when visiting the airports, whether for business or pleasure. It will help to decongest the traffic on our access roads and also help to ensure the safety of lives and property within the airports.

All vehicles parked in authorised places will therefore be towed and appropriate fines imposed on defaulters’’.

It will be noted that the Federal Government has embarked on the transformation of the aviation industry into an efficient and effective sector, spearheaded by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah.

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

FAAN advises air travelers on yuletide preparation

Mob: 08033644990

Former CBN governor warns against sharing excess crude revenue

A

former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Joseph Sanusi has advised the Federal Government not to succumb to pressure to share the excess crude oil revenue among the three tiers of government.

Sanusi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said that spending all the money now could spell doom for the economy in future, but that the funds should be saved in the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) for the rainy day.

NAN reports that the excess crude revenue, which currently stands at 9.6 billion dollars was realised from crude oil sales above the budgetary crude oil price benchmark.

Mr. John Atunla, Acountant General of the Federation, said recently that there were demands by the 36 state governors for the release of part of the money to fund development projects in their respective states.

The AGF, however, said the Federal Government and the governors were yet to reach a consensus on the matter.

Sanusi said that it did not make any economic sense to spend revenue realised from the excess crude account now.

“I have always supported the idea of setting aside something like a fund to save for the rainy day and now SWF has been created.

“When I was preaching the idea in those days, as CBN governor, the state governors used to tell me that we should spend the money

as the rainy day was already here.

“I don’t believe so because the price of oil is still high.

“It is good we keep the excess revenue in SWF as a protection against the volatility of oil price and keep the economy stable.

“So, it is gladdening that we have the fund and I urge the Federal Government to be committed to it,” he said.

The former apex bank governor described as unsustainable the huge recurrent expenditure of the budget in terms of jumbo allowances and salaries paid to political office holders.

He called for a review of the country‘s political structure in favour of small and inexpensive government, stressing that the government, as currently being run, was a threat to development.

Sanusi also decried the perennial poor implementation of the budget, saying the trillions of naira rolled out yearly as budgets had not translated to development.

“We are not getting value for all these figures we roll out because there is little commitment to the country, too many people think about themselves and not the country.

“A lot of people are personally rich, while the country is poor. I think we need to have a rethink and re-assess our values if the country must progress, `` he said.

Sanusi cautioned against attempts to strip the CBN of its autonomy, saying doing that would mean departing from the normal practice all over the world.

(NAN)

R-L: Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Ms Evelyn Oputu, Country Representative, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Mr Patrick Kormawa, and the General. Secretary, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers, Comrade Isa Aremu, during the validation workshop on cotton, textile and garment scheme, organised BOI, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

FG will not increase fuel price in 2013, says NLC president

P

resident of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Abdulwahed Omar on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would not increase the price of petrol in the New Year.

Omar, who gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that already the masses were facing a lot of hardship, adding that the government would not want to add to their sufferings.

According to him, any further increase in the prices of petroleum products can result in violent protest by the masses,

and the government will not want that to happen.

“Generally, Nigerians should expect a good year in 2013. We don’t expect sudden surprises from the government like we had early this year.

“I don’t think government will be disposed to doing that because if you look at it, the hardship Nigerians are enduring now is slightly higher than what they were enduring at the end of last year.

“So, I think it will be unthinkable for government to want to compound the problems of the common man.

“So, let us hope that 2013 is going to come with good hopes and with a lot of prospects for everybody in this country.’’

The union president said Nigerians should not expect anything from the NLC, but should hope on many good things from the government.

Omar urged the government not to sack any worker, saying that it would not solve Nigeria’s economic problems.

He advised the government to tackle the unemployment problem in 2013, saying that it would be a major yardstick for measuring the country’s development. (NAN)

FG to save N474bn through new metering system – Aganga Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu becomes interim

T

he Federal Government will save about N474 billion through the implementation of the new policy on weights and measures, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, has said.

The minister said this in Abuja on Monday at a seminar for trade and investment correspondents and business editors.

Aganga said that the Federal Government was determined to ensure that adequate measures were put in place to enable Nigerians to get value for local and imported products.

“All over the world, there is legal meteorology which ensures that what you buy is accurate and legal.

“If you look at the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative Report, there is a lot of leakage in the oil and gas industry, either because the meters are not working or they are not installed at the right places.

“But for the first time, President Goodluck Jonathan has given us approval to commence that operation across all sectors of the economy; we are starting with the oil and gas, telecoms and power sector,” he said.

Aganga stressed that when the process was completed, “we expect to save for the country about 3 billion U.S. dollars (about N474) and also generate revenue of about N17.4 billion for the government in 2013.’’(NAN)

head of PenCom as DG, board bow out

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Director- General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) Muhammad K. Ahmad has stepped down from office following the expiration of the tenure of the Chairman and Executive members of the Board of the organisation on 16 December, 2012.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has therefore directed that the affairs of PenCom be handed over to Mrs. Chinelo AnohuAmazu, the most senior official in the commission.

According to a statement signed by , Emeka Onuora, Head of Corporate Communications PenCom, Mrs. Anohu-Amazu was one of the key

Management Tip of the Day Two rules for keeping employees happy and engaged

E

very manager wants a team of dedicated employees. And yet, many bosses fail to do their part to make this happen. Here are two things you can do for your employees to earn their commitment:· P u t their needs before yours. Treat them justly and do what’s right for them and the organization, not

just what works for you personally.

Give them opportunities to excel, and provide support if they fail. Be willing to take personal risks for the right employee. This will generate loyalty for years to come.· G i v e them autonomy. Freedom can exponentially increase an employee’s excitement. Make sure their passions align with the

organizational direction, and give them some high-level boundaries, resources, and introductions to make it happen. Then remove obstacles and help them handle challenges. Most importantly, always give them credit for their success.

Source: Harvard Business Review

Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu players in the pension reform and part of the team of experts that midwife the Contributory Pension Scheme in Nigeria.

She served in the Fola Adeola Pension Reform Committee set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose work led to the enactment of the Pension Reform Act 2004, and received a presidential commendation for the quality of work done on the 2004 pension reform.

PEOPLES DAILY,WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS DANA Air

I

nsurers of DANA Air has commenced payment of USD 70,000 (N11.2 million) to families of victims of the June 3 disaster after having made advance payments of USD 30,000 (N4. 8 million) to over 80 families.

The Civil Aviation Act stipulates that the sum of USD 100,000 (N 16 million) be paid as compensation to families of victims of air disasters.

Confirming the payment, DANA Air’s Head of Corporate Communications, Tony Usidamen explained that in order to assess and verify full compensation due and payable, it is necessary for claimants to produce the required Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration which would then have to be authenticated by the Probate Registry.

Crude Cargoes

N

igeria is scheduled to export 59 crude cargoes in February, a partial loading program obtained by Bloomberg showed.

Daily exports in February are scheduled to be 1.74 million barrels a day, according to the plan, which excludes four grades. Total shipments for next month are planned at 2.12 million barrels a day, the full program for January showed.

The country plans to ship 12 consignments of its benchmark Qua Iboe grade in February, one more than a revised schedule for next month, the program showed. Exports of Bonny Light blend will also increase by one lot to seven cargoes.

Nigeria will export eight cargoes of Forcados, six of Agbami, five each of Bonga and Brass River, four lots of Usan, three each of Akpo and Escravos, two each of Okono and Yoho and one consignment each of Abo and EA Blend, the plans showed. No shipment of Pennington was planned for February.

Olam Nigeria

O

lam Nigeria, a subsidiary of Olam International, a global integrated supply chain manager and processor of agricultural products, has won the ‘2012 Best Non-oil Exporter’ out of Nigeria, as adjudged by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the jury of the Nigerian nonexport conference/exhibition and awards - NNECEA 2012 committee for the third year running.

The awards is an annual event that brings together stakeholders from the non-oil export sector of the economy and serves as an avenue for them to jaw-jaw and exhibit their products and services with awards night being the denouement and climax of the three-day event.

Murtala Mohd airport to accommodate 6,000 passengers at completion From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos is set to provide space for 6, 000 at peak period after undergoing the current remodelling exercise of the over 30 years facility.

The Regional Manager of airports in the South West, Mr Edward Olarerin told reporters that at present, the airport has the capacity to hold only 1000 passengers at the height of activities.

Olarerin said the remodelling of the facility among other by the aviation minister is the best thing to happen to it since it construction over three decades ago.

“With the present facility created, the airport can handle 6,000 passengers, that is about 10 wide bodied aircraft if not more” The Regional Manager noted that passenger and cargo

movements increased last October compared to October 2011 while there was a decline in aircraft movements during the period due to ban of some airlines after DANA crash. ”As for passenger movements in October 2012 in relation to last year, we have 640, 845 which happen to be about 11 percent increase over October last year.

We equally have the cargo figure as follows 16,0160542 kg of cargo that entered and left the country in October 2012 and this happen to be about 25 percent increase over 2011" ”But unfortunately, we have a decrease in aircraft movement.

The aircraft movement for October was 8,527, with eight percent decrease over 2011; this was as a result of the ban imposed on some of our domestic airlines after the DANA crash” While expressing optimism, he affirmed that the future was bright for aviation in the country with the figures on ground

especially with the extension of the cargo zone.

On efforts bring improve sanity at the airport, the manager explained that a standing joint taskforce made up of all security agencies at the airport was already in place patrolling between cargo, domestic and international wings of the airports to ensure that miscreants were warded off from the airport.

He said with the remodelling, that the airport has been repositioned for optimal performance and there was need for security to be beefed up adding that the era of ten relatives escorting passenger to the airport was over.

Also on the need to generate revenue from non-aeronautical sources at the airport, Mr. Olalerin said the aviation minister was already addressing the issue with the creation of the cargo directorate department and advert unit in FAAN.

”We are shifting from aeronautical to non aeronautical ventures, at MMIA, we have not really exploited it. In the next three years, I expect you to see result because we are still at the developing stage” The Regional Manager expressed satisfaction with the level of fire cover at the MMIA adding that the airport was equipped with six fire trucks as against the minimum of three as stipulated by ICAO. Mr. Olalerin while urging passengers to be patience with the airport due to the ongoing work at the airport, acknowledged the hardship being faced by them as a result of the remodelling adding that in the next few months, they will witness stress free travel.

FAAN advises air travelers on yuletide preparation

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

T

L-R: Immediate past president, Cameroonian Community in Nigeria, Prof. Samuel Wara, Consul General, Cameroon High Commission, Dr Paul Ekorong Adong, and Membership Relation Officer, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs Adeyinka Adedoyin, during the Cameroonian Economic and Trade Summit, on Monday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Stakeholder dispels rumour of unsafe airspace From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

A

former spokesman of Nigeria Airways Limited, Mr. Chris Aligbe has cautioned Nigerians to dismiss speculations making the round that the nation’s airspace is not safe.

He said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), should not be held liable for failure in oversight duties.

Aligbe explained that because military aviation is self regulatory, it is outside the purview of the NCAA, to determine the nature of military aircraft operations.

He said some people are

beginning to suggest that the helicopter crash may have cast doubt on the integrity of air safety in Nigeria.

Aligbe however called on the military authorities to step up their oversight duties on the aircraft in their fleet.

He explained that because military aircraft do not fall within the purview of the NCAA, even the Accident Investigative Bureau (AIB), is not empowered by law to investigate military air accidents.

“There is institutional difference in oversight of both military and civil aviation operations.”

The former Nigeria Airways spokesperson

told reporters.

“All the aviation agencies have no iota of responsibility over military operations. Even the AIB cannot investigate military air accidents. They do not come under the inventory of the NCAA. The military are self regulating; they train their staff to the highest level. The military has full complement over the regulation of their aircraft.”

He further urged the military to build internal capacity for their aircraft, even as he said the culture of self regulation by the military requires tremendous institutional will power.

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has advised Nigerians, especially air travellers, to make early preparations for their travel during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, to avoid the rush that usually takes place during these periods at major airports across the country.

Airports across the country usually witness a huge volume of passenger traffic during these holidays, due to increased local movements of passengers for people travelling for the holidays, added to those returning from different countries overseas for the same purpose.

The Authority also urges travellers to leave home early during these festive periods, in order to confirm their tickets and complete other pre-boarding formalities in good time because of the heavy vehicular movements on access roads close to the terminals that may cause some passengers to miss their flights.

According to the General Manager, Corporate Communication (FAAN), Yakubu Dati,’’We also wish to advise vehicle owners to make use of our designated car parks when visiting the airports, whether for business or pleasure. It will help to decongest the traffic on our access roads and also help to ensure the safety of lives and property within the airports.

All vehicles parked in authorised places will therefore be towed and appropriate fines imposed on defaulters’’.

It will be noted that the Federal Government has embarked on the transformation of the aviation industry into an efficient and effective sector, spearheaded by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah.

PEOSPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Report as at Tuesday, December 18, 2012

PAGE 23

PAGE 24

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

07055652553 udennaorji@yahoo.com

Stakeholders urge National Assembly to pass housing legislations Pg 26

Kogi to partner with FHA in housing delivery

Pg 27

Developer Foreign investors swoop calls for on real estate development opportunities in Nigeria of infrastructure for mass housing Pg 27

Pg 27

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 25

Interior decorating ideas for Christmas and the New Year The christmas and new year season of festivities affords many families the opportunity to spend more time at home, just relaxing after a hectic year. Naturally, people love to beautify their homes in keeping with the mood of the season. Here are interior decorating ideas to keep your home sparkling and you refreshed throughout the season and beyond. Try them and see what difference the will make to your home.

Buy a Bigger Bed Small-scale furniture only makes a small bedroom look smaller. Try a high bed and a tall headboard.

Your room will grow.

Pile On the Pillows One pair of pillows always looks skimpy. Use two pairs, in contrasting patterns, colors, and textures.

Go Dark Dark walls do the opposite of what you’d expect: They make a small room feel bigger.

Leave Cabinets Open An open armoire is more interesting than a closed one. Let people into your secret world.

Large Collections Need Order Wall brackets can bring order to a large collection or odd shapes.

Wallpaper Is Easy The fastest way to make over sliding closet doors is to wallpaper them, like Melissa Warner did to turn a bedroom into her office.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Stakeholders urge National Assembly to pass housing legislations

By Udenna Orji

F

ollowing the setting up of a committee by the federal government to draw up a roadmap for housing development in Nigeria, housing stakeholders have called for the passage of the various housing reform legislations at the National Assembly without further delay.

Government has also been called upon to create an intervention fund to be used for the development of housing for low income earners and the less privileged across the state capitals and local councils of Nigeria.

The Managing Director of Resort Savings and Loans Plc, Mr. Abimbola Olayinka who made these calls at in Abuja last Thursday stressed that “the three tiers of government should not shy away from their responsibility of providing primary infrastructure if we must achieve our goal of providing affordable housing.

The infrastructure projects could be financed by issuing bonds and will also provide a future income stream for government through municipal fees that will be paid by home owners.”

He also appealed to the federal government to set up an agency that will oversee the development and delivery of social housing in Nigeria. The agency will act as a dedicated and credible intermediary that will harness national efforts in the social housing sector as different from the existing structures set up with commercial responsibilities and intents.

According to him, “high cost of building materials is also a key factor that has led to the high construction cost in Nigeria. The restriction on the importation of cement which by account constitutes about 40 per cent of building materials has also hindered provision of social housing”. He therefore advised the government to “seek for alternatives to usage of cement in the building of houses”.

In her presentation, Mrs. Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, chief executive officer of The Filmo Group, a real estate company, described social housing as “an umbrella term referring to housing which is owned and managed by the state, not-for-profit organizations, or a combination of the two, usually with the aim of providing affordable rental housing. Social rented housing can be seen either as a broad concept where rented dwellings are provided for a fairly large part of the population or as a narrow concept where dwellings are provided only for the most underprivileged segment of the population. Social housing is often defined from the providers’ perspective which could be

President Goodluck Jonathan government, private sector or not-for-profit organizations, etc” She called for “intervention funds targeted towards the development of social housing programmes and implementation of the social housing policy; adequate infrastructure and facilities that will improve accessibility for social housing programmes; incentives to enhance institutionalized rental housing opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups; upfront grants to meet part of the land and construction costs to providers of social housing to increase stock; comfort to avert/ outlaw illegal eviction of beneficiaries; tax incentives for Social Housing Institution; capital grants, interest-rate subsidies to create a type of “equity” which cushions the private sector loan debt; incorporate default risk insurance schemes for beneficiaries; protection for stakeholders willing to engage in this limited-profit part of the real estate sector – e.g. publicly owned companies, not-for-profit organizations, foundations etc; plus an increasing number of non-specialized actors (commercial developers and private landlord) through appropriate policies and financial incentives to encourage such participation”.

In his contribution, the President of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Chief Olabode

Senate President David Mark Afolayan, regretted that “government sees lands as another source of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and not as a resource to be used for helping the citizens live a better life”, pointing out that “if we must achieve success in social housing, government must provide the land”. He decried “the overcharging of tax on property by government” and called on government to make land available for the construction of houses to help reduce slums and Nigeria’s deficit of 16 million housing units.

In his presentation, Mr. Adekunle Abdulrazaq Oyinloye, Mananging Director of Infrastructure Bank highlighted “the fallacy in the thinking in some quarters that “Social Housing” is for poor and the poor alone” adding that “this could not be further from the truth”.

According to him, “in the UK, vital professionals or “key workers” such as teachers, police officers and nurses are mass beneficiaries of Social Housing Programs that enable them to afford quality accommodation near their places of work in cities, as opposed to being forced to live in suburban areas requiring long hours of commuting. Needless to say, such arrangement speaks to household income levels directly”.

In the area of financing, Oyinloye noted that “there is a clear consensus that the extent of financing required to bridge the country’s housing deficit surpasses the supply of capital available from government…there is thus a need for increased private sector participation alongside the public sector, be it from: the commercial banking sector; the contractual savings sector –

“

There is a clear consensus that the extent of financing required to bridge the country’s housing deficit surpasses the supply of capital available from government…there is thus a need for increased private sector participation alongside the public sector, be it from: the commercial banking sector; the contractual savings sector

which includes Insurance Premiums, Mutual Funds and Nigeria’s N 2.7 trillion Pension Funds pot; private equity funds; Third Party Funds; and Development Finance Institutions both here at home and abroad; and many other sources of private capital. …The proven reality is that the provision of housing through budgetary allocations alone would fall far short of addressing the existing huge deficit, which if not quickly addressed, is capable derailing the developmental agenda of the country. The putting in place of adequate regulatory and institutional framework necessary for private sector involvement in housing development initiatives, such as the establishment of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission, the Housing and Infrastructure Finance Unit within the Development Finance Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the establishment of PPP Units within key Ministries and State Governments are all part of the necessary fundamentals to providing viable and sustainable solutions. However, there is much more to be done particularly in the areas of Land and Mortgage Legislations. …The Infrastructure Bank is working with public and private sector alike to mobilize funding specifically dedicated to the Housing Sector…”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 27

Developer calls for development of infrastructure for mass housing Stories by Udenna Orji

M

ass Housing Developer and Managing Director of El-Salem Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Ben Gbade Ojo has called on the Federal Government to develop infrastructure in all areas designated for mass housing as a way of achieving government’s target of reducing the nation’s deficit of 16 million housing units.

Mr. Ojo who made the call in a chat with Peoples Daily in Abuja on Friday stated that “without prejudice to the

findings and recommendations of the various committees set up by the Housing Minister to identify problems and solutions to Nigeria’s housing sector, including efforts of professional associations and other stakeholders on the way forward for the sector, I wish to call on the Jonathan administration to please tackle Nigeria’s housing

problems through concerted development of infrastructure like roads, electric power and pipe-borne water in sites designated for mass housing. Our experience in developing mass housing has shown that the absence of urban infrastructure and escalating cost of building materials have been the bane of estate developers and have

effectively stunted efforts at housing development especially on mortgages. While the country waits for the development of the bond market to finance urban infrastructure, we urge the government to create a temporary and targeted intervention fund that will provide infrastructure for serious private sector estate

developers and come up with some other measures that will bring down the cost of building materials in the country”.

He said “as the nation gets poised to provide adequate housing for her citizens, it has become necessary to carry out a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s mortgage sector and mortgage institutions in Nigeria”

Foreign investors swoop on real estate opportunities in Nigeria

I

nterestingly, despite the recent global meltdown and turmoil in Dubai where property prices are coming down, discerning investors, with eyes on the future are building more portfolios in real estate.

And following the approval of a new National Housing Policy and a new Urban Development Policy by the Federal Executive Council last June, foreign capital has been flooding into the country for housing development under the PrivatePublic Partnership (PPP) through which the federal government intends to build one million housing units annually under the new housing policy.

The reason for the blossoming real estate sector in Nigeria, according to Seyi Oyetunde, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Continental Estates, is because “real estate cannot crash, it stabilizes.

Demand is higher than supply in real estate. I tell you there is nowhere else like real estate. The richest men in the world, if you look at their wealth, the bulk of it comes from real estate. I can’t remember exactly now but I know about 90 per cent of the world’s richest men thrive in real estate. Even when they do other things, it is based on their stock of real estate. They own corner shops everywhere, corner shops that enjoy appreciation.

Because they own their own shops, they don’t rent and if at all they’ve got to rent, maybe it’s out of compulsion. But 90% or 95% of their locations are out rightly owned. People whose wealth is phenomenal and will last about four generations without effort are in real estate.

I tell you it is exodus syndrome that happens in Nigeria. With the direct foreign investment into the Nigerian market too, many shops are opened, so many people globally are beginning to realize that the local market in Nigeria is attractive for their various businesses. One of the first things they will need is commercial real estate and then maybe back it up with one serious luxury apartment for the CEO and then the other managers can be given housing allowances and the rest of them.”

Kogi to partner with FHA in housing delivery K

ogi State is to partner with the Federal Housing Authority towards accelerated mass housing delivery in the state.

Governor Idris Wada announced this In Lokoja at the weekend while receiving the Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority, Arc Terver Gemade who paid him a courtesy call in Lokoja.

He said his administration was eager to fastrack the amelioration of the housing challenges facing the people of the state.

Wada said the state was determined to leverage its strategic position as a gatewY to the Federal CapitalTerritory to boost the economy of the state.

He said the state envisaged a time when some of those working in Abuja would decide to reside in Lokoja and commute to and from Abuja daily.

With the dualisation of the Lokoja-Abuja road nearing completion and the proposed Ajaokuta-Abuja satadard gauge raile line, he said it would not be too long for that to become a reality.

Wada said his administration would create a safe and condusive environment that would make the state attractive to Nigerians

from all parts of the country.

He said housing delivery was a key component of his administration’s development and transformation agenda adding that already the state government was building 350 housing units in Lokoja.

The governor said the state government was willing to take full advantage of the strength, competence and experience of the

FHA MD, Terver Gemade

Federal Housing Authority in housing delivery.

He directed thqt the title for the 100 hectares of land allocated to FHA a Kungbani village along the Abuja-Lokoja road be released to the Authority immediately while efforts would be made to allocate more land to the Authority in suitable parts of the state.

Earlier, Gemade who led an eight member team of his management to Government House told his host that lack of title for the land had hamstrung the Authority in its bid to commnce the development of the estate.

He said t h e Authority requested for 300 hectares but was given 100 hectares a n d appealed to the governor t o expedite

the relezse of the allocation paper for the remaining 200 hectares.

He said the FHA’s new housing estates in Kaduna, Calabar, Gombe, Makurdi, Lagos and Yenagoa were nearing completion and would be commissioned soon.

Gemade said the Authority wished to be a key player in the development of the state and urged the governor to accord priority attention to housing because of its huge potential to energize the economy.

He urged the governor to also take advantage of the FHA’s public-public partnership delivery model which he said would relieve the government of the stress of housing delivery.

In that regard, he said the government would be required to bear the cost of infrastructure at any site provided for the FHA which would be redeemed with the allocation of a commensurate number of houses to the state government on the completion of the estate.

The FHa chief executive expressed sympathy over the flood in the state and praised the governor for the prompt and adequate steps taken by the state government to provide relief for the victims.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Volkswagen Passat remains comfortable and usable

T

he 2013 Volkswagen Passat enjoys a rather unique position, since it's the only European entry in the family sedan segment. Now, this does not mean this VW calls soccer "football" or takes off all of August to holiday in Mallorca.

Instead, a continental heritage helps the Passat bring to its class of sedans a certain premium flair that its rivals lack.

This is apparent as soon as you take a seat inside the cabin.

The interior is classy and distinguished, with legible, informative gauges, a nononsense layout and solid-feeling switchgear. On the move, the Passat has a confident, responsive personality while also remaining comfortable and usable. And since European automakers are big on diesel engines, it seems only natural that the Passat offers one: a 2.0liter turbodiesel that gets very impressive fuel economy.

However, this Passat isn't just beer gardens and lederhosen. VW actually builds this car in Tennessee expressly for the American market.

VW knows what

Americans want, and that's why there's an impressive amount of legroom, while the trunk is above average in size. And if it's power you desire, there's a strong 3.6liter V6 good for 280 horsepower available.

There are a couple downsides to the Passat. We're not fond of the longer-than-average braking distances, for instance, and its lazy throttle response with the automatic transmissions can be irksome. There are also a lot of great choices for a family sedan this year, including the stylish 2013 Ford Fusion, newly redesigned 2013 Honda Accord, value-packed Hyundai Sonata and sharp-handling 2013 Nissan Altima. But all things considered, the European-influenced 2013 Volkswagen Passat comes highly recommended.

The 2013 Volkswagen Passat sedan is offered in three broad models broken down by engine (2.5L, TDI and 3.6L), which are further subdivided into a trio of different trim levels (S, SE and SEL).

The lineup starts with the "S" base model (2.5-liter only), which comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, keyless entry, full power accessories, airconditioning, a six-way manual driver seat with lumbar adjustment, cloth upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, audio controls on the

steering wheel, cruise control, a trip computer, Bluetooth with streaming audio and a sixspeaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio input. An available Appearance package adds a six-speed automatic transmission, 16-inch alloy wheels and a rear-seat center armrest.

Move up to the SE trim level and you get 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior trim, heated mirrors, a six-way power driver seat, heated front seats, rear seat air vents, leatherette (premium vinyl) upholstery, a sliding front armrest, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leatherwrapped steering wheel and shift knob, upgraded gauges and displays, rear air vents and an eight-speaker sound system with a touchscreen audio interface and satellite radio.

Options on SE models include a

sunroof or the sunroof bundled with a navigation system and iPod integration. TDI SE buyers can add 18-inch alloy wheels and foglights as well. The 3.6L SE comes standard with these options except the navigation system, which remains optional.

A nine-speaker Fender audio system is also included.

The 2.5 SEL models include all of the above (minus the foglights but keeping the 17-inch wheels), plus upgraded front seats, live traffic updates, dualzone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, a rear-seat pass-through and wood interior trim. The 2.5 SEL Premium adds the foglights, keyless ignition/ entry, remote ignition, partial leather upholstery and power

front seats with driver memory functions. Both the TDI

and 3.6L can also be had in SEL guise, but the Premium package is mandatory.

The VW Passat comes with a choice of three distinctly different engines. The entry-level 2.5L model is powered by a 2.5-liter inline-5 engine rated at 170 hp and 177 pound-feet of torque.

Transmission choices include a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic.

In Edmunds performance testing, an automatic-equipped 2.5 Passat accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 9 seconds, which is about average for the class. EPAestimated fuel economy for the manual transmission stands at 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. The automatic drops slightly to 22/31/25 mpg.

These figures

are about average for the class.

Those looking for maximum miles per gallon can opt for the TDI model with its fuel-efficient

2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel, which produces 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. It comes mated to either the sixspeed manual or a six-speed automated manual transmission (known as DSG). In Edmunds performance testing, the Passat TDI went from zero to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds -- this is on par with gasoline-powered four-cylinder sedans. The EPA-estimated fuel economy is an excellent 31/43/35 for the manual and 30/40/34 with the DSG. In extensive Edmunds fuel economy testing, we've found that the Passat can easily surpass these numbers by 8-10 mpg.

If maximum thrust is what you're after, look no further than the 3.6L's 3.6-liter V6, which churns out 280 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. VW's six-speed dualclutch automated manual transmission is standard.

In Edmunds testing, this engine was able to

bring the Passat from zero to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds -- very quick for this class.

EPA-estimated fuel economy stands at 20/28/23 mpg.

Source: Edmunds.com

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Minister urges artists to advance culture industry

C

hief Edem Duke, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, in Abuja, charged stakeholders to utilise their creativity to advance the culture industry.

He gave the charge at the ninth edition of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Honours Lecture and Award Series.

“I charge this year’s award recipients, covering the Nollywood, music and cultural administration, to utilise their creativity, talent and expertise to advance the culture industry.

“This is with a view to contributing meaningfully to the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration,” Duke said.

He said that culture was becoming a preferred sector with great economic prospect in the world.

The minister said that if fully developed, culture could be rated one of the greatest contributors to national economies.

Duke, who was represented

by Mr Seyi Womiloju, Deputy Director Cultural Division in the ministry, commended NCAC for initiating and sustaining the honours lecture.

He restated the Federal Government’s commitment toward making the award more grandiose.

He commended the award winners for their commitment and deep love for the industry, “which we all strive to reposition f o r s o c i o economic advancement of the nation”.

Earlier, Mr Muajim Maidugu, the Executive Director of the council, said the lecture was aimed at celebrating Nigerians, who had contributed to the development of arts and culture.

He said that the recipients were Nigerians, who had excelled in their unique areas of endeavour, coving the administration of culture, Nollywood and the music industry.

“Tied to this programme is the NCAC staff productivity award, aimed at rewarding hardworking staff, who have shown distinction in handling their various assignments,” he said.

Maidugu said that the council would continue to expand the scope of the award with a view to covering more areas in the sector.

Responding on behalf of the institutional awardees, Mrs Nike Okundaye, an artist and designer, said the award was a source of inspiration to her and young art lovers.

For the Nollywood category, Mrs. Vivian Anani, an actress, commended the initiators of the award, adding that the award was a call to more action. (NAN)

PAGE 29

Cultural heritage: Artist calls on FG to support works of art M

r Hilary Shirsha, an artist, has urged the Federal Government to provide an enabling environment for artists to promote the country’s cultural heritage.

Shirsha made the call in Abuja, while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during an art exhibition titled: “Beyond

the Picture’’.

He said that the country was endowed with rich and diverse culture that could be promoted through works of art.

He noted that employment opportunities and economic growth could be enhanced if the required attention was given to works of art.

“Art works can also play a vital role in effectively restoring and promoting peaceful co-existence among people,’’ he added.

He re-stated the importance of the creative industry and the culture sector to the country, urging Nigerians to find ways to exploit their potential using this medium.

The exhibition organised by Shirsha and supported by the FCT Council for Arts and Culture, Steveeru Ventures Ltd., and Ciena Consulting, is aimed at showcasing the beauty of Nigeria’s culture to the world through pictures.

It featured pictures taken by the artist in the FCT and other parts of country. (NAN)

L-R: Former Miss World, Agbani Darego, Rivers state Governor, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, his deputy, Mr Tele Ikuru, and his wife, Mrs Mina Ikuru, during the 2012 Rivers state carnival, recently in Port Harcourt. Photo: NAN

Tourism creates positive impacts on the environment - Director

M

r Ernest Obia, Director, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), has said that tourism has positive impacts on the environment and can create development.

Obia told the News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) in Abuja that tourists provided an endless supply of people from around the world.

He said that a tourist could

target and educate on everything from forest stewardship to local history and plans for the future.

The director said that a tourist could create awareness on the things he noticed in an area he visited, stressing that an ordinary person could not do that.

“When people visit an area, they notice things a local person may not.”

Obia, said that a tourist was more likely to notice a problem like pollution or habitat encroachment and bring it to the attention of local authorities or even the world.

He said that tourists provided an easy target for fundraising like fees for camping sites, park entry, licences for fishing and hunting.

He said that the funds raised by the tourists were used for

things like education, policing and maintenance of national wilderness areas.

He explained that a tourist’s reason for visiting a place was to commune with nature and to see a piece of history.

Obia said that the experience a tourist had after visiting an area could compel him to do something positive for the environment and as well help to save that area. (NAN)

NICO wants Nigerians sensitised on relevance of culture

T

he National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in Abuja stressed the need to sensitise Nigerians on the relevance of culture in the quest for sustainable development.

Dr Barclays Ayakorama, the Executive Secretary of institute, made the call at the third annual public lecture with the theme: “Culture, Good Governance and Nigeria’s Democracy”.

Ayakorama said that the annual public lecture series was organised in consonance with objectives of the institute.

He explained that the

objectives included to carry out public enlightenment campaigns on the various facets of Nigeria’s culture, and to effectively mobilise Nigerians towards a culture oriented lifestyle.

“The Institute has successfully used the past editions of its public lecture series as a platform to sensitise Nigerians to the strategic importance of culture in the promotion and sustenance of good governance.

“If Nigeria must stand tall among the committee of nations, we must, as a matter of urgency, explore the cultural dimension not only in our quest for good

governance but in every sphere of our national development,” he said.

Ayakoroma expressed the hope that at the end of the 2012 lecture, it was expected that Nigerian would appreciate and. embrace the inherent values of culture in national development.

Earlier, Prof. Emeka Nwabueze, Head of Department, Theatre and Film Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said that the lecture had continuously stressed that culture was indispensable in the reformation of the country.

“It leads us into critical appraisal of our collective unconscious, and help us to acquire the catharsis of those bizarre agents that threaten our moral skeletons.

Nwabueze said that the annual lecture would not only give a panoramic view of culture, it would lay bare how cultural colonisation had adversely affected Nigerian politics.

He said that the lectures called attention to the interrelatedness of human society to reveal the interiority and increase the understanding of our habits and beliefs. (NAN)

PAGE 30

BOOK REVIEW

By Ikhide R. Ikheloa (Nnamdi) Slivers of Brilliance and Petulance. aja-Pearce is more at home with plays. In Chapter 3, he devotes literary muscle and rigor to analysis of plays.

Chapter 3 is almost worth the price of the book but it has little to do with Clark. It reads like a failed manuscript from a different project.

The book provides some good history showing Clark as a visionary when it comes to promoting our literature (Mbari, Black Orpheus, etc.).

However, Maja-Pearce manages to diminish Clark’s contributions by ascribing significant credit to the late Ulli Beier. He is genetically incapable of giving unqualified praise.

The most egregious failing of this book is Maja-Pearce’s misrepresentation of a 1975 letter which clearly showed that Clark was in the oil business and was soliciting business overseas. Maja Pearce sought to represent that Clark “benefitted from an oil contract for services rendered to the nation following his support for the federal side during the civil war.”

The letter, a copy of which is in the book’s appendix, makes no such claim. I think it was irresponsible journalism, bordering on blackmail for Maja-Pearce’s part to make such an insinuation. In a responsible society he would have been hauled before an ethics commission.

Grammatical issues plague the book and careless statements are paraded as facts. The book is a dizzy harvest of tipsy thoughts struggling to pass the sobriety test. As a result, the book fails grandly. There are all these loopy drunken sentences dripping with vinegary venom.

Maja-Pearce quotes myriad sources but there is ample evidence that he did not read them thoroughly. I urge a more talented writer to use the same sources and write a real book about a great man- John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo.

Shakedown Inc. Faced with Clark’s alleged pettiness, Maja-Pearce rises above the effluvium with his own brand of pettiness. In that department he easily bests Clark. The story of the book is of a shakedown gone awry.

And Clark is the victim here. MajaPearce’s fee to write a shoddy book is a hefty $63,000 and he is piqued when Clark asks him why he would need all that money to write a damn book. This is one Nigerian intellectual pining for alien wines, turning tricks for quick bucks.

Maja-Pearce describes Clark’s eagerness to fund the book as part of an elaborate plan to rehabilitate his image, in the hope that he might get the Nobel Prize. Bizarre. Some of it smacks of megalomania on Maja-Pearce’s part. It is quite possible that Clark was unimpressed by the work. MajaPearce had trouble selling the book to Western publishers but he ascribed ulterior motives to their refusal to publish his book. Reading this poorly edited book, I can see why no one would want to touch the manuscript. It is poorly written, poorly organized and certainly not marketable as presented.

Maja-Pearce portrays Clark as a tragic Walter Mitty character who still harbors dreams of making

M

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Triumphing over an imaginary tragedy (II)

it big on the world stage. MajaPearce is no angel himself. A selfconfessed heavy drinker, in one forgettable passage, he leaves Clark’s dining table after a feud but does not forget to grab a half-empty bottle of wine on his way to his bedroom. What a class act. The Clarks were generous to him, paying for his writing and buying his wife’s expensive art. Still he whines nonstop; he even complains that the Clarks put him in a bedroom that lacked a balcony.

Someone hand me my violin.

Broken Guns for Word Deities.

Clark is a well-read complex thinker. It would have been more respectful and productive to pair him with a thoughtful and gifted interlocutor.

Clark is an accomplished playwright and poet and nothing can take that away from him, not even his own demons and there are many of those. Clark is not the only victim here; MajaPearce dismisses Achebe’s Things Fall Apart but offers no reason for such recklessness. Who does that? One of the chapters offers an egregiously awful rumination on writing in one’s own language, one that calls to serious question, Maja-Pearce’s ability to engage in these kinds of debates. It is a poorly articulated filler that was relentlessly stretched to give the impression that it is somehow about Clark. There is scant evidence that he personally interviewed Soyinka, Achebe, Ike, etc. And missing are the insights of the female writers of the time, someone like Buchi Emecheta who is still alive.

The book is a petulant retort to a spurned relationship with JP ClarkBekederemo Paul Theroux wrote Sir Vidia’s Shadow, a good book on VS Naipaul based on a sustained decades-long personal relationship

with Naipaul. It was a work of rigor and scholarship. Maja-Pearce is no Theroux. For one thing, MajaPearce desperately needs to read new writing to update his opinions.

Many decades ago, Paul Theroux, a young aspiring writer befriended an older writer VS Naipaul. The friendship of two complex persons was to be a marathon journey of at least three decades that Naipaul ended abruptly and on a sour note.

Theroux did not take being unceremoniously dumped well. He wrote a caustic but important and well-received biography of Naipaul, Sir Vidia’s Shadow: A Friendship Across Five Continents. Patrick French followed up with his own book, The World Is What It Is: The Authorized Biography of VS Naipaul which largely corroborated the main burden of Theroux’s book. In neither instance was the subject of the biography asked to pony up money for the privilege of being flattered or lampooned. Such an act would have been inappropriate and unethical. Maja-Pearce owes Clark a huge apology.

The chapter on how to win the Nobel Prize is yet another long unnecessary chapter that has a long unnecessary riff about Soyinka.

The chapter has little or nothing to do with Clark. Tasteless is the rumination about whether Soyinka was worth the Nobel. One senses that he is unhappy with Soyinka because the latter wisely declined to be a reference for one of his numerous money making schemes. (p253).

Recreating Faux Naipaulean Drama.

In his book, Maja-Pearce’s attempt to recreate a TherouxNaipaul drama is self-serving and falls short on many levels. There is clearly no chemistry between the two men and Maja-Pearce is in too much of a hurry to make a quick

buck to establish a rapport with a clearly more complex man. And when Clark boots him out of his house, he responds with a poorly written book that is remarkable mostly for its vindictiveness and cutting sarcasm. He paints Clark as a has-been writer for whom several doors are no longer open.

Did he not know this before going to Clark with a proposal to write a biography about him? This is the same man who in the book proposal to Clark praised him as the most underrated writer of four men, the rest being Achebe, Okigbo and Soyinka; who stated that Clark’s plays were more accomplished than Soyinka’s; and who shared that he had a poor opinion of Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (p 125).. It would appear that he basically said all of this to make money off an old man. The intellectual dishonesty is blatant and galling.

There is a pattern to MajaPearce’s mischief; he has sought to sustain a tottering career in letters by attacking better known and accomplished writers. He is probably best remembered for his long rambling attack-review of Soyinka in 2007 under the smirking title Credulous Grammarian a scathing “review” of Soyinka’s You Must Set Forth at Dawn that is so full of ridicule, it barely has room for substance.

Quoting liberally from Soyinka’s The Man Died, MajaPearce makes sinful literary hay out of the tensions between Clark and Soyinka and pits both men against each other. He is quite gossipy, Maja-Pearce is not someone you want to invite into your home, you will regret the result. The disrespect shown Okigbo, Soyinka, Achebe, Clark and even Odia Ofeimun is particularly troubling.

There is no compassion for the bravery, intellect and erudition of these men who taught several generations of youths even as they were youths themselves. Despite their flaws and demons, these men deserve our gratitude not ridicule.

Maja-Pearce owes these great men unqualified apologies.

Again, the burden on these brave warriors of letters in the face of the birth of a new nation is hard to quantify. They were certainly no angels, but that is what makes their narrative powerful, evocative and compelling. Try to imagine as a twenty something year old, writing Things Fall Apart long hand without the benefit of a word processor and definitely without the Internet and you get some sense of what these griots accomplished. A balanced objective biography that tells the truth warts and all and respectfully is what we need. In the twilight of their life’s journeys we should treat these brave men and women with compassion, respect and definitely with appreciation for making our world a better place than they met it. I salute Professor John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo, warts and all.

Concluded Source: Africanwriter.com

PEOPLES POEM OF THE WEEK

By Abigail George IF I WAS WRITING A PRAYER FOR PEACE If I can see from where I am Standing (next to my bedroom door.

This is ajar because I left it like That) through the window made of Lines of yellow light, shiny parts At my front door and stare into the Face of a stranger, what would I see There meeting their eyes, intent, Winter, my own washed-out or ill Reflection depending on what day Of the week it was, would I see a Vision or feel a change flicker and Dance within the usual outspoken Me, would we make commonplace Conversation, would I give my peace Of mind away as I make the stranger A cup of coffee so hot that steam rises In puffs almost like smoke in a glanceThe stranger never smiles at me.

I am just a poet and a writer feeling The air near my hands, pushing those Buttons, dreaming a life half-lived in Silence with medicine-this is my Home, my fairytale ending, my lining.

In the cold, cold night when my skin Tastes like salt, when the street lamp Glows in the dark, when stripes of Shadows seem to win me over to sleep, To the light that hits falling angels and I think of bottles littered on a field, the Stamina they give a man, roads into Madness, softness and sanctuary and I am reminded of the stranger at my Door, the silver in his hair and beard, How we both are cast out into the Black, into loneliness to settle out there.

LIKE PEOPLE OF THE MOON If people lived on the moon how Would they ever begin to fathom justice If the tides didn't turn?

Truths for me If the sun didn't burn so bright In my eyes would I see angels falling From the sky wearing white robes?

SIGNS Could we stop the sounds of falling rain If we weren't exposed to the song in it, if we Paid more attention to it like a dream?

HELEN Lunch - a plate of cheese On a dusty New Bethesda table While mice ransack the place.

While I eat French toast As hard as air, poised yet fragile, you, Black beauty mapped with fragile lines Make me weep rivulets like gems.

QUO TE UOTE “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."

– Albert Einsten

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 31

08091700949 isaochako@yahoo.com

Nigeria needs transparency, prudent financial management to build economy- Collyns

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he U.S. Department of the Treasury's Assistant Secretary for International Finance, Charles Collyns, has visited Lagos and Abuja meeting with senior government officials, representatives of the international financial institutions (IFIs), and members of the financial and private sector to discuss Nigeria's economic development challenges and priorities.

Assistant Secretary Collyns recognized Nigeria's strong recent economic performance and dynamic private sector and emphasized the close economic and financial ties between the United States and Nigeria and

Treasury's commitment to close partnership with Nigeria.

He welcomed President Jonathan's ambitious reform agenda aimed at ensuring macroeconomic stability, prudent natural resource and revenue management, and financial sector stability. The discussions focused on the challenges of sustaining broadbased, inclusive growth vital to alleviating poverty and realizing Nigeria's long-term vision towards becoming one of the world's largest economies.

In Collyns' meetings, his counterparts indicated that continued progress on ongoing reforms to the energy sector will be critical for Nigeria's long-term growth and fiscal

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ECOWAS will not tolerate prolonged negotiations, say Commissioner

he ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman says it would be "dangerous" to rely on dialogue as the sole strategy for resolving the crisis in Mali sparked by the takeover of the north of the country by Islamists and secessionists.

"While dialogue remains the preferred of the two

options being deployed by the region to resolve the problem, there is increasing evidence that some of the elements involved in the crisis are not amenable to dialogue," the Commissioner told the

sustainability.

He emphasized that transparent, accountable public financial management and good governance, and effective anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism controls are critical to help Nigeria establish sound macroeconomic management and improve the business climate.

This will contribute importantly to attracting greater private sector investment to aid development in key areas, including infrastructure and energy, and thus help stimulate economic growth.

Collyns highlighted the Treasury Department's

visiting Commander of the United States African Command, General Carter Ham, at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on Tuesday 11th December 2012.

UK Minister for Africa offers condolence on Nigerian Helicopter accident

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ommenting on the helicopter accident which occurred on Saturday 15th December, the UK Minister for Africa Mark Simmons said: "I was saddened to learn of the helicopter crash

in which Governor Yakowa of Kauna state and General Azazi (former NSA) were killed Along with four others. These men were respected leaders who worked hard for many years for the benefit of Nigeria".

UK Minister for Africa Mark Simmons

"I extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased".

The minister prayed for the departed souls and urged the younger generation to emulate their good deeds.

Charles Collyns partnership with Nigeria through technical support and assistance that the Treasury's Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) has provided to both the Nigerian Deposit The Nigeria Deposit

Regional leaders had in response to the March 2012 coup that deposed former President Amadou Toumani Toure, which precipitated the current crisis adopted a two- pronged strategy of dialogue and the possible deployment of troops to resolve the accompanying political crisis and help the country restore its territorial integrity.

The Commissioner said it was in recognition of the primacy of dialogue that regional leaders appointed one of their peers President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso as mediator and who has remained engaged with some of the elements in the north of the country that have indicated their preference for dialogue in resolving the situation in the northern Mali.

She, however, warned that the region will not tolerate a prolonged or open-ended negotiation, and therefore urged the International community to work together to secure the UN Security Council Chapter Seven mandate requested by West Africa, for the deployment of an African-led force, to assist Mali recover its occupied territory.

The mandate, she said, will provide the region and the international community with the option of the use of force that can be exercised

Insurance Corporation (NDIC) seeks to improve the institution's capacity to supervise the financial sector, and to help Nigeria's Federal Inland Revenue service build its selfaudit capacity.

should dialogue fail to resolve the crisis and help the country on its road to sustainable democracy.

Commissioner Suleiman said the region plans a donors' conference to support the force operations in the country.

She also briefed the visitor on the efforts being made by the region to stabilise Guinea-Bissau after the coup of April 2012 that deposed former President Raimundo Pereira, the deployment of the ECOWAS Force in that country and the ongoing Defence and Security Sector Reform for which ECOWAS has contributed 43 million dollars for the 63 million dollar programme.

In remarks at the meeting, General Ham said the US hopes elections will be held in Mali as soon as possible, adding that Washington is also desirous of working with the region to address its security challenges including those related to maritime security for which West and Central Africa are working on joint activities.

The General was at the head of a delegation on a twoday visit to Nigeria, which included the Command's Coordinator for counterterrorism, Ambassador Daniel Benjamin and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of defence for African Affairs, Amanda Dory.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

ICC acquits Congo militia boss of war crimes Ghana names Kyerematen to succeed WTO's Lamy

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hana has put forward the first official candidate to succeed Pascal Lamy as head of the World Trade Organization (WTO), nominating its former Trade Minister Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen.

Kyerematen's bid to take over after Lamy's second term expires on August 31 was widely expected after he won the backing of the African Union earlier this year.

However, that endorsement was done so quietly that some diplomats have suggested he might face a challenge from another African nation belonging to the 157-member trade body.

Applications must be submitted by the end of the year, in time for a three-month campaigning period and for a winner to emerge by the end of May. Many trade diplomats think the job should go to an African, Latin American or Caribbean candidate, since all but one head of the 17year-old WTO have been from developed countries. The exception was Thailand's Supachai Panitchpakdi.

But Lamy has said there was no system of rotating the job between countries and regions and said his successor, chosen by consensus, should be picked on the basis of competence alone.

Other names in the frame are New Zealand's Trade Minister Tim Groser, Brazil's Ambassador to the WTO Roberto Azevedo, Costa Rica's Trade Minister Anabel Gonzalez and South African Trade Minister Rob Davies.

The head of Mexico's competition commission Eduardo Perez Motta, a former ambassador to the WTO, told Reuters in September that he would enter the race if his name was put forward.

Former Jordanian Trade Minister Ahmad Al Hindawi will also be nominated, Jordanian media reported earlier this month.

The office of Nigeria's Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who failed in a bid to head the World Bank, headed off rumors by saying in September that she had not expressed interest and was not a candidate.

The only WTO member to rule itself out of the race so far is the European Union.

"Obviously this time it will not be somebody from Europe, so we will have to see what the candidatures are," European Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht told reporters last week during a visit to Geneva.

F

ormer Congolese militia leader Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui has been acquitted by the International Criminal Court of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The case related to the 2003 killings of 200 residents of Bogoro village in the mineral-rich Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The court in the Hague heard reports of victims being burned alive, babies smashed against walls and women raped.

Mr Ngudjolo denied ordering the attack, saying he learned of it days later.

He had been charged with seven counts of war crimes and three of crimes against humanity. Prosecutors said he had enlisted child soldiers to carry out the killings. Some of the killings were carried out with machetes.

But presiding Judge Bruno Cotte said the court acquitted Mr Ngudjolo of all charges, saying the prosecution had "not proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui was responsible" for the crimes committed.

He said the decision was unanimous, and that witness

Mathieu Ngudjolo testimony had been "too contradictory and too hazy".

In its summary, the court stressed that the ruling does not mean it believes no crimes were committed in Bogoro "nor does it question what the people of this community have suffered on that day".

"The chamber also emphasised that the fact of deciding that an accused is not guilty does not necessarily mean that the chamber finds him innocent," the ICC said in a statement.

"Such a decision simply demonstrates that, given the standard of proof, the evidence presented to support his guilt has not allowed the

chamber to form a conviction 'beyond reasonable doubt'."

Judge Cotte ordered Mr Ngudjolo's immediate release, but prosecutor Fatou Besnouda said she intended to launch an appeal. A verdict on whether he should be kept in custody is expected later on Tuesday, and any hearing will be held in 2013.

National Congress (ANC).

Zuma beat Kgalmea Mothanthe, his challenger and the country's vicepresident, as about 4,000 delegates

cast their ballots on Tuesday at the ANC's conference in Bloemfontein.

Zuma will now be the party's presidential candidate and almost certain victor in the 2014 national elections.

Anti-apartheid era hero Cyril Ramaphosa has been elected as Zuma's deputy, with four other positions also announced.

Motlanthe on Monday said he would not stand again to be deputy leader, but it is likely he will be offered a senior position by Zuma.

Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa, reporting from Bloemfontein, said: "It is likely that Zuma will offer Motlanthe something in order for the party to remain united."

Zuma has been accused of corruption and failing to bridge the gap between South Africa's rich and poor.

Meanwhile, four white South Africans were charged with treason over a suspected plot to bomb the conference and execute Zuma and other top government officials.

The four, named as Mark Trollip, John Martin Keevy, Johan Hendrick Prinsloo and Hein Boonzaaier, were brought into court in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

State prosecutor Shaun Abrahams said the men wanted to establish an independent Boer nation and that they were planning an assault on the ANC mass meeting.

The plan included a mortar bomb attack on marquees housing ANC delegates, before an assault targeting Zuma and cabinet ministers as they had dinner, Abrahams told the court. Zuma and others were to be shot "in execution style", he added.

centres in the urban areas with immediate effect," read a statement from Badu Katelo, Kenya's acting commissioner for refugee affairs.

"The refugees, particularly those living in urban centres, are contributing to insecurity in the

country."

He also said aid agencies, including the UNHCR, should stop giving assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in Kenya's towns and cities and only provides help in camps.

Jacob Zuma re-elected as ANC head

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outh African President Jacob Zuma has been reelected as the leader of the governing party, the African

Cyril Ramaphosa has been elected as Zuma's deputy for the African National Congress.

Kenya orders Somali refugees to Dadaab

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housands of Somali refugees in Kenya have been ordered to leave urban areas and go to remote, overcrowded camps, following a spate of grenade attacks.

Aid will no longer be delivered to those who remain in urban areas, said the head of Kenya's refugee agency.

He blamed the refugees for contributing to insecurity in Kenya.

The attacks have mostly been carried out in areas with a large ethnic Somali population in northeast Kenya and the Eastleigh district of Nairobi.

They are believed to have been carried out by the al-Shabab militant group.

The al-Qaeda-linked group has not commented on the claims.

But al-Shabab had threatened to

take revenge over Kenya's decision last year to send troops over the border to help the UN-backed government seize territory from the militants.

All Somali refugees have been ordered to report to the north-eastern Dadaab complex of camps, the world's biggest refugee facility that already house some 500,000 people.

Refugees from other countries have been told to go to Kakuma in the north-west, where some 100,000 people from Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan are living.

More than 30,000 Somali refugees live in Nairobi, the AFP news agency quotes the UN as saying.

"The government of Kenya has decided to stop reception, registration and close down all registration

Some of the 500,000 displaced Somalis.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Asia and Middle East

F

inal campaigning is under way in South Korea ahead of Wednesday's tightlycontested presidential election.

Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri party faces Moon Jae-in of the liberal Democratic United Party in the polls.

A win by Ms Park would give South Korea its first female president.

PAGE 33

South Korea presidential rivals in final election push But the daughter of former military strongman Park Chunghee has faced criticism over his legacy, as has Mr Moon over his close ties to late President Roh Moo-hyun.

The current leader, President Lee Myung-bak, is stepping down, as the law requires he must after

serving one five-year term.

Both Ms Park and Mr Moon were set to spend their last day on the campaign trail with stops in multiple cities.

On Sunday the two held the third of three televised debates, with the focus on social issues. Both

pledged to introduced new policies aimed at supporting mothers and boosting South Korea's low birthrate.

Economic issues have dominated the election build-up, including tough competition to find employment for young

people.

Both candidates have promised to boost social welfare spending, amid rising income inequality and concern over the dominance of big business in the form of South Korea's family-run giant conglomerates, known as chaebol.

Anti-polio workers gunned down in Pakistan

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unmen in Pakistan have shot dead six health workers associated with an anti-polio campaign in a string of attacks, officials say.

It was not clear who was behind the shootings in the southern city of Karachi and northern city of Peshawar on Tuesday, but Taliban fighters have repeatedly denounced the anti-polio campaign as a "Western plot".

The government's immunisation campaign against the crippling disease was suspended in Karachi following the attacks.

Three women were killed and two men wounded in two separate attacks on health workers in Karachi on Tuesday, said Imran Shaukat, a senior police superintendent.

The team had received telephone calls warning workers they would regret helping the "infidel" campaign against polio, said health official Gul Naz, who oversees the project in the area where the women were shot.

A female anti-polio worker was also shot dead in Karachi on Monday, the United Nations said.

Shaukat said that the attacks were co-ordinated and occured at the same time in different parts of the city.

In the northwestern city of Peshawar on Tuesday, gunmen on a motorcycle shot a 17-year-old girl supervising an anti-polio campaign, said Javed Marwar, a government official.

Park Geun-hye (L) faces Moon Jae-in (R).

Saudi Arabia bans Brazil beef imports

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audi Arabia has suspended imports of Brazilian beef, Brazil's agriculture ministry said on Tuesday, and became the largest country to stop purchases after confirmation of a 2010 case of atypical mad cow disease.

The decision, confirmed by a ministry press official in Brasilia, follows Egypt's ban of beef on Monday from Parana state, where a cow that died two years ago had developed atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. Egypt will continue to import from other states.

Between January and October, Saudi Arabia imported 31,300 metric tons of beef, putting it among

the top 10 largest importers from Brazil, the world's largest beef exporter.

But top buyers Russia, Hong Kong and Egypt - which took more than half of the 896,000 metric tons of beef that Brazil has exported this year through September continue to import its beef, suggesting the impact could be limited.

Prior to Saudi Arabia, only Japan, China and South Africa had halted imports of all Brazilian beef since Brazil announced on December 7 that a 13-year-old cow that died in 2010 in Parana tested positive for the protein linked to the development of BSE.

President Jalal Talabani

raqi President Jalal Talabani is said to be in a coma in hospital after officials and media reported he had suffered a stroke.

A statement on his website said President Talabani was in a stable condition and was being treated for blocked arteries.

Well-placed Kurdish sources say he remains in a coma.

He has struggled with his health in recent years and has often been treated abroad.

A veteran of the Kurdish guerrilla movement, Mr

Corpse of the workers conveyed arrive Karachi hospital.

Iraqi President ‘in coma after stroke’

I

Talabani, 79, is Iraq's first president from the ethnic group.

"Bodily functions are normal and the health condition of his excellency the president is stable," the statement said.

The presidency said in an earlier statement that Mr Talabani's efforts to forge a consensus in Iraq and the "consequent fatigue and tiredness" had led to a "health emergency".

A spokesman for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told AP

news agency that doctors were deciding whether to continue treating him in Baghdad or to fly him abroad for medical care.

Mr Maliki is said to be at the hospital.

The president had heart surgery in the US in 2008, and was treated for dehydration and exhaustion in Jordan in 2007.

Mr Talabani has lived through decades of conflict with the central government and other Kurdish groups, including a period in exile before the fall

of Saddam Hussein.

He took over the mainly ceremonial presidency in the years after the 2003 invasion, and has often used the position to mediate between sectarian and ethnic groups.

Recently he brokered a deal between Baghdad and Kurdish groups to end a standoff on disputed areas on the border with the Kurdish self-rule area.

Mr Talabani and Mr Maliki were said to have met on Monday, and agreed to invite a Kurdish delegation to Baghdad for further talks.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas

US to 'increase pressure' on N Korea

Russia sends warships to Syria for possible evacuation

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he US has said that North Korea's rocket launch in defiance of a UN ban has left no option but to increase pressure on Pyongyang.

North Korea was also condemned on Sunday by South Korea and Japan for launching the satellite last week, while some officials feared it was a veiled test for a long-range ballistic missile.

The criticism on Sunday comes as a US scientist said that the satellite appears to not be functioning properly.

North Korea had succeeded on Wednesday in putting an object into orbit that the communist state said was observing the earth and airing patriotic songs.

"What's left to us is to continue to increase pressure on the North Korean regime and we are looking at how to best to do that, both bilaterally and with our partners going forward until they (North Korea) get the message. We are going to further isolate this regime,'' Victoria Noland, a US state department spokeswoman, said on Monday.

The US and its allies are pushing for tighter sanctions in the UN Security Council, which already bars military trade with North Korea and has prohibited the country from conducting launches using ballistic missile technology.

It is unclear if China, North Korea's only major ally and a key source of economic support, will endorse more restrictions.

Nuland also dismissed the notion of moving to restart six-nation talks on the North's nuclear programme, which has been installed since 2009.

A US-based astrophysicist who monitors spaceflights has said that no signal can be detected from the recently launched satellite.

Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics said on Monday that the satellite was clearly in orbit but that no songs could be heard.

A Turkish Navy coast guard boat (L) escorts the Russian Navy destroyer in Istanbul.

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ussia sent warships to the Mediterranean to prepare a potential evacuation of its citizens from Syria, a Russian news agency said on Tuesday, a sign President Bashar al-Assad's key ally is worried about rebel advances that now threaten even the capital.

Moscow acted a day after insurgents waging a 21-monthold uprising obtained a possible springboard for a thrust into Damascus by seizing the

Yarmouk Palestinian camp just 2 miles from the heart of the city, activists said.

The anti-Assad opposition has posted significant military and diplomatic gains in recent weeks, capturing a series of army installations across Syriaand securing formal recognition from Western and Arab states for its new coalition.

Assad's pivotal allies have largely stood behind him. But Russia, his main arms supplier,

appeared to waver this week with contradictory statements repeating opposition to Assad stepping down and airing concerns about a possible rebel victory.

Russia's Interfax news agency quoted unnamed naval sources on Tuesday as saying that two assault ships, a tanker and an escort vessel had left a Baltic port for the Mediterranean Sea, where Russia has a port in Syria's coastal city of Tartus.

"They are heading to the Syrian coast to assist in a possible evacuation of Russian citizens ...

Preparations for the deployment were carried out in a hurry and were heavily classified," the Russian agency quoted the source as saying.

It was not possible to independently verify the report, which came a day after Russia confirmed that two citizens working in Syria were kidnapped along with an Italian citizen.

In Damascus, activists reported overnight explosions and early morning sniper fire around the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk. The Yarmouk and Palestine refugee "camps" are actually densely populated urban districts home to thousands of impoverished Palestinian refugees and Syrians.

"The rebels control the camp but army forces are gathering in the Palestine camp and snipers can fire in on the southern parts of Yarmouk," rebel spokesman Abu Nidal said

by Skype.

"Strategically, this site is very important because it is one of the best doors into central Damascus.

The regime normally does not fight to regain areas captured any more

France opposition UMP agrees new leadership vote

T

he two leadership rivals in France's opposition centre-right UMP party have agreed to hold a re-run of their controversial leadership election.

The fresh poll, again pitting Jean-Francois Cope and former Prime Minister Francois Fillon against each other, will be held before October next year.

Both claimed victory in November's poll to succeed Nicolas Sarkozy as leader of the UMP. Mr Cope was declared the narrow winner of the first vote, but the result was challenged by Mr Fillon, who went on to form a breakaway splinter

group of UMP members.

The party is expected to reunite before the poll, which is scheduled to take place before parliament reconvenes after the summer recess in October.

Mr Fillon's spokesman, Jerome Chartier, said this was a "clear, unambiguous deal" that would determine the UMP's "indisputable" leader.

The announcement of a deal came after a series of private meetings between the political rivals.

Previously Mr Cope had offered a fresh election, but not until after

local elections in March 2014. This was rejected by Mr Fillon who set his

own March 2013 deadline for any new vote.

Jean-Francois Cope (R) and Francois Fillon

Mexico to create new police force

M

exican President Enrique Pena Nieto, has announced the creation of a new national police force as part of efforts to tackle crime

and violence.

Mr Pena Nieto, who took office on 1 December, said the new militarised force would initially be 10,000 strong.

Mexican troops have assumed policing duties in recent years.

Troops would continue to patrol until the new force was fully trained, he said, without elaborating. details.

Some 60,000 people have died since 2006 when the previous government deployed the military against the drugs gangs.

Mr Pena Nieto had campaigned on a promise to switch the focus of the drugs fight from tackling the gangs to reducing the crime and violence that blight the lives of ordinary Mexicans.

"Mexicans want peace," said Mr Pena Nieto on Monday as he unveiled a six-point programme that gave more details of his strategy.

The new police force will be modelled on European-style gendarmeries, with the focus on

basic law enforcement duties.

Mr Pena Nieto said the force would initially have 10,000 officers but he did not give a timeframe for recruiting or training them.

Previous suggestions have spoken of a total strength of 40,000.

Fifteen federal police units will be created to focus on combating kidnapping and extortion, he said, and there would be more emphasis on crime prevention.

Mr Pena Nieto's predecessor, Felipe Calderon, deployed troops in late 2006 to take on the drug gangs.

Mr Calderon argued that this policy was working as drug gangs fought among themselves after their leaders were killed or arrested.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 35

Now you can hunt for ghosts using your iPhone

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f there's something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call?

Siri, maybe.

In addition to making phone calls and sending text messages, your iPhone can now be used to hunt down ghosts in your attic, basement or crawlspace, thanks to a newly created attachment called Mr. Ghost.

The attachment (via Geekologie) resembles an old cell phone antenna and is available in white, grey, red or orange; more importantly, it functions as an electromagnetic field (EMF) detector that plugs into your iPhone headphone jack and displays on your screen the level of electromagnetic radiation being emitted by anything you wave the detector over.

That means Mr. Ghost can be used not only to measure the amount of electromagnetic radiation certain electronic devices in your home are emitting, but also to find, track down and pinpoint the location of of ghosts, which, of course, emit unusual amounts of electromagnetic energy as they zip around the dark corners of your home.

Mr. Ghost creator Aaron Rasmussen explains how it all works, and hunts for ghosts in

Ghost hunters on the Siri platform his own attic, in his Kickstarter video below: As you can see, the primary function of Mr. Ghost is identifying the gizmos in your house that are emitting high levels of electromagnetic radiation so that you can avoid exposing your more cherished organs to them for too long, or too often. The more intriguing function, however, must certainly be the ghost-hunting mode: We all have spaces in our

homes, or offices, or spouses, that we have long suspected are haunted, and now we have a device to verify our beliefs and vindicate ourselves from our dismissive friends and relatives (and spouses).

The Mr. Ghost attachment, then, will allow us to locate any number of ghosts, including but not limited to spooks, spectres, shapeshifters, phantoms, phantasms, poltergeists, wraiths, succubi and, of course,

invisible zombie children.

If there is one great downside to the Mr. Ghost iPhone attachment, it is perhaps that it can only find the position of the ghost, and not actually subdue or capture it. Maybe, as a followup, Mr. Rasmussen could invent an iPhone-ready proton pack?

In all seriousness, Mr. Ghost is a real product, available to back on Kickstarter, where it has already exceeded its

funding goal of $7,000, with two weeks still to go. A white Mr. Ghost attachment costs $20 and will arrive in February 2013, per the Kickstarter page; for $25, Rasmussen will get you one

by Christmas. Mr. Ghost works on iPhone 4 or newer and iPad 2 or newer; while the attachment will detect ghosts on Android phones, there is not yet an app to visualize their energy, nor is there an immediate plan to build one.

'Till arrest do us part': groom heads to Strange passenger hits wedding, winds up in jail Berlin S-bahn subway

S

ome guys are hesitant about getting married, but not Timothy Thompson.

He was so excited about getting hitched on Dec. 8, he sped to the church in Portage, Ind., in hopes of getting there on time.

Problem was, officials clocked him at 100 mph and pulled him over, according to a police report obtained by NWI. During his pre-nuptial joyride, officers said he drove erratically, switched lanes abruptly and, at one point, almost wrecked his Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The police finally cornered Thompson when he turned into the parking lot of Nativity of Our Savior Church, where he again

nearly tipped over the vehicle, but only after allegedly doing two doughnuts in the parking lot, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

When the officers questioned Thompson, they say he explained he was late for his wedding and was only speeding so that he'd

Timothy Thompson

make it to the church on time. They also say he told them he had been flashing his emergency lights and honking his horn helpfully to warn other drivers, UPI.com reported.

At some point during the interrogation, three people approached Thompson and the officer and started yelling at the accused for his bad driving. These witnesses were lated identified as relatives of Thompson, and when they started arguing, he got back in his car and started to drive away.

The officer blocked Thompson with his cruiser and then asked why Thompson was trying to leave, according to WXIN-TV. "Oh, I thought you were done and I'm late for a party in Chicago," Thompson allegedly told police, "It now means I have to drive really fast to get there."

Man caught driving wrong on highway, blames GPS

I

t wasn't me officer, it was my GPS. A man pulled over for driving the wrong way down a Victoria, Australia highwaytold

police he was just following instructions from his GPS navigator, according to ABC. The 37-year-old South Wales

The GPS screen on his dashboard

Man, whose name was not released, said he was unconcerned by cars passing him in the other direction because he thought he was on a twolane highway.

There's no indication alcohol was involved or that charges were filed against the man.

He's also hardly the only person who let his GPS device lead him into harm's way.

In 2010, ABC News reported on Mary Davis of Ohio who took her GPS' instruction to "turn right" and ended up driving on train tracks.

She came within one minute of being clobbered by a train.

That same year, a Senegalese man was not so lucky. His GPS led him into a lake in Capilla, Badajoz in Spain. He did not survive the accident, according to Gizmo.

S

traphangers on a particular S-Bahn subway train in Berlin, Germany, were in for a surprise Friday when they found an unusual companion on board -- a Shetland pony named Seppi.

According to The Local, a 16year-old girl identified only as Frauke boarded the train with the pony on a whim after she was stood up by a friend.

"He didn't come, so I just got on the train with the pony," she told Berlin's B.Z. newspaper, according to The Local.

"Everyone was taking photos or stroking Seppi. Because it was so funny I just kept traveling."

Frauke began her journey in Schulzendorf, riding the train to Friedrichstrasse, where she then took the pony on an excursion to

Frauke and Seppi

H&M and McDonald's. On her way back home, another passenger filmed Seppi calmly riding the train as Frauke kept the pony on a leash at arm's length.

While some have speculated the pony belongs to a circus, the ownership of the miniature horse and how it came to be on the train in the first place is still a mystery.

S-Bahn spokesman Burkhard Ahlert was less than thrilled when he heard of the incident.

"One may smile but according to our transport regulations, this is clearly not allowed,' he said, according to Metro U.K. "A horse can be dangerous. What if it escapes?

The S-Bahn is no place for such animals."

PAGE 36

E

ven small termite mounds could be reliable markers, and that termites themselves may be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly means of finding new mineral deposits.

The CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) has found that termite mounds could indicate where gold or other mineral deposits lie beneath the surface.

It believes even small termite mounds could be reliable markers, and that termites themselves may be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly means of finding new mineral deposits.

Termite mounds are abundant across Australia’s north, and the largest ones can stand up to five metres tall.

CSIRO entomologist Dr Aaron Stewart says there is a very good reason they build the mounds.

“Termites need protection from the elements. They’re quite perceptible to desiccation, they’ll dry out very easily, so what they need to do is create a home which retains the humidity,” he said.

“They also need protection against their enemies because there’s lots of things that make a tasty meal of a termite.”

Dr Stewart says in order to build their homes, termites bring up dirt

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Anthills and termite mounds ‘show where to dig for gold’ from below the surface.

“When it builds its mound, it’s collecting material from different places, collecting fine, silty clays from the surface and other building materials.

“It’s also excavating soil from underneath in which to house its nest.

“So it’s really about how they go down and collect materials and put them in their nest, and to our advantage, those materials are what we’re looking for.” Termites can dig as far down as 30 metres, but when they are building, most of the dirt will come from just a few metres down.

At that level there is often a fingerprint or residue that points to more substantial mineral deposits further below.

Once that soil ends up in the termite mound, geologists and entomologists can have a closer look.

Largest mounds Dr Stewart says minerals would not be apparent to the naked eye.

Scans of termite bodies show minerals inside the insects

Researchers believe that termite mounds could lead to underground gold seams

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he next time someone bounds past you up the stairs, there’s no need to feel guilty.

For ascending one step at a time actually burns more calories than leaping up multiple stairs, new research suggests.

Although more energy is initially expended when taking two steps per stride, over time, more energy is burnt up when you take your time.

Scientists from the University of Roehampton found climbing five flights of stairs five times a week - an ascent of around 15 meters - burnt an average of 302 calories if the stairs were taken one at a time.

But taking two steps with every stride will only burn 260 calories, they say.

Dr Lewis Halsey, senior lecturer in comparative and environmental physiology at the university, said: ‘We were really interested to find out what expended more energy overall attacking the stairs two at a time and climbing them quickly, or taking them more sedately one step at a time and reaching the top more slowly.

‘Our study reported the calories burned ascending stairs, the potential weight loss value of

“What we have to do is take the soil away and have it analysed by a laboratory... and find the gold that way,” he said.

“We’re talking about very low levels of gold.” Dr Stewart says looking at termite mounds is not a new idea, but until now any attempt to detect mineral wealth has focused on the largest mounds, usually found in the Northern Territory.

He says a smaller mound will do just as well.

“The insects that I’m looking at occupy a vast area of central Australia, so we’re talking about

down into quite southern latitudes, so we’re talking about animals right across Australia, not just the big termite mounds that are in the north.”

Alternative Mineral exploration in Australia can be expensive because resources tend to be well below the surface and drilling is required to find out what is there.

Dr Stewart says termites could provide an alternative.

“There is quite a history of people looking at termite mounds to find gold,” he said.

“In fact in Africa, some mounds have enough gold in them that people are panning them to get the

gold out.

“So the idea has sort of been around, it’s really about how we applied it to the Australian landscape.” Dr Stewart says his technique could also possibly find other valuable resources.

“So far I’ve really had the most success looking at gold, but certainly we’re researching into other resources as well, for example VMS, which is volcanic massive sulphide deposits, which will have zinc and other resources in them.

“But that research is really in development.”

Source: Yahoo.com

Taking the stairs one at a time burns more calories than leaping up them climbing stairs if done regularly and frequently during the week, and also the different energy costs of ascending stairs one step at a time versus two steps at a time.

‘And our conclusion: it is better to take the stairs one at a time, if you want to burn the most calories.’

He added that the greater total energy expenditure of one-step ascents must be partly explained by the fact it takes longer.

But there might be a biomechanical explanation, too.

Taking the stairs one at a time may result in faster rates of muscle shortening, which increases energy turnover.

Previous research from the University of Ulster found office workers who began regularly climbing stairs quickly improved their fitness.

Researchers divided office workers into two groups. One climbed staircases located within an eight-storey office block, consisting of 145 steps.

They began by climbing the

stairs once a day and gradually built up to three over the following five weeks.

The average speed they climbed was 75 steps a minute.At the end of the trial, the stairclimbing group showed a significant 10 per cent increase in a reading called predicted VO2 max.

This is measured using your pulse — the time interval between

your heartbeats is used to find out how well your body takes up and uses oxygen.

Lead researcher Rodney Kennedy said: ‘Given that such improvement resulted from less than 30 minutes per week of moderate exercise, stair climbing in the workplace should be promoted as a health-enhancing physical activity.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Taking the stairs one at a time burns more calories than leaping up multiple steps, say British researchers

Previous research from the University of Ulster found office workers who began regularly climbing stairs quickly improved their fitness

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 37

Reps urge FG to name National Museum after Enahoro

By Umar Muhammad Puma

I

n recognition of his immense contributions to the independence of the country and his political antecedents, the House of Representatives yesterday urged the Federal Government to name the National Museum Centre, Benin city as Chief Anthony Enahoro National Museum Centre, Benin city, Edo state.

The motion which was moved by Rep. Friday Itulah (PDP Edo state) acknowledged the virtues of the late Elder statesman added that Enahoro was a foremost nationalists who

fought for the independent of the country. According to him, he was a political icon who brought his wealth of experience into the Nigerian political scene to emancipate the Nigerian people from colonialism.

Anthony Enahoro, a former member of the House of Representatives, who died on the 15th of December 2010, was a political icon whose legacy has become an institution of learning and political thought in Nigeria and beyond. The motion was referred to the House committee on Government Affairs for further legislative inputs.

Don't stampede judgegroup tells Katsina CPC

By Augustine Aminu

T

he Katsina Unity Forum has urged the former members of the National Assembly sacked by the Supreme Court in its judgment of December 16th, 2011 to refrain from stampeding Justice Gladys Oputu of the Federal High Court 3 into hastily delivering judgement.

The group in a press statement signed by its National President,

Alhaji Isa Mohammed, said the recent media reports credited to a faceless group in Katsina urging the Judge not to delay judgment in the suit filed by the Sen. Lado's camp of the CPC in the state smacks of desperation on their part. He maintained in the statement that their resort to the courts after the Supreme Court has made a judgment on the issue amounts to abuse of the judicial process.

KOWA Party says FG should allow multiple parties but stop funding

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he KOWA Party on Tuesday in Lagos urged the Federal Government to allow the existence of many political parties but stop funding them to know which of them had genuine motives.

The National Public Relations Officer of the party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that parties with ulterior motives would fold up, if government ceased to fund them.

Sonaiya was reacting to a recent disclosure by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) might consider a five-party system for the country.

NAN reports that INEC recently de-registered 28 political parties for failure to win in national, governorship or state assembly elections.

The de-registration reduced

the number of political parties to 28. The commission had earlier de-registered seven parties.

Sonaiya said that parties with genuine intentions would still exist without government funding.

She told NAN that the cost of servicing political parties in Nigeria was high and that the government should withdraw its funding and make the parties to fund themselves.

"I do not believe that it is the business of the government to force a particular structure on us, but I recognise that the cost of servicing all these parties is huge.

"So, I suggest that government should stop all forms of funding to parties," she said.

NAN reports that the Federal Government gives an annual grant of N6 million to each political party. The funding has, however, not been regular. (NAN)

L-R: Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Ramalan Yero, Senator Isaiah Balat, and reverend Mathew Kukah, during their condolence visit to the family of Late Governor, Mr Patrick Yakowa, on Sunday in Kaduna.

Rep consoles Yakowa’s family

By Augustine Aminu

A

member of the House of Representatives, Rep Muhammed S.A. Ngamdu, has expressed shock over the death of Sir Patrick Yakowa which occurred last weekend in a military helicopter in Bayelsa state.

Ngamdu who represents Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri Federal

A

cross session of Stakeholders in Edo State have advocated the need for the Federal Government to set up mobile courts at polling stations to urgently resolve issues of electoral malpractice.

A Professor of political science at the University of Benin, Edo State, Mr. Musa Abutudu, made the suggestion at a day

validation workshop on study/ research on Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) organized

by Centre for Democracy and Development in collaboration with Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), called for a special security outfit for the purpose of election matters.

He suggested allowances due for security personnel on election duty during election should get

administrations.

The lawmaker who described Kaduna state as a complex state said that Yakowa was able to manage the state in spite of its heterogeneous nature and religious diversity.

He said that the late governor took the whole state as his constituency and did the best he could for the entire state not minding sectional interest.

Oteh: CPD accuses Reps of bias

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

A

socio-political organisation, Coalition of Patriotic Democrats (CDP) has accused the House of Representatives of bias in handling the faceoff between the Director General of Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunma Oteh, and former Chairman of House

Edo stakeholders want mobile courts at polling units

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Constituency of Borno state said that the news came to him like a thunderbolt adding that the nation has lost a rare gem.

According to him, Yakowa was a detribalized politician who used his position as the state governor to bring about peace and even development to the state. He said under Yakowa's administration, Kaduna enjoyed peace than previous

to them in other to eliminate vulnerability to temptation, saying "the training that the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) gives to its ad hoc staff should also be extended to the security personnel".

According to him, "We have troubled elections at grassroots level. Far more than that, we have found out that caretakers have taken over government at grassroots levels.

Committee on Capital Market, Herman Hembe.

Briefing journalists on the issue, CPD regretted the threat by House of Representatives not to consider the appropriation of SEC if Oteh is not sacked by President Jonathan, adding that the walking out of the delegation of the SEC who came to defend the commission's budget is condemnable.

It argued that the House of Representatives should consider the interest of Nigerians first rather than sentiments, since investments of Nigerians are at stake in the issue.

Based on this, CPD raised fear that the commission's budget projection for 2013 may not be approved for integration in the nation's 2013 Appropriation Bill if the House insists on disregarding the budget of the commission.

While recalling how Oteh stated publicly that the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market demanded N44

million from her, in addition to other demands, CPD expressed worry over why the House will choose to sweep these allegations under the carpet.

It also discredited the claims by the House that Oteh's competence and condition of service is questionable, asking why the House cleared her when she was appointed

by President Jonathan.

CPD further pointed out that for the period Oteh was serving as DG SEC, the House never raised alarm until the Oteh/Hembe issue surfaced.

"Since the constitution of the Federal Republic does not empower the legislature to over-rule the President ‌, why is the House acting like a bully in the DG, SEC case? We wish to bring to the knowledge of Nigerians that it is not within the powers of the Lower Chambers to just pick public officers and deal with them in the discharge of their duties," the statement read.

PAGE 38

FG's performancebased promotion policy not binding on Ekiti – HOS

T

he Ekiti Head of Service, Mr Olubunmi Famosaya, said that the Federal Government's newly introduced performancebased policy for promoting civil servants was not binding on the state government.

Famosaya, who made the declaration on Monday in Ado Ekiti, also warned that any civil servant found to be involved in partisan politics in spite of government's warnings would be dismissed from service.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the 2012 Civil Service Week, the Head of Service said that as Nigeria was operating a federating system, any policy adopted by the Federal Government to run its civil service was not binding on state governments.

He made the declaration against the backdrop of Gov. Kayode Fayemi's stand on examination as basis for workers' promotion.

He said that sacking of workers was not the best option to attain economic development in any nation.

Famosaya commended Fayemi for initiating a series of reforms that brought about radical shake-up in the service, adding that the governor had no intention to sack workers who failed any competence test.

He said that some 916 junior workers who acquired higher certificates between 2008 and 2010 had been converted or advanced to their appropriate levels.

He declared that Fayemi's intention about writing a competence test to earn promotion was being misconstrued because it was only targeted at making the service more virile and strong.

He revealed that over 80 per cent of the state civil servants who sat for promotion examinations on Aug.17 were successful, and promised that their promotions would soon receive the governor's assent.

The head of service, who frowned at the increasing involvement of workers in partisan politics, urged state civil servants to pay ``particular attention to political neutrality, loyalty, honesty, impartiality and anonymity'' in all their dealings. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PDP chieftain charges Zamfara governor on security

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chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara state, Alhaji Musa Zubairu, has called on the governor of the state, Hon. Abdulaziz Yari to live up to the peoples' expectation in the protection of lives and property of citizens, describing the security situation in the state as "desperate and disturbing".

Zubairu, who is the former secretary of the state's branch of the

opposition PDP, raised the alarm in a press statement in which he lamented the wanton killing of over 100 innocent villagers in Maru, Birnin Magaji and Zurmi local government areas by gangs of gunmen who also robbed and destroyed entire communities in recent times.

He urged the governor Yari to take more drastic measures such as the urgent establishment of joint security task forces with units in targeted local

government areas which should be adequately funded to mount effective surveillance and counter any threat to the security of the people across the state, pointing out that the governor should beef up his strategy by adopting strategies deployed in other parts of the country to check violent crimes against innocent persons.

"Recent reports indicate that the armed gangs have not stopped

L-R: Deputy Chairman, House Committee on FCT Area Councils, Hon. Khamisu Mailantarki , Committee Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Ebbo, members of the Committee, Hon. Abdulrasaq Zaki, and Hon. Mahmud Lawan Maina, during the committee meeting with chairmen of the area councils, yesterday at National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

2015: Civil society coalition calls for restructuring of INEC

By Umar Muhammad Puma

A

civil society coalition yesterday called for the restructuring of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2015 general election.

The group comprising Partners for Electoral Reform (PER), Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), among others, said this has become necessary because the Commission is over burdened

with too many responsibilities which invariable affect its efficiency.

The group advised that INEC should focus primarily on administering and managing election and allow separate organisations the responsibilities of registering political parties; prosecute electoral offenders with the creation of Electoral Offences Commission and voters' education and constituency delineation.

The group through Mr. Ezenwa Samson Nwagwu of the Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership (CPALD) said this at a press conference in Abuja that the situation where the President

appoints INEC officials despite guarantees of impartial selection still denies the people the privilege of believe.

"There is still the existence of doubt in the minds of the people as to the genuineness of these guarantees, this seriously erodes people's trust and undermines the confidence of the public in the government," he said.

Nwagwu said the responsibilities of INEC policing and sanctioning of political parties, and prosecuting electoral offenders, would not allow them to focus on administration and management of election, without placing it in potential conflict with political

CNPP advocates change in government policies for development

A

lhaji Balarabe Musa, the Chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), on Monday advocated a paradigm shift to enable Nigerians to have responsive leaders to govern the country.

Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja said that the policies of government needed to protect public interest in all its ramifications rather than individual interests.

He said: ``What we need in Nigeria now is change in the structure of government, which will automatically give the country a

launching attacks and we are beginning to witness assassinations of innocent persons which could lead to general insecurity and disrupt the normal socio-economic activities of the people", he cautioned.

The former chief of staff in the Shinkafi administration also appealed to the citizens to rally round efforts to check the activities of the armed gangs by providing useful information to the security agencies.

patriotic leadership.

“Let us have a system based on public interest rather than enlightened self-interest.

“We need to throw away the mindless policies directed at privatisation, commercialisation and deregulation. They are impositions from the Western countries.

“Let us go back to the middle-ofthe-road approach in managing the nation's economy to ensure peace, equality, the dignity of human person, progress and development of the country.`` According to Musa, the problem

with Nigeria is not that of leadership but the way government institutions are structured to promote policies that alienate the larger populace.

He said that the rising wave of insecurity was a direct consequence of policies geared towards self-interest in place of public interest.

The CNPP leader said that the past political leaderships performed better than the present crop of leaders.

He attributed the success to the zeal of those leaders in the previous republics in making public interest a cardinal principle of governance.

Musa said the past political leaderships were more credible and

more concerned with the welfare of the generality of the people rather than high net worth individuals.

The first civilian governor of old Kaduna state also decried the level of poverty and unemployment in the country since the end of the second republic.

He attributed it to the emergence of private enterprise and propagation of self-interest.

“What we have now is unemployment, poverty, insecurity, intolerant leadership, and high level of corruption, making everything impossible," he said.

(NAN)

parties.

"It is important that the Federal Government, especially the President, is relieved of the powers to appoint the INEC chairman, its commissioners and the resident electoral commissioners, while the state governors are also relieved of doing same for their state independent commissions".

On the delisting of political parties by INEC, the group called on the National Assembly to amend the relevant section 78(7) of the electoral act 2010 as amended, which gives power to INEC to deregister political parties, by making provision to guarantee wider political space where ideologies can thrive.

On the proposed abolishment of staggered election by INEC, the group said if that is done, it would further curb avenues for manipulation and rigging in the country. It advised INEC to engage other stakeholders in the country on the matter to arrive at final details on how to implement the proposal.

He commended INEC in its effort to reform the electoral process as the country navigates towards the 2015 election. "We strongly believe that early preparation for the 2015 election, if sustained, will lead to improved election in 2015", he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 39

Offa ACN leaders defect to PDP

Ekiti to honour late Aluko, Omoboriowo

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

he Ekiti Government is to honour no fewer than 20 indigenes with outstanding records of performance in various fields of endeavour at its maiden excellence award ceremony.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, said this in a statement on Monday in AdoEkiti.

The statement listed those to be honoured to include Mr Rotimi Babatunde, winner of the 2012 Caine Prize for African Writing, and Capt.

Bolaji Agbelusi, the first Nigerian female to fly an aircraft in the country.

The honours list also included a former deputy governor of old Ondo State, late Chief Akin Omoboriowo, and a renowned economist, late Prof.

Sam Aluko.

The duo would be given post-humous awards in recognition of their academic and political contribution to the state and the country.

Others were the first military administrator of the state, retired Col. Inuwa Bawa, the first Head of Service, Mr Johnson Ibidunmoye; the wife of the first civilian governor of the state, Mrs Angela Adebayo, and the composer of the Ekiti anthem, Mr Johnson Ologunde..

Also to be honoured is Prof.

Omotayo Olutoye, the first female professor of Yoruba studies.

The statement added that all the awardees would be honoured on Thursday at the Ekiti 2012 merit award ceremony in AdoEkiti with the theme: “ Rewarding Excellence.'' (NAN)

T

S

ome former leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Offa Local Government area of Kwara state have crossed over to Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and declared their former party dead in the area.

The Secretary to the council administration, Muftau Adeyemo, who was removed by Offa Chairman,Prince Saheed Popoola led others to decamp to the PDP. He said "The truth is that we had all been in the PDP before the election and we, including the chairman, left because we wanted to show the party's leadership that we did not agree with their decision on the choice of candidate.

So in truth, the Offa election that produced Popoola was actually a battle within the PDP. "That will tell you that in a real election, there is nothing for the ACN in Offa. As a matter of fact, the party is dead in Offa.

They can't win a single ward again because we were the ones who did the whole thing for them, we know how we won the election; we were the ones who gave them the numbers that made them win and we have withdrawn from them."

Former LG chairman in EFCC net over fake projects

O

fficials of the EFCC on Monday arrested Alhaji Umar IbrahimRabagaddama, the immediate-past Chairman of the Interim Management Committee of Zaria Local Government Council in Kaduna State, over alleged fake projects.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former council boss was invited to the Zaria Police Area Command for questioning by EFCC officials who came from Kano.

The officials, who refused to comment on Ibrahim-Rabagaddama's case, went round the premises of the council headquarters to investigate the allegations levelled against him.

However, a reliable source, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the former chairman presented some documents to the EFCC officials, who were visibly unconvinced by his claims.

The source said that the arrest might not be unconnected with a petition written against the former chairman.

Prior to the arrest, there had been rife speculations in Zaria that IbrahimRabagaddama bought a mansion worth about N60 million.

His arrest came barely 12 days after he handed over the council's leadership to the new council chairman who was elected in the Dec. 1 local government polls.

Some eyewitnesses also told NAN that the EFCC officials later took the suspect to Kano for further interrogation. (NAN)

L-R: Representative of Speaker and Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, in hand shake with Chairperson, House Committee on Environment, Hon. Uche Ekunife, during public hearing oil spillage, yesterday at National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Yakowa was a bridgebuilder, says Gov. Dickson

G

ov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has described late Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, as a detribalised Nigerian, who within his short life in government built bridges of love and unity.

Dickson made the observation in his tribute at the special valedictory session of the Bayelsa Executive Council held in Yenagoa on Tuesday in honour of Yakowa, who died on Saturday.

He said, ``The late Kaduna State governor was and will remain a great Nigerian patriot, who came to Bayelsa, building bridges of love and bonds of fraternity. ``He was dedicated and humble servant of the people of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.''

The governor, who described the last Saturday incident that killed Yakowa, Azazi and others as a hurting nightmare, said that the day would forever remain dark in our memories forever.

He said that the nation lost two distinguished leaders and dedicated military officers in the ill-fated crash, adding that Yakowa died in active service while visiting Bayelsa as a friend of the state.

According to Dickson, with Yakowa's untimely demise, our nation has lost a great leader and democrat who lived and believed

in the unity of our nation. ``Bayelsa has lost a great friend and I, personally, have lost an elder brother," he said.

The governor, who was accompanied to the special session by his wife, Rachael, assured late Yakowa's widow, Aminatu that the government and people of Bayelsa would remain close to her.

According to the governor, we will always be with you now and forever.

In a tribute, former Governor of Bayelsa, Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha, described Yakowa as a brother, who served the nation

and Kaduna State as a deputy governor and governor meritoriously.

He said that upon the emergence of Yakowa as governor of Kaduna State, many Nigerians did not give him a chance to succeed as a governor, because of the ethno-religious politics in the state. ``But by divine providence, he became governor when his then boss, Namadi Sambo was elevated to Vice-President. ``Yakowa then proved his critics wrong by building bridges of love and unity. He was a nationalist and

Delta Deputy Governor tasks LG committees on service delivery

T

he Deputy Governor of Delta, Prof. Amos Utuama, has advised the members of the newly inaugurated local government transition and caretaker committees to serve the people and not empower themselves.

Utuama gave the advice on Tuesday in Asaba, while declaring open an orientation workshop organised by the state Directorate of Local Government Affairs for the committee members.

He said that rather than see their position as an avenue to empower themselves, the committee members should see their appointments, as a call to service and concentrate on discharging their service creditably.

The deputy governor said that good service delivery would serve as a testimonial for appointment to higher positions, adding that the programme would enable them acquire the relevant knowledge for optimal performance.

He said that local government

administration was relevant, as it was the level of government closest to the grass-roots people. ``A local government that does well will deliver dividends of good governance to the people,'' he said, and urged the participants to make personal efforts to train themselves.

Earlier, Mr Newworld Safugha, a Commissioner in the Directorate, urged participants to be prudent and ensure service delivery during their tenure.

(NAN)

Senator solicits special intervention fund for victims of conflicts

S

en. Gyang Pwajok (PDPPlateau) on Monday called for the establishment of a Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Stability Fund to help rehabilitate victims of conflicts across the country.

Pwajok made the call in Abuja while speaking to National Assembly Correspondents.

He underscored the need for the special intervention fund, saying that it would provide succour for victims of prolonged conflicts in different communities.

He also suggested that the substantial funds being spent on security agencies should be channelled into the special fund, which could be nurtured into a veritable means of addressing the conflicts in the country. ``Whether Muslims, Christians, indigenes or non-indigenes, many citizens lost their lives and property during the crises. ``There is the need for some degree of intervention to aid the people to get back on their feet.

``Otherwise, we will be spending more on maintaining security forces and using forceful methods to bring about peace, rather than spending on other ways of promoting peace. ``Our security expenditure is getting very high. It is not commensurate with what would have happened if we had spent the money on reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation,'' he said.

Pwajok also spoke on the need for the Federal Government to review

the current measures being used to address the increasing conflicts in various parts of the country.

He also noted that the extended involvement of the military in internal security operations had resulted in complications, thereby hampering the protection of the people's lives and property.

Besides, the senator noted that the current arrangements had made it difficult for the police to effectively perform its internal security responsibilities. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Amosun identifies CDAs as cornerstone of development

G

ov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has identified Community Development Associations (CDAs) as partners of government in the provision of basic infrastructure and capable of turning around the socio-economic fortunes of the people.

The governor stated this on Monday in Abeokuta while inaugurating a 500KVA transformer presented to Goshen Estate Community Development Association in Asero.

He gave an assurance that his

administration would continue to assist CDAs across the state to enhance their ability to contribute to community growth and development.

Represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Olu Odeyemi, the governor recalled that the donation of the transformer was in furtherance of his administration's commitment to ensuring that dividends of democracy got to the grassroots.

Amosun commended residents of the estate for taking a step further

by energising the transformer, pointing out that the gesture was a step worthy of emulation. ``We have presented over 500 transformers to different communities; your own community has taken a great step by coming together to install the transformer.

You have laid a good precedence for other CDAs to emulate," he said.

The governor also assured residents of the estate that a minipower plant project would be provided in the area by April 2013.

Earlier in his address, the

chairman of the CDA, Oluseyi Sonde, had lauded the state government for its timely intervention in donating the transformer.

He noted that with the gesture, the era of residents going about with candles and lanterns had gone for good.

Sonde said that the CDA decided to energise the transformer to complement government's effort and contribute toward making living more meaningful for the people.

(NAN)

L-R: Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Jajere, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, and Chairman, House Committee on INEC, Hon. Jery Manwey, during the stakeholders validation of the commission strategic plan yesterday in Abuja.

T

he pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned the court action instituted against its President General, Amb. Ralph Uwechue, by some aggrieved members.

In a communiqué in Enugu on Monday after its meeting, the organisation urged the plaintiffs to withdraw the case and mandated the council of chiefs to take up the issue and settle all matters relating to the lawsuit inhouse.

The communiqué, signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Ralph Ndigwe, and Vice President-General, Dr Selina Adibua, passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of Uwechue.

"The Imeobi (inner caucus) appreciates in glorious terms, the achievements of Ohanaeze under Amb. Ralph Uwechue.

“The inner caucus described the court actions on Ohanaeze affairs as anti Igbo and a betrayal of the people. (NAN)

M

r James Oche, the Senior Legislative Aide to Senate President David Mark, on Tuesday urged government at all levels to invest in sports, to promote youth development.

Oche told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that engaging youths in sporting activities such as basketball would help to discourage them from vices and encourage them to develop their skills.

The legislative aide said though the Federal Government launched the You Win programme to encourage entrepreneurial skills development, more should be done by using sports to drive sustainable growth.

He advised government at all levels to invest in sports tournaments to accelerate youth development in the country.

"Sport is the only activity that unites everybody across religious and tribal lines; as such I will advise that government at all levels federal, state, and local government and, of course, our private sector - to key in into such tournaments.

"So that, we could bring out our youths; keep them busy, an idle man is the devils workshop, with what is prevalent especially the security situation in the country, with all the bombing. (NAN)

Reps rejects Police Reform Trust Fund bill

T

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Ohaneze Ndigbo passes vote of confidence on Uwechue, wants law suit withdrawn

Legislative aide urges govts to invest in youth development

Tribunal validates enumeration figures for Ussa, The NPC had declared the Bali LGAs in Taraba, annuls one population of Ussa as 90,889 and

T

he Census Tribunal on Monday in Abuja validated the 2006 enumeration figures for Ussa and Bali Local Government Areas in Taraba State as declared by the National Population Commission (NPC).

Delivering the judgment, the Chairman of Census Tribunal `B', Mr Habibu Ma'aruf said that the figures were validated for the inability of the councils to substantiate their claims.

The councils had claimed that their localities were not properly

enumerated during the 2006 national housing and headcount census.

Ma'aruf said that the complainants failed to prove their case on preponderance of evidence.

He said that the persons whom the complainants alleged were denied of enumeration were not brought before the tribunal to testify.

The chairman also said that the identities of the persons they alleged were not counted during the enumeration were not known at the tribunal.

Bali 211,024.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the local government councils had in separate petitions alleged that some of their households and localities were not enumerated.

They also alleged that the declared figures were not the true reflection of their population and pleaded with the tribunal to order for fresh enumeration of the areas.

Similarly, the tribunal voided the enumeration figures of Lau Local Government Area in Taraba.

(NAN)

Group endorses proposed merger by resolved to mobilise the public with a some opposition parties view to supporting the merger to its logical conclusion.

A

group, Merger Support Group (MSG) in Kano, has endorsed the proposed merger by some opposition parties in the country.

The National Protem Chairman of the group, Alhaji Faruk Hassan, gave the endorsement this while addressing newsmen in Kano on Monday.

He said that the group supported the planned merger so that the new political party that would emerge would be able to challenge the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015

general elections. ''At its monthly meeting held Dec.16, in Kano, the group endorsed the present effort by ACN, ANPP, CPC and other political parties to merge and form a new party to challenge the ruling party.

“The only way to achieve this, in our thinking, is the coming together of all other political parties that have shown concern on the political situation in the country,'' he said.

Hassan said that the group had also

He urged supporters of all the political parties wishing to join the process, to give their maximum support to ensure its success.

“We have already written to the parties concerned, notifying them of our support and encouragement and we have since received reply from some of them.

“All efforts should be made toward preventing sabotage of the merger process either from within or outside the country,'' Hassan said. (NAN)

he House of Representatives in Abuja on Tuesday rejected a bill seeking the establishment of the Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund.

The bill seeks to establish a trust fund to make more money available to the police for its operations.

The members unanimously voted against the bill when the Deputy Speaker, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, who presided put it to vote.

Rep. Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP-Oyo), the Majority Leader, who led the debate, said that the fund was necessary to enhance operations of the police.

Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (ACNLagos), the Minority Leader, said that it was unconstitutional to compel State Governments to contribute to the proposed fund. ``I support the bill but I have problem with some components of the bill,'' he said.

He said that though the fund was important, it would be out of place to have the fund and at same time continue to appropriate fund to the police in the budget.

Rep. Asita Honourable (PDPRivers), who spoke against the bill, said the proposed bill had shown that the Federal Government could no longer fund the police.

He urged the Federal Government to decentralise the police, while calling on the house to put a hold on the passage of the bill until the ongoing constitutional review was concluded to avoid duplication. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 41

I expect nothing from Keshi, says Ekpo Story by Patrick Andrew and Albert Akota

E

Friday Ekpo

x-International midfielder Friday Ekpo said that Stephen Keshi’s ongoing efforts to rebuild the Super Eagles would take some time to yield any meaningful results.

Ekpo said that Keshi should not relent until he has achieved his set objectives, according to him, the team will do nothing in South Africa.

He wondered why the preparations for the 2013 Africa

Cup of Nations (AFCON) were starting so late.

“I am not expecting a cup from Keshi. I just want him to do well.

I want him to go to the Nations Cup and change the country’s perception of the team.

“A factor that could affect us in our preparation for AFCON is our usual last minute moves, which I think we need to change; we need to prepare well ahead of time. ”We should rely on good preparation and not on any other means,’’ the former midfielder said. The 29th edition of AFCON

Nations Cup: Aminu urges blend of domestic, foreignbased players for strong Eagles

T

hough Nigerians expect nothing but a near-seamless performance from the Super Eagles at the 2013 Nations Cup, in South Africa, Coach Stephen Keshi also has the responsibility of building a team for the future.

To do this, Keshi must deliberately blend both the foreign and home-based players to produce a team that is compact in depth, has flair, is mobile and adventurous and with lot of options in every department, according to Alhaji Aminu Kurfi.

Alhaji Aminu believes that Keshi would achieve this by adopting 80 to 20 percent ratio in the selection of foreign and home-based players to make up the team that would represent Nigeria in the Nations Cup in January, adding that the inclusion of local league players would assure every Nigerian irrespective of where they ply their trade that merit and quality are the prime considerations for national call up.

Although the sports philanthropist acknowledges that Nigerians would want nothing but a sip from the prestigious Nations Cup trophy, he urged Keshi to consider the impact his inclusion of the domestic league players, who hitherto were considered no more than training materials, would produce, both now and in subsequent assignments.

He lauded Keshi for giving the domestic league players a sense of belonging since he took charge of the Super Eagles and urged him to engage them to a logical conclusion by listing them in the final squad of the 2013 Nations Cup. Consequently, he dismissed the call by some persons for Keshi to discard the local league players adding that despite the short fall in the organisation of the domestic league the quality of players therein could not be faulted and must for whatever reason not be neglected.

Alhaji Aminu said the quality shown by Shola Ameobi and Bright Dike during the friendly game against Venezuela was only an

infinitesimal evident that there are talents everywhere for Nigeria, who only needed encouragement for them to thrive.

The former lawmaker also urged Keshi to give serious attention to the defence and the goalkeeping sections in the Eagles. “Keshi, in my opinion, should not discard the domestic league players. Some are better than being mere training materials as they were considered to be in the past.

“Instead, he should use them as he had in some Nations Cup qualifiers and friendly international matches. Surely, having being with them for almost year, Keshi must have seen quality in them and should therefore encourage them to sustain and improve on their form by further exposing them in serious tournaments where they will meet stars from the continent.

“I think, at the least a ratio of 80 to 20 percent of the 23-member squad to the Nations Cup may be sufficient for now, while in subsequent tournaments, of course depending on their performance at the Nations Cup, the number should be increased,” he said stressing that it brings out the best from the players with Nigeria reaping the benefit.

Alhaji Aminu assured Keshi of the overwhelming support of Nigerians especially if the right thing is done and advised the coach to quickly move the team to Faro, Portugal where they would have undistracted training session as well as opportunities for some friendly games before the tournament begins on January 19.

The Eagles are to play their opening Nations Cup final game against the Stallions of Burkina Faso on January 21.

Alhaji Aminu Kurfi (left) being presented with a plaque by Dr. Buhari for his contribution to the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

will hold in South Africa from Jan. 19 to Feb. 10, 2013.

The Super Eagles are in Group C, alongside the Chipolopolo of Zambia, (defending champions),

Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia and the Stallions of Burkina Faso.

The team will play its matches at Mbombela in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.

Yakowa: NFF commiserates with Kaduna govt, people

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has commiserated with the government and good people of Kaduna State over the death of Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, CON, saying it was mourning the departed political leader on behalf of the Nigerian football family.

Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, CON died on Saturday afternoon after a Navy helicopter he was travelling in with other eminent persons crashed and burst into flames in Bayelsa State.

“News of the death of Governor Yakowa struck us like a thunderbolt. He was a real supporter and lover of Nigerian football and the Nigeria Football Federation deeply grieves at his sudden departure.

“We recall how he was always there for the NFF and Nigeria football. Governor Yakowa hosted the international friendly match between the Super Eagles and the senior team of Zambia in Kaduna in November 2011 and also hosted

the Annual General Assembly of the NFF in December 2012,” recalled NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

Maigari added: “He was even ready to host the Super Eagles’ FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, but other circumstances conspired to render Kaduna unattractive for those games.

“He is gone but we believe that Almighty God will grant his soul eternal rest and give his family and the good people of Kaduna State the fortitude to bear the huge loss.”

Governor Yakowa died alongside former National Security Adviser, General Andrew Owoye Azazi (rtd), their personal aides and the helicopter’s pilots.

Alhaji Aminu Maigari

NFF disqualifies Imo state team for fielding ineligible players

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disqualified Imo state U-13 team has for further participation at the ongoing National U-13 Youth Championship in Abuja, for fielding ineligible players.

Imo which had its team reduced to 16 players after screening by the NFF officials on the first day of competition, in a match which they lost 1 - 3 to Kaduna state.

The team also fielded two of the disqualified players against Niger state which Team Niger protested the participation of the players that prompted the NFF to disqualify the Imo team while three points was awarded to Niger state.

It will be recalled that each state was asked to present 20 U-13 players for the championship, out of the 20 players presented by Kaduna state, five of them were screen out as over age, for Ekiti state, seven of their players were screened out, Edo state had 12 players screened out, while Ogun state also had four players declared ineligible to participate in the competition.

12 players were screened out for Sokoto state and three screened out for Niger state. All 18 players presented by the FCT passed the screening process.

NFF board member and chairman NFF Youth Committee, comrade Ahmed Yusuf, says the football house has developed zero

tolerance for age-cheating in Nigerian football.

“We are not going back on our quest to develop football from the grassroots and if we are to achieve this, we must eradicate cheating even from this level.

“I was very disappointed with the Imo team officials for fielding players that have already been disqualified; it doesn’t show they want to embrace youth development.” Yusuf aka fresh added.

The aim of the National U-13 Championship is to select the best 25 players that will be invited to the National U-13 Team.

Eight state teams which have been divided into two groups A & B, Sokoto, Edo, Kaduna, Imo, FCT, Ogun, Niger and Ekiti are currently participating at the games.

UNDER 13 MATCHES PLAYED YESTERDAY Sokoto 0 - 7 Edo Kaduna 3 - 0 Imo FCT 3 - 1 Ogun Niger 1 - 1 Ekiti EDO 1 - 6 OGUN Imo 0 - 3 Niger FCT 3 - 0 Edo Ekiti 3 - 0 Imo Ogun 6 - 0 Sokoto

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Peoples Daily CLASSIFIED

NPL stars face Catalonia

T

he Super Eagles will present a team from the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) in January 2nd friendly against

Catalonia, the Spanish national team.

According to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesman Ademola

LOSS OF DOCUMENT THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF THREE (3) ORIGINAL RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY WITH FILE NO. MISC 105234; PLOT NO. 2107 KABUSA BEARING MESSRS AVOSH-HKHA GROUP LIMITED, MISC 105278; PLOT NO. 1665 KABUSA BEARING M/S AFRICIANE BUREAU DE CHANGE LIMITED AND MISC 104730; PLOT NO. 1455 CENTRAL AREA BEARING SULETICAL COMPANY LIMITED GOT MISSING ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE MISSING DOCUMENTS PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST POLICE STATION OR MR. UDE COLINS OGOCHUKWU ON 08034529921. AGIS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

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INITIATIVE FOR PATRIOTISM AND TRANSPARENCY IN NIGERIA THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. CHIEF IFEANYI CALLISTUS UBAKANWA 2. VERY REV. FR. THEOPHILUS NWADIKE 3. IBRAHIM IDRIS 4. CHIEF MIKE IGBOKWE 5. PRINCE CHINEDU OBI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROMOTE PATRIOTISM AND TRANSPARENCY AMONG CITIZENS OF NIGERIA.

Olajire, players from the NPL who do not make the final cut will then return to the country after this match.

Olajire also said that the list of the Europe-based pros for the Nations Cup will be made public this week, while the technical department of the NFF has been working in place of the technical committee.

The pros who have all received their invitation letters are expected in Portugal from January 4.

He said the team will now fly out of the country to Faro on December 23 to Faro.

A dinner to raise additional funds for the Eagles is planned for December 29 in either Lagos or Port Harcourt.

In the meantime, coach, Stephen Keshi has said his team has reached a crucial stage in the build-up to the Nations Cup and would therefore not want them to

Gabriel Reuben be distracted.

Keshi said he was not averse to critics of the team, but cautioned against those who are hell bent on distracting the team.

“The entire team needs absolute concentration but everyday there are reports about divisions in the team and several other negative stories and that is not good for the type of team we want to build for the Nations Cup,” he said.

He declared that he has received 100 per cent support from the Aminu Maigari-led NFF executive committee and hopes that it will continue all the way to the Nations Cup.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) MICHEAL GORIOLA CHAIRMAN (2) ALABA ADIGUN- SECRETARY (3) TAIWO GORIOLA (4)ADENIKE GORIOLA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. OGECHI OKORIE 08030933313.

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MRS DINAH GADO 2.

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PAGE 43

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. AMINA LAWANDA ABDUL-ONE ABUBAKAR 2. DR. AHMADU ADAMU MUAZU 3. LT. COL. HARUNA ABUBAKAR 4. PROFESSOR ABUBAKAR KUNDIRI 5. DR. LINUS AWUTE 6. DR. MOHAMMED ARI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO SUPPORT, PROTECT AND SAVE THE GREATEST NUMBER OF CHILDREN’S LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ALHAJI LUKMAN ADEYEMI ADEBIYI 2. ALHAJI NOJEEMDEEN KOLAWOLE APATIRA 3. ALHAJI NOHEEMDEEN OLAIDE OSIKOYA 4. ALHAJA SHEFIAT ABIODUN IYABO SHETTA-BEY 5. ALHAJA SHERIFAT AYOKA AMODU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO SEE TO THE EDUCATION OF INDIGENT MUSLIMS 2. TO PROMOTE ISLAMIC EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR OGONNAY OKONKWO 2. MR CHUKWUBUIKE SIMON NWACHUKWU 3. ALH. MOHAMMED KABIRU HARUNA 4. PRINCE CHUKWUEMEKA ONAH 5. COM. AMEDU BENJAMIN 6. MR SUNDAY EZE 7. MR DEACON NNAMDI ONWWUBIKO AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROMOTE UNITY AMONG MEMBERS. 2. TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TOWARDS LEATHER PRODUCTION AND MARKETING.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ALH. SIDI YAKUBU 2. ALH. MAI BUNU 3. ALH. LAWAN SHETTIMA 4. ALH. KAIGAMA UMAR 5. ALH. SAMAILA GADAKA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROMOTE AND PROVIDE FREE EDUCATION, HEALTH, SOCIAL WELLBEING AND RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AMONGST PEOPLE.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: BARR. EMMANUEL EKONG 08032612060

PUBLIC NOTICE

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OGANURUWHU OBIO AKPOR NU REBISI ASSOCIATION

AFRICAN YOUTH ALIVE & WELFARE FOUNDATION

MARABA RAHAMA FOODSTUFF DEALERS ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. CHIEF BARR. ANUGBUM ONUOHA JP -CHAIRMAN 2. SIR HON. IGO AGUMA JP 3. SIR HON. BARR. CHINYERE IGWE JP 4. HON. BARR. KINGSLEY CHINDA 5. SIR HON. CHIDI AMADI JP 6. HON. VICTOR IHUNWO JP 7. ELDER PETER CHINWO JP 8. HON. BARR. JONES OGBONDA JP 9. ELDER LAWRENCE AMADIOHA JP 10. BARR. CHIMA BOMS -SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT OF THE PEOPLE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MAXWELL CHIDI EZELAGU PRESIDENT 2. JENIFER ADAUGO EZELAGU SECRETARY 3. MURPHY NWABUGO OKAFOR 4.ONYEJURUWA DANIEL CHIMA 5.JOSEPH UZUCHUKWU IBEH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO EMPOWER AND ASSIST THE YOUTH.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. UMARU MUSA SOKOTO 6.

ALH. HASSAN DOGO 2. ALH. UMARU LAWAI KEBBI 7.

ALH. SAMA’ILA SANI 3. ALH. ALIYU SANI ZAMFARA 8.

ALH. ALI GARDI 4.ALH. YUSUF SA’IDU 9.

MRS. CHRISTY NUHU 5.ALH. SANI ALHAJI ANGO 10.MR. EMEKA UGWU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO LIASE WITH FARMERS TO PRODUCE MORE FOOD FOR THE COUNTRY. 2.

TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF THE MEMBERS. 3.

TO UNITE THE MEMBERS SOCIALLY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

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SIGNED: JOSIAH KINGSLEY, BLOCK 11, ROAD D, KARU SITE, ABUJA, FCT, 08038823363

PUBLIC NOTICE

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PRAISE ASSEMBLY INT’L CHURCH

GIRL-CHILD RENAISSANCE INITIATIVE

CORPORATE SOCCER STARS FOOTBALL CLUB

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PROPHET PAUL OSENWEOKWU NWOMONOH JP GENERAL OVERSEER 2. PASTOR (MRS) NKEM FELICIA NWOMONOH SENIOR PASTOR 3. MR. EMMANUEL HAPPNESS ANI GENERAL SECRETARY 4. ELDER ANTHONY OKECHUKWU IBENEME TREASURER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.

TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLUB HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. UMEZINWA, HENRY OSITA 2. YUSUF, ALABI DANJUMA 3. MONDAY, JOHN 4. MADUBUIKE, ONYEBUCHI EMMANUEL 5. IKENTA, ONYEKA CHRISTIAN 6. ADESOLA, ALABI BABATUNDE 7. INEGBU, KINGSLEY CHINASAEKPERE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. ENGAGE IN FOOTBALL/SPORTING ACTIVITIES.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MARYAM ISMA MUAZU 2. FATIMA ISMA ABDULLAHI 3. HADIZA ISMA EL RUFAI 4.FURERA ISMA JUMARE 5.RABI ISMA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO EDUCATE RURAL FEMALE CHILDREN TO POST PRIMARY LEVELS, GIVING THEM A FORMIDABLE ALTERNATIVE TO EARLY MARRIAGE.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Napoli loss 2 points over match fixing

RVP is United’s new CantonaFerguson

N

apoli has been docked two points as part of the on-going match fixing investigation in Italy.

The FIGC disciplinary commission confirmed the punishment yesterday morning, with •70,000 and handing six-month bans to players Paolo Cannavaro and Gianluca Grava.

Their involvement stems from an allegation that former goalkeeper Matteo Gianello tried to fix a match against Sampdoria in May 2010 and asked the duo to assist him in securing a result.

Grava and club captain Cannavaro - younger brother of World Cup winner Fabio - are believed to have refused but have been charged with failing to report the attempted fix, the same infringement for which Juventus coach Antonio Conte was also suspended.

Gianello is currently out of contract and not attached to any club but was also given a suspension of three years and three months while Napoli now fall even further behind in the title race after losing their last two Serie A fixtures.

The southern club has already indicated they will formally appeal against the three rulings.

The point’s deduction and back-to-back league defeats mean Napoli will drop to sixth in the Serie A table, below Lazio and Fiorentina and a full 10 points behind leaders Juventus.

S

Paolo Cannavaro

Messi extend Barcelona contract until 2018

L

Lionel Messi

ionel Messi has agreed a new contract with Barcelona, keeping him at the Spanish club until 2018.

The Argentina international, 25, has enjoyed a recordbreaking year for club and country, scoring 90 goals in 2012.

Defender Carles Puyol, 34, and midfielder Xavi Hernandez, 32, have also agreed new deals that will keep them at Barcelona until 2016.

Messi’s current deal expires in June 2016, with Puyol’s running until 2013 and Xavi until 2014.

Messi has been with Barcelona since he was 13 and made his

league debut as a 17-year-old against RCD Espanyol on 16 October 2004.

He has been in the best goalscoring form of his career in 2012 and surpassed Gerd Mueller’s 40year-old record of 85 goals scored in a calendar year with a brace in a 2-1 win over Real Betis on 9 December.

Messi took his tally for the year to 90 on Sunday with another two goals as Barcelona defeated Atletico Madrid 4-1.

Messi is in contention to be named World Player of the Year for a fourth time, having been included on a three-man shortlist alongside Cristiano

Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta.

Puyol, meanwhile, made his Barcelona debut in 1999 before becoming captain in 2004 - the same year Messi made his league debut.

He has made over 560 appearances and captained the club to three Champions League, five La Liga and two Copa del Rey titles.

Xavi is the longest-serving Barcelona player of the three, having made his debut in 1998.

He holds the record for the most appearances with the club with 651.

limitation regarding origin, religion or skin colour”.

He added: “I can personally assure you that I will do everything I can to help those who seek to explain to people what tolerance is, and the need to respect other cultures and traditions.

Black players in the Russian league have been the target of monkey chants and Anzhi Makhachkala’s Christopher Samba had bananas thrown at him by fans. Zenit St Petersburg

were fined by the Russian Football Union after one of their fans offered Roberto Carlos of Anzhi a banana before a match between the two sides in March 2011.

Zenit are currently third in the Russian Premier League behind leaders CSKA Moscow and Anzhi. They will play in this season’s Europa League after finishing third in Champions’ League Group C.

ir Alex Ferguson has compared Robin van Persie to Eric Cantona, saying Manchester United’s summer signing has similarities with the Frenchman who was the inspirational figure in his first four title-winning campaigns.

The United manager feels he bought the finished article in 29-year-old Van Persie, just as he did when recruiting Cantona from then-English champions Leeds in 1992.

Van Persie has made an immediate impact since his £24 million transfer from Arsenal, scoring 15 goals for the Premier League leaders.

Cantona was a catalyst for United and Ferguson believes Van Persie, like the former France international, is making the players around him better.

The quartet of Van Persie, Rooney, Hernandez and Danny Welbeck have been likened to the four forwards who helped United win the treble of the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup in 1999.

Russian fans want black players exit

Z

enit St Petersburg supporters’ group has called for non-white and gay players to be excluded from the team.

The Russian champions’ largest fans’ group, Landscrona, said in an open-letter that black players are “forced down Zenit’s throat”.

Dietmar Beiersdorfer, Zenit director of sports, said players were selected “without any

French midfielder Yann M’Vila reportedly turned down a move to the club in August as a result of racist abuse.

Zenit’s Italian head coach, Luciano Spalletti described the supporters’ call as “stupidity”, saying “tolerance for me is most of all the ability to understand and accept differences”.

Robin van Persie

Premier League clubs agree new cost control

T Yaya Toure

he 20 Premier League clubs have agreed, in principle, to introduce radical new cost controls.

There are two main proposals on the table - a break even rule and a cap on the amount clubs can increase their wage bills by each season.

Club chief executives have now been asked to produce detailed plans for exactly how these proposals will work.

These rules would mark a major change for the clubs, which made cumulative losses of £361m in 2010-11.

Champions Manchester City, for example, made a £97.9m loss in their latest set of results, which were revealed last Friday.

City and Fulham is the only clubs opposed to any spending control.

However, any new Premier League rule requires the approval of only 14 of the 20 clubs in order to be

introduced.

With the Premier League’s new three-year television deals expected to break through the £5bn barrier from 2013, momentum is growing to find a way of preventing the majority of that cash going straight to players and agents.

There have now been six meetings of top-flight chairmen where cost controls have been discussed without any concrete decisions being made.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 45

1/ Lionel Messi, Xavi and Carles Puyol have agreed new contracts with Barcelona, the Argentina forward has committed until 2018 while the two Spaniards are to be tied to Barca until 2016.

2/ With the year wrapping up, the action in the second half of 2012 across South America has drawn to a close so FIFA rounds up the action from Argentina to Venezuela.

3/ Regional heavyweights Singapore and Thailand will vie for the honour of becoming south-east Asia's first four-time champions with the AFF Suzuki Cup final to be played today and Saturday.

4/ Britain's boxers are the biggest winners in UK Sport's Olympic 2016 funding programme, but swimming has had a ÂŁ4m cut.

5/ Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll has his first on-pitch training session with Leinster since ankle surgery.

6/ The Association of Tennis Professionals says it is not happy with the prize money rise or moving the final day at the US Open.

1

l a i r o t c i p 2

4

3

5

6

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

PAGE 47

Quick CrossWord (93)

Say what?

ACROSS 7 Encountered (3,4) 9 Amusing or far-fetched film or TV drama (5) 10 Dame __, Compton-Burnett, novelist (3) 11 Faint identifying design on paper (9) 12 Loafed (5) 14 Wayward (7) 16 Long narrow boat used n Venice (7) 18 Small breed of dog (5) 19 Photographic technique (4-5) 20 US agency for which Mulder and Scully worked (inits) (3) 21 North American buffalo (5) 22 Open carrier (4,3)

SUDOKU Getting Started Each sudoku puzzle is a 9 by 9 grid of horizontal and vertical rows, evenly separated into 9 squares with 9 spaces each.

Instead of word clues, each puzzle’s solution is determined by the pattern of the numbers already filled in you. You solve the puzzle by filling in the missing digits so that, when completed, each row and each square will have all the number from 1 to 9; each number will appear in exactly nine spaces within each puzzle.

DOWN 1 Taking a pleasure voyage (8) 2 __ Warhol, pop artist (4) 3 Munched (6) 4 Book-keeper, in cricket (6) 5 Mark with wet blobs (8) 6 Long hard journey (4) 8 Being severely reprimanded by someone in authority (2,3,6) 13 Large habitable area of the Earth’s surface (4-4) 15 Inner roofs of rooms (8) 17 Anointing (6) 18 Sturdy boxes (6) 19 Keep __ on, check the progress of (4) 20 Porkies (4)

Yesterday’s answer

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Yesterday’s solution

Burmese fisherman have a unique rowing technique, where they stand on the stern on one leg and wrap the other leg around the oar allowing for fine paddle control

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

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Ivorians tops tomorrow’s CAF award

C

ôte d'Ivoire is in a strong position to capture the CAF Footballer of the Year award tomorrow, with two of its stars, both past winners, nominated against an up-andcoming midfielder from Cameroon.

The prestigious finalist category includes Ivorians Didier Drogba of Shanghai Shenhua, Yaya Toure of Manchester City and Cameroon's Alexandre Song, who plays for Barcelona, with the award to be handed out at a ceremony in Accra.

Midfielder Toure, 29, is the defending champion, while Drogba, 34, has won twice before. A third win would edge the striker closer to Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o's record four trophies.

The 25-year-old Song, a midfielder who is nominated for the first time, could derail Côte d'Ivoire's bid for CAF dominance after a season that included strong play for Arsenal before his transfer to Barcelona.

Drogba helped guide Chelsea to a UEFA Champions League victory and his national team to a narrow defeat in the finals at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

Toure won the English Premier League title with Manchester City and also performed well at the African tournament.

The award ceremony comes with disappointment for the host country Ghana, which for the first time since 2004 does not have a national in the running for the continent's top football honour.

Instead, Ghanaians will pin their hopes on their Under-17 women's team, which is shortlisted for women's national team of the year against Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria's Under-20 team.

Midfielders Rainford Kalaba and centre back Stoppila Sunzu, both Zambians who play for Congo DR's TP Mazembe, are up against the Egyptian Mohamed Aboutrika of Al Ahly.

The competition for the team of the year trophy features a rematch of the African Cup of Nations final, with Zambia nominated against Côte d'Ivoire.

Up-and-coming Cape Verde Islands is also contesting in the category after its best-ever season, during which it qualified for the next edition of the Cup of Nations.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE I am sorry that I am crying. I cry because I am a woman myself and I know what she (Dame Amina Yakowa) is going through... We have lost a peaceful man, a man who is everything you want to see in a governor — Nigeria’s First Lady Patience Jonathan, mourning late Gov. Patrick Yakowa

Sule Lamido and the thorny path to Presidency T

he episode involving Aminu, the son of Sule Lamido, the governor of Jigawa state who was arrested on money laundering charges signifies a resurgence of an establishment pattern in power politics in Nigeria. There is nothing new in this incident.

What is new is the nature of the reaction of the governor and two, the seeming naivety, and the outright stupidity of his son.

Governor Lamido has raised his hand that he wants to be the President of Nigeria in 2015. That means that he wants to join the others in the contest with President Goodluck Jonathan, a man whose body language says that he is a candidate in that election. Does anyone assume that they will give him a free pass?

Anybody still in doubt about the fact that there was a motive to discredit the performing governor of Jigawa state should go back to the statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and read it one more time. Apart from hinting that the young man was on a money-laundering mission for his father, it gave a further impression that the boy had been doing several trips overseas for money laundering on behalf of the governor. The question a good reporter should have asked the EFCC is: if they knew that the governor’s son was engaged in the illegal transfer of money on behalf of his father, why did they give him a free pass always? Why did they wait until now, when Governor Lamido is in the running for the Presidency? Don’t also forget the fact that this, or another of Lamido’s sons, was in the past thrown into detention by the Farida-led EFCC so as to keep him in check. At that time, Lamido was in support of Northern Presidency.

Secondly, and this is to help Governor Lamido, it is hard to see how a governor would put his son in the line of danger because he wants to smuggle USD 40,000 abroad. A suspected crime has been committed and the stupidity of the governor’s son should be blamed for this. To drag the governor into the alleged crime of his adult son is to play politics with the matter.

The insignificance of the

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MUSINGS By

Garba Shehu garshehu@yahoo.co.in

Gov. Sule Lamido amount involved, USD40,000 also makes a mockery of the attempt to drag the governor into the episode. This amount is too small for a governor. When governors steal or launder money, they do so in millions and billions.

Whoever knows what is going on in this country must be aware that very few governors, ministers and other top government officials command respect when it comes to these matters. When people see a government vehicle flying the national flag and accompanied by a fleet of escort cars on the road, the temperature of the citizens rises and the local people standing there fire out the great corruption stories of their leaders in the most abusive language imaginable.

Forty thousand dollars is too little to have a governor involved.

A second issue is to look at the governor and his kind of politics.

We can then understand why his own son, not that of another governor, could also be seized at the airport. Lamido makes enemies easily because of his combative style of engaging his adversaries. His own redoubtable image as a feisty adversary, ready to take on all comers, including the Presidency and the ruling

party leadership marks him out as one of the few tough eggs to crack in the political arena.

Nigeria does not have democracy as the Western countries do. What Nigeria has is political feudalism, which is a sorry state of affairs. So for leaders like Sule Lamido in the prevailing social and political climate, the idea is to discredit the few who are perceived as performers. “If we cannot rise to the height of a person, pull him down to our depth – we want equality,” the opponents would be saying.

Lamido, who leads the unruly horses in the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, must be reined in so as to save the President not only from the frequent challenges they pose to him but to save him from the disgrace of failure to win a second or is it a third, term in office. This is something that we have seen in this country before.

President Obasanjo branded his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, with all of the negatives one can imagine in order to disqualify him from succeeding him after eight years in office. As it is in this case, the EFCC was used to good effect. As a part of the fault-finding efforts, the privately-owned bank, Bank PHB was twice sealed in Lagos and Abuja in search of incriminating financial records to nail Atiku Abubakar. During such raids, the EFCC did not allow staff and customers to leave the bank for nearly the whole day. On one occasion, they had to beg the raiders to allow a pregnant woman who had come to collect money and had spent all day there, to go home at 6:00pm. At the height of this show of power, the Nigerian government requested the United States authorities to search the official aircraft of the Nigerian Vice President on the false claim that the plane was used for money

laundering. Of course, no such thing existed and no search was conducted.

It is sad that the executive arm of the government has perfected the art of using muscle power to deter better candidates from running for office. If democracy is ticking in Nigeria, we will not have such muscle-flexing and suppression. The latest incident involving the family of the Jigawa state governor is a tight slap on democracy and the time has come for the people of our country to take a call and choose between true democracy and the on-going mockery show.

An important lesson that our leaders and other politicians should take away from the incident involving the governor’s son is that children and other family members should as much as possible be kept far from offices occupied by them. A good politician is one who knows how to manage his office well and to manage the home front even better. In this, you have good examples in President Shehu Shagari, Vice President Ekwueme; Vice President Atiku Abubakar and even military leaders such as Generals Buhari and Abdulsalami Abubakar.

I don’t have flattering things to say about the adult son of a governor who would pack money into his suitcase and think that he is too important to be asked to make a declaration by the customs. Yes, we are a people with dual standards. But Lamido’s boy was simply stupid to think that they would ignore his infraction(s) even for the fact of the contest for power in which his own father is involved.

The earliest hint that anyone got that the out-going American Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton is launching a bid for the Presidency in 2016 came from an innocuous memo to the staff of Bill Clinton Foundation world-wide. In it, they were told to be of their best conduct, for the actions they consider small or unimportant might become matters of intense interest or scrutiny. This memo was issued as soon as President Barack Obama was returned in the election for his second term in office.

Let our leaders learn to put their houses in order.

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